"I guess introductions are in order. I'm Jabal Shiro—captain of the Virtue Pirates."
Shiro reached out his hand and clasped the skeleton's cold, bony fingers with steady confidence.
"I'm Brook—a musician!"
Brook's hollow voice trembled slightly with emotion. He gripped back tightly, the faint click of bone against flesh echoing between them.
"It's an honor to join your crew."
Shiro grinned. One by one, he brought the rest of his crew forward to meet Brook—his boisterous helmsman, his stoic cook, and the others. Everyone greeted the skeletal newcomer with polite smiles, though some were clearly unsettled by the rattling bones.
When the introductions were over, Brook suddenly lowered his arms. His expressionless skull somehow carried a touch of sorrow.
"It's a pity… Even if I join you, I can't sail with you yet."
"Don't worry about that," Shiro said, clapping him on the shoulder with a confident smile.
"I'll get your shadow back from Moria."
He closed his eyes, letting his Observation Haki spread outward like invisible waves, searching for the warlord's presence. But after a few moments, his brow furrowed.
"…Strange. I can't sense him anywhere."
Brook tilted his skull thoughtfully. "Moria, huh…? I think I heard he went to the New World. Something about challenging a man named Kaido."
Shiro's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? Now that's interesting."
He already knew how that battle would end.
Moria, drunk on his own victories in Paradise, had convinced himself he was unstoppable—and charged straight into the New World to fight Kaido.
And, of course, he was utterly crushed.
From that day on, Moria was never the same—his arrogance shattered, his spirit dulled.
Brook sighed, twisting his bony fingers together. "Then it seems I'll be stuck here for quite a while longer… Captain, if you ever reach the New World and run into Moria, please—bring my shadow back."
"No need to wait that long."
A confident smirk tugged at Shiro's lips. "The New World? If I want to go there, I can get there instantly."
Brook's eye flames flickered violently. "I-Instantly!? That's impossible!"
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
Before anyone could react, Shiro's palms glowed with the familiar ripple of the Paw-Paw Fruit's power. With a soft pop, he vanished, leaving nothing but a gust of wind behind.
Brook stared at the empty spot, jaw slack, his mouth open wide enough to fit a fist. "Wh–what… just happened?"
Meanwhile—
Shiro reappeared silently on the shores of Wano Country, the air heavy with the scent of iron and smoke.
He took a deep breath, activating his Observation Haki again—this time, focused and sharp.
There. Two overwhelming auras clashing near the skies of Ringo.
He found them.
Kaido and Gecko Moria—locked in a brutal battle.
By now, the fight was nearly over.
Moria, still in his prime physique, was visibly exhausted. Each swing of his shadow blades grew slower, his breathing ragged.
Kaido—massive, monstrous, and unstoppable in his Azure Dragon form—towered over him. Every swing of his kanabo cracked the ground, thunder rumbling with his strikes.
No matter how many zombies Moria summoned, none could so much as scratch Kaido's iron scales.
BOOM!
A deafening crack split the air as Kaido's Thunder Bagua slammed squarely into Moria's chest.
The warlord's body shot through the sky like a broken kite, slamming into the earth with a crash that shook the valley. Blood poured from his mouth—he was finished.
His loyal crew rushed forward, screaming, trying desperately to shield him from Kaido's next strike.
But Kaido was in a frenzy—eyes wild, grin manic, killing intent pouring off him like a storm.
Within seconds, the battlefield was littered with bodies.
Moria, trembling, watched his crew fall one by one. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, despair and fury twisting his features. But even he knew—if he didn't flee now, he'd die here.
He began to summon his shadows to escape—
—and then a golden figure appeared before him, blocking his path.
"You—!?"
Moria froze, bloodshot eyes widening as he recognized the face before him.
The golden-haired youth who once, in front of tens of thousands, had snatched Gol D. Roger from the execution platform at Loguetown—defying the Navy itself.
That impossible scene was burned into Moria's memory.
"Enough talk," Shiro said coldly, his voice carrying the weight of command. "If you want to live, come with me."
Before Moria could even respond, Shiro's glowing palm struck his chest—
and in an instant, Moria vanished from the battlefield.
Kaido turned, his draconic form looming like a storm cloud. "Who dares make a mess on my island!?"
But when he caught sight of that golden-haired figure, he stopped dead, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"You… the blond brat from Roger's crew!?"
Shiro paused mid-turn, a small grin curving his lips. He raised a hand and gave a casual wave.
"Sashi burida na, Kaido!" (Long time no see, Kaido!)
Recognition hit Kaido like a punch. Rage surged through him, his jaw tightening.
"You little punk! You dare come to Wano and steal Moria from me? Are you here to pick a fight with me!?"
Shiro shrugged lightly. "Nothing like that. Moria took something from a friend of mine—I just came to get it back."
His tone was casual, but inside, his mind was already turning.
Recovering Brook's shadow was one goal…
But the real prize was Moria himself.
For all his failures, the man was still strong—strong enough to have once been a Warlord of the Sea.
In Shiro's eyes, that made him a valuable asset.
A little polish… a little push… and maybe he'll make a fine addition to the Virtue Pirates.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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