The courtyard exploded into chaos.
Oars swung one massive arm downward.
BOOM.
The ground cratered.
Debris blasted into the air like shrapnel.
Usopp flew backward, arms flailing. "WHY IS EVERYTHING TRYING TO TURN ME INTO PANCAKES?!"
Chopper tumbled across the stone, rolling to a stop upside-down. "I-I'M GONNA THROW UP!"
Zoro leapt aside, blades flashing. "Scatter!"
Franky planted his feet, forearms shifting and unfolding.
"STRONG RIGHT!"
His massive metal fist rocketed forward and slammed into Oars' knee.
CLANG.
The sound rang out like a church bell.
Franky's arm bounced backward.
Franky stared at his fist.
Then at Oars.
"…You've gotta be kidding me."
Oars looked down at Franky. "…Mosquito?"
He casually swatted.
Franky barely rolled away in time.
Chopper pointed, trembling. "His skin is like iron!"
Robin frowned. "No… stronger than iron."
Oars suddenly leaned forward, nostrils flaring. "SAAANJIIII FOOOD!"
Sanji froze mid-step. "…Huh? What the hell?"
Oars squinted.
Then scratched his head.
"Huh?"
"Who's Sanji?"
The courtyard went silent.
Wind whistled through broken towers.
Sanji slowly lit a cigarette.
"…Yeah."
He exhaled.
"That's definitely Luffy."
Usopp grabbed his head. "WHY DOES HIS SHADOW REMEMBER YOUR NAME?!"
Brook clutched his skull.
"Yohohoho! Well— I actually explained this earlier to Robin."
Everyone turned toward him.
Robin nodded. "Yes."
She spoke calmly, even as Oars loomed in front of them.
"Brook told us that when Gecko Moria steals shadows…"
"Those shadows retain the personality and instincts of their original owners."
Nami's eyes widened.
"So that thing isn't just strong…"
"It thinks like Luffy too?!"
Brook nodded.
"His habits… his impulses… even fragments of memory…"
"Yohohoho… they all remain inside the shadow."
Usopp screamed. "SO WE'RE FIGHTING A GIANT UNDEAD LUFFY?!"
Sanji grit his teeth. "Great… so it's dumb AND unstoppable."
Zoro smirked slightly.
"Tch."
"Figures our captain's shadow would be a problem all on its own."
Oars suddenly tilted his head.
"Hungry…"
He sniffed.
"Meat…"
The crew collectively tensed.
Nami pointed. "See?! That's exactly him!"
Brook sighed.
"Yes…"
"Which means…"
He raised his cane sword.
"…this will be a very troublesome fight."
Oars cracked his knuckles.
"I'LL SMASH YOU!"
The crew braced themselves.
The nightmare had just become personal.
Oars then suddenly crouched low.
His stomach growled like thunder.
"I'M SO HUNGRY!"
He grabbed a chunk of broken wall and shoved it into his mouth.
CRUNCH.
Stone shattered between his teeth.
"NEED MORE MEAT!"
Nami screamed. "THAT IS NOT FOOD!"
Zoro narrowed his eyes.
"He moves randomly… but his instincts are pure Luffy."
Sanji clenched his fists.
"Technically we're fighting Luffy's personality…"
"…Inside a nightmare body."
Usopp sobbed.
"I HATE THIS ISLAND."
Nami snapped.
"Focus! He fights like Luffy but hits like a mountain!"
Zoro burst forward.
"Three Sword Style—"
Oars lazily swung his arm sideways.
WHAM.
Zoro was smashed through a collapsed pillar.
"Gah!"
Rubble buried him.
Robin shouted. "Zoro!"
Brook dashed forward, blade humming.
"SOUL PARADE!"
He slashed across Oars' chest.
Sparks erupted.
Metallic screech.
Not even a scratch.
Brook skidded backward.
"…My cut did nothing."
Franky jumped in front.
"Back off, skeleton bro!"
His shoulders opened.
"COUPE DE VENT!"
Compressed air cannons fired.
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Explosions swallowed Oars' torso.
Smoke rolled outward.
Usopp shielded his eyes.
"Did we get him?!"
The smoke cleared.
Oars blinked.
"…That tickled."
He smiled.
A massive, childish grin.
Usopp dropped to his knees.
"We're doomed."
Chopper grabbed Usopp.
"DON'T GIVE UP!"
Usopp pointed at Oars.
"LOOK AT HIM!"
"I CAN'T EVEN LIE MY WAY OUT OF THIS!"
Suddenly—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
A slow, mocking applause echoed.
KISHISHISHI…
Black mist spilled across a rooftop.
A tall silhouette emerged.
Gecko Moria stepped forward, arms spread wide.
"Well, well…"
The Straw Hats turned.
"MORIA!" Nami shouted.
Sanji's eyes burned.
"So you finally show yourself."
Moria grinned.
"How do you like my masterpiece?"
He gestured grandly.
"Oars…"
"With Straw Hat's shadow!"
Brook staggered.
"So it truly is Luffy's shadow…"
Robin clenched her hands.
"He stole it…"
Usopp whispered.
"Can we beat them…?"
"With Oars… and a Warlord…?"
Franky growled.
"This is insane…"
Zoro pulled himself from the rubble, blood dripping down his face.
"We don't have a choice."
Sanji stepped forward.
"And we can't find Luffy."
Nami swallowed.
"So this thing…"
"…Is what happens when Luffy loses."
Moria floated closer.
"KISHISHISHI…"
"Struggle all you want."
"Your captain is finished."
Oars raised both fists.
"I'LL SMASH YOU TO BITS!"
The crew tightened their stances.
Weapons raised.
Teeth clenched.
No captain.
No plan.
Only each other.
——————————-
Elsewhere — Deep within Thriller Bark
Darkness.
Silence.
Broken stone and twisted roots formed a natural pit between collapsed towers.
A body lay sprawled face-first.
Luffy.
Unmoving.
A low groan escaped his lips.
"…Meat…"
Footsteps echoed.
Multiple sets.
Shadows shifted.
A group of strange-looking pirates surrounded him.
They wore mismatched armor, patched clothes, and nervous expressions.
At their front stood a large woman with pink hair and wide eyes.
Lola.
She leaned down and poked Luffy's cheek with her finger.
"…Oi."
No response.
She poked harder.
"…Oi."
Still nothing.
She sighed and kicked him lightly.
"Wake up already."
Luffy rolled onto his back.
"Huh…?"
He squinted at the shapes above him. "…Are you guys meat?"
One of Lola's crewmates screamed. "HE'S TALKING ABOUT EATING US!"
Lola smacked the crewmate. "Shut up!"
She crouched in front of Luffy. "You're Straw Hat Luffy, right?"
Luffy blinked. "…Yeah."
Lola crossed her arms. "You got your shadow stolen."
Luffy frowned. "…That's cheating."
A crewmate nodded aggressively.
"SEE?! EVEN HE THINKS IT'S CHEATING!"
Lola pointed toward the distant castle.
"That man—Gecko Moria—"
"He's the reason we're trapped here."
"He stole our shadows too."
Another crewmate stepped forward.
"We can't leave the island."
"We burn in sunlight."
Luffy sat up slowly.
"…So you want me to beat him."
Lola nodded.
"If you defeat Moria…"
"We'll help you escape Thriller Bark."
Luffy scratched his head.
"…I was gonna beat him anyway."
Everyone stared.
"…Huh?" several pirates said together.
Lola blinked.
"Just like that?"
Luffy shrugged.
"He stole my shadow."
"And he messed with my friend."
"So yeah."
Lola burst into laughter. "HAH! I like you!"
She leaned closer. "But there's a problem."
Luffy tilted his head. "Huh?"
Lola snapped her fingers.
Her crew dragged forward several large containers made of metal and wood.
The lids rattled violently.
Something inside moved.
Dark mist leaked from the seams.
Luffy squinted. "…What's in those?"
Lola grinned. "Shadows."
Luffy stared. "…Like… spooky shadows?"
One crewmate nodded. "Very spooky."
Luffy frowned. "…Why do you have so many spooky shadows?"
Lola put her hands on her hips.
"We've been collecting them from zombies we defeat."
"They belong to living people whose shadows were stolen."
Luffy scratched his cheek. "…Okay…"
Lola continued.
"We can temporarily put these shadows inside you."
"They'll boost your strength, speed, and power."
Luffy stared blankly.
"…You lost me."
One crewmate tried to explain.
"Imagine… you become a shadow buffet."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "BUFFET?!"
Lola facepalmed. "Not food!"
She sighed. "Think of it as borrowing power."
Luffy thought about it. "…Will it help me punch Moria harder?"
Lola nodded. "Yes. Definitely."
Luffy immediately smiled.
"Then let's do it!"
The crew exchanged shocked looks.
"That was fast…"
"You're not even scared?"
Luffy shrugged.
"Why would I be scared?"
"I said i'm gonna win."
Lola grinned wider.
"This guy's crazy."
She raised her hand.
"Do it."
The containers were opened.
Black mist exploded outward.
Shadows screamed.
They writhed like living smoke.
One by one—
They rushed toward Luffy.
"HEY WAIT—!"
The first shadow slammed into his chest.
Then another.
And another.
Luffy's eyes widened.
"WOAH!"
His body began to swell.
Muscles expanded unnaturally.
Arms thickened.
Veins bulged dark and jagged beneath his skin.
His silhouette twisted, growing massive.
The ground cracked under the pressure.
CRRRKK.
Wind howled outward.
Lola and her crew shielded their faces.
"IT'S WORKING!"
More shadows poured in.
Luffy clenched his fists.
"I FEEL WEIRD!"
His voice deepened.
Echoing.
His chest expanded.
Shoulders broadened.
Dark markings spread across his body.
His eyes glowed red.
The last shadow fused into him.
Silence.
Dust drifted.
Luffy slowly stood.
Each movement sounded heavy.
THUD.
THUD.
He looked down at his massive hands.
"…I feel…"
He clenched one fist.
CRACK.
The stone floor shattered.
"…strong."
Lola stared in awe.
"…So this is what 100 shadows looks like."
Luffy lifted his head.
A terrifying grin spread across his face.
"Alright."
"Time to get my shadow back."
Nightmare Luffy had awakened.
—————————
Back at the Courtyard
Oars raised both massive fists high above his head.
"I'LL CRUSH YOU!"
Muscles bulged.
Veins popped.
A shadow loomed over the Straw Hats.
Nami screamed.
"EVERYONE MOVE!"
Zoro planted his feet.
"BRACE YOURSELVES!"
Usopp hugged Chopper.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE FLAT!"
Oars brought his fists down.
The air itself seemed to scream.
Then—
BOOM.
A gigantic fist slammed upward and caught Oars' attack mid-swing.
A deafening shockwave erupted.
The courtyard floor shattered.
Gravestones vaporized.
Wind exploded outward, ripping cloaks and sending debris flying.
Everyone shielded their faces.
When the dust settled—
A massive silhouette stood between the Straw Hats and Oars.
Broad shoulders.
Enlarged frame.
Darkened skin traced with shadowy patterns.
Steam coiled off his body like smoke.
Two glowing red eyes burned in the darkness.
Silence.
"…Huh?"
Usopp slowly lowered his hands.
"…Guys?"
"…Tell me I'm hallucinating."
The figure turned slightly.
"Yo."
That voice.
Chopper's jaw dropped.
"L-L-Luffy?!"
Usopp screamed.
"LUFFY?!"
Nami's eyes widened.
"…That's… Luffy?"
Sanji blinked several times.
"…Did he eat the entire island?"
Brook tilted his skull.
"Yohohoho! He appears to have evolved into a final boss!"
Franky grinned.
"SUPER terrifying!"
Zoro smirked.
"He finally caught up."
Nightmare Luffy cracked his neck.
CRACK.
Then his knuckles.
CRACK. CRACK.
He looked up at Oars.
"Oars…"
"You're nothing but a fake."
Oars blinked. "Huh?"
Nightmare Luffy's lips curled into a grin.
"I'm the real deal."
Moria, watching from above, leaned forward.
"…What is this?"
Nightmare Luffy vanished.
A sonic boom exploded where he stood.
Oars' eyes widened.
"HUH—?!"
Nightmare Luffy reappeared directly in front of Oars' face.
"GOMU GOMU NO—"
His arm drew back, shadows spiraling around it.
"JET PISTOL!"
BOOM.
His fist smashed into Oars' face.
The impact cratered Oars' skull inward.
A shockwave rippled across Thriller Bark.
Buildings collapsed.
Towers snapped.
Oars' gigantic body lifted off the ground.
The giant flew backward like a launched cannonball.
CRASH.
He plowed through multiple structures.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Finally—
Oars skidded across the courtyard and slammed into a massive wall.
The wall exploded.
Oars collapsed in a heap.
Smoke poured from his mouth.
The Straw Hats stood frozen.
Usopp pointed.
"…He just… punched… a mountain…"
Chopper's eyes sparkled.
"Luffy's amazing!"
Nami whispered.
"…What happened to him…?"
Brook placed a hand to his skull.
"He appears to be overflowing with shadows."
Robin nodded.
"A temporary amplification."
Franky whistled.
"That's one hell of a power-up."
Zoro smirked wider.
"Tch. About time."
Moria stared in disbelief.
"…Impossible…"
Oars groaned.
He tried to push himself up.
Nightmare Luffy appeared above him.
"Stay down."
He brought his heel down.
BOOM.
Oars' head smashed into the ground.
The earth caved inward.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the courtyard.
Oars twitched.
Then went limp.
Silence.
Wind howled through broken ruins.
The Straw Hats slowly turned toward Moria.
Moria took a step back.
"…This isn't possible."
Nightmare Luffy looked up.
"Moria…"
"I'm coming for you next."
Moria's grin twitched.
KISHISHISHI…
"Then come."
Darkness spread behind him.
Thriller Bark itself seemed to recoil.
The final battle had truly begun.
————-