LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Two Commanders and Kuma
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye sifted through the intelligence provided by CP9, he realized it notably lacked details about Moria's crew. It seemed only figures like the Seven Warlords merited full dossiers to CP9.
Absalom, now sprawled unconscious from Sanji's kick, was one of Moria's odder followers. He had consumed the Clear-Clear Devil Fruit, granting him the power to turn himself and anything he touched invisible. While impressive, this ability held little advantage against those skilled in Observation Haki, reducing its effectiveness in combat.
Beyond invisibility, Absalom's real strength was his augmented physique—enhanced by Dr. Hogback with elements like elephant skin and the muscularity of a bear and gorilla, topped with a pair of arm-mounted rocket launchers, cleverly concealed by his devil fruit powers.
But for Sanji, this encounter wasn't just about defeating an enemy. The cook had long fantasized about the power of invisibility, not for combat but for less noble pursuits—specifically, the ability to sneak into the women's bathhouse.
Yet, there stood Sanji, wrestling with his conscience over whether to request Bai Ye's help in obtaining the fruit for himself. The internal conflict was clear on his face, twisted in frustration.
"Damn it! That was my dream, and you stole it!" Sanji growled at the unconscious form of Absalom. But deeper reflection brought clarity. With a heavy sigh, Sanji kicked Absalom away, watching as the body tumbled through the underbrush before coming to a stop.
Lighting a cigarette, Sanji pondered the mysteries of Devil Fruits and Haki. Finally, he sighed and concluded, "Even with a power like that, I still wouldn't be able to enter Robin's and Nami's rooms."
After Sanji left the scene, the dense forest rustled ominously as a tall figure appeared next to the unconscious Absalom. Unlike Moria, with his big belly, this newcomer sported a broad chest and a towering presence. It was Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Kuma, holding a book, looked down at Absalom and asked in a deep, calm voice, "If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose to go?"
Naturally, the severely injured Absalom offered no response. Kuma paused for a moment as if expecting an answer before he continued, "Is that so? Then I understand."
He gently removed his gloves, revealing palms that resembled bear paws, and crouched beside Absalom. "Well, have a pleasant journey, then," Kuma murmured, and with a soft tap of his paw-like palm on Absalom's body, the man vanished instantly.
This showcased the capabilities of Kuma's Devil Fruit, the Paramecia-type Paw-Paw Fruit. Kuma had mastered this fruit to an extraordinary extent, allowing him to repel anything he touched. This ranged from physical entities to abstract concepts like pain and fatigue. He could encase anything he repelled in a bubble shaped like a bear's paw, sending it to any destination he desired, demonstrating a unique and powerful utilization of his Devil Fruit abilities.
-----
Brook used his knowledge of the haunted ship to navigate quickly to the central castle. There, he was greeted by a hauntingly familiar voice: "Yohoho! How many times have you challenged me, swordsman?"
From the shadows of the gate, a figure emerged, clad in a worn white kimono adorned with dragon emblems on the sleeves and wooden clogs on his feet. His gray hair and bandage-wrapped face, resembling both a mummy and a zombie, made a chilling sight. Yet, the most striking feature was the black sword he held firmly in his right hand.
The figure raised his sword, pointing it directly at Brook. "Don't you understand yet? No matter how many times you come here, the outcome is always the same—you are destined to fail! Do you wish to flee in disgrace once again?"
Despite being a zombie, the figure radiated a formidable aura, not from Brook's stolen shadow but from the ancient body that had been animated to house it. This explained why Brook had been easily bested in each of their encounters—the swordsmanship didn't just come from skill, but from the overwhelming presence of the undead swordsman.
After his previous defeats, Brook had considered giving up, facing an opponent seemingly unbeatable. However, this time was different; Brook's resolve was stronger. He stood firm, the oppressive aura washing over him, and let out his characteristic laugh, "Yo-ho-ho!"
"This time, I won't run away again!" Brook declared, drawing his rapier with a flourish. "I thought my story was buried decades ago, but now—I have a crew, a journey to continue, and a promise to keep, even if it costs me my life! Even in death, I won't flee!"
With a determined shout, "Give me back my shadow!" Brook charged forward, unleashing his sword attack, "Three-Verse Humming: Arrow Notch Slash," aimed directly at his undead adversary.
-----
In another part of the island, Bai Ye focused a beam of golden light in his right hand and seized a fleeing ghost. "It seems you've been here so long you've lost touch. Don't you know anything about me?" he mused aloud, marveling at the bizarre reality of the One Piece world, where even fruits that spawn ghosts existed.
Perona, known as the Ghost Princess and one of Moria's notorious trio, wielded the powers of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit. This allowed her to generate various ghosts from her body and perform soul-separation techniques, embodying the essential ghostly trait of intangibility.
In the original story, when Perona unleashed her soul attacks, the Straw Hat Pirates, who relied entirely on physical attacks, found themselves utterly helpless. Whenever they faced an enemy they couldn't physically touch, even the crew's three strongest fighters would inevitably be brought to their knees, unable to fight back.