Shadow in the Darkness

The flickering eerie light, the lonely path, the lost direction—everything seemed both harmonious and strange.

This kind of closed and secluded environment is prone to breed restlessness and anxiety. In addition, Vivi's previous words cast a shadow over everyone's hearts, as if a pair of malicious and sinister eyes were watching them from some unknown corner.

Luffy, who is always a bit dim-witted and knows no fear, naturally took the lead, walking at the very front. Zoro and Sanji followed closely behind, while Nami, Usopp, and Chopper shrugged their shoulders, tugging at Zoro's clothes and following closely behind them. Vivi lagged behind, as if only these figures in front of her could bring her some sense of security.

"Where... where is this? It doesn't look like God's Temple at all, it looks more like a Haunted House." Nami took the initiative to start the conversation, the deathly silence around her made her feel no life at all.

"Haha..." Usopp chuckled dryly. "Nami, don't make scary things sound so easy. How could this be Haunted House? It doesn't exist."

"Everyone, have you noticed? We've been walking for almost an hour, but this God's Temple seems to have no end. Are we going to never get out?" Chopper said with a mournful face.

"No... no way, could this really be a ghost town?" Nami became increasingly frightened.

"Miss Nami, don't worry, there are no ghosts or monsters in this world. It's just a slightly complicated 'maze.' Your loyal knight will definitely lead you out of this dark 'maze' and towards a bright and beautiful future!" Sanji's eyes gleamed with a crimson light, and he grinned foolishly, fantasizing about unhealthy things.

Vivi was startled by what she heard. If she remembered correctly, the whisper that had appeared in her ear earlier mentioned a "maze," didn't it? Could it be that she hadn't just been imagining things?

Vivi was momentarily lost in thought and unconsciously stopped in her tracks. Suddenly, a light body bumped into her from behind, causing Vivi to stumble and almost fall.

"Ah? I'm sorry, yes..." Good upbringing made Vivi realize her mistake immediately, and she hurriedly apologized. Then, a chill instantly rushed into her heart, and her body felt as if it had been frozen, her limbs stiff.

Wasn't she at the very back of the line? Why would someone bump into her from behind? Could it be...?

"Ah!!!" Vivi immediately let out a scream of up to 120 decibels, which echoed in the winding maze.

Oops!

Without any hesitation, everyone turned back and returned to Vivi's side.

"An enemy?" Zoro asked succinctly, holding his blade and protecting Vivi.

"Vivi, calm down, what happened?" Nami was also surprised. It was the first time she had ever seen the usually composed Vivi so terrified. Her pupils dilated unconsciously, and she slumped to the ground, drenched in sweat, as if she had just been pulled out of a pool of water.

"There... there's someone behind me! There was someone behind me just now!" After regaining her composure, Vivi looked at Nami and the others with pleading eyes. She didn't even dare to turn around now, fearing that the moment she did, she would see a hideous face with its eyes wide open in death.

"There's no one here, Vivi, are you sure you're not mistaken?" Nami was a little scared when she heard this, but she still mustered up her courage to look at the shadow behind Vivi. Under the faint glow of the fluorescent light, there was no one there, which reassured Nami a little.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Vivi was very agitated. "Someone definitely touched my body just now. I swear, I know now. What was behind me just now wasn't a person, but a ghost, Vengeful Soul that died in this God's Temple and whose soul can't even escape!"

"How could that be? How could there be such a fantastical thing as ghosts in this world?" Nami chuckled dryly, then asked without turning her head, "Luffy, ghosts don't exist in this world, right?"

"Huh? No, ghosts really do exist!" Luffy's dazed voice came from behind.

Nami, feeling embarrassed and annoyed, said, "Luffy, I don't have time to mess around with you right now, so please stop adding fuel to the fire, okay?"

"I'm not kidding! Are the monsters you're talking about like this one floating in front of me?" Luffy said defiantly.

Ghosts? Floating?

Everyone's expression froze, and they mechanically turned their heads.

Sure enough, the "ghost" holding a burgundy umbrella and wearing a gothic dress seemed to float in mid-air as if it had no weight, and stared at them with a terrifying gaze.

"Ah!!!" Nami, Usopp, and Chopper screamed in terror, huddled together, tears streaming down their faces, "There really is a ghost!"

Seeing their expressions, Luffy became excited instead, "See? I told you there was a ghost."

"Damn it, what's there to be happy about?!" Nami and the others cursed angrily, tears streaming down their faces.

"Ah! Is it really such an adorable ghost lady? My dead heart is starting to stir again!" Sanji exclaimed with a lovesick expression.

"A ghost or Vengeful Soul? In any case, he's a tough opponent. I wonder if my sword can sever his soul as well?" Zoro's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

"Hehehe, you guys are much more interesting than the previous intruders. Aren't you scared at all?" Perona gracefully flew through the air, while Sanji below had dazed eyes and his body swayed uncontrollably.

"Intruders? What happened to the intruders from the previous times?" Although she was a little scared, Vivi still mustered up her courage to ask.

"Of course he's dead!" Perona's nonchalant reply sent a chill down Chopper's spine.

"We're doomed. Are we all going to be killed by the vengeful ghost?" Nami shed tears of grief.

"I've heard that the souls of those killed by vengeful ghosts cannot find peace. Can we choose a different way to die?" Usopp asked silently, tears streaming down his face.

"Hehehe, I can't bear to kill you interesting little toys. In fact, they all died in endless despair because they couldn't find their way out of this chaotic Other Dimension Labyrinth."

""Suicide"?"

"Can't find the exit?"

"Other Dimension Labyrinth'?"

Everyone was clear-headed. Anyone who could pass the first level and enter this God's Temple was definitely not to be underestimated. Even on the Grand Line, they would be considered a big shot. Yet, such a powerful person would choose to 'commit suicide' in the end, which shows how desperate they were!

"I remember last time in Alabasta, the way Nightmare temporarily imprisoned Brother Ace was with this ability called 'Other Dimension Labyrinth', right? Maybe we can learn from Brother Ace and use brute force to break through the 'Labyrinth' and rush out!" Vivi found a flaw in Perona's words and excitedly suggested.

"Vivi, you're so smart! We really don't need to follow the rules set by the enemy. Breaking through the 'maze' and jumping out of the rules might be the best way!" Nami and the others said excitedly.

"Hehehe, you guys are so adorably ignorant. This Other Dimension Labyrinth was set up by the captain himself. Not to mention you guys, even that Fire Fist Ace you mentioned wouldn't escape the fate of eternal imprisonment here. From the moment you stepped into the God's Temple, your destiny was already irreversible!"