Arc 11Thriller Bark Conquest

Maud defeated Gecko Moria, claimed the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, and recruited Brook while sparing Perona under his control. As Maud pursued Moria’s Shichibukai seat, the Marines and other Shichibukai prepared to meet and consider his rise.

  • Luo created the Weapon-Weapon Fruit from Baby-5’s heart and a pineapple, and Maud invited him to join the crew heading to Thriller Bark.
  • Maud arrived at Thriller Bark, killed Abrosam and Hogback, freed Cindry, defeated Ryuma, and took Shusui.
  • Lafitte captured Perona, while Maud fought Moria, exploited his shadows’ weakness to Haki, and severed both his arms.
  • Maud knocked out and killed Moria, ate the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, and staged a photograph to support his bid to become a Shichibukai.
  • Brook accepted Maud’s invitation to join the crew after explaining his promise to meet Laboon again, and Maud spared Perona while keeping her heart as leverage.
  • Maud sent Luo away to meet him at Sabaody Archipelago in a year and asked Lafitte to recommend him as Moria’s successor at the Shichibukai meeting.
  • Hawk Eyes and Crocodile decided to attend the meeting after seeing Maud’s new 500 million bounty poster, while Doflamingo and Aokiji also turned their attention to it.
Chapters 252–276 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 252Thoughts on the Right Track

Luo tested Maud’s theory that the Op-Op Fruit could preserve and redirect a Devil Fruit’s power, successfully creating a new Weapon-Weapon Fruit from Baby-5. Maud accepted the fruit and invited Luo to an island ship.

  • Luo knocked Baby-5 unconscious and used Room to prepare for the operation while Maud and Lafitte watched.
  • Luo placed Baby-5’s heart and a pineapple together inside the heart’s protective membrane, following Maud’s theory about controlling the Devil Fruit’s source.
  • Luo killed Baby-5, and the pineapple changed into a Devil Fruit as the heart stopped beating.
  • Maud celebrated the successful creation of the Weapon-Weapon Fruit, and Luo handed it to him.
  • Maud invited Luo to go with him to an island ship.

Ch. 253Plane Ticket

Maud’s crew prepared to leave, and he invited Philo to join them before Kuma sent the Netherworld and Polar Dive flying to Thriller Bark. Issho and Kuma stayed behind, discussing Kuma’s ability and Maud’s knowledge of it.

  • Maud said goodbye to Issho and invited Philo to join his crew, and Philo accepted.
  • Beli snatched Philo’s Crow Mask, prompting Jaya to reclaim it and Beli to return it to Philo after getting a lump on her head.
  • Maud thanked Kuma, who sent the Netherworld away with his paw; the Heart Pirates boarded the Polar Dive, and Kuma sent it flying after them.
  • Issho asked Kuma where he had sent the ships, and Kuma revealed their destination was Thriller Bark.
  • Kuma remarked that Maud seemed to understand his ability well, and Issho said he had experienced that himself.

Ch. 254Is it my illusion?

Gion arrived at Lor Island after the Maud Pirates had left, and Aokiji explained that Kuma had sent them flying an extraordinary distance. The Maud Pirates landed in Thriller Bark, where Absalom secretly approached their ship and discovered that Maud and the others could see him.

  • Gion reached Lor Island and asked Aokiji why he had let the Maud Pirates escape.
  • Aokiji told Gion that Kuma had attacked the Maud Pirates and urged her to investigate what had happened on the island.
  • After three days and nights in the sky, the Netherworld landed in the sea inside Thriller Bark, followed by the Polar Dive.
  • Maud sent Lafitte to bring the Netherworld to shore and waited for someone to approach.
  • Absalom boarded the Netherworld invisibly, lusted after Jaya and Philo, and realized Maud, Lafitte, and Jaya could see him.

Ch. 255Clear-Clear Fruit

Maud’s crew captured Abrosam, a user of the Clear-Clear Fruit, and used Luo’s ability to extract the fruit from him after Maud killed him. As Maud turned his attention toward the zombies on the island, several Small Animal Zombies watched in terror from the forest.

  • Maud caught the invisible Abrosam as he tried to leave and restrained him until he became visible and passed out.
  • Lafitte hypnotized Abrosam to extract information, and Maud recorded it in Hunter’s Notebook.
  • Maud killed Abrosam during the operation, and Luo forced the Devil Fruit spirit into a nearby fruit to create the Clear-Clear Fruit.
  • Maud tossed Abrosam’s corpse into the sea and looked toward the castle forest, wondering what experience the island’s zombies might yield.
  • Several Small Animal Zombies watched from the forest and realized that Abrosam had been killed without a sound.

Ch. 256I Won't Tell You

Maud discovered that killing Zombies did not earn experience, then returned to the Netherworld and directed his crew to use salt against Thriller Bark’s Zombies before Gecko Moria acted. The crew prepared to continue their plan to kill Moria and obtain his Shadow-Shadow Fruit.

  • Two Small Animal Zombies mourned Abrosam’s defeat, and Maud kicked the Pig-Head Zombie, expelling its shadow.
  • The Dog-Head Zombie, Douglas Gill, revealed Doctor Hogback, Princess Perona, Moria, and the General Zombies’ locations while insisting he would not betray his lords.
  • Maud recorded Gill’s name in Hunter’s Notebook and kicked him, but killing him yielded no experience.
  • Maud returned to the Netherworld and told everyone to use salt against as many Zombies as possible before Moria made a move.

Ch. 257Famous Sword White Weasel

Maud and his companions reached Thriller Bark to hunt Gecko Moria, splitting up to search the island while carrying salt to exploit Moria’s weaknesses. Philo revealed her dangerous habit of testing mushrooms on herself, and Maud noticed she seemed to know Doc Q before he set out with Beli transformed into a sword.

  • Maud chose to attack Gecko Moria after Kuma’s free Plane Ticket changed his plans from hunting Sand Crocodile Crocodile.
  • Maud’s group carried bags of salt into Thriller Bark’s foggy forest, and Maud claimed the intelligence about Moria’s weaknesses came from the Revolutionary Army.
  • Philo ate a spotted mushroom to test its effects, collapsed from paralysis, then recovered and collected the remaining mushrooms to make poison.
  • Maud asked Philo whether she knew Doc Q, and her reaction suggested she recognized the name, though she denied knowing him.
  • Maud split the group up, sending Luo’s party left and Lafitte and Jim right while Jaya stayed behind to guard the Polar Dive.
  • Maud remained with Philo and Beli, then Beli transformed into a white long sword that Maud called the famous blade White Weasel.

Ch. 258Firecrackers

Maud and Philo reached Thriller Bark’s cemetery, where they fought the zombies that emerged from the ground. Maud effortlessly defeated more than a hundred of them with Beli transformed into a saber and twin pistols, drawing Moria’s attention from the castle.

  • Maud took Beli, transformed into the White Weasel saber, and Philo through the forest toward Thriller Bark’s castle.
  • Zombies emerged from the cemetery graves, and Maud assigned the left side to Philo.
  • Philo used sea salt and her joint technique to defeat zombies, including one more than three meters tall.
  • Maud cut down sixty-seven zombies with the White Weasel, then had Beli transform into twin pistols and shot the rest.
  • Moria watched Maud from the castle balcony and called him an overconfident rookie.

Ch. 259Ruthless and Swift

Maud and Philo fought their way through Moria’s zombie forces and entered Hogback’s manor. Maud killed Hogback and waited for Moria to respond, while Philo freed Cindry from her zombie state.

  • Moria watched Maud from the castle balcony but chose to let his subordinates handle him.
  • Maud defeated the graveyard zombies with Gin’s pistol forms, then left with Philo for the manor.
  • Hogback heard the gunfire and learned from spider mice that Abrosam had been killed.
  • Maud entered the hall, admitted he had killed Abrosam, and swiftly beheaded Hogback.
  • Philo subdued Cindry and freed her from the control of her shadowless corpse.
  • Maud looked toward the ceiling and waited for Moria, who had still not confronted him.

Ch. 260Name-Sword Shusui

Maud waited in Hogback’s hall with Philo until Swordsman Ryuma arrived to avenge Abrosam. Maud defeated Ryuma with one slash and claimed the famous sword Shusui, while the spider mice realized only their master could stop him.

  • Maud sheathed Chidori, brewed tea in Hogback’s hall, and invited Philo to drink with him.
  • Swordsman Ryuma arrived, recognized Maud as the killer of Abrosam, and challenged him to a duel.
  • Maud and Ryuma clashed swords, and Maud quickly overpowered Ryuma with one hand.
  • Maud explained that zombies could not use Haki, then summoned Beli as a sword and cut Ryuma down with a Haki-coated slash.
  • Maud caught Shusui as it fell, while Philo and the spider mice witnessed his strength.

Ch. 261Jealous Beli

Brook discovered that his shadow had returned and set out to investigate what had happened. At Thriller Bark, Maud prepared for the next attack, sent Philo to handle the mansion’s zombies, and Lafitte confronted Perona’s ghosts.

  • Brook noticed his shadow had returned, connected it to the strange sounds he had heard overhead, and tried to determine their direction.
  • Maud tested Shusui and noticed Beli’s transformed blade now closely resembled it, while Philo asked what they should do next.
  • Maud gave Philo the salt and tasked her with dealing with the mansion’s zombies as a swarm of bats gathered outside.
  • Lafitte and Jim encountered Perona’s Negativity Ghosts, and Jim collapsed after they passed through him.
  • Lafitte avoided the ghosts and struck at Perona, but his sword wave passed through her as she sent the ghosts after him.

Ch. 262The Power of Intelligence

Lafitte used Maud’s intelligence about the Moria Pirates’ need to preserve intruders for their shadows to evade Perona’s Negativity Ghosts and locate her true body. He reached Perona’s room, leaving Jim behind and bringing the battle close to its end.

  • Perona sent her Negativity Ghosts after Lafitte, but he dodged them while searching for her true body with Observation Haki.
  • Perona used the corridor’s walls and floor to hide the ghosts’ movements, while Lafitte kept avoiding their attacks.
  • Lafitte cut through a wall and left Jim behind, surprising Perona, who assumed Jim would keep him trapped.
  • Lafitte followed the information from his Observation Haki to Perona’s room and found her sitting against the headboard.

Ch. 263Don't Kill Me!

Lafitte subdued Perona and prepared to take her to Luo so they could secure the Hollow-Hollow Fruit. At the estate, Maud began fighting Gecko Moria, whose shadow attacks failed to capture him and whose face Maud managed to cut.

  • Lafitte held Perona’s body at swordpoint and forced her astral form to return to it.
  • Perona mistook Lafitte’s threat for a sexual demand, offered no resistance, and was knocked unconscious.
  • Lafitte carried Perona away, intending to meet Luo and remove her heart to prevent her from posing a threat.
  • Gecko Moria arrived at the estate, and Maud identified him before hurling the white ferret at him.
  • Moria dodged the transformed weapon’s bullets and countered Maud with a shadow spear and bats, but Maud escaped the trap and cut Moria’s cheek with a shot from Dark Raven.

Ch. 264The Versatility of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit

Maud tested the Shadow-Shadow Fruit’s abilities while battling Moria on the Thriller Bark and discovered that Armament Haki could suppress shadows’ recovery. Moria searched for a chance to cut off Maud’s shadow and end the fight.

  • Moria sent shadow bats after Maud, who destroyed them with his Gun. Daisy sword technique and judged their strength to be limited.
  • Moria formed Shadow Master from his shadows and sent it to attack Maud while he stayed behind it.
  • Maud wrapped Chidori in Armament Haki and struck Shadow Master, then evaded its severed arms as they transformed into a net.
  • Maud concluded that Armament Haki could damage shadows and called Beli back to his hand as a second blade.
  • Moria fixed his gaze on Maud’s shadow and waited for an opportunity to cut it off.

Ch. 265Haki Is The True Capital

Maud exploited Moria’s inability to infuse his shadows with Armament Haki and used a concealed Haki-coated bullet to wound the Shadow Master, sending Moria crashing through the forest. The pirates and zombies on Thriller Bark saw Moria’s defeat and wondered who Maud was.

  • Maud and Moria exchanged attacks as each tried to capture the other alive, and Maud deduced that Moria could not strengthen his shadows with Armament Haki.
  • Moria sent the Shadow Master after Maud while keeping his Shadow Clone ability hidden, but Maud knew Moria could swap places with it.
  • Maud fired ordinary pellets that the Shadow Master ignored, then slipped an Armament Haki-coated pellet into the barrage and punched a hole through its abdomen.
  • The wounded Shadow Master returned to Moria, and a surge of force sent Moria smashing through eight trees before he stopped.
  • The shadowless pirates and the stationed zombies watched Moria get blasted away and wondered who Maud was.

Ch. 266Where Did All the Shadows Go???

Maud wounded Moria and pressed his attack, while Moria struggled to counter him with the Shadow-Shadow Fruit. Moria unleashed Shadows' Gathering Ground, but found that far fewer shadows remained than he expected as Maud charged.

  • Moria realized Maud had hidden an Armament Haki-coated bullet among his shots, then treated his wound with a piece of his shadow.
  • Maud fired as he advanced, then closed in with a blade and struck at Moria when Moria escaped by switching places with his shadow.
  • Maud cut Moria's shadow during its retreat, leaving Moria unable to find an opening to attack Maud's shadow.
  • Moria considered relying on Perona, then chose to use Shadows' Gathering Ground to absorb the shadows across Thriller Bark.
  • Moria's technique stripped nearby zombies of their shadows, but he was shocked to find only a small number coming to him and accused Maud of taking the rest.
  • Maud told Moria to guess and charged at him with his blade.

Ch. 267Surprise

Moria absorbed about a hundred weak shadows and charged Maud, convinced Maud had ruined the rest. Maud used Shusui to sever both of Moria’s arms, leaving the watching pirates stunned by his strength.

  • Moria used Shadows' Gathering Ground to absorb about a hundred shadows, then blamed Maud for the loss of the higher-quality ones.
  • Moria rushed Maud and withstood his sword auras with only minor wounds, boasting that a hundred shadows were enough.
  • Moria attacked with both fists, but Maud drew Shusui and severed his right arm with a powerful slash.
  • Moria scattered the dust and swung his left arm at Maud, who severed it with another slash.
  • The pirates watching from the forest stared in shock as Maud left Moria without either arm.

Ch. 268Brook

Maud defeated Moria and carried him toward the castle, while Lola and the pirates decided to thank their savior. Their celebration was interrupted when Brook revealed himself to the group.

  • Maud struck Moria with his blade, shot him with a Seastone bullet, and knocked him unconscious.
  • Maud considered whether to eat the Shadow-Shadow Fruit and carried Moria toward the castle.
  • Lola convinced the pirates to go thank Maud for restoring their freedom.
  • Lola announced that she intended to propose to Maud, startling the pirates.
  • Brook appeared among the pirates, introduced himself, and frightened them when they mistook him for a ghost.

Ch. 269Sorry for the Trouble!

Maud waited in Moria’s castle after defeating him, while Philo joined him and Brook arrived. After Brook asked to see Philo’s panties, she broke several of his bones, and Lola’s pirates fled after mistaking the scene for a murder.

  • Brook learned from Lola and the other pirates that Maud had defeated Moria and Ryuma, then headed for the castle.
  • Maud treated Moria’s bleeding wounds and waited for Lafitte and the others; Philo arrived unharmed and began sorting plants.
  • Brook entered the hall, noticed Moria, and immediately asked Philo if he could see her panties.
  • Philo put on her Crow Mask and broke Brook’s arm and leg bones, then wondered aloud what was inside his moving skeleton.
  • Lola and the pirates arrived, saw Brook motionless on the floor, bowed in unison, and ran away.

Ch. 270Shadow-Shadow Fruit

Maude’s group captured Perona and defeated Moria, then Maude had Luo extract the Shadow-Shadow Fruit. Maude ate the fruit, while the remaining pirates stayed in the castle.

  • Lafitte and Luo regrouped with Maude after capturing Perona and removing her heart to prevent her from using the Hollow-Hollow Fruit against them.
  • Lafitte brought Perona to the castle, where she saw the defeated Moria and was intimidated into silence by Maude.
  • Maude carried Moria upstairs with Lafitte and Luo to extract the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, while Perona vented her anger by beating Brook.
  • Maude killed Moria, gained enough experience to form a fifth Star Frame in his Haki, and received the Shadow-Shadow Fruit extracted by Luo.
  • Maude ate the Shadow-Shadow Fruit before Lafitte could suggest that he take the Hollow-Hollow Fruit instead.

Ch. 271Dance with the Corpse

Maud ate the Shadow-Shadow Fruit and began testing its abilities on Moria’s corpse. He photographed himself stabbing the corpse to help secure the vacant Shichibukai position, then turned to testing whether the fruit’s sunlight weakness affected its user.

  • Maud ate the entire Shadow-Shadow Fruit despite its foul taste.
  • Maud sensed the fruit’s power and created a Shadow Clone that merged with Moria’s shadow.
  • Maud gradually controlled Moria’s corpse through its shadow and posed it for a photograph.
  • Lafitte photographed Maud stabbing Moria’s corpse so Maud could use the image to promote his claim to the Shichibukai position.
  • Maud wondered whether sunlight would turn him to ash if he lost his shadow.

Ch. 272What Kind of People Are These?

Maud considered the Shadow-Shadow Fruit’s potential and invited Brook to join his crew after learning about his promise to Laboon. Brook accepted, leaving Maud and the others about to introduce themselves.

  • Maud reflected on the Shadow-Shadow Fruit’s possible powers and went downstairs with Lafitte and Luo to meet Brook.
  • Luo healed Brook, and Maud invited him to join the crew, but Brook initially refused because he had promised to return to Laboon.
  • Brook told Maud about his promise, and Maud explained that Laboon had been waiting for him at Twin Cape for nearly fifty years.
  • Brook refused to return to Laboon immediately, choosing to meet him again from the front as promised, and accepted Maud’s invitation.
  • Brook realized he did not know anyone’s name, and Perona abruptly stopped crying in disbelief.

Ch. 273Spoils of War

Brook formally joined the Maud Pirates, and Maud spared Perona after Philo pleaded for her. Maud began planning to turn Thriller Bark into a base and told Luo to meet him at Sabaody Archipelago in one year.

  • Brook swore loyalty to Maud and joined the Maud Pirates, whose crew welcomed him.
  • Perona begged Maud not to kill her, and Philo asked him to spare her because she believed Perona was not a bad person.
  • Maud agreed to spare Perona but decided he would keep her under his control using the heart Luo had extracted.
  • Maud ordered the crew to inventory the castle's spoils and clear outsiders from Thriller Bark, which he considered using as a base.
  • Maud inspected the corpses in the castle freezer with Luo and considered visiting Impel Down to obtain more bodies for zombies.
  • Maud told Luo to meet him at Sabaody Archipelago in one year, but withheld details about the major event he had mentioned.

Ch. 274This Is My Honor

Maud and Lafitte discussed Luo’s departure, the dangers of Devil’s Power extraction, and the World Government’s interest in the Op-Op Fruit. Maud asked Lafitte to attend the meeting convened after Moria’s death and recommend him as the next Shichibukai, even though Lafitte might not return.

  • Luo left the Thriller Bark, intending to improve his strength and wait for Maud’s promised great event.
  • Lafitte reported that the Heart Pirates and the other people aboard the Thriller Bark had departed.
  • Lafitte urged Maud to keep Luo under control because his ability to extract Devil’s Power could change the balance of the world.
  • Maud argued that equality and shared interests made a stronger bond than coercion, and explained that others were also pursuing Devil Fruit extraction technology.
  • Maud asked Lafitte to attend the Shichibukai succession meeting and recommend him as Moria’s replacement.
  • Lafitte accepted despite Maud’s warning that he might not return, and Maud promised to act if the Marines kept him there.

Ch. 275Summons

After Moria's death, Maud's crew celebrated Brook joining them while the Marines prepared a Shichibukai meeting and considered Maud's new bounty. A summons reached Shanks and Hawk Eyes, and Hawk Eyes decided to attend the meeting after seeing Maud's 500 million bounty poster.

  • Maud worried that Lafitte could be in danger when he went to Mary Geoise to recommend Maud as the next Shichibukai, but Lafitte eagerly accepted the mission.
  • The crew shared Jaya's strength-enhancing meal, and Brook asked to see Jaya's underwear before she subdued him with a joint lock.
  • Five days later, Sengoku discussed Moria's death and the upcoming Shichibukai meeting with Tsuru and Garp, who agreed to attend.
  • Three days later, a Carrier Bat delivered the meeting summons to Hawk Eyes while he drank with Shanks.
  • Hawk Eyes saw Maud's new 500 million bounty poster and told Shanks he was going to the meeting.

Ch. 276How Could He Miss It

Hawk Eyes, Crocodile, and other powerful figures reacted to Maud’s defeat of Moria and prepared for the Shichibukai meeting. Crocodile ordered Nico Robin to accompany him, disrupting her plans to act secretly, while Aokiji suspected Maud might be pursuing a Shichibukai position.

  • Hawk Eyes left Shanks to attend the ordinary Shichibukai meeting, drawn by the sword in the newspaper and his friend’s interest in it.
  • Nico Robin showed Crocodile a bounty poster of Maud and a summons letter, and they discussed Maud’s rising bounty and his defeat of Moria.
  • Crocodile decided to attend the Shichibukai meeting and ordered Robin to accompany him, thwarting her chance to act secretly while he was away.
  • Doflamingo rejected an offer to prepare a ship and chose to travel to the meeting using his String-String Fruit ability.
  • Aboard a warship bound for Marine Headquarters, Aokiji read about Maud killing Moria and wondered if Maud intended to become a Shichibukai.
Arc 11 of 40