The Soul King's Surrender!

[Silver Trophy: Absalom]

[Trophy Star Rating: ★★★★: ★★★]

The clay-like earth rippled with layers of white waves, like an ocean.

It was just a small white wave that crashed down.

Absalom, the Devil Fruit User the [Suke Suke no Mi] who had just tried to rescue Gecko Moria, collapsed and was unable to get up again.

Storm merely glanced at the Silver Trophy before putting it away.

For him now, the Three-Star Big Trophy is only good for filling his inventory.

If the Devil Fruit User loses consciousness, their ability will naturally cease to be maintained.

The invisibility ability granted by the [Suke Suke no Mi] was removed, and a monster with a human body and a lion's face appeared beside Gecko Moria.

He was Absalom, one of the "Three Eccentrics" of the Thriller Bark.

Even Storm had to admit it.

Gecko Moria treated his "partners" very well.

Meanwhile, his three eccentrics— Perona, Absalom, and Hogback —are also extremely loyal to Gecko Moria.

Both of them are examples of people who would risk their own lives to save the other.

Storm remembers it very clearly.

After the Summit War, Gecko Moria was supposed to be secretly executed by the World Government and the Marine Headquarters.

It was thanks to the combined efforts of Absalom and Hogback that they were able to rescue the severely injured Gecko Moria from Donquixote Doflamingo.

Subsequently, Gecko Moria, in order to rescue Absalom who had been captured by the Blackbeard Pirates, single-handedly stormed the Yonko's stronghold— Hachinosu Island —but unfortunately, he was killed...

But later, Perona also went to Hachinosu Island and rescued Gecko Moria, who was imprisoned there...

The group of people on the Thriller Bark were actually quite interesting.

At least in terms of "human touch".

Gecko Moria's pirate crew was absolutely top-notch!

Storm temporarily suppressed his distracting thoughts and manipulated the clay around him. Strips of clay were compressed and transformed into more solid porcelain clay, and porcelain clay chains firmly bound Gecko Moria and Absalom.

Let's lock these two up for now!

"Yo ho ho ho! It's an invisible man!"

Brook looked at Absalom, who had suddenly appeared, and let out a strange laugh.

"I really didn't see him just now... even though I don't have eyes!"

"This lion-headed guy is a high-ranking officer under Gecko Moria."

Looking at the unconscious Absalom, Dorry explained in a deep voice.

"He's an 'invisible man' who ate the [Suke Suke no Mi]. If he hadn't mastered [Observation Haki], he would have been a very difficult opponent."

An enemy that is completely invisible is indeed very troublesome.

But it would have been better if Dorry hadn't explained.

As soon as he explained, Storm couldn't help but cast a strange look at him.

"Dorry, Brogy, you two Captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates a hundred years ago."

Storm looked at the two tall, Haki giants and asked in bewilderment.

"With your strength, dealing with Gecko Moria shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Upon hearing Storm's question, Brogy and Dorry exchanged a glance.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

"Eek gak gak gak!"

The two giants chuckled simultaneously, neither of them seeming to want to speak.

Finally, it was Oimo seemed more honest, who spoke up.

"Storm, actually we didn't even fight Gecko Moria before; we were completely defeated by that girl..."

Hearing this, Kashi nodded in agreement, clearly having a very deep impression of the "girl's" abilities.

"A girl? That Ghost Princess from earlier?"

Storm twitched the corner of his mouth, probably understanding what was going on.

"You were defeated by that 'Negative Ghost' the moment you boarded the Thriller Bark?"

The four giants immediately nodded in shame.

Storm sighed in exasperation.

Perona's Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit is indeed difficult to defend against.

This is an extremely powerful "first impression kill" ability.

Except in very rare exceptional circumstances.

When a normal person encounters Perona's "Negative Ghost," they will instantly lose their will to fight and become completely at her mercy.

Even giants like the Red Ogre Brogy and the Blue Ogre Dorry, when they encountered the oversized "Negative Ghost," could not escape unscathed.

This can be seen from the way the giants were forced to kneel on the ground, repenting and apologizing, after being tormented by Perona.

[Haki] can indeed resist the power of Devil Fruit.

But people need to have the opportunity to actively use their [Haki] first!

Once someone is affected by Perona's "Negative Ghost," they immediately become utterly despondent.

If there was no suicide, then it was a success.

Do you really expect them to have enough willpower to use [Haki]?

[Haki] isn't some kind of passive skill...

"Let's borrow Gecko Moria's lair for a while, clean it up, and take a break!"

Storm looked at the four giants and a skeleton, and beckoned to them.

"I imagine you must be hungry by now, right?"

Storm had barely finished speaking.

The four giants' stomachs rumbled in perfect unison.

Brook, standing nearby, touched his spine and, displaying her musical talent, employed a technique known as "ventriloquism."

"Gurgle--Even though I don't have a stomach, it's already hungry! Yohohoho!"

Brook laughed for a while, then suddenly fell silent.

He looked at Storm and knelt on one knee.

"Mr. Vongola, does your pirate crew need a musician?"

Brook had been wandering alone in the Devil's Triangle for far too long.

Every time he woke up in the middle of the night, he fantasized about leaving this misty sea.

Unfortunately, fate did not grant his wish.

Brook spent decades wandering in the Devil's Triangle.

It wasn't until last year that he encountered the Thriller Bark and the "creatures" with whom he could communicate and chat.

But unfortunately...

On Thriller Bark, Brook encountered no companions, only enemies, and even his shadow was stolen by them.

Now that Brook has regained his shadow, he naturally longs to leave Thriller Bark and the Devil's Triangle.

Storm is Brook's salvation!

Brook had previously refused Storm's offer to recruit him because he believed he would only be a burden to Storm.

Brook is now actively applying to Storm's ranks; being a musician for Lord White Dragon wouldn't be bad!

"Of course, welcome to the team, Brook."

Storm smiled and nodded at Brook.

There are dedicated combatants responsible for each battle.

Others include archaeologists, navigators, and so on.

The Storm Pirates have a diverse cast of members, each with their own role, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

With a thought, Storm released clay, sculpting two lifelike Nine-Tails Fox.

The giants traveled on their own.

Storm and Brook rode on two Nine-Tails Fox, heading towards Gecko Moria's castle.

As for Gecko Moria and Absalom, the two unconscious losers...

He was then dragged behind the Nine-Tails Fox, and they were taken together towards the towering "mast castle".

"Brook, I think you need this good news."

Storm pondered for a moment, then revealed it to Brook, who was on another Nine-Tails Fox.

"At the entrance to the Grand Line, below Reverse Mountain and Twin Capes, there is an Island Whale named 'Laboon'."

"It's still there, waiting for your return."

Brook was startled and wanted to ask a few more questions, but Storm was no longer looking at him.

"Laboon..."

The Thriller Bark, at the entrance to the mast castle.

When Storm and his party arrived here.

Two figures were already standing there.

One of them was Perona, the Ghost Princess, whom I had just met.

The other person, with a round figure, pointed ears and a pointed nose, was the last "weirdo" —Hogback.

Upon seeing the arrival of Storm and his group.

Hogback immediately stepped forward, bowing deeply in greeting.

"Lord White Dragon! Thriller Bark welcomes you!"

As he bowed, Hogback tugged at Perona's sleeve.

Ghost Princess nodded reluctantly, which could be considered a reluctant expression of welcome.

The sudden arrival of the White Dragon disrupted the original order of the Thriller Bark.

Gecko Moria was defeated.

Absalom, who went to the rescue, was also dealt with directly by the White Dragon.

Hogback had originally intended to take Perona with him when he left the Thriller Bark.

But when he saw the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in the sky, his idea of leaving was instantly abandoned.

They were facing a White Giant Dragon that could fly in the sky.

Even if Hogback swung his oars until they were smoking, he still couldn't outrun the opponent's wings!

They couldn't win a fight, and they couldn't escape.

Hogback could only resort to a last resort—a delaying tactic.

First, stall the White Dragon and his group, then look for an opportunity to rescue Gecko Moria.

As long as Gecko Moria is still alive, at least he can escape from the White Dragon's clutches... right?

Two red lights flashed in Storm's eyes.

In his daily life, he rarely uses his Observation Haki, which allows him to "read people's minds."

Using mind-reading abilities indiscriminately is simply asking for trouble.

However, Storm never hesitates to use "mind reading" on his enemies!

Hogback's inner thoughts were as clear as a candle flame in the darkness to Storm.

Do you want to rescue Gecko Moria...?

What a loyal subordinate...

Hogback, without waiting for Storm's response, took a few steps forward.

He took out a Famous Sword that exuded an ancient aura from behind him.

"Lord White Dragon! This is a small token of our apologies for our previous inappropriate behavior. Please accept it."

Hogback glanced at the [Alcohol Iron Ore Katana] at Storm's waist, then picked up the Famous Sword with both hands.

"This is one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, the [Black Blade - Shusui]!"

First update.

It's dawn today.

There will be more this afternoon.

Please subscribe! Please vote with monthly tickets!