"Understood, Lord Moria!" Ryuma answered, stepping out from the crowd. He gripped Shusui at his waist with his backhand and looked at Brook, who had launched a surprise attack from within the zombie horde.
"As the user of your shadow, I have already mastered all your techniques. No matter how many times you come at me, you have no chance of defeating me."
"However, given the current situation, I regret to inform you that this will likely be your final challenge. We will be leaving Thriller Bark and heading for the final island, Laugh Tale."
"To repay you for keeping me company all these years and helping me pass the time, I will finish you off completely today, so you will not have to continue clinging to this place in the form of a skeleton!"
As his deep voice fell, the zombies surrounding them retreated to the sides.
Seeing the dark-red blade slightly drawn from Ryuma's sheath, many zombies wore excited expressions.
In their eyes, Ryuma was Moria's most special subordinate.
To wash away the humiliation of being utterly defeated by Kaido, Moria had gone to great lengths to infiltrate Wano Country and dig up Ryuma's grave.
After selecting from countless candidates, he had decided to place Brook's shadow—the strongest swordsman's shadow he could currently obtain—into Ryuma's body.
It could be said that everything Gecko Moria had done was aimed at the legends of Wano Country.
In order to defeat, or even kill Kaido of the Beasts, Gecko Moria had placed all his hopes on Ryuma, the Dragon-Slaying Samurai.
Or perhaps he had hoped to use the Dragon-Slaying Samurai to discover how Kaido of the Beasts could be slain.
Unfortunately, after being wiped out by Kaido, Gecko Moria had never recovered.
He had instead placed his hopes in so-called zombies.