Hogback, Perona

Meanwhile, the bright moon high in the night sky cast its cool light, making the entire sea surface shimmer. However, beneath this tranquil atmosphere, Gecko Moria's face suddenly darkened, as oppressive as the sky before a storm.

A dark shadow drifted back from afar like a ghost, landing directly in front of Gecko Moria. He stared intently, and a chill ran down his spine—it was the shadow of the zombie he had created himself! And now, the return of this shadow meant that the zombie it represented had been brutally murdered.

Hogback and Perona, standing to the side, couldn't help but change their expressions upon seeing this. They paused slightly, then exchanged a glance, as if on cue, instantly reaching a consensus. "Uninvited guests have trespassed on our territory!"

Gecko Moria, his face grim, turned to Perona and coldly ordered, "Go and find out who dares to invade my territory. Remember, do not put yourself in danger; use your special abilities to investigate." He then added, seemingly still unsure, "Do not be careless!"

Upon hearing the command, Perona's lips curled into a sly smile, emitting her signature eerie "Hogohogohogo..." laugh. Immediately afterward, she rapidly moved her hands, chanting, "Negative... Negative... Negative..." As her incantation rang out, ethereal ghosts appeared out of thin air beside her. These ghosts, emanating an eerie aura, moved under Perona's control like a well-trained army, rushing in unison towards the port.

Meanwhile, Moke and Ata, who had successfully landed on the island, were cautiously and stealthily making their way forward. The island was filled with a mysterious and eerie atmosphere, which sent chills down their spines.

Suddenly, a sinister and terrifying sound came from ahead, a sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell, sending chills down their spines. The two stopped in their tracks, their bodies tense, their nerves on edge, and they looked warily in the direction of the sound. In the blink of an eye, a group of ghosts appeared abruptly before them like phantoms. These ghosts emitted a ghostly blue light, their faces twisted and ferocious, and they lunged at them menacingly.

"A ghost?!?!" Ata's eyes widened in terror, his eyeballs seemingly about to pop out of their sockets. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. It must be said that in the world of pirates, although most people are battle-hardened and knowledgeable, many still harbor fear of such supernatural beings. Just like Brook, who once terrified many with his mere ability to project his soul into his body. Therefore, Ata's strong reaction is entirely understandable.

Just then, Moke quickly regained his composure. He knew the situation was critical and he needed to remain calm. So, he quickly lowered his voice and reminded Ata, "Don't panic! Remember the three executives under Gecko Moria that I mentioned? They're also known as the Three Freaks. Absalom, whom you just killed, was one of them, and the other two are Hogback and Perona. These ghosts in front of us were created by Perona, one of the Three Freaks. It's said that she possesses the Paramecia - Hollow-Hollow Fruit power, allowing her to control ghosts at will. We must be careful!"

"There really is such Devil Fruit?!" Ata was utterly astonished. His eyes were wide open, as big as saucers, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. The disbelief on his face was as if he had witnessed the end of the world, and his mouth was agape, unable to close for a long time.

At that moment, a bone-chilling cold, like a venomous snake, slowly crept up his spine, instantly sending shivers down his spine. Ata couldn't help but shiver, his body trembling uncontrollably.

However, in this suffocating atmosphere, a unique and eerie laugh suddenly came from behind them without warning. The laughter was sharp and piercing, as if it could puncture one's eardrums; it was sinister and terrifying, like the hooting of an owl in the dead of night, or the roar of a demon in the underworld. The sound seemed to be a death knell coming from the bottomless abyss of hell, sending chills down one's spine and making every hair on one's body stand on end.

Even more terrifying was the accompanying sound of rapid, heavy footsteps. The footsteps grew closer, each step like a hammer blow to the heart, bringing an indescribable sense of oppression and boundless fear. It was as if something extremely dangerous was rapidly approaching, ready to devour them at any moment.

"Oh ho..." Upon hearing this voice, Moke's previously calm face instantly lit up with excitement. His previously dull eyes brightened instantly, like two dazzling stars. He thought to himself, "Oh dear, how could I have forgotten about this guy! This is going to be quite a show!" As he thought this, Moke couldn't help but grin, a smile revealing an indescribable anticipation and excitement.

Immediately afterward, Moke quickly turned to Ata, who was still in a state of shock beside him, and said in a slightly excited tone, "Hey, Ata, don't just stand there! In a moment, you'll witness a guy with an even more amazing Devil Fruit Ability appear! Believe me, that scene will be unforgettable!" After saying that, he turned his gaze back again, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Huh?" Upon hearing Moke's words, Ata's face was filled with astonishment and confusion, as if shrouded in an invisible fog, unable to comprehend what Moke meant.

However, in that brief moment, a sudden flash of insight struck Ata's previously muddled mind, clearing up like an Inazuma piercing the night sky. Then, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment, she realized something abruptly, and with lightning speed, turned her head and looked behind her.

As she expected, a skeletal figure, rushing towards her at breakneck speed, gradually came into view. The skeleton exuded a chilling and eerie aura, as terrifying as a demon crawling out from the depths of the underworld. Within its empty eye sockets, two eerie blue lights flickered, swaying and shifting, creating a sinister and terrifying atmosphere. With each rapid and powerful step it took, a cloud of dust billowed up, spreading like smoke and mist.

Witnessing this scene, Ata stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning. Her mouth was slightly open but she couldn't utter a sound. Her eyes were wide open, staring intently at the approaching skeletal figure, and her body trembled involuntarily. At this moment, she was so terrified by what she saw that she was completely incapable of thinking or acting.

Only now did Ata Satori that Moke's mysterious words referred to the skeleton rapidly approaching them— Brook, a strange being who had come back from the dead. Compared to that, even the ghosts that had once terrified her seemed less frightening now.

"Died once?" Ata was stunned upon hearing this, his face filled with doubt. His gaze was fixed on Brook, as if trying to glean some clue from the other's skeletal body. After a long while, Ata muttered to himself, "That makes sense. With looks like that, it would be hard to believe he hadn't died once."

Just then, Moke, who happened to be standing nearby, overheard Ata's words and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Haha, this guy is no ordinary person. He's Paramecia Devil Fruit User- Revive Fruit). That ability is incredibly powerful; once he's killed, he can revive once."

"Ah..." Although Ata had some suspicions and preparations beforehand, he was still taken aback when he heard it with his own ears. It was unbelievable that such a miraculous ability existed in the world. However, just as Ata was still in shock, a strange sound suddenly entered everyone's ears—"Negative... negative... negative..."

As the sound grew clearer, the crowd was astonished to find a large group of ghosts slowly and eerily approaching them. The previously calm atmosphere was instantly shattered, and tension and fear began to spread among the people.

Moke, with his sharp eyes and keen senses, was the first to notice the approaching danger. He frantically shouted to Ata was still in a daze beside him, "Ata, wake up! Stop spacing out! Quickly check what's happening around here!"

Moke's shout was like a thunderclap, suddenly exploding in Ata's ears. Ata snapped out of his daze, jolted, and quickly turned around. When his gaze refocused on the approaching ghosts, a barely perceptible glint of disdain flashed deep in his eyes. It was as if these sinister and terrifying ghosts could not evoke the slightest fear in him.

Admittedly, Ata was startled when he first saw the group of ghosts. He was particularly moved when he saw the Devil Fruit ability possessed by one of them. However, this surprise lasted only a moment. After all, Absalom, another of Gecko Moria's three most monstrous subordinates, hadn't even withstood a single blow from her. Such utterly pathetic strength was truly disappointing. In Ata's view, such weaklings didn't deserve such powerful Devil Fruit. It wasn't so much contempt for the enemy as it was regret and dissatisfaction with this waste of resources.

The Paramecia Clear- Clear-Clear Fruit possesses astonishing abilities, allowing the user to become completely invisible; while the Paramecia - Hollow-Hollow Fruit is even more mysterious and unpredictable, its power in no way inferior to the Paramecia Smooth- Slip-Slip Fruit he had consumed. In an instant, Kashu and Nagasone Kotetsu drew their two incredibly sharp longswords, their cold light gleaming. Then, the swordsman slightly bent his knees and charged forward like an arrow released from a bow. His target was none other than the group of ghosts drifting leisurely towards them!

"Whoosh..." In the blink of an eye, the two were about to clash head-on. At this critical moment, the man's twin blades flashed out like Inazuma, cutting through the air with several chilling streaks. However, something unexpected happened.

"Not good..." Ata's expression changed drastically. She had been confidently unleashing her attacks, fully expecting to easily Destruction these ghosts. But the result was far beyond her expectations. Her all-out attack had no effect on these ghosts. Her twin blades seemed to pass right through the air, piercing straight through their bodies without causing them even the slightest harm. Worse still, this all happened so suddenly, completely beyond Ata's control. Moreover, she had been so arrogant beforehand that she had attacked too forcefully and too early. Now, withdrawing her twin blades and dodging in time was impossible.

She could only stand there, wide-eyed, watching in terror and helplessness as the sinister ghosts surged towards her like a tidal wave, colliding violently with her. Surprisingly, despite their ferocity, these ghosts had no substantial form, as if they were merely wisps of ethereal smoke, easily passing right through her body.

In that brief instant, an indescribable, intense feeling surged forth from the depths of her heart like a burst dam. All the pent-up negative emotions—fear, despair, pain, regret—rushed into her heart like a volcanic eruption, relentlessly assaulting her fragile mental defenses. In that instant, her once unwavering will and the courageous, fearless heart she possessed as a swordsman crumbled before this torrent. With a muffled thud, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees.

"I shouldn't even be alive in this world!" Her trembling, desperate voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, filled with endless sorrow and profound self-abandonment. Every word was like a sharp dagger, mercilessly piercing her already shattered heart.

If there truly is an afterlife, she would rather relinquish this heavy and weary body, abandon all memories and emotions, even if it meant transforming into a tiny, unnoticed bird. At least then, she could soar freely through the sky, far removed from the turmoil and suffering of the world; at least then, she wouldn't have to endure this torment worse than death, nor face those indifferent and mocking gazes.

With that heart-wrenching cry, her head drooped limply, as if all her strength had been drained away. Crystal-clear tears gushed out like a burst dam, streaming down her pale cheeks and splashing onto the cold, icy ground, creating tiny teardrops.

Just then, a sharp, piercing laugh, tinged with a hint of mockery, shattered the deathly silence. Everyone turned to look, and there stood Brook, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He stared with interest at Ata, who was kneeling on the ground, looking utterly dejected, his face revealing undisguised schadenfreude. But quickly, he seemed to realize this was inappropriate, so he abruptly suppressed his smile, casually adjusted his hat, and adopted a serious demeanor, saying, "Perona's Devil Fruit ability is truly a headache! Over the years, I don't know how many heroes have suffered greatly at the hands of her bizarre techniques."

Before the words had even finished, the ghosts that had been wandering aimlessly in the air suddenly changed their flight direction without warning, as if controlled by an invisible yet powerful mysterious force. They sped off towards Moke in the distance at an astonishing speed, a scene resembling a surging black whirlwind, filled with endless gloom and terror.

As they rapidly approached Moke, a series of chilling screams, capable of piercing the depths of one's soul, rose and fell, echoing across the entire sky. These ghosts, each with a ferocious appearance, bared their fangs and claws as they frantically pounced on Moke, resembling a pack of ravenously hungry beasts determined to devour every living creature in their path.

Faced with this sudden crisis, Moke narrowed his eyes slightly, a resolute glint in them. He uttered a low shout, "Ghost Eye - Conqueror's Haki!" Instantly, a dense, inky demonic Ghost Aura surged forth from his body, filling the surrounding air. At the same time, his previously normal pupils gradually turned a deep purplish-red, burning with a strange light like purple flames.

Even more astonishingly, as Moke unleashed his Conqueror's Haki to its fullest extent, the surrounding space seemed to distort and vibrate due to this powerful aura. This Ghost Aura itself possessed a terrifying effect similar to Conqueror's Haki, capable of intimidating the mind; now, combined with the strange power from the Holy Sword, its power increased exponentially. The three elements intertwined and complemented each other, unleashing an energy far exceeding a simple addition of two.

Even in the distant castle, Perona felt this terrifying pressure. She involuntarily screamed, her voice filled with fear and shock. After all, she shared a special connection with these ghosts—a connection that could be described as visual or even spiritual. In a way, these Negative Hollows were actually a part of her soul. Therefore, when Moke unleashed such a powerful attack, Perona naturally felt it as well.

Therefore, when she witnessed Moke appear before her, the shock seemed to penetrate her very soul. Her eyes widened as she stared at the figure in disbelief, and she could even clearly feel an invisible pressure permeating the air. This pressure was as heavy as Mount Tai crushing an egg, instantly turning her already bloodless face as pale as paper, devoid of any color.

At the same time, large beads of sweat began to seep uncontrollably from her forehead, slowly sliding down her cheeks. She was terrified, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her throat at any moment. "Huff, huff..." she gasped for breath, desperately trying to calm her fear and panic. However, this effort seemed futile; her body continued to tremble.

Just then, Brook suddenly exclaimed, "Conqueror's Haki?" As a seasoned and knowledgeable old man, he saw through it at a glance. At this moment, his gaze towards Moke had changed drastically, filled with astonishment and awe.

Meanwhile, Ata, who had just been in a negative state, quickly snapped back to reality. She abruptly stood up, her movements somewhat hurried and awkward, but her eyes revealed intense confusion and unease. Although she had shaken off her previous depression, her face was still unusually pale, as if she had just recovered from a nightmare. "What just happened!" Ata couldn't help but shout, her voice trembling noticeably. Clearly, she was still filled with countless questions and confusion about what had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Moke's lips curled into a faint smile as he softly said, "That was a Negative Hollows cast by Perona. These ghosts don't have a physical body, so ordinary attacks are completely ineffective against them. Furthermore, if these ghosts manage to pierce your body, you'll instantly fall into an endless state of negativity, leaving you completely at their mercy and vulnerable to slaughter! If you had come here alone today, you probably would have lost your life here."

Upon hearing this, Ata's pupils contracted sharply, clearly shaken. However, just then, as if suddenly remembering something, Moke added, "Actually, I deliberately didn't tell you this beforehand. You must remember this lesson... In this vast, mysterious, and dangerous New World, there are countless people with Devil Fruit abilities, and their abilities are Eight Gates and bizarre! If we're not careful, we might fall into their trap and be doomed. Therefore, from now on, no matter how weak our enemies seem, we must go all out. Especially when you're preparing to attack those with special abilities with swords or other weapons, remember to coat the blade with a powerful layer of Armament Haki! This is crucial, never, ever forget it..."

After listening to Moke's solemn warning, Ata's expression became extremely serious. He nodded vigorously, indicating that he had deeply engraved these words in his heart. He had to admit that the extremely negative and terrifying feeling he had just experienced would probably be unforgettable for the rest of his life. He didn't even want to think about it again. Such a profound lesson was truly etched into his memory...