No Regrets, Right?

Chapter 11

I watched as Straw Hat delivered punch after punch to Oars, knocking him down in the process.

"I guess we don't need salt." Usopp stated, looking at Oars who looked down for the count.

"Wait a second- where is Luffy?" Nami asked, realizing she doesn't see Luffy anywhere.

Right as she asked, we heard a thud to our left. We looked over to see Straw Hat struggling to get up, groaning. When he finally stood up, we watched as several shadows left his body, returning to his normal self.

"Luffy!" Nami shouted, running towards the man, who was now collapsed on the ground.

"Hey! You're alive, right?" Usopp asked, running after the woman.

Everyone was cheering how Oars had been taken down. I stood up, instinctively wrapping an arm around my torso, staring as Nami and Usopp made it over to Straw Hat. Something isn't right. Even if he took down Oars, they still don't have their shadows back... meaning Moria is still a problem.

We all stood around, waiting for Straw Hat to wake up. I desperately wanted to speak up, reminding everyone that since they still don't have their shadows that meant we still need to defeat Moria. But I couldn't. The looks on their faces, so excited and joyful... I didn't want to remind them of the possible grim outcome. Sunrise isn't too far away either...

Seems that while I was pondering, the others realized sunrise is soon and they need to get their shadows back quick. "So what now? What do we have to do to get the shadows back?" Usopp questioned.

I decided to answer his question. "You still need to defeat Moria..." I looked down at the ground.

"What do you mean?" Nami asked me.

I looked over at her. "Well, seeing as how his Devil Fruit allows him to take and manipulate shadows, that must mean to return them all you'd have to defeat him for good."

"She's right. We had a plan, but there's a little snag." The pink haired woman added. "Straw Hat was the one who was gonna make Moria give them back. Like she explained, Moria must be the one to order the shadows back to their former masters."

Our conversation stopped at the sound of rubble falling, causing us to look over and see Oars was standing back up. What was once cheering, turned into despair as we were out of options. With Majority of Straw Hat and his crew down for the count, there was nothing to do.

I'm in no condition to fight, according to the reindeer, Chopper I think they called him. And with the sun so close to coming out, it's not a good idea for these other guys to fight.

I fell down to my knees again, exhausted. "Is there truly no way out of this?"

"I'm not sure how it was for Luffy, but Oars took one hell of a beating." I looked over behind me, seeing the Swordsman on his feet.

The others and myself were shocked that he was able to stand. It was then, everyone realized the remainder of the Straw Hat crew where not where they were found unconscious.

Could it be that they are- "I'd love to give 'em just one more punch." I whipped my head around as I heard Straw Hat speak. So he's up too? "But I can't move, damnit! My body's too worn out to get up right now. Hey, Robin!"

"Yes. I'm right here." I look over to Robin, who looked unfazed by the injuries she more than likely sustained.

I watched as one by one, the Straw Hats appeared, ready to fight. Amazing... but where are the others? I don't see them.

I looked back in front of me seeing the skeleton taking off and jumping up the side of the building, carrying Straw Hat.

"Hey! Come back!" Oars shouted at them, as clouds appeared around him. "The heck is this stuff? Some smoke? Clouds?" He was then engulfed in rain.

"All right! "Emergency Plumbing" construction complete!" I hear Usopp and the blue haired man shout out.

"Now! Coup de Vent! Come on, Usopp! Give it all you've got!" He told Usopp, who was cranking something. "Now! Fire!" Cold air blew out of the machine, freezing the water on Oars.

"Crap! I'm frozen! I can't move!" Oars exclaimed, twisting his top half around.

Chains swung from behind Oars, wrapping around his front half. Oars stopped squirming, looking above him. "Three Sword Style..." He looked down in front of him, as the swordsman prepared an attack. "Ultimate Attack: 3,000 Worlds!" He shouted as he leaped forward, slashing Oars.

The chain around him started lightning up, pulling him to stand straight. I pondered what the plan of theirs could be as Chopper explained that if they straighten his spine out, he will bear the full force of their captains attack.

I looked above Oars, to indeed, see Straw Hat flying towards Oars, with enlarged fists. "Get ready for a Special Bazooka!"

"So what? I'll just knock you back with my own Special Bazooka!" Oars exclaimed, confidently. He tried moving his arms, but couldn't move them due to all the injuries his body sustained.

"Here's my Giant Bazooka!" Straw Hat shouted, thrusting his fists forward, colliding with Oars head. The impact was so tremendous, you can hear the sound of Oars' spine cracking and breaking as he fell to the ground.

"He did it!!" Everyone cheered.

Straw hat landed a couple feet in front of me, panting. "Hey, are you oka-..." I stared, wide eyed, at the small boy in front of me. Why is he so tiny?! The others saw, asking the same question as I.

I didn't wait for an answer, as the sun started to rise. "Hey, Luffy! Hurry up with those shadows! The sun is coming up!" Usopp yelled out.

"All right then. let's go wake Moria with a beating and make him release the shadows!" The pink hired woman exclaimed. "Morning's almost here!"

"No need. I'm awake." No way... it was Moria. He was standing, but breathing heavily.

The others started demanding he returned the shadows. "Shishishi! A true pirate would never bow to demands like that, not even if his life depended on it!"

He's up, but what now? It was difficult the first time for them, so how do they plan to defeat him now? I saw the look in Moria's eye. He's totally snapped. What's worse... is that he is absorbing all the shadows on this island!

"Tell me Straw Hat Luffy. From your strength, I'd say you absorbed about a hundred shadows, right?" Moria mocked. "Then I shall take- 100!" Each time the number went up, we watched as he turned into a monster. "1000!"

"We're screwed." Someone spoke up.

They're right.

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Published 05/01/2022
Updated: 06/12/1022