The eerie blue flames flickered wildly as the Phantom Raiders surged forward, their rusted weapons gleaming with an unnatural glow. The deck of their cursed ship creaked with each step, their movements sluggish yet relentless, as though time itself had lost meaning to them. The air grew colder, an unseen force wrapping around the Going Merry, making the wood groan under the weight of something unnatural. A chilling wind swept through the battlefield, carrying with it whispers of voices long forgotten.
Luffy grinned, his heart pounding with exhilaration. "Alright, let's see what you guys are made of!" Without hesitation, he launched himself forward, his fist coated in swirling shadows. His attack connected with the first raider's chest, sending the figure skidding back—but instead of collapsing, the raider's body flickered, as though he were made of mist rather than flesh. Luffy's eyes narrowed as he landed, his instincts telling him that brute force alone wouldn't win this fight.
Zoro was already moving, his swords slicing through the air with precision. His first strike cut clean through an approaching raider—but instead of falling, the figure split apart momentarily before reforming, its hollow eyes glowing brighter. "Tch. This is going to be annoying." He adjusted his stance, readying himself for the next attack, his grip tightening on his blades.
Usopp, positioned near the mast, was trembling but had already begun firing shots. His pellets struck several raiders, causing their forms to waver, but it wasn't enough to take them down. "Are these guys even alive?!" he yelled, gripping his slingshot tighter, sweat dripping from his brow.
Nami, still at the helm, scanned the battlefield, her mind racing. "Something's not right. If they're just shadows or spirits, then normal attacks won't work!" She looked around, trying to find any weakness in their ethereal enemies. Her knowledge of storms and navigation didn't prepare her for this, but she knew that every force had a counter.
The Phantom Captain finally stepped forward, his towering figure exuding an ominous aura. He unsheathed a massive, jagged cutlass, the blade humming with dark energy. His voice, though deep and hollow, carried unmistakable authority. "You wield the power of shadows… yet you do not understand them," he said, locking eyes with Luffy. His movements were measured, calculated, as if he had seen countless battles before.
Luffy's grin faltered slightly, his instincts screaming at him that this was different from any fight before. "What do you mean?" His fists remained clenched, ready to strike at any moment, but the Phantom Captain's words dug into his thoughts.
The captain raised his blade, pointing directly at Luffy. "Your power… it is tied to something much older than you. And now, you shall see its true weight." His voice echoed unnaturally, as if coming from beyond the grave.
A surge of dark mist erupted from the Phantom Captain's body, spreading across the deck. The raiders moved faster, their forms shifting as if fueled by the energy surrounding them. Luffy barely dodged an incoming strike, his eyes narrowing. His shadow system responded instinctively, tendrils lashing out to counter, but something was resisting—his shadows were being pulled toward the Phantom Captain, as if the mist was absorbing them.
Zoro leaped in, attempting to cut through the mist with a powerful slash, but his blades barely made an impact before the energy swallowed his attack. "Damn it! It's like cutting through smoke!" His frustration grew as he realized his normal swordplay wouldn't be enough.
Usopp's panic escalated. "So what do we do?! We can't hit them, and they can hit us!" His breathing was heavy, his mind racing for a solution that didn't involve running for his life.
Nami gritted her teeth, gripping the ship's wheel tightly. "Luffy! You need to figure this out fast! If your power is connected to theirs, then there's got to be a way to counter it!" Her voice carried urgency, knowing they couldn't afford to let the battle drag on.
Luffy exhaled sharply, his mind racing. The Phantom Captain knew something about his power—something he hadn't unlocked yet. He clenched his fists tighter, focusing on the energy coursing through him. "If my shadows are being absorbed… then maybe…" His eyes gleamed with a newfound idea.
The battle raged on, but now, it wasn't just about winning—it was about uncovering the truth behind Luffy's Shadow System before it was too late.
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