27 Shadows

1 month later.

In the sea, a giant metal ship was sailing calmly through the waves. On deck of said ship a young woman was facing a young man. As they stood facing each other, the woman fell to her knees while sweat covered her whole body.

Kuina: Larch-kun your swordsmanship is something else. I couldn't even approached you and we are at the same level of mastery, but you are still superior to me. Why haven't you reached the next level.

Larch: Even though i am stronger than with the sword and my mastery is over yours, you could reach the next level faster that i will, the reason to that is that sometimes besides effort and knowledge. Luck is one of the most important factors, but don't worry as we will reach it, in fact the more guys we face the stronger we will grow and that could be in a numerous ways and the sword mastery is one of the them.

While they were talking a black spot seen in the sky was fallen at highs speeds. Looking at it better, it was Mars in his ape form.

Mars: Try to stop this one big brother. DESCENDING DRAGON.

As he spoke his body was covered in in reddish yellow aura that formed a dragon.

Larch seeing, assumed a stance of drawing his sword, closing his eyes he remembered his fight with Enel. If Enel had been more calm in dealing with the fight, Larch would had lost greatly, before the fight would even begun. As he did a sharp aura emanated from and as it did it vanish without trace.

Opening his eyes, Larch cutted in Mars direction. Time seem to stop as Mars froze in the sky, a second later, a deep gash appeared in his whole right arm, making so the dragon made of aura disappear, as he begin falling towards the ground. Right before the fall, Larch captured him.

Larch: Law come here. I need you to treat Mars.

Law: What happened?

Larch: He got injured in our practice fight. He was attacking me when i tried to stop him, i achieved enlightenment and reached the Sword Grandmaster. I could heal him, but then what would be your purpose, as the doctor of my crew.

Law: Alright, let me take a look. It's is a deep wound, but with your abnormal regeneration and the treatments i will apply you, by tomorrow you should back to full health.

Mars: Thanks Law-kun.

Law: No problem. Captain may i ask what is that in the distance.

Hearing him, everyone in the scene turned to look at the front, where they saw an extreme fog.

Larch: That is our destination. Get ready as this time the enemies are far stronger than you have faced before.

His crew grew anxious as Larch attitude was the same as before facing Enel. As they were travelling in the direction of the fog, everyone was checking their equipment. Law was cleaning his sword noticed that the air was tense since Larch spoke, he didn't know was the reason why this happened.

As the ship disappeared in the fog. A pair of red eyes could be seen in the fog.

Roar.

Back to Pluton, as they were travelling through the fog they couldn't see where their were going, until Nojiko which was in the control room found a tool that allow them to 'see' in the dark. It was a sonar. While they were using it they found that a ship was in front of them.

Kuina: Larch-kun what do you think it's that.

Knowing that there was a ship incoming their way, Kuina, Mars and Larch came to the deck to analyze it.

As they were talking the ship came even closer, showing a wrecked and rotting ship that had a skeleton on it that was looking at them while drinking tea.

Larch: Take us to the man that took your shadow.

The skeleton upon hearing him was stunned and shocked, for knowing that inside the fog exist such a man and that it had take his shadow. Recovering from his shock, he only nodded.

???: Brook.

Larch: Larch.

Kuina: Larch-kun do you know him?

Larch: Personally no, but i have knowledge of him. He, as you have seen a skeleton, because he has eaten a devil fruit that reinforces the soul several times, as so it permits reincarnation for the first death that the one who ate it.

Mars: What about the guy that stole his 'shadow'?

Larch: He is another one of the shichibukai, like Crocodile, his devil fruit can be consider weaker as it isn't a Logia Fruit, but it's special abilities are monstrous if used well. You can expect a big battle coming your way Mars.

Mars upon hearing his captain became extremely excited. As he wasn't faced an enemy before not counting Enel as if they had battle without concern for nothing, Mars would had won because of his abnormal regeneration and destructive power.

As they were sailing they came to a giant ship/island.

Brook: We have arrived. I should warn you that you can't defeat Moria.

Larch: That is a problem for us to deal with. Everyone spread out.

Kuina/Mars/Beth/Law: Aye captain.

Larch: Nojiko, my love, i want you to stay in the ship and take care of it, alright?

Nojiko: Yes.

While saying that, Nojiko sounded sad. Larch knew the reason, after losing her powers Nojiko had been depressed ever since, maybe she thought that she had no use to the crew anymore. Holding her in a hug, he kissed her on the lips.

Larch: I know that are sad, but don't worry i have a feeling that your lose of powers won't be forever, besides this time you will have a great use, as i sense that we aren't alone on the sea.