One Piece ワンピース [Thriller Bark Saga] : Shichibukai “Shadow’s Asgard” Gecko Moria vs The Straw Hat Pirates
“Even if I had allowed you to continue peacefully on your voyage…at your level, death is all you would have found. You’re nowhere near ready for the ‘New World’!! Though it would appear you have gathered yourself quite a fine crew, you would only lose them all!! My words…come from experience. My subordinates…they were famed, far and wide… Why did I have to lose them all?! My friends were lost to me precisely because they were still alive! If they had all been zombies, dead from the start, I would have lost nothing! For zombies are invulnerable!! Eternal warriors; even if they are purified, a replacement can be found. I will take my army of the undead and seize the title of Pirate King!!”
The Shichibukai of the day; Gecko Moria, King of Thriller Bark! Many of my friends said they didn’t really enjoy this arc but I absolutely loved it! It had a bunch of cool moments such as finding out the Yonkō Kaidō had slaughtered his entire crew in the “New World”, Zoro obtaining the Meito Shusui from Ryūma, and ofc my personal favorite; Zoro vs Kuma. (On a side note, when Oda revealed Ryūma I was really hoping he was the humming swordsman who eventually joined the crew cos he was so cool!! I loved his design & ‘yohoho’ laughter). I also really liked the whole “Nightmare Before Christmas” vibe Thriller Bark gave off and the Kage Kage no Mi was so unique and versatile! Moria may not have turned out to be much in the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed my first read through of the Thriller Bark Saga. Happy Halloween~! ☠
