The outer perimeter of the massive, eerie three-masted sailing ship was surrounded by a giant city wall, and the city gate resembled a gaping maw that swallowed the Wind Rider whole.
Caelan knew this was how Gecko Moria captured passing ships, so he didn't resist.
Soon, the Wind Rider landed steadily onshore, officially entering Moria's territory.
"Be careful. There's a creepy guy watching us."
Caelan activated his Observation Haki, and immediately sensed the Clear-Clear Fruit Fruit user ahead—a humanoid with a tiger's head.
"Is there really a ghost?"
Nami wasn't scared this time. Instead, she looked at Caelan with a bit of suspicion.
Was he trying to mess with her again?
"It's just a Devil Fruit user who can turn invisible."
Caelan knocked her lightly on the head and sighed.
Is there no trust left between people?
At Caelan's reminder, the others activated their Observation Haki and soon found the invisible man hiding in the air.
"I'll handle him!"
Robin called out and rushed forward.
"Fleur—Punch!"
Hundreds of arms grew out from the ground, punching all at once into the air.
"Damn it!"
Invisible, Absalom was horrified. There was no way to dodge that barrage.
He was only here to peek on pretty girls, why did it have to end like this?
MUDA MUDA MUDA!
In an instant, hundreds of powerful punches landed on Absalom. A thick spray of blood burst into the air.
When Robin was done, a limp, bloody figure collapsed to the ground.
The pervert was beaten to death before he could even say a word.
"Well done, Robin."
Caelan gave her a thumbs up in praise.
This version of Robin might really inherit Garp's title and evolve into Iron Fist Robin.
"No, no, it's all thanks to what you taught me, Caelan."
Robin quickly waved her hands and gave a humble reply.
Her technique had been directly inspired by Caelan's concept. Combined with her Flower-Flower Fruit ability, it had devastating effect.
According to Caelan, if she combined it with Armament Haki, the potential would be even greater.
"This guy's really disgusting."
Nami looked at Absalom's corpse with clear disdain.
His tiger-mouth face was grotesque even in death.
"He's probably one of Moria's creations. His Shadow-Shadow Fruit can sever the shadow of any creature. Stitching them together isn't surprising. It's a powerful ability."
Caelan described it as powerful, but he didn't take it seriously.
With A-rank Divinity, he was immune to all physical alterations caused by Paramecia-type abilities.
Abilities like the Hobby-Hobby Fruit and the Hollow-Hollow Fruit, which were usually a nightmare for others, were useless against Caelan.
As for the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, it couldn't even cut his shadow.
The majesty of Divinity couldn't be touched by an ordinary Devil Fruit.
"Let's go. Keep moving forward."
Caelan passed Absalom's corpse and led the women toward the ghost castle.
Soon, they passed through a dead forest and entered the gloomy castle.
As soon as they stepped inside, a floating girl with pink twin-tails appeared in front of them.
"Ah? Are you the ones who killed Absalom?"
The ghostly girl floated in midair, glaring at Caelan surrounded by beautiful women.
"Yeah..."
Caelan raised his hands in a helpless gesture.
Perona snapped out of it and gritted her teeth.
"Negative Hollow!"
At her shout, several white ghosts shot toward Caelan and the girls.
Swish!
Caelan casually swung his giant sword coated in Armament Haki and smacked one ghost away.
But the women weren't fast enough and were all struck by the ghosts, falling into kneeling, slumped poses.
"So useless. I can't do anything right. I even need help to get closer to Caelan."
"I don't deserve to live like this."
Tashigi slumped to the ground, emitting waves of dark, depressive energy.
Caelan's mouth twitched.
"Caelan, just let me die here. A useless woman like me isn't worthy of love."
Vivi looked at Caelan with an expression of despair.
Nami, Kalifa, and Robin were also overwhelmed by negativity, muttering outrageous and melodramatic things.
"Alright, that's enough! You're saying way too much!"
Caelan quickly slipped behind Perona and smacked her on the head with a Haki-covered fist.
Bang!
A large bump swelled on Perona's ghostly head, and she fainted in Caelan's arms.
At the same time, the girls recovered from their negative state, their expressions a mix of shame and horror.
"I want to die…"
Tashigi and Vivi covered their red faces with both hands, steam practically rising from their heads.
Kalifa and Robin weren't much better. Their faces were etched with deep black lines.
"That ability's really terrifying. If you let your guard down for even a second, you're hit."
Caelan sighed as he helped ease the group's awkward mood.
These Paramecia-type powers really were cheat codes.
Even though Armament Haki could block them, it wasn't something you could keep active at all times.
"So... this girl will be joining our crew, right?"
Nami stared at Perona, her tone a bit dangerous and probing.
"Yep. I plan to bring her aboard."
Caelan nodded without hesitation.
"Heh. Then we'll just have to teach her the rules of the ship."
The girls sneered together, clearly planning to make this cute girl suffer.
After all, she had just exposed them to extreme public humiliation.
"Sigh…"
Caelan let out a long sigh, feeling a little sorry for Perona in his arms.
The group continued on and soon found Perona's room. They reunited her ghost body with her physical form.
Perona slowly regained consciousness and looked up at the group of girls radiating black energy.
There's no way they'll let me live, right?
Perona silently cried, her heart wailing.
Perona looked at Caelan and felt even more pitiful.
She could already imagine the horrible scene of herself being bullied and tortured by these group of women.
(To be continued.)