Summary:
After deciding to help Brook and recruit him into their crew, the Straw Pirates split up to help him recover his shadow, save Nami, and defeat Gecko Moria. Frustrated that Absalom is holding a wedding with General Zombies as guests, Hogback becomes second in command of the zombie forces. Enraged, Luffy and Sanji decimate most of the zombies, but are stopped by Peron’s Negative Hollow attack. As Oars jumps from the mast onto the stairs, Luffy, Chopper, and Robin are cut off from Usopp and Sanji and fall down to where Zoro and Franky are.
Oars play with the mast of Thriller Bark and he doesn’t seem to reach out. His legs also fail to stretch. Hogback admires Oars’ strength and Moria laughs with sadistic pleasure. Oars then decide to climb up manually. Zoro talks about the plan to get their shadows back, while Luffy wishes to see how great Oars is using Luffy’s shadow. He then decides to bring down Moria, who is waiting at the top of his castle. Sanji announces his intention to save Nami from Absalom, who has been spying on Nami naked, inciting the cook’s rage. Usopp blames himself for having the navigator kidnapped and goes with Sanji. Franky hopes to support volunteers Brook and Zoro. Robin also decides to go save Nami. Usopp then provides a set of anti-zombie salt balls so they can cleanse the zombies. There is no guarantee that the forest will keep the crew safe from UV lights as they need to regain their shadows before the sun comes up.
The spy Hildon flies off to warn Moria, while Oars is surprised at how big the Thriller Bark is and nearly falls. Perona learns that they are out of control of the oars and Moria needs to break the giant in order to be controlled. Hogback promises a massive mario set to stuff the shadows into. Hildon warns that the straw pirates are awake and approaching Moria and are in cohorts with Brooke and in the weak. The zombie soldiers panic as Luffy fights his way through many of them. Hogback learns that Absalom is going to marry Nami with the Zombie Generals in attendance. Absalom also wants to use the ballroom to dance, but the doctor wants to cancel the wedding.
Perona plans to weaken the Straw Hats with her spirits to make them feel negative again. With Absalom occupied, Hogback volunteers to become second in command and manages to tame Inuppe and Jigor. Meanwhile, the zombie soldiers are at a disadvantage as the Straw Hats have split up. Just then, Luffy’s party starts having negative thoughts thanks to Peron’s ghosts hitting them. As the group tries to escape the ghosts, Oars jumps down from the mast and announces to set sail, but they break part of the castle and Sanji and Usopp fall down, Zoro and Franky find themselves face to face with Oars, unable to break through. All four are horrified when they encounter this zombie.