On the top floor of Hogback 's research facility waits a not-quite man. A humming zombie wrapped in bandages and a tattered kimono, with tea in one hand and the sword Shusui in the other. He sits calmly in a chair seemingly awaiting our arrival.

The door to the research room has been cleaved in half already, the bottom portion on the floor and the gap tall enough I don 't even need to duck to enter the room.

'Yohohoho. I knew it, ' the zombie chuckles. 'You wouldn 't give up after being knocked down once. And you brought a friend. '

'Of course not, ' Brook says harshly. 'Until I get back what I lost, I 'll keep fighting. '

The zombie slams his scabbard into the floor. 'Do you not know my name? Men cower in fear at the mere mention of the swordmaster Ryuma. '

'Quiet! You are my shadow! ' Brook snaps.

'Yohohoho. Yet my body is much stronger, ' Ryuma chuckles.

'I 'll return you to where you belong, beneath my feet! ' Brook hisses.