The tall, pitch black figure lay motionless at the bottom of the massive crater.
He had lost again.
Even after unleashing his ultimate move, Shadow's Asgard, filling his body with more than a thousand shadows, he still could not withstand the opponent's Dragon Breath.
In the end, that overwhelming lightning had blasted him straight into the depths of the pit.
…
Once, long ago, he had taken a lightning strike from Kaido head on just like this.
That day, he had lost everything.
When he opened his eyes again, all that remained were the lifeless corpses of his companions, their once spirited faces now frozen in death as they stared at him in silence.
As if questioning him.
Why?
Why did they trust him so completely, yet he still failed to save them?
…
From that moment on, Moriah's ambition died together with his crew.
With his bare hands, he dug a grave and buried their bodies.
And along with them, he buried his dreams.
…
From that day forward, he would never again form bonds with the living.
He could not protect them.
He was only fit to stand among corpses.
If he never gained anything again, he would never lose anything again.
Zombies controlled by shadows could die as many times as needed.
They could always be resurrected.
From that moment on, he no longer cared about loss.
…
So, is it finally my turn this time?
…
The man who once, just like Luffy, had brimmed with confidence in himself and his crew now lay quietly in the pit.
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
Moriah waited calmly for death to claim him.
Plop.
A small stone landed squarely on his face.
…
His face twitched, but he endured it and did not move.
Plop.
Another stone fell onto his face.
Then the third.
Then the fourth.
This time, he could not endure it any longer.
"Bastard! Do whatever you want. Kill me, cut me up, do whatever you please!"
Moriah snapped his eyes open in fury and glared at the monster standing at the edge of the pit, who was still calmly preparing to throw more stones.
"Stop throwing them. If you throw even one more, I will curse you even after becoming a ghost!"
"A ghost? That matches your aesthetic perfectly. Get up already. What are you doing lying there like a corpse?"
Shirogai stood at the edge of the massive pit, a handful of small stones in his palm, smiling faintly at the figure pretending to be dead below.
"…You…"
Moriah slowly sat up, coughing violently as black smoke leaked from his mouth.
With a hoarse voice, he asked,
"Cough, cough… you are not going to kill me?"
"If I wanted you dead, would you still be breathing right now?"
Shirogai looked down at him with a relaxed gaze and gave a quiet scoff.
"You do not seriously think I used my full strength in that lightning just now, do you?"
…
Moriah drew in a deep breath.
I just cannot beat you.
If I could, I would definitely beat you to death.
That arrogant tone, truly worthy of that ridiculous title, Arrogant Emperor.
Is strength really that great?
Can strength really allow someone to trample others so casually?
…
Yes.
It really can.
Moriah let out a dejected sigh and dragged his battered body out of the pit.
His triangular eyes drooped as he looked at Shirogai with a defeated expression.
"What do you want from me? Are you still trying to take me as your subordinate? I will never, ever be anyone's subordinate."
Shirogai casually tossed the stones up and down in his palm, smiling as though he were in an excellent mood.
"Relax. I am not interested in forcing anyone. However…"
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
In rapid succession, Shirogai flung the stones forward.
Each one was coated in dense Armament Haki, slicing through the air like streaks of black lightning.
"What are you doing now…"
Moriah stared in confusion.
"Two guests just arrived. One expected, one unexpected."
Shirogai gazed calmly into the distance with a faint chuckle.
"For a first meeting, the gift is a bit simple. But a gift must still be given."
…
Whoosh!!!
The black stones tore through the air faster than cannon fire, dragging dark trails of energy behind them.
Each stone carried terrifying destructive force.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived before two powerful presences far out at sea.
…
Outside the massive Terrorist Three Masted Ship.
Upon the mist covered ocean, a small, pitch black sailboat shaped like a coffin drifted quietly toward the gigantic, monstrous gate of the hunting grounds.
Two figures sat upon the boat.
One seated.
One standing.
The man who sat wore a black top hat trimmed with white fur, a wine red patterned shirt beneath a long black coat that fluttered lightly in the wind.
White trousers and polished black boots completed his attire, while a cross pendant swayed gently against his chest.
Most striking of all was the massive cross shaped black blade resting on his back.
The ornate hilt was unmistakably the mark of a legendary weapon.
…
He kept his head lowered, hands resting loosely on his knees, his sharp gaze calmly observing the mist around him.
…
Behind him stood an abnormally massive man.
Though positioned at the rear, his presence was in no way inferior to that of the seated swordsman.
His towering frame resembled a giant brown bear.
Upon his head rested a white trapezoidal hat adorned with two bear ears that contrasted oddly with its severe shape.
Thick black curls spilled down his back.
His expressionless face was hidden partly behind black framed glasses.
He wore a black coat marked with a white target like pattern and a circle of white bear paw prints near the hem.
Brown gloves covered his hands, while white spotted trousers paired with heavy brown boots completed his appearance.
What stood out the most was the thick book in his hand.
On its cover was a single word.
BIBLE.
…
These two were none other than members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The World's Strongest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk.
And the man known across the world as the Tyrant, Bartholomew Kuma.
As to why the two of them appeared together in the territory of another current Warlord, Gekko Moriah, no one could say.
…
"Hm?"
Mihawk suddenly lifted his head.
His sharp, golden eyes locked onto the distant sky.
"A welcoming gift?"
The corner of his mouth curled slightly into a cold smile.
Casually, he removed the cross pendant from his neck and pulled it open, revealing the small blade hidden within.
With a relaxed motion, he stood and slashed forward.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, the incoming black stones collided with the flying slash.
Bang!
Boom!!!
A violent explosion of energy erupted outward, spreading across the mist like a shockwave.
As that destructive force rushed toward Mihawk and Kuma, it vanished abruptly, as though striking an invisible wall.
Whoosh!
Even so, the coffin boat was violently shoved backward by the pressure of the blast, sliding across the waves for a considerable distance.
…
Mihawk lowered the small blade after a moment of silence, returning it to its place against his chest.
"Indeed… very strong."
…
Behind him, Kuma quietly lowered his hands.
The remaining stones, which had changed direction after Mihawk's interception, attacked him instead.
They were infused with Armament Haki and carried immense power.
Yet each one was effortlessly repelled.
With casual palm strikes, they vanished into empty space as if erased.
…
Far away, atop the massive Thriller Bark.
Shirogai watched the distant sea with a calm, unreadable expression.
____
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