Chapter 106 : The Tragic Moria

Clang!

Sparks flew.

The sharp clash of metal echoed loudly.

The scissor-like blades, coated in Haki, formed a tight cross-block.

After spending years in the New World, he had the courage to challenge powerful opponents like Kaido of the Beasts.

Even in the hands of a monster like Kaido, he had suffered a crushing defeat.

But Gekko Moria wasn't that easy to take down.

"Woo hoo hoo..."

The intense wind pressure made it hard to keep one's eyes open.

"Whoosh!" Black, tattered shadows that looked like flowing sludge suddenly reformed.

They took the shape of Moria himself, holding two pitch-black shadow blades.

With a powerful swing, the shadow slashed at the Feathered Serpent Kur, who was locked in battle with Moria.

"Sizzle… Crack!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Blinding flashes of lightning lit up the entire area, making it impossible to look directly at the scene.

Gecko Moria had used his Shadow-Shadow Fruit ability to manipulate his own shadow, bringing it into the fight.

Now, two figures attacked together without hesitation, fiercely clashing against "Feathered Serpent" Kur.

"Is that the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit?"

High above the battlefield—

Shiryu of the Rain stood on a Somersault Cloud, watching from above.

His gaze locked onto the battle between Kur and Moria.

"It's definitely a tricky ability," he muttered. "It's like having an indestructible, fearless clone that stays connected to the user at all times."

But he wasn't concerned.

Moria's ability was annoying, but it couldn't truly harm the Feathered Serpent Kur.

It was only a matter of time before Moria was defeated.

Without hesitation, Shiryu guided the Somersault Cloud down toward the castle.

He slipped inside unnoticed.

"Clang!!"

In front of the castle—

Cold steel flashed as the sound of blades slicing through the air filled the battlefield.

A razor-sharp strike crashed against Kur's arms, which were wrapped in Armament Haki.

The impact sent a jolt through Gecko Moria's hands, making them go numb. His sword nearly slipped from his grip.

His face twisted in shock.

"This monster!"

Kur's Armament Haki was harder than steel.

Unpleasant memories rushed back to Moria's mind.

It felt just like back then—when he had faced that terrifying force of nature, Kaido of the Beasts!

"Zzt—Zzt—Crackle!!"

A surge of electricity ran along the blade.

Moria's arms instantly went numb from the shock, his expression darkening.

Without hesitation, he leaped backward.

"Heh! Too late!"

Kur grinned wickedly.

Electricity crackled wildly around him.

His fist, coated in an overwhelming layer of Armament Haki, shot forward—

"Boom!"

In a flash of lightning, Moria switched places with his shadow at the last second.

Moria let his shadow take the hit, sacrificing it to survive the devastating blow.

In an instant, his shadow was torn apart.

"Shave!"

With Observation Haki locked onto Moria's presence, Feathered Serpent Kur reacted instantly.

He stomped the ground—

His body shot forward like a bolt of lightning, appearing right in front of Moria.

With the force of a battle axe, his right leg tore through the air and struck Moria squarely in the chest.

"Boom!"

Moria's eyes bulged.

A sharp, unbearable pain surged through his body.

He let out a scream, coughing up blood as he was sent flying like a cannonball.

"Damn it..."

His eyes widened in horror as he glared at Kur.

The monstrous figure looming over him felt eerily familiar.

For a brief moment, it wasn't just Kur standing there—Moria saw another towering form, one with horns and an overwhelming presence.

The memories of that nightmare came rushing back—Wano.

The battlefield that had filled him with pain and despair.

The last place he ever wanted to remember.

Blood vessels pulsed in his eyes, filled with rage and unwillingness.

His voice cracked as he roared—

"Kaido——!!"

"Boom!!"

Smoke and dust exploded into the air.

A massive tree was shattered as Moria crashed through it, flying dozens of meters.

The ground beneath him cracked, forming a web of destruction.

"Whoosh..."

Kur grinned.

With a burst of speed, he shot into the forest, kicking up a violent gust of wind.

His Observation Haki stayed locked onto Moria.

Then—

He opened his mouth wide.

"Zzt—Zzt—Crackle!!"

Electricity surged.

Bright, terrifying lightning condensed at an incredible speed.

"Hoo…!"

A piercing sound cut through the air.

A blinding beam of thunder shot straight at Moria.

"Boom!!"

Suddenly—

A pitch-black shadow loomed in front of Moria.

Like a solid shield, it blocked the attack.

Moria, unharmed, wasted no time and dashed out of the ruins.

His face twisted with fury and frustration.

"Damn it…!"

His sharp gaze locked onto Kur, who was charging toward him.

Then, he let out a chilling shriek—

"Shadow Gathering!"

"Aghh…!"

"No—Goliath!"

"Damn it, the shadows—!"

Deep within the forest—

Moria's zombie soldiers screamed in terror.

One by one, their shadows were ripped from them.

In mere moments, shadows from all directions began converging on Moria.

"One hundred… two hundred… three hundred… four hundred…!"

He absorbed them all—

His body swelled, growing larger and more monstrous.

"Five hundred shadows!"

Kur sneered.

"Absorbing shadows to boost your power, huh?"

"Hehehehe…"

Moria's body, now towering over ten meters tall, radiated a terrifying aura.

With a twisted grin, he charged forward recklessly.

Moria's speed had increased several times over.

His massive fist, packed with violent force, tore through the air as it came crashing down toward Feathered Serpent Kur.

"Die with me!"

"Yehahaha~! Now that's more like it… Thunder Fist!"

Kur's eyes sparkled with excitement. His fighting spirit burned.

Electricity crackled around him, jumping wildly as his muscles tensed. The veins in his right arm bulged.

His fist, wrapped in Armament Haki and surging with intense lightning, shone blindingly. The raw power behind it was terrifying.

Without hesitation—

He punched forward.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion shook the sky.

The sheer force of the clash sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

"Woooooooooo!!"

Fierce winds howled, sending rocks flying in all directions.

The ground, stretching hundreds of meters, cracked and collapsed.

Deep fractures spread like a massive spiderweb, making the battlefield impossible to approach.

Anyone caught too close would be torn apart by the violent energy.

If the fight hadn't already moved away from the castle—

The entire structure would have crumbled in an instant.

"Yehahaha~! This is getting fun, Leah!"

Kur's wild laughter echoed through the chaos.

The battle raged on.

One massive, one smaller—

They clashed again and again, fists slamming against each other with brutal force.

"Bang! Bang! Boom! Boom!"

"Woo hoo hoo…!"

The earth trembled as shockwaves tore through the battlefield.

Towering trees swayed violently—then shattered under the immense pressure.

But the struggle didn't last long.

With a thunderous crash—

Moria's enormous body was sent flying backward.

He crashed into the ground, his fists trembling uncontrollably.

His eyes burned with frustration as he glared at Kur.

"Damn it…!"

No matter how many shadows he absorbed—

He couldn't close the gap between their strength.

"Woohoo—!"

Suddenly, a violent gust tore through the air.

Kur's feathered wings flared wide—

He moved like lightning, rushing in for the kill.

"Yehahaha~! Is this really all you've got?"

"....!"

Blinding lightning flashed.

A devastating punch—

Landed directly on Moria.

"Boom!!"

"Gah—!"

Moria coughed up blood, his vision going white.

A chilling scream tore from his throat.

Shadows poured from his body, spilling out like air from a punctured balloon.

As his massive frame was sent flying—

He shrank.

Faster and faster, his enormous form rapidly deflated.

"Boom…!"

"Woo hoo hoo…!"

Dust and debris exploded into the sky.

The ground quaked beneath the destruction.

Shockwaves surged in all directions, ripping apart everything in their path.

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