Chapter 82

The third-generation Sandai Kitetsu needed only five more quality swords to ascend from the rank of "good" to "great."

While Kairos Flint focused on refining and fusing his weapons, the sky began to dim.

"Is it getting dark already?" Vivi looked up, confused.

"It shouldn't be," Robin said, checking the time. "It's only around three in the afternoon."

Kairos narrowed his eyes. "We've entered Moonlight Moria's domain—Thriller Bark."

Indeed, they had used signal flares to attract the Warlord's attention, and now the skies darkened unnaturally. It could only mean they were already within the shadow of Moria's eerie three-masted ghost ship.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Nami's eyes sparkled. Any fear or dread she might've had about Thriller Bark was instantly overridden by her thoughts of treasure—Moria, after all, was a Shichibukai.

The others chuckled, already used to Nami's personality.

After securing their ship and storing it in Kairos's portable space, they made landfall.

"Why haven't we started moving yet?" Nami asked as Kairos paused.

"It's proper to greet our host," Kairos said with a smirk.

Then, without warning—

BOOM!!!

A shockwave of intense, overwhelming Haki burst forth from Kairos, erupting skyward and blanketing the entire Thriller Bark. Every living being on board was slammed by the Conqueror's Haki.

Weak-willed creatures and soldiers fainted instantly, collapsing like dominos under the pressure.

Within the central castle, a man with a head like an onion stirred.

Moonlight Moria didn't faint, but he looked incredibly disturbed.

"That's... Conqueror's Haki."

He recognized it immediately. He didn't have it himself—but he had felt it before. Years ago, when he'd foolishly challenged Kaido.

Kaido had crushed him, destroyed his crew, and shattered his spirit. Since then, Moria had abandoned raw strength and relied on external forces—zombies, shadows, and tricks. His Haki had diminished to nothing.

Now, someone equally or more terrifying than Kaido had entered his ship.

He shouted, trying to rally his men. No response. He realized they were likely all unconscious.

Moria gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to deal with this invader himself.

Kairos felt refreshed after releasing the Haki.

"Alright, let's move," he said, strolling casually into the bowels of Thriller Bark with Nami and the others in tow.

Despite the ship's size—the largest Kairos had ever seen—they didn't encounter resistance. Everything had already been knocked out cold.

The weaker beings were deeply unconscious; stronger ones were groggy but subdued. This was the power of true Conqueror's Haki.

They wandered slowly, chatting and observing their surroundings, until they reached the castle's central area—nearly half an hour later.

Suddenly, Kairos stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

"I really hate scumbags like you."

The others looked puzzled. They hadn't seen anything.

But in the next moment—

Swoosh!

Kairos vanished, reappearing just ahead. He reached into thin air and slammed something—or someone—violently to the ground.

BOOM!

The floor cracked under the impact, a crater forming amid swirling dust.

When it cleared, a body lay on the ground, eyes rolled back.

"A creep like you… hiding with the Clear-Clear Fruit and trying to sneak up on my woman? You're asking for death," Kairos growled at the unconscious form of Absalom.

"Clear-Clear Fruit?" Nami gasped. "That's real?!"

The girls—Vivi, Uta, Robin, and Nami—all stared at the pervert with disgust. If Kairos hadn't acted, who knew what would've happened?

Kairos's foot glowed with Haki.

Without hesitation, he stomped on Absalom's head—

BOOM!

The floor cracked again. The man's skull shattered like a watermelon.

A system notification appeared:

[Pickable items detected. Pick up?]

"Pick up."

[Ding! Acquired: 5 Perfect Body Crystals, 2 Perfect Soul Crystals, 3 Perfect Talent Crystals, 3 Perfect Physical Skill Crystals, and 1 Legendary Paramecia Clear-Clear Fruit Crystal. Stored in portable space.]

Just then—

"Absalom!!!"

Moonlight Moria burst into the scene. The destruction, the death—he could no longer remain hidden.

He froze when he saw the headless corpse.

Fury surged through him. First, Kaido took his crew. Now, this newcomer was killing what remained.

"You bastard! How can you be so casual after killing one of my crew?!"

"He was a scumbag. Don't pretend you didn't know," Kairos said flatly.

He had killed thousands of pirates—Absalom was nothing.

"You think my crew are garbage?!"

"Not all," Kairos said coolly. "But he was. Now then, Moria, you have two choices: One, surrender your gold and valuables and I let you live. Two, resist... and I kill you and loot you anyway."

"You... you dare call me ONION?!" Moria roared, referencing the nickname Kairos had thrown at him earlier.

"Don't pretend you don't look like one," Kairos replied dryly.

That was the last straw.

Moria's shadow twisted into a spear, launching toward Kairos.

Kairos responded with a casual sword slash.

Swoosh!

The shadow spear was sliced clean, the force of the slash carrying through and flinging Moria hundreds of meters away.

"Why are all my enemies lately broken ex-Warlords who were stomped by Yonko?" Kairos sighed.

At best, Moria was at major general level. Maybe borderline vice admiral.

He wasn't worth much effort.

Kairos advanced, lifting Sandai Kitetsu.

"Guess I'll just end this."

"Stop! Don't hurt Lord Moria!"

A new voice cried out.

Ghosts rushed at Kairos.

He reacted instantly, Conqueror's Haki coating his blade.

Slice!

The ghosts were cleaved apart.

"Sneak attacks aren't nice, little lady," he said, looking up at Perona hovering nearby.

"You'll regret hurting Lord Moria! Take this!"

She unleashed a massive ghost bomb—a kamikaze blast from her Hollow-Hollow Fruit.

"Pathetic."

Kairos didn't flinch.

He swung Sandai Kitetsu again.

Slice!

The ghost bomb burst apart harmlessly.