Shadow...
The lives of subordinates...
Moriah was completely stunned, looking at Sage with an incredulous expression, "What are you talking about..."
"Sage!"
The grand doors of the castle hall burst open as Lily and the others stormed inside, then suddenly froze.
They had sped up thinking fierce combat was underway when Sage rushed the castle, but now they saw... that seven-meter-tall monster was kneeling on the ground, seemingly defeated.
"So that's Moriah?" Renedia blinked, "Eww! Looks just like a demon, but surprisingly has a scallion head."
Hawkins was carrying a chubby man in a mesh shirt with only his upper body revealed, casually tossed him over, glanced at the others, and said calmly:
"Found him on the way, one of the 'Three Monsters,' Hogback, a world-renowned genius surgeon. Didn't expect him to become a subordinate of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Oh, another one, that's an added bargaining chip. Good, Moriah, you've added a bargaining chip, so let me introduce where my power lies, giving you a clear and direct perception."
Sage strolled forward at a leisurely pace, saying, "My power isn't just about Haki, let me show you my true strength."
He stood in front of Absalom, lightly lifted his leg, hardly exerting force, just gently tapping Absalom's body.
"Pooof!"
With just a tap, Absalom's eyes widened, spewing out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his body curled like a shrimp, seemingly enduring immense pain.
"My strength lies in my martial art, the 'North Star Divine Fist,' a technique that can grasp the Breath of All Things, perceive the Secret Holes in everything, and target them to strike weaknesses."
He cast a sidelong glance at Moriah, saying, "Steel, stone, human bodies, all things in existence have Secret Holes, and this power allows the damage to be infinitely magnified through the weaknesses of these holes."
"Just like this, I hit him on his 'Dragon's Chin', 'Neck', and 'Immunity'. These three Secret Hole positions are on the chest; 'Dragon's Chin' makes his skin highly sensitive and amplifies pain, 'Neck' causes intense bodily pain, 'Immunity' leads to the bursting of bodily tissues. I didn't use full force, that's why he's only spitting blood, otherwise, he'd become a mound of flesh only capable of feeling pain."
"Like this..."
Sage kicked Absalom again at the back of the abdomen, immediately, Absalom's body stiffened, involuntarily spreading wide in a crucifix stance.
"This is the 'Battle Sore' Secret Hole, rendering the body paralyzed, forcing the limbs into a cross shape. Indeed, I possess means to control people. Compared to forcing corpses to move and obey by using shadows..."
He kicked Absalom once more, the lion monster man who was posed like a crucifix, clearly severely injured, almost passing out, suddenly stood stiffly like a zombie.
"I can make the living act according to my will!"
Sage bared his mouthful of eerie white teeth, revealing an extremely wicked smile, as if he was the true master of the gloomy atmosphere of the ancient castle.
Seeing this, Lily's pupils shrunk, recalling when they first met, she was randomly touched by Sage, and her body became uncontrollable.
"Numbness, blindness, deafness, calmness, softening, rigidity, truth-speaking, paralysis, bleeding, explosion, control... Whatever I want to do, I can achieve by striking the corresponding Secret Hole!"
Sage's grin grew increasingly terrifying, "Isn't controlling the living more intriguing than controlling the dead?"
Upon hearing this, Hawkins' breathing became rapid.
He knew Sage was strong, highly skilled in Haki, and formidable in body techniques, but never expected him to possess so many terrifying methods!
Is he not truly an Ability User?
"Besides..."
Sage tapped Absalom a few times continuously, the seemingly dying body suddenly surged with vigor, the limp body visibly regaining strength.
Thud!
Absalom heavily knelt to the ground, sweat pouring like rain, taking deep breaths as if savoring the signs of still being alive.
That uncontrollable feeling had vanished...
"The damage caused by Secret Holes can also be healed by Secret Holes, and they can cure illness. Even severe deathly sickness can be revitalized just by striking the right Secret Hole."
Sage chuckled, "I can kill and restore life!"
He certainly knew how to heal.
The North Star Divine Fist isn't merely a Killing Fist, it's also a Living Fist.
Of course, it's not for treating external injuries, but for diseases caused internally, unless completely weakened beyond remedy, otherwise he can save them.
That's why Sage isn't too worried about needing a ship doctor; the Doctor Corps on board is sufficient for external injuries, as for severe illnesses... to him, death isn't an option.
"As my shadow, of course, it possesses my martial art; this isn't an ability. Once stuffed into a strong body, it immediately grants powerful strength!"
Sage extended a hand, grasped strongly, his smiling face lifting like a malevolent ghost, "Don't you want to resurrect Oars? My shadow can do it, a powerful body combined with Secret Hole damage, that would be the power you've dreamed of for domination! Aren't you tempted? Exchange your three subordinates for it, exchange their lives for..."
"What nonsense are you talking!!"
Moriah's angry roar interrupted Sage's words.
He slammed his fist heavily on the ground, causing the space to slightly tremble, his eyes already full of wrath, "How could I possibly trade a comrade's life for something like that? What do you think I am! Don't underestimate me, Sage!!"
"Isn't that something you realized long ago?"
A calm voice drifted into his ears.
Moriah looked up and saw Sage, who had been fierce and evil, now with a calmer expression, looking directly at him.
Drip...
As he lifted his head, the blood flowing from his head gradually formed a large pool, dripping down his cheek and onto the ground, becoming a pool of blood, revealing Moriah's reflection.
That stupid and ugly face...
Moriah stared dumbly at the face in the blood, his eyes showing a dazed expression.
How long has it been...
It has been a long time since he last looked in a mirror.
Since the battle with Kaido, after losing his comrades, he dared not look in the mirror again, afraid to see his own face, the face that survived alone after losing his comrades.
An ugly face!
After steering the Thriller Bark from the West Sea into the Devil's Triangle Sea Region, he had been here for eight years, these eight years, relying on Hogback to stitch up corpses, plundering the shadows of people who wandered in here, creating a zombie army, always waiting to re-enter the New World.
The weakness of zombies, did Moriah not know?
But this was all he could do, he didn't want to lose comrades anymore.
A batch of undead zombies, then there would be no heartbreak, undead comrades, even if defeated by Kaido, it doesn't matter.
But...
Does it really work?
The power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit allows one to plunder others' shadows to gain strength equal to the original body, but those who have their shadow plundered cannot be in sunlight, exposure to sunlight turns them to dust.
Mirrors cannot reflect their appearance either.
Just a dark creature that cannot enter the light nor reflect an image... just like him.
He has a shadow, but he refuses to touch the light, refuses to look in the mirror...
Even if he needs to go out, he wants to quickly return here, return to the darkness.
He is no different than those without shadows, just a humble creature curling up in the dark.
A failed humble creature.
"Has it come to this?" Moriah muttered, staring at the reflection in the blood.
"Is death that scary, Moriah!"
Boom!
Another thunderbolt exploded in the sky, its brightness penetrating the window of the castle, illuminating Sage's figure, mixing the sound with thunder into Moriah's ears.
Sage's eyes glowed with a vicious light, the Supreme King Haki almost tangible, presenting as a massive black-red airflow, enveloping the entire castle.
He pointed at Moriah, his voice like thunder, "The scary part isn't death, it's being unable to fully carry out your will!"
"You've lost your will, how are you different from those zombies! Do you think you're alive? No! You're fucking dead already!"
"Dead on the day defeated by Kaido!!"
"You've died once, so why not try again! Go and challenge again! Even if you fail, you won't die a second time!"
Sage shouted loudly, "Don't you want to see it again? That magnificent sea!!"
Moriah's eyes widened, a gleam of light flashed in his pupils.
Indeed...
He's as good as dead!
Then why not see again... that blue ocean long unseen, and the fierce New World!
"Just a newcomer..."
Moriah slowly stood up, his shadow gradually spreading from under his feet, he grinned, emitting a sharp laugh: "Hee hee hee hee, even if I return to the sea, it's not your place to order me!"
He spread his arms, a red light flashed in his pupils, his heart skipped a beat, "You're not the only special one, nor should you lecture me! I am Moonlight Moriah, watch closely, the gathered strength of shadows..."
"Sage, behind you!" Lily suddenly shouted.
Boom!
Lightning struck again, illuminating the castle hall, suddenly a huge shadow appeared behind Sage.
Not a shadow...
It was a giant figure, expressionless, holding a book.
"That is..."
Hawkins' pupils tightened, recognizing the newcomer.
"Bartholomew Kuma!"