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Unfortunately, facing the agile Soi Fan, all of Moria's attacks missed. He, conversely, was hit again, knocking out hundreds more shadows, causing his giant body to shrink further.
The mighty Warlord of the Sea was being treated as a live punching bag for Soi Fan to practice her Armament Haki on!
To better grasp Armament Haki, Soi Fan was deliberately keeping her use of Spiritual Pressure to a minimum. Yet, even so, Moria was being beaten back relentlessly.
"So, you deliberately lured Perona away, didn't you?"
In that moment, the cunning of the veteran pirate seemed to return to Moria. He looked at the lineup before him, realizing that he would likely not survive this encounter. Both Auguro and those people in similar uniforms possessed strength far beyond his imagination! Especially the woman in the white haori!
Moria could sense that if his opponent wished it, she could probably finish him off with a single blow!
Damn the World Government! What kind of trash intelligence was that!
This wasn't a defeat at the hands of Aokiji with a narrow escape! This was clearly a fierce battle that ended in a safe retreat!
These bastards, scum, delinquents! You've ruined me!
Moria, unsurprisingly, mentally cursed them out.
Auguro said calmly, "The following scene would be too cruel for a young girl."
"Sigh..."
Moria sighed. At this point, he had no hope of survival.
After a moment, he seemed to reach a certain decision, his gaze fixed on Auguro.
"Could I ask you to take the girl in?"
Auguro paused, his eyes unreadable.
"We are enemies!"
Moria sneered. "You clearly know the power of Perona's Devil Fruit. Can you really feel comfortable letting that little girl wander outside alone?"
The power of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit could suppress over ninety percent of the powerhouses on the sea! No one who encountered it would fail to feel apprehensive or tempted!
Auguro said coldly, "I can kill her! She is my enemy after all!"
Moria gently shook his head.
"If you intended to kill her, Perona would have been dead already! Why bother scaring her away?"
Before Auguro could respond, Moria continued.
"Unlike us, Perona has never killed anyone over the years. She's just a foolish girl who doesn't understand anything!"
"I have seen many pirates in my life. You are different from them; you have principles! If Perona follows you, at least she won't become a tool for someone else's slaughter!"
Auguro was speechless. What was this? A final request for his dependent?
He hadn't expected that, in the end, Moria would still prioritize his comrade, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. It was no wonder Perona saw him as a father figure.
"Fine! I promise you! I will protect Perona!"
As Auguro's forceful words landed, Moria's last worry faded.
What about Hogback on Thriller Bark?
Heh!
Moria had some self-awareness. Auguro would never let go of another person whose hands were soaked in blood.
"Then, let's settle this with one final move!"
Moria's eyes became resolute. In this moment, the great pirate Gecko Moria, who once dominated the New World, seemed to have returned!
"Kagemusha: Kyōei-satsu (Shadow Warrior: Raging Shadow Kill)!"
In this instant, Moria merged with his shadow. He then absorbed numerous shadows to condense a massive lance in his hand, stabbing fiercely toward Auguro.
The immense pressure seemed to make the air viscous, and the shadow lance faintly hissed with the sound of wind and thunder.
Auguro waved his hand, signaling Soi Fan to step back. This was a challenge directed at him; he would naturally accept it himself!
"Moria, I shall use my strongest move to send you off!"
Auguro's right hand quickly wiped his Zanpakutō, instantly covering it with pitch-black Armament Haki.
"Ittō-ryū: Nazuna (One-Sword Style: Stomping Weed)!"
Hiss!
A fine line seemed to appear in the air.
The next second, that line violently erupted, forming a terrifying slash that tore through the heavens and the earth.
Pfft!
Moria's shadow lance instantly shattered, and a long sword mark stretched from his head down to his feet.
Moria opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His large body fell straight to the ground.
"That... is the Commander General's swordsmanship?" Soi Fan looked at Auguro with surprise.
As the founder of the "Original Style" (Genryū), Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was supreme in both swordsmanship and Hakuda (Hand-to-Hand Combat).
Although he hadn't summoned the actual character yet, Auguro could still access the explanations of the Captains' skills and techniques from the system. He could fully teach himself or practice them.
Of course, he could also choose to spend Achievement Points for instant mastery, but the price was too high—it wasn't as cost-effective as using the gacha system. Up until now, this one strike, Nazuna, was the only technique he had managed to learn convincingly.
After Moria's death, all the shadows he controlled dissipated, returning to their respective owners. Auguro also acquired the Kage Kage no Mi (Shadow-Shadow Fruit).
"Ding! Paramecia-type Kage Kage no Mi detected. Can be exchanged for a Gold Legend-level lottery ticket!"
Indeed, this was a Devil Fruit with immense potential. Moria had completely strayed from the correct path!
"System, exchange!"
Once the new Captain arrived, he would have three top-tier combatants. That standing was comparable to the Marines!
With Moria defeated, Auguro sent the others to thoroughly clean out Thriller Bark. Scum like Hogback were to be executed on the spot without reporting back.
Auguro himself went to Perona's room. Since she had been entrusted to him, he needed to pay more attention.
In the room, Perona was tied up on the bed by Robin and Nami. She had initially tried to use her Negative Hollows to deal with the two, but Robin discovered her main body and held her hostage, forcing her to stop.
Now, she was curled up on the bed, sobbing hysterically. She clearly knew Moria was dead.
The Animal Zombies in the corner of the room lay motionless on the floor, having lost their shadows. Nothing could better confirm Moria's fate.
Before Auguro could speak, Robin said first, "Lord Auguro, when we return, let me take care of Perona!"
"Hmm?" Auguro looked confused.
"How did you know I was taking her with me?"
Robin pointed to the motionless Animal Zombies on the floor.
"Moria manipulated this zombie just now to tell Perona that he had entrusted her to you."
Good heavens!
Moria looked foolish, but his thoughts were quite meticulous. By doing this, he ensured Perona wouldn't pursue a blood feud with Auguro, which would force Auguro to kill her!
"Waaaah! Even if Lord Moria said that, I will never stay with you, the murderer who killed Lord Moria! I'm staying here!" Perona wept profusely, declaring fiercely.
Robin frowned slightly. The clever woman naturally understood Perona's unique nature. Such a person absolutely could not be left alone. If someone else used her ability, it would undoubtedly cause huge trouble!