The shadows spread, emerging from the numerous dark corners of the inn, transforming from simple darkness into tangible entities.
Jackie Chan watched this scene, clutching his head in agony.
"Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck!"
All the guests in the inn had already fled, and even the owner and staff were no exception.
Aside from Moria and Jackie Chan's group, only Little Fu Gui and his companions remained on the second floor.
Jun Shiro told Little Fu Gui to quickly take the children and escape through another route, while he took a deep breath and strode downstairs.
As soon as he reached the bottom floor, Jun Shiro saw Moria chasing after Jackie Chan and Angeles with his blade.
It was like swatting mosquitoes in summer, except that this particular "mosquito" named Angeles was rather large.
"Put me down, Angeles. We can't deal with that guy like this," Jackie Chan said directly, then his eyes twitched as he abruptly lifted both legs to avoid being amputated on the spot.
"Are you sure?" Angeles asked, having already sensed through her remarkable Mind Net that serious trouble was approaching.
Moria waved his hand, and the spreading shadows shattered into pieces.
Fragment Bat!
Countless small demon-like black and purple bats surged forward, baring their fangs as they prepared to pounce and bite.
Seeing this, Jackie Chan's eyes widened, and he shrank back further, thinking better of his request. "Then let's wait a bit longer."
Sweat gradually beaded on Angeles' forehead. She had to dodge and weave through the cramped inn while avoiding Moria's slashes, the stabs of Horn Blade Shadow, all while being pursued by a swarm of bats trying to tear at them.
Before long, Angeles began to feel her head swelling. The consumption of physical energy from using Observation Haki, especially under these circumstances, was substantial.
"Jackie Chan."
"I'm here."
"Hang on tight!"
"Huh?"
Angeles suddenly released one hand, gripping Jackie Chan with only a single hand.
Jackie Chan's body swayed, and if not for his quick reflexes, he would have been bitten on the thigh by one of the bats.
With her hand now free, Angeles extended her arm forward and pressed the Sky Island Dial inside her palm armor.
Flame Dial!
Whooshing flames erupted, spewing directly toward the swarming bats.
Whether due to the light or the heat, the bats disintegrated upon approaching the flames, dissipating with sharp cries.
"They're afraid of fire?Jackie Chan keenly observed this detail.
"Uncle! Those are shadows!" Jade, who was being held by the Shadow Mage, reminded him.
Moria glanced at Jade, and the Shadow Mage's body twisted, effectively silencing her mouth.
Because she was just a child, Moria chose not to harm her directly.
"Flight, and flames... are you from the Lunarian Tribe?" Moria speculated.
"What? Has the so-called God Tribe gotten involved with human traffickers now?"
"Human trafficker?"
Angeles was shocked, looking at Jackie Chan.
What have you done!?
"No, that's not it!" Jackie Chan waved his hands frantically. "I was just worried about that girl's safety!"
"You're trying to take my Little Perona away from me!" Moria roared, the giant blade in his hand gradually glowing with a dark light.
Angeles' pupils contracted sharply—she could feel it, an aura of danger!
"Die!"
Moria swung violently, a powerful surge of Haki shooting out from his body and carving a long gash directly into the ground.
Every hotel item in its path was utterly shattered by the flying slash.
Sweat dripped from Angeles' nose as she strained to dodge sideways, barely managing to evade the attack.
Boom!
Half the hotel was instantly demolished, revealing the shadowy night outside.
Angeles looked up—was that the sky she saw?
Moria sheathed his blade, his mouth splitting into a wide grin, the two rows of sharp teeth forming a terrifying pattern.
"I'm going to completely crush you all right here, head-on! Stop hiding!"
The origin of his title as a hero of the West Sea erupted forth.
Angeles saw the heroic spirit of Moria as a warrior and couldn't help but smile.
"Can you put me down now?"
Jackie Chan raised his hand to signal, and Angeles nodded, releasing her grip.
Landing with a few hops, Jackie Chan dissipated the force and flipped into a defensive stance.
"There must be some misunderstanding between us."
Before the fight could resume, Jackie Chan couldn't resist speaking up.
"Explain your misunderstanding in the afterlife!"
Just looking at Jackie Chan's face now made Moria's blood boil.
"Sir Jackie Chan, Lady Angeles, I've come to assist you!"
At that moment, Jun Shiro finally made his entrance, drawing his katana with the blade gleaming.
"More accomplices?"
Moria was puzzled. Were human traffickers these days so bold and numerous?
Angeles spread her wings in the sky, her pure white feathers shimmering under the moonlight.
Pulling a small hilt from her waist, she gave it a sharp flick. A mass of cloud mist expanded and quickly elongated into a longsword.
"Though I don't know exactly what's happening, I'm certain Jackie Chan means no harm."
"Yes, I guarantee it!"
Jackie Chan quickly added, "You've got to believe me!"
Moria remained silent, merely gripping his greatsword with both hands as a thick, dark gleam enveloped the blade.
"Unlucky..."
Jackie Chan felt that this truly couldn't be resolved peacefully.
Whoosh!
Moria charged forward, his massive blade aimed straight for Jackie Chan's neck.
Jackie Chan frantically dove sideways to avoid it, then rolled and conveniently picked it up... a mounted swordfish specimen from the hotel ruins?
"Why is there something like this in a hotel?!" Jackie Chan shrugged in disbelief. At the very least, a kitchen knife would have been more useful...
"Whoa!"
Moria lunged again, his hatred fully focused.
With no other options, Jackie Chan reluctantly raised the swordfish specimen, blocking twice with a clattering sound.
Crack...
After two blocks, the swordfish specimen shattered completely, leaving Jackie Chan with a bewildered expression.
"Is the quality this bad?"
"Damn you!"
Moria leaped up and kicked Jackie Chan squarely in the abdomen, sending him flying several meters high, nearly crashing through the other side of the hotel ruins.
The wooden walls couldn't withstand the impact, and Jackie Chan smashed halfway through, creating a large hole.
Stuck in the wall, Jackie Chan struggled fiercely, pushing against the wooden panels with both hands, trying to pull himself free.
But Moria waved his hand again, and the gecko shadow prepared to charge once more.
Horn Blade...
"Haah!"
At the critical moment, Angeles swooped down again, her fully formed Iron Cloud Longsword slashing down with immense force.
Specially processed in Skypiea, the Iron Cloud's hardness and sharpness far surpassed ordinary steel. A single strike would undoubtedly slice through flesh and bone.
But Moria swung his blade backhanded, colliding head-on with Angeles in a clash of strength against strength, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
Blood rushed to her face as Angeles' arms trembled uncontrollably. Moria, in his prime, possessed far greater physical power than she could currently match.
With a sinister grin, Moria abruptly exerted force, violently shoving Angeles away.
Her wings flapped rapidly several times before she barely managed to stabilize herself.
Fragment Bats!
The shadows quivered once more as numerous plump shadow bats emerged again.
One swarm entangled Angeles while another attacked Jackie Chan, who remained pinned against the wall.
The power of Flame Dial and Wind Dial flashed. Angeles extended her hand, wind fueling the flames as violent fire once again engulfed the shadows, neutralizing another wave of Fragment Bats.
Moria clicked his tongue in displeasure, truly annoyed by these vexing flames.
Meanwhile, Jun Shiro raised his katana and dashed through the wind to Jackie Chan's side. Surging internal energy erupted as his blade danced, slicing down all approaching Fragment Bats.
Crack!
The katana pierced the wall. Jun Shiro exerted force, his blade rotating to finally create movement space for Jackie Chan.
With another burst of effort from his limbs, Jackie Chan climbed out of his predicament, rubbing his sore abdomen while silently noting how powerfully Moria had kicked him earlier.
Elsewhere, Angeles continued battling Moria, though she no longer engaged in direct clashes.
Utilizing her aerial mobility, each of Angeles' attacks became like a dragonfly skimming water—touching and retreating immediately.
The sounds of clashing blades echoed continuously, but each time Moria raised his sword to counter, Angeles would withdraw her Iron Cloud Longsword.
After four or five exchanges, irritation flashed in Moria's eyes—he had no patience for this fly-catching game!
Grasping with one hand, gecko-like figures emerged from the shadows once more.
Angeles' Mind Net remained firmly locked on Moria. Detecting his flicker of irritation, the Sky Island Dials in her armor's boots activated immediately.
Wind Dial!
As violent winds erupted, Angeles surged forward with unprecedented speed in a diving strike, like a hawk finally extending its talons.
Moria tightened his grip, facing Angeles' slashing attack head-on as his massive blade swung downward.
Opportunity!
The instant their blades met, Angeles manipulated the hilt of her Iron Cloud Longsword. The originally solid cloud-based material instantly turned ethereal.
Moria's gigantic blade became completely enveloped in mist!
Crack!
The next moment, the mist solidified again, coiling around the blade like barbed wire.
Angeles pulled with both arms while her wings beat once. Guided by Mind Net, she precisely avoided the massive blade's edge and closed in on Moria's body.
With her armored hand aimed steadily at Moria's head, Angeles remained utterly calm.
Impact Dial!
A violent sound erupted before her palm as tremendous impact force poured directly into Moria's face.
Splat!
Blood trickled out as Moria's face appeared as if punched, crimson marks surfacing across it.
Nearby, the silenced Jade watched the battle while shaking with excitement.
Checkmate!
Yet...
Through her own palm, Angeles saw a wild, unrestrained smile.
Moria's body hadn't budged an inch, as if the blow to his head had never landed.
"Is this all your strength?"
"Nothing special!"
Whoosh!
A gecko emerged from the shadows, and a shadow spear cleanly pierced through Angeles' wings from behind.
Horn Blade Shadow!
Thump. Pure white was stained with a layer of crimson as Angeles collapsed in pain, her once-spreadable wings now curled into a tight cluster.
Moria's figure was revealed, paying no mind to the blood on his face as he gripped the barbed wire on his greatsword with one hand. Through sheer strength, he tore apart the material comparable to steel.
Their physical constitutions were too different. Angeles' attacks could only break Moria's skin, while Moria could shatter Angeles' bones.
After freeing his weapon, Moria wiped the blood from his face.
He looked at the three before him. Jackie Chan and Jun Shiro had rushed over without delay, shielding their only frontline damage dealer, Angeles, behind them.
Seeing Angeles' pierced wings, veins bulged on Jackie Chan's forehead.
"She's just a child! What have you done!"
"Child?"
Moria shrugged and said bluntly, "I merely gave a warrior a dignified exit. Don't be so self-righteous, you fool."
If Moria had wished, that Horn Blade Shadow could have pierced through Angeles' head or heart instead.
"With protectors like these, you shouldn't be human traffickers. What exactly are you trying to achieve?"
Moria was puzzled, unsure what he was even fighting for.
Jackie Chan fell silent, at a loss for words. He glanced at Jade with a complicated expression before settling into a fighting stance.
"We thought you had kidnapped that girl. After all, you two look nothing alike."
Faced with Jackie Chan's blunt honesty, Moria irritably touched his face—he was quite satisfied with his appearance!
It was precisely because Little Perona laughed whenever she saw him like this that Moria couldn't bring himself to abandon her.
"Though it's a misunderstanding, I'm still very annoyed. So, let me beat you up."
Moria grinned, then sheathed the great blade at his waist.
"Rejoice. With Little Perona here, I don't feel like killing anyone today."
Facing Moria, who was several times his size, Jackie Chan showed no intention of retreating.
"Mr. Jun Shiro, please look after Ange."
Jun Shiro was momentarily startled but then nodded solemnly, helping Angeles move to the side.
"You're not running anymore?"
Moria sneered.
Jackie Chan clenched his fists without a word.
With a bang, Moria charged forward, his massive fist swinging at Jackie Chan, eager to vent his pent-up frustration.
Jackie Chan's gaze remained calm. The moment Moria closed in, he abruptly leaped.
Under Moria's watch, Jackie Chan's body twisted several times mid-air until a leather-shoed foot appeared right before Moria's eyes.
Flying Kick!
Thump!
Moria was struck squarely in the face by the kick. An inexplicable tremendous force sent him flying backward uncontrollably.
One side of his cheek visibly dented, drool trailing in the direction of his fall.
With a thud, Moria crashed to the ground.
"Yowch!"
The moment he landed, Jackie Chan clutched his foot first, hopping on one leg like a golden rooster. He felt as if he had kicked a block of iron.
Lying on the ground, Moria seemed somewhat dazed. What just happened? Did that clown-like guy knock him down with a single kick?
Touching his cheek, Moria actually felt a slight pain.
Getting to his feet, Moria looked at Jackie Chan, the teasing glint gone from his eyes.
"Hey, you there, what was that about just now?"
"I know a little kung fu," Jackie Chan replied, still clutching his foot as the pain hadn't subsided.
"Kung fu? Are you from the West Sea too?"
Moria was puzzled—could he be from the Kingdom of Flowers?
Jackie Chan's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"Because I'm also from the West Sea," Moria said casually, then clenched his fist again. "Though I've started to see you in a slightly different light, I'm still really pissed off right now!"
"In that case, let's settle this with a fight, because I'm not in a good mood either!" Chronos said with a grim expression as he walked through the ruins of the inn.
Earlier, he had sensed a powerful presence and went to investigate, but found nothing. When he returned to the town and felt the battle, he rushed over immediately.
What he found was Ange injured, Jade captured, Jackie Chan fighting with an injured foot, and Little Fu Gui and the others having fled to a safe distance.
With a crackle of electricity, Chronos flashed to the Shadow Mage's side, delivered a fierce blow that dispersed the Shadow Mage, and caught Jade in his arms.
"Tohru, you—"
He was about to hand Jade over to Tohru, who had rushed over, but Chronos sensed something off.
Looking down, he noticed a little girl in Jade's arms.
Staring for a moment, Chronos realized the girl resembled Perona from his memories—pink hair, with three drooping eyelashes under her eyes.
"Jade, what's going on here?"
"She's an innocent little girl we rescued from that big guy! Oh, Tohru, no offense meant," Jade explained.
Faced with Jade's reply, Chronos fell silent. He handed Jade over to Tohru, then picked up the child who looked like Perona.
Turning to Moria, Chronos asked, "Is this your child?"
Moria's face darkened. "Give Little Perona back to me!"
In an instant, Chronos understood everything.
After a moment of silence, Chronos scratched his head and said, "This is a misunderstanding, but we're both in a bad mood right now. How about we just fight it out?"
Chronos handed Little Perona over to Tohru as well, instructing him to keep her safe. "No matter what, we won't harm a child."
Moria tightened his grip on his giant sword, his previously slightly eased mood now worse than ever.
"Just what I wanted!"
Shadows spread once more, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder.