Chapter 30: Shadow and Glint Showdown!
[Whoosh!]
As a long leg flashing with golden light flashed past, Gecko Moria's Head unexpectedly shattered, turning into pieces of torn Black Shadow fragments fluttering in Mid-air.
"Eh—?"
Borsalino looked doubtfully at Moria's Body that had turned into a mass of purplish-black Shadow before him.
[Swish!]
Suddenly, this Black Shadow fiercely swung the sharp Shadow Blade in its hand, turning into a black flash that horizontally slashed at the former's waist, splitting Borsalino in two.
However, there were no wounds or Blood at the cut; instead, there was bright golden light. Immediately after, the golden light flashed, appearing in the place where he originally stood in the blink of an eye.
"How scary~"
Borsalino wore a look of lingering fear, his gaze passing over that Black Shadow to look at Gecko Moria, who had appeared fifty meters away without him noticing, his face full of doubt.
"You're a Logia System too? But didn't the Data/Files say you were a Paramecia System Shadow-Shadow Fruit User?"
"Heh heh heh— I'd like to know why your Element Transformation can be immune to my slashes, even though the attack just now was Wrapping Haki."
Gecko Moria had no interest in introducing his Ability to him; instead, he questioned back. It was his first time facing a Logia System Ability User, so he wasn't entirely sure if Haki could harm Element Transformation.
"Well, who knows~"
Borsalino's answer was completely insincere.
"Hmph, we'll know if we fight. I really don't believe Haki is useless against you!" Gecko Moria let out a cold snort and then shouted, "Shadow Doppelganger, come with me!"
[Bang—]
Stomping hard on the Ground with a foot, his Body Size of nearly seven meters instantly accelerated, easily smashing through a mass of Air Current generated by a Sonic Boom, turning into a huge purplish-black Afterimage and charging forward.
At the same time, the Black Shadow whose form was exactly the same as his, holding the Shadow Blade, approached Borsalino one step ahead to slash.
"Ama no Murakumo~"
Borsalino's movements were faster, casually drawing out a golden Long Sword completely formed by gathered Light Particles, instantly blocking the Shadow Blade's attack.
Next, in less than two seconds, the Shadow Blade and the light sword continuously clashed at a speed that appeared extremely blurry to the naked eye of an ordinary person. Black flashes and golden light clanged together in a chaotic fight, continuously generating circle after circle of Ripple-like Air Waves in Mid-air. Occasional slashes that swept past cut out hideous long cracks on the Ground.
The next second, Gecko Moria's Main Body approached. He tried to get behind Borsalino, but the latter flashed back a few meters, giving no opportunity for a pincer attack at all.
Having no choice, Moria could only launch a quick attack with the 'Shadow Doppelganger' from the left and right, each Blade swinging out dangerous purplish-black slashes.
Borsalino blocked with his sword while observing the Situation of the two.
He found that this so-called 'Shadow Doppelganger', whether it was Strength, Speed, or Reaction, was basically identical to Moria's Main Body.
Only in terms of Haki was there a difference in Strength. The former's Shadow Blade was only Wrapped with a weak layer of Armament Haki, while the Haki Presence on the latter's Long Saber was extremely dense, even 'Hardening' the Blade.
However, comparing Swordsmanship alone, he was clearly Stronger, although Moria was also quite good with his Blade.
Also, Speed!
[Swish—]
Borsalino turned into a Glint again, disappearing from his original spot in the blink of an eye, and then appearing to the left of Moria's Main Body and slashing with a sword.
Fortunately, the latter's Observation Haki level was decent, and he reacted immediately, but it was too late to block with his Blade.
As for using Armament Haki to Hardening his Body to test the sharpness of 'Ama no Murakumo', it was even unthinkable, as that light sword was clearly also Wrapped with a layer of Haki.
"Shadow Swap!"
At this critical moment, Moria once again used the Shadow-Shadow Fruit's Ability to swap positions with his own Shadow, which was the 'Shadow Doppelganger'.
"Ara~~"
Borsalino's eyebrow twitched when he saw this scene, but Moria showed no hesitation, immediately activating his killing move.
"Scattered Bats!"
With a boom, the 'Shadow Doppelganger' in front of the former was seen suddenly exploding, turning into dense Shadow bats that Flopped forward. They scattered, surrounding Borsalino from multiple directions like a black net.
Although this move was sudden, the latter also had Observation Haki. Coupled with the Glint-Glint Fruit's unsolvable Speed, he instantly dodged the bites of all the bats, and when he reappeared, he was already in High Altitude.
"Oh~ What a troublesome Ability~" Borsalino rubbed his chin and looked down with a troubled Expression.
At the same time, Gecko Moria on the Ground also frowned tightly, staring at the sky above, and cursed in a low voice, "This guy's Speed is too fast. How am I supposed to fight this?"
In his opinion, the Swordsmanship of both sides was evenly matched; neither could hope to gain an advantage from it. So the fight came down to Haki and Devil Fruit Ability.
In terms of Armament Haki and Observation Haki, he seemed to be slightly at a disadvantage. And in terms of Ability, it seemed neither could do anything to the other.
The combination of 'Shadow Doppelganger' and 'Shadow Swap' was equivalent to Element Transformation + spatial displacement, but while this was sufficient for self-preservation, it was too difficult to injure Borsalino.
"It looks like this fight will take a long Time..." Gecko Moria thought to himself. Suddenly, he remembered his fellow clan members.
The fight here had reached this point, how had they not noticed yet?!
[Beep————]
But Borsalino gave him no chance at all to check on his fellow clan members. The 'Ama no Murakumo' in his hand had already disappeared, and a dazzling golden Glint lit up at his fingertips.
[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!]
Three Light Beams shot out, their Speed so fast they instantly approached Gecko Moria. But the latter casually took a few steps relying on Observation Haki, easily dodging the laser rays.
"Heh heh heh—, what's the use of this?" Moria sneered.
Although Borsalino's Observation Haki seemed a bit more proficient than his, the gap wasn't so large that he could predict his predictions.
But the next second, when the Light Beams landed on the snow behind him, three bright red explosion fireballs expanded. High-temperature flames and Shockwaves instantly swallowed large areas of snow and Gecko Moria.
[Beep————]
Borsalino in High Altitude was very calm about this scene. The Light Beams on his fingers continued to fire, and another three shots went down.
Can't you swap positions with your Shadow Clone?
Alright, then I'll just blow up both of you together. Try dodging that!
[Swish!]
Suddenly, an anomaly occurred. Amidst the continuous explosion Gunfire Flash, a huge purplish-black slash appeared, unexpectedly temporarily cutting through the flames and Air Current.
Immediately after, the 'Shadow Doppelganger' shot up into the sky, and as soon as it flew in front of Borsalino, the black on its Body quickly faded, turning into Moria himself, looking a bit disheveled.
"Die!!"
The three-meter-long great Blade slashed out fiercely. The sharp Blade was Wrapped in a thick purplish-black Shadow Blade and dense Armament Haki, splitting Borsalino in half from top to bottom.
However, the Situation was the same as before; no Blood appeared. Instead, he turned into two golden lights that shot out to the left and right, and then merged into one in Mid-air in the distance, that irritatingly lewd face reappeared.
"Oh~ Your Shadow Clone can even fly. What a truly terrifying Ability~~"
Borsalino pouted, looking very surprised, but then saw Moria falling down and grinned, saying, "I see, you can't fly after swapping positions."
However, the latter's damaged Clothing and furious Expression clearly showed that the explosions from the previous six Light Beams had some Effect.
Since that's the case, let's increase the intensity!
When Gecko Moria had just landed back on the Ground filled with scorched earth Dents, it was as if an extra Sun had appeared in the sky; dazzling golden light covered the entire blue sky.
"Yasakani no Magatama~~"
Reporting the current Data/Files, reporting to all dear Readers. Collection 180, Recommendation 174, Monthly Pass 41, Signed Author New Book Ranking Light Novel Category 76th place.
(End of this chapter)