Ah, speaking of the West Blue, how could we forget this hero of the West Blue!
The man known as the fallen version of Luffy, before being shattered by Kaido's club, was once a passionate and upstanding young man.
Interesting, since he's already delivered himself to my doorstep, it would be rude not to accept, wouldn't it?
To get an unexpected bonus like this, how exaggerated.
Moria, currently nineteen years old, was tall and lanky, or rather, excessively tall, like a small giant. He had to bend down just to enter the room. His skin was unnaturally pale, with a pair of small pointed horns on his forehead, and he dragged a long katana. He generally looked and carried himself like a gang leader.
"Hm?"
The sudden appearance of Moria also caught his attention to the scene inside the room. He saw the various mafia bosses, his intended targets, now respectfully kneeling before someone.
What was going on?
Although he didn't care for these rats in the gutter, they wouldn't have gathered here just to worship this person, would they?
What exactly was this situation?
With this doubt, Moria subconsciously looked at Roa. The moment he clearly saw that figure, Moria's pupils constricted to pinpoint size.
All his doubts were now answered.
"Heh heh heh!"
Moria scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "Did I come at a bad time?"
"No,"
Roa said with a smile, "You came at just the right time."
Moria took a deep breath, then the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a sinister smile. "What a surprise, a man like you appearing in such a backwater!"
"Perhaps,"
Roa also smiled, "this is fate bringing us together?"
"Heh heh heh heh! You're right!"
Moria, whose personality was still very jovial at this time, burst into laughter. "Every encounter on the high seas is a certainty formed by countless coincidences!"
"Then there's nothing more for me to say!"
"Since we've coincidentally met, Roa the Calamity!"
Moria stared intently at Roa. "Remember this name: Gecko Moria!"
"This is the name of the man who is about to defeat you!"
"You're asking for death!"
Bege (father) suddenly turned pale with fury. Although he had only just joined Roa's command, he clearly had a strong sense of identity.
"Who do you think you're talking to!"
"Boss?"
Dylan once again sought Roa's instructions. If Boss gave the order, Dylan guaranteed he would immediately rip out and crush the heart of this suicidal fool.
But Roa merely waved his hand again. "It's been quite boring since coming to the West Blue. Finally, I've met someone a little interesting. Dylan, don't interfere."
"Yes, Boss."
Dylan stopped speaking. Since it was Lord Roa's decision, there was no need for him to say more.
"Heh heh heh heh!"
Moria grinned widely. "So, Roa, you're going to accept my challenge, right!"
"Challenge?"
Roa smiled. "Not listening carefully is a bad habit."
"Didn't you hear what I just said? Moria, if you can't make me feel entertained,"
Roa's eyes narrowed, "I'll kill you."
Whoosh!
An invisible aura surged.
"Uh!!"
Moria instantly felt a heavy blow, his tall body staggering backward, directly out of the room.
What was that?
His muscles were trembling uncontrollably, and his brain felt like it had been hit by a heavy hammer, aching painfully! Even his thoughts seemed to halt in that instant, his mind a blank!
"Captain?"
Moria's subordinates, who had followed him, sounded surprised.
Didn't he say he was going to capture all those mafia kingpins in one go and then extort huge ransoms?
Why did it seem like the battle hadn't even begun?
"Everyone, be careful!"
Moria raised his voice. "There's a monster in there!"
A monster?
Moria's pirates exchanged bewildered glances.
What kind of being would their captain call a monster?
Roa walked out of the hole Moria had kicked through, hands in his pockets.
"Quite a crowd, huh."
Roa glanced around casually. They were all inexplicable, weaklings he didn't want to look at a second time.
"If you can't satisfy me, they'll die too."
"You wish!"
As expected of the hot-blooded young man Moria, upon hearing Roa's words, his morale instantly surged. "Dare to touch my comrades, and I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"
His comrades, upon seeing Roa's appearance, were now drenched in sweat from shock.
"Cap-captain! That's Roa the Calamity?"
"Are we going to be enemies with that guy??"
You must be kidding!
That's supposedly one of the strongest pirates in the world, a monster with a two-billion-berry bounty!
"What's there to be afraid of!"
Moria's voice was filled with rising fighting spirit. "His bounty is high, but that's only because he debuted early!"
That's true, Roa already had a bounty when he was six or seven years old.
"He's a Devil Fruit user, and I'm a Devil Fruit user too!"
Moria declared loudly, "What's there to be scared of!"
His comrades gradually calmed down.
Right, so what if he has a two-billion-berry bounty? He's still human, isn't he?
He's also a Devil Fruit user, and the captain's ability is almost invincible!
Not only does he have one-shot kill moves, but even if they can't win, no one can stop them if they want to run!
Thinking this way—
They can win!
They had originally planned to make a name for themselves using those mafia kingpins, but now it seemed the captain was about to become world-renowned!
"Go, Captain!"
Cheers erupted. "Take down that guy, and your bounty will be two billion!"
"No! Roa's bounty is two billion, so if the Captain defeats him, it's got to be at least three billion!"
"I say forty billion!"
The pirates actually started arguing about Moria's future bounty.
Roa couldn't help but smile.
People, indeed, are happier the less they know.
"Laughable."
Behind him, Dylan somewhat understood why Boss was interested.
Occasionally watching clowns perform at a circus wasn't bad.
Beside him, Bege (father) patted his son's head, saying earnestly, "Bege (son), you must never be like a frog in a well. The world is far wider than you imagine!"
Bege (son) impatiently pulled away from his father's hand. He still didn't understand why his old man had submitted to Roa.
"Well then,"
Roa beckoned to Moria. "Come."
"Heh heh heh heh! Then I won't be polite!"
Without hesitation, Moria drew his sword and charged at Roa.
Slow, so slow that Roa almost couldn't watch. Was he on 0.1x speed?
It looked like a snail crawling, from his perspective.
However, Moria didn't rely on his speed.
The moment he was still some distance from Roa, Moria laughed loudly, "Heh heh heh, got you!"
His shadow had already disappeared from beneath him, moving much faster than his body, now shifting from the ground to behind Roa.
"Shadow?"
Dylan raised an eyebrow slightly. "A Paramecia-type Shadow-Shadow Fruit?"
A very formidable Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.
"Horn Sword: Shadow!"
Moria's left hand suddenly pulled back.
Whoosh!
The shadow of Moria behind Roa trembled slightly, then a materialized shadow suddenly shot out, transforming into a sharp blade heading straight for Roa's back.
Roa remained motionless.
"Heh heh heh!"
Moria's not-so-large eyes were now wide, almost tearing his eyelids.
His shadow blade was indestructible—
Clang!
Don't misunderstand, it wasn't that Roa's system, which had never been activated, suddenly activated. His cheat in this world was already overpowered enough; if he got another cheat, no one else could survive.
This was the sound of Moria's indestructible shadow blade striking Roa's back.
"What?"
Moria's expression changed dramatically.
Not just him, but his subordinates, who had been cheering joyfully, were also struck dumb.
That was a shadow blade that could even pierce steel! And it actually failed?
"Continue."
Roa merely spoke flatly.
Once the shadow gained a physical form, its attacks became ordinary physical attacks.
Moria's attack power was so meager it couldn't even budge a single hair on Roa.
"Don't be arrogant!"
Moria cursed angrily.
Was it Roa's ability? Didn't the newspapers say his ability was to create various disasters?
Moria took three steps at once to rush in front of Roa, delivering a heavy chop with his long blade.
It landed directly on Roa's shoulder.
Thwack!
Amidst a deafening clang, like metal striking metal, Moria stumbled back several steps.
"Are you kidding me!"
His features twisted in disbelief. "Did you hide an iron plate on your body, you bastard?"
Roa sighed faintly. "Truly insignificant."
"Why are you so arrogant! Shadow Revolution!"
Moria roared unwillingly.
His shadow instantly coiled tightly around Roa's shadow.
Roa immediately felt a force trying to forcibly move his body.
People's movements would cause their shadows to move.
Similarly, if the shadow moved, the person's body would follow.
This was Moria's Shadow Revolution.
But.
Roa remained motionless.
"How is that possible!!"
Fine beads of sweat seeped from Moria's forehead.
He couldn't move him!
No matter how much he urged his ability, he still couldn't budge Roa in the slightest.
"What are you expecting?"
Roa merely said lightly, "Can an ant really move an elephant?"
"Then look at this!"
Moria's shadow suddenly emerged from within Roa's shadow, and then Moria roared, "Shadow Warrior!"
He directly swapped places with his shadow, instantly appearing behind Roa.
"Not bad."
Dylan nodded slightly.
The Paramecia-type Shadow-Shadow Fruit, its abilities were quite comprehensive.
"You're finished! Roa!"
Moria, with bloodshot eyes, bent down and reached for Roa's shadow on the ground.
"It worked!"
His subordinates, who had previously been as mournful as if attending a funeral, now came alive, cheering loudly with joy.
This ability, once successful, was an instant kill!
But.
"Uh!"
Moria's face instantly froze.
He had indeed grabbed Roa's shadow.
But it was so heavy!
How could it be so heavy!
He couldn't lift it at all!
"Am I finished?"
Roa didn't turn his head, still motionless.
As mentioned before, in terms of defense, Roa's evolution was all-encompassing, not just enhancing his physical defense, but also simultaneously increasing his resistance to various elemental attacks and abnormal statuses.
He was currently putting on a display of pure tenacity.
"How is this possible, how can such a thing be happening?"
Moria looked at Roa's back in disbelief. In front of him, he was so small, yet now he seemed as towering as an untouchable mountain!
"That's why I said, you're truly insignificant."
Roa subtly turned his head.
With just this small movement, Moria instantly reacted, swapping places with his shadow once again, appearing some distance away from Roa.
"Retreat! Everyone, retreat quickly!"
Moria roared.
The world, how could it be so vast! The strongest, how could he be so distant!
His subordinates looked bewildered.
"Shadow Box!"
Behind Roa, the shadow transformed into a giant box, enveloping Roa.
Instantly, a large number of shadow blades pierced towards Roa.
Hm?
Hado #90: Black Coffin, is it?
Roa casually waved his right hand, and the shadow box instantly shattered.
"An interesting ability, but if you're done playing, it's my turn."
Roa raised his right hand towards Moria.
Moria instinctively tried to swap places with his shadow.
But, it was too late.
Whoosh!
An invisible wave of energy transformed into a white beam of light, instantly piercing through Moria's body.
"Wahhh!"
The man spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering back two steps, then collapsing weakly onto his back.
Internal damage from Armament Haki combined with the shockwave of Eight Impact Fist, the penetrative power is strong. It has a bit of Sengoku's shockwave flavor.
"Captain!!"
Moria's comrades immediately rushed to surround him, but Moria, whose internal organs were severely damaged, could only lie on the ground spitting blood, his eyes somewhat unfocused, unable to utter a single word.
"So, what should I do with you all?"
A calm voice, but to the pirates, it sounded like a demon, came from behind them.
The pirates turned back in horror, looking at Roa, who wore a look of amused interest.
Some had already started screaming, while others mustered their courage to stand in front of Roa.
And then, someone said,
"Lord Roa! You just said the Captain's ability was interesting, right!"
A pirate, his face trembling, shouted loudly, "You said that as long as the Captain entertained you, you wouldn't kill us!"
"Oh?"
Roa recalled. "It seems I did. But, letting enemies go... isn't that a bit improper?"
"Then, please show us great mercy, please allow us to join your ranks!"
The pirate immediately bowed repeatedly to Roa, his forehead touching the ground. "Please spare the Captain's life!"
The other pirates looked at him in bewilderment.
Then, they too quickly bowed down to Roa, simultaneously pleading for his mercy.
"What sincere loyalty,"
Roa couldn't help but feel a little touched.
While there was certainly a desire to save themselves, more so, these guys genuinely wanted to plead for Moria.
It was no wonder Moria was so disheartened after all his subordinates were killed by Kaido.
"Moria, what do you think?"
Roa looked at Moria with interest.
Moria's massive body trembled. He couldn't speak, only two lines of tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.
"You've even moved me,"
Roa nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, then let it be. From today onwards, work for me."
"Thank you endlessly, Lord Roa, thank you endlessly!"
The pirates were covered in snot and tears, their foreheads sincerely touching the ground, remaining there for a long time.
"Did you hear that, Moria? You must work hard for me to repay the kindness shown to your comrades."
Roa said with a smile.
Moria remained speechless.
And at this moment.
"Lord Roa!"
Bege (father) suddenly stepped forward, falling to his knees behind Roa like a toppling jade pillar. "Your subordinate has a request!"
"Call me Boss, Bege (father)."
Roa turned. "So, what is it?"
"Boss!"
Bege (father) followed suit, "Please, please take my son, Bege (son), with you as well!"
"Dad! What are you saying?"
Bege (son) exclaimed in incomprehension. "I'm not leaving! I'm going to inherit the Capone Family!"
Foolish son, the Capone Family, and even the entire underworld of the West Blue combined, are mere rats in a gutter before this great lord!
Only by following the sun can you get the chance to look down upon the entire world!
Completely ignoring his son's resistance, Bege (father) merely said sincerely, "Bege (son) is a Paramecia-type Castle-Castle Fruit user! And he's only eleven years old this year. He'll definitely be able to help you!"
"Oh?"
Roa looked at the resisting Bege (son).
This kid's ability was indeed quite impressive. While somewhat lacking in offensive power, his defense was top-notch. In the original story, he could withstand several of Auntie Linlin's ruthless punches with only slight internal bleeding.
Queen was instantly defeated by a memory-lost Linlin in just a few moves.
Furthermore, the Castle-Castle Fruit's functionality was indeed very strong; it was like having a personal dimension.
"I accept."
Roa said.
Recruiting two more great generals—er, minor generals, that is.
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