The battleground was set on the glacier, far from the treasure-laden area. If the fight got too intense, they didn't want to risk damaging the wealth below—these were treasures Chin Jao had obsessed over for decades.
Upon hearing that Badak and Moria were about to clash again, everyone—except Chin Jao, who couldn't be exposed to sunlight—gathered to watch from a distance.Chin Jao was currently filled with helplessness. He didn't want to miss this battle either, but it was clear that Moria intended to use Chin Jao's shadow during the fight and wouldn't grant his wish. Fortunately, there was still the Video Transponder Snail to rely on.
"Moria's got some guts, huh? After losing so badly last time, he's already back in the game so quickly."
Perona wasn't afraid of Moria anymore, but she would never forget how he had humiliated her in public last time.
"Moria must have significantly increased his combat power. We've tried shadow training too, haven't we? The effects were astonishing. As the user of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, he should be even more compatible with shadow training than us."
Robin had already awakened Observation Haki through shadow training. For this battle, she felt that Badak wouldn't have an easy time.
"Will they both end up severely injured?" Mansherry asked worriedly, looking at the two figures in the distance.
"Don't worry, Captain Badak won't lose. Right, Daz?" Leo patted Mansherry's shoulder with full confidence. He had now mastered Armament Haki and even learned the Eight Impact Fist.
"Yeah, the boss won't lose," Daz Bones nodded calmly. He had devoted all his shadow training to enhancing his Haki, and now his mastery of both types of Haki was profound.
Nearby, Sai handed the Den Den Mushi to Boo. "Boo, you better film this properly, or Grandpa won't go easy on you."
Boo's expression changed slightly. "But isn't this a task Grandpa assigned to both of us? Are you really going to dump it all on me?"
Sai chuckled. "Silly, there's only one Video Transponder Snail. Besides, how could I possibly focus on anything else during a battle like this? I wouldn't want to miss a single second."
Boo sighed helplessly. His brother really was that kind of person. "Fine, leave it to me."
Having successfully pushed the responsibility onto his younger brother, Sai turned his full attention to the battlefield.
"Badak, I haven't slacked off for a single moment since losing to you last time. Today is the day I wash away that disgrace."
As he spoke, Moria drew a long sword—its blade straight, its hilt curved like a cane.
Badak recognized this cane sword, a famous weapon from the West Blue that had spawned numerous sword styles. Both "Humming" Brook and "Demon Sheriff" Lafitte were skilled in its use, their techniques swift as thunder and lightning, with many thrusting variations.
"So you've learned a new sword style. But empty threats won't intimidate me, Moria."
Badak drew White Iron and Autumn Water, ready for battle.
He hadn't been idle either. Over time, he had integrated the right-handed swordsmanship he'd gleaned from Hawkeye Mihawk with the left-handed techniques learned from Red-Haired Shanks, blending them with his own understanding to form a dual-sword style. Now, he could truly call himself a two-sword swordsman.
In the next moment, both men left their original positions, clashing in the center of the battlefield.
Despite the cane sword's massive size relative to Badak's frame, Moria wielded it with the speed of a rapid sword style.
Each of Moria's strikes came like a storm, but Badak's swordsmanship had now reached a masterful level, allowing him to handle the onslaught with relative ease.
"Piercing Thrust: Moonlight Barrage."Moria's towering figure flashed and appeared right in front of Badak, the tip of his cane sword raining down strikes across Badak's entire body. This swift fighting style and precise control were something Moria had never possessed before.
"Two-Sword Style: Blade Light."
Badak swiftly swung his twin blades, defending against Moria's flurry of strikes with all his might. Blade Light was a defensive technique, creating an impenetrable barrier like watertight walls.
Suddenly, seizing an opportunity, Badak swept aside Moria's sword with his right blade while launching a rapid Flying Slash with his left.
"Two-Sword Style: Sword Shadow."
Sword Shadow complemented Blade Light, focusing on counterattacks with equally blinding speed. Did Moria really think Badak would just take hits without fighting back?
Moria was no longer the talent-reliant, Haki-less loser of the past. His Observation Haki had already detected Badak's intent. Channeling Armament Haki into his cane sword's sheath—made of some unknown material—it not only blocked Badak's slash but, with a powerful twist of Moria's waist, swung the sheath like a pillar toward Badak.
This was the downside of their massive height difference. Unless Badak used Flying Slashes, he'd have to close the distance into Moria's attack range to land hits. But Flying Slashes gave Moria extra reaction time, making them easier to block.
"Two-Sword Style: Twin Slash."
Badak leaped onto Moria's sheath, landing steadily as it moved, then unleashed two parallel diagonal slashes racing toward Moria's body.
Moria retracted his sword to block while flipping the sheath upward, sending Badak airborne. The move was unexpected, but Badak didn't hesitate—activating Moon Walk to stabilize himself midair.
"Piercing Thrust: Drill Gun Wave."
Moria unveiled another new technique, firing a bizarre spiraling slash resembling a drill straight at Badak.
"Two-Sword Style: Layered Slash."
The unusual attack closely resembled the Giant Warrior's Elbaf Spear: Hakoku, radiating overwhelming power. Badak countered with two overlapping slashes, one after another.
Their attacks collided midair, screeching like grinding metal before dissipating moments later.
"Gehihihihi! How's that, Badak? Impressed?" Moria smirked, satisfied at finally gaining the upper hand.
"Quite creative. I never thought to develop sword waves like this—should've considered it sooner."
Badak knew of the Giants' Elbaf Spear: Hakoku, Yamato's Narukami, and Kaido's Kongo: Narukami, but it never occurred to him to replicate such techniques with his swords.
"Tch, just creativity? Quit the tough act, brat. Next round—Shadow Doppelgänger!"
Moria's shadow rose upright, now also wielding a sword and sheath.
The two Morias attacked in unison. Last time, Badak's Shave had left him flustered—now, he'd see how Badak handled this.
Badak landed, shifting into his hybrid form. This time, he'd have to fight more violently, ensuring his strikes covered both Morias simultaneously. Otherwise, with Observation Haki, Moria could keep swapping places with his shadow, making the battle tedious.