chapter 204 part 3
But he knew he had no way out; he had to bet it all!
Just as Ren Arakawa continued to approach, Moria put his life on the line, transforming himself into countless shadow bats.
These bats squeaked and chirped as they scattered in all directions like headless flies, desperately trying to escape.
Ren Arakawa's eyes widened, scanning the sky back and forth like a searchlight, determined to catch Moria's shadow. But the bats flew too fast and chaotically, a dense swarm making it impossible to distinguish which one was the real Moria.
After a moment.
The calm sea surface suddenly churned violently, like boiling water.
Then, a fierce wind rose from nowhere, growing stronger and stronger, and in the blink of an eye, it enveloped the entire Thriller Bark.
The wind was bizarre, carrying a suction force. Many of the people who had just regained their shadows had them sucked away again.
The stolen shadows, as if pulled by an invisible giant hand, all flew toward the castle.
Ren Arakawa looked toward the castle. With a powerful flap of his wings, he shot off in that direction.
When Ren Arakawa arrived near the castle, the scene before him brought back memories.
A colossal giant stood there, panting heavily.
This was none other than the legendary zombie, Oars!
Oars' body was covered in black shadows that writhed like small snakes, constantly drilling in and out, seeming to wildly charge the giant zombie with energy.
Oars was a whopping 67 meters tall, practically a mobile mountain.
With every step it took, Thriller Bark shook as if struck by an earthquake. Its eyes gleamed with an eerie red light, and from its wide-open mouth, a putrid stench assailed the senses, making one want to vomit.
"Hahaha, dumbfounded, aren't you?!"
Moria's voice emerged from Oars' body, tinged with a wild frenzy. "Today is the day you die!"
Absalom's face flushed with excitement. He began to dance and shout, "Long live Lord Moria! With Oars here, that despicable Ren Arakawa is as good as dead!"
Perona shed her usual haughtiness and jumped up in excitement, her face overflowing with frenzied joy. "We're finally free from that guy! Moria! Smash that brat to pieces!" She clasped her hands, continuously praying for Moria's victory so she wouldn't have to peel apples anymore.
Hogback's originally limp body instantly filled with strength. He waved his hands, screaming hysterically, "My masterpiece, go! Crush that guy!"
The Marines and pirates gathered, their faces pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
They stared at Oars, their eyes filled with terror, without a single thought of resistance.
Some collapsed directly to the ground, their eyes vacant. Some's lips trembled as they mumbled, "It's over, it's all over." Others clung tightly to each other, trying to find a shred of solace from their companions.
Under Oars' immense pressure, they had completely lost their will to fight, only hoping that this terrifying battle would end quickly and not involve them.
Ren Arakawa's gaze locked onto Oars, yet his face still wore that nonchalant smirk, as if the mountain-like giant before him was merely a fragile ant that couldn't withstand a single blow.
"Just this? Moria, you're really out of ideas. If you're that bored, go bite a lighter."
Oars let out a deafening roar, raising its house-sized foot and stomping down fiercely on Ren Arakawa!
The stomp carried the force of ten thousand tons, compressing the air in its path until it let out a sharp, explosive sound!
Ren Arakawa, however, remained unhurried. The wings on his back spread, and he instantly became a black shadow, streaking into the sky.
Oars' foot slammed heavily onto the castle, sending stones shattering and flying, kicking up a colossal cloud of dust.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Ren Arakawa quickly formed hand seals and spewed a giant fireball from his mouth!
Oars was caught off guard by the sudden attack and instinctively raised its arms to block.
The fireball violently struck Oars' arm, erupting in a dazzling light. Scorching flames instantly enveloped it.
"Aah! Aah! Aah!" Moria let out a painful scream. The high temperature of the flames was transmitted through the shadows to his body, causing him great agony.
But he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and continued to control Oars.
Oars violently swung its burning arm, flinging flames everywhere in an attempt to disperse the terrifying fire.
Ren Arakawa seized the opportunity while Oars was preoccupied and attacked again.
"Thunder Feathers, Armament Hardening!"
He shot toward Oars like a bolt of lightning. His feathers, condensed with powerful Armament Haki, smashed fiercely into Oars' chest!
Oars sensed the danger and tried to dodge, but its colossal size made its movements sluggish.
The Thunder Feathers pierced Oars' chest. With a crisp "crunch," a small, charred black hole was drilled into its torso!
Ren Arakawa wouldn't give it a chance to breathe. He stomped his feet fiercely and shot forward.
At the same time, white steam rose from his body as sweat evaporated. His Second-Stage Gene Lock activated, and surging power churned within him!
Accompanied by a low growl, six thick tails extended from behind him!
He manipulated the six tails, which lunged violently toward the wound in Oars' chest! The tails transformed into sharp blades, savagely tearing and twisting the wound.
Each attack tore out large swathes of black shadows.
As the tails attacked relentlessly, the charred hole at the wound rapidly expanded. The flesh peeled back, and countless shadows, like a startled swarm of bees, frantically scurried out of Oars' body!
Black shadows poured out from the hole. Oars let out a pained roar, its voice filled with unwillingness and despair.
Its body began to sway uncontrollably, and its legs gradually weakened, no longer able to support its massive frame.
"No!" Moria roared in despair, his voice shrill and helpless.
He never imagined that Oars, in which he had placed so much hope, would be so vulnerable before Ren Arakawa, like a fragile doll, easily destroyed.
"W-What?!"
Everyone on the island was stunned!
Even the well-traveled Brook was too shocked to speak at this moment!
Only now did he realize what kind of ship he had boarded.
This crew had the full capability to make a name for themselves in the New World!
But why was he going backward?
Moria stared at Ren Arakawa, who had so easily destroyed Oars like an ant. The fear and resentment in his heart intertwined into a frantic obsession.
This obsession was far more severe than after his defeat by Kaido!
When a once audacious person, who had eked out a cowardly existence for years after being broken, has their will to live ignited once more, the power that erupts will be unprecedentedly strong!
Moria gritted his teeth fiercely, his face twisted and terrifying with contorted emotions. At this moment, he decided to stake everything he had painstakingly built in this sea over the years and activate that world-changing, yet extremely dangerous, technique—Shadows' Asgard!
(end of chapter)