In the dimly lit tavern, the murky air was thick with the mingled scents of cheap alcohol and tobacco. Moria slowly set down his glass, the wooden base thudding dully against the counter. He narrowed his long, slender eyes, studying the mysterious man clad entirely in black before him with keen interest.
"Your boss? Wants to see me, so I should just go with you to meet your boss?" Moria's lips curled into a playful smirk, his voice dripping with obvious mockery. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the counter.
"Correct." King's reply was crisp and sharp, his voice as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth. His upright posture cast a long shadow under the dim lighting.
The tavern fell into a brief silence, as if the very air had frozen. The next moment, it erupted in waves of laughter. "Gee-hee-hee!" "Hahaha!" The entire tavern roared with laughter, some patrons even spraying their drinks. Moria was especially exaggerated, clutching his stomach as he doubled over laughing, tears welling in the corners of his eyes.
"Captain Moria, it seems you're being underestimated!" a drunken Pirate shouted, his face flushed red from alcohol and excitement.
Another Pirate slammed the table hard, the wooden surface groaning under the strain: "That's right! This guy's a complete amateur. Doesn't he know Captain Moria is a great Pirate with a twenty million Berry bounty?!"
"Finished laughing? Then come with me." King's voice remained icy, his expression unreadable behind the mask. His tone was as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
Moria's laughter cut off abruptly. He slammed the table and stood up with such force that the glasses on the table shattered instantly, sending shards of glass flying in all directions. The laughter in the tavern died down as everyone held their breath.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to me like that!" A dangerous glint flashed in Moria's eyes, and the atmosphere in the tavern instantly froze. His voice was low and threatening, like a beast about to pounce on its prey.
"I don't care who you are. Come with me if you know what's good for you. Don't make me use force." King stated directly, his tone carrying an undeniable resolve.
"Bastard, how dare you look down on me!" Moria rose angrily, his tall figure casting a massive shadow under the light. He clenched his fist, knuckles cracking, and threw a punch directly at King. King responded with a punch of his own, his movements clean and precise.
Thud!
Their fists collided mid-air with a dull thud, a shockwave spreading out from the impact and stirring up dust from the floor.
Moria staggered back several steps before regaining his balance, while King also took a step back. The wooden floor between them showed fine cracks from the immense impact.
King looked at Moria with some surprise, not expecting his opponent to possess such formidable strength. He flexed his slightly numb wrist, his brow furrowing slightly beneath the mask.
Unbeknownst to him, Moria was even more astonished. Since setting out to sea, he had never encountered anyone who could match him in raw power. A sharp pain shot through his arm, forcing him to reassess the strength of this mysterious man before him.
The pirates in the tavern all held their breath, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them. Captain Moria, who they had always seen as invincible, was actually at a disadvantage in a contest of strength. Someone unconsciously swallowed hard, fine beads of sweat forming on their forehead.
Moria shook his slightly numb arm, his expression turning grave. "Interesting... it seems you do have some skill." The previous contempt in his voice was gone, replaced by caution and seriousness.
"It seems you won't come with me willingly. I'll have to take you by force." King's tone remained calm as he spoke to Moria, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
"Honorable sirs, if you must fight, please take it outside. Don't cause trouble in my tavern." The tavern owner spoke up bravely, his voice trembling slightly with fear, sweat glistening on his forehead under the light.
"Kishishishi, hey, you're not bad. Dare to take this outside for a real fight?" Moria said to King, his trademark grin returning to his face, though his eyes had turned sharp.
Without another word, King turned and walked directly out of the tavern, his black cloak swaying gently behind him. Each step was steady and powerful, displaying immense confidence.
Moria followed closely behind with his crew.
Moonlight silvered the sparkling sea surface. Bullet stood beside King, his gaze fixed on Moria in the distance as he asked quietly, "Need any help?"
"Unnecessary." King's voice was calm and deep, his eyes never leaving Moria. "He's just a minor player from the West Blue."
"Hey!" Moria exploded with rage upon hearing this, his long sword gleaming coldly in the moonlight. "Who are you calling a minor player? I'm a great pirate with a 20 million Berry bounty!"
King stood silently, his right hand slowly moving to rest on the hilt of his sword. With a clear ringing sound, the blade was drawn, gleaming coldly in the moonlight as if freezing the very air around them.
The moon washed the quiet coastline in its glow. Waves gently lapped at the shore with a rhythmic sound. On this silver-bathed beach, two figures stood facing each other, tension thick in the air.
"You use a sword too?" Moria narrowed his eyes, his gaze roaming over the weapon in his opponent's hand. The long blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, fine patterns barely visible along its surface. He suddenly let out a strange laugh, "Kishishishi, how about becoming my subordinate after you lose!"
King didn't respond immediately. The sea breeze brushed past, stirring his black cloak to reveal the faint outline of Wings beneath. His voice was low and firm: "Don't speak of impossible things."
As the words fell, the black Wings on his back suddenly unfurled, casting a massive shadow in the moonlight. Each feather of the Wings shimmered with a metallic luster, trembling slightly with his movement.
Moria's pupils contracted sharply. He only saw a blur before his eyes as his opponent vanished from his original position. "So fast!" He instinctively raised his long sword to block.
The two blades collided mid-air, erupting in blinding sparks as the clang of metal echoed across the silent shoreline.
The tremendous impact sent a numbing shock through Moria's hands, forcing him to stagger back several steps before barely regaining his footing.
Under the moonlight, King unfurled his jet-black Wings, descending like a reaper emerging from darkness. His figure hovered briefly mid-air, the gentle flap of his Wings stirring up eddies of sand across the beach.
Moria finally realized his opponent's strength far exceeded expectations, yet this only ignited his fighting spirit. "Kishishishi, now this is interesting!" he exclaimed excitedly, switching to a two-handed grip on his blade before launching a full-force slash toward King.
King met the challenge without hesitation, swinging his longsword in response.
Their weapons clashed repeatedly in the air, spraying dazzling sparks with each impact.
Every exchange was accompanied by the sharp ring of metal, piercing through the night with exceptional clarity. Their silhouettes weaved through moonlight at blinding speeds, moving so fast they left afterimages in their wake.
As the battle intensified, the very air trembled from their violent exchange, drowning out even the sound of waves crashing ashore.
"Is this all you have?" King's voice suddenly cut through the rhythm of combat. His tone remained calm yet carried undeniable pressure.
"What?!" Moria's movements noticeably faltered, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Are you truly this weak?" King's voice held a trace of disappointment, as if evaluating an unworthy opponent.