Moria was convinced that the two unknown intruders in front of him would panic the moment they saw a Warlord of the Sea.
Especially with a massive zombie army behind him.
So his tone was arrogant, demanding they hand over their shadows.
But the response he received stunned him completely.
Father-in-law Kaido?
He, Moria, getting weaker?
No way…
Could it be…
Was this man the legendary one?!
Moria's expression twisted, eyes locked on Roxing as he growled:
"Who the hell are you?"
Not only Moria — Absalom, Perona, and everyone present were staring as if they'd seen a ghost.
Perona let out a panicked squeak and floated far, far away from Roxing, her big round eyes full of disbelief:
"Is he really the mysterious son-in-law of Kaido… the one they call the Fifth Emperor, Roxing?! No wonder he's so fast… and my ghosts can't touch him!"
Every member of the Moria Pirates — even Brooke — had their eyes glued to Roxing.
Roxing casually held Perona's real body in one arm and spoke in a calm voice:
"What? Surprised to see me?"
Moria's voice turned ferocious.
"So it is you. Kaido's son-in-law. The so-called Fifth Emperor. You dare come to my territory? You're seeking death!"
"Kaido owes me blood. I'll collect interest from you!"
The moment he confirmed Roxing's identity, Moria's long-suppressed rage burst open.
Years ago, all his subordinates had been slaughtered by Kaido.
His hatred was carved into his bones.
Moria raised his hands, claws glowing a sickly green, fanged grin widening.
"Zombie Army! Kill Kaido's son-in-law!"
ROAR!
The zombies charged forward.
A flash of blue sword-light cut across their path.
A zombie's head flew cleanly into the air.
Zoro stood with Wado Ichimonji in one hand, Sandai Kitetsu's elder brother Nidai Kitetsu in the other, grinning wildly.
"Did you all forget there's another beast here?"
Even though they were already dead, the zombies instinctively recoiled.
The monstrous pressure rolling off Zoro made them uneasy.
Moria roared in fury.
How could his unbeatable zombie army be cowed by a single swordsman?
"Kill that swordsman!"
The zombies could not disobey — they charged again.
Zoro didn't retreat — his fighting spirit exploded.
"No matter how many ants there are, they'll never compare to a beast!"
He dashed forward.
"Two-Sword Style: Iai — Rashōmon!"
A wave of sword aura tore across the battlefield.
Most people didn't even see him draw.
Wherever he passed, zombies were sent flying, screeching and collapsing in piles.
Moria was shaking with rage, preparing to strike himself —
but Absalom spoke:
"He's a swordsman. Let a swordsman handle him. Ryuma should deal with him."
Ryuma — the strongest zombie, second only to Oars.
He normally guarded Hogback.
Hogback barked:
"Ryuma! Kill the green-haired one!"
The swordsman zombie stepped forward.
Ryuma's body held Brooke's shadow — but Ryuma's strength in life had been overwhelming.
His power far exceeded anything Brooke could ever pull out of that shadow.
Brooke had challenged him many times trying to reclaim it.
Every time, he was instantly defeated.
"That green-hair is done for," Brooke whispered.
Zoro, mid-slaughter, suddenly sensed a powerful sword aura closing in.
His muscles trembled with excitement.
"So this is the presence of a Great Swordsman… This must be the dragon-slayer Ryuma Roxing mentioned."
He turned — Ryuma was already looking at him.
Ryuma spoke:
"Boy. The blade in your left hand — Nidai Kitetsu. Where did you get it?"
Zoro lifted the sword.
"An old man named Tenguyama Hitetsu gave it to me."
"Tenguyama Hitetsu…?"
Ryuma had no memory of the name — he'd been dead for centuries.
"Nidai Kitetsu was forged by my friend Kotetsu. If you have that blade, you must have been to Wano. Tell me — how is Wano now?"
Zoro grinned.
"Beat me, and I'll tell you whatever you want. If you lose, your black blade Shusui belongs to me. That's how swordsmen fight."
Ryuma paused — then laughed.
"Good. As expected of someone acknowledged by Nidai Kitetsu. Come! Show this old man the strength of swordsmen in this era!"
The duel began.
The clash of their auras split the ceiling apart.
BOOM!
A massive pillar crashed down.
Brooke was speechless.
He finally understood — both Zoro and Ryuma were on a level completely beyond him.
With Ryuma restraining Zoro, Moria ordered the zombie army to attack Roxing again.
"Kill him! I want Kaido to know what it's like to lose his own!"
Moria's hatred came from loss — just like Kaido, he valued his subordinates deeply.
ROAR!
The zombies surrounded Roxing.
Invisible nearby, Absalom crept closer, searching for a chance to strike.
Perona floated overhead, shouting:
"You stupid mummies! Don't damage my body!"
The zombies didn't reply.
Roxing did.
"Relax. I'll take good care of it."
"Who asked you to?! Give it back, you villain!"
Roxing smiled, wrapping his left arm around Perona's slender waist, holding her close as he walked forward — completely ignoring the hundreds of zombies.
Being ignored enraged even the emotionless undead — they charged in a frenzy.
But when they came within ten steps…
An invisible force slammed down over them like a mountain.
THUD!
One by one, the zombies collapsed to their knees.
Absalom, still invisible, stared in disbelief.
W-What is happening?!
Before he could react, he too crossed into that ten-step range.
He felt as if an ancient beast lunged at him — something slammed the back of his skull.
His vision spun, and he fell unconscious.
Perona was frozen in shock.
Moria trembled, eyes bloodshot.
"You… You possess Conqueror's Haki?!"
Indeed.
Both the zombies and Absalom had been knocked out by Roxing's Conqueror's Haki.
Roxing didn't bother answering.
The humiliation of being ignored made Moria's rage boil over.
"Die! Shadow Asgard Spear!"
He condensed his own shadow into a black spear and thrust.
Roxing extended his free hand.
Armed Haki wrapped his palm.
CRACK.
He crushed the spear into dust.
Moria stared, dumbfounded.
At that moment, Perona — who had been frozen with fear — suddenly reacted.
"Don't hurt Lord Moria!"
Moria had adopted her when she was a child.
To her, he was family.
Panicked, she released over a dozen ghosts, all charging at Roxing.
Roxing flicked his eyes toward her, smiling faintly.
He grabbed the twin-tails of the Perona body under his arm and gave a little tug.
"Ahhhh! Stop! Don't pull my hair!"
Perona screamed, instantly abandoning her ghosts.
Yet as Roxing kept walking toward Moria, the normally bratty, arrogant, mischievous Perona suddenly broke down.
She burst into tears, wailing:
"Waaahhh! You're all terrible! Villains! Big, horrible villains!"
"Don't hurt Lord Moria!"
"And don't you dare hurt my body either!"
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