In the dim tavern, the murky air was thick with the mingled smells of cheap alcohol and tobacco. Moria slowly set down his glass, the wooden bottom thudding dully against the counter. He narrowed his long, slender eyes, looking with great interest at the mysterious man shrouded entirely in black standing before him.
"Your boss? Wants to see me, so I should just go with you to see your boss?" Moria's lips curled into an amused smile, his voice dripping with obvious mockery. His fingers tapped lightly on the countertop, producing a rhythmic sound.
"Correct." King's reply was crisp and clear, his voice as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth. His upright posture cast a long, slender shadow in the dim lamplight.
The tavern fell into brief silence, as if the very air had frozen solid. The next second, it erupted with peals of laughter. "Kishishishi!" "Hahaha!" Everyone in the tavern doubled over laughing; some even spat out their drinks. Moria was even more exaggerated, clutching his stomach as he laughed, unable to straighten up, tears of mirth gathering at the corners of his eyes.
"Captain Moria, seems you're being looked down on!" a drunken pirate shouted, his face flushed red from alcohol and excitement.
Another pirate slammed his hand on the table, the wooden surface groaning under the strain. "Yeah, this guy's a total outsider! Does he not know Captain Moria is a great pirate with a twenty-million Berry bounty?!"
"Are you finished? If you're done, come with me." King's voice remained icy; the face hidden behind his mask showed no change in expression. His tone was as calm as if discussing the weather.
Moria's laughter died abruptly. He slammed his palm on the table and stood up with such force that the glasses on the table shattered instantly, shards of glass scattering everywhere. The laughter in the tavern vanished, everyone holding their breath.
"Who do you think you are? Daring to speak to me like that!" A dangerous glint flashed in Moria's eyes; the atmosphere in the entire tavern instantly froze. His voice was low and full of threat, like a beast about to pounce on its prey.
"I don't care who you are. Come with me quietly, and don't force me to use force," King stated directly, his tone carrying an unquestionable resolve.
"You bastard! How dare you look down on me!" Moria stood up angrily, his tall figure casting a massive shadow under the lamplight. He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and threw a punch directly at King. King responded in kind with his own fist, his movements clean and precise.
THUD!
Their fists collided mid-air with a dull thud. A shockwave spread out from the point of impact, kicking up dust from the floor.
Moria stumbled backward several steps before regaining his footing, while King also took a step back. The wooden floorboards between them showed fine cracks from the tremendous impact.
King looked at Moria with some surprise; he hadn't expected the other's strength to be so considerable. He flexed his slightly numbed wrist, his brow furrowing slightly beneath his mask.
Unbeknownst to him, Moria was even more shocked. Since setting sail, he had never encountered anyone who could overpower him in terms of raw strength. Sharp pain throbbed through his arm, forcing him to reassess the strength of this mysterious man.
The pirates in the tavern all held their breath, watching the scene in disbelief. Their usually invincible Captain Moria had actually been at a disadvantage in a contest of strength. Someone swallowed unconsciously, fine beads of sweat appearing on their forehead.
Moria shook his somewhat numb arm, his expression turning grave. "Interesting... Seems you really do have some skill." The previous scorn in his voice was gone, replaced by caution and seriousness.
"It seems you won't come quietly. I'll have to take you by force, then," King said, looking at Moria. His tone remained calm, but the implied threat was unmistakable.
"Gentlemen, if you must fight, please take it outside. Not inside my tavern," the tavern owner finally spoke up, steeling himself. His voice trembled slightly with fear, sweat glistening on his forehead under the lights.
"Kishishishi. Hey, you're not bad. Dare to fight me outside?" Moria said to King, his signature grin back on his face, but his eyes had turned sharp.
Hearing this, King said nothing more, simply turning and walking straight out of the tavern, his black cloak swaying gently behind him. Each step was steady and powerful, exuding immense confidence.
Moria and his crew followed closely behind.
Moonlight shone like silver upon the shimmering sea. Bullet stood beside King, his gaze directed at Moria in the distance, asking in a low voice, "Need help?"
"Unnecessary." King's voice was calm and low, his gaze still fixed on Moria. "He's just a minor player from the West Blue."
"Hey!" Hearing this, Moria flew into a rage, the longsword in his hand flashing coldly in the moonlight. "Who are you calling a minor player?! I'm a great pirate with a twenty-million Berry bounty!"
King stood quietly, his right hand slowly resting on the hilt of his sword. With a crisp shing of metal, the long blade was drawn, gleaming coldly in the moonlight as if freezing the very air around them.
The moonlight washed over the quiet shoreline. Waves lapped gently against the sandy beach with a rhythmic sound. On this silver-bathed stretch of sand, two figures stood facing each other, a tense atmosphere hanging in the air.
"So you use a sword too?" Moria narrowed his eyes, his gaze roaming over the weapon in the other's hand. That longsword gleamed coldly under the moon, faint, intricate patterns visible on the blade. He suddenly let out a strange laugh. "Kishishishi! If you lose later, how about becoming my underling?"
King did not respond immediately. A sea breeze swept past, fluttering his black cloak, revealing the faint outline of wings on his back. His voice was low and firm. "Don't speak of impossible things."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the pair of black wings on his back abruptly unfurled, casting a massive shadow in the moonlight. Every feather on those wings gleamed with a metallic luster, quivering slightly with his movement.
Moria's pupils contracted sharply. He only saw a blur before him; his opponent's figure had already vanished from its original spot. "So fast!" He instinctively raised his longsword to block.
Two sharp blades collided in mid-air, erupting in a shower of blinding sparks, the metallic clash echoing across the quiet shore.
The tremendous impact sent a numbing shock through Moria's hands. He stumbled back several steps before barely regaining his footing.
Beneath the moonlight, King spread his jet-black wings, like a god of death descending from darkness. His figure hovered briefly in mid-air, his wings gently beating, the resulting airflow whipping up fine sand from the beach.
Moria finally realized his opponent's strength far exceeded his expectations, but this only fueled his fighting spirit. "Kishishishi! Now this is interesting!" he shouted excitedly, switching to a two-handed grip on his sword and swinging at King with all his might.
King met him without hesitation, swinging his own longsword in response.
The two weapons collided repeatedly in the air, bursting with brilliant sparks.
Every exchange was accompanied by the shrill clang of metal, especially piercing in the night. Their figures weaved and flashed under the moonlight, moving so fast they left afterimages.
The battle intensified; the very air around them trembled from the fierce combat, the sound of waves crashing against the shore completely drowned out.
"Is this all you have?" Suddenly, King's voice broke the rhythm of the fight. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable pressure.
"What?!" Moria's movements noticeably faltered, fine sweat beading on his forehead.
"Do you only possess this level of strength?" King's tone held a note of disappointment, as if evaluating an unworthy opponent.
***
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