Chapter Fifteen: The Strongest Versus the Strongest (Part Two)

"Shadow-Shadow Fruit?"

"It’s Gecko Moria!"

Kaido’s leaping figure came to an abrupt halt. A flash of brilliance crossed Chu Yi’s eyes; he realized instantly that this was the perfect opportunity Moria had created for him!

Clearly, although the current Moria was still a hot-blooded, idealistic youth—a textbook example of a "chuunibyou" teenager—he was still smarter than Luffy, the original protagonist of the pirate world. At the very least, Moria understood that if he did not cooperate fully with Chu Yi, Mihawk, and the others to take down Kaido, he would have no hope of ever leaving Dark Island and would surely die a miserable death under Kaido’s twisted mentality.

That being the case, why hesitate?

Taking advantage of the moment Kaido leaped high into the air, Moria darted forward with a "whoosh" and stepped directly onto the shadow beneath Kaido’s feet!

Immediately following...

Shadow-Shadow Fruit!

Activate!

Utilizing his Devil Fruit ability, Moria, standing on Kaido’s shadow, sought to strip it away entirely.

However, while the intention was beautiful, reality dealt Moria a heavy blow!

The power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit was formidable, and generally, there was no possibility of failure when attempting to steal someone’s shadow. But that was only "generally." There were still many individuals in the pirate world capable of preventing Moria from successfully taking their shadows.

Take Fisher Tiger, for example.

Had he not been trapped in distress due to the strange phenomena of Dark Island, Moria would have had no chance of stealing his shadow, thanks to Tiger’s exceptional mastery of Armament Haki.

And between Kaido and Tiger, who was stronger?

Undoubtedly, the former!

Although Moria could not directly strip Kaido of his shadow, he could engage in a "tug-of-war" using his fruit’s power. As Moria tried to rip the shadow away, Kaido used his own immense strength to pull it back. During this struggle, Kaido’s body was rendered unable to move freely.

This was exactly why Moria could create such a magnificent opening for Chu Yi!

Unfortunately...

Just as Chu Yi’s eyes flashed with intensity, his Observation Haki erupting to its fullest to perceive the "rules" hidden within the world while he condensed his sword intent...

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of Chu Yi’s mouth!

It was evident that his previous use of the new-style Tempest Kick and the "Heaven-Breaking" sword stance had placed an immense burden on his body. Now, as he condensed his sword intent even more powerfully, even his terrifying physical constitution, bolstered by eight awakenings, began to struggle.

Though Chu Yi could not seize this perfect opportunity to finish Kaido in one stroke, he wasn't fighting alone!

Aside from the Shura Chu Yi, "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk and "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe were also opponents Kaido had to face!

So, at the moment Chu Yi coughed up blood and was temporarily unable to unleash his concentrated sword intent...

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Two figures beside Chu Yi suddenly lunged!

It was none other than "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk and "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe!

Dashing toward Kaido from left and right, Mihawk condensed his sword intent in mid-air, while in the palm of Jinbe’s hand, a mass of water gathered.

Then, just as Mihawk and Jinbe closed in for a pincer attack...

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

First came the sound of space shattering, faintly echoing around Mihawk.

As Mihawk’s hawk-like, sharp pupils first constricted slightly and then slowly dilated...

"Sever!"

With a low roar, Mihawk’s strongest sword strike to date crashed onto Kaido’s body!

At the same time...

Jinbe also unleashed his punch!

It was the very instant Mihawk’s supreme strike landed, the moment the space around Kaido began to collapse under the pressure of the blade!

In a flash, Jinbe directed the sphere of water he had condensed in his palm straight onto Kaido’s chest.

Immediately after...

"Boom!"

An even larger sphere of water manifested behind Kaido!

It was the ultimate technique of Fish-Man Karate!

Vagabond Drill!

Having trained in Fish-Man Karate with Tiger, Chu Yi knew exactly how terrifying the "Vagabond Drill" was!

It is no exaggeration to say that Jinbe’s "Vagabond Drill" alone could easily destroy an entire island. Now, combined with Mihawk’s sword strike—which was strong enough to faintly shatter the void—their combined power was something even Kaido, the "World’s Strongest Creature," could not withstand!

Sure enough...

As Mihawk, Jinbe, and Moria struck simultaneously, a strange paleness suddenly appeared on the face of Kaido, who had projected an image of invincibility since he first appeared!

Even though not a drop of blood flowed from Kaido’s body...

Even though not a single wound was left upon his skin...

Relying on his Observation Haki, Chu Yi clearly sensed that Kaido’s tyrannical aura had diminished by at least eighty percent in an instant!

But just as Chu Yi prepared to put an end to Kaido’s life, intending to strike while he was down...

"Ha!"

Haki erupted!

Kaido, who had been heavily wounded and languishing, suddenly coated his entire body in Armament Haki!

A jet-black sheen enveloped him from head to toe. Paired with his massive, hulking frame and his ferocious features, the hardened Kaido looked like a world-ending demon. In mid-air, he forcibly shattered Moria’s fruit ability, regaining his freedom while simultaneously dealing a crushing blow to Moria!

Then, as he clenched his fists slightly...

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Through the air, Kaido threw two punches!

In the blink of an eye, Chu Yi saw Mihawk and Jinbe sent flying like kites with broken strings, slamming hard into the ground!

"So, this is the scent of death!"

"But it’s not enough..."

"Shura! I need you to give me more surprises!"

Roaring with madness, having decimated the "Warlord" Moria, "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk, and "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe in a single round, Kaido landed on the ground with a "boom." He then fixed his blood-red eyes on Chu Yi and began to walk toward him step by step. With every step he took, his aura grew even more overwhelming!

This...

How is this supposed to be fought?

Chu Yi was arrogant, and he knew that with his own strength, he could roam the four seas at will.

But if even Mihawk, Jinbe, and Moria had to cooperate just to force Kaido to reveal his true power, how could Chu Yi, now unable to use his fruit abilities, hope to defeat the Kaido before him?

If it were possible, Chu Yi would have wanted to turn and flee rather than contest this battle.

But he could not abandon his companions to be killed by Kaido, nor could he watch idly as the Fish-Man who meant so much to him remained trapped on Dark Island, his fate forever uncertain!

Therefore, as Chu Yi stared at the approaching Kaido, feeling the aura that threatened to crush him...

He braced his ankles, rooting himself to the ground like a nail. Gritting his teeth, he endured the violent pressure radiating from Kaido, refusing to give up the last shred of hope for victory!

It was precisely this persistence that stirred something within Moria in the distance!

"How many people have been defeated by setbacks, forgetting the dreams they once held?"

"Chu Yi, since you can endure this much in front of this terrifying monster for the sake of your friends, then I..."

"Will help you!"

With that thought, Moria did not hesitate for a second and unleashed his fruit ability once more!

Then...

"Hum!"

Suddenly!

Countless black shadows, wailing in agony, began to swarm around Moria!

However, these shadows only lingered for a moment.

As Moria used the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit to gain full control over them, with a series of "whooshes," these shadows—which Moria had painstakingly collected over many years—suddenly vanished, one by one, into Chu Yi’s own shadow!

"Greatest Shura..."

"Go and challenge the greatest monster!"