Kaido's voice lacked much emotion.
He wasn't trying to sound intimidating.
There was no menace in his tone.
It was simply an ordinary, straightforward question.
Gekko Moriah.
After all, he was also a Shichibukai.
And he was the one who had dared to challenge Kaido on the seas over 20 years ago, though he was defeated badly.
But could he really be this weak?
Just two moves, and no follow-up?
Kaido was waiting for more.
So, he asked the question sincerely.
Yet, it was like the voice of hell, making countless people's scalps tingle.
The elites of the headquarters turned pale.
"Kaido isn't dead; he's still alive!"
"What happened? How is this possible?"
"Did Kaido deliberately let Moria attack him?"
"How could that be? Who would willingly take a hit?"
"What's Kaido up to?"
"Is he toying with us…?"
The headquarters was in chaos.
From a rational standpoint, who would choose to be hurt intentionally?
Standing still and letting someone attack, especially when the attacker is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—who would dare do such a thing?
Kaido's behavior was beyond everyone's understanding.
It was only natural that it caused a stir.
There were also outcries on the Bubble Islands.
Moments ago, they had been cheering, believing that Kaido had been killed by one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The next second, Kaido spoke.
And his words were so arrogant. Was he waiting for Moria's ultimate move on purpose? Did he really look down on the Seven Warlords of the Sea? They are one of the three great powers.
It was no surprise the Bubble Islands were in an uproar.
"Maybe Kaido is just toughing it out… He could be seriously injured but putting on a show…"
"No, that's not possible…"
"Indeed, if Kaido is unharmed, why doesn't he step out of the shadow box?"
Some still clung to unrealistic hopes. The strong men at the Navy Headquarters remained composed.
They knew Kaido was clearly mocking Gekko Moriah.
Kaido always had his unique way of doing things.
On the ice in the inner bay,
Gekko Moriah's face changed the moment he heard the voice.
Kaido was still alive!!
And he said he was waiting for Moria's big move.
Letting himself be attacked on purpose??
This made Gekko Moriah's pupils quiver, and the world before him blurred as his rage grew.
Kaido was intentionally mocking and belittling him!!
As his nemesis, whom he had dreamed of defeating, he held his grudge against Kaido dearly.
But from Kaido's perspective, he didn't even bother dodging the attack and let Moria strike him.
This was the ultimate insult.
Gekko Moriah was furious: "Kaido!! You scoundrel!!! Fragmented Bat!!!!!!!!!"
Accompanied by his enraged roar,
Moria unleashed countless shadow bats.
They formed a swarm and charged toward Kaido.
Inside the shadow box,
Kaido glanced at the shadow horn gun before him.
The attack power of this move was much stronger.
Even though it hadn't reached the peak level, it had the damage level of high rank x2.
But Kaido's defense was king level x2.
So when the shadow horn gun shot past, it merely brushed Kaido's feet, veered into the open space, and pierced through the shadow box.
From the outside, it seemed as if it had struck Kaido.
But he wasn't even scratched.
It didn't hurt at all, just like a tickle.
Now, hearing Moria's shouts outside,
Kaido extended his hand.
Like tearing a thin sheet of paper, he ripped apart the shadow horn gun and the shadow box in front of him.
Kaido's figure then emerged fully.
Unscathed.
Moments earlier, he had been like a beast blocked by a mere paper wall.
Everyone suddenly understood.
Kaido had been toying with Moria, deliberately taking the hit.
This realization left many elites and spectators feeling suffocated.
Then,
A massive swarm of bats surrounded Kaido.
The shadow bats released by Moria tried to bite into Kaido.
But it was futile.
It felt like a massage.
"Don't you have anything stronger?"
Kaido asked.
This was a blatant insult to Gekko
Moriah.
"Kaido! For over 20 years, I've lived with the memory of our fight; I've never forgotten it. I've made myself stronger just to have my revenge against you one day!! No one can belittle me, and you're no exception!!! I will steal your shadow and make you my zombie!!!!!"
Accompanied by Moria's roar,
Countless shadows began converging toward him.
His body swelled larger and larger.
This was his strongest move.
Absorbing shadows to grow in size, increasing his strength.
Moria's height
was now close to Kaido's human form. Both stood around seven meters tall.
Kaido was slightly taller, by nearly twenty centimeters.
But Moria's form appeared grotesque and feeble in comparison, while Kaido exuded strength and power.
But at that moment,
As Moria absorbed more shadows,
His body expanded immensely.
Ten meters.
Fifteen meters.
Twenty meters...
It was as if he had transformed into a giant.
"Hehehehe——"
As Moria's body grew, he let out a piercing laugh, his consciousness becoming hazy.
Absorbing shadows to grow wasn't without consequence.
It required immense mental strength.
The more shadows he absorbed, the greater the mental toll.
Having previously fought Luffy, Moria didn't have as many shadows now, so he hadn't accumulated enough to lose consciousness.
However, perhaps his rage towards Kaido was so intense that he unleashed all his power, growing to a colossal size, nearly losing control.
At this moment, Moriah was like a massive balloon filled with air.
With his devilish horns and bloodthirsty grin, he looked genuinely terrifying.
"Kaido!!!"
Gekko Moriah, staring at Kaido's now tiny figure before him, swung his enormous hand in fury, attempting to crush him.
The sight of Moriah transforming into a giant and trying to overwhelm his opponent with sheer size left countless elites in shock.
Is this the power of the Seven Warlords of the Sea? It's truly fearsome.
The people of the Bubble Islands eagerly hoped that this version of Moriah could finally overpower and defeat Kaido.
A demon of such size must be incredibly strong, right?
Surely Kaido wouldn't be able to handle it, right?
With anticipation from countless onlookers, as they watched the nearly berserk Gekko Moriah before them,
Kaido made his move.
He gripped his mace, 'Eight Fasts,' firmly in his hand.
Electricity crackled around the weapon.
"Thunder Bagua."
Kaido chose to use a relatively simple technique.
To deal with Moriah, a powerful attack wasn't necessary.
After all, there were still many foes to contend with, including the three admirals, Sengoku, and Garp.
It was crucial to conserve energy at this stage.
As Kaido initiated his move, his body vanished from the spot.
On his path toward Moriah, a trail of lightning was left in his wake.
In the next instant,
"Ahhhhh——"
Moriah's massive body erupted, and countless shadows burst from within him.
Moonlight Moriah's eyes rolled back as it happened. He truly lost consciousness. Then,
Moriah's figure vanished from the spot.
In the following moment,
Boom!!!
Moriah was sent flying dozens of meters, slamming into the navy's defense wall from the impact of Kaido's mace.
As the smoke and debris cleared,
Moonlight Moriah's figure emerged.
He slid down the wall onto the ice of the inner bay.
His eyes were rolled back.
He was utterly unconscious.
He crumpled to the ground.
His body twitched occasionally.
The elite soldiers of the headquarters, who had cheered for the giant Moriah moments ago, fell silent.
The Bubble Islands also went quiet.
"Shichibukai..."
"One of the three great powers..."
"Moonlight Moriah..."
"That huge, terrifying figure like a demon..."
"Defeated in one strike?"