Orange Town!
Nami gazed up at the sky, her expression one of sheer disbelief...
Moria's menacing posture, his demonic visage—merely setting eyes upon him forced involuntary shudders.
This feeling far surpassed his original form.
It was a thousand times more sinister!
Cold sweat trickled down Nami's brow...
"Can we truly defeat such a foe?"
With her current perspective, she couldn't fathom any means to vanquish Moria.
Even a minor adversary like Arlong could render her helpless.
It was said that Moria's bounty had soared into the hundreds of millions, a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
This kind of presence filled people with despair at first sight...
Nami wasn't alone in her thoughts.
Many potential Straw Hat Pirate crewmates across the world harbored similar sentiments.
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Robin, Chopper, Brook, and more...
Witnessing the demon-like depiction of Moria, fear welled up in their hearts.
Because they had not yet attained the strength depicted in the portrait.
They were novices, both in terms of power and vision.
Moria's existence plunged them into despair.
Was this truly the adversary they would face in the future...
[Moria's colossal size, rivalling that of Oars, undeniably imposed immense pressure on everyone present.]
[They never anticipated that defeating Oars would not be the end.]
[Moria... possessed such hidden cards!?]
[However, Moria was not the sole threat on this day.]
[Those bereft of their shadows could not withstand the sun.]
[But dawn was imminent; the sky brightened, and time grew scarce.]
[They must vanquish Moria, the monstrous figure before them, and reclaim their shadows in this brief window.]
[Or else... they would remain here forever.]
[Yet, this was an exceedingly challenging task!]
[Luffy, who absorbed a hundred shadows, was able to defeat Oars.]
[But Moria, who absorbed a thousand shadows... how terrifying was he?]
Such was the terror Moria inspired in countless individuals...
Navy Headquarters!
Kizaru gazed at the depiction of Moria, shock etched across his face.
"Oh, what a fearsome monster."
"I thought the tables would turn, but it seems..."
"The Straw Hat boy is in grave danger..."
Even Doberman snorted disdainfully. "Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, whom we personally endorsed, carries significant weight!"
"How can they hope to defeat him with this motley crew of novice pirates alone!"
For Akainu and the others, as well as the entire Navy, their relationship with the Seven Warlords of the Sea was somewhat delicate.
To some extent, the Warlords represented not only the strongest among pirates but also the Navy's reputation.
They had a unique relationship and treaty with the Navy.
If such an entity were to be casually defeated by a group of rookie pirates...
Wouldn't that be a grave blow to the Navy's prestige?
Listening to the conversation between the two admirals, Moria, who had been in a foul mood, felt oddly touched at this moment.
Even on an emotional level, there was still warmth.
Why did he feel an unusual affinity for these two individuals for the first time?
[Moria played his last hidden card, a clear sign that his rage had reached its zenith.]
[With a sudden punch, he shattered the ground into fragments, the incredible force it contained evident.]
[Countless shadowless pirates were plunged into absolute despair, for Moria was truly invincible.]
[Simultaneously, the first rays of sunlight descended, causing those without shadows to writhe in agony.]
[Faced with Moria and the approaching sunshine, they could only flee in terror toward the dark forest.]
[Yet, in that moment, they witnessed a breathtaking sight.]
[In the face of Moria's threat and the impending sunlight, the Straw Hat Pirates led by Luffy stood their ground, unwavering.]
[They faced Moria, the monstrous figure, with resolute determination.]
[The steadfastness and determination in their expressions were crystal clear.]
[Everyone was astounded.]
[Luffy and the others remained not out of hesitation, but in preparedness to fight to the death.]
[They were determined to retrieve everyone's shadows and save them at the cost of their lives.]
[Such a scene left all the pirates, who had been ready to flee, rooted in place, tears streaming down their faces.]
Meanwhile...
Those observing the live broadcast in the outside world were profoundly moved.
This unwavering resolve in the face of utter despair resonated with everyone!
Marines, the Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Revolutionary Army, countless pirates, and civilians...
Among them, both those who supported and those who opposed the Straw Hats were deeply affected.
Even if they remained silent, standing motionless, their expressions seemed to convey...
They all shared a single goal: even if it meant laying down their lives, they would not waver!
That goal was...
To defeat Moria and reclaim the shadows!