The Conqueror's Haki within Ye Yu's body erupted like a volcano pushed to its limits, instantly reaching an unprecedented peak.
The crimson-black lightning no longer merely coiled around him—it now raged like a tangible storm of thunder, roaring violently around his figure.
"Moya! Even after absorbing five hundred people, don't compare yourself to me, who has contracted seven. It's not the same."
Ye Yu gripped Black Blade Night tightly with both hands, the blade humming with excitement. His silver-white hair, transformed by his Sulong Form, swayed without wind, intertwining with the violent crimson-black Haki in a dazzling display.
"Moon Lion Armed Domination—God Fear!!"
With a low roar, the wild strength granted by his Sulong Form, the overwhelming Slash, and the supreme Conqueror's Haki capable of shaking heaven and earth—all three forces merged perfectly, pouring into Black Blade Night.
The blade instantly shone like a bloody sun in the dark night, and an indescribably brilliant yet terrifying crimson Slash surged into the sky. With the intent to sever everything, it fearlessly met the descending shadowy palm that seemed capable of engulfing the entire island!
BOOM!!!
The Slash and the colossal shadow palm collided violently!
At that moment, time seemed to freeze.
Moya knew he couldn't hold on much longer. He could feel his shadows on the verge of bursting out uncontrollably—he could last at most one more minute. But that one minute at his strongest would be enough. One minute to finish Ye Yu.
As the two attacks clashed, Moya was certain he had crushed Ye Yu into dust. Yet, the sheer force of the Slash sent searing pain through his hand, forcing his body backward. His blood churned violently, and a few shadows involuntarily escaped his mouth. He quickly covered it, his heart trembling in shock.
"Even in this state... why am I still inferior to him? It must be an illusion."
Panic surged within Moya. He couldn't accept it. He had believed himself far beyond Ye Yu, yet now he realized just how strong Ye Yu truly was.
"I won't lose. Right now, I am the strongest!"
"Shadow Box!"
A cold voice abruptly sounded behind Ye Yu.
A cage of pure darkness rose without warning from the shadows beneath Ye Yu's feet, instantly trapping him within!
The cage exuded a powerful restraining force, attempting to immobilize him—this was Moya's sneak attack, launched from afar using his Shadow Mage ability.
"Ye Yu! Now that you're trapped in Shadow Box, take my full-powered strike!"
Having inherited countless techniques from the minds he absorbed, Moya's fists, coated in Armament Haki, smashed down with terrifying force—almost as if carrying traces of Yang Luo's Body Techniques.
"Captain!" Xia Ling and the others cried out in alarm.
Inside the Shadow Box, Ye Yu felt an immense pressure crushing him from all sides, as if trying to drag him into eternal darkness. Yet, the corner of his lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Still not enough!"
With a low shout, Ye Yu's fist surged with Conqueror's Haki Coating.
A single punch—and the seemingly indestructible Shadow Box shattered like fragile glass.
The moment the restraint broke, Moya's hands were already descending upon Ye Yu's head.
"Divine Departure!"
Ye Yu drew his blade. Black Blade Night transformed into a streak of light that tore through the darkness—no earth-shattering spectacle, only the fastest Slash trajectory imaginable, condensed with the pinnacle of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki Coating!
SWISH!
The slash clashed with the fists, creating a momentary deadlock. The ground beneath Ye Yu's feet upheaved and churned violently. Moya's hands trembled with excruciating pain as a terrifying force surged through his body, rendering him completely unable to control himself.
Gag!!
Moya vomited violently, spewing out a flood of shadows like a zombie horde. His aura rapidly diminished as well.
In an instant, Ye Yu flashed above Moya and delivered a devastating punch downward. Amidst a shrill scream, Moya was obliterated, his final moments filled with bitter resentment.
"Damn it... If I'd had a few more years, I would've been the strongest... I could've absorbed even more shadows and controlled them... Damn it..."
Moya collapsed, lifeless.
Ye Yu had to admit, this technique was formidable. Enduring it was indeed terrifying, but it wasn't something just anyone could withstand.
In the original story, Nightmare Luffy had grown significantly stronger after consuming shadows precisely because he could endure it. There was no denying that the Shadow-Shadow Fruit was an incredibly powerful Devil Fruit.
Standing before Moya's massive, gradually dissipating corpse, Ye Yu felt the surging power within him.
"Experience Points... quite substantial," he murmured, a satisfied smirk curling his lips.
Moya, this so-called "experience piñata," had through his insane act of absorbing five hundred shadows, forcibly elevated himself into a monstrous terror.
Defeating him was equivalent to annihilating a super Pirate Crew composed of numerous powerful fighters!
A torrential flood of experience battered against the barriers of Ye Yu's levels.
Buzz!
Two distinct surges of power erupted within him as invisible shackles were shattered one after another.
Level Up! 51!
Level Up! 52!
"Jumped two levels straight... Level 52 now." Ye Yu clenched his fist, feeling the even more overwhelming power coursing through his limbs. The abilities of the seven contracted warriors deepened further with his level increase. This harvest far exceeded his expectations.
"Long live the Captain!"
"So strong! Even a monster like Moya was taken down!"
"Hahaha, our Dominant Feather Pirate Crew is truly invincible!"
Xia Ling, Zhang Tian, and the crew members cheered as they gathered around, their faces alight with the thrill of victory and absolute admiration for Ye Yu.
While clearing out the remaining zombies, they too had gained considerable experience, boosting their overall strength. Xia Ling's Cold Energy had become more refined, and Zhang Tian's summoned arms were now more agile and swift.
"Clean up the battlefield. Let's see what treasures this guy's hideout holds," Ye Yu ordered.
However, after a thorough search, the results were disappointing. Moya's treasure trove was nearly empty, a stark contrast to the terrifying power he had displayed.
"Seems like he spent all his wealth on buying corpses," Xia Ling remarked, kicking a pile of rotting, clearly discarded low-quality corpse materials in the corner. She curled her lip. "He bankrupted himself for that zombie army of his."
Ye Yu remained unfazed. "Expected. Developing shadow manipulation to this level is a form of 'wealth' in itself. More importantly, we've gained substantial experience. Set sail—there's nothing left for us here."
"Aye, Captain!"
The flag of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew fluttered proudly on the repaired main mast as the massive Pirate Ship cut through the waves, leaving the island where the fierce battle had just taken place, heading toward uncharted waters.
Three days later, a sizable commercial island came into view. The bustling harbor was crowded with various pirate ships and merchant vessels, the air thick with the scent of the sea, alcohol, and the clamor of voices.
"Anchor! Restock supplies and let the crew relax!" Ye Yu commanded.
The ship docked smoothly.
Ye Yu disembarked with Xia Ling, Zhao Yan'er, Xiao Ke, Zhang Tian, and several core executives, heading straight for the liveliest and most well-informed tavern on the island—"The Roaring Whale."
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, they were greeted by a wave of noise and the rich mingling of ale, roasted meat, and sweat.
The tavern was alive with boisterous pirates arm-wrestling and boasting about their adventures, while a bard plucked a lute and sang off-key ballads.
The moment everyone noticed Ye Yu, an overwhelming sense of awe filled the room.
"It's the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew!"
"Ye Yu, the unrivaled powerhouse!"
"No pirate crew dares to challenge them now."
"My idol..."
...
They didn't dare disturb him, only watching from a distance.
Ye Yu and his group settled into a spacious table by the window, ordering a lavish spread of food and the island's signature strong liquor.
"Ah... Nothing beats solid ground and a hot meal!" Xia Ling gulped down a mouthful of ale, exhaling contentedly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Zhang Tian nibbled at her food, her gaze occasionally lingering tenderly on Ye Yu.
The rest of the crew also relaxed, savoring the rare moment of peace.
Meanwhile, Ye Yu casually observed the diverse crowd in the tavern, his formidable Observation Haki allowing him to easily pick up intriguing conversations and fragments of information.
Just as the drinks flowed and the atmosphere peaked, a minor commotion arose at the tavern's entrance.
A disheveled young man in a faded scholar's robe, looking rather down on his luck, was attempting to enter but was stopped by two burly crew members of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew.
"I want to see Ye Yu. Can you let me in?"
"Looking to join? Tell us your ability and talent level."
"My talent level isn't very high. I ate the Brain-Brain Fruit."
(End of Chapter)