The Seraph "Kuma" managed to rescue Bartolomeo and the others—pure luck for those reckless idiots.
Now that Masu and Imu themselves had taken the field, launching their attacks on the airborne ships, Souta Kiryuu could only focus on keeping himself alive.
With blinding speed and a blank expression, Seraph Kuma struck out—sending Souta, PX-Bruno, and several second-generation Seraphs flying to safety before disappearing in an instant.
"No! Souta! You bastards!!"
Moria roared, his voice hoarse as he dodged the rain of shadow arrows, eyes bloodshot, disbelief twisting his face as he watched Souta and the others vanish—taking Seraph Kuma with them.
He knew his position within the Ryuryu Pirates had always been awkward. After all, he bore an irreconcilable grudge against Kaido of the Beasts, while Souta had cooperated with that same monster on many occasions.
Once Seraph Moria appeared, his situation had only gotten worse—he couldn't even defeat his own replica.
What he didn't know was that his laziness, his constant indulgence, his refusal to train, and that stubborn belly he never lost had all turned him into a liability. He couldn't awaken Haki no matter how many times he was told to try. Worse, his seniority gave him the nerve to interfere with Souta's plans.
As a result, Souta, Lafitte, and Bege—the minds of the Ryuryu Pirates—had long since grown dissatisfied with him.
Just moments ago, Souta had ordered Seraph Kuma to save Bartolomeo and Burgess first, leaving behind the former Warlord of the Sea, Moria. That decision wasn't made on impulse.
Souta and his inner circle had agreed—it was time to quietly remove a few potential risks from the crew.
Especially with Souta's possible alliance through marriage to Kaido's daughter, Yamato.
If that happened, Moria's presence would become even more problematic.
And truthfully, Moria had disobeyed the retreat signals anyway. Souta rescuing Bartolomeo's group while leaving Moria behind might have been a calculated move—to let him die "a glorious death."
It was, in Souta's eyes, the cleanest way to write Moria out—while sparing Souta himself from having to make that call directly, all out of respect for Perona, the "Ghost Princess."
In truth, Souta hadn't meant for this to happen. By giving Moria command of the assault on Mary Geoise—hoping to appease him—he'd accidentally led the fool to his death.
What Souta didn't expect was that Souta's own subordinates, Lafitte and the others, would interpret it as a sign—to "arrange" Moria's disappearance for good.
To be honest, Souta never wanted Moria dead. He just didn't want Moria crossing paths with Kaido again and stirring up more chaos.
···
Seeing Souta and his men escaping one after another, Masu's fury erupted. He tore apart the remaining airships in a single fit of rage.
Hearing Moria's shouts, his killing intent locked on.
"When I get out of here, I swear I'll kill all of you in front of Souta Kiryuu!"
Feeling completely abandoned, Moria fled through the air, terrified of Imu's relentless shadow arrows—but there was nowhere to run.
Shk! Shk!
For all his strength, Moria couldn't withstand Imu's power. Shadow arrows pierced through his body.
"No! I can't die yet! I haven't avenged Kaido! I won't die like this!"
Blood poured from his mouth, his trembling eyes filled with unwilling rage.
"Souta promised me… he'd avenge me! He said he'd fight Kaido for me!"
He had never forgotten the comrades who were wiped out years ago. But instead of training, instead of getting stronger, he pinned all his hopes on Souta—and his army of zombies.
Ever since joining the Ryuryu Pirates, Souta had told him to train hard, to lose weight, to regain his edge. Even Kuma had helped him cultivate Haki with care.
But after wasting over a decade rotting in the Devil's Triangle, Moria's willpower was long gone.
He couldn't stay focused for more than a few days.
Even after all this time with Souta's crew, he'd barely improved—while the younger generation, like Souta and Law, had surpassed him.
"Traitor of the Warlords! Die!!"
Masu's talons slashed forward, tearing through the air toward the already-impaled Moria.
Even if there was a chance of negotiation between the Ryuryu Pirates and the World Government, Masu would never spare the one who had enslaved Saint Garin and other Celestial Dragons with his Shadow-Shadow Fruit.
"No! I won't accept this! Souta Kiryuu!!"
Moria screamed to the heavens, fangs bared, his voice echoing through the skies of Mary Geoise—a final cry of rage and despair.
Perhaps he never should have trusted Souta in the first place.
He was a washed-up Warlord who couldn't even beat his own Seraph clone. How could Souta ever risk open war with Kaido for someone like him?
Maybe one day, the ambitious Souta would turn his eyes toward Kaido—the Mythical Azure Dragon himself.
But Moria would never live to see that day.
Imu's shadow arrows and Masu's talons ripped through his body, tearing him apart in midair. His blood rained down over Mary Geoise.
Moria, wielder of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit.
Former Warlord of the Sea.
Officer of the Ryuryu Pirates.
Has fallen.
···
Somewhere far away, a new Devil Fruit appeared—its black-veined surface gleaming, wrapped in delicate green leaves like a noble's collar.
With Moria's death, the shadows inhabiting his remaining zombies fled, returning to their true masters' bodies.
With Souta's escape and the destruction of the airborne fleet, the rebellion in Mary Geoise was over in less than ten minutes.
Every Ryuryu pirate and freed slave had been wiped out.
During the aftermath, the pacifists—those massive mechanical soldiers—self-destructed, inflicting heavy casualties on the Navy's science division.
Even the lunar automata followed suit, triggering their own destruction. The Five Elders were left speechless, faces dark with fury.
···
Though the casualties among the Holy Knights and CP0 were minimal, the invasion had devastated countless Celestial Dragon mansions. Even the supreme palace, Pangaea Castle, had lost an entire wing.
The acting commander of the Holy Knights, Saint Pains, knelt trembling before the empty Throne of the Void, too terrified to even lift his gaze toward the supreme figure seated upon it.
The Four Elders rushed to contain the chaos and restore order across Mary Geoise.
This battle had utterly disgraced the World Government. The prestige of the Celestial Dragons had sunk to its lowest point in history.
Imu had made his decision. He would no longer hide. He would stand before the world once again—and reclaim his absolute dominion.
Souta Kiryuu had earned his full attention.
Imu would confront Souta, the Ryuryu Pirates, the Revolutionary Army, and the Pirate Emperors head-on, crushing them all beneath the overwhelming might of the World Government.
For now, they remained the greatest power in the world.
In the past, neither Imu nor the Five Elders had ever taken pirates seriously. They were like weeds—one age after another.
But this time, Imu was serious. He would deal with Souta Kiryuu the same way he had dealt with the Sun God Nika.
He refused to believe that Souta could keep uniting the Revolutionary Army and the Four Emperors' forces every time, to wage war against the world itself.
Once divided, none of them could ever stand against the World Government.
···
Meanwhile, in the waters between the Red Line and the Kingdom of Lulusia—
The Marines and the Revolutionary Army were still clashing violently.
Upon learning that the Battle of Fortress G-18 had ended, Dragon immediately ordered a retreat.
The Revolutionary Army withdrew, vanishing once more into the shadows, waiting patiently for fate's next move.
...
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