One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169: [169] : A Pirate on Kaido’s Level! Moria’s Defenses Shatter! The World’s Strongest Manifestation!

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Deep within a gloomy castle on Thriller Bark.

"Kishishishishi! What brings you here?"

A man with a hairstyle resembling a flaming onion, two demonic horns on his forehead, and cross-shaped stitches running from his head to his neck, slowly opened his mouth full of sharp teeth, letting out his signature laugh. His body was immense, nearly seven meters tall.

This was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Gecko Moria.

Facing Moria was another man, no less tall than Moria himself, built like a bear, wearing gloves and holding a bible.

"The only man among the Seven Warlords who unconditionally obey the World Government—Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma," Moria sneered, a mocking smile on his face.

"I’ve come to deliver two messages from the Government," Kuma stated, his expression unchanging, his voice gentle and completely at odds with his immense size and tyrannical epithet.

"Oh??" Moria’s smile faded slightly.

"First, a replacement has been chosen for the Warlord position left vacant by Crocodile’s death—" Kuma stated.

"Oh?? Which great figure from the seas is it?" Moria feigned interest.

"Marshall D. Teach. Blackbeard," Kuma replied.

"Blackbeard? Never heard of him," Moria raised an eyebrow.

The purpose of the Warlords was to use their established infamy to intimidate other pirates.

Moria himself had been selected because he had made a significant name for himself in the New World, even clashing with the current Emperor, Kaido of the Beasts.

"A man who escaped from the Whitebeard Pirates. He has already made a considerable name for himself," Kuma reported impassively, carrying out his duty.

Kuma didn’t elaborate on what Blackbeard had done; that information was still top secret within the World Government.

"What was his bounty before becoming a Warlord?" Moria asked.

"Zero," Kuma replied.

"So a complete unknown??"

Moria wouldn’t believe that the World Government, which never acted without self-interest, would elevate a complete nobody to a Warlord position...

"But the vacant spot is finally filled. Now the balance of the seas, which was beginning to tip, can be restored,"

Moria said, his massive, bloated body moving with heavy footsteps to the castle’s railing. He looked out at the gloomy environment of Thriller Bark, a demonic smile returning to his face.

As a user of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, a place without sunlight was ideal for his shadow-zombie army—

—The people whose shadows he stole lived scattered across Thriller Bark. Moria didn’t bother them; if they died, the shadows in his zombies would disappear.

And those without shadows couldn’t see the sun. The perpetually dark Florian Triangle was the perfect stronghold for Moria now.

Balance... it was what the World Government desired, and what Moria needed.

After his crushing defeat by Kaido and the loss of his entire crew, Moria had completely lost heart. He believed that all living things were destined to be lost.

Thus, he used his Shadow-Shadow Fruit to create an army of shadow-zombies. Being already dead, they couldn’t die again.

He used this to maintain the false prosperity of Thriller Bark.

This self-deception led to Moria’s complete downfall. His once agile body, capable of clashing with Kaido, had become incredibly bloated—the heavy thud of his every step was proof of this.

Moria could no longer even properly control the strength of his own body. Consequently, his once-powerful Haki had completely vanished.

He had become a pathetic shell of a man, relying solely on his Devil Fruit and zombie army to delude himself...

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"Your information... is severely outdated," Kuma stated, a slight inflection finally entering his voice.

"Hm?" Moria looked at Kuma.

"Sky Sovereign Rowen is heading this way. The Government orders you to evacuate this area immediately. Otherwise... the Seven Warlords will be short another member," Kuma stated, looking directly at Moria.

"That Sky Sovereign Rowen who killed Crocodile??" Moria bared his sharp teeth.

"Don’t be ridiculous! Do those government fools think I’ll lose to some wet-behind-the-ears brat??"

Moria grabbed Kuma by the collar, his eyes bloodshot, roaring with fury.

Located in the perpetually dark Florian Triangle, Moria was cut off from the world—even News Coos didn’t come here. And Moria, immersed in his false prosperity, couldn’t care less about outside events.

In Moria’s mind, what major changes could there be?

The balance between the Warlords, Marine HQ, and the Four Emperors had persisted for years.

Those upstart rookies entering the New World, all dreaming of overthrowing an Emperor to become a new one... For years, the Four Emperors had reigned supreme, and those who dared challenge them were either crushed and absorbed into their forces or completely buried in the New World.

These fledgling brats have no idea how terrifying an Emperor truly is!

Thinking back to his own crushing defeat by Kaido, Moria’s eyes became even more bloodshot, his bared teeth looking like he wanted to devour Kuma.

Kuma’s words had dealt a massive blow to Moria’s already shattered pride. To think they believed he would lose to a brat who had been at sea for less than a year!

Moria’s intel was still stuck at the moment Crocodile was defeated by Rowen.

This was why Kuma had come here personally—to deliver this new intel.

Moria, isolated in the Florian Triangle, had no idea what was happening in the outside world.

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"As I said... your information is outdated," Kuma stated, completely unfazed by Moria’s roaring, and produced several reports from his coat.

"See for yourself. Sky Sovereign Rowen is no longer the man who merely defeated Crocodile a few months ago."

Kuma’s voice held a slight tremor. What this man had accomplished—even Kuma, who was on the verge of losing all emotion and consciousness, felt a profound shock.

"Huh?!" Moria snatched the reports from Kuma’s hand. One look—and his eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"MARINE HQ ADMIRAL AOKIJI DEFEATED? MARINE HQ ADMIRAL AKAINU DEFEATED??"

"A BUSTER CALL SUFFERED AN UNPRECEDENTED DEFEAT?! ENIES LOBBY COMPLETELY DESTROYED??"

"THE STRONGEST DEVIL FRUIT USER? THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS MAN??"

"A NEW EMPEROR OF THE SEA? BOUNTY..."

Each piece of intelligence struck Moria’s psyche like a hammer blow.

When he saw the bounty amount, Moria’s defenses completely shattered. He let out a horrified shriek.

"—3,988,900,000 BERI?!!!"

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’Evacuate immediately—and don’t cause any trouble for us!’ This was the purpose of Kuma’s visit.

Kuma showed no emotional response to Moria’s words. His mission was complete; he could use his Paw-Paw Fruit ability to leave at any time.