Vergo Under This Move

"Boom..." With this deafening roar, Vergo struggled desperately to withstand the impact of that terrifying attack, but he only managed to hold on for a fleeting moment.

Immediately afterwards, the hideous and terrifying Ghost Dragon opened its blood-red maw and pounced on Vergo with overwhelming force, instantly engulfing his entire body in darkness.

When everything around finally returned to calm, a shocking crater, a full twenty meters in diameter, appeared on the once flat ground! And Vergo lay lifeless in the very center of this crater.

At this moment, where could one find even a trace of his previous composure and confidence? Where was the slightest bit of his previous arrogant and domineering aura? What was presented to people now was only an extremely disheveled and miserable scene.

Looking at Vergo himself, his clothes had been torn to shreds in the fierce battle, leaving him utterly naked. On his bare chest was a deep, gaping wound, resembling a hideous Centipede. Moreover, eerie Ghost Flame burned from the wound, as if to incinerate him completely.

At the same moment, as if a dam had burst, bright red blood gushed from Vergo's mouth. The blood, like a red stream, flowed slowly down his pale, paper-like face, dripping one drop after another until it finally fell onto the dusty, gravelly ground beneath him.

The blood quickly pooled together, forming horrifying pools of blood. Each pool seemed to testify to the sheer brutality of the battle.

"Heh..." Vergo suddenly burst into laughter, but his smile looked particularly ferocious and terrifying, completely devoid of his usual dignified demeanor. "It seems that it's not just those two brothers who are naive..." He laughed as he struggled to raise his head and cast his gaze at Moke was standing not far away.

Immediately afterward, Vergo's gaze settled on Moke, and he slowly said, "I didn't expect that not only did our Young Master underestimate you, but even the Marine Headquarters had such a huge misjudgment of your true strength! With the strength you've displayed so far, you're probably already comparable to Hawkeye, the leader of the Shichibukai..."

Hearing this, Moke didn't respond, but silently pushed the Sandai Kitetsu holding forward, the sharp blade pressed directly against Vergo's throat. Vergo seemed to have been mentally prepared for this; he slowly closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. After all, after the attack he had just suffered, he had completely lost the ability to resist.

However, Moke frowned slightly. To be honest, many fans of One Piece felt deeply sorry for One Piece 'Vergo departure. It was truly regrettable that such a powerful and charismatic character left the stage so early.

There was no way around it; whether it was his mysterious and unpredictable special Armament Haki that could completely cover his entire body, or his terrifying strength that allowed him to single-handedly defeat Smoker and Law without any chance of fighting back, both were so dazzling and eye-catching that they were impossible to ignore.

"It would be such a waste to kill him so easily..." Moke thought to himself, as he slowly looked down at the Holy Sword tattoo on his chest that was shimmering with a strange light. With a thought, the light on the tattoo grew even stronger, as if it was about to burst forth.

The next moment, the powerful light flowed down his arm like a torrent, eventually converging on the Sandai Kitetsu he was holding tightly in his hand. Then, as if given life, the Sandai Kitetsu automatically rushed towards Vergo and easily entered his body.

You must know, this legendary Holy Sword has an extraordinary and mysterious origin! The strange power it contains is beyond the imagination of ordinary people; it is definitely not something that ordinary people can easily bear or control. This power seems to come from the underworld, filled with a sinister and terrifying aura that sends chills down one's spine.

"Uh?" Vergo suddenly let out a muffled groan, as if struck by Inazuma. Immediately afterward, a strange, intense pain swept over him like a surging tide, violently assaulting his body and mind. The pain was so intense that it felt as if an enormous, heavy hammer had slammed into his heart with the force of a thunderbolt.

In an instant, Vergo's entire body trembled uncontrollably, swaying precariously like a candle in the wind. His once resolute face was now twisted and deformed by extreme pain, revealing a ferocious and terrifying appearance. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his clothes.

At this moment, Vergo was in dire straits, desperately trying to break free from the strange power binding him. However, no matter how hard he resisted, all his efforts were in vain, like stones sinking into the sea. This strange power was like an invisible giant net, tightly trapping him within, making it impossible for him to escape.

Just as Vergo was struggling, a dark figure appeared silently in front of him like a ghost. Upon closer inspection, it was Moke! Moke was expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice. He slowly extended a palm, the movement so gentle that it was almost imperceptible, and then firmly pressed it on the top of Vergo's head.

At the same time, Moke uttered a soft command, "Memory Absorption..." As he spoke, a strange energy surged from his palm and quickly seeped into Vergo's head. Vergo immediately felt dizzy, his vision blurred, and a flood of past memories rushed towards Moke like a burst dam.

Upon hearing those four words, Vergo's face changed drastically, turning deathly pale as if all the blood had been drained from his body. His heart pounded violently, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. He knew perfectly well that if his opponent successfully unleashed this mysterious technique, all the secrets hidden deep within him, all his painful past experiences, would be exposed without reservation, leaving him utterly exposed, like standing naked before a crowd, with nowhere to hide.

However, at this very moment, Vergo was in an extremely dangerous situation. He was doing his best to resist the constant erosion from the strange power of the Holy Sword, focusing every bit of his energy and attention on this life-or-death struggle, with no spare energy to care about anything else. Time passed second by second, and just a few seconds later, Vergo's defensive line collapsed completely like a dam breaking.

As his resistance crumbled, Vergo's consciousness began to blur, as if a thick fog was slowly shrouding his thoughts. His once resolute eyes gradually lost their luster and became dull and lifeless. Finally, he could no longer support his body, and like a deflated balloon, he collapsed limply to the ground, falling into a deep coma.

While Vergo remained unconscious, those long-buried, unknown memories deep within his mind surged forth like a burst dam, flowing through a mysterious connection into Moke's palm...

"Aaaaaah..." A bloodcurdling scream rang out, and Vergo's body convulsed involuntarily. At the same time, Moke's previously calm face turned deathly pale, even more so than Vergo's. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, quickly soaking his clothes. It turned out that Vergo's massive amount of memories had flooded into Moke's mind at an incredibly rapid pace, causing him immense shock and pressure, making it difficult for him to cope with such a vast amount of information.

"Damn it... I was so careless!" Moke muttered to himself in regret. It seemed that this move should never be used lightly. No, it was even better to never use it again. However, even in the face of such a difficult situation, Moke still did not choose to give up.

He clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, large beads of sweat sliding down his cheeks, his body trembling slightly, yet he still struggled to hold on. Time passed second by second, each moment feeling like an agonizing ordeal for Moke. Finally, at the crucial moment, Moke felt as if his head was about to explode; the excruciating pain was indescribable.

Because what he is experiencing at this moment is the entirety of a person's memories from their entire life. These memories are not only enormous in number, but also contain many fragments hidden deep within the heart, which even the person in question may have long forgotten. The sheer volume of information is as vast as the ocean.

Just as the last trace of Vergo's memory was about to be completely absorbed by Moke's body suddenly swayed a few times. His once clear and bright eyes were now filled with scarlet blood vessels, making him look quite terrifying.

Immediately afterward, Moke murmured, "Memory Return..." As his voice fell, the memories that had just been absorbed into Moke's mind began to flow back like a tide, returning to Vergo's brain. However, after Moke's manipulation, the returned memories were no longer as pure and real as before. Many parts were fabricated out of thin air by Moke's wild imagination, while the memories that truly belonged to Vergo were cleverly altered by Moke —memories related to Doflamingo and his crew were deeply imprinted in the depths of Vergo's mind, never to be erased.

"Huff, huff, huff..." With heavy breathing, Moke finally completed all the difficult tasks. At this moment, he seemed to have just emerged from a fierce battle. His body was trembling, he was panting heavily, his chest was heaving, and sweat was sliding down his forehead, soaking his clothes.

Moke felt his legs were as heavy as lead, and he involuntarily collapsed to the ground. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to regulate his breathing, attempting to give his exhausted body and mind a moment of rest and recovery. At this moment, he deeply understood the feeling of being "overwhelmed"—his head felt like it was buzzing with countless bees, throbbing with pain; it was as if he were being crushed by a thousand-pound burden, unable to breathe, with unbearable swelling and pain. This kind of pain was truly indescribable.

In contrast, Vergo, who was dizzy and battered, was in a much worse state. He had long since lost consciousness and lay Fudō on the ground, like a lifeless shell. If Moke hadn't used the Holy Sword's miraculous and powerful energy to heal his injuries in time, Vergo would probably have died long ago.

Time ticked by, and after a long wait, Vergo finally slowly awoke. When he laboriously opened his eyes, a hint of confusion and bewilderment flickered in them, as if he wasn't fully awake and didn't know where he was or what had happened. However, when his gaze inadvertently fell upon Moke sitting not far away, he instantly perked up, and his expression immediately turned serious.

He stood up straight respectfully and called out, "Young Master!" Although Moke's physical condition had improved somewhat after a period of rest, his head was still spinning and he felt dizzy. He Dark-Dark Fruit vowed that he must never experience such pain again... the feeling was simply too unbearable.

Then, Moke turned his gaze to Vergo, a faint smile finally appearing on his slightly pale face. The suffering he had endured this time had not been in vain, for Doflamingo's most powerful officer and best spy now belonged to him. Thinking of this, Moke nodded with satisfaction, then said to Vergo, "Take these two brothers back to the Navy! In a few days, I will send you a Devil Fruit. At that time, I hope you will take another big step forward in your position within the Navy."

Upon hearing this, Vergo frowned slightly, seemingly harboring some resentment towards Devil Fruit. However, after only a moment, he nodded without hesitation and replied, "Yes, Young Master!" Seeing Vergo's quick and decisive agreement, Moke smiled slightly and said slowly, "I know you've always been reluctant to eat Devil Fruit, but the fruit I'm about to bestow upon you is completely different from ordinary Devil Fruit. It's extremely suitable for those skilled in physical combat, and you must understand one thing— Devil Fruit are merely one way to become stronger; they cannot hinder your original training process..."

Vergo nodded slightly in agreement and turned to leave, returning to G1 base with firm and steady steps. Meanwhile, Moke was filled with joy, for he had successfully planted a crucial hidden weapon within the powerful naval system. Even more gratifying was Vergo's unwavering loyalty and complete trustworthiness; he was a truly capable and reliable subordinate.

Moke couldn't help but think to himself, how wonderful it would be to have a few more loyal subordinates like Vergo! But the thought was immediately replaced by his recent experiences and feelings, and he dismissed the idea without hesitation. After all, who would willingly risk their head exploding? Even if they were lucky enough not to actually explode, the thought of ending up with a gigantic head like Vegapunk... just imagining it was terrifying.

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. After a long journey, Moke finally arrived at the legendary Champion Island. In the hearts of many martial arts practitioners, this island is like a sacred and inviolable temple. The reason why it is considered a no-man's land is not only because it gathers countless top martial arts masters, but also because no force dares to cause trouble here easily, for fear of angering those martial arts masters with superb strength.

The reason was simple: if anyone dared to tamper with things here, it would be tantamount to touching the interests and bottom line of the entire martial arts community. As soon as they landed on the island, someone quickly approached and asked, "Esteemed guest, may I ask whether you have come here to participate in the intense fighting competition, or merely to enjoy this spectacular event as a spectator?" Hearing this, Moke was slightly taken aback.

It should be noted that when he absorbed Vergo's memories, he not only obtained those invaluable cultivation methods deep within the other's mind, but also included profound techniques such as the Six Powers and Armament Haki. The reason he delayed arriving here for a full half month was precisely to thoroughly integrate these hard-won cultivation methods into his own body and transform them into truly powerful strength of his own.

Therefore, when he heard the news that there was still an opportunity to Gabi, a raging fire instantly ignited in his heart. It was as if an invisible force had gripped his heartstrings, immersing him in extreme excitement. His eyes widened, and he asked with surprise and anticipation, "Oh? I really didn't expect this! There's still time to register? From what I understand, wasn't this fighting competition already in full swing?"

Faced with his eager question, the man smiled calmly and explained in a very gentle and patient tone, "You're right. The fighting competition we're holding here actually has two completely different formats. The first format, which is the same path chosen by most participants, is to start from the lowest level and climb up step by step, gradually improving your ranking and strength by defeating opponents. The second format is relatively more direct and can be called the challenge mode. That is to say, if you are confident in your abilities and believe that you have enough strength to meet various challenges, then you can directly choose those who have already achieved certain results or have a high status as your opponents and launch a thrilling duel. Of course, although this method seems simple and straightforward, the risks involved are also quite considerable!"

If you believe you possess sufficient strength, you can freely choose any of the already qualified contestants and challenge them. Of course, if you are unlucky and lose, it means you will completely forfeit your precious qualification to continue competing for the championship. I wonder what your thoughts are on this?"

Before Moke could respond, someone standing nearby suddenly burst out laughing, "Ali... Ali, look at this fellow! He's got two incredibly sharp longswords gleaming at his waist! Anyone could tell at a glance that he's a renowned Swordmaster! And you actually foolishly suggested he participate in some kind of fighting competition? Oh my, you're practically trying to make him laugh to death!"

Upon hearing these words, the young man Ali, who was standing in front of Moke, suddenly turned bright red, as if his fair cheeks were on fire, like a ripe apple.

It turns out that Ali was just a newbie among the many reception staff at the port. Today happened to be his first day officially here, responsible for attracting passing customers. Perhaps due to nervousness and excitement, or a lack of experience, he accidentally made such a ridiculous blunder. Now he's really in trouble! For the next year, he'll probably be the laughingstock of his colleagues.

However, in stark contrast to Ali's embarrassment, Moke showed a much stronger interest in the matter. He asked with great interest, "Come, come, tell me in detail, what exactly is this second challenge?"

Ali was slightly taken aback at first, but quickly thought to himself, "Well, I'll just treat this as a rare training opportunity..." Besides, even if the person in front of him wasn't a particularly strong martial arts expert, he was clearly not someone he could easily provoke. So, he quickly composed himself and explained, "On this Champion Island, there are usually three or four champions residing here year-round. You are free to choose one of them as your challenger. If you successfully defeat them, then you will be qualified to challenge for this year's championship."