Moria

At the center of the plaza.

The rain had yet to stop.

Rainwater streamed endlessly through the cracks between shattered stone tiles, gathering into thin rivulets.

Above, thunderclouds churned.

Every so often, violet-gold lightning flashed deep within the clouds, casting the entire plaza into alternating light and darkness.

And amidst this suffocating silence—

A furious roar filled with hatred and despair suddenly erupted.

"AAAAAAAH—!!!"

The voice was hoarse, crazed.

Almost everyone in the plaza turned toward it at the same instant.

Moria, who had been kneeling on the ground and weeping, suddenly raised his head.

His eyes were completely bloodshot, crimson from edge to edge.

Rain and tears mixed together, constantly sliding down his already grotesque face.

His teeth ground together with a creak.

Those eyes stared fixedly at Rock in the sky, like a beast driven into a corner.

"It was all you—!!!"

Moria roared, his voice nearly breaking.

"You destroyed my ship!!!"

"You destroyed my crew!!!"

His voice echoed through the rain.

At this moment.

No Marine hero.

No mighty reputation of the Azure Dragon.

None of it remained in his mind.

There was only rage, and the despair of losing everything.

"Die—!!!"

Moria abruptly rose from the ground, splashing water beneath his feet.

He seized that enormous cleaver, its blade reflecting a cold gleam through the rain.

The next second, he stomped off the ground and shot upward!

Like an out-of-control monster, he charged straight into the sky!

He raised his massive blade high and slashed viciously at Rock!!!

This scene—

Left the remaining dozens of pirates in the plaza utterly dumbfounded.

"???"

Someone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Whose damn subordinate is that?!"

"He's that brave?!!"

Another pirate's mouth twitched wildly as he could not help muttering a curse.

"Hey, hey, hey—"

"That's the