Moria Escapes

Wano Country, Ringo.

The snowstorm raged on, but it could not drown out the footsteps drawing closer, one heavy step at a time.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The ground shook with every step.

Moria lay sprawled in the snow, his fingers dug deep into the icy drifts.

His breathing was ragged, his mind clouded. Every breath tasted of blood.

His vision swam. The world spun around him.

But that figure grew clearer and closer.

Until Kaido stood right before him, blotting out the sky.

Kaido looked down at him. There was no anger in those red-glowing eyes.

Only contempt.

"With strength like yours..."

His voice was low, his disdain undisguised.

"You think you're fit to work under him?"

The moment he finished speaking, draconic pressure surged out, bearing down from every direction!

Moria's chest seized, as though an invisible hand had clamped around his throat!

Then Kaido laughed. Something seemed to amuse him, and his mouth slowly spread into a grin.

"But..."

He raised his spiked club and drove it into the ground.

Boom—!!!

Snow exploded outward, scattering shards of ice!

"Your power..."

His gaze fell on the shadow beneath Moria.

It was battered and thin, still struggling to writhe.

"It's interesting."

Kaido bent down, his voice dropping into a pleased rumble.

"Come work for me, and—"

He bared his white teeth in a beastlike grin.

"I'll spare your crew."

Those words struck Moria's crumbling mind like a shaft of light.

His eyes suddenly lit up!!!

The crew... could live???

The thought surfaced instinctively, carrying an absurd sliver of hope.

But in that instant, within his mind—

Boom!!!

Thunder burst forth!!!

A figure flashed past.

Lightning surrounded him. The sheer presence of someone on an entirely different level crushed that flicker of doubt.

Then the scene changed.

Wano Country. A burning