Pale Green Hope

The wind and snow hung low, as if the air had been pressed down by an invisible giant hand.

Kaido slowly rose to his feet, instantly silencing the entire space.

His presence changed. The playfulness vanished, the contempt receded, leaving behind only pure oppression.

Dragon might spread outward, like a mountain collapsing.

"Boom—!"

The air suddenly sank, and the ground cracked apart!

The wind and snow were crushed apart directly. Already heavily wounded, Moria was forced to his knees by that overwhelming presence!

"Crack—!"

His bones let out sharp, grating pops.

His body trembled violently, and his vision kept going black.

Kaido took a step.

One step.

Another step.

Every step felt as though it were stomping on Moria's soul.

Moria gritted his teeth. His consciousness was falling apart, yet he stubbornly refused to lower his head.

Kaido stopped before him and looked down.

His gaze was as cold as a blade, and his voice even colder.

"What you said..."

"Was it true?"

The air froze in an instant.

Moria raised his head, blood staining the corner of his mouth, his breathing ragged.

Instead of backing down, he laughed.

"Hey, shishishi..."

Kaido's expression darkened.

"You think someone like you can make him move?!"

"Make Azure Dragon move—?!!"

The next moment—

"Boom—!!!"

Conqueror's Haki erupted completely!!!

The shockwave swept out, sending the wind and snow whirling backward as though the air itself had been torn apart!

The pirates nearby went pale!

Some dropped to their knees on the spot, some staggered back under the pressure, and some lost consciousness with bloodless faces!

And Moria took the brunt of it!

"Pfft—!"

Blood sprayed from his mouth. His body was nearly crushed apart by the pressure!

His bones wailed, and his consciousness swayed violently!

But—

He was still laughing.

"Hey, shishishi..."

His voice