When Shangyang saw Gecko Moria cut away Wuli's shadow, grief tore through it, and it let out a mournful cry.
An angry glow seemed to flicker across its exquisite feathers, threaded with black vapor.
It fixed its gaze on Gecko Moria, blood-red light flashing in its eyes. Its voice shook with barely contained fury and cold menace.
"Give my master's shadow back! Gecko Moria!"
Gecko Moria turned toward the one-legged bird that had spoken. Surprise flickered across his face, but at Shangyang's threat, he glanced down at Wuli's motionless body on the deck, then at Wuli's struggling shadow in his hand. He gave Shangyang a sinister grin.
"Heh, heh, heh! Soon I'll be your master's master!"
"There's nowhere for you to run here! You can't escape!"
Killing intent flashed in Shangyang's eyes. Knowing Gecko Moria would never hand Wuli's shadow back willingly, it vanished from where it stood and streaked toward the hand holding the shadow.
"Heh, heh, heh. This is the key to my comeback. I can't let you snatch it away."
Gecko Moria reacted just as quickly. The instant Shangyang vanished, he put Wuli's shadow away.
Then countless bats flew out from behind his massive figure, forming a screen in front of him.
The bats were slick and black, covered in soft down. Two large ears rose from each round little head, above tightly shut eyes.
Their teeth were terrifying. Two sharp, tigerlike fangs jutted out above rows of tiny, pointed teeth.
Their wings were curled and hairless, like thin membranes. The bones inside were clearly visible through them.
Shangyang tore several bats apart with its claws, sending them tumbling onto the deck. But what alarmed it more was that the vast swarm blocked its view, while Gecko Moria's presence seemed to be slowly fading.
Shangyang had a