Capone: Fortress of Ambition

Having absorbed a hundred shadows, Moria displayed his most powerful form, sending Bege flying with a single punch.

"The strength he's showing now is far beyond the two hundred million level," Modi said gravely. Moria, in this state, gave him a terrifying feeling.

"Godfather, will he be alright?" Hank's face was contorted in a snarl, his body already transformed into his beast-man form, his fierce eyes staring at Moria.

"This is Bege's fight. It's not your place to interfere," Modi snorted coldly.

Moria seemed to be in considerable pain. The hundred shadows within him were controlled by his willpower, and it wasn't as easy as it looked.

"You're not dead yet. Come out," Moria roared in a low voice towards the forest.

As his voice fell, a figure dashed out of the forest, appearing before Moria.

Bege was in a sorry state. The mask on his face had been shattered by Moria's powerful punch, revealing his true face. There was a streak of blood at the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating he had coughed up blood.

He looked at Moria. Moria's strength was truly terrifying. After using Shadow Asgard, he possessed power greater than even a giant. He had initially thought Moria's speed would be hampered by his massive size, but unexpectedly, Moria could use Shadow Corner Gun for defense, hindering Bege's close-range attacks.

Such a fighting style was extremely troublesome.

"As expected of the ability I've been looking forward to." Bege's eyes shone with excitement. He had traveled all the way from the West Blue to the Grand Line precisely for this Shadow Asgard ability within Moria's Shadow-Shadow Fruit.

The stronger Moria became because of Shadow Asgard, the more excited Bege grew, and the more he felt his trip to find him was the right choice.

"I knew you wouldn't die so easily. Let's fight again!" Moria's enormous eyes looked down at Bege. He raised his right palm, generating a strong wind, and slammed it down. The massive hand, carrying an unparalleled force, descended.

The terrifying pressure created a powerful gale, causing Bege's clothes to flap wildly.

"Come!" Battle intent surged in Bege's eyes. The fierce, wild, and brutal aura within him could no longer be suppressed and surged outwards. Everyone who felt this wild aura felt as if they were being targeted by a ferocious beast, their bodies trembling.

Bege suddenly sheathed his sword. Then, he crouched down, gripping the hilt, staring at the descending giant palm.

In an instant, Bege roared, and the sword was drawn in a flash. An unimaginably violent blast of sword energy shot out.

Along with it came the ferocious roar of a dragon. An especially large dragon-shaped blast of sword energy erupted from the sword.

"One Sword Style Iai – Ascending Dragon Slash!"

The energy dragon and Moria's giant palm collided violently. Moria's palm actually managed to suppress the energy dragon.

His palm was torn by the sword energy, leaving numerous bloody gashes, but Moria ignored it. He roared, pressing down with his palm, forcing the energy dragon down inch by inch.

Bege's face was twisted in a ferocious grimace. With every inch Moria pressed down, his body was forced to crouch lower, the ground instantly crumbling beneath him.

Bege's face contorted, his eyes growing increasingly fierce. In an instant, phantom images of several fierce beasts appeared on his body. They suddenly erupted, and his body raised, resisting Moria's immense strength.

"Boom!"

Power and sword energy collided violently and then exploded simultaneously, creating a wild shockwave that swept in all directions. A fierce wind raged. In the center of where the two stood, the ground exploded.

Both were sent flying by the terrifying explosion, coughing up blood simultaneously.

Bege roared, stabilizing himself, his gaze like that of a beast.

He slashed through the shockwave with his sword, instantly charging towards Moria, unleashing another Flying Dragon slash. In an instant, it swept forward, crashing outwards.

Moria's massive body merely trembled. His pupils contracted. He screamed in agony, spitting out twenty or thirty shadows. His entire body was sent flying into the sky.

Then, he crashed to the ground with a boom, shattering the earth. His eyes were dazed, and he coughed up blood continuously. With each cough, shadows were expelled, and his form shrunk with each expulsion.

"Captain!"

Moria's crew screamed in alarm.

"Kill him! Avenge the captain!" Moria's crew members were filled with murderous intent, raising their guns and swords, charging towards Bege.

"Stop!" Moria, supporting himself with his hands, roared, stopping his crew.

"This is my battle. Do you want to ruin a fair duel?" Moria climbed up from the ground, shouting in a low roar.

Bege's lips curled into a smile. This kind of Moria pleased him even more.

"Shadow Asgard is your strongest technique. The outcome is already decided. You should honor the bet," Bege said.

Moria's expression fluctuated.

"No, the battle isn't over yet. That wasn't the captain's strongest state. The captain can still become stronger," The crew member with two swords at his waist and a scar on his face, stepped forward and said gravely.

"Enough, Mochi!" Moria looked at this man with a gloomy expression.

The crew member said with a determined expression, "Captain, are you going to give up just like that? Didn't you want to be a free pirate and conquer the New World?"

Moria's expression fluctuated.

The crew member continued, "If he wants to recruit us, he must make us truly respect him."

"That's right, if he wants us to submit, he must make us truly respect him. Otherwise, even if we die, we won't join him."

The scarred pirate looked at Bege and said calmly, "If you can defeat the captain in his strongest state, then we will follow you from now on, without any reservations."

Bege glanced at him and then looked at Moria. His expression was calm, and he said lightly, "You're too proud, which is why you chose this deserted forest. If it were in the town, perhaps things would be different."

Moria's eyes widened, looking at Bege with surprise and suspicion.

Bege suddenly burst into laughter: "Heeheeheehee, alright, I accept. Moria, go. Go and become your strongest self. I'll wait for you here. I want you to join us willingly."

Moria looked at Bege intently, then turned and left without a word, heading towards the town.

"Bege, why?" Modi asked calmly.

"Before, I only wanted to use his Devil Fruit ability. But now, I genuinely want to recruit him. He's a worthy opponent," Bege's lips curved into a smile.

Shortly after, a massive and agonizing roar came from the direction of the town.

Then the forest trembled, and birds and beasts scattered.

"He's coming, the strongest captain," Moria's crew members were all shaken, each one excited and expectant.

A giant, even larger than the trees, came running, knocking down and sending flying all the trees in its path. It was unbelievably barbaric.

The giant arrived at the battlefield. Its awe-inspiring size and appearance frightened everyone present.

"Bege, you're digging your own grave," Modi looked at the astonishing size of the figure, also feeling somewhat apprehensive.

This giant was Moria. He had entered the town and absorbed more shadows, becoming even larger.

Moria looked down at Bege, who was like an infant compared to him, his deep voice like thunder.

"Masked Hunter, I've now absorbed a full five hundred shadows, five times stronger than before. Are you ready?"

Bege stood up, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. He looked up at Moria, who blocked out the sky, and a wild smile spread across his lips.

"Of course, I'm ready. After I defeat you this time, you'll have to fulfill your promise."

"If you can defeat me, I will submit to you," Moria roared and nodded.

"Then let's continue the fight!" Bege roared.

Moria threw a punch, directly engulfing Bege.

The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck. The earth exploded with a boom, a hundred-meter area shattered completely. The surrounding people were thrown off balance, staring in disbelief at the fragmented ground.

Even Modi and the others couldn't help but tremble.

Moria lifted his fist. There was no sign of Bege on the ground he had pulverized. Suddenly, he sensed a terrifying, fierce aura. He abruptly looked up ahead.

Bege was standing there, but this Bege was somewhat different.

He was releasing an astonishing wild aura, and behind him were phantom images of ten different fierce beasts.

A rhino, a leopard, a tiger, an elephant, an octopus...

Bege's face was contorted in a grimace, his lips curled into a smile.

"Beast Skill – Ten Beasts Ascending Dragon!"