Chapter 53: The Awakening

The air inside Thriller Bark had grown thicker, almost suffocating as Vulcan and his crew pressed forward toward the heart of the ship. Every step felt like a descent into darkness, the flickering lanterns casting long, eerie shadows over the crumbling walls.

Smoker was the first to break the silence, his usual scowl even deeper. "We're close. I can feel it."

Vulcan nodded, his grip tightening on his naginata. "Yeah... I've got the same feeling. Moria's up ahead."

Hina walked beside him, her eyes sharp but showing the strain from the battle. "Hina hopes this ends quickly."

But even as she spoke, the ship rumbled beneath their feet, and a low, mocking laugh echoed through the halls. The laugh was deep and cold, the kind that sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"Yohohohoho... you've come so far just to die."

The crew froze, eyes wide as they looked ahead. From the shadows emerged Gecko Moria, his hulking figure illuminated by the faint light. His bat-like wings spread out behind him, and his twisted grin was enough to freeze the blood of anyone who saw it.

"There he is," Smoker growled, his hands tightening into fists.

"Finally," Vulcan muttered, stepping forward with his naginata ready. "Let's end this."

Moria's grin widened as he raised one long, clawed hand. "End this? Oh no, boy, we've only just begun. Your shadows... will make fine additions to my collection."

Without warning, Moria lunged forward, his speed shocking for someone his size. In an instant, he was upon them, his massive hand swiping down. Hina was the first to react, summoning her iron bars to intercept him.

"Hina will—"

But Moria was too fast. He batted aside her iron bars like they were nothing and, with a sharp, cruel movement, slashed across Hina's chest. Blood sprayed through the air as she staggered back, gasping in pain.

"Hina!" Vulcan shouted, his eyes widening in horror.

Hina fell to her knees, clutching her chest as blood poured from the deep wound. Her breathing was labored, her face pale. "I... I'm fine..."

But even as she spoke, it was clear that the injury was severe. She wouldn't be able to fight much longer.

Moria's grin only grew wider as he loomed over her. "You're fine? I don't think so. Let's see how much longer you can last without your shadow."

Before he could reach for Hina, Vulcan launched himself forward with Soru, his naginata flashing as he aimed for Moria's head. "Get away from her!"

Moria laughed as he dodged the attack with a fluid, almost unnatural movement. "Ah, so eager to die. You're just like all the others."

One of the Marine recruits, seeing Hina injured, rushed forward, his sword raised. "I'll—"

It happened in a blur. Moria's claw-like hand shot out, grabbing the recruit by the throat. His cruel grin never wavered as he lifted the Marine off the ground, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

"No!" Vulcan shouted, his heart pounding in his chest.

The recruit struggled, choking as Moria's grip tightened. His face turned red, eyes bulging as he gasped for air. The other recruits hesitated, fear freezing them in place as they watched in horror.

Moria looked directly at Vulcan, his grin widening as he spoke in a low, mocking voice. "You're weak. You can't save them."

With a swift motion, Moria raised his other hand and, with one brutal swipe, sliced the recruit's throat. Blood sprayed across the floor as the Marine's body went limp in Moria's grasp.

"NO!" Vulcan roared, his voice shaking with fury.

The recruit's lifeless body fell to the ground with a sickening thud, blood pooling beneath him. For a moment, everything seemed to stop. Vulcan's eyes were locked on the fallen Marine, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Moria chuckled, stepping over the body like it was nothing. "What a waste... But don't worry. I'll make sure his shadow gets good use."

Vulcan's vision blurred, his breathing growing ragged as the overwhelming rage surged through his body. His hands trembled, his knuckles white from gripping his naginata too hard. His chest heaved with the force of his anger, every fiber of his being boiling with a need to destroy Moria.

"You..." Vulcan's voice was low, shaking with barely contained fury. "I'm going to kill you..."

Moria laughed again, his taunting voice ringing in Vulcan's ears. "Kill me? You can't even touch me. You're just another fool, thinking you can stand up to a real monster."

Something inside Vulcan snapped. His vision went red, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The air around him crackled with energy, a force he had never felt before. It was as if the world itself was bending to his will, the pressure in the room growing heavier with each passing second.

The Marines around him felt it too. The air grew thick, almost suffocating as the overwhelming presence surged from Vulcan. Their eyes widened in shock as they felt the crushing weight of his willpower.

"Wh-What is this...?" one of the recruits gasped, falling to his knees.

Moria's grin faltered for the first time. "What...?"

Suddenly, the air exploded with a powerful shockwave that radiated from Vulcan, crashing through the room like a tidal wave. The walls shook, and the ground rumbled beneath their feet. The Marines, already weakened from the battle, were forced to the ground, barely able to withstand the crushing force of Vulcan's Conqueror's Haki.

Moria took a step back, his eyes wide with surprise. "You... you've got Conqueror's Haki?!"

Vulcan's entire body was shaking with the sheer force of his rage. His eyes burned with a fire that seemed to scorch the air around him, and the pressure in the room intensified.

"I'll make you pay," Vulcan growled, his voice low and filled with menace. "I'll make you suffer for what you've done."

Moria's usual arrogance wavered as the full force of Vulcan's will crashed against him. For the first time, the pirate warlord seemed unsure of himself.

Vulcan took a step forward, the air around him crackling with energy. His grip on his naginata tightened, and his eyes locked onto Moria with deadly intent.

"Run if you can," Vulcan snarled. "But I'm going to tear you apart."

Moria gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. "Don't get cocky, brat. Just because you have Conqueror's Haki doesn't mean you're strong enough to beat me."

But even as he spoke, there was a flicker of doubt in Moria's eyes. The presence radiating from Vulcan was unlike anything he had felt before, and for the first time, Moria realized that he was no longer in control.

The Marines around them could barely move, the pressure of Vulcan's Haki weighing down on them like a massive hand. Hina, though heavily wounded, watched in awe as the air crackled with energy. She could feel the overwhelming strength emanating from Vulcan, a strength she had never seen before.

"Vulcan..." Hina whispered, her voice weak. "That's... incredible."

Vulcan didn't respond. His eyes were locked onto Moria, his mind consumed by the rage that burned inside him. The memory of the fallen Marine recruit, of Hina's bloodied body, and Moria's taunting voice all swirled in his mind, fueling the fire that threatened to consume him.

With a roar of pure fury, Vulcan lunged at Moria, his naginata flashing through the air. The battle wasn't over yet—but now, the tide had turned.