Chapter 291

The two sides were already well-acquainted with each other's strengths, so there was no need for excessive banter. The five Admirals remained silent, focusing on steadying their breath and aligning their power with their Haki, keeping it at peak condition.

Magma, frost, light, plants, and gravity—all elements representing their respective Devil Fruit powers—burst forth, forming massive, spectral beasts like the Hellhound and Ice Pheasant.

The elemental forces intertwined and rapidly took over half of the frozen continent!

With Haki surging, an intense, terrifying pressure seemed poised to rip apart the surrounding space mercilessly!

The simultaneous move of the Navy's five strongest forces was an awe-inspiring sight, even more so than the great war three years ago in the Land of Gods—a rarity in pirate history!

Yet, faced with such a formidable lineup that could make any of the Four Emperors despair, the Demon King Organization didn't show much fear.

Their officers were ready, fists clenched, eager to join the battle.

"Wahahaha! I've been waiting for this day for far too long!"

Moria spread his shadowy arms wide, laughing loudly, "As my first battle since my rebirth, fighting Navy Admirals isn't too bad!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As he spoke, shadows surged from beneath Moria's feet, spreading an inky blackness.

But this wasn't merely a covering of shadows—wherever his shadow touched, the solid ice underwent a strange transformation, gradually assimilating into a deeper, darker shade!

Yes, after Escanor's relentless beatdown, Moria, who had been biding his time, had successfully awakened the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit power to assimilate his surroundings, achieving a qualitative leap in overall strength!

Due to the unique properties of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, his awakening granted him a hidden additional ability beyond environmental assimilation.

That was: anyone within the realm of shadows could receive both physical and mental empowerment equivalent to "shadow infusion" through Moria's control of shadow forms!

In simple terms, he had become a tactical powerhouse for team battles!

"Come on, everyone! Let my shadows fill your bodies!"

Excited to showcase his awakening ability for the first time, Moria directed streams of energy within the shadow realm, aiming to grant his nearby allies unparalleled power boosts.

However, his triumphant smile froze at the scene before him.

Whether it was Hancock, Escanor, Ishtar, or even the normally meek Kana, they all wore expressions of absolute rejection.

With their sheer presence alone, they firmly resisted the shadows' attempt to enter!

"Moria, if you dare to sully my body with that filthy substance like sewer sludge, I'll stomp your head flat, even if we are allies!"

Hancock, her Haki-laden foot stomping down, dispersed the shadows around her with an overwhelming force.

Her beautiful face was now cloaked in a murderous aura so intense it seemed almost tangible!

"Hahaha, I appreciate the thought, Moria, but I'm confident in my own power," Escanor said, flames simmering around him. The sunlight alone repelled the shadows before he even needed to lift a finger.

"Disgusting! Are you the reincarnation of an evil god?"

Ishtar floated mid-air, her face openly showing disdain.

"Kana thinks the same!"

Seeing her companions voicing their objections, Kana raised her hand high in agreement.

Though her voice was soft and cute, it struck Moria's ears like a painful blow.

"Damn it! You all, you…" Moria's face turned red with anger.

His intentions for the team's benefit were genuine, but he had underestimated his unruly companions' defiant nature.

"Allow me to test its effects."

Finally, Zyhark stepped forward to break the awkward silence, lowering his Haki defenses slightly to let the shadow meld with his own.

As the two shadows intertwined, Zyhark's already muscular frame grew slightly more defined.

He could distinctly feel a continuous surge of power coursing through every corner of his body.

Even his mental acuity became noticeably sharper!

"Interesting. It's indeed a decent skill, although…"

Zyhark's brows knit slightly.

Unlike Aqua's full attribute enhancement, Moria's shadow boost included fragments of Moria's own personality. If one wasn't careful, it could affect their judgment and alter their character subtly.

This would make it impossible to wield Haki with the utmost precision, greatly diminishing its effectiveness.

After some analysis, Zyhark concluded, "A bit impractical, not as refined as Aqua's."

That said, Moria's awakened ability could still be incredibly valuable on a battlefield below the level of emperor-class fighters!

"So, how do you feel? Do you feel filled with strength now?" Moria eagerly asked.

"Not bad. Those five over there, I'll leave them to you all."

Zyhark waved his hand and returned to Yamato's side to continue absorbing power.

This battle was meant to allow his companions to hone their combat techniques (Escanor and Kana) and push their limits (Hancock and Moria), so he had no intention of participating directly.

If they truly intended to annihilate the opponents entirely, the Demon King Organization wouldn't have sent just these few.

"What?! You're not going to show off a bit?" Moria looked more aggrieved than if he'd swallowed something foul.

After all this time, was he just here for a brief appearance, you jerk?!

"Ahem, sorry to interrupt, but we're not here to watch your antics. We're here to wipe you all out!"

The five Admirals, long primed and ready, had seen enough.

Green Bull was the first to make a move, merging with the forest that emerged behind him and transforming into a colossal wooden figure.

"Forbidden Forest!"

Massive tree roots as thick as pillars burst through the ice, their shadow-casting, fist-like branches pounding relentlessly towards Zyhark and the others.

"Damn it, what's your hurry, you bastard!"

Already angry, Moria finally found a target for his fury, bellowing at Green Bull as he clasped his hands and squeezed the air fiercely.

"Chaos Shadow Fist!"

Within his awakened realm, shadows surged like waves, forming fists the size of the giant tree roots to clash against them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shadow fists and tree-root fists collided in midair with thunderous explosions, shaking the space around them.

"Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger!"

Amidst the flying debris of wood and shadow, a fierce tiger formed of horizontal gravity sliced through, heading straight for Moria.

A towering figure appeared in front of Moria.

With an expressionless face, Escanor raised his golden divine axe and swung it at the oncoming gravity-formed tiger.

"Super Slash!"

Enhanced by immense magical power, the high-temperature slash cleaved through the approaching tiger.

The fierce collision erupted with a deafening roar!

(End of Chapter)