Under Moria's horrified gaze, Caelan raised his fist and began beating him relentlessly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each punch from Caelan, Moria's swollen body—empowered by the shadows he had consumed—could no longer endure.
"Ugh!"
Moria opened his mouth wide, and the shadows he had swallowed surged out like a tide, returning to the original zombies.
Without the power of the shadows, Moria reverted to his original form.
But now, he looked especially miserable. His once pale face was bruised and smeared with dark red blood.
"This is too much! Please don't hit Moria-sama anymore!"
Perona looked at Caelan, tears in her eyes as she pleaded.
At first, she had believed Moria could save her. She never expected Moria to be so powerless in front of Caelan.
Now, let alone saving her, he could barely protect himself.
"That depends on whether he's willing to become my subordinate."
Caelan paused his assault and looked at Moria with a smile.
"I won't!"
Moria turned his bruised face away stubbornly, refusing.
He was still a pirate with pride and dreams. How could he surrender just because he was beaten?
If you've got the guts, then go ahead and hit him again!
"Alright, I admire people like you who have backbone."
Caelan squatted down and patted Moria on the shoulder.
What, he's not going to hit me anymore?
Moria looked at the seemingly friendly Caelan, unable to believe it.
But then came another flurry of punches, falling like rain.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Moria tried to hold it in, but Caelan's strikes were too precise, always landing in his most sensitive spots, making the pain reach deep into his soul.
"Moria-sama, just surrender already!"
"If this keeps up, you'll be beaten to death!"
Perona couldn't bear to watch any longer. Her voice trembled as she cried out to Moria.
She had been adopted by Moria as a child and had a deep bond with him. She couldn't let him be beaten to death like this.
"This little girl cares about you a lot."
Caelan paused again and leaned close to whisper in Moria's ear. "Moria, you don't want to make her cry, do you?"
Perona…
Moria looked at Perona, who was sobbing quietly, and felt a wave of bitterness in his chest.
Perona was like a daughter to him, his most cherished companion.
He couldn't bear to lose someone else important to him.
And after being beaten by Caelan, he had to admit how ridiculous it was to think he could make a comeback with a zombie army.
Even if his proudest creation, Oars, was completed, it would probably be shattered by a single punch from Caelan and the same would happen against Kaido.
Moria, who had been in denial for years, finally accepted reality.
Looking up at the lofty Caelan, Moria made a decision that went against his pride.
"Heh heh heh… If that's the case, then there's only one answer."
Moria slowly raised his head, forcing a proud smile.
Perona watched him nervously, terrified he might still choose death.
"I swear loyalty to you! I'll become your companion!"
Moria grabbed a chair leg and snapped it dramatically, then knelt on one knee in front of Caelan and bowed his head.
Rather than continuing to resist and getting beaten to death, this was the only way to give Perona a future.
"Good, then I accept."
Caelan nodded in satisfaction and accepted Moria's surrender.
Although Moria called himself a companion and not a subordinate, Caelan didn't bother correcting him. He was in too good a mood to care.
"You've had your conflicts with Kaido, right? As a gift for joining me, I'll deal with him someday."
Seeing Moria's good attitude, Caelan offered a bit of encouragement in return.
He was going to fight Kaido eventually anyway, so giving Moria some hope now didn't cost him anything.
"You're serious?"
Moria, who had been depressed, suddenly looked shocked and relieved. His expression softened as he looked at Caelan.
Kaido was his greatest enemy. In one battle, Kaido had wiped out all his subordinates and crushed him from a genius into a shadow of his former self.
Anyone willing to stand against Kaido, Moria would gladly follow.
And when it came to strength, he didn't doubt Caelan at all.
Treating him like a ball was one thing—Kaido had done the same.
But Caelan had defeated a Marine admiral. That was real, undeniable strength. Compared to his pipe dream of revenge through Oars, following Caelan felt much more realistic.
"Of course it's true. I'll face Kaido, for your revenge."
Caelan's expression turned solemn, and he spoke with righteous conviction.
Of course, fighting Kaido wasn't really for Moria. He had his own reasons, Kaido's training, his rebellious daughter, and the battle itself were all part of what Caelan wanted.
Three beatings had taught Luffy Ryuo, Conqueror's Haki infusion, Devil Fruit awakening, and even earned him a white-haired girl with horns. Who wouldn't be tempted?
"Then I'm truly honored!"
Moria didn't believe Caelan's words completely, but he appreciated the lie.
To Moria, the fact that Caelan was willing to say it at all meant he was being taken seriously.
He even felt a bit moved. Maybe following Caelan wasn't such a bad idea.
Imagining Kaido, that arrogant monster, being crushed by a newcomer like Caelan made Moria excited for the future.
"But… why didn't you just say so earlier?"
Moria remembered getting beaten up twice and felt wronged.
If Caelan had said this at the beginning, he wouldn't have had to suffer so much.
"What? You got a problem with that?"
Caelan gave Moria a dangerous glance.
"No, no, I'm very satisfied!"
Cold sweat formed on Moria's forehead as he recalled Caelan's heavy punches.
"Good."
Seeing how obedient Moria had become, Caelan was pleased.
Say it early, and it's a negotiation. Say it late, and it becomes a favor. The outcome might be the same, but the effects are very different.
Now that Moria had given in, Caelan turned toward Perona.
"Be good. Follow me from now on, and life won't be easy."
Caelan gently stroked Perona's pink ponytails and spoke softly.
"Ugh… Can I say no?"
Perona looked up at Caelan, her big teary eyes full of pleading.
"Perona, since Caelan-sama values you so much, just follow him."
Moria looked at Caelan teasing Perona and felt something odd.
It almost seemed like Perona had been Caelan's true target all along, and he, the Warlord of the Sea, was just an afterthought.
Moria shook his head, thinking he was just overthinking it.
He was still a powerhouse. There's no way he'd be less valuable than a girl… right?
"No, Perona, you don't want to see Moria get beaten up again, do you?"
Caelan leaned down and whispered in her ear at just the right moment.
"I… I'll go!"
After hearing both Moria and Caelan's words, Perona realized she had no way out.
Caelan was very pleased with having gained both of them, and his attention shifted to what else the Thriller Bark had to offer.
There were still plenty of treasures aboard the terrifying three-masted ship.
(To be continued.)
***
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