He and Lily split up; Lily went to find Marika and Renedia, while Moriah had the Life Cards of Hawkins and Urouge.
Following the direction, it didn't take him long to find the two of them.
Even though Moriah had short legs, he could use shadow techniques!
This forest, filled with shadows under the dark sky, wasn't just an advantage for Jekai; it was for Moriah as well.
"Shadow Stepping Technique."
With each step Moriah took, he was accompanied by their shadows, approaching from a distance.
"Hehehehe, it's you two... Hmm, after failing with Teach, you came to deal with us? No, you're not that bored. Men at sea still have the courage to lose."
Moriah thought for a moment, then chuckled, "This is Whitebeard's hometown, isn't it?"
Even though he couldn't hear their conversation, such a thing was easy enough to guess.
Two key squad captains appearing together and willingly fighting in this ability-covered forest, it could only be Whitebeard's hometown.
Moriah, as a strategist, had at least that much brain.
"I see..."
Hawkins nodded, relaxed, "A 61% chance of victory, here it is."
They were not afraid. After all, they followed Sage. What major event had they not witnessed before?
Just two famous strong individuals, how could they be intimidated before the battle, but the odds were wrong.
Admittedly, these two were likely a notch stronger than them.
But with Moriah's appearance, the odds became accurate.
"Moriah!"
Vista struggled with his body, stubbornly twisting his head halfway, gritting his teeth, "You bastard!"
BAM!
Haki exploded in an instant, allowing Vista to break free from the shadow's constraints and move freely.
He took advantage and slashed the ground, severing the shadow from under his feet, quickly leaping into the air, his two swords parallel, fiercely slashing towards Moriah.
SWISH!
A mass of pitch-black shadow replaced Moriah's body, sliced into three by Vista, then melted down, becoming like ink.
"Shadow Warrior."
Moriah's body emerged from the shadow beside Jozu, he chuckled, patting the empty right side of Jozu's body.
"Your arm is missing, oh... I remember, during the Summit War, you were frozen by Kuzan. Your Haki training isn't quite up to par, Jozu."
The diamond body brought extraordinary defense, even resisting Hawkeye's slashes.
The ability was not useless, even if Sage and Kaido had proven that Haki transcends all, not everyone in this world could withstand ability effects with Haki.
When developed to a certain extent, abilities can rival strong Haki.
After all, it's not about choosing one or the other, they can happen simultaneously.
Jozu was one such person, his ability surpassing Haki, dominating the seas with his diamond body.
But unfortunately, there were many abilities at sea that, while they couldn't break his body, wouldn't let him have it easy either.
Like Doflamingo's strings, or Moriah's shadows.
And more unfortunate was encountering an even stronger ability, combined with powerful Haki from Kuzan.
If caught off guard and frozen, if Haki couldn't break through, he'd lose an arm.
Jozu's head moved slightly, rigidly, glaring hatefully at Moriah.
His Haki wasn't as strong as Vista's, nor could he break Moriah's abilities; such movements were his limit.
"Shadow Claw!"
After patting Jozu, his five fingers, adorned with sharp gloves, suddenly turned shadowy, clawing at his diamond body.
CLANG!
Equivalent to maintaining 'Shadow Horn Spear' in his hand, capable of piercing Oars' power, when struck against this diamond body, it merely sparked.
"It's really hard..."
The shadows on Moriah's hand dispersed, merging the remaining shadows into Jozu's heels.
"Hey, keep him pinned, don't let Vista get close. This ability... Sage will like it," he said with a laugh.
"Diamond?"
Hawkins and Urouge approached Jozu from both sides. The former thought for a moment, saying, "Sage said diamonds are worthless, and he can't produce diamonds..."
"How could they be worthless? The diamonds on the market are still valuable. Those he spoke of, like the endless diamonds, I've never seen,"
Moriah smiled, "Besides, shiny things, even if they're glass balls, Sage would want them. Like the Rainbow Gem, right?"
"Just like the Evil Dragon," Urouge chuckled.
Their Captain was almost like the legendary Evil Dragon.
He loved collecting treasures and shiny things, like the Rainbow Gem they produced, essentially worthless, but Sage just liked them.
"Don't act like I don't exist!"
Vista charged violently, his swords whirling into a windmill, transforming the vibrating sword shadows into something like a flower's maw.
"Cannibal Flower Sword!"
His eyes glimmered with cold light, rushing towards Jozu and Moriah.
This guy used all his shadows to bind Jozu; now, without shadows for battle, all he needed was to drive away Moriah at first, and he could cut the ground open, temporarily dispel the shadows, and free Jozu.
Even though the Magician and Strange Monk were guarding, as long as he was willing to risk injury, he could do it!
As he sprinted, Moriah merely glanced at him, a teasing smile appearing.
BANG!!
Two sword blades, like a scissor opening, were drawn by Moriah from his waist, clashing with two bizarre swords that both shimmered with spirals and vibrations.
The Haki on the sword perfectly resisted Vista's attack, even in terms of strength, it might have been even stronger.
"You..." Vista widened his eyes.
"Hehehehe!"
Moriah chuckled, "I'm not the old me, Vista... Using swords, I can do it too!"
The hero of West Sea, the man who competed with Kaido, had carved it out cut by cut back in the day!
Though unused for years, the scissors used for harvesting shadows can also act as dual swords.
What's more...
Behind, Hawkins pulled out his Tarot Cards anew, quickly divining, "Hmm, the 61% chance of victory, already solidified; it seems our victory is assured."
"Let me show you something else..."
Just as he parried Vista's sword blades, Moriah's grin twisted fiercely.
"Shadow Coffin!"
The surrounding shadows, shrouded by trees, suddenly converged on Vista, forming a black box that thoroughly engulfed him.
SHHHH!
From within the black box came sounds of something sharp piercing into flesh.
BANG!
Quickly, the black box was broken open, and Vista, covered in blood, burst out, his body riddled with bloody holes.
"My Shadow Coffin, once you're inside, it's full of shadow spears, quite the sensation, eh!" Moriah cackled.
"Impossible, your shadow..."
THUD!
Just as Vista landed, words unsaid, a shadow claw protruded from his chest, piercing through him, who lacked Observation Haki and concentrated all his Haki on the dual swords.
The claw even pulled out a heart!
"No shadow? Who told you that?"
Moriah, shrouded by the forest's shadow, wore a sinister smile, "This entire forest, it's all my shadow!"
Not only had his Haki almost recovered, but his ability had further advanced.
Though not yet at Awakening, he could already manipulate the surrounding shadows.
"I can't help it, though I'm very lazy, as a senior, I don't want to be surpassed by juniors. Sage expects a lot from me; I've pinned my dreams on him, so I must strive to match the Sage who can fulfill my dreams."
Moriah chuckled proudly, "This Sea of Trees, not only prevents us from using Observation but also maximizes my ability."
Unable to use Observation?
When Moriah discovered this, looking at the shadowy Sea of Trees, his excitement soared!
This was practically a battlefield tailor-made for him!
Under normal circumstances, dealing with someone as esteemed as Vista would take a lot of time.
But now...
"I feel unprecedentedly great!"