Moria was getting stronger. This was a new and improved move—practically his version of Gear 4—and it boosted everything.
Every single stat was boosted while in this state, and the boost was very big, especially with the Haki infused into it to make the boost even greater.
Shit was probably way higher than Luffy's Boundman, yes, it was that much.
Moria would admire this power of his, this power he had acquired after so long of training. If he had this back then, he wouldn't have gotten slaughtered so easily by Kaido.
Yes, the boost was that substantial that he felt like if he had it back then, he would have put up a better fight—and maybe, on a good day, win.
He felt his power rising, though his Haki reserves were dropping quite fast. He could keep this mode up for like 30 minutes—after that, he was fucked.
Luffy's Observation Haki screamed at him. He felt it, yet he didn't have time to react.
Bam.
As Moria's fist slammed into Luffy's body, the rubber man could feel some of his bones cracking under the might of Moria's fist.
Luffy would be sent flying, his body crashing into the wall and going through it, falling outside the castle.
His eyes turning white for just a second.
Luffy would shake his head, returning back to consciousness.
That was a nasty hit.
Gum-Gum Rocket
Luffy slingshotted himself back inside, cocking his fist back.
Gum-Gum Rifle
Using his own momentum alongside a shit ton of Haki, Luffy punched Moria with all of his might, his fist slamming into Moria's armor.
The ground would crack under them, the whole castle shaking from the shockwave.
"Shishishi, is that it?" Moria smiled at Luffy. His punch did no damage.
Luffy would pull his hand away.
"Ow... that hurt." His fist was now pulsing red. He actually got hurt punching Moria—shit felt like trying to punch Kairo.
It hurt like a motherfucker.
"You strong," Luffy would admit. This new form of Moria was insanely strong.
"What? Have you finally realized how outmatched you are?" Moria smiled at Luffy, seemingly wanting to see the despair on Luffy's face when he realized he stood no chance.
Luffy would have a grin on his face.
"That good."
He was smiling from ear to ear.
Finally, after so fucking long, he was facing someone who was actually strong.
But not too strong—like he stood no chance against an admiral.
But like current Moria, who was like Yonko commander 5 or something like that right now—it was just the good stuff for Luffy.
"Did I hit you too hard?" Moria was befuddled at Luffy's expression. For fuck's sake, he was losing.
"Gear Second."
Blood would begin pumping through his veins like crazy, his heartbeat mirroring the sound he heard from Kairo's heartbeat.
Baddump.
Baddump.
Meanwhile, with Zoro, Kairo paused a bit... why the hell was he hearing a drum? He felt the presence of a damn drum too.
He recognized those drums.
Zoro would clench his fist, which got Kairo's attention again.
It seemed like he would be awake soon, and once he was, he would run the fade with Ryuma again.
Meanwhile, back with Luffy.
"Heheheh... hahaha."
Luffy was smiling like crazy, steam coming out of his body. He felt funny. His hair was still normal, he was in Gear Second, yet he himself felt weirdly giddy.
Though... his eyes were deep red.
"Do you think a mere power-u—!!"
He did not get to finish his sentence as Luffy's fist went so deep into his gut, his back was blown out further than what Piccolo did to Android 17.
Shit was tragic.
Moria's body would be sent flying, crashing against the wall.
"Kuhh!" Oh, that shit hurt.
Gum-Gum Gatling
Moria barely had time to look up before he saw it—thousands, and he did mean thousands, of fists raining down on him like rain.
Shadow Shield
A shield of shadow would form in front of Moria, blocking all of Luffy's blows.
"Oh cool," Nika would smile. This was fun to him.
Moria would switch places with his shadow, which was behind Luffy.
And throw a punch.
"The hell was that, Luffy?" Luffy said. He didn't remember saying "oh cool." While yes, that shit was in line with his personality...
He felt more dark impulses, as in wanting to crush Moria like a bug.
Which he would reject, however, due to his attention now being on the fight—
BAM.
Moria's fist would slam into his body, sending him flying, crashing all around the room.
"Where your grin now?" Moria would say, smiling. Oh yeah, this was fun to him.
Moria would continue to throw hands and attack at Luffy—attacks that Luffy did not dodge and just tanked, as every time he tried to do something, he could hear that voice in his mind again.
He had to separate his attention from Moria—someone who was already stronger than him—and split his focus between Moria and those urges.
He could manage.
As Luffy slammed against the walls again, he decided to turn off Gear Second.
"Where's all that confidence you had before?" Moria was feeling himself. Oh, he would win this.
Gear Third
He blew air into his fist, making that shit big.
Gum-Gum Giant Barrage
Shadow Barrage
Thousands of fists made out of shadow would come meeting Luffy's barrage in the middle.
Moria would smile a bit as Luffy's fists made no progress in reaching him.
A/N chapter 26 of werewolf story is out.