บท 16: Sparing His Pitiful Life
Jack narrowed his eyes, his icy blue gaze never leaving Moria's shadow as he deftly dodged its attacks. He knew that he needed to deal with the shadow quickly before Moria could regain control over the villagers. Focusing his energy, Jack unleashed a series of First Level Thunderous Combo attacks, striking the shadow with a barrage of devastating punches.
The shadow flickered and reeled under the onslaught but refused to dissipate, its resilience a testament to Moria's newfound power. As Jack continued his relentless assault, Moria watched with a twisted sense of amusement, his laughter ringing out like nails on a chalkboard.
"Is that all you have, Jack? You'll need to do better than that to defeat me!" Moria taunted, his voice dripping with malice.
Jack's expression remained cold and unyielding as he fought, his stormy blue eyes locked on the shadow. With a surge of determination, he launched a Second Level Hurricane Rush, the powerful gusts of wind knocking Moria's shadow off balance and creating an opening for Jack to strike.
As the shadow staggered, Jack knew he couldn't afford to waste any more time. He channeled his energy into a Third Level Iron Crush, the force of his punch shattering the shadow into pieces. The effort left Jack gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion. But he refused to let Moria see his weakness.
Moria's eyes flashed with fury as he watched his shadow crumble, his face contorted in a snarl. "You'll pay for that, Jack!" he roared, summoning a swarm of bat-like shadow creatures that descended upon Jack in a flurry of darkness.
Jack's heart raced as he fought off the swarm, each creature a deadly blur of teeth and claws. His body ached, and his vision swam with every passing second, but he refused to give in. Instead, he used the Bead's abilities to increase his vitality and regeneration rate, the pain in his wounds fading as his body began to heal.
As Jack continued to fend off the swarm, he noticed Moria beginning to falter, the strain of maintaining his control over the creatures taking its toll. With a burst of adrenaline, Jack used his remaining energy to unleash a Third Level Iron Tempest, his fists striking the shadow creatures with blinding speed and devastating force.
The creatures shattered under the onslaught, and Moria staggered, his strength waning. Jack seized the opportunity, his eyes blazing with determination as he lunged forward and struck Moria with a powerful Third Level Iron Crush, sending the pirate captain crashing to the ground.
Moria lay defeated, gasping for breath as he stared up at Jack's stormy blue eyes, now calm as the ocean. "You will pay for this, Moria."
Jack's hand hovered over Moria's head, his fingers tensed, ready to strike with a crushing force. As he prepared to end the life of the pirate who had caused so much pain and suffering, a voice broke through his rage.
"Stop!" Tsuru cried out, her eyes wide with urgency. Jack hesitated, glancing over at her. In the heat of the battle, he had not noticed that Lafet and Laffitte had been incapacitated, their unconscious forms sprawled on the ground.
Tsuru approached, her eyes focused on Jack as she spoke firmly. "It's better to keep him alive and send him to Impel Down. As long as Moria is alive, the Kage Kage No Mi won't appear for a long time, and it will also send a message to other pirates."
Jack swallowed his anger, his stormy blue eyes locking onto Moria's fearful gaze. He couldn't bring himself to ignore Tsuru's reasoning. Instead, he reached for Moria's neck, using the Bead to siphon off most of the pirate's vitality and energy. The power he gained from Moria was far greater than what he had taken from pirates with bounties totaling 20 million combined.
Leaving Moria with just enough life to breathe, Jack glanced around to make sure no one had witnessed his actions. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized no one was any wiser to what he had done. The Marines soon arrived to take Moria, Lafet, and Laffitte into custody, while Tsuru approached Jack, her eyes filled with concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.
Jack gave her a terse nod, the icy calm in his eyes betraying nothing of the rage that had fueled him during the battle. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice equally cool.
Tsuru's eyes softened, her gaze lingering on the fresh bruises and scrapes that marred Jack's face. "You fought bravely," she said, her voice laced with admiration.
Jack's lips twitched into a small, almost imperceptible smirk. "So did you," he replied, acknowledging her skill and determination.
For a moment, the two stood in silence, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Then, Jack tilted his head slightly, his eyes taking on a mischievous glint. "You know," he began, his voice low and teasing, "you're quite beautiful when you're fighting."
Tsuru raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting the sudden shift in conversation. "Is that so?" she replied, her tone equally playful.
Jack nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Absolutely. There's something mesmerizing about the way you move, the way you strike."
Tsuru chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're quite the charmer, Jack. But I'm not so easily swayed by flattery."
Jack's smirk grew wider, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I'm not trying to sway you, Tsuru. I'm merely stating a fact."
Tsuru's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her lips curving into a smile. "And what would you have me do with that 'fact,' Jack?"
Jack's gaze became more intense, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Remember it. Hold onto it. Perhaps one day, you'll see the truth in my words."
Tsuru's smile softened, and for a moment, she looked as if she might respond in kind. But then, she shook her head, her eyes turning serious once more. "We have a job to do, Jack. Let's focus on that for now."
"Fine, but I am taking Moria's bounty."
"Wouldn't have accepted if you didn't." Tsuru smiled.
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