Chapter 436: The Limit of Shadows

Snap!

Xiang Keluo put down the Den Den Mushi, leaped lightly, and in an instant crossed several hundred meters, landing in the spectator stands of the Round Table Arena.

Redfield, sitting in the contestant seats, seemed to sense something and glanced over, meeting Xiang Keluo's indifferent gaze squarely.

He paused slightly, instinctively withdrawing his gaze, yet his heart was far from calm.

Several months ago.

Redfield had met Xiang Keluo once in Impel Down, and it was there that he first saw Xiang Keluo make a move.

Undoubtedly possessing Emperor-level combat power, yet even compared to the extremely weakened Barrett of that time, he was still a notch weaker, let alone compared to himself.

But upon seeing Xiang Keluo again, Redfield could no longer gauge the depth of his strength.

First there was Barrett's combat power rising inexplicably, followed by Xiang Keluo's rapid improvement to a level worthy of his serious attention, plus that group of suddenly emerging Emperor-level rookies...

What exactly was going on with Britannias?

Such a speed of improvement was absolutely abnormal!

While pondering this.

Redfield turned to look at Barrett and couldn't help but speak:

"In such a short time in Britannias, you achieved such a huge improvement?!"

"Is there some kind of technique or special drug?!"

As he spoke, Redfield stared intently at Barrett.

He possessed a special Observation Haki; for those with weak strength, he could read their minds directly, and even against opponents of Emperor-level, he could judge the truth or falsehood of their words.

Thus, he had never expected to get a truthful answer directly from Barrett's mouth.

"Hard work."

"..."

The corner of Redfield's mouth twitched:

"Hard work is enough?!"

Barrett stated firmly:

"Hard work is enough."

"If one doesn't even have the courage to bet their life, how is it possible to walk the path of the strongest?!"

Redfield opened his mouth, momentarily unsure where to begin.

These words were not wrong.

But sometimes, a person's upper limit is determined the moment they are born.

Even someone as strong as an Admiral or an Emperor will eventually one day touch their own limit, that sigh-inducing strength that cannot be surpassed no matter how much one gives their all.

And for mediocre people, that upper limit arrives faster, earlier, and makes hope seem even more out of reach.

He very much wanted to tell Barrett that the so-called 'success through hard work' was merely self-consolation for the mediocre and a lie of self-deification by the successful; many things were determined the moment you were born.

But he could not say it.

His extraordinary Observation Haki made him utterly certain that Barrett was speaking the truth right now; he truly thought this way.

This was very unusual!

Yet with a ready-made example right before his eyes, Redfield could find no reason to refute it.

Emperor-level combat power was a head-level existence in any faction, valued immensely even by the World Government.

But so many suddenly appearing under Gao Wen's command...

Something was wrong!

Very wrong!

The more he thought about it, the stranger Redfield felt in his heart, and a desire to investigate subtly rose within him, after all, this might hide the secret of how that monster Gao Wen became strong beyond reason!

Thinking of this.

Redfield even lost interest in Blackbeard's secret.

If he could truly reach the step Gao Wen was at now, let alone Rocks, he wouldn't even fear Im.

Gao Wen was willing to lie low temporarily because his family and enterprise were large, and a direct confrontation with the World Government would cause too many losses.

But he, a lone man with no attachments, could come and go as he pleased; if he wished, he could fight until the Celestial Dragons dared not step out of Mary Geoise.

To say 'whoever comes dies' would not be an exaggeration at all.

This was also the reason why the World Government, even knowing Gao Wen was growing powerful, dared not act rashly.

Redfield silently swept his gaze over the members of the Round Table Knights present, then shifted his attention to the Round Table Arena, his eyes narrowing again:

"That Moria..."

"He can actually achieve this level?!"

Although he had not fought Kaido, even the faint perception existing between strong individuals allowed him to judge that he was definitely a powerhouse capable of fighting him.

Yet now Moria could clash with Kaido, which was simply inconceivable!

It must be known that before this battle, Moria's combat power hadn't even touched the threshold of Emperor-level!

"Devil Fruit ability?!"

"Ah!"

Barrett rarely responded with a sound:

"Gao Wen once said that the theoretical upper limit of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit is the highest among all Devil Fruits."

"By devouring the shadows of other powerhouses, one can raise their own combat power almost without limit, of course, the premise is that one's own flesh and will can withstand the struggle of those shadows."

"Without limit..."

Redfield understood the meaning symbolized by this term, after all, Moria was personally demonstrating it right now.

With the combat power of a Yonko, relying on the resentment in his heart and his formidable physique, he forcibly imprisoned those shadows within his body, exchanging it for power sufficient to contend with Kaido in the short term!

"What happens if he can't control it?!"

"Have you ever seen a balloon leak air?!"

Rytfield paused for a moment, then immediately understood.

Once a balloon is stretched to its limit, even if it leaks air, it cannot return to its original shape; it will become twisted and deformed.

The human body is the same; after forcibly containing power that exceeds its limits, the resulting backlash is inevitably unbearable for an ordinary person.

"He doesn't have much time left."

Barrett gazed at Mo Li, yet there was no pity in his eyes, only respect.

He respected the strong, and even more so he respected existences like Mo Li, who would stake their lives to gain power just to charge at someone even stronger!

"If this battle isn't ended quickly, the struggles of those shadows will only become more intense, until they exceed his limit of endurance!"

"And then..."

"Explode!"

On the battlefield.

Kaido's attacks were relentless, and his momentum grew even higher as the fight progressed!

His body was heating up, his strength was growing, and his spirit was gradually becoming frenzied in the process.

This was not an increase in his combat power, but rather, as he entered this state, he was gradually awakening the latent power within his body until he reached his true peak!

Clang!

The spiked club and the Shadow Horn Blade collided in mid-air once again, rippling a sonic boom through the air.

Borrowing the force, Kaido soared high, raising the spiked club above his head with both hands and spinning it rapidly; crimson Lei Guang flashed in the void as a world-shaking strike brewed!

"Ugogogogogogo—!"

High in the sky.

Kaido laughed loudly, his fighting intent soaring, and in his gaze toward Mo Li, there was no anger whatsoever, only appreciation and satisfaction!

"Among the countless strong foes I have fought, regarding the development of Devil Fruit abilities, no one can compare to you."

"Without even having awakened, you are capable of feats that even those who have awakened cannot match, pushing your own combat power high enough to fight me."

"Gecko Moria!"