Chapter 436: The Limit of Shadows

Thud!

Keluo put down the Den Den Mushi, leapt lightly, and in an instant crossed hundreds of meters, landing on the spectator seats of the Round Table Arena.

Rydfield, seated in the competitor’s area, felt something and glanced over, meeting Keluo’s calm gaze head-on.

He froze slightly, instinctively pulling his gaze away, yet his heart remained unsettled.

Several months ago.

Rydfield had once met Keluo in Impel Down, where he first saw Keluo fight.

Undeniably a Huang -level combatant, but even compared to the then-weak Barrett, he was weaker, let alone compared to himself.

But upon seeing Keluo again, Rydfield could no longer gauge his depth.

First Barrett’s combat power surged without reason, then Keluo’s rose rapidly—now to a level demanding his serious attention—and on top of that, a group of sudden Huang -level newcomers emerged…

What is going on in Britannias?

This rate of improvement is absolutely abnormal!

As he pondered.

Rydfield turned to Barrett and couldn’t help asking:

“In such a short time in Britannias, you’ve improved this much?!”

“Is there some technique or special drug?!”

As he spoke, Rydfield stared intently at Barrett.

He possessed a unique Observation Haki; weaker opponents would have their thoughts read outright, and even opponents of Huang -level could discern whether they were lying.

Thus, he never expected to get the truth directly from Barrett’s mouth.

“Effort.”

“...”

Rydfield’s lip twitched:

“Effort alone is enough?!”

Barrett declared firmly:

“Effort is enough.”

“How can anyone walk the path of supreme strength without the courage to risk their life?!”

Rydfield opened his mouth, unsure where to begin.

His words were not wrong.

But sometimes, a person’s limit is predetermined the moment they are born.

Even the strongest of admirals and Four Emperors will one day hit their own limit—the Tanxizhiqiang they cannot surpass no matter how hard they strive.

For ordinary people, that limit comes sooner, faster, and offers even less hope.

He wanted to tell Barrett that the idea of “effort leads to success” was merely self-deception for the mediocre and a lie of self-deification by the successful—many things are decided the moment you are born.

But he could not say it.

His extraordinary Observation Haki left him certain: Barrett was speaking the truth—he truly believed this.

This was highly unusual!

Yet here was a living example before him; Rydfield had no grounds to refute it.

A Huang -level combatant, in any faction, was a top-tier leader; even the World Government treated them with utmost seriousness.

But so many suddenly emerged under Gao Wen’s command…

Something’s wrong!

Very wrong!

The more he thought, the stranger it felt; a quiet urge to investigate stirred within him—perhaps hidden here was the secret behind Gao Wen’s absurd, beyond-reason strength!

Thinking of this.

Rydfield even lost interest in Blackbeard’s secrets.

If he could truly reach Gao Wen’s current level, he wouldn’t fear even Loxs—or Im.

Gao Wen is temporarily lying low because his organization is large and a direct clash with the World Government would cost too much.

But he is alone, free to come and go; if he wished, he could slaughter his way until the Celestial Dragons dared not leave Mary Geoise.

Saying “whoever comes dies” would be no exaggeration.

This is precisely why the World Government, even knowing Gao Wen is growing, dares not act rashly.

Rydfield silently scanned the members of the Round Table Knights present, then turned his attention back to the Round Table Arena, his gaze sharpening again:

“That Moria…”

“Can he really do this?!”

Though he had never fought Kaido, even through the faint, instinctive sense between Qiangzhe , he could tell Kaido was a match for himself.

Yet Moria now fights Kaido toe-to-toe—it’s unthinkable!

Before this battle, Moria’s combat power hadn’t even reached the threshold of Huang -level!

“Devil Fruit ability?!”

“Ah!”

Barrett, rarely responsive, answered:

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

“By consuming the shadows of other Qiangzhe , one can almost infinitely increase their combat power—provided their body and will can endure the shadows’ struggles.”

“Infinite…”

Rydfield understood the meaning of that word—Moria himself had just demonstrated it.

With Gold-tier combat power, fueled by resentment and a powerful physique, he forcibly imprisoned those shadows within himself, exchanging short-term stability for power sufficient to challenge Kaido!

“What happens if he can’t control it?!”

“Have you ever seen a balloon leak air?”

Rydfield blinked, then understood.

Once a balloon is stretched to its limit, even if it leaks, it won’t return to its original shape—it twists and deforms.

The human body is the same: forcibly containing power beyond its limit brings backlash no ordinary person could endure.

“He doesn’t have much time left.”

Barrett looked at Moria, his eyes holding no pity—only respect.

He respected Qiangzhe , and even more so those like Moria, who risked their lives to gain power and charge toward even greater Qiangzhe !

“If this battle doesn’t end quickly, the shadows’ struggles will grow fiercer, until they exceed his breaking point!”

“Then…”

“Explode!”

…

On the battlefield.

Kaido’s assault was relentless, his aura growing even stronger as the battle progressed!

His body grew hotter, his power stronger, his spirit gradually turning wild.

This was not an increase in his combat power—it was the awakening of latent strength within him, triggered by his battle state, rising until he reached his true peak!

Crash!

The spiked club and shadow blade clashed again midair, sending a sonic boom rippling through the air.

Kaido used the impact to launch skyward, raising the spiked club above his head and spinning rapidly; crimson lightning flickered through the void as a world-shaking strike brewed.

“Wooohohohohoho—!”

High above.

Kaido roared with laughter, his battle spirit blazing, his gaze fixed on Moria—no anger, only admiration and satisfaction!

“Among all the Qiangzhe I’ve fought, no one has developed their Devil Fruit ability as you have.”

“You’ve achieved what even awakened users cannot—pushing your combat power to a level capable of matching me.”

“Moonlight Moria!”