Chapter 86: Bloodbath and Harmony

Xiang Keluo removed his claw knives, turned to grab two towels, tossed one onto Jin's face, then casually began wiping the sweat from his own body, saying lightly:

"I happened to overhear Gao Wen mention it once before."

"How far a person can grow is basically determined the moment they are born."

"He calls this potential."

"Later experiences, illnesses, injuries, or even an excessively privileged life, will all lower the upper limit of that potential."

"Perhaps you have already touched your own limit."

Jin raised his hand to remove the towel from his face; he knew Xiang Keluo's words, though harsh, were all the plain truth.

Although Xiang Keluo had the most schemes when facing enemies among the pirate crew, when dealing with comrades, he never spoke in circles.

But the more so, the more unwilling Jin felt in his heart:

"Is there truly no way to advance further?"

"I do not wish to be forced to stay in the East Blue because I cannot keep up with the Captain's pace."

"That is not necessarily so."

Xiang Keluo pushed his glasses:

"That same person said that realizing one's true heart and awakening Haki in battle, body modification to enhance basic abilities, and the Devil Fruits said in legends to grant various special abilities, can all make you advance further and become stronger."

"Just like our death match at Raven Port?"

"Exactly."

Xiang Keluo nodded:

"Did you not master Observation Haki in that very battle?"

"..."

Jin froze, feeling his own Observation Haki, and clenched his fist:

"This level of Observation Haki cannot make me the Captain's right-hand man."

"The price required for body modification is also one I cannot bear; does that leave only Devil Fruits?"

Xiang Keluo frowned and said:

"I must remind you, once you eat a Devil Fruit, you become a landlubber unable to touch seawater."

"And over ninety percent of this world is covered by seawater; the weather on the Grand Line is treacherous and unpredictable; once you fall into the water, it is basically death."

Jin laughed carefree:

"But then I would be able to help the Captain, wouldn't I?"

"Madman!"

Xiang Keluo shook his head, then turned and left.

To him, the price paid for Devil Fruits was far too lethal upon this vast ocean.

"Even relying on my own cultivation, I can surpass that monster Gao Wen."

"Besides, who would eat something with such massive side effects?!"

When all the pirates in Gao Wen's pirate crew began to frantically engage in internal competition, each risking their lives to cultivate, the experience points Gao Wen harvested skyrocketed at a speed far faster than he had anticipated.

In just seven days, Physique reached LV-10 first.

Late night.

Gao Wen sat at his desk, feeling his body gradually grow hot, with wisps of white smoke rising from his head.

This was a strange phenomenon brought about by cells in the body splitting and reorganizing at high speed, with metabolism reaching an unbelievable rate.

It can be said that in this state, every second, Gao Wen's physical abilities were changing toward something stronger.

A few minutes later, the changes in Gao Wen's body slowly ceased.

After feeling it slightly, he roughly had an idea of the magnitude of this improvement:

"Basic strength increased by thirty percent, the body's resistance to impact rose another tier, and agility, affecting nerve reflex speed and coordination, also saw a significant improvement."

"And under the effect of the Balanced Trait, Speed, Strength, and Constitution all improved synchronously, ensuring every point of attribute could be utilized to its theoretical maximum."

"Now, to control the speed of Flash Step, my confidence is much greater!"

"And the main course is still ahead."

Having said that.

Gao Wen's gaze was once again drawn to the system panel before him:

"Detected Host's Physique has reached LV-10; you may choose one from the following advanced branch abilities:"

"Bloodbath, Harmony."

Looking at these two branch abilities, Gao Wen fell into thought for a moment.

Bloodbath was undoubtedly the option to boost immediate combat power.

If he guessed correctly, it should be the type where you don't play unless you're low on health; the heavier the injury, the higher the damage.

Is this type of ability strong?

Very strong!

But they mostly have a clear drawback.

That is, when low on health, while one's own attacks are stronger, one is also more easily taken out by a critical hit from the opponent.

The taste of licking blood off the blade, surviving against all odds, Gao Wen had just personally felt in that battle with Hawk Eyes.

Very thrilling, but that feeling of losing control, entrusting one's life to another's will, was not particularly wonderful.

If possible, Gao Wen would now prefer to keep everything within the range he could control.

The courage to fight to the death without retreating must certainly be present, but that is the worst outcome, the last resort.

Thus, Gao Wen's gaze lingered on Bloodbath for only an instant before turning to Harmony.

Even through mere text, Gao Wen could judge that this ability should be an extension of the Equilibrium attribute.

"Equilibrium made my physique a hexagonal warrior with no weak points; then what kind of enhancement will Harmony bring on top of that?"

"However."

"In any case, it should not be worse than Bloodbath."

Gao Wen's eyes grew firm:

"I choose Harmony!"

In the next instant.

A nameless sensation appeared within Gao Wen's body.

Every muscle from top to bottom, every organ from inside out, became incomparably clear in his perception.

Raising his palm lightly, from fingers to arm to chest muscles and skin, he could perceive the change at every spot, even controlling any single spot within it.

With a slight exertion of his arm, he could see the muscles on his arm bulging, surging like waves, their speed and slowness at his will.

Even the movements of muscles and organs originally controlled by instinct within his body were now completely under the dominion of his own will!

"I have completely mastered this body; I can control an organ, every muscle, even the skin, through my own will."

"I can also thereby greatly accelerate the healing speed of my own injuries, the speed and degree of the immune system's counterattack against disease, even the digestion speed of food consumed, and even voluntarily stop my own heartbeat!"

Gao Wen suddenly understood.

Harmony lets you completely master your own body; Equilibrium brings the body to a state of perfect balance. The power unleashed by the combination of the two is far more than simply one plus one equals two.

Although Harmony did not directly increase his physique panel, it acted like an amplifier, allowing him to push his original stats beyond their theoretical limits.

And.

After awakening this ability, Gao Wen was basically immune to diseases and viruses; at this moment, Gao Wen's hand was even trembling continuously from excitement!

"This is... Life Return?"

"No!"

"This is simply a superior ability to Life Return!"

"Everything Life Return can do, I can do; things it cannot do, I can do too!"

(End of this chapter)