Facing Garen, Imu had revealed all his trump cards.
What surprised Garen was that Imu had yet to display any Devil Fruit Ability.
The strongest man who had ruled the seas for eight hundred years seemed to be nothing more than a pure martial arts master.
However, Imu's lack of a Devil Fruit Ability did not mean his fighting style was limited. The potential possessed by humanity itself was no less than that of any Devil Fruit.
Garp's fists, Hawkeye's sword, Red Hair's face. Red Hair's Haki.
With skills honed over many years, even non-ability users possessed the capital to stand above the masses.
And Imu had lived for over eight hundred years. During those eight centuries, he had not simply sat safely upon his throne, eating, drinking, and enjoying himself like those swine-like Celestial Dragons he kept.
He had never relaxed his training for a single day. Though he had failed to break through the limits of the body, he had long since surpassed the limits of technique:
Hasshoken, Fish-Man Karate, Rokushiki, Life Return, the Longarm Tribe's boxing techniques, the Longleg Tribe's kicking techniques, swordsmanship from every school.
His long lifespan had given Imu enough time to master and integrate all the combat knowledge humanity had created.
And years upon years of tempering his body had also granted Imu absolute control over his strength and physique.
Explosive power that did not belong to oneself often carried the risk of losing control.
After absorbing shadows, Moria became sluggish and stiff. After overdosing on drugs, Hody Jones became mentally unstable and crazed. But after a brief adjustment, Imu had perfectly mastered this incomparably vast additional power.
"Life Return: Paper Art Martial Body!"
The instant Imu gained control over this power, he used Life Return, the ultimate body technique of Rokushiki.
Rokushiki