His Eyes Were as Wide as Brass Bells

Moke's eyes widened like saucers, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets, staring intently at the astonishing and mind-blowing scene before him. The once peaceful place had now become Wind Rises and chaotic mess due to the power of the Devil Fruit.

A deep sense of awe and wonder washed over him once more. He couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe and reverence for the power contained within the mysterious and powerful Devil Fruit. Undoubtedly, Devil Fruit was like a golden key to the path of the strong. Once one possessed and mastered the unique abilities it granted, one could achieve a rapid advancement in strength, as if stepping onto a shortcut to the pinnacle.

At this moment, Moke 6 deeply felt the surging energy flowing continuously within his body, all thanks to the Devil Fruit. With this extraordinary ability, his confidence swelled to its peak. He firmly believed that with his current strength, even in the entire East Blue region, it would be difficult to find an opponent who could rival him.

Even Smoker, renowned in the East Blue for his mastery of smoke and mist, would likely be helpless and frustrated if he were to encounter him in his current state. After all, the advantages brought by Devil Fruit are far too obvious, enough to instill fear and dread in any enemy.

However, despite his seemingly glamorous exterior, Moke was well aware of a fatal weakness: his true strength hadn't actually improved; all his apparent power relied almost entirely on the enhancements granted by his Devil Fruit. This situation undoubtedly placed him in a very dangerous predicament. After all, if he encountered a formidable enemy skilled at spotting weaknesses and seizing fleeting opportunities, he could very well suffer a fatal counterattack and be utterly defeated in an instant.

Just like Enel, who was once said to have strength close to that of Admiral, he was ultimately defeated by Luffy, who was far weaker than him.

Admittedly, Enel's Devil Fruit, which grants him immunity to lightning damage, is indeed a crucial and important factor. After all, this rare and powerful ability gives him an absolute advantage against most enemies. However, there is another equally important reason that cannot be ignored: Enel's over-reliance on the immense power of his Devil Fruit led him to gradually neglect or even abandon the continuous honing and further enhancement of his own strength.

This long-term neglect had made his physical condition extremely fragile. When he encountered Gale 'Zhou Yu ferocious, unpredictable, and relentless attacks, he simply lacked the strength and skill to parry or defend against these powerful blows. Thus, he could only stare in Luffy terror, helplessly watching himself being beaten like a sitting duck by Luffy's chaotic and haphazard punches, utterly powerless and pathetic.

Ultimately, the fierce battle ended in Enel's crushing defeat. Recalling this scene, a chill ran through Moke, casting a heavy shadow over his heart. He silently vowed to himself: no matter what, he must not follow in Enel's footsteps! Therefore, he deeply understood that if he wanted to avoid a tragic end like Enel's, he must do everything in his power to overcome this obvious flaw within himself.

However, how easy is it to effectively remedy this fatal weakness? After much deliberation, Moke realized that to achieve this goal, he needed to find a suitable special substance to absorb and utilize. Furthermore, he needed to successfully transform it into a permanent ability and integrate it into himself. Only in this way could he fundamentally solve the problem and prevent himself from easily falling into a similar predicament again.

Indeed! In fact, Devil Fruit abilities are divided into different levels: Dominion Realm, Manipulation Realm, and Awakening Realm. When someone first consumes Devil Fruit, their ability seems to become an innate talent. At this stage, the user can control and manipulate their power at will; the techniques are merely specific applications of that power. Just as Sabo was able to immediately and skillfully use the Flame-Flame Fruit. As time goes on, if the user continues to explore and expand the fruit's potential, elevating their understanding and application of the Devil Fruit Ability to a new level, they can then enter the Manipulation Realm. Once at this level, even the same move will unleash power incomparably compared to before. It's no exaggeration to say that any user who reaches this level can carve out their own territory even in the vast and treacherous Grand Line.

Finally, let's talk about the Awakening of Devil Fruit Ability... Once you reach the Awakening stage, the ability and the user become completely integrated, without any gaps. In this way, the user can unleash the full power of the Devil Fruit, pushing it to its limit. Undoubtedly, Devil Fruit Awakening is the highest level a Devil Fruit user can reach! Anyone who successfully reaches this level, even in a Wind Rises New World teeming with powerful individuals, will surely become renowned and a Might-Shaker figure. However, reaching this level is incredibly difficult; truly capable users are extremely rare...

At this moment, Moke is in the initial stage of the Dominance Realm. Those in the Dominance Realm possess a unique ability—the Absorb-Absorb Fruit can absorb an entire object or a specific substance and transform it into a permanent ability. This is akin to giving the user a permanent passive skill. For example, now that Moke has acquired earth-related abilities, he can instantly transform into Devil Fruit User controls the power of nature and earth. Unfortunately, this is not the outcome Moke desires. After all, even if he becomes Logia user, what then?

Although Moke was able to act arrogantly and dominate in the East Blue and the first half of the Grand Line, this was merely a minor matter. Once he stepped into the New World, a realm teeming with powerful individuals, even encountering just one expert with Armament Haki could result in his instant defeat, or even death... Therefore, Moke's initial thoughts deep within his heart have never changed in the slightest.

A raging fire burned deep within him, driving him to constantly explore and unearth the unfathomable potential hidden within his own body.

Only by doing so can he fundamentally and completely break free from his excessive and unreasonable dependence on Devil Fruit abilities. Through his persistent and consistent arduous training, and by personally experiencing one thrilling and intense life-or-death battle after another, he can steadily and practically solidify and enhance his true strength step by step.

At that very moment, Moke's eyes, which had always Shine dazzling and as bright as stars, suddenly underwent a tremendous change without warning. His gaze became unusually sharp, like two streaks of Inazuma piercing the night sky, shooting straight toward the swords and knives scattered on the ground.

To be honest, for Moke at this moment, these swords and blades were truly an excellent and rare choice.

After all, one must understand that if he could truly absorb all these swords and blades into his own body smoothly, then without a doubt, he would be like the legendary phoenix after being reborn from the ashes, instantly transforming into a steel giant as hard and solid as a rock, as solid and impenetrable as a rock!

At that time, every inch of his smooth, delicate skin, every solid, strong bone, and even every drop of bright red blood flowing through his body will undergo a dramatic and transformative change and Great Breakthrough. This earth-shattering transformation will inevitably create a more expansive and boundless space for his development and growth, while also endowing him with immeasurable growth potential and the possibility of continuous progress and advancement.

But Moke was not the kind of person who could be easily satisfied. How could ordinary swords and blades possibly catch his discerning and proud eyes? In his heart, only those peerless and unique divine weapons were worthy to accompany him and help him ascend to the supreme peak!

At the very least, it has to reach the level of Meito... You see, if he could truly absorb a Meito, his physical strength would directly leap to the same level as the Meito. And the moment the words "Meito" flashed through Moke's mind, he almost immediately thought of Loguetown, where Smoker was stationed. The reason was simple: that place was home to a vast number of Meito!

Roronoa Zoro's incredibly sharp Yubashiri and the eerily powerful Sandai Kitetsu, combined with Tashigi's exquisitely small Shigure, make these three weapons undoubtedly excellent choices. Therefore, Moke unhesitatingly set his sights on Loguetown as his next destination.

Moke was always a decisive person; once he set his sights on a goal, he would never hesitate. He swiftly picked up two boxes from the table used to hold Devil Fruit. One box contained the coveted Paramecia Slip-Slip Fruit; the other box was cleverly used to carefully pack away smaller but valuable items from the surrounding area. After all, money is always indispensable, no matter what world you live in.

After everything was prepared, Moke carefully tucked the two boxes into his pocket, took a deep breath, and walked steadily and firmly toward the door. Every step he took carried an air of determination and unwavering resolve.

However, the moment he stepped out of the room and his feet touched the ground, the scene before him struck him like a bolt from the blue, causing him to involuntarily stop in his tracks.

It turned out that Buggy, whom he had always loathed, had already led a group of his men to wait at the only exit! They were like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, quietly waiting for Moke, this "fat fish," to take the bait.

The moment Moke appeared in everyone's sight, Buggy's usually lazy eyes suddenly flashed with an undisguised cunning and hostility. His gaze, like a sharp arrow, shot straight at Moke and locked onto him, as if a starving wolf had finally spotted its long-desired prey.

Faced with this sudden and hostile scene, Moke's heart tightened slightly, and his brows furrowed slightly. At the same time, he subconsciously turned his gaze to Buggy the Clown was standing at the front of the crowd.

For some reason, in this extremely tense moment, Moke's thoughts began to wander for a fleeting instant. He recalled the various unpleasant experiences he had had with Buggy in the past, those memories flooding his mind like a tide, leaving him momentarily lost in thought...

After all, Buggy the Clown in front of us is no ordinary character; he is undoubtedly the "Chosen One." Even if someone ate the Lucky-Lucky Fruit, which is also Paramecia Baccarat Fruit, their luck would probably be far inferior to Buggy's. This guy, who only has the strength of a weakling, not only successfully ascended to the throne of the Shichibukai, but also went further and joined the ranks of the Four Emperors, which is truly astonishing.

So, are you convinced or not? Even the renowned Luffy would have to obediently step aside in his presence! You see, Luffy got to where he is today through sheer grit and determination, facing countless life-or-death battles. If it weren't for the incredibly powerful protagonist's aura protecting him, he would have died countless times already. But look at this guy! He didn't struggle like Luffy at all; he's practically a master of picking up the scraps! He effortlessly stole everything and ultimately ascended to the throne of one of the Four Emperors. He practically won everything without even lifting a finger!

Just then, a furious shout rang out, "You brat, hand over what you're holding! Otherwise, believe me, I'll make you wish you were dead..." The speaker was Buggy, whose already somewhat comical face was now filled with an undeniable greed. If it were anyone else, given Moke's usual temper, he would have killed them without a second thought. But with Buggy... well, whatever! After all, in this vast world, the absence of someone like Buggy would undoubtedly diminish much of the unexpected fun. Besides, Buggy is actually quite sensible; once you demonstrate sufficient strength, he usually disappears without a trace. Therefore, faced with Buggy's arrogant shouts, Moke merely glanced at him indifferently and then completely ignored him.

Moke did not back down because of Buggy's words; on the contrary, his smile grew even brighter. He slowly raised his head, facing the blazing sun, and held his right hand high, as if trying to grasp the sun in the sky.

It was high noon, and the sun was shining down relentlessly, unleashing its light and heat. The intense sunlight shone directly on Moke, but he didn't seem to care. Instead, he squinted slightly, fully enjoying the warmth of the sunlight.

Just then, something strange happened. A dazzling light suddenly flashed from Moke's raised right hand, like a brilliant pearl shining in the sunlight. Looking at his glowing palm, he felt a surge of excitement, and his lips curled into a wide grin that almost reached his ears. "Haha, just as I thought... it seems my guess was right."

Immediately afterward, Moke turned his gaze to Buggy across from him, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He chuckled softly, a touch of amusement in his voice. "Buggy the Clown? I've heard you're a great pirate from the East Blue! In that case, you must be carrying the Eternal Pose from Loguetown!"

Upon hearing this, Buggy's face instantly turned extremely grim. As someone who had once followed the Pirate King Roger across the Four Seas, although his own strength might not be outstanding, his experience and knowledge accumulated over the years were far Koby ordinary pirates. Therefore, with just one glance, he saw through the meaning represented by the light in Moke's hand—it was a rare Devil Fruit ability!

Buggy's pupils involuntarily contracted, and he thought to himself, "This guy's a Devil Fruit User. Looks like I've met my match today. But taking things from me so easily won't be so simple!" With that thought, Buggy straightened up, meeting Moke's gaze without fear, and coldly replied, "Hmph, so what if I really have the Eternal Pose of Loguetown? Who do you think you are? Why do you think I'll obediently hand it over to you?"

Moke's lips curled slightly upwards. He wasn't angered by the other party's questioning. Instead, with a hint of inscrutable mischievousness, he slowly said, "Have you ever been kicked by light?"

Upon hearing this, Buggy was taken aback, a series of question marks instantly appearing on his face, as if he had heard the most absurd thing in the world. Then, he replied with a disdainful look, "Who do you think you are...?" However, before he could finish speaking...

In that instant, everyone's attention was drawn to Moke's right leg. The once ordinary right leg began to gather a dazzling amount of light, which quickly intertwined and swirled together like nimble sprites, eventually causing Moke's entire right leg to radiate a brilliant light that was impossible to look directly at.

Upon witnessing this scene, Buggy felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, his heart trembling violently. He had personally experienced the chilling power of Marine Admiral Kizaru's attacks! The terrifying, world-destroying force of his masterful control over light was still deeply etched in his mind. Therefore, when he saw Moke Kizaru unleash a similar ability to manipulate light, a profound and indescribable fear and shock welled up within him.

However, this shock didn't last long. A mere moment later, Buggy quickly recovered. His already large eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets, and his face contorted in a ferocious expression. He roared at Moke, "You wretched brat! Whatever tricks you're up to! Today, you won't escape my grasp, you'll die by my hand..." Despite his fierce words, Buggy harbored a deep-seated doubt and unease. He knew that on this vast, mysterious ocean, there had never been a case of two identical Devil Fruit existing simultaneously. Since Kizaru was still alive and well, continuing to wield his fearsome light power, how could this seemingly arrogant and ignorant Kizaru possibly possess such overwhelming light power?

Just then, the sound of wheels rolling suddenly came from the crowd. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a burly man riding a strangely shaped unicycle at high speed. He gripped a gleaming longsword tightly in his hand, exuding a menacing aura. As he drew near, he shouted, "Captain Buggy, why do you need to personally deal with such insignificant characters? Leave it to me!"

Moke stared intently, his eyes sharp, and almost instantly recognized the uninvited guest.

This man was none other than Cabaji, the infamous Buggy Pirates! When Buggy heard his subordinate's report, he casually glanced at Moke not far away. In that instant, his gaze was drawn to Moke's right leg, which was emitting a strange light.

He thought to himself, "Hmm... letting this guy go and test the waters first is a good idea. Although it seems unlikely that he possesses a powerful Glint-Glint Devil Fruit Ability like Kizaru, being a Devil Fruit user still means his strength shouldn't be underestimated."

Thinking this through, Buggy nodded slightly in agreement, and specifically added, "Don't hold back, give it your all!"

Having received the leader's permission, Cabaji's eyes flashed with excitement and ruthlessness. He nodded vigorously in response, and then without hesitation unleashed his most formidable move— the Amazing Officer Triple Act, "The Smoke Hot Springs Murder Incident"!

His figure spun rapidly, creating a thick cloud of smoke that swirled upwards like a tornado.

At the same time, using the force generated by the spin, he leaped forward, his entire body shooting towards Moke in mid-air like a cannonball. The extremely sharp weapon in his hand gleamed with a cold light, as if he wanted to cleave the enemy in front of him in two, his momentum was extremely terrifying!