Moke widened his eyes and stared fixedly at the scene before him, a powerful surge of emotion rising in his heart. Devil Fruits really do live up to their reputation! They're practically a shortcut to becoming strong!
At this moment, judging by the strength he had displayed, there was probably no one in the entire East Blue who could contend with him.
Even if Smoker, the Marine captain who struck fear into countless pirates, were here, he would likely be helpless against someone as terrifying as Moke...
However, despite being so powerful now, he still had one fatal flaw that could not be ignored—his true strength had not actually improved in any substantial way.
Moke knew that if he relied solely on Devil Fruit powers, he would be driven into a corner the moment his ability failed or he encountered an opponent capable of countering it.
He decided to find a way to improve his own strength. Thus, he set off for the Grand Line, having heard that it was home to many powerful experts and mysterious places of training.
During his voyage, Moke encountered a group of pirates.
Having heard of the fearsome reputation of his Devil Fruit, those pirates sought to steal it.
Moke initially intended to deal with them easily using his Fruit power, but he suddenly realized this was a good opportunity to improve himself.
He put away his Fruit power and fought the pirates using only his physical skills.
Although he struggled somewhat at first, through the continuous fighting, he gradually found his rhythm, and his techniques became increasingly refined.
After that battle, Moke understood that true strength could not rely only on a Devil Fruit. His own power was the foundation. This only strengthened his resolve to improve himself on the Grand Line and