Chapter 412: Submission

The Shadow-Shadow Fruit possesses various ability traits such as plasticity and synchronization.

When utilizing its power, there are two distinct states.

In one state, no matter how the shadow changes, it does not affect the user's body.

Conversely, the other state causes the user's body to mirror the shadow's changes.

The former is known as Shadow Flow, which is the state Maude most frequently employs, allowing him to manipulate the shadow's form freely without impacting his own body.

The latter is called Shadow Condensation. Its practicality is limited, with numerous drawbacks, making it a rarely used ability in Maude's arsenal.

At this moment—

The ability Maude employed was precisely Shadow Condensation, one of the branches of his skill tree.

By using his will to alter the shadow's surface area, his body could simultaneously undergo the same changes—lengthening or shortening, hardening or softening at will.

However, the greatest drawback of this ability is that the shadow cannot detach from the body.

This means that while in this state, Maude cannot utilize the plasticity and flexibility of his shadow, such as Shadow Swap and other abilities—temporarily sealing them away.

As the shadow behind him stretched and expanded, Maude's physique grew in tandem.

This display of ability left Urouge utterly dumbfounded.

His own ability converts damage received into an increase in size and strength.

The greater the damage suffered, the more significant the size and strength enhancement.

The punch from Maude earlier had nearly knocked him out.

After barely enduring it, Urouge immediately activated his ability, transforming the pain into mass and strength.

With this reverse enhancement, he had been brimming with confidence, intending to return the punch twofold.

Yet who could have imagined—

The unreasonable man before him also grew larger, offering no opportunity for him to tower over his opponent.

"Not leaving a single path to survival..."

Sweat poured down Urouge's forehead.

Knowing he couldn't match Maude's speed, escape was nothing but a fantasy.

At this point, the only options were to fight head-on—or submit.

But for any captain, as long as there was even the slimmest chance, none would willingly submit to another.

Urouge steeled himself, determined to give it one more shot, and charged towards Maude.

Like a giant, his body crossed a distance of over ten meters in a flash, launching a straightforward frontal assault.

"Retribution!" (Inga Zarashi)

Urouge concentrated all the damage-converted power into his fist, swinging it straight at Maude's chest.

He did not care whether the punch would land.

In his pure and simple view, if Maude dodged the punch—

Then his prior admiration for Maude would become utterly meaningless.

Rather than submit to survive, he would prefer to die honorably in battle.

As his fist swung forward, countless thoughts flashed through Urouge's mind.

Faced with the direct punch, a flicker of surprise passed through Maude's eyes.

In this lightning-fast moment, his advanced Observation Haki could faintly sense the emotions Urouge had poured into the attack.

"Heh."

Maude's lips curled into a smirk.

A head-on confrontation?

No problem.

Despite losing the initiative, Maude still chose to draw his blade and slash out.

Hakoku!

The seamless slash transformed into a cylindrical shockwave, colliding directly with Urouge's all-out punch.

Urouge only felt an irresistible force surging against his fist, followed by pain that raced through his body faster than his mind could register.

The overwhelming impact crushed his body.

Immediately—

His robust seven-meter-tall figure shuddered violently, blood spurting from his nose and mouth as his eyes rolled back, revealing the whites.

"So... strong..."

As his consciousness blurred, only this single thought echoed through Urouge's soul and mind.

Boom—

His massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

At the same moment, the members of the Fallen Monk Pirates rushing over from not far away also collapsed, eyes rolling back.

Though they weren't within the range of the Hakoku shockwave, Maude had imbued the attack with his Conqueror's Haki—

Rendering those nearby unconscious through sheer willpower.

To onlookers, this eerie scene was nothing short of terrifying.

"What's going on?!"

Members of the Bonney Pirates and On Air Pirates stared in shock.

Only Scratchmen Apoo realized what had happened, his expression subtly shifting.

"The mark of a king... Conqueror's Haki..."

Apoo's smile faded, his gaze heavy as he watched Maude from afar.

Carrying a certain mission and identity, he finally began to entertain the idea of retreating.

Meanwhile, the shockwave that pierced through Urouge's body didn't stop—

It shot far into the distance, boring a hole over ten meters in diameter through the trunk of an Yarukiman Mangrove.

By pure coincidence, this was the very tree Trafalgar Law had painstakingly reattached using his Op-Op Fruit ability just moments before.

"!!!"

Staring at the massive hole, Law's face darkened.

Maude noticed the outcome and the grudge on Law's face, but he merely averted his gaze, turning his back to him.

"Not bad—you can still remain conscious."

Maude shifted his gaze to Urouge, whose body was gradually shrinking.

He had held back with Hakoku, avoiding a fatal blow.

Perhaps due to his Devil Fruit powers, Urouge hadn't lost consciousness immediately.

That, at least, surprised Maude.

Blood gushed endlessly from Urouge's nose and mouth, making him look like a man on the verge of death.

But in truth, his enhanced body had withstood Hakoku without nearing death.

"I... pledge... my allegiance... to your... flag..."

Just before losing consciousness, Urouge expressed his submission.

Not out of a desire to survive—but to avoid dying without purpose.

For him, serving under a man like Maude was no disgrace—

It was something to take pride in.

Whether Maude would accept him was left to fate.

Maude stared into Urouge's eyes, silent for a moment before speaking calmly:

"This opportunity... is one you've earned. I accept your request."

"..."

Hearing those words, Urouge grinned, revealing bloodstained teeth, before his head slumped and he passed out.

Maude sheathed Shusui and dispelled Shadow Condensation, returning his body to normal.

He could adjust his height and size at will.

Then, Maude's gaze turned to his next target—

Another Supernova, Scratchmen Apoo.

His blade-like eyes locked on.

Apoo's body stiffened, a chill running down his spine.

Gone was his earlier detached amusement.

Meanwhile—

Bonney, who had been sent flying by Urouge earlier, kicked aside a large plank and emerged from the rubble.

"That bastard...!"

Covered in dust, she appeared uninjured but thoroughly disheveled.

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