In the Logia class of Devil Fruits, abilities such as Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit, Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit, Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit, and Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit share a defining trait—the ability to unleash large-scale elemental attacks.
This is the core strength and allure of Logia-type Devil Fruits.
However, a select few Paramecia users, upon awakening their abilities, can also perform widespread elemental-like attacks.
For example, Doflamingo's String-String Fruit.
That said—
Whether in terms of destructive power or sheer coverage, even an awakened Paramecia simply cannot match a Logia.
Take this for example:
Doflamingo's "White Surge" wave of threads is visually overwhelming in scope and scale.
But Ace could summon a vortex of flames at will, instantly incinerating every single thread.
Even if an awakened Paramecia user can imbue their elemental attacks with Armament Haki, this fundamental disparity remains unchanged.
That is the inherent limitation.
Yet Maude's awakened shadow-based ability does not share this limitation.
Because shadows, by their very nature, are intangible.
His Devil Fruit grants them a physical form while also endowing them with an unparalleled, ever-changing property—mimicry and infinite regeneration.
In principle, if an attack is strong enough, shadows can indeed be cut apart, twisted, torn, shattered, or even burned.
But shadows are endless.
Be it sliced or scorched.
As long as they can infinitely regenerate, they will be restored in the very instant they are destroyed.
Simply put, it's an unparalleled form of super-regeneration.
Against such an ability, as Maude himself pointed out, Akainu's magma may be able to burn through flames—but it can never burn through shadows.
Unless…
Akainu can coat his magma-coated fists with Armament Haki, allowing him to directly transmit damage through the shadows and suppress their regenerative ability.
However, Akainu is a Logia user, not an awakened Paramecia like Doflamingo.
He is incapable of infusing his large-scale elemental attacks with Haki.
If it were Doflamingo, Maude wouldn't have dared to directly pit his "Shadow Surge" against "White Surge" before awakening his powers.
Because Doflamingo, as an awakened Paramecia user, could coat his waves of threads with Haki.
But now that Maude has awakened his abilities, he too can coat his shadows with Armament Haki—eliminating that disadvantage entirely.
The interplay between Devil Fruit abilities is full of counterbalances and resistances, a hallmark of the One Piece power system.
And Maude's "Shadow Surge" happens to be the perfect counter to Logia users like Akainu and Ace, who rely on large-scale elemental attacks.
Akainu clearly realized this as his expression turned ice-cold.
His Magma-Magma Fruit is renowned as one of the most offensively powerful abilities in existence, yet who could have predicted the existence of a shadow-based power capable of neutralizing its destruction?
Of course—
Being countered does not mean Maude can defeat Akainu, whose overall strength surpasses his own.
But suppressing the destructive power of the Magma-Magma Fruit? That, Maude could accomplish with his awakened "Shadow Surge."
"You understand now, don't you, Akainu?"
Maude smiled at the now-icy-faced admiral, then nonchalantly drew his "Weasel" flintlock pistol with his free left hand, aiming it directly at Akainu behind the massive magma fist.
A normal lead bullet would melt instantly upon touching Akainu's molten body.
But if imbued with Armament Haki, it could pierce straight through the magma.
Bang! Bang!
Maude pulled the trigger.
The muzzle flashes illuminated the battlefield.
The dispersing gunpowder smoke rippled outward in concentric circles as the Armament Haki-coated bullets shot forward at high speed.
"Hmm?"
Akainu furrowed his brows, his Observation Haki immediately detecting danger.
Armament-coated bullets…
With his advanced Observation Haki, Akainu precisely foresaw the bullets' trajectories moments before impact.
In an instant, he manipulated his body, opening multiple holes within himself to allow the bullets to pass through.
This was a standard technique for Logia users to evade Haki-based attacks.
However—
Maude's gunmanship was anything but conventional.
Speed, volume—
And the ability to recover stamina and Haki through hunting his foes.
With all these factors combined, Maude unleashed a relentless barrage of gunfire, forcing Akainu to open even more holes in his body.
And just like that, Maude successfully suppressed Akainu in a direct confrontation.
Mastery of both the sword and the gun.
Maude's first title upon setting sail had not been given lightly.
As more and more holes riddled Akainu's form, he could no longer maintain his "Great Eruption" attack.
Seizing the opportunity, Maude manipulated his "Shadow Fist," pushing the magma fist back towards Akainu.
Then, under Maude's control, the suppressing "Shadow Fist" suddenly split apart like a firework, transforming into dozens of razor-sharp tendrils of shadow.
Each shadow tendril's pointed tip was coated in Maude's Armament Haki.
Shadow Flow—All Things Take Form: Holy Bullet!
The dozens of tendril-like shadow bullets bypassed the magma fist and struck at Akainu from all directions.
"This technique… It's Doflamingo's move…"
Akainu remained composed, but a glint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
The torrent of shadow-based "Holy Bullets" tore through Akainu's body, reducing him to scattered lava.
Boom! Boom!
The dozens of shadow bullets pierced through Akainu's molten form and slammed into the ground, leaving behind a massive crater.
The sheer penetrating power left the surrounding Marines in shock.
"Admiral Akainu…"
The witnessing Marines were utterly shaken.
"He's grown even stronger…"
"A battle talent that evolves in real-time?"
Gion and Tokikake stared in stunned disbelief at Maude, who now stood protectively in front of Sabo's group.
The scene unfolding before them was so absurd, it defied reason.
Not only were the Marines shocked—
Even the Straw Hat Pirates, huddled behind Maude, were completely dumbfounded.
"What are you all standing around for?!"
Maude snapped, his tone sharp.
With his Observation Haki, he could tell that despite the devastating impact of shadow-based Holy Bullet barrage, it hadn't actually injured Akainu.
After all, this was one of the Navy's top powerhouses—far from the kind of one-trick Devil Fruit user who relied solely on their ability.
Not only had he awakened his Logia powers to the point of reshaping the very battlefield, but his mastery of both Armament Haki and Observation Haki was at the highest level.
To be frank, with Maude's current strength, the best he could do was use Shadow Surge to restrict the destructive nature of magma while suppressing Akainu from a distance.
As for actually defeating him?
Not even worth considering.
Breaking through Akainu's top-tier mastery of both Observation and Armament Haki was a nearly insurmountable challenge.
Maude knew this all too well.
But outwardly, he had undeniably forced Akainu into submission.
Even powerhouses like Sabo, Marco, and Ace were stunned by the sheer dominance Maude displayed.
Hearing Maude's reminder, they were the first to react.
"Mirror-Flame Barrage!"
Now free from his Seastone cuffs, Ace unleashed the fury that had been burning in his chest, transforming it into a massive wall of fire that surged toward the Navy's formation.
A chilling aura radiated from Aokiji as he prepared to intercept Ace's attack.
But before he could act, Sabo and Marco suddenly materialized right in front of him, their forms emerging from thin air.
"Arara…"
Aokiji barely lifted his gaze before his ability was interrupted by their ambush.
With nothing to stop it, Ace's raging firestorm engulfed the Navy's ranks, reducing their formation to chaos.
Screams rang out as the inferno tore a blazing path through the battlefield.
This wasn't just an opportunity for Ace and his allies—it was also a lifeline for the remaining Whitebeard Pirates who had been desperately fighting their way from the outside in.
Meanwhile—
At the edge of the plaza, near the harbor, the Blackbeard Pirates emerged from the wreckage of a collapsed island fragment, stepping into view.
"Heh… Should I say, as expected of the man who took down Pops?"
Teach clicked his tongue as he observed Maude's performance.
Despite the usual mockery in his tone, his eyes were cold—brimming with unmasked killing intent.
If not for this bastard, he would have already claimed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power for himself.
"Shadow abilities… heh heh."
The striking resemblance between Maude's Shadow-Shadow Fruit and Teach's own Dark-Dark Fruit rubbed him the wrong way.
So then…
How should it be decided—
Who was the real deal, and who was just an imitation?
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Author's Notes:
I feel like I've completely broken the Shadow-Shadow Fruit… Seems like I've pushed its development too far… At this rate… Maybe I should hold back on some of my later-stage ideas… If I do use them, I should only pick one… Otherwise, I'd be completely invincible…
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