"Is this for me?"
Garp reached out and took the moon-white Muscle Fruit, shaped like a flexed arm, examining it with keen interest.
"Pfft—hahaha, not bad, not bad." Garp grinned smugly, looking at Moses with amusement. "Seems I haven't spoiled you for nothing."
As he toyed with the Muscle Fruit in his hand, he continued:
"This Devil Fruit does have quite a bit of use for me. No—actually, it's valuable for anyone.
One of its seemingly minor effects is granting the user a powerful physique brimming with potential.
With systematic training and enough perseverance, the user is guaranteed to become a genius in physical prowess."
At this point, Garp gave Moses a meaningful glance.
"In these treacherous seas, only those with formidable Physique and Haki can be called true top-tier powerhouses.
Though Devil Fruits with their myriad abilities are impressive, without a strong physique to back them up, they're often just illusions. The world's strongest fighters all possess inhuman Physique.
This Devil Fruit is indeed excellent. If you're willing to put in the effort after consuming it, you'll undoubtedly reach the level of a Vice Admiral in the future.
Moses, you haven't eaten one yet, have you?"
Garp's eyes held a trace of satisfaction. He didn't believe his clever grandson would be unaware of this Devil Fruit's potential.
He also knew the power of Moses' Breathing Technique—after all, he practiced it himself. If paired with the technique to further develop the body, this Devil Fruit could undoubtedly be honed to an unprecedented level.
With that thought, Garp casually tossed the Devil Fruit back to Moses, a hidden smile in his eyes.
"Grandpa noticed you've always been fond of Devil Fruits, so you should take this one. For you, it's an excellent choice."
"Tch, I'm not eating it. The sea is vast, full of infinite wonders. This world is too fascinating—why would I let a mere Devil Fruit shackle me?"
With his Body of All Things, Moses believed he could eventually grasp the concepts within any Devil Fruit. Why limit himself to just one?
He didn't consider himself some genius with near-supernatural intellect.
But he certainly wasn't a fool.
No point in a losing trade.
Moses tossed it right back, eyeing the faint wrinkles on Garp's face.
"Eating this Devil Fruit will absolutely transform your body. You're just an ordinary human, not some extraordinary race. Consuming this will give you potential no less than any special lineage."
Garp's grin widened. Was this brat looking down on his ordinary human status?
"Who do you think your grandpa is? I've also learned that special Breathing Technique of yours. You think I've been slacking all these years?
Don't take away my freedom so casually. The sea is vast—why would I give up the chance to roam it freely for some measly Devil Fruit?"
He tossed it back again.
Moses caught it and scoffed. "Breathing Technique? You think you're me? Do you even know my methods?"
As he spoke...
The empty left hand suddenly burst into dark red flames, which then transformed into dark blue water currents, followed by condensed freezing mist, then howling wind, before finally reverting back to dark red flames.
"Without my personal guidance—no, even with it—do you think you could learn this?"
With that, he tossed the Devil Fruit back. Garp numbly caught it, his eyes flashing with sharp light. Kuzan and Bogart beside him reacted similarly, especially Kuzan, whose eyes widened when he saw the freezing mist in Moses' hand.
Garp exclaimed in surprise: "Haki? And that so-called Breath of All Things fluctuation?"
"Converting Haki into elemental effects through the frequency of all things' breath?"
Bogart's eyes also widened. Only by observing closely now did he realize that during Moses' match earlier, he hadn't been using any Devil Fruit ability at all.
And Breathing Technique? What was that? From Vice Admiral Garp's tone, did he know it too?
"Ara ara, you actually developed Haki to produce such effects?"
Kuzan looked utterly fascinated, extending his right palm where icy-blue freezing air condensed, tiny ice crystals forming in his hand.
Wrapped in Armament Haki, the small ice crystals turned dazzling like black crystal. Frowning slightly, Kuzan realized this was all he could manage—so how had Moses achieved more?
Bogart found it somewhat familiar. Through his own comprehension of all things' breath, he infused Armament Haki and suddenly ignited an ordinary 100°C flame in his palm.
Nothing like the high-temperature dark red flames Moses had conjured earlier.
Garp's eyes lit up. Carrying the Muscle Fruit, he sat down beside Moses.
Wrapping his right hand in Armament Haki, Garp grasped Moses' flaming hand to personally feel the burning sensation.
Then withdrawing his hand, Garp marveled at the dark red flames now clinging to his own hand.
With a surge of Haki, he dispersed the flames.
"Impressive, Moses. This temperature already rivals ordinary magma. How'd you do it?"
Garp stuffed the Devil Fruit into Moses' arms, chuckling: "Grandpa doesn't want the Devil Fruit. Just teach me how to produce these flames, eh?"
Moses felt helpless. The great sea's treasure that normally drove men to kill or die for it—this old man actually looked down on it.
Resigned, Moses grew curious about Garp's current progress in Breathing Technique cultivation and asked: "Can you achieve Qi Circulation Throughout the Body now? Can you perceive the breath of all things? What about the breathing frequency of spirit bodies?"
Garp laughed triumphantly: "Who do you take me for?"
His breathing began rhythmic fluctuations. Moses clearly detected Garp's breathing frequency had achieved full-body circulation, his body now exuding an ethereal quality—the realm of Unity of Heaven and Man.
This didn't surprise Moses. Already mastering Life Return allowed precise bodily control, combined with his nature as one of the sea's top warriors and years of proper training—failure would only indicate sheer stupidity.
Seeing this, Moses' lips curled slightly:
"Grandpa, can you alter your own breathing frequency to mimic that of all things?"
Garp looked somewhat bewildered at Moses. "How? Can that kind of thing even be imitated?"
Moses smiled, took Garp's large hand, and slightly closed his eyes.
"This involves another advanced Breathing Technique called 'Disguise.' Don't resist—fully cooperate with me."
As their breathing synchronized, Moses' breath rhythm began to align perfectly with Garp's. Their breaths, auras, and even the frequency waves emanating from their bodies became identical.
Following Moses' words, Garp didn't resist but instead actively cooperated.
With their breaths now unified, and given Garp's complete lack of wariness toward Moses—
Kuzan and Bogart watched the grandfather-grandson pair in shock. Kuzan exclaimed in amazement,
"Moses' aura has become exactly like old man Garp's! Unbelievable—even Observation Haki can't tell them apart."
Bogart nodded dumbly before suddenly noticing something else. "Vice Admiral Garp's aura has changed too."
As their breathing continued, the frequency waves of their bodies merged into one. Then, the fluctuations from Moses' body shifted, pulling Garp along with the change.
The unique frequency waves of the Great Grade Sword "Flame Dragon," disguised by Moses, began to ripple across both of them. The Haki within their bodies started flowing, resonating and interacting with that distinct frequency.
Soon after—whoosh—dark red flames quietly ignited on their clasped hands, spreading a scorching heat.
However, thanks to Moses' guidance, the dark red flames didn't harm Garp.
Opening his eyes, Moses looked at Garp, who returned the gaze. Their breathing remained synchronized. Staring at the dark red flames in his hand, Garp remarked with fascination,
"So this is what it feels like?"
"Breath, Unity of Heaven and Man, disguising the frequency waves of all things, flowing Haki as the connecting point, and finally, interaction. Complete these five steps, and you achieve the effect we have now. Fun, isn't it?" Moses explained with a smile.
Garp had thought mastering the Breathing Technique was impressive enough, but his grandson had just given him an even greater surprise.
With a resigned sigh, Garp said, "I was planning to take you under my wing and teach you proper training later. Never thought it'd end up with you teaching me instead."
"So, did you learn it?" Moses teased, his gaze playful. Their bodily frequency waves remained connected as they spoke.
Garp scratched his head with his free hand, somewhat awkward. "What exactly does 'interaction' mean?"
"It's about internalizing the perceived breathing frequency waves of all things, merging and interacting them with your own frequency to refine your physique. This grants resistance to certain phenomena, aligning your body with those frequencies to wield their power more easily.
Put simply, it's like mimicking a Logia-Type's elemental immunity to avoid harm from the manifested phenomena of corresponding frequencies.
Take these dark red flames, for example. Without adapting through interaction, exceeding your tolerance threshold would burn you."
Garp nodded in understanding, his expression complicated as he looked at Moses.
"You've really developed a complete, systematic breathing-based cultivation method, haven't you?
You must've poured a lot of effort into this, huh?"
"Is it really appropriate to teach this old man like me?"
Moses smiled and said, "You're no ordinary old man. You're my grandfather. My family. Someone I can trust without reservation."
Garp inexplicably felt his nose sting a little, warmth flooding his heart. This grandson was worth raising—far better than those three troublesome brats who never gave him peace of mind.
At that moment, Garp turned to Kuzan and Bogart sitting across on the sofa and said seriously:
"You two didn't see anything just now. As for what Moses said about training, remember it for yourselves but don't go spreading it around."
Kuzan snapped out of his daze, his eyes filled with longing, but nodded earnestly. "I understand. I won't say a word."
Though I don't even know how to learn that so-called Breathing Technique.
Bogart shot Moses a resentful look but also raised his hand in promise, swearing to keep this information buried in his gut.
Moses chuckled and turned to Garp:
"Grandfather, Kuzan and Bogart are our own people, right?"
A glint flashed through Garp's eyes.
He looked at Moses curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you can teach them. But they'll have to promise not to pass it on to anyone except their own descendants," Moses said.
These two—one was Garp's personal disciple, the other a subordinate who'd followed him for decades—were both trustworthy.
If nothing else, the fact that Kuzan had gone with Garp to the New World to fight Kaido and rescue him meant Moses owed him a debt.
That's why he was letting Garp teach him.
As soon as the words left his mouth, both men turned expectant eyes to Garp and immediately pledged their commitment. Seeing this, Garp curled his lip:
"I'll teach you later."
With that settled, Moses pulled the Muscle Fruit from his pocket and asked Garp:
"Are you really not going to eat this thing?"
Garp scoffed. "Keep it for yourself. Your grandfather believes you'll handle it well."
Moses could only nod. If Garp wouldn't eat it, he'd just keep it for now and decide what to do with it later.
Just then, Ulti gently tugged at Moses's sleeve, her face flushed with embarrassment:
"Moses, do you have any plans for this fruit?"
Moses raised an eyebrow but answered honestly: "Not at the moment. Might just keep it as a collectible for now."
Ulti hesitated, then gritted her teeth. "Then... could you come to your room with me for a moment?"
Seeing the girl's meaningful expression, a flicker of surprise crossed Moses's eyes before he nodded.
Under the curious gazes of Garp and the others, he followed Ulti back to his room and shut the door.
Plopping onto the bed, he arched a brow at Ulti. "Alright, out with it."
Ulti bit her lip, recalling the information Garp had shared about this Devil Fruit.
And how even someone of Garp's stature held it in such high regard.
Steeling herself, she whispered:
"Moses, I don't know why you look down on this Devil Fruit, or what you plan to do with it in the future... but do you think Xiao Pei could eat it?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Ulti exhaled in relief, slumping to the floor as if drained. Her eyes held an apologetic look as she gazed at Moses:
"I know saying this might come off as presumptuous and ungrateful, perhaps even annoying you, and I apologize. But the opportunity is right here, and I don't know if we'll ever encounter such a suitable Devil Fruit again. I don't want to regret it later, so I still want to try securing it for Xiao Pei."
"Sorry. Xiao Pei is weak, his physical condition is average, and he doesn't even have demon horns—he doesn't resemble a child of the demon tribe at all."
"That's why he wants to eat a Zoan-Type Devil Fruit to make himself useful."
"This fruit is excellent, suitable for anyone really. So... sorry for saying so many self-important things."
Moses looked at Ulti in surprise. This girl had always been blunt, and this time was no exception.
But Moses didn't hold it against her. It was fine to voice her thoughts—whether he agreed or not was his decision.
He had indeed promised to find Page One a suitable Devil Fruit.
This fruit was useless to him, and Garp wouldn't eat it either, so the remaining options were either to extract its merits or use it to nurture his own people.
Extracting its merits felt like a waste somehow.
But as for Page One...
That kid was actually a pretty good candidate.
He was one of Moses' staunchest followers.
Moses looked at Ulti and smiled. "Are you sure he'll eat it?"
Ulti's eyes lit up as she gazed at Moses expectantly. Seeing him nod, her eyes suddenly moistened before she nodded vigorously:
"I'm his sister. I know what he thinks—he'll definitely agree. I understand him."
Seeing this, Moses handed her the Muscle Fruit he had brought along and said with a laugh:
"This Devil Fruit has immense potential, but it requires grueling training to master. If Xiao Pei eats it, I won't let him waste it. I'll train him mercilessly from now on. What do you think, Ulti?"
Ulti took the fruit and hugged it to her chest, her face breaking into a radiant smile without a hint of hesitation:
"As long as it doesn't cripple or kill him, train him as hard as you want. I'll train alongside him too."
Well said. As expected of a blood sister.
Moses reached out and ruffled Ulti's hair as she sat on the floor mat, grinning:
"Alright, I'll hold you to that. Don't come crying to me about how hard it is later."
Ulti looked up at Moses, blinked, and giggled:
"This lady keeps her word. And Moses... I'm really glad Xiao Pei and I met you that day."
"Heh!" Moses laughed too. "So one Devil Fruit is all it takes to win you over?"
"Who knows?"
Ulti's lips curled into a faint smile.
Maybe it's just you.