"Good, then continue absorbing the Lifeblood's power and rest for a while."
Caesar patted Pudding's little head with a smile before turning to face Blackbeard.
"Did you succeed, Blackbeard?"
Blackbeard remained expressionless, his right hand gripping a swirling mass of energy.
Caesar studied the energy curiously, marveling at the sheer absurdity of the Dark-Dark Fruit's power.
Devil Fruit abilities had always been elusive—formless, almost metaphysical.
Even if a Devil Fruit were perfectly split into several pieces and given to multiple people to eat simultaneously, only the first person to consume it would gain the ability.
Moreover, no matter how you process a Devil Fruit—whether you dip it in sauce, boil it, eat it with ice cream, or grill it—the ability you gain remains unchanged.
Yet, Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit seemed to transcend all other abilities, suppressing them all.
Its rarity was on par with Caesar's Kunpeng Fruit, the Op-Op Fruit, or even the Sun god nika.
And the most terrifying part? Blackbeard could steal others' Devil Fruit abilities.
Using the Dark-Dark Fruit's gravitational pull, he could extract the intangible power hidden within a user's body, bit by bit, and bind it!
"So, what now? Just eat it?" Caesar asked skeptically.
Blackbeard smirked. "Zehahaha! Since it's been separated from its host, this ability needs to be absorbed quickly, or it'll dissipate. No need to eat it—just bring it close to a person, and it'll merge directly into their body. Caesar, are you really prepared for this? This isn't child's play. I'd hate for something to happen to you—ZEHAHAHA!"
"Cut the crap, Teach! Your face gives you away—you're probably hoping I explode from this ability!"
Caesar didn't spare Blackbeard's dignity, exposing his hypocrisy outright, leaving Blackbeard to chuckle awkwardly.
"Enough! Just do it!"
Caesar stepped forward, baring his chest.
Blackbeard grinned, a flash of resolve in his eyes, before thrusting the swirling energy mass straight into Caesar's abdomen!
The moment the energy left his hand, dark currents surged from beneath Blackbeard's feet, engulfing him as he retreated into the darkness.
'Zehahaha! His body structure is different from mine—who knows if this'll work? Either way, better hide in the darkness before he decides to kill me.'
In the distance, Linlin curled her lips into a cold smirk.
As long as Blackbeard couldn't leave this manor, his Dark Space wouldn't be enough to block Caesar's terrifying power fueled by his burning Life Force.
Even if he hid in another dimension, Caesar would blast through it and drag him out directly!
"Caesar, you must succeed!" Linlin glanced at the motionless Caesar again, a trace of barely perceptible worry flashing in her eyes.
Though Linlin had comforted herself with words, throughout history, only one person—Blackbeard—had ever possessed two abilities at once.
Who knew if such success could be replicated?
At this moment, Caesar stood in the courtyard like a statue, appearing unchanged on the surface.
But only he knew the transformation his body was undergoing.
Inside him, the seemingly weak Memory-Memory Fruit energy, upon entering Caesar's body, triggered an energy upheaval.
The overwhelmingly powerful Kunpeng Form Energy, hidden deep within his body, surged forth like raging waves, crashing towards the Memory energy, attempting to crush and obliterate it.
It seemed that a person's body could only harbor one ability.
If more than one existed, they would clash violently.
If the two abilities were likened to prisoners fighting in an arena, then Caesar's body was the cage confining them.
The cage was too small—perfect for one, but two would incite a riot, attacking each other relentlessly until one was destroyed, leaving only the victor to restore peace.
Yet, no matter how fiercely the Kunpeng Energy battered and surged, it couldn't destroy or expel the Memory ability.
This small cluster of energy had taken root in Caesar's body, standing firm like a reef amidst a torrential current, unmoved by the relentless flow.
Moreover, as the Kunpeng Energy continued its assault, the Memory-Memory Fruit energy absorbed and strengthened itself.
That tiny cluster was growing at an astonishing rate!
Throughout this internal battle, Caesar's body suffered continuous, severe damage.
Muscles and bones cracked, blood vessels ruptured, only to be endlessly repaired by boundless Life Force, emerging even more resilient than before.
Damage.
Repair.
Damage.
Repair.
Time passed minute by minute.
Half an hour later, just as Linlin's face turned pale and she was about to withdraw the Soul Barrier—
Caesar's eyes snapped open, gleaming with a sharp light!
He had succeeded!
The Memory-Memory Fruit energy, now grown countless times stronger, had expanded to a point where it no longer feared the Kunpeng Energy, occupying half of his internal domain.
The once-fractured interior of his body had stabilized completely, becoming several times more durable than before.
His muscles and bones now gleamed with a crystalline radiance, brimming with immense power.
His blood vessels had widened, Lifeblood roaring through them like a torrent, infusing his formidable physique with surging strength!
Crack, crack, crack.
Caesar couldn't suppress a groan as his spine emitted sharp cracks, elongating upward.
His already massive, towering frame grew another ten centimeters!
From 9.11 meters, he now stood at 9.21 meters!
Click, click, click.
His teeth ground together, fists clenched, and without warning—
A violent storm erupted within the courtyard, swirling out of nowhere!
BOOM CRACK CRACK!!
Caesar's eyes blazed with light as his massive fist shattered the void in an instant.
Before Blackbeard's horrified gaze, his thick fingers clamped onto the pirate's face, yanking him violently out of the dark space!
"Aaaahhh! Caesar! Caesar! What are you doing?! Stop! Stop!!"
Blackbeard felt his cheek being crushed by fingers like iron pincers, and he couldn't help but let out a horrific scream!
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