It wasn't until Sengoku officially announced the end of the match that everyone in the arena finally began to recover from the shock of what they had just witnessed.
After all, the power Issho had displayed was simply overwhelming. The deep crater left in the ground served as a constant reminder that what had happened wasn't a dream.
After a long silence, a few hesitant claps slowly began to echo around the stadium—then a tidal wave of applause erupted. Every Marine present looked at Issho with excitement and admiration.
They were soldiers, and in the military, strength was something to be revered. With a powerhouse like Issho joining their ranks, every Marine there felt proud to wear the same uniform.
A sheepish, habitual grin spread across Issho's face. He found himself growing more and more fond of the Navy's atmosphere. At this moment, a new feeling stirred in his heart—one he hadn't known for a long time: a sense of belonging.
Momonga and the others had mostly recovered. It was obvious that Issho had held back during their match. Although the three of them looked a bit rough, they weren't seriously injured.
The trio leapt down from their mounds of debris and approached Issho. None of them showed the slightest resentment over losing; instead, they all offered him sincere congratulations.
Issho looked even more embarrassed. He quickly waved his hand and said humbly,
"You're all incredibly strong, Vice Admirals. I only won because of my Devil Fruit's ability."
The three of them were speechless. They thought to themselves,
Come on, cut the modesty. Even without your Devil Fruit, we couldn't have beaten you.
Still, looking at that honest, friendly grin on Issho's face, none of them could muster any frustration. In the end, they simply responded politely and turned to leave.
By all accounts, this assessment should have been over.
But Issho showed no signs of leaving.
He lifted his head, facing the platform where Kaito was seated.
His unexpected action drew puzzled looks from the crowd. Sengoku couldn't help but speak up.
"Issho, the assessment is over. Is there something else you want to say?"
Kaito rested his cheek on one hand and crossed one leg over the other, quietly watching Issho below. He seemed to guess what was coming, and a subtle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Still facing Kaito, Issho spoke—his words leaving everyone momentarily stunned.
"I was brought into the Navy by Admiral Shikiryū, so I'd prefer to be evaluated by him. I hope Admiral Shikiryū will grant this selfish request of mine!"
Sengoku furrowed his brow and turned his gaze toward Kaito.
Kaito's smile hadn't changed. He didn't look at all surprised by Issho's sudden challenge. Beside him, Gion gently tapped his hand and whispered,
"Kaito, he just challenged you. Are you going to accept?"
Still resting his cheek on one hand, Kaito replied,
"Of course. Let him see the strength of the superior he chose to follow."
He stood up from his seat and said with a pleasant smile,
"I accept."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the arena erupted into gasps and shouts of disbelief. But after that brief outburst, the mood shifted to pure excitement—faces flushed red with anticipation.
No one had expected to witness not only the rise of a new top-tier fighter today, but also the rare chance to see Admiral Shikiryū in action!
There might not have been any official announcement, but every Marine knew deep down—Admiral Shikiryū was the strongest Admiral in the Navy.
To witness his power firsthand? That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And so, a strange scene unfolded in the arena. Kaito hadn't even made a move yet, but the entire crowd began chanting his name in unison:
"Admiral Shikiryū!"
Even the high-ranking officers on the viewing platform turned their attention to Kaito, their eyes full of anticipation.
Other than Aokiji and Zephyr, most of them had never truly experienced Kaito's power. They didn't know just how terrifyingly strong the strongest Admiral truly was.
Kaito had no intention of disappointing anyone.
Purple lightning crackled across his body—and in the next second, he appeared directly across from Issho.
The moment he arrived, it was as if someone had hit the mute button. The chants abruptly stopped. Everyone held their breath and stared intently, afraid to blink and miss a single moment.
Issho sensed Kaito's presence, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.
He had long wanted to experience Kaito's power for himself. Especially after hearing Kaito voice his dissatisfaction with the World Government, he wanted to confirm whether the man's strength could support such conviction.
Kaito crossed his arms and said with a grin,
"What's wrong? Didn't the last fight satisfy you?"
Issho shook his head and replied respectfully,
"Please forgive my boldness, Admiral Shikiryū. I simply want to witness, with my own eyes, the power that can change the world!"
"Change the world, huh? Heh... You sure place a lot of hope in me."
"You're someone I believe in. All I ask is that you don't hold back."
Unlike the polite exchange he'd had with Momonga and the others, Issho's tone now was deadly serious. He fully unsheathed the cane-sword he had only partially drawn earlier.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunderous rumbling echoed across the arena. The ground began to visibly sink beneath their feet.
Kaito floated in midair, his expression calm and composed—as if the phenomenon below was utterly beneath his notice. He remarked casually,
"Using your Gravity Fruit already? You really couldn't wait, huh?"
As he spoke, the third tomoe in Kaito's right eye began to tremble violently, seemingly reacting to something. In an instant, a far stronger gravitational pull blanketed the entire battlefield.
The ground that had been sinking seconds ago now seemed to be yanked back upward by an invisible force. Kaito's feet touched down once again.
In the span of a few seconds, the entire arena had shifted—down, then up. The Marines watching felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Even Issho was momentarily stunned.
"...What's this?"
Kaito chuckled. Though he knew Issho couldn't see, he still pointed to his right eye and said,
"This eye is where the Gravity Fruit resides. I suppose it's like a twin to your own Gravity Fruit."
The moment Issho realized Kaito also possessed a Gravity Fruit—or rather, the Gravitational Pull variant—something stirred within him. Perhaps it was the resonance of his own Devil Fruit, but his fighting spirit suddenly surged.
He lifted his cane-sword with both hands and shouted,
"Good! Then let me witness the power of your Gravity Fruit!"
VMMM!
Rippling rings of violet energy began to appear above Issho's head, shooting skyward at breakneck speed.
After a moment of eerie silence, a deafening rumble echoed from the heavens. A massive shadow engulfed the entire arena.
Everyone looked up—and when they saw what was coming, their expressions froze in shock.
Someone muttered in disbelief,
"No way… You've gotta be kidding..."
A meteor, easily twenty meters in diameter, had broken through the cloud layer and was plummeting straight toward the ground—aimed directly at where Kaito stood.
Kaito, the designated target, raised his head to look at the incoming mass. Rather than alarm, his face showed nothing but interest.
"Tengai Shinsei? Isn't that a bit small?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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