After hearing Aramaki's clueless explanation, Issho couldn't help but frown.
"You don't read the papers? Or keep up with world news?"
Aramaki shrugged. "Too lazy to care."
Both Life and Ayr fell silent.
Especially Ayr—who had initially thought this man, bold enough to covet the position of Marine Admiral, must be someone formidable.
But in the end… he was just a fool with ambition.
"Enough small talk," Ayr said flatly, turning to Issho. "You dare challenge me... You're not afraid of dying?"
Issho responded with a calm expression of reverence.
"To fight a man like you—it would be the greatest honor of my life."
His words carried no arrogance, only respect.
"Even if it costs me my life, the chance alone is worth it."
Strangely, his humility made Ayr appreciate him more. Compared to Aramaki's arrogance, Issho was leagues ahead—both in strength and spirit.
Aramaki glanced at Issho, startled. He's really willing to risk his life just for a challenge?
In that moment, he realized how reckless his own actions had been. He had foolishly challenged the strongest man in the world—and somehow survived.
Was he… lucky?
Ayr narrowed his eyes at Issho. "Very well. If you can take a strike from me and live, I'll consider that enough."
But Issho didn't flinch. He didn't take the statement as an insult.
Instead, he viewed it as a test. A rare chance. A trial by fire.
"To survive a blow from the world's strongest…"
A small smile formed on his face.
"Let me try."
Issho stepped forward and unsheathed his blade.
Dense Armament Haki coated his arms and sword like steel. At the same time, a deep, crushing gravity began to form—emanating from both his body and blade.
The pressure thickened the air.
The combination of Haki and Gravity Fruit power formed an overwhelming aura—like a black tiger ready to pounce.
"Please… show me your strength!"
With a roar, Issho slashed!
The energy erupted—a monstrous tiger of pure gravity and haki, barreling toward Ayr with unstoppable momentum.
Everything in its path began to disintegrate.
Grass and trees snapped. Stones shattered into powder. Even the ground cracked and sank beneath the immense pressure.
Watching from the sidelines, Aramaki's face turned pale.
This power…! I'm no match for it…
Even with all his arrogance, Aramaki understood his limits.
"What terrifying gravity... What terrifying swordsmanship..." he muttered in awe.
He turned to Ayr—How will he respond to this?
Ayr didn't move at first. Then, calmly, he lifted the Supreme Grade Sword—Zhan Shen.
With one hand.
His swing was invisible to the eye—no arc, no wind, just a blinding flash of white.
Boom!
The strike connected.
Issho's tiger of gravity and haki was instantly torn apart, disintegrating in mid-air as if it had never existed.
But Ayr's blade didn't stop.
The white flash surged forward, cracking the ground beneath it. Issho barely had time to coat his sword with black Haki before the wave of sword energy smashed into him.
He was blown back—sent flying like a leaf in a storm.
Defeated. With a single blow.
From just one strike.
Even Issho—stoic, composed—was stunned.
But the most shocked of all was Aramaki.
His eyes widened as he replayed the moment in his mind.
Ayr's swing against Issho…
It was exactly the same as when he fought me!
That meant one thing—he wasn't even serious with either of us.
A single move. Casual. Unfocused. And yet it had been enough to completely crush them both.
Aramaki's throat tightened.
He finally understood the gap between them.
There was no contest.
This man—Ayr—was something else entirely.
A warrior of another world.
So this... is what a true powerhouse looks like.
Aramaki could only stare at him now, not with envy—but with awe.
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