Ezra was not surprised by Issho's request.
That was simply the kind of man Issho was. Someone who despised injustice.
"Alright," Ezra said calmly. "I'll leave him to you. Don't disappoint me, Issho."
Issho nodded slightly. His closed eyes faced the direction of Edward Weevil.
At that moment, Weevil suddenly stomped forward, the ground cracking beneath his foot as he closed the distance in an instant.
His massive blade swung downward toward Issho's head.
"Your killing intent is far too heavy," Issho said quietly.
A flash of silver streaked through the air.
His cane sword left its sheath.
Clang!
The giant blade collided with Issho's sword.
The ground beneath their feet shattered from the force of the impact.
Issho's brows knit together.
"What tremendous strength."
With a slight twist of his wrist, Issho deflected the huge blade.
Weevil clearly had not expected the blind swordsman to possess such strength. His massive body staggered backward several steps before he managed to steady himself.
In the distance, Miss Bakin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Weevil! What are you doing? Kill him already!"
Not understanding Issho's true strength, she simply assumed Weevil had been careless.
After several steps back, Weevil stopped and lifted his head.
"You are strong," he growled. "But I am stronger!"
With a roar, he charged again, this time using his full strength.
Issho did not try to block him directly again.
Instead, he calmly dodged each heavy swing of Weevil's blade.
Nearby, Rossinandi clenched his fists nervously.
"Admiral Ember… can Issho really beat him?"
Ezra simply smiled.
"Relax. There are not many people in this world who can defeat Issho."
As if proving Ezra's words, Issho suddenly stopped moving.
A strange purple-black energy began to swirl around his sword.
Rossinandi blinked in confusion.
"What is that? Armament Haki? The color looks wrong…"
Ezra shook his head slightly.
"That isn't Armament Haki. That's Issho's own power."
Rossinandi paused, then quickly understood.
"A Devil Fruit ability!"
Issho held his sword firmly.
"To be blind is sometimes a blessing," he said calmly. "The world contains far too many things that no one should ever have to witness."
Weevil clearly had no idea what Issho was talking about.
He simply swung his massive blade downward again.
But Issho had already finished gathering his power.
The purple-black energy burst forward in a massive slash.
"Gravity Blade. Fierce Tiger!"
Boom!
A terrifying pressure instantly crashed down onto Weevil's body.
His enormous figure slammed violently into the ground.
"What… what is this?!"
Weevil struggled to stand, but the crushing gravity pinned him down.
Crack!
The ground shattered, and rubble buried his body completely.
"No! Weevil!"
Miss Bakin shrieked in terror.
Her scream caught Issho's attention.
"So there is another source of evil here."
Leaning on his cane sword, Issho began walking toward her.
"D-don't come closer!" Miss Bakin cried.
Only now did she realize how foolish she had been.
She had no real combat ability. Yet she trembled while pointing a small dagger at Issho.
"You are his parent," Issho said, frowning. "Is this how you treat your child? Turning him into a killing machine?"
But Miss Bakin barely heard him.
All she could do was scream desperately.
"Weevil! My dear Weevil! Save your mother!"
As if hearing her call, the rubble suddenly exploded apart.
Weevil crawled out from the debris.
Issho paused slightly, sensing him with Observation Haki.
Blood streamed down Weevil's face where a stone had struck his head. Climbing out had clearly drained him, and his massive body heaved with heavy breaths.
"Weevil! My dear son!" Miss Bakin shouted with renewed confidence. "Kill him!"
With a roar, Weevil charged again.
Issho sighed softly.
Another gravity slash burst from his blade.
Boom!
Weevil's body slammed to the ground again.
This time, Issho did not hold back.
His sword slowly returned to its sheath.
"Hell's Journey."
Click.
The moment the blade slid fully into the scabbard, the ground collapsed.
A gigantic crater opened beneath Weevil, swallowing him completely.
Miss Bakin stared with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open.
"We… Weevil…? Weevil?!"
She crawled to the edge of the crater, screaming into the darkness.
"Mom! Mom!"
Issho stopped for a moment and looked down at the pit.
"This pirate… his vitality is remarkable."
Rossinandi nodded from the distance.
"Seriously…"
Ezra nodded calmly.
Weevil possessed the monstrous physique inherited from Whitebeard. Even without refined techniques, his Armament and Observation Haki alone had allowed him to survive in the New World.
Moments later, Weevil climbed out of the crater again.
But his condition was terrible.
Blood covered his entire body, and a huge wound had split open on his forehead.
Even with such durability, he was still facing someone with admiral-level strength.
Watching the battered pirate stand again, even Ezra clicked his tongue.
"The fact that he's still alive is already a miracle."
Issho frowned slightly, but he did not hesitate.
Because Weevil charged again.
"Gravity Blade. Fierce Tiger!"
Another gravity strike flew toward him.
This time, Weevil tried to dodge.
But he forgot something.
Miss Bakin was standing directly behind him.
"No… no! Weevil!"
Boom!
With a terrible scream, Miss Bakin's body was crushed under the gravitational force.
She died instantly beneath Issho's attack.
"NO! MOM!"
Weevil roared in fury.
A powerful aura suddenly exploded from his body.
The surrounding navy soldiers collapsed unconscious one after another.
Ezra narrowed his eyes and murmured quietly.
"That… is Conqueror's Haki."