"Mom!!!"
Edward Weevil's eyes burned with murderous fury as he glared at Issho.
"It was you! It was all you! You killed my mother!"
Consumed by rage, Weevil swung his fists forward. Both were coated in pitch-black Armament Haki as he smashed them down toward Issho.
Issho did not dare underestimate him. His cane sword flashed from its sheath and met the incoming blow head-on.
Boom!
A thunderous crash echoed across the ruins.
Issho was blasted backward.
"Issho!"
Rossinandi shouted anxiously from the distance.
Issho quickly steadied himself and raised a hand toward Rossinandi, signaling that he was unharmed.
Only then did Rossinandi and the others breathe in relief.
Still, confusion remained.
"Admiral Ember, why did Weevil suddenly become stronger?"
Ezra shook his head.
"It is not that his strength increased. It is his Armament Haki."
Rossinandi blinked.
"Armament Haki?"
Ezra nodded calmly.
"Yes. What he just used was advanced Armament. External emission."
"External emission?"
Rossinandi scratched his head in confusion.
Ezra gave him a long look.
"Rossinandi, have you never actually studied your training materials?"
Rossinandi laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Haha... Admiral Ember, I tend to get sleepy when I read books."
Ezra rolled his eyes.
"When we get back, you are going to study properly."
Then he began explaining.
"External emission is when Armament Haki is concentrated in the hands or a weapon and released outward. Instead of simply coating the body, it becomes a tangible force."
"It can produce powerful shockwaves that repel enemies or even form defensive barriers capable of blocking invisible attacks."
"That is what external emission is."
Rossinandi and the surrounding marines nodded quickly.
"So that is how it works!"
Ezra's mouth twitched.
"So none of you knew that?"
He sighed and pointed at Rossinandi.
"When we return, tell your men to copy the training manual ten times."
Rossinandi froze.
"Wait... what?! Admiral Ember, please!"
Ezra snorted.
"I am not listening to complaints."
He crossed his arms and added firmly.
"The more you understand about combat, the better your chances of surviving."
At that, the marines could only accept their punishment.
Soon their attention returned to the battle.
Fueled by rage and strengthened by his advanced Armament Haki, Weevil had become far more dangerous.
It was not that Issho could not defeat him.
But every time Issho's blade struck his body, Weevil would charge forward and throw a punch in return.
It was a reckless style of fighting that traded life for life.
In simple terms, he had completely abandoned any concern for his own survival.
Because of that, several wounds had appeared on Issho's body.
"Gravity Blade. Fierce Tiger!"
Another gravity slash surged forward.
Weevil roared, madness flashing in his eyes.
The Armament Haki covering his fists grew even darker.
Boom!
His fist smashed directly into the gravity slash.
"Die!"
Weevil roared.
Incredibly, he forced the gravity attack apart.
Rossinandi and the others were stunned.
"He actually broke it!"
"That attack was unstoppable!"
But the strain was obvious.
Weevil's body trembled violently.
The black coating of Armament Haki on his fists faded away.
His body had clearly reached its limit.
Thud.
The massive man suddenly dropped to one knee.
Yet his eyes were still filled with fury.
His mind, however, seemed strangely clear.
"It was because of you... you killed my mother..."
He muttered to himself.
Then, unbelievably, he struggled to his feet again.
"He can still stand?!"
Rossinandi and the others were speechless.
Every time they thought he had reached his limit, he rose again.
Ezra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Something about him is not right."
Rossinandi paused.
"Admiral Ember? What do you mean?"
Ezra studied Weevil carefully.
"If I am not mistaken... he has already lost consciousness."
Everyone stared at Weevil.
Only then did they realize his eyes were tightly shut.
"He really is unconscious!"
"Then how is he still fighting?!"
The marines cried out in shock.
At that moment, Weevil charged forward again.
But this time, his target was not Issho.
It was Ezra.
Despite his closed eyes, his direction was perfectly clear.
He rushed straight toward Ezra.
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"I do not know how strong his willpower is."
He rested his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
"But I will not allow him to stand again."
Ezra slowly drew the blade at his waist.
The crimson glow in his eyes sharpened.
"To send you to hell with Ryujin Jakka is already more respect than you deserve, Edward Weevil."
The blade flashed from its sheath.
"Dragon-Slaying Inferno."
A blazing slash erupted forward.
The scorching energy twisted into the shape of a massive dragon, roaring through the air before slamming into Weevil's body.
In an instant, bright orange flames consumed him.
The terrifying impact blasted his massive body into the air.
Before he could even fall back to the ground, the overwhelming heat had already vaporized him.
Nothing remained.
Not even ashes.
Ezra calmly flicked his blade and returned it to its sheath.
Only then did Rossinandi and the others react.
Even though they had witnessed Ezra fight many times before, they still could not help but stare in awe.
"Admiral Ember is unbelievably strong."
"That was overwhelming."
"No wonder he is called the strongest man in the world."
Ezra glanced at them.
"Enough flattery. It will not cancel your punishment. When we get back, you are all copying those manuals."
The marines fell silent.
So this really was not going away.
Just then, Issho slowly walked over, leaning on his cane.
His face was filled with shock.
"Lord Ezra, your power truly lives up to your reputation as the strongest man in the world. Compared to you, I still have a long way to go."
Ezra waved his hand dismissively.
"It is one thing for them to praise me. You do not need to join them."
Issho scratched his head awkwardly.
"I truly was impressed."
Then he said seriously,
"If possible, I would like to ask for your guidance."
Ezra shrugged casually.
"No problem."
He paused, then looked directly at Issho with a faint smile.
"On one condition."
"And that condition is that you join the Navy."