"Finger Pistol!"
Kira had never killed before.
His attack was not meant to pierce flesh, only to knock the cane-sword from Issho's hand.
But Issho's Observation Haki was razor-sharp.
"Gravity Well!"
A thunderous force slammed down.
Boom!
The gravity pressing on Kira's body multiplied several times over, far stronger than before. Caught completely off guard, he was driven straight into the ground before he could even release his attack.
"Ha… Kira, you nearly had me there."
Kira struggled beneath the crushing weight, arms trembling as he tried to push himself up.
Issho shook his head gently.
"Give it up, Kira. You cannot escape my Devil Fruit ability."
Kira clenched his teeth, muscles bulging as he forced his body to rise inch by inch.
"No… way!"
"Break for me! Now!"
With a furious roar, something unbelievable happened.
Right before the stunned eyes of Issho and the others watching, Kira stood up.
He steadied himself, testing the pressure, then slowly curled his fists. A grin spread across his face.
"I've adapted, Issho."
For a moment, Issho could only stare in silence.
What kind of monster is this?
Adapting to this level of gravity in mere seconds? Even he felt a flicker of disbelief.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Kira charged.
Punch after punch slammed forward, each coated in Armament Haki, each strike crashing against Issho's blade with overwhelming force. Every clash sent a jolt through Issho's arms.
"Fleet Admiral Xu, should we keep this Kira?"
Tina's voice carried a hint of curiosity. She had caught the brief flash of approval in Xu's eyes.
Xu tapped the armrest lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"No rush. Let him come see me after it's over."
He paused, gaze deepening.
"And I suspect he's not the only surprise in this draft."
The others exchanged glances.
"You've got someone else in mind?" Aokiji asked.
Xu nodded slightly.
"Keep watching. You'll see soon enough."
Their attention returned to the battlefield.
Issho had stopped defending passively. Now, he advanced.
His swordsmanship was simple, almost unadorned, yet every strike landed at exactly the right moment, targeting the weakest point in Kira's defense. Under the constant pressure and the ever-present gravity, Kira began to struggle.
Then, a mistake.
Kira blocked one strike, but the weight pressing on him never ceased. At that exact moment, Issho increased the gravity again.
Kira's arm froze mid-motion.
He could not lift it.
"Now!"
Issho moved instantly.
A powerful kick sent Kira flying, and the cane-sword traced a circle overhead. The gravity gathered along the blade surged upward into the sky.
For a moment, no one understood what he was doing.
Then Issho spoke softly.
"Gravity Blade: Meteor Summon."
Silence.
Then chaos.
The purple force spiraled upward, pulling something massive from the heavens.
"Is that… a meteor?! You've got to be kidding!"
"That's not human power…"
"How is this even possible?!"
The soldiers watching the feed erupted in disbelief.
At the same time, every contestant on the island looked up.
A massive meteor tore through the sky.
It fell.
Boom!
The island trembled violently as it struck, shockwaves ripping through the forest, uprooting trees and sending flocks of birds screaming into the air.
Dust swallowed everything.
Moments later, the chaos settled.
Tina swallowed.
"Fleet Admiral Xu… he didn't just kill him, did he?"
Xu gestured calmly toward the screen.
"Watch."
As the dust cleared, the meteor lay shattered.
Kira was beside it.
Alive.
Issho had deliberately dropped it next to him.
Kira gulped, sweat pouring down his smooth scalp. If Issho had not held back, what shattered would not have been the meteor alone.
He pushed himself up weakly, letting out a helpless laugh.
"Issho… you're way too strong."
In that moment, he understood.
Competing against someone like this for qualification? It was almost laughable.
Issho smiled faintly.
"Kira, thank you for the match."
Kira did not hesitate. He tossed over his points badge.
"You have to win… alright? Take first place."
With that, he collapsed unconscious.
Issho inclined his head slightly.
"Rest easy, my friend. Victory will be mine."
After that battle, Issho no longer dared underestimate anyone.
As Kira fell, Tina's voice rang out from every contestant's Den Den Mushi.
"Kira Chris is eliminated. Remaining contestants: nine."
Reactions varied.
Some felt fear.
Others felt excitement.
At the center of the island stood another man.
Kai Zhi.
He flicked back his long, wavy green hair and placed a hand lightly against a tree, eyes closed.
Moments passed.
A smile curved his lips.
"So… a gravity-based power. Interesting."
If Issho had been there, he would have demanded to know how Kai Zhi discovered his ability.
That very question had already been asked.
Aokiji turned to Xu.
"You figured out his power?"
Xu raised a brow.
"Kai Zhi. User of the Forest-Forest Fruit."
He added calmly,
"Another candidate I'm watching closely."
Aokiji froze for a second.
"The Forest-Forest Fruit… then just now… he learned about Issho through the trees?"
His expression shifted.
"Wait… does that mean…"
Xu said nothing.
But the implication was clear.
Every tree on the island had become Kai Zhi's eyes and ears.
Which meant only one thing.
He already knew where everyone was.