"In the next match, Contestant No. 30—'Mundo'—will face Contestant No. 22—'Issho'!"
As the referee made the announcement, his expression turned unusually solemn.
The gathered recruits reacted the same way, all turning their attention to the ring with grave expressions. Even the high-ranking officials seated on the elevated platform became serious, gazing down at the stage in silence.
"Senior Mundo! Go for it!!"
Smoker, standing beside Fenric, cheered excitedly.
Fenric offered a faint smile and stepped onto the ring.
He wasn't concerned about winning or losing.
What truly mattered to him... was measuring the gap between himself and an admiral.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound of a cane striking the ground echoed.
A blind man slowly approached the ring.
Though he looked like he might trip at any moment, not a single soul in the audience dared underestimate him.
"The match begins!"
With that formal announcement, the referee swiftly stepped out of the ring, leaving the arena to the two powerhouses.
Mundo vs. Issho!
Below the ring, over 200,000 spectators watched in breathless silence. Many even held their breath, staring fixedly at the two figures on stage.
The entire square had gone deathly quiet.
Even the officials on the high platform remained silent.
On stage, the two contenders—under the watchful eyes of thousands—remained calm and composed.
Fenric wasn't concerned about his rank.
Issho was even more indifferent.
In fact, Issho had begun to wonder why he'd even joined the Navy recruits in the first place.
"Mr. Issho," Fenric suddenly said, "I already know you're stronger than I am."
"Oh?" Issho tilted his head slightly, surprised. "Then… are you surrendering now?"
"Of course not."
Fenric shook his head and continued, "Even though I know I'll lose, I still want to fight you. Because until now, I've never met anyone who could force me to go all out. I want to find out my upper limit. So please… don't hold back."
"I see."
Issho smiled faintly.
"Mundo-san… you're worthy of my full strength."
Fenric gave a nod and fell silent.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened them again, a sharp battle spirit blazed in his gaze.
He wasn't just saying empty words—he genuinely wanted to test the limits of his current power.
The Black Blade—Shusui was already in his hand.
At the same time, five floating blades appeared around him, spinning slowly in the air.
Armament Haki quietly spread across his body like a second skin.
This was Fenric, going all out!
"Mr. Issho—I'm attacking!"
"Good."
With a serious expression, Issho drew the blade hidden inside his cane.
Everyone knew the blind man's cane was a sword—but until now, no one had ever seen him actually use it.
And just as shocking, it was the first time Fenric revealed his own weapon. No one even knew where he'd been hiding it!
As the two fighters adopted their stances, the entire arena held its breath.
Swish!
Fenric struck first.
With a wave of his hand, the five flying blades shot forward from multiple angles, converging on Issho.
Though he couldn't see, Issho's Observation Haki was unmatched.
His ears twitched slightly, and then his sword moved with a flurry of shadows—
Clang!
Each blade was intercepted cleanly.
He was fast. Very fast.
So fast, in fact, that many of the spectators couldn't even see the motions of his sword.
But Fenric hadn't expected those blades to succeed. They were only meant to create an opening for him to close the distance.
Whoosh!
With a rush of wind, Fenric charged forward, slashing toward Issho's waist with Shusui.
Clang!
Issho reacted instantly, intercepting the slash with his own blade.
Crack!
A stone tile beneath Issho's feet shattered under the pressure.
"Nice sword," Issho complimented with a calm smile.
Fenric's pupils contracted. His expression turned grim.
With the strength he possessed now, a full-powered strike from Shusui could cut a tank in half.
Yet Issho blocked it without so much as budging.
Their blades remained locked for a moment—until...
The five flying blades that had been knocked aside rose once again and shot toward Issho from behind.
This was Fenric's Telekinesis at work.
He pressured Issho from the front while his telekinesis power launched a sneak attack from the rear.
"Impressive ability," Issho praised again.
Then, he opened his eyes.
Only the whites of his eyes were visible.
HUMMMM—!
Suddenly, the atmosphere around Fenric seemed to triple in weight.
The air pressed down on him like a collapsing mountain.
The five flying blades were crushed to the ground before they could reach Issho.
Fenric immediately understood.
Gravity Fruit!
Issho's Devil Fruit ability was in play.
This technique—Gravity Suppression—dramatically increased the gravity in a localized area, pressing down on his opponent and the environment with crushing force.
Even the ring made of solid stone couldn't endure.
BOOM!!
The entire arena collapsed under the pressure.
Gasps rippled through the audience.
This was no ordinary clash.
This was devastation.
No other match in the tournament so far had caused something like this.
"What just happened?! Why did the ring collapse?!"
"It's the Devil Fruit! The blind man—he's a Devil Fruit user!"
"Unbelievable! That power is insane!"
"Whether it's Senior Mundo or that blind uncle… they're both monsters!"
On the high platform, even the three admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—wore grim expressions as they watched Issho's ability unfold.
"Garp," Sengoku said solemnly, "Do you still think your 'disciple' can win?"
Garp's weathered face twitched.
"Where the hell did this guy come from?" he muttered. "He's terrifying..."
Back in the ruins of the ring...
Fenric's legs were buried in the ground up to his knees.
Crushed by the overwhelming gravity.
"Gravity Suppression" wasn't just heavy—it made the very air feel like a thousand-ton hammer smashing down.
In the original story, even monstrous fighters like Luffy, Zoro, and Trafalgar Law had been utterly suppressed by this move.
This is the power of a true Admiral!
Fenric's raw strength allowed him to stand.
But moving… was another matter entirely.
"It seems… you can't move anymore."
Issho's calm voice came from nearby.
"Do you wish to surrender?"
Fenric gritted his teeth.
"No."
He raised his head.
"I still have one more technique, Mr. Issho. Please—be careful."