Just the day before, something big happened at Marine Headquarters.
After Akainu returned from his trip, the test to pick the next Marine Admiral officially began.
This time, there was also a special guest involved—Commander-in-Chief Kong.
He was there on behalf of the Five Elders, making the event even more serious and important.
At that moment, Marineford’s plaza was packed with people. The place was buzzing with excitement.
Right now, across the sea, every Marine soldier knew that their force was about to welcome a brand-new Marine Admiral.
The news spread fast. Marines who were nearby rushed back to headquarters, hoping to witness this big moment with their own eyes.
Everyone was full of excitement, wondering just how strong the new Admiral candidate really was—and if he could actually take on the job.
Aokiji, however, seemed completely at ease.
He already knew how powerful Issho was. Whether it was Haki or Devil Fruit powers, Issho had what it took to be an Admiral.
"Well then... Issho, it’s time to begin!" Vice Admiral Tsuru called out to him from the center of the plaza.
"I understand," Issho replied.
Then, using his cane-sword to feel his way, he slowly walked toward the sea. As he passed, the Marines stepped aside to make way.
Right now, everyone in Marine Headquarters had their eyes on Issho.
"You think... he’s really as strong as Admiral Kuzan and the others?"
"Maybe. After all, he did come back together with Admiral Kuzan..."
"But... he sure doesn’t *look* like it..."
"Plus, he’s blind..."
"Uh... honestly, I don’t think this blind swordsman’s going to cut it."
When the crowd saw Issho using his cane-sword to feel his way forward, some Marines in the plaza started whispering doubts, even a few Marine Vice Admirals among them.
The top brass like Akainu didn’t see it that way.
They could feel a powerful pressure coming off Issho, so strong that their faces turned serious.
"Those standing near the coast, please move aside. Otherwise, I can’t do this properly," Issho said calmly.
He’d heard the voices of doubt, but he didn’t care. It was normal for people who hadn’t seen his strength to question him.
Hearing his words, the people by the shore quickly stepped back.
At that moment, Issho drew his cane-sword.
He spun it once in a flourish, then waved it a few times in a strange stance, before suddenly stopping.
The whole plaza went quiet.
Everyone was watching him closely. The air felt heavy, and some people swallowed nervously, as if something terrible was about to happen.
But a few seconds passed, and nothing happened.
"Did anyone... feel anything?"
"Same here. It’s like... nothing happened?"
Seeing Issho swing his sword around with no clear effect, the Marines in the plaza were confused.
"It’s coming!" Aokiji said in a serious tone. As someone who knew what Issho could do, he was the first to send his Observation Haki into the sky—and he had already sensed something.
Everyone turned to Aokiji when they heard him. He was looking up.
So they all looked up too.
"What... what is that thing?"
"Looks like a rock? But... why is it getting bigger?"
"Wait... is that a meteor?!"
"Everyone run! The meteor’s falling!"
"Hey, hey, don’t joke like that! There’s no way a person could pull a meteor down from space!"
"Everyone, move away from the shore now!"
As the meteor came closer to the ground, the air around it felt like it was being crushed, and even the space itself began to shake violently.
The panicked Marines started running in all directions.
Even the high-ranking officers like Akainu sitting at the center of the plaza couldn’t help but widen their eyes in shock.
They couldn’t believe what they were seeing—someone could actually use Observation Haki so strong that it could sense something in outer space.
The giant meteor fell at terrifying speed, whistling sharply through the air as it headed straight for the sea.
Its surface was glowing red-hot, like a burning fireball.
That meteor had been pulled down from space by Issho using his Devil Fruit powers!
With a massive explosion, the meteor crashed into the sea, throwing up towering waves.
A tsunami surged toward the shores of Marineford with terrifying speed. Some of the slower Marine soldiers turned pale when they saw it coming, nearly fainting from fear.
Just as the wave was about to hit the coast, a figure leapt into the air.
It was Admiral Aokiji.
"Ice Age!" Aokiji shouted, stretching both arms forward. Two waves of freezing cold air burst out from his hands.
"Cheeew~" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovᴇlFɪre.ɴet
With a crisp cry, the massive tsunami instantly froze the moment it touched the ice pillar. A huge iceberg appeared in front of everyone.
On the plaza, the Marines stared in shock.
"Thank goodness for Admiral Kuzan..."
"That was insane! It really was a meteor... He actually pulled it down from space!"
"His Observation Haki is terrifying!"
"What kind of Devil Fruit power does he have?"
Now that they were safe, the Marines kept talking, trying to process what had just happened.
But Issho still hadn’t sheathed his sword cane!
He held the sword out flat, as if waiting for something.
Suddenly, a strange energy filled the air, making it feel heavy all around.
While everyone was still confused, Issho suddenly brought the blade crashing down!
In an instant, a thunderous noise echoed out, and the entire iceberg began to break apart.
Huge chunks of ice tumbled down, sending snow flying everywhere.
In just a few seconds, the towering iceberg was completely crushed under Issho’s gravity.
The Marines stared in fear and disbelief. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing—Issho’s power was strong enough to destroy the iceberg with ease.
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my