"Begin!"
The moment Tina's voice fell, all ten challengers vanished from where they stood.
Their intentions were clear. Hide first, then slowly gather points. If they couldn't find any, there was no need to rush. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Watching the ten disappear in an instant, Ezra and the others took their seats.
Through the surveillance Den Den Mushi scattered across the island, every contestant's movements were displayed clearly.
"Hmm… Isao really isn't in a hurry," Kuzan remarked, eyes fixed on the screen.
Ezra shifted his gaze toward Isao as well.
There he was, just as calm as ever, walking slowly through the forest with his cane. His eyes remained closed, as if nothing in the world could disturb his pace.
Suddenly, he stopped.
His head tilted slightly toward a nearby patch of bushes.
"Sir, I can already sense you. Won't you come out?"
A breeze rustled through the trees. No one answered.
Isao sighed softly.
"My friend, hiding behind the bushes to my left… your bald head is already giving you away. I truly have found you."
A rustling sound followed.
A large, muscular man stepped out from the brush.
His name was Kieran, one of the top ten contenders.
Despite his powerful build, his face carried a simple, almost innocent expression.
Scratching his head, Kieran grinned. "You found me… you're really strong."
Isao gave a small nod. "If I remember correctly, your name is Kieran?"
Kieran froze, then broke into a wide smile. "Y-you remember my name!"
But the smile quickly faded into determination. "Still… I have to defeat you if I want to join the Navy."
Isao raised a brow. "So, Kieran… we begin?"
Kieran nodded firmly. "Yes! Sorry about this, Mr. Isao!"
Isao chuckled lightly. "You remembered my name as well. It seems you're not as simple as you appear."
Before his words even finished, Kieran vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Isao.
A massive fist shot forward, coated in jet-black Armament Haki. The sheer force behind it tore through the air with a sharp, biting wind.
The punch arrived in a blink.
Isao's expression hardened.
"So none of the ten are ordinary…"
His thoughts flashed by as he drew his cane sword in one smooth motion.
Clang!
The fist slammed into the blade.
A heavy force surged through Isao's arms, forcing him several steps back.
"What overwhelming strength!"
He did not dare underestimate his opponent. A surge of violet energy flowed into his blade.
Kieran suddenly felt a crushing weight press down on his shoulders.
He was forced to halt his advance and resist the invisible force.
Seizing the moment, Isao struck.
"Gravity Blade: Tiger!"
A wave of violet energy surged forward, distorting everything in its path. The air twisted under immense pressure as gravity itself seemed to collapse inward.
"Haah!"
Kieran roared. His entire body turned pitch black.
He stood his ground.
Unharmed.
He endured the crushing force head-on.
"This… full-body Armament Haki?" Isao muttered, his tone turning serious.
Back at the observation area, Kuzan inhaled sharply.
"That level of Armament… is no joke."
Ezra, however, narrowed his eyes.
"Kuzan… that's not just Armament."
Kuzan blinked, then his expression changed. "Wait… the Six Powers?"
Ezra nodded. "Yes. That's Iron Body."
Kuzan's mouth fell open slightly. "You've got to be kidding me… he's trained Iron Body to this level? And he hasn't even joined the Navy yet. Where did he learn it?"
Tina stepped in to explain.
"Kieran was born in the East Blue. Twenty-seven years ago, he received guidance from Vice Admiral Garp and learned the Six Powers. Since then, he's trained them to an exceptional level. According to Garp's recommendation, his physical talent is extraordinary… comparable to Big Mom."
A collective gasp followed.
"Where did Vice Admiral Garp even find a monster like that?"
Even Ezra raised a brow slightly. "That kind of physical talent… the word 'monster' fits him well."
Back on the battlefield, Kieran rolled his neck, joints cracking loudly.
"Mr. Isao, that ability just now was amazing!"
Isao's lips twitched. Amazing? It barely affected you.
Still, his expression grew more serious.
"Kieran… I underestimated you earlier. From now on, I will not hold back."
He gripped his sword firmly, the tip pointing straight at his opponent.
"Come."
In an instant, Kieran vanished again.
But this time, Isao's Observation Haki expanded fully.
He caught Kieran's movement.
His blade swung to the side without hesitation.
"What?!"
Kieran had just appeared there.
He barely managed to coat his body in Armament Haki in time.
Boom!
His pupils shrank. "This strike… it's even stronger than before!"
His body was sent flying like a cannonball.
Coughing echoed from the ruins as he struggled back to his feet.
Isao stood calmly, sword in hand.
"My Observation Haki is quite refined."
Kieran wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his simple expression replaced by focus.
"One strike… and it already damaged my insides."
He clenched his fists.
"Then let's go again!"
With a shout, Kieran launched himself into the air.
His legs whipped through the air in rapid succession.
"Tempest Kick!"
"Tempest Kick!"
"Tempest Kick!"
Blades of compressed air shot downward in waves.
Isao countered, his sword moving in a steady rhythm, deflecting each strike.
Then, in the middle of the barrage, Kieran seized an opening.
He appeared right in front of Isao.
His index finger shot forward, aimed directly at Isao's sword hand.
"Finger Pistol!"