Identity serves as a powerful tool to define good and evil.
The Navy is good; pirates are evil.
To most people, this dichotomy is absolute truth.
However, Philo was never someone who judged good and evil solely based on identity.
In her years away from home, she traveled far and wide, encountering all kinds of people.
She had witnessed Marines abusing their power and pirates risking their lives to save fishermen from sea beasts.
During her time with the Maude Pirates, their actions spoke volumes to her.
They couldn't possibly be bad people!
Thus, when Issho sent Maude and his crew flying with his slash, Philo was furious.
Hearing her blunt words, Issho showed no particular reaction.
"You must be Doctor Philo."
Though his eyes couldn't see, Issho easily identified her.
Philo was startled.
Issho continued, "Servis told me about you."
With that, he walked past Philo toward where Maude and his crew were recovering from their fall.
Philo didn't care about the connection between Issho and Servis.
With her preconceived notions, she saw Issho as nothing more than another Marine like Servis.
To stop him, she stepped off the unscathed grass and stood in his path.
"You can't hurt them!"
Facing the imposing blind man, whose aura and strength were overwhelming, Philo showed no trace of fear.
Issho halted and said earnestly, "Doctor Philo, I apologize. Once this is over, I will personally seek your forgiveness."
Before the words settled, faint purple streaks appeared out of thin air, curling around Philo like serpents.
In an instant, the streaks transformed into a localized gravitational force, pressing down on Philo's body.
"Huh...?"
Philo felt as if her body had turned to lead, leaving her unable to move.
Under Issho's precise control, the gravity didn't harm her but was enough to keep her restrained.
Stepping past the immobilized Philo, Issho approached the Maude Pirates, who were beginning to stand.
The mighty Gravity Tiger slash, despite its grand display, had only inflicted minor injuries on them.
Yet the same power, if focused on a single point, could unleash far greater devastation.
"Not a pure slash, but exceptionally strong," Gaya observed as she opened her eyes, her amber gaze locking onto Issho's advancing figure.
Integrating a Devil Fruit power into swordsmanship revealed the depths of Issho's mastery—a truly terrifying opponent.
"Hoho..."
Lafitte smirked, but his eyes were wary and serious.
The overwhelming display of power confirmed what Maude had warned them about earlier.
"How is this possible...?"
Law stood up unsteadily.
His Room ability had been nullified so effortlessly.
It was the first time he had experienced such a thing, leaving him shaken.
Maude, relatively unharmed, spat out a mouthful of blood and positioned himself in front of his crew. Watching Issho approach, he said grimly:
"Honestly... even if we all attack together, we might not be able to hold him off."
He spoke of containment, not victory.
A cold glint flashed in Lafitte's eyes. "His blindness might be our chance."
"I'll take the lead," Gaya said, gripping her axe as she stepped up beside Maude.
Among the crew, Gaya possessed the greatest raw strength.
However, her combat experience was limited to hunting on Monmon Island, leaving her less seasoned than even Maude.
Seeing her intent, Maude shook his head and stepped forward.
Gaya, respecting his decision, didn't insist.
If they couldn't outrun Issho, they had no choice but to fight.
Stealth Walk!
Maude initiated the attack, disappearing with an eerie footwork that left no sound.
He knew well the strength of Issho's Observation Haki.
The Stealth Walk wasn't meant to deceive but to enhance his speed.
In a flash, Maude appeared before Issho, choosing not to circle behind—a pointless endeavor against someone of his caliber.
As Maude's figure materialized, his blade, imbued with Armament Haki, slashed toward Issho with all his strength, leaving no room for mercy.
Clang!
Issho slightly tilted his body, gripping his blade in reverse, effortlessly parrying Maude's powerful strike.
With his advanced Observation Haki, every detail—Maude's steps, blade trajectory, even the subtle twitch of his muscles—was laid bare to Issho.
"Impressive strength," Issho remarked, cracking his eyes open just slightly.
Swish!
Before Maude could react, Issho unleashed his gravitational powers, crushing Maude under an invisible force.
"Huh?"
Though prepared, Maude couldn't fully guard against the sudden attack, his stance collapsing under the weight.
Crack!
The ground beneath him fractured as he staggered.
In that moment of vulnerability, Maude's heart sank.
But to his surprise, Issho didn't follow through with a finishing blow.
Instead, a dark slash hurtled toward Issho's flank.
It was Gaya, swinging her axe to intercept.
Sensing the power in her strike, Issho raised an eyebrow, acknowledging her strength.
In respect, he didn't evade. Lifting the gravitational force on Maude, he infused his blade with purple ripples, countering Gaya's attack with a decisive slash.
Gravity Slash!
The two energy waves collided mid-air, the crimson slash shattering against Issho's purple blade in a violent explosion, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The result was clear.
Gaya's expression remained calm despite the overwhelming gap in power.
Through the settling dust, a glint of steel shot toward Issho.
Lafitte, wielding his sword-cane, attacked head-on, aiming to distract Issho and create an opening.
"Hoho..."
Amused by the persistence, Issho smiled.
Infernal Voyage!
Without warning, the surrounding gravity intensified, pressing down with mountain-like force.
Dust and debris fell like rain, revealing Lafitte's halted charge.
Cracks spider-webbed across the ground as Lafitte struggled under the crushing pressure.
"Good momentum, but too slow," Issho commented, turning his attention to Lafitte.
"Hoho... That doesn't matter," Lafitte replied, a grin on his face.
Drawing Issho's attention was enough.
Room!
Law's Room materialized, and before the gravitational force could collapse it, he teleported Maude and Lafitte to safety, beyond Issho's reach.
Issho seemed mildly surprised but remained calm.
"You're all truly remarkable," he said sincerely.
He turned, slashing upward into the sky, sending a spiral of purple energy into the heavens.
"What's he...?" Maude's expression changed as he saw the attack.
Seconds later, a flaming meteor emerged, descending rapidly toward them.
"A monster!!!"
Bepo and Bailey, who had been bystanders, clutched their heads in terror as they gaped at the fiery mass.
Meanwhile, high above the sea...
A figure zigzagging erratically through the air suddenly stopped mid-flight, as though caught by an invisible string.
"Goodness...!"
The figure, wearing stylish red sunglasses, stared at the incoming meteor reflected in the lenses.
-------
Want to read waaaay ahead of schedule?
Join here: patreon.com / emperorgarus
There are more than 200 advance chapters available for you!