Akainuvs Smile

"What's going on? What was the secret behind Finn's move just now?"

"Did he secretly use dark energy to increase his strength? Did that make the other person afraid?"

"Impossible, that move had no power fluctuation at all; it was clearly just a random shot!"

"Strange..."

The Marines were confused.

They couldn't comprehend the frustration Yixiao felt in that moment, and they couldn't understand why he immediately surrendered. However, Yixiao, as the one involved, was far more complex.

Before Finn patted him on the shoulder, he didn't even feel Finn approaching. He didn't realize Finn was beside him until he felt the palm land on his shoulder.

The sensation was strange—like being the target of a lover's touch.

Although Yixiao was blind, he possessed a powerful Observation Haki, allowing him to sense the positions of others. Yet, in that moment, he was completely blind to Finn. His Observation Haki failed to detect Finn's presence.

Finn seemed to vanish from his perception, then suddenly reappeared right next to him.

Yixiao now understood what Finn meant when he said: "If I strike, I can instantly kill you."

Those words weren't arrogance or pride—they were the truth.

At that moment, had Finn attacked with full force, Yixiao would have stood no chance of surviving.

Yixiao couldn't quite grasp how Finn managed that—his combat power was formidable, but against Finn, it felt utterly useless. Finn had used a breath-blocking technique that made it nearly impossible for anyone to detect his presence. Most could see Finn with their eyes, but Yixiao, with his blind spot, couldn't sense him.

Despite his own considerable strength, Yixiao was helpless before Finn.

"Marshal, is that the end? Isn't there supposed to be a final assessment?" a Marine officer asked.

"Why not? Let's begin now!" Finn smiled and looked at Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji. "Who will be the examiner?"

"Let me do it!" Akainu immediately volunteered.

"Alright, then you'll be the examiner." Finn nodded.

Yixiao took a deep breath and steadied himself. He turned toward Akainu, placed both hands on his scabbard, and said: "Akainu Admiral, please enlighten me!"

"Bring it on!" Akainu's voice was low and resolute as the two squared off.

In an instant, the assessment began.

Fujitora drew his sword, slashing at Akainu with a blade covered in both Armament Haki and a faint purple light.

"Is that his Devil Fruit ability?" Sengoku frowned slightly.

Vice Admiral Crane nodded. "It looks like a Paramecia-type ability."

Sakazuki didn't hesitate. He clenched his fist and let out a burst of lava, smashing it against Yixiao's sword.

The moment his fist collided with the blade, Sakazuki's body sank slightly in surprise. "Why is your sword so heavy?" he growled, pushing against the blade with more force.

Yixiao explained, "I'm the user of the Gravity Gravity Fruit. That move was my Gravity Blade. Please enlighten me."

He swung again.

"Gravity Fruit!" The Marines gasped.

The Gravity Gravity Fruit was an immensely powerful Paramecia-type ability that controlled gravity itself.

As they observed, it became clear why Finn was so confident that Yixiao would pass the assessment. A well-developed ability like that could potentially destroy the world.

"Again?" Akainu growled, pushing back with greater force as Yixiao swung once more.

Boom! The collision reverberated.

"Damn! This ability!" Sakazuki cursed, using his other hand to summon the form of a lava hound, which lunged toward Yixiao.

Yixiao kept track of Sakazuki's movements with his Observation Haki. But this time, he wasn't overwhelmed like he had been with Finn.

He stepped forward, calling out, "Hell Brigade!"

The ground beneath Sakazuki cracked open at a speed far exceeding that of an ordinary landslide, sending him plummeting into the earth.

The lava hound's attack went wide as Sakazuki's body was swallowed by the earth.

"Damn it!" Sakazuki roared, using Moonwalk to leap out of the pit, charging at Yixiao.

In midair, Sakazuki hurled a punch toward Yixiao with a shout: "Great Eruption!"

A huge burst of lava shot toward Yixiao, who nimbly avoided it.

Though blinded, Yixiao, with precise control of his Observation Haki, sidestepped the attack, calmly stating, "Are you playing long-range now? Let me try something too!"

Pointing toward the sky, he made a curious gesture.

"What is he doing?" the Marines wondered. "I don't know... why point to the sky?"

Suddenly, a blazing fireball appeared in the sky.

"What the hell? What's that fireball?!"

"Wait—those are burning stones!" another Marine shouted.

"He really did summon a meteorite from the sky?!"

Sakazuki's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way!"

He realized he couldn't avoid the incoming meteorite.

With a shout, he raised both arms, channeling his Devil Fruit power. "Super Great Eruption!"

A massive burst of lava poured out, forming a colossal fist that rocketed toward the meteorite.

Boom!

The giant fist collided with the meteorite with an explosive force, shattering it into pieces, sending burning debris falling in every direction.

"Damn! This is terrible!" Sengoku muttered.

"They're going to destroy the entire training ground!" Crane Vice Admiral frowned deeply.

"This guy really is a monster!" Kizaru exclaimed, impressed.

"He really has Admiral-level strength!" Aokiji commented.

At that moment, Finn spoke: "Mr. Yixiao, you'd better handle the lava and meteorite fragments falling. Get them into the sea."

"Yes, Marshal!" Yixiao immediately understood Finn's command and focused on the gravity field.

As the lava and debris filled the air, they suddenly froze midair, suspended in place as if time itself had stopped.

Without missing a beat, Yixiao guided the debris toward the sea, where it splashed into the water with a thundering roar.