Chapter 6: The Proof of Power
Gion's objection was expected. She had been humiliated—knocked unconscious in her bath for no apparent reason. More than that, she was the official Admiral candidate. That position should have been hers. Regardless of Levi's rumored power, she needed to test him. Her pride, her years of relentless effort, demanded it. How could she stand aside otherwise? What would the others think of her?
Vice Admiral Momonga (the Ghost Spider) had his own, more calculated reasons. He was a top-tier Vice Admiral, strong enough to play a key role in the future Summit War, even managing to place seastone cuffs on Marco the Phoenix. Considering Marco had traded blows with Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji, that spoke volumes of Momonga's capability. He was a future contender for the Admiral position himself, or at the very least, a prime candidate for the alternate Admiral role. Levi's sudden, meteoric rise disrupted the entire hierarchy. Even trusting Sengoku's judgment, he couldn't accept it silently. He needed to see for himself, to gauge this new variable. A honest test, even in defeat, would be an explanation for his own hard work and a way to measure Levi's stance.
"You want to test my qualifications?" Levi raised a hand, cutting off whatever Sengoku was about to say. He understood. Taking this position came with responsibilities, and handling internal challenges was the first of them. If he couldn't manage this, he had no business accepting the title at all.
"Correct," Gion stated coldly. "This isn't about revenge for the bathroom. I simply wish to see your strength for myself—to see if you can overwhelm me when I am prepared. I have waited for the Admiral's mantle for ten years. Do you know what that means?"
"Does it mean you're older?"
"You little—!" Gion's composure cracked for a second before she caught herself. Looking at Levi's bland, seemingly guileless expression, she realized he hadn't meant it as an insult. He'd just stated what he saw as fact. She took a deep, centering breath, pushing all distractions aside. Her focus narrowed to a razor's edge. Her hand settled on the hilt of her sword, and a sharp, palpable energy began to emanate from her. She was a master swordswoman, a kendo prodigy whose achievements already placed her above ninety percent of the world's fighters. Her intent was clear: she would attack, with or without Levi's permission.
Through his Reiatsu perception, Levi could sense the shift in her. The frustration, the embarrassment, the personal grievances—all were being forcibly shed. What remained was pure, concentrated will and burning combat spirit. She wasn't fighting for pettiness; she was fighting for her life's purpose. This understanding made Momonga feel a flicker of shame for his own, more politically-minded motives.
He was from Akainu's faction—the hardline, radical wing of the Marines, distinct from the more easygoing faction of Garp and Aokiji, or the neutral, pragmatic group led by Sengoku and Kizaru. A new, powerful Admiral represented a major shift in the balance. He needed to test Levi, to see where he might stand, and if possible, to feel out an approach. For that intelligence, even a beating was an acceptable price.
"Are you two coming together, or one at a time?" Levi asked, his tone still casual, a faint smile on his lips.
"I'll face you alone," Gion stated flatly, before Momonga could respond. She disdained ganging up. More than that, she believed that with proper preparation, no one in the world could defeat her with Conqueror's Haki alone, no matter how rare the talent. Reaching her level of skill was a rarer feat than being born with the gift. She had no room for retreat.
"Why don't we take this outside—" Sengoku began, eyeing the escalating sword pressure gathering around Gion. He was worried about his conference room.
He never finished the sentence.
Whoosh!
Gion moved. Her figure blurred, vanishing from sight. A breathtaking arc of sword light, sharper than a guillotine's fall, materialized in the air and swept toward Levi's neck, cutting through the space between them with lethal intent.
The sheer speed and precision of the strike commanded the attention of every powerhouse in the room. Even Kizaru and Garp watched closely. Anyone strong enough to be an Admiral candidate was a top-tier combatant, not far from the Admirals themselves.
"He's not dodging? He's not moving at all?!" Garp muttered, his observational skills allowing him to track the attack where others saw only a blur. The Rear Admirals present were utterly lost, unable to perceive Gion's movement at all.
They saw her vanish and the sword light appear, but Levi remained a statue.
What is this kid doing? Is he overconfident?! A cold sweat broke out on Sengoku's brow. Power was one thing, but arrogance got you killed. He fought the instinct to intervene.
"So slow…" Levi murmured, his eyelids lifting just a fraction.
BANG.
An invisible force erupted from him. This time, to the heightened senses of the strongest observers, it seemed to carry the faintest hint of a light-blue tint, a color so pale it was almost a trick of the mind. It was raw, concentrated Reiatsu.
The spiritual pressure hit the room like a physical blow to the soul. Everyone felt it, a second, controlled hammer-strike of that earlier, overwhelming force.
Vice Admiral Momonga, who had been readying himself, instantly flared his Armament Haki, his body turning jet black in defense.
It made no difference.
Thump!
He was driven to his knees in an ungainly, violent collapse, his body frozen, held down by the immense spiritual weight. He couldn't twitch a finger.
Gion's stunning sword light shattered inches from Levi's skin, dissolving into harmless sparks of energy. Her charge was arrested mid-motion. She didn't collapse like Momonga, but her forward momentum died instantly. Her sword arm trembled violently, the blade now pointing at the floor as she strained against the pressure bearing down on her very spirit. Her eyes, wide with disbelief and effort, were locked on Levi. She was still conscious, still standing—but utterly, completely neutralized. Every ounce of her focused will and formidable sword spirit was being crushed under a mountain of unseen force.
In that moment, everyone understood. This was not a contest. It was an absolute, unequivocal demonstration. Vice Admiral Momonga was unqualified to even be in the ring. And Candidate Admiral Gion, for all her skill and preparation, was helpless before it.
Levi hadn't taken a single step.
(End of Chapter)
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