The silence in the Great Courtyard was a heavy blanket, disturbed only by the dying crackle of Ace's Entei as it slowly dissipated, its light fading like a weary sunset. Below, the straw hat ronins and remaining pirates had frozen mid-clash, their heads turned upwards, stunned by the sudden cessation of the titanic battle and the sight of Crocodile's inert form.
Dust settled. Ace landed heavily, his injured leg giving way, forcing him to lean on a scorched piece of debris for support. His chest heaved, every breath a painful rasp. Gunnar, pushing himself to his feet with a monumental effort, swayed dangerously, his Armament Haki receding, leaving his arms raw and trembling. The backlash from his earthshattering attack was immense. Isshin Ashina stood tall, but the lines of exhaustion were deeply etched on his face, his ancient body protesting the abuse.
In front of them, Crocodile lay sprawled on the stones, a dark stain spreading beneath him.
A short distance away, Byrnndi World, his face a mask of shocked fury, stared at Crocodile's body, then at the triumphant trio. Edward Weevil, having finally crashed back to earth with a thunderous impact that cracked the courtyard further, was slowly, unsteadily, getting to his feet. His usual dull expression was now twisted into a confused, primal rage, his eyes fixed on the spot where Gunnar had unleashed the tremor.
"He… he actually did it…" Ace breathed, a mixture of awe and disbelief in his voice as he looked at Isshin, then at Crocodile's body. "Isshin… you got him."
Gunnar grunted, spitting out a glob of blood. "Took… all three of us… to even get the chance." He flexed his Haki-drained hands. "That… sand bastard… was tough."
Isshin sheathed his katana with a slow, deliberate movement, the click of the blade settling into its scabbard unnaturally loud in the sudden quiet. He took a deep, steadying breath. "One head of the snake is severed. But two more remain, and they are enraged."
His gaze, sharp and analytical despite his weariness, swept over Byrnndi World, then lingered on Weevil. The giant was now fully upright, his massive frame radiating an almost palpable aura of destruction. He wasn't strategizing; he was pure, unadulterated force.
"Ace. Gunnar," Isshin said, his voice low but firm, carrying an undeniable authority. He didn't turn to look at them, his eyes remaining fixed on their opponents. "Listen carefully. The battle is far from over."
"We know," Ace said, pushing himself upright, wincing as his leg throbbed. "World's still kicking, and… him." He nodded towards Weevil, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
"World is dangerous," Isshin continued, "his Devil Fruit makes him unpredictable, his attacks amplified beyond reason. But his rage is making him reckless. He can be baited, outmaneuvered." He paused, his gaze hardening as it settled fully on Weevil. "But the Whitebeard pretender… Weevil… he is a different beast entirely."
Gunnar, despite his exhaustion, felt a chill. He remembered the sheer, overwhelming force of Weevil's blows, even through his newfound Armament Haki. "He's… strong. Stronger than anything I've faced."
"Precisely," Isshin affirmed. "He fights with the raw, untamed power of a natural disaster. No finesse, no true strategy beyond annihilation. That makes him incredibly difficult to predict in a prolonged engagement, and terrifyingly resilient."
A grim understanding settled over Ace and Gunnar.
Isshin took another measured breath. "I will engage Byrnndi World. His abilities, while potent, are something I can manage if I focus entirely on him. His erratic attacks and reliance on amplifying objects can be countered with precision and timing."
He then turned his head slightly, meeting Ace's eyes, then Gunnar's.
"You two… you must focus all your efforts on Weevil. Together."
Ace frowned. "Together? Hey, after that stunt Gunnar pulled, and with my Observation, I think I can—"
"No, Ace," Isshin cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You misunderstand the threat. Weevil's raw power… it's on another scale. If either of you attempts to fight him one-on-one, even with your awakened Haki, you will lose. He will break you before you can inflict enough damage to stop him. His endurance is monstrous."
Gunnar nodded slowly, the memory of Weevil's bisento crashing against his Haki, nearly shattering it, still fresh. "He's right, Ace. That thing… it's not human. Every hit felt like… like the island itself was punching me."
Isshin's expression was grave. "If we defeat World, but Weevil remains standing after overwhelming one or both of you… then everything we have fought for, Crocodile's defeat, will be for nothing. Ashina will still fall. He will simply rampage until nothing is left." He let that sink in. "He is the true endgame threat now that Crocodile is down. He must be stopped, decisively, and that will require both your powers, your Haki, and whatever cunning you can muster, working in perfect concert."
Ace looked at Gunnar, then back at Isshin. The bravado faded, replaced by a grim determination. The old man's logic was unshakeable. They'd barely survived their individual encounters with these monsters. Teamwork had brought down Crocodile. It would be the only way to survive what came next.
"Alright, Samurai," Ace said, clenching his fists, embers beginning to glow around them again despite his fatigue. "We get it. Gunnar and I take down the big ugly. You handle the loudmouth."
Gunnar cracked his knuckles, a dull ache shooting up his arm, but his eyes were resolute. "Weevil… is ours."
Isshin nodded once, a curt, satisfied gesture. "Then let us finish this."
He turned fully to face Byrnndi World, who was now snarling, veins bulging on his grotesque head. Weevil, too, had locked his gaze onto Ace and Gunnar, a low, guttural growl rumbling in his chest like distant thunder.
The brief respite was over. The final act of the battle for Ashina was about to begin.