Taking out this old lady was simply because she was getting a bit annoying.
Although not much contact, it's clear that this person influences that brute.
A person like her wouldn't truly be sincere even if forced to join.
On the contrary, he has quite a good impression of Weevil, this fool.
Strong, obedient, brainless...
The perfect tool.
If recruited, it would be a decent combat force.
"Mama!!"
Buckin's sudden death made Weevil scream in shock, his eyes turning red as a wave of air burst around him.
With a thud, he leapt high, the naginata in his hand lit up with a lightning black slash, chopping down fiercely.
The ultimate use of Armament!
"Sage, wouldn't he be rather unwilling to join?" Hawkins was somewhat puzzled.
Sage looked up at Weevil jumping in the air, smirked, "If you want him to join, there are plenty of ways, but..."
That old lady was unambitious; whether through money or prospects, you could easily have Weevil join along with her.
Then let the old lady have an accident, you can still recruit whoever Sage wants.
But in that case...
"I think being direct might be easier!"
Bam!!
Sage slightly shifted as a dark lightning cleaved straight down, shattering the surrounding ground, carving out a bottomless trench in the earth.
"The power of Haki is impressive, mastered the ultimate Armament."
He nodded, "Very strong, at least in my normal state, I can't match you in strength."
"I'll kill you!!"
Seeing his strike miss, Weevil immediately raised his naginata, the howling wind accompanying a diagonal slash aiming at Sage's head.
Bang!
The immense force vibrated the surrounding rubble, rising up to the face of Sage, who wore a sinister grin.
"Thirty times heavier."
His foot stepped on the back of the naginata, causing it to tremble upon contact.
Weevil's face flushed red, veins bulging from his arms, but no matter how much strength he used, he couldn't lift the naginata.
"I already told you, that's just in my normal state!"
Pow!
Weevil's chest was slammed by a fist, exploding like a cannonball nearby, causing him to release the naginata handle and fly straight out, crashing into the building behind.
"Calm down, otherwise you can't use Observation."
Sage sneered and kicked the naginata into the air, spinning.
Thud!
Just as the naginata flew, Sage's figure instantly disappeared, appearing in the sky above the ruins.
Weevil below had just pushed aside rubble, barely rising when a whistling sound hit his ears.
Boom!
Sage's foot stomped down forcefully, pressing onto Weevil's face, sparking a blast of air, scattering the surrounding ruins.
The ground sank heavily from the stomp, quivering, the spot sinking further.
Snap.
The spinning naginata arrived, caught by Sage's outstretched hand.
He looked down, chuckling, "The physique is quite good too."
He stabbed the naginata into the ground, walking out from the crater, "Let me see, is there anything else?"
"Roar!"
A roar erupted from the crater, cracks forming around it as Weevil climbed from the ground, grabbing the naginata handle, exploding forward the moment he stepped out.
Though large in size, his explosiveness wasn't lacking, breaking the wind with a howling vertical chop.
Bang!
Sage dodged again, evading Weevil's attack, watching as the struck blade rapidly adjusted, slashing horizontally.
But no matter how you strike, Sage could swiftly evade, as if strolling leisurely, avoiding slashing, chopping, diagonal strikes, and jabbing within that small space.
The explosive power from his strength and the Haki coiling on the naginata frightened watchers Hawkins and Urouge.
Compared to when fighting them, Weevil had surely enhanced much more.
Yet for Sage, the outcome remained unchanged.
After all, strength is meaningless if it doesn't hit.
One of the ultimate applications of Observation... Foreseeing the Future.
"Not bad."
Sage nodded, "Utilizing your power advantage, without fancy techniques, the simplest attack often works best."
Technique is indeed useful, but depends on who uses it.
For someone like Weevil, pursuing technique over power is pointless.
This power is meant to be used this way.
"I want revenge for Mama!"
The more Weevil missed his strikes, the more anxious he became, his naginata swings slightly deforming, yet his arm veins bulged more, noticeably thickening.
"Weaker than earlier."
Sage tilted his head, dodging a diagonal slash, then quickly jumped, evading before the redirected naginata swung by, landing feet first on the blade.
He inched closer along the handle, delivering a sword-like kick directly into Weevil's chest.
Bang!
The powerful impact sent Weevil flying, tumbling several meters upon landing.
"Damn you, it hurts so much!"
Weevil clutched his chest, coughing up a mouthful of blood.