Kuina gripped her sword with both hands, watching as Mr. 1 charged at her with deadly speed.
"Do you really think you can block my attacks with just one sword?
"Even dual-wielding swordsmen—I've lost count of how many I've killed!"
"Hmph... Block? Who said anything about blocking?"
Kuina assumed her stance. "A guy like you, with blades covering your entire body, is even more ridiculous than a certain green-haired fool. The more swords you have, the stronger you are?"
"No wonder my senior brother said that the Quick-Slash Fruit isn't suited for me..."
"A single mind, a single will, a single sword—that is the path of a true swordsman!"
"One-Sword Style: Severing Wave!"
With the precision of a master swordsman, Kuina unleashed a single slash, cleaving through the air with the force of a tidal wave. In the blink of an eye, she and Mr. 1 passed each other.
"Splurt—"
The sound of blood spraying filled the air, followed by a pained gasp. "Impossible..."
"The mark of a true swordsman—'cutting steel'—have you never heard of it?"
Kuina turned to face Mr. 1, who collapsed to the ground. "The seas are vast, filled with countless swordsmen. If you truly believe no swordsman could ever defeat you, then your arrogance is blinding."
Mr. 1 coughed up blood and let out a bitter chuckle. "So... that's how it is..."
"I really am... an idiot..."
As consciousness faded, he vaguely heard the agonized scream of his partner, Miss Doublefinger.
"You... lost too?"
Miss Doublefinger had already deduced Kuina's strength from Tashigi's swordsmanship. Before she could warn her partner, she saw him—Mr. 1, Baroque Works' strongest agent aside from Mr. 0—defeated by Kuina in a single strike!
"..."
A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Mr. 1 had lost that quickly?!
"The fight isn't over. Do you really have time to be distracted?"
Tashigi's sharp voice rang out as she deflected Miss Doublefinger's spiked attack with a swift counter.
"Shigure—Rain Cutter!"
Still reeling from shock, Miss Doublefinger had no time to react. Tashigi's blade struck cleanly.
"Splurt—"
Blood sprayed through the air as Miss Doublefinger crumpled to the ground, powerless.
"Justice is not something self-proclaimed..."
"Protecting the people of this land from your tyranny—that is justice!"
"Well done, Tashigi!"
Kuina approached, exchanging a high-five with Tashigi. "You've improved so much. You're getting closer to mastering 'cutting steel'!"
"It's all thanks to Vice Admiral Wright, you, and even Cavendish!" Tashigi said with a sheepish smile. "Cavendish, like you, is a swordsmanship genius. Compared to you two, I'm far behind and can only keep pushing forward!"
"Ha! Don't underestimate yourself. Hard work matters more than talent!"
"That guy Cavendish—I'll never forget the dumbfounded look on his face when he first saw you. It still makes me laugh!"
Kuina retrieved a pair of Seastone cuffs and secured their defeated enemies. She nodded in satisfaction.
"Haha... That's only because you completely shattered his confidence!"
Tashigi sheathed her sword, turning to the waiting turtle cart. "Should we go pick up Cavendish?"
"Let him find his own way back. This cart can only fit four people."
At Spiders Café in Spider Miles, Cavendish and Mr. 2—Bon Clay—were reaching the climax of their battle.
"Seriously, you damned okama, stop messing around already!"
Cavendish, visibly frustrated, launched a flurry of attacks, but Bon Clay's bizarre "Okama Kenpo" proved difficult to counter.
"Ah~ My handsome beauty~ What a lonely existence~"
A dramatic sigh came from Bon Clay, sending shivers down Cavendish's spine.
Durandal's tip suddenly stopped just inches from Bon Clay's chest. Cavendish's right hand trembled. "Y-you...!"
Standing before him—was himself.
"Two of me?!"
"This... This radiance!"
Cavendish was utterly mesmerized.
"Okama Kenpo: That Summer's Memoir!"
Bon Clay leaped into the air, executing a spinning kick. Cavendish snapped out of his daze just in time to block with his sword.
"Ahahaha! My dear narcissist, you could never bring yourself to strike your own beautiful face!"
Bon Clay burst into exaggerated laughter. "Okama Kenpo is more than just physical attacks!"
"Spin, spin, spin! Let me take care of you!"
"Okama Kenpo: 320,000-Rotation Grand Spinning Kick!"
"Clang, clang, clang—"
A relentless barrage of kicks forced Cavendish on the defensive.
"...So this is what Vice Admiral Wright meant by both physical and mental attacks? Damn it..."
Cavendish's eyes glazed over. "Ah... My charm is truly irresistible. Even I can't help but admire myself..."
"No! Focus!"
Shaking off his distraction, Cavendish countered aggressively.
"Beautiful Sword: Swan Lake!"
Swords and kicks clashed in rapid succession. Cavendish's eyes flashed with sharp focus.
"I am a genius! You've repeated that move so many times—did you really think I wouldn't spot the flaw?!"
"Wahaha! My Okama Kenpo has no weak— OWW!"
Bon Clay let out a pained cry as Cavendish's sword slashed across his side.
"Y-you actually saw through my technique?!"
"Hmph... You can't use your Okama Kenpo while transformed into me, can you? A swordsman like me requires strength and skill—so you have to revert to your real form to fight me properly!"
Cavendish leveled Durandal at Bon Clay's face. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you touching your face with your left hand? I saw everything."
"Ah... What? I hear nothing, la la la~" Bon Clay tried to play dumb, sweating profusely.
"So what if you found out? Don't think just because you're a swordsman that I fear you!"
Bon Clay quickly recovered, striking a dramatic pose.
"Okama Kenpo: Explosive Swan Waltz!"
"White Horse!"
Cavendish's golden hair billowed as his gaze turned razor-sharp, his presence becoming overwhelmingly intense.
"Beautiful Swordplay: Bluebird!"
A piercing sword cry echoed as the two figures crossed paths. A line of fresh blood bloomed across Bon Clay's body as he collapsed.
"Y-you weren't even fighting at full strength...?"
"You win... Just kill me. The organization will hunt me down anyway—better to die by your hand."
"Hmph, I avoid using this state unless necessary—it means my swordsmanship alone wasn't enough."
Cavendish sheathed his sword, unimpressed. "Why so eager to die?"
"Being an okama is my pride!" Bon Clay, wounded but defiant, managed a weak smile.
"Straying from the path of a man or the path of a woman doesn't matter. What matters is staying true to oneself."
"..."
Cavendish shook his head and took out a pair of Seastone handcuffs, snapping them onto Mr. 2's wrists.
"The way of a true gentleman? First, you must be a good person..."
"Achieving your ideals through the suffering of innocent civilians—what part of that is honorable or within the bounds of righteousness?"
After all, I was once a prince of a kingdom myself...
If my homeland had suffered at the hands of usurpers like you, then even if it meant tarnishing my own reputation...
I would stop at nothing to eliminate you!
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