Hearing the vaguely familiar shout, Werther looked up and stopped what he was doing.
"Oh? You're on Whole Cake Island too? What a coincidence."
Werther smiled at the disheveled woman in the distance, whose face was streaked with blood.
"Launi Aileen, I have to say, you've grown stronger faster than I expected."
The woman in the distance was Launi Aileen.
Parts of Aileen's fair face were blackened, probably from the explosion just now, but her clothes were brand-new.
Aileen had likely suffered the same fate as Reiju: her clothes had been burned away. Unlike Reiju, though, she had managed to find a fresh outfit.
Blood seeped from Launi Aileen's forehead, dripping onto the ground.
"Reiju, run! I'll hold him off."
Launi Aileen forced herself to calm down. Her first thought was to get Reiju out of there.
"Thanks, Aileen."
Vinsmoke Reiju sat up with difficulty. The brief respite had restored some of her strength.
"Chie, finish her."
Werther gave Chie the order and walked toward Launi Aileen.
"Mm. But Werther, should I leave her body intact? I rather like this older girl."
Chie drew the Famous Sword Masamune. Its long blade stood in stark contrast to her small frame.
"Up to you."
With that, Werther stopped paying attention to them.
In her current state, Vinsmoke Reiju was no match for Chie.
Chie was a Swordswoman of Swordmaster caliber. She could handle Vinsmoke Reiju with ease.
Long sword in hand, Chie closed her eyes and sensed her surroundings.
An orange-yellow flash of steel cut through a pile of shattered masonry.
Reiju's heart tightened at the sight. The girl before her was not to be underestimated.
From the wreckage, Chie retrieved a slightly torn garment.
"Here. Put this on, fight me, and then die by my blade."
Chie tossed the garment to