Launi Aileen's body twitched too. The Thunderball had not only paralyzed the Long-Legged Beauty; she had been caught in it as well.
"I don't think we can beat him. Should we retreat for now?"
Despair filled Launi Aileen's eyes. Werther was simply too powerful.
His formidable swordsmanship, inhuman reaction speed, and terrifying lightning made him an opponent Launi Aileen had no idea how to handle.
"We can't. Everyone took a beating in that explosion. They're still recovering."
Despite what the Long-Legged Beauty said, there was not a trace of blast damage on her body.
"On Whole Cake Island... is everyone dead except Mom and the Sweet Commanders?"
Launi Aileen struggled to ask the question. A part of her still hoped the Long-Legged Beauty would tell her everyone else was safe.
The Big Mom Pirate crew had found Launi Aileen when she was at her most vulnerable and brought her home. That was why they meant so much to her.
"It's all right. About half of them died, but not everyone."
Launi Aileen could hardly believe what she had heard.
"Really?"
"Mm. Don't forget, we still have the mirror."
With that, the Long-Legged Beauty fell silent. She crouched down and smiled at Launi Aileen.
"Enjoying your chat?"
A cold voice sounded beside the Long-Legged Beauty's ear, and a sharp pain struck her back, just behind her heart.
She knew that feeling all too well. She had felt it once before.
"Ah!"
Launi Aileen screamed and vanished from Werther's sight, taking Charlotte Smoothie with her.
Werther's sword struck empty air, but a smear of blood clung to the tip of Intent Blood. The blade quickly absorbed it.
Launi Aileen reappeared at least two hundred meters from Werther.
The moment she appeared, she began gasping for breath.
Normally, to move through space, Launi