"A man should stand by the people he cares about, especially when the woman he loves needs help. He should step forward without fear. Wouldn't you agree, Admiral Fujitora?"
Rayleigh drew his gaze away from Ye Chen with a look of approval, then narrowed his eyes and smiled at Fujitora.
Though the situation had turned against the Marines, Rayleigh saw not a trace of panic or unease on Fujitora's face. He admired the man for it. "You truly are an Admiral of Headquarters. Nothing rattles you!"
Gravity Blade!
Fujitora had no time to chat with Rayleigh. He yanked his sword free. A dazzling blade of light flashed, and a merciless force surged toward Rayleigh like a raging flood.
Rayleigh's expression shifted. His smile vanished as he raised his sword across his chest. Boom! The two forces collided with a thunderous crash. Marines nearby were caught in the impact, and many were hurled into the air. Rayleigh, however, stood as firm as a mountain.
Fujitora was strong, but Rayleigh was no pushover. They were evenly matched; it was hard to say which of them had the edge.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Kuina raced forward, her blade flashing in swift, precise strikes. By the time she passed, a whole swath of Marines had fallen behind her.
She had spared their lives, but their injuries were serious enough to take them out of the fight.
Kuina's face was cold, her rounded cheeks betraying neither joy nor anger. She carried herself with a crisp, fearless confidence. For once, she had changed her clothes: a short-sleeved plaid shirt and cropped denim shorts. With a pair of glasses, she would have looked almost exactly like Tashigi.
Her straight nose, neat short hair, and bright black eyes gave her an unapproachable air. Yet for all her coolness, she