"Kizaru, how about it? Bet you didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"
As he spoke, Ye Chen drew his swords. Kogarashi and Oto gleamed with a cold light, reflecting the sun in flashes sharp enough to make the eye sting.
Kizaru's mouth twitched. He wouldn't have faced Ye Chen again even in his nightmares. Every time they met, he came away worse off and suffered a thorough humiliation. After enough encounters, he had grown afraid.
As the saying went, once bitten by a snake, you feared even a rope.
Ye Chen had left a shadow in his heart that he could not shake. They had yet to exchange a blow, and cold sweat had already broken out on Kizaru's forehead.
He swept a quick glance around. Most of Big Mom's subordinates had rushed in, leaving Ye Chen's side at a severe disadvantage, but several of Blackbeard's crew had already fallen. The more Kizaru looked, the less confident he felt.
Seeing Kizaru's eyes darting about, Ye Chen teased him with a smile. "If you want to run, I'll let you go. I won't stop you. Better do it now, though. You won't get another chance later!"
"Kizaru!" Blackbeard suddenly shouted. Kizaru hurriedly turned toward his voice.
Blackbeard's face was grim and his eyes were wide. "If you dare abandon us again, I'll never forgive you!" he said, his tone all but a threat.
"Hahaha..." Ye Chen laughed. "Kizaru, you're finished. Looks like you don't have a choice!"
Kizaru had betrayed Blackbeard once before, and Blackbeard had forgiven him. This time, Blackbeard knew how dire their situation was. He had no intention of letting Kizaru slip away again.
Blackbeard had made the threat because he wanted Kizaru fighting at his side, giving everything he had against Ye Chen and the