"Roronoa Zoro."
"I'm your next opponent!"
Kuina pointed her sword ahead and spoke coldly.
Then she looked at the Pacifista Ships. "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—the Five Stars. Your mission ends here. Go find other pirates!"
The five Pacifista Ships paused, then turned and strode off in another direction.
Moments later, they joined Enel and Wyper, who stood beneath a tree.
"She isn't even trying to hide that she's letting them off!"
Enel muttered.
"That's none of our business, Enel."
Wyper smiled faintly.
With that, they followed the Pacifista Ships and disappeared.
"Whew!"
"We're out of danger!"
Usopp let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
A smile appeared on Luffy's face too. He looked at Kuina. "Is she your friend, Zoro?"
But Zoro's expression was grave. Holding two swords, he stared solemnly at her. "A friend?"
"You could say that!"
"But under the circumstances, she's probably already decided we're her enemies!"
As her childhood companion, he naturally knew her well. He also knew that beneath Kuina's feminine exterior lay a heart more tenacious than any man's.
And more importantly, Kuina was a powerful swordswoman!
Zoro had never doubted that over all these years.
Suddenly, Kuina swung her sword, her icy voice ringing out.
"Don't get the wrong idea!"
"I only sent PX-1 through PX-5 away so I could better enjoy capturing you pirates!"
As her words fell, the air shuddered with a hum.
A massive flying slash swept toward them all, howling through the air and reaching them in the blink of an eye.
"She's so strong!"
Luffy shouted.
Sanji looked stunned. He had never imagined Moss Head's childhood friend could be this powerful.
"I'll hold her off!"
"Take this chance and run!"
Zoro drew his third sword, clenched it between his teeth, and