Deep within the Royal Palace, a battered Drake had already returned to human form.
"...Cough, cough."
Rising from the rubble, Drake shook the sand, stones, and wood splinters off his body.
Admiral Kizaru had held back considerably with that kick, but to keep their cover intact, he had still broken four of Drake's ribs and inflicted moderately serious internal injuries.
If not for an ancient zoan's powerful recovery, Drake would have been sleeping soundly by now.
"Traitor-I'm surprised you survived an admiral's attack."
With a few bounds, Kujaku descended from the collapsed three-story pavilion, springing off broken beams and shattered walls to land before Drake.
"Cough, cough. I never imagined my 'junior' would be so relentless."
Drake and Kujaku squared off. Despite his words, the looks they exchanged were perfectly amicable.
"Enough talk-Finger Pistol!"
Rather than use her whip, Kujaku closed in on Drake with Soru and thrust a finger at him.
"-!"
Drake dodged the attack by a 'hair's breadth,' then drew his sword and counterattacked.
Only then did Kujaku take out her whip, pulling it taut between her hands and coating it in Armament Haki.
His saber struck the whip, bringing them into close quarters.
"Anyone else nearby?"
Drake spoke quietly. His Observation Haki had detected no one, but since he was injured, he wanted to confirm with Kujaku.
"No. But if any surveillance Den Den Mushi survived..."
Kujaku said no more. They kept up the appearance of fighting, exchanging whispers during the two or three seconds they were close together.
"-Sorry, but I can't let you catch me-!"
Drake put on a show of roaring and transformed again. His dinosaur tail swept sideways, smashing part of a building. Falling stones and debris rained down on Kujaku.
After dodging clear, Kujaku found that Drake had already escaped.
She