In the woods outside the Marine Dojo's walls, Isabella stood leaning on her sword, watching Vice Admiral Momousagi charge into the square beyond the wall.
"...An Admiral candidate, huh? Mm, she certainly had plenty of energy-"
Isabella had some experience fighting Emperor-Admiral-level opponents: Issho, Zephyr, Yamato, and Sephi.
Apart from Sephiroth, she could use the Flame-Flame Fruit's mobility to kite the others and maintain a mobile standoff. If she played dirty and wore the old man down, she could even beat Zephyr.
But she had never fought a truly grueling battle. Facing Golden Lion did not exactly terrify her, but she did not think she could help much. Seeing Momousagi so dedicated left her rather impressed.
"The biggest surprise was that Shuzo turned out to be this strong."
Nami watched Shuzo twisting and dodging through the sky, struggling to survive-he really knew how to stay alive.
"No, he wasn't this strong before. The Seven Star Sword really is powerful..."
Ain pursed her lips. She was only a little stronger than Shuzo herself.
Yet this former rival of hers could actually exchange blows with Golden Lion in his prime.
The claim that the Seven Star Sword could cause a global crisis was nonsense, but as a cursed sword, it was certainly top-tier.
"Yes... the Seven Star Sword is still very dangerous..."
Maya felt somewhat reassured, but words were one thing.
Watching "Shuzo," who was far stronger than "Saka," wielding the Seven Star Sword in the sky, she could only spectate from the sidelines.
As the current Seven Star Miko, her "sense of duty" was rapidly slipping away.
"Yes! A cursed sword like that should be sealed and entrusted to Lord Sephi!"
Light flashed across Tashigi's glasses, her eyes behind them filled with sincerity.
Of course, as its "custodian," she could also