Aboard the warship, Lipo's floppy ears stood straight up as she stared fixedly at the shock waves erupting on the distant Deserted Island. Every collision made her heart pound.
"Gern..."
She could clearly sense it-the samurai's presence was terrifyingly powerful, almost on par with Gern's.
"Petty Officer!" Lipo spun around, static making her floppy ears bristle slightly. "Contact Uncle Sakazuki, now!"
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki." The petty officer snapped out of his daze and rushed into the communications room, dialing the strictly confidential channel with trembling fingers.
This was the only communications line maintained between Gern and Sakazuki.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki!" The petty officer's voice was hoarse with urgency. "We've encountered the Whitebeard Pirates!
Commodore Gern is fighting the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, 'Samurai' Kozuki Oden, whose bounty is 1.87 billion Beli!"
The other end went silent for a moment, followed by the bubbling sound of boiling magma.
"Location." Sakazuki's voice was ice-cold.
The petty officer quickly reported their coordinates. The instant he finished, the connection was abruptly cut.
He stood there blankly holding the receiver, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Second Lieutenant Lipo, Vice Admiral Sakazuki..."
"He'll come. And Gern won't lose!" Lipo turned her gaze back toward the sea, determination flashing in her eyes.
On the Deserted Island, their fierce battle had already left the landscape unrecognizable. Slashes had torn the coastline apart, and enormous crater-like pits covered the island's center.
Before the dust cleared, Oden's twin swords trailed crimson-black Ryuo, tracing searing arcs through the air.
"Hahaha! Again!!" He laughed wildly. The blood at the corners of his mouth had yet to dry, but the fighting spirit in his eyes only burned hotter.
His kimono was already in tatters, his exposed upper body covered in fine wounds.
Gern watched him coldly. Black Blade: Eight Desolations