"Enough!" Aboard the Kuja Pirate Ship, Gern finally reached the end of his patience. He knocked the Snake Princess back with a slash and put some distance between them.
Toritoma steadied herself, resting her sword tip on the deck as she panted lightly. Her gaze still burned, but her voice had regained its arrogance.
"What, is this all the great Marine 'Heavenquake' can do?"
"That's because I've never seen a swordswoman who keeps rubbing herself against her opponent!"
"Isn't that a kind of attack, too?"
"..."
"Fine!" Gern sighed and sheathed Eight Desolations. "I'm not interested in playing this game with you. Leave!"
Seeing that Gern had stopped fighting and would no longer let her take advantage of him, Toritoma bit her lip, then suddenly called out.
"Gern Reginald Sigma!
As the current second-in-command of the Kuja Pirates, I formally challenge you!
If you win, you can do whatever you like with me. If you lose..."
She paused, her cheeks turning even redder. "You have to come back to Amazon Lily with me!"
Gern: "...?"
The Kuja warriors collectively covered their faces, but on second thought, wasn't this a valid approach? This was Heavenquake!
One of Marine Headquarters' strongest fighters, aside from the Admirals!
If Heavenquake went back with them...
"Lady Snake Princess is sacrificing herself to make Amazon Lily great again!
Could she actually succeed where Lady Gloriosa and Lady Shakky failed?
Wait, Lady Snake Princess is Amazon Lily's only Great Swordsman! Maybe she can!!"
Watching this unfold, Gern rubbed his temples, his gaze sweeping over the cold, haughty, mature swordswoman before him.
If not for their earlier "intimate contact" during the fight, who would have guessed that this outwardly aloof "Snake Princess" was such a lovestruck woman?
At that thought, Gern was about to refuse when his brow