Chapter 49: Heavy lesson
Port Side.
Gion had had enough. These two female pirates—looking down on her without even taking her seriously—were beyond intolerable.As a self-proclaimed genius and one of the Navy's pillars, it was unthinkable for her to be humiliated by such "weaklings."
If not for Tashigi's constant reminders, she would have already drawn her blade, struck first, and interrogated later. Navy style.
They were pirates, after all. Their only fate was to be captured and sent to Impel Down.At this point, Gion no longer cared about anything else.
Tashigi, however, looked at her in despair. Unlike her senpai, she could sense the monstrous power radiating from Kuina and Zala. If she was just a level 1 adventurer, then these two were already max-level gods.
Yet Gion, with false confidence, reassured her junior as she unsheathed her famous katana.
Tashigi's eyes brimmed with tears.Idiot, Gion-senpai… nothing will happen to me. It's you who's about to get wrecked.
Kuina ignored Gion's killing intent, her eyes instead fixed curiously on the trembling Tashigi."Wanna duel?" she asked casually.
Despite her fear, Tashigi responded instantly, drawing her sword. She knew she was weaker, but she wanted to see for herself what kind of ability her "senpai" possessed.
Zala clicked her tongue in annoyance."Damn it, Kuina. You took the only decent opponent."
Kuina stuck her tongue out playfully."Haven't you had enough sparring already? Besides, while she may not be 'decent,' she'll definitely fight you to the death."
Turning her gaze to Gion, Zala smirked.
Gion stood poised with her katana, her killing intent so thick it seemed to manifest as tangible force. Haki flared violently. Her eyes burned with hostility.
After all, since the beginning, neither Kuina nor Zala had spared her more than a second of attention. All their focus was on Tashigi.
They hadn't even acknowledged her as a worthy opponent.To Gion, this was the ultimate humiliation.
Zala grinned."Oh, nice eyes. Let's hope your next performance matches them."
Her words were answered by a massive, pink-tinged flying slash cutting through the air.
Gion's fury exploded—the consequences dire.
But Zala was unimpressed. With one lazy movement, she lifted her hand and extended a single well-manicured finger. Her white nail flicked upward, and the mighty slash was deflected into the sky.
The heavens split. Clouds scattered. The sky darkened under the force of Gion's blade—only to be brushed aside like dust.
"Tsk," Zala muttered, utterly casual. "A decent strike… just a little below Hawkeye's level."
Her posture radiated arrogance, her presence suffocating.
Kuina rolled her eyes.Tashigi's eyes, however, widened in awe.
Gion froze, staring in disbelief. That single finger… there had been no Haki, no technique. It was a literal nail.
Zala sneered at her horror."What? Already cowering? Relax. I won't kill you. Honestly, sparring with weaklings like you is exhausting."
"Ex… exhausting?" Tashigi repeated in shock.
Kuina sighed."She means she has to hold back, otherwise she might accidentally kill your colleague."
Tashigi's face paled, her worry deepening."Please… be careful," she whispered.
Kuina chuckled softly. "I will."
Gion's pride shattered.Her sword trembled in her hands as her worldview collapsed before her eyes.
Zala clicked her tongue."That's why I hate fighting prideful weaklings. The moment their world crumbles, so do they."
Meanwhile, Kuina and Tashigi had already engaged in their duel.Their power was near equal, yet Kuina's swordsmanship was breathtaking. Every one of Tashigi's attacks was deflected, disrupted, or effortlessly redirected—sending slashes tearing through the surroundings, damaging property and land.
Kuina fought like a teacher—pinpointing flaws, correcting form, guiding improvement.As the fight grew fiercer, Tashigi felt herself break through barriers, her swordsmanship evolving rapidly in real time. Her potential seemed limitless.
But the other side of the battlefield was pure humiliation.
Gion was crushed. Her vaunted swordsmanship was read like a children's book. Zala hadn't even bothered to draw her blade—her nails were enough. She didn't move, didn't shift her stance. Just stood there, dismantling Gion's pride with casual flicks.
The watching Navy soldiers gulped nervously. This was a Reserve Admiral, a pillar of justice—yet she looked like a helpless recruit before a monster.
Yes, a monster.
There was no way a human could exude such suffocating pressure. Eye contact alone made seasoned elites crumble, their knees buckling under the weight of her presence.
Kuina was gentler, but no one cared. Zala had stolen the show.
Gion's body dripped with sweat, her eyes bloodshot. She had never felt so powerless.
For the first time, she believed it—this was the woman who had sunk those islands.
And then, an even more terrifying thought struck her.If Zala was this strong… and Kuina, Tashigi's twin, was just as terrifying… what about the rest of the crew?
What about their captain?What about Garp's grandson Monkey D. Luffy?
No. Not "Garp's grandson." anymore...
Something far, far worse.
The thought alone made her stomach churn.
The world is about to face a storm unlike any before…
"Tap."
Zala's nail pressed against Gion's sweaty forehead, tapping her again and again with clear disdain.
"Seriously? I told you I won't kill you. So what the hell are you brooding about?"
Gion swallowed hard, desperate.
She shouted hysterically.
"You… you don't even know Haki?"
Zala only smirked, saying nothing.
And then, Kuina's voice cut through the air.
"I'll teach you one last trick. Watch carefully."
A monstrous aura descended.
The clouds retreated. The sky darkened. Lightning tore through the heavens. The sea itself seemed to shrink back.
Above Kuina's blade, lightning crackled, reality trembling in defiance.
Tashigi gasped—her perception sharp. She understood instantly. Another, weaker aura answered hers, coating her own sword with raw, unrefined lightning power.
The two blades never clashed. They didn't have to. The air between them shattered.
A magnificant feast for eyes....
Tashigi was hurled back, flying with blood dripping from her hands, her katana twisted from the strain.
Zala muttered calmly, "I assume you got your answer."
Gion's vision blurred. Her last thought before fainting was one of resignation.
Zala sighed."What a weakling. Fainting from not even one percent of Kuina's Conqueror's Haki."
She glanced at Tashigi, who still stood—bloodied but eyes glowing with newfound clarity."As expected of a max-potential candidate. From Vice Admiral level to world-class, in just one spar."
She yawned, restless."Captain better hurry and break this world soon. I'm dying of boredom fighting weaklings."
Kuina sheathed her sword, replying gently, "Soon enough. Don't sulk. We've done what we came for."
Zala chuckled."Captain really is a god… Predicting things like this. Though I do feel sorry for that chick, Gion. She'll have to endure another beating."
Kuina rolled her eyes."Only an idiot like you would pity her. No matter what, she'll never forgive you for today."
With that, the two vanished, leaving behind a field of unconscious Navy soldiers.
Only Tashigi remained standing. Bloodied, battered—yet eyes shining with enlightenment.
Her breathing echoed in the silence, steady and unyielding.