Buzz!
In a flash of fury, Gion unleashed a pink sword-energy more powerful than anything she had shown before.
Almost at the same moment Ginny pulled the trigger. A pitch-black bullet shot from the muzzle and sped toward Gion.
After firing, Ginny suddenly felt all her strength drain away. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.
But the bullet — which Konpira had parted so easily before — now met Gion's sword-energy midair in a deadly standoff.
Gion's eyes narrowed as she stared at the spinning bullet. In a low voice she said, "A bullet imbued with Haki? I didn't expect you to be able to use Armament Haki as well." She glanced down at Ginny, limp and weak, then shook her head slowly. "It seems you only awakened it recently."
She paused, assessing. "It's admirable that you used it now, but this level of Haki won't be enough to block my attack."
As soon as her voice faded, the sword-energy cut free of the bullet's hold — the bullet shattered violently into fragments. Left unblocked, the sword-energy whistled toward Ginny.
Squirrel and the others gasped, wanting to rush forward to help. If that blade struck, Ginny would be gravely injured. They would have no face left — no way to face Lloyd-san. But even their speed likely wouldn't save her.
Ginny raised her pistol with trembling hands. Even if she only had a normal bullet left, she refused to admit defeat.
It was too late. Before she could fire, Gion's sword-energy already arced in front of her. The brilliant light surged and Ginny closed her eyes, fear and regret flooding her thoughts:
I lost. This is embarrassing. I trained so hard. Lloyd-san praised me. If only I'd had more strength, I wouldn't lose to her. It's going to hurt so much... Waaah... I'm scared of pain.
Then darkness.
Pain — expected pain — never came.
Ginny opened her eyes. A tall figure blocked the light. She felt warmth, not dread. The presence was firm, overwhelming. In her chest soared sudden hope.
Her Lloyd-san had returned.
A bright, joyful smile bloomed on her face as she whispered, "Lloyd!"
Lloyd stood there, one hand raised, his pitch-black arm gleaming with metal light. As Ginny called him, he turned. A familiar gentle smile touched his lips. But when he saw her blood-stained hands and pale face, a surge of dark energy flared around his eyes.
At once, her weakness drained away. She leapt up and wrapped her arms around Lloyd's waist from behind.
"Lloyd-san, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"
He stroked her pink hair softly and spoke quietly, "I was gone for less than a month, right? Look how worried you are."
"You heard me on the Den Den Mushi, but it's too ugly. I prefer to see you with my own eyes."
Lloyd's voice stayed calm. "Alright, calm down first. Tell me what's going on with that woman over there."
Ginny nodded and, in quick simple words, told him everything — she didn't speak ill of Gion. She had lost, but only because she had tried to challenge her.
Lloyd listened silently. When she finished, he said softly, "I understand."
Then he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss on Ginny's forehead. Ginny froze. Lloyd smiled, then pinched her soft face lightly. When he turned to face Gion, the gentle warmth vanished. His eyes now burned with thick darkness.
Gion still held her sword, stunned. Her mind raced — just as her sword-energy was about to strike Ginny, Lloyd had appeared like a ghost and crushed it with a single hand. Now she faced him directly — the embodiment of shadows.
Terrified, she instinctively gripped Konpira with both hands. Her voice shook as she spoke, "You must be Lloyd, right? Tsuru-nee was right — you truly are powerful."
Lloyd did not respond. He slipped his hands into his pockets and advanced toward her slowly, deliberately.
Squirrel, watching the scene unfold, felt panic knot in his chest. This was bad. Lloyd's expression was unreadable. Gion was in danger.
He knew Gion claimed to be Sister of Vice Admiral Tsuru. Though he wasn't concerned for her, he was worried about Lloyd. If anything happened between them, even if Vice Admiral Tsuru was lenient, retaliation could come. And if she interfered — even Zephyr-sama might struggle to protect Lloyd.
Why did only Lloyd return? Where was Zephyr-sama and the others? Something big was coming, Squirrel sensed that much.
As Lloyd closed in on Gion, Squirrel cursed his comrades for being useless and turned away. He dashed toward the office building, desperately needing to make a Den Den Mushi call.
Back on the field, Gion attempted to swing another sword-energy at Lloyd. But Lloyd merely waved his hand lazily, and the energy collapsed in midair like a struck wasp. Her blade energy failed even to graze him.
The psychological pressure alone was overwhelming.
Gion tried to retreat, but in an instant she was right where Lloyd stood. His body seemed to radiate an invisible force, drawing her in like iron to a magnet.
Their faces were close enough to feel each other's breath. Gion trembled, fear freezing her limbs.
"You thought you could challenge me," Lloyd said softly, voice deceptively calm. "You thought you had strength. Then strike me. I'm standing here."
Gion's eyes went wide — rage, fear, disbelief, all mixing at once. She clenched her teeth and swung her sword with all her might.
Konpira sliced through the air, aiming straight for Lloyd's chest.