Carina and Uta have been mentioned significantly in Arton's diary ever since they started sailing with him. Numerous photos of both frequently appear in the log. Gion is well aware that if these were converted into point values, the sum would be quite formidable.
In her weakened state, Gion couldn't accurately assess the abilities of Uta and Carina. Hence, she was very cautious about their arrival, especially towards Uta, who possesses the Sing-Sing Fruit.
"Captain Arton, it looks like you've encountered a fan of your works," Carina said, standing to the left of Arton, eyeing Gion with interest.
"Yes, Captain Arton," Uta added, flipping her long spear like a microphone. "If you command, I will support you with my singing."
"Of course," Arton nodded with a smile. "Though I've drugged her, she still possesses considerable strength. And she managed to move freely even after being hit with my secret technique."
"She would be quite a formidable opponent if it comes to a fight."
"So, when the fight starts, I'll need you two to help me flank and support me."
Although Gion is a vice-admiral and it wouldn't normally be appropriate for Uta and Carina to engage in battle with her, Arton had seen the progress both had made.
Moreover, Gion wasn't at her full strength.
Arton thought that having the two flank him might be very effective.
"Leave it to us, Arton," both Carina and Uta nodded firmly, pointing their weapons at Gion.
"This is really troublesome," Gion sighed. "I'd regret it if I went back like this without doing anything."
"So, I'm afraid I'll have to beat you up, Arton."
Gion took a deep breath, stood up, and opened the long package she carried on her back.
As Arton had guessed, it contained Gion's famous sword, Konpira.
"Ah, why must it be this way, Miss Gion?" Arton lamented. "By rights, I should have no quarrel with your navy."
"As a member of the navy, you really have no reason to capture me," Arton continued, shaking his head and stopping about a meter away from Gion, speaking solemnly.
Arton's words made Gion somewhat ashamed. Indeed, what Arton said was true. Based on Arton's current actions in the real world, the navy truly had no justification to arrest him.
If Gion hadn't had a copy of the diary, she indeed wouldn't have interfered with Arton's affairs. However, the reality was that she did possess a copy of the diary. Seeing Arton's capabilities and his ambition to overthrow the Celestial Dragons, she felt compelled to stop him.
"Actually, if we're talking about who struck first, wasn't it you, Arton?"
"Have you forgotten that you drugged me?" Gion suddenly asked.
"Then, how about I apologize to you? And then you can go back to where you came from?" Arton said with a smile.
Gion shook her head.
"So, there's no choice but to fight, huh?"
"Why must it be like this?"
After saying this, Arton's eyes suddenly flashed with light.
The next moment, the ground beneath his feet shattered violently, and his long sword, surrounded by flames, swung towards Gion.
Gion, with focused eyes, gripped her long sword with both hands to meet Arton's fierce attack.
However, as soon as their swords touched, Gion felt a force far stronger than before pass from the blade into her body.
Despite being prepared, Gion couldn't help but be blown backwards, her legs carving long grooves into the ground.
"Indeed, he possesses the powers of Tsunade and Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
"Arton's slashes will contain both fire and immense strength."
Gion exhaled deeply, fully activating her Observation Haki to "see" Arton swinging his sword.
At the same time, Carina waved her hands towards the sky, and tiny bolts of lightning began to fall towards Gion.
Meanwhile, Uta started singing her song.
Her voice transformed into shockwaves, complementing Arton and Carina's attacks on Gion, targeting her weak spots.
Already weakened by the drug Arton had given her, Gion immediately frowned.
The battle lasted only two minutes before Gion revealed a slight flaw.
However, this small flaw appeared enormous in the eyes of Arton, who activated Transparent World.
Arton's eyes flashed with golden light, facing Gion who dodged Carina's lightning and Uta's ultrasonic waves and charged straight at him.
Arton didn't choose to block but instead raised his blade and stabbed towards Gion's abdomen.
Seeing this, Gion quickly concentrated a large amount of Armament Haki at her abdomen, shifting her body to avoid being hit in a vital spot.
Splurch.
Two splashes of blood blossomed.
Arton's blade pierced through the Armament Haki on the surface of Gion's abdomen and penetrated her skin, but it was stopped by Gion's muscles just before it could reach her kidney.
Gion's blade, however, faced little resistance and directly pierced through one of Arton's kidneys.
It's not surprising, considering that Arton does not possess Armament Haki.
Gion could defend herself from direct stabs with Armament Haki, but he could not.
However, before Gion could react to her situation, Arton's left hand suddenly shot up, striking her left chest with a fierce palm.
The force deformed Gion's chest, and her body was sent flying by Arton's blow.
"Arton, are you alright?"
"Arton, is your wound okay?"
Uta and Carina rushed to Arton's side, separating him and Gion.
"It's nothing serious."
Despite saying this, Arton frowned.
This time, it was a literal kidney pain, the physical kind.
Fortunately, Arton knew Senjutsu.
His left hand glowed with bright green light, then covered the wound Gion had inflicted.
Under the healing chakra of Senjutsu, Arton's wound began to visibly heal.
Seeing this, Gion's eyebrows furrowed deeply.
Then, her face turned pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Huh, she seems to be seriously injured."
"Arton, what did you do to her?"
Uta asked curiously, seeing Gion's pallid appearance.
"I used a chakra scalpel to make internal cuts."
"Though it didn't really harm her heart."
"But severing a few blood vessels was no problem."
Arton remarked, looking at his healing wound:
"However, if we're talking about who's more severely injured, It must be me."
"No offense, Vice Admiral Gion, but you were quite ruthless."
"Going for the kidney?"
"Aren't you afraid my future wife might come after you?"
Even Gion had to smirk at Arton's words.
"Ah, if we're talking about the severity of injuries, surely mine is greater."
"After all, my injury is near the heart."
"Besides, isn't your wound being healed right now?"
"With your unique methods."
Arton shook his head and said:
"While physically, you're the more injured party."
"The damage I've suffered isn't just physical."
"I've also experienced significant psychological trauma."
Gion raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"In that case, should I marry you to soothe your psychological wounds?"
"Just join the Navy, and we can start a straightforward romance."
As soon as she said this, before Arton could respond, Carina snorted first.
"Hmph, you were quite harsh on my Arton earlier."
"Now you want to date my Arton?"
"Is your thinking a bit too jumpy?" Carina said.
"My Arton, huh? Carina, you really do like Arton," Uta said, covering her mouth and chuckling.
"Uta, we're in the middle of a fight, please be serious," Carina said, stomping her foot and blushing as she spoke to Uta.
"Alright, alright," Uta waved her hand, pretending to look seriously at Gion.
But when Carina looked at Uta, she could still see the smile at the corner of her mouth.
"You guys really get along well," Gion said enviously as she looked at Arton, Uta, and Carina.
It wasn't that she envied the close relationship between them, but rather she envied how Uta and Carina could earn a lot of points through their close relationship with Arton.
"Jealous? Maybe you'll have a chance to get along well with Uta and Carina," Arton said, his lips curving meaningfully as he stepped forward, pointing his blade at Gion.
"Of course, after I defeat you and lock you up."
Hearing this, Gion sighed deeply, "I really don't want to be the one locked up."
"Well then, I give up this time. Until next time, Arton."
"I hope the next time we meet, we won't be enemies."
Gion gave Arton a deep look and then quickly turned and sprinted towards the coast.
Seeing this, Arton waved at Uta and Carina, signaling them to follow Gion's steps.
At this moment, Gion was already stepping through the air towards the distance using the Moonwalk.
"Arton, aren't we chasing?" Uta blinked, clearly excited.
That's a Vice Admiral there.
Uta thought that if they could capture her, they would definitely make a name for themselves.
Then, even Shanks might notice her.
"Let it be, this time," Arton shook his head.
Uta frowned, about to say something, but Carina raised her hand and patted her shoulder, shaking her head.
After a while.
When Gion's figure was no longer visible, Arton started to deactivate the fusion state with Kaya using system privileges.
Immediately, his body was enveloped in a faint green glow.
Under the glow, Kaya's body separated from Arton's.
As soon as she appeared, she fell towards the ground.
Arton, prepared, immediately reached out to support her.
***
Enjoyed the chapters? Read 20 chapters ahead on Patreon
PATREON.COM/METARLN
500 power stones = 1 extra chapter