**Chapter 34 - Jiger Returns**
A sharp hum filled the air.
Gion, her patience at its limit, unleashed a powerful arc of pink sword energy, far stronger than before. At the same time, Ginny, refusing to back down, pulled the trigger of her golden pistol. A dark bullet erupted from the muzzle, cutting through the air toward its target.
But the moment the shot was fired, all the strength drained from Ginny's body. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
However, something unexpected happened.
The bullet—one that Gion had previously sliced apart with ease—did not shatter on impact this time. Instead, it clashed against the incoming wave of sword energy, holding firm in midair. A visible stalemate formed between them, the bullet spinning wildly as it pushed against the luminous pink energy.
Gion narrowed her eyes, watching the confrontation with interest.
"The bullet is wrapped in Haki?" she muttered under her breath. "I didn't expect you to awaken it."
Her voice carried neither praise nor mockery, merely the recognition of something unforeseen. She glanced at Ginny, slumped on the ground, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths.
"But it looks like you only awakened it recently. At your current level, maintaining it for long is impossible," she continued, shaking her head slightly. "This Haki won't be enough to stop my attack."
The moment her words ended, the bullet trembled violently. Its rotation faltered, and with a final crackling burst, it shattered into countless fragments.
Now unopposed, Gion's sword energy resumed its path, surging forward toward Ginny with devastating speed.
The watching marines—Momonga, Jessica, and the others—could no longer remain still.
If Ginny took a direct hit from that attack, she wouldn't just be injured—she'd be **crippled**.
But their bodies couldn't move fast enough. They could only watch as Ginny, trembling but resolute, lifted her pistol again. Even if she had no more Haki-infused bullets left, even if she could only fire a normal round, she refused to surrender.
Yet—it was too late.
Before she could even pull the trigger, the blinding light of Gion's sword energy engulfed her vision. Instinctively, she clenched her eyes shut.
'I lost.'
'How embarrassing...'
A storm of thoughts flooded her mind.
'I train so hard… Jiger always praises me...'
'If I had just a little more time, I **know** I wouldn't lose to this woman!'
'This is going to hurt, isn't it? Ugh… I hate pain…'
A sudden realization struck her.
'Wait...Why don't I feel it yet? Am I dead? Does that mean I will never see Brother Carl again? No!'
Her eyes snapped open.
And then—she saw him.
A tall figure stood in front of her, his broad back shielding her completely. His mere presence blocked out the sunlight, leaving her in the cool shade of his silhouette.
But, despite the darkness, Ginny felt **warm**.
Because standing there, effortlessly halting Gion's attack, was Jiger.
The man she had been waiting for.
Her lips parted, and a bright, almost childlike smile bloomed on her face.
"Brother Jiger!" she called softly, her voice filled with relief and joy.
Jiger stood motionless, his right hand raised in a simple grasping motion. Dark, metallic energy gleamed over his fingers—**Armament Haki**, condensed and refined. He had caught Gion's attack **barehanded**.
The violent sword energy dissipated like smoke between his fingers.
Hearing Ginny's voice, Jiger turned his head slightly, his expression calm—almost gentle. That familiar, reassuring smile tugged at his lips.
But the moment his eyes fell on her bloodied hands and pale face, his expression changed.
A ripple of pure black energy seeped from the corners of his eyes, swirling like shadows escaping a nightmare.
The onlookers tensed.
Even Gion instinctively tightened her grip on **Konpira**.
Ginny, however, felt nothing but happiness. The moment she saw Jiger, the exhaustion gripping her body disappeared.
With renewed energy, she sprang to her feet and threw her arms around him from behind, hugging his waist tightly.
"Brother Jiger, you're finally back! I missed you so much!" she said, pressing her face against his back.
Jiger chuckled, reaching down to stroke her soft pink hair. His fingers traced gentle circles on her scalp, the same way he had always done when she was younger.
"I was only gone for a month, Ginny," he teased lightly. "Aren't you overreacting?"
She pouted.
"The Den Den Mushi is ugly! I'd rather see you in person!"
"Alright, alright," he said with a quiet chuckle. "Now, tell me—what's the deal with the woman standing over there?"
Ginny pulled back slightly, nodding obediently. In a few short sentences, she explained everything—how Gion had arrived, her challenge, and the events of their fight. Despite her loss, she did not complain or speak ill of Gion. She simply reported the facts.
Jiger listened intently, his gaze never leaving Gion.
When Ginny finished, he exhaled through his nose, his voice soft but firm.
"I see."
Then, without warning—he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on Ginny's smooth forehead.
She froze.
Her entire body turned rigid as though she had been turned to stone.
A deep crimson flush bloomed across her cheeks.
Jiger smiled slightly at her reaction, reaching out to pinch her soft cheek before finally turning to face Gion.
But his smile was gone.
His gaze darkened, and the overwhelming black aura around him intensified.
Gion's sword remained steady in her hands, with a dull expression on her face.
Her mind was still struggling to process what had just happened.
An instant before her sword energy could strike Ginny, he had appeared—like a ghost emerging from the void. Jiger's silhouette had flickered into existence, his presence overwhelming. And then, with nothing but a single motion, he had crushed her attack.
Now, as their gazes locked, a sharp chill ran down Gion's spine.
The weight of his stare was suffocating, his eyes a bottomless abyss of darkness so thick it felt tangible.
She instinctively adjusted her grip, holding Konpira with both hands as she steadied herself.
"You must be Jiger," she said slowly, voice firm despite the unease creeping into her heart. "Vice Admiral Tsuru was right. You're strong."
Jiger didn't reply.
With his hands still stuffed casually into his coat pockets, he began walking toward her—his pace unhurried, deliberate, yet filled with an oppressive presence.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Standing off to the side, Momonga immediately sensed something was wrong.
His sharp intuition screamed at him—this wasn't normal.
Jiger's mood was off. The calm exterior masked something dangerous lurking beneath the surface.
And the one standing in front of him, Gion, was in trouble.
But unlike the others, Momonga wasn't worried for her.
He was worried for Jiger.
Gion had introduced herself as Vice Admiral Tsuru's sister. Whether by blood or bond, their connection was undeniably close.
And if something happened to her here—if Jiger went too far—there would be consequences.
Vice Admiral Tsuru was known for her patience and wisdom, but even she had limits. If Jiger seriously harmed Gion, no amount of goodwill or excuses would smooth things over.
Not even Zephyr, their esteemed teacher, might be able to protect him.
And speaking of Zephyr...
Momonga's jaw tightened as another realization hit him.
Jiger came back alone.
Where was Zephyr? What had happened to him?
Did Jiger know the storm he was about to unleash?
Momonga cast a quick glance at the others, hoping to find some support, but they were all frozen in place.
No one dared to move.
No one dared to breathe.
A sharp curse slipped through Momonga's teeth. He had no choice.
Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the office building. If this escalated, there was only one thing to do—call for reinforcements.
Back on the training field, no one noticed his sudden departure.
All eyes remained locked on the two figures at the center.
Gion tensed as Jiger drew closer, his movements slow yet unyielding. She decided to test him again, raising her sword and slashing forward, sending another powerful blade of pink energy surging toward him.
Jiger didn't even break stride.
With a flick of his wrist, he swatted the attack aside as if brushing away a stray insect. The energy dispersed into thin air, vanishing without a trace.
Gion's breath hitched.
What kind of monster is this?
Her instincts screamed at her to retreat, and she obeyed, leaping back with incredible speed. In mere seconds, she had put over a hundred meters between them.
But the moment she raised her head, Jiger was already there.
Her heart lurched.
He was standing right in front of her, having closed the distance with an ease that defied comprehension.
Before she could react, he leaned forward slightly. Their faces were so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.
Gion tried to step back again, but she couldn't move.
A terrifying force locked her in place, pinning her to the spot.
It wasn't Haki.
It wasn't a Devil Fruit ability.
It was just him.
His presence alone exerted such unrelenting pressure that her body refused to obey her commands.
Jiger's expression remained eerily calm as he spoke, his voice low and measured.
"You seem very confident in your strength," he murmured. "You wanted to challenge me, right?"
The darkness in his gaze deepened.
"Then do it. I'm right here."
"Make your move."
Gion gritted her teeth.
She couldn't afford to back down.
Tightening her grip on Konpira, she summoned every ounce of power she had.
With a fierce battle cry, she swung with all her might—her blade slicing clean through Jiger's body.
But there was no resistance.
No sound of flesh being cut.
No impact.
Her sword had passed straight through him.
Gion's eyes widened in horror.
'What... was this?'
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