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As soon as Ikki spoke the name, a blue brilliance suddenly surged up Zangetsu's blade. Before Tashigi's astonished eyes, it transformed into a massive cleaver nearly a meter long.
The sudden transformation made Tashigi step back in surprise. The originally slender katana had instantly become a massive blade.
Even Tashigi, who prided herself on her sword knowledge, was momentarily speechless.
"What... what's happening?!" she stammered. "How did the sword just change its form?!"
Ikki, naturally, had no intention of explaining the mechanics of a zanpakuto's Shikai release. He simply held the transformed Zangetsu before Tashigi's eyes and smiled.
"Miss, if you agree to my wager, then should you win, I'll hand over both Wado Ichimonji and Zangetsu to you. And if you lose, all you need to do is give me Shigure. It's quite a generous offer."
Tashigi bit her lip, looking first at the "Wado Ichimonji" in her hands and then at Zangetsu in Ikki's grasp. Two legendary swords—it was impossible not to be tempted. For a moment, she found herself at an impasse.
"Ikki, Tashigi, what are you doing?"
A familiar female voice interrupted them from behind.
"Captain Hina!" Tashigi immediately straightened her posture at the sound. Then she turned sharply to look at Ikki. "You're Ikki?! I heard that two female swordswomen trained by you defeated Arlong's crew!"
Though Tashigi hadn't witnessed Nami and Nojiko's victory firsthand, the Marines who had been present had reported it to her. She now knew that a swordswoman named Nami had defeated Arlong and two of his officers with devastating thunder-based techniques, while another blue-haired swordswoman had vanquished the remaining pirates with flowing water techniques.
Hina nodded to Tashigi and walked to stand beside Ikki. Her perplexed gaze shifted between "Gonryōmaru" in Tashigi's hands and the transformed Zangetsu in Ikki's grip.
"Hina is curious about what you're doing. Can someone explain in detail?" Hina's direct gaze settled on Ikki.
"Captain Hina, have you resolved the matter with Captain Nezumi?" Ikki sighed, looking at Hina helplessly.
Simultaneously, he released Zangetsu from its Shikai state, returning it to its sealed form. Even Hina couldn't help but stare in fascination at the sword's transformation.
"Captain Hina, it's like this..." Tashigi stepped forward and quickly explained Ikki's proposal.
"What? Ikki, you tried to lure Tashigi into a duel?" Hina frowned disapprovingly. "You really want the sword in Tashigi's possession that badly? Hina looks down on such behavior."
Though Hina hadn't personally seen Ikki in action, she had learned from Captain Nezumi's Marines that Ikki possessed the power to defeat Arlong instantaneously. With Tashigi's current skill level, victory against Ikki would be impossible.
Tashigi's lips tightened as she regarded Ikki with resentment. By now, she understood the situation clearly. If Ikki could train Nami to defeat Arlong's crew single-handedly, his own strength must be formidable. Despite her confidence in her swordsmanship, Tashigi knew she couldn't instantly defeat a pirate like Arlong with his 20-million-berry bounty—let alone someone who could train others to do so. If she risked Shigure in a duel with Ikki, she would surely lose her precious sword.
"What a cunning man," Hina remarked, lighting a cigarette. "Is this how you usually operate, Ikki?"
"Who knows?" Ikki shrugged, placing his hand on Nojiko's shoulder. "Since you think I'm too powerful to fairly wager with Tashigi, how about letting my companion here fight in my place? Captain Hina must have witnessed Nojiko's performance in Arlong Park. Her swordsmanship isn't beyond Tashigi's capabilities."
Ikki knew that Nojiko hadn't displayed her full strength in Arlong Park. Although in terms of pure sword technique, Nojiko—who had only mastered Water Breathing, Third Form—might not match Tashigi's years of training, the life force points she'd accumulated would give her a significant advantage over the Marine Ensign.
Moreover, as Ikki's registered companion, Nojiko's victory over Tashigi would be equivalent to Ikki's own. When it came to acquiring famous swords, Ikki could obtain sword knowledge whether he, Nami, or Nojiko defeated the opposing swordsman.
While Ikki was calculating these factors, Nojiko suddenly grew nervous.
"Captain Ikki, I can't do this," she protested, shaking her head repeatedly. "If I lose, won't that mean losing both your sword and Nami's?"
Nojiko was unfamiliar with Tashigi's abilities and hesitated to gamble two legendary blades on her own skills.
"A woman can't say no, Nojiko," Ikki replied with meaningful emphasis.
"I think Captain Ikki has that phrase backward," Nojiko responded with a small smile. "Shouldn't it be 'men can't say no'?"