"You—you can fly too?!"
Shalria didn't bother to answer. Taking advantage of Mikita's shock, she soared down and landed a clean kick to her stomach, sending Mikita flying off the Divine Slave and straight into the ocean.
Both Shalria and Anna were still dressed in their revealing combat maid outfits, which didn't need any sort of activation for battle.
Splash!
Mikita hit the water. But instead of sinking, she floated on the surface.
She had altered her body's weight mid-fall and used buoyancy to keep herself afloat—like a bird that accidentally dropped into the water, unable to fly or sink.
"I actually lost…"
"And again, it was in a single move…"
"Defeated by a little maid who's only been training for just over a month…"
Mikita floated there, murmuring to herself in disbelief.
Being one-shot twice in a single day—her pride was completely shattered, and her once-proud eyes lost their shine.
"She seems pretty wrecked."
Sora stared at the motionless Mikita lying limp on the sea, not even struggling or calling for help, as if she'd given up on life entirely. He rubbed his chin.
"Should we fish her out?" Shalria asked from the side.
"No need."
"You two go get some rest. I'll watch over her."
After saying that, Sora gently cupped Shalria's face and kissed her on the lips.
Shalria's cheeks flushed red, her lips tightening slightly—she understood this was his reward for her duel victory.
"What about me, young master? What about me?" Anna looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Sora chuckled softly and kissed her on the forehead.
After sending the two of them off, Sora looked at Mikita floating like a dead fish and called out, "So? You not planning to come back up?"
"Leave me alone. Just let me die."
Not even able to beat a maid who trained for a month—Mikita honestly wanted to just disappear.
"Oh yeah?" Sora nodded, pretending to understand, then added,
"I was just gonna say… there seems to be a shadow swimming beneath you."
A shadow swimming beneath me...
A shadow...
Swimming...
As she floated, aimlessly drifting, Mikita's brain tried to process what he meant.
Then—she felt something brush her foot.
Instantly, images of writhing sea monsters and sharks with gaping maws filled her mind.
Then it touched her again… this time, almost like it stroked her foot.
"Aaaaahhh!!!"
Her scream tore through the quiet night sky.
"Help! HELP ME!"
Flailing wildly on the surface, tears streamed down Mikita's face as she cried out to Sora.
Meanwhile, Sora was covering his face, snickering.
He'd just been using the ship's ropes to mess with her.
After he figured she was scared enough, he tossed a rope over and fished her out.
Hurk!
Gag!
Mikita doubled over the railing, dry heaving. Her body was reacting to sheer panic.
"Loser pays the price. From now on, you're mine to command," Sora said with a grin.
"Fine, whatever." Mikita glared at him and added,
"But only if you make me stronger!"
Being humiliated twice in one day by one-hit defeats seriously burned at her ego.
If Sora could train a maid to beat her, he could surely train her to beat that damn Reiju.
"Sure," Sora agreed without hesitation.
There was no room for freeloaders on his ship anyway.
"Mikita, would you like to join my pirate crew—as one of my subordinates?"
"I'm in," Mikita said without hesitation.
『Ding! Mikita has joined your crew. Please assign her a crew position.』
"Lookout," Sora replied immediately.
The Float-Float Fruit's weight manipulation was perfect for the job.
Suddenly, several ropes dropped down and tied themselves around Mikita's arms and legs.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
Mikita stared in shock at her bound limbs.
"Making you stronger…" Sora smirked as he pinched her cheek.
"I—I take it back. Can I still say no?"
Turning her head to the side, Mikita felt like she'd boarded the wrong ship.
Then she froze, staring at Sora's face. A wanted poster image flashed through her mind.
Her pupils shrank. "Y-you're the God-Slayer?!"
Sora raised an eyebrow. Took her long enough.
"Yep. The one who beat you was the same Shalria I kidnapped from the Celestial Dragons."
"Regret joining yet?" He patted her cheek again, grinning.
"Too late to change your mind now."
"You've got a 1.5 billion bounty?" Mikita blurted out.
"Yeah." Sora nodded casually.
1.5 billion! Her measly 7.5 million bounty was a joke in comparison.
Looking at his confident face, Mikita suddenly realized—he was actually kinda handsome. Being his woman might not be such a bad deal…
Mostly, though, it was that eye-watering bounty. And he looked even younger than her. The potential? Sky-high.
As those thoughts swirled in her mind—
Splash!
A giant octopus-like Sea King surfaced near their side of the ship, catching both their attention.
"That was the thing touching me earlier?!"
Mikita saw the creature's squirming tentacles and shuddered.
In front of this beast, she felt like a shrimp.
(Though honestly, it had been me, Sora thought.)
Sora glanced at the Sea King and said coldly, "Scram."
BOOM!
His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward. The Sea King froze in fear—
—and then turned tail, thrashing into the depths of the sea.
"Wow… that was amazing."
Mikita stared at Sora, stunned.
She realized: she didn't stand a chance against this guy. Being his woman might be the only option.
With that excuse settled in her mind, Mikita closed her eyes and nervously leaned in to kiss him.
"What are you doing?" Sora dodged and grinned mischievously.
The tides had turned.
Mikita's face went red. "Just answer me—do you want me or not?!"
_____Important_____
Within 24 hours, give Power Stones—500 for one chapter per hour, 400 for one chapter every two hours, 300 for one chapter every three hours, 200 for one chapter every four hours, or 100 for one chapter every five hours. Do you think that's a fair deal?