The tachi wrapped in Armament Haki smashed toward Tsuru.
"Iron Body!"
Tsuru crossed her arms mid-charge, her plump limbs gleaming a pitch-black lustre.
Bang!
The clash of steel rang out; Tsuru was sent flying by Charlotte Linlin's sword, crashed through several walls, and landed in the audience seats.
"Save me! That Marine—come save me! Otherwise I'll sell you to Pleasure Street!" Behind Charlotte Linlin, Dytet screamed in terror.
"Hah, this greasy pig can't read the room—threatening the very lifeline that could save him. Tsuru, to them you Marines are no better than dogs, right?"
Charlotte Linlin sneered at the smoke ahead.
The smoke cleared; aside from some torn clothing, Tsuru was unscathed.
Rising to her feet, Tsuru ignored the taunt and, seeing Dock about to act, tried one last time to persuade him.
"If you kill him, not only will the World Government hunt you—your wife and son will be hunted too! If you don't want them living as fugitives, stop!"
Dock, slowed by poison, flashed a glint of bloodlust at her words, accelerated instantly, and punched Dytet; blood sprayed and Dytet's eyes bulged.
"How…!" Tsuru stared in disbelief.
As the Wash-Wash Fruit user, Tsuru knew psychology; many had repented after hearing that line—why had it backfired?
"Hahahaha!"
Charlotte Linlin couldn't help laughing at Tsuru's ignorance and stupidity.
"Are you Marines so dense? Never wondered why he's here? Threatening someone with what he doesn't have—no wonder it fails!"
"Damn it—stop!"
Tsuru Moon-stepped to Charlotte Linlin, trying to pass her and halt Dock.
"I'm here—don't even think of getting past!"
"Hokushin Ittō-ryū: Chasing Seas!"
Charlotte Linlin swung her tachi upward at blinding speed.
So fast Tsuru's Observation Haki barely registered it.
Bang!
Another boom—this time Tsuru was smashed into the sky.
"Guess I'd be unbeaten in baseball now," Charlotte Linlin mused, watching Tsuru's graceful arc.
Regaining balance mid-air, Tsuru stepped on air and returned. Knowing she couldn't pass quickly, she shouted to Dock,
"Kill him and you'll never leave this country! Stop—stand down and I'll protect you! Murder demands life! Marines are everywhere in Dressrosa; you can't escape! And don't expect that woman to save you—she's a notorious pirate who won't take you when she flees!"
"Hey now, don't slander us—our Rocks Pirates look after our own! And again you threaten Dock with what he lacks—can't you use Observation to see his state?"
Charlotte Linlin dropped her grin and said grimly, "The guy throwing punches… is already dead."
Dock still pounded the barely human head of Dytet, but his eyes were lifeless.
Each mechanical punch landed like a slow blade, tormenting Dytet.
"What!" Tsuru exclaimed, probing with Observation—only Dytet's faint breath remained.
"He was poisoned to death by the man you protect—no price to pay? And his wife died at that trash's son's hands—fair trade, one life for one."
Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow, curious how Tsuru would answer.
Tsuru stood silent, motionless, even as Dytet's screams echoed.
At last she turned to Charlotte Linlin.
"Charlotte Linlin, today I'll drag you to Impel Down!"
Several flashes brought her beside the Empress, a white-glowing black palm striking.
Charlotte Linlin's eyelid twitched—this style… "Learned that from Garp, didn't you!"
She wrapped her tachi in dark Armament and slashed.
Whoosh!
At the instant of contact the two-meter Tsuru stepped on air, twisting mid-air to dodge the blade.
Her glowing palm shot toward Linlin's arm.
Rip!
Anticipating it, Linlin spun and kicked Tsuru away. Having Gloriosa, the Kuja Empress, as first mate, she'd picked up kicks in her spare time.
Glancing at her skirt, torn to the thigh, she now understood why Gloriosa wore split-front dresses.
Bouncing in the air, Tsuru landed, breathing hard; repeated Armament clashes had drained her limited stamina.
"Future sight—you've gotten stronger."
Charlotte Linlin looked away and replied modestly,
"Likewise. What weird new trick has your Devil Fruit cooked up? Feels like strange things happen if you touch me."
"Try and find out!"
"Not interested."
As they prepared to clash again, Dytet's ragged laughter rang out.
"Hahaha! I—I survived! You beast, you couldn't kill me! Come on, get up and hit me! I'll stuff you as a trophy, feed your flesh to Sea Kings, toss your head in a cesspit—die without peace! Get up and hit me!"
Lying broken on the floor, the once-spherical Dytet now a flat cake cursed Dock's lifeless body.
Glancing at the motionless Dock and the still-living Dytet, Charlotte Linlin clicked her tongue.
"Tch—so fat his blubber saved him…"
Hearing him, Tsuru lowered her head, face dark, and muttered,
"Failed, huh…"
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