Swinging her sword at the man before her...
She couldn't do it...
Tashigi's eyes trembled violently. Her body seemed bound by invisible shadows, and no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't move.
Clang--
Her sword finally slipped from her hand and hit the ground.
All the strength seemed to drain from Tashigi's body in an instant.
Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, staring blankly at the sword lying quietly before her.
Zoro and the others, who had rushed to the scene at the first opportunity, along with Luffy and the others who had just broken free of their restraints, all watched the dispirited Tashigi with strange looks in their eyes.
Had Maud done something just now?
If Maud hadn't done anything, how could this strong-willed female Marine have simply given up resisting?
Everyone turned their gazes toward Maud, whose expression remained calm.
How could these rookie pirates, who had never truly stood against Maud, understand the pressure Tashigi had to endure when facing him at such close range?
That imposing presence...
It wasn't released solely through the disparity in strength.
More than that, it was an aura "forged" through countless rivers of blood. Like a sharp blade, it pierced straight into the heart, capable of making a person's blood lose its warmth in an instant.
This was the natural reaction one had when facing a monster.
Seeing Tashigi obediently give up resisting, Maud withdrew his gaze and didn't spare her another glance. Instead, he walked toward where Smoker had fallen.
"Whew--!"
Maud had only taken a few steps when streams of white smoke billowed from the house with its shattered walls, slowly condensing into Smoker's form.
That kick hadn't completely robbed Smoker of his combat ability. It had merely broken one of his arms.
Seeing Smoker