To help his comrades secure victory.
To help Gion fulfill her final wish.
To keep Maud here, a man powerful enough to affect the future stability of the world.
Tsuru had made up her mind. She intended to use her own life to wash away Maud's stamina and Haki.
Without hesitation, she put her thoughts into action, even sacrificing her lifespan at the end to strengthen the effect of Wash-Wash.
But just when she thought she had succeeded, the blade Maud had driven through her heart showed her the cruel reality.
Why... did it fail...?
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked at Maud with bewilderment and confusion in her eyes.
Maud coldly pulled Shusui back.
Squelch...
Blood spurted from Vice Admiral Tsuru's chest.
As her strength drained away with her blood, Vice Admiral Tsuru staggered. In her gradually dimming eyes, Maud's cold face was reflected.
Maud paid no attention to Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was about to become a corpse. Instead, he simply turned around and looked at Kizaru, who was charging over from the sky.
Thud--
The instant Maud turned around, Vice Admiral Tsuru collapsed to the ground.
The image of Maud's back reflected in her eyes, along with the last glimmer of light, was quickly swallowed by darkness.
The veteran who had rendered countless services to the Marines died on the battlefield just like that.
With Vice Admiral Tsuru's death, a rich influx of experience points instantly flowed back into Maud's body.
At the same time, it replenished a wave of his stamina and Haki.
As a result, Maud no longer needed to continue harvesting the shadow supplies whose names had been recorded in his notebook.
This single wave of rewards had nearly filled his condition.
After all, to replenish the stamina and Haki that Vice Admiral Tsuru's ability had