He clutched the tip of the umbrella with both hands. As pain stabbed through her chest, veins bulged across Tsuru's forehead, slick with cold sweat.
Tsuru gritted her teeth and kicked at Lone Red to force him back, but he'd anticipated it and met her kick with his own. The black umbrella pressed harder, its tip sinking into her chest.
When Lone Red got serious, even he was afraid of himself.
They'd exchanged only a few blows, yet the fight was already close to a matter of life and death.
That was how a battle between powerful opponents often went: simple and deadly.
Tsuru grunted. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she stared at Lone Red, the umbrella tip digging deeper.
He showed no mercy to the beautiful woman before him.
Clearly, Tsuru had truly angered Lone Red.
"Die!"
Patrick poured on more strength. Blood seeped from his mouth, and he was barely holding on himself.
Just as Tsuru began to struggle for breath, a figure shot in from the horizon like a cannonball. Scalding steam billowed around him, and the ground shattered into a series of trenches beneath him as he sped past.
It was as if he'd broken the sound barrier.
The arrival of that immense presence made Lone Red's expression change dramatically.
"You're not getting away."
Tsuru smiled and clutched the black umbrella tightly. The unease in her heart began to settle as that presence drew closer.
A vicious glint filled Lone Red's blood-red eyes. He had no intention of retreating. Despite his injuries, he poured everything he had into the attack.
Tsuru's eyes bulged as blood began to gush from her mouth and nose.
"Patrick!"
Observation Haki flared. An enraged voice arrived in an instant, and the ground caved in around them. A