A Strategic Choice Made in Desperation

Lin Nuo hovered in midair, looking at Zephyr, who had risen to his feet again on the deck below. Approval flashed through his eyes.

The marks left by the electric shock were clearly visible on Zephyr's skin.

Yet Zephyr still forcibly straightened his back, staring fixedly at Lin Nuo, his fighting spirit undiminished.

As expected of the man known as Black Arm. Tough as nails.

It seemed that to bring down an opponent of this caliber in just a few moves, he would still need Conqueror's Haki Infusion to land a critical blow.

What a pity this move was hard to learn...

Lin Nuo was just thinking that.

Without any warning, his body slid half a meter to the left.

Right after he moved—

Tsuru suddenly appeared where he had originally been standing.

The five fingers of her right hand spread open, her palm aimed at Lin No's former position as an invisible ripple spread outward.

But all she hit was empty air.

Tsuru turned her head and looked at Lin Nuo, who had already appeared five meters away.

"You actually noticed me in advance..."

"Little Tsuru," Lin Nuo said casually as he looked at the Marine strategist.

"Your ability is indeed troublesome. Being able to 'wash' people into that state... just thinking about it is terrifying."

"But no matter how troublesome an ability is, it means nothing if it can't hit."

Tsuru's expression grew solemn.

She quickly adjusted her breathing, spreading her feet one before the other and taking a martial arts stance that balanced offense and defense.

But her eyes remained fixed on Lin Nuo, as though she were analyzing something.

"This should be our first meeting, right?" Tsuru suddenly asked.

"How do you know I'm an ability user? And how do you know what my ability does?"