196
"Hmph, once a daughter grows up, there's no keeping her!"
Since Smoothie had offered her a way out, Charlotte Linlin naturally took it.
Leaving without a word was more humiliation than she could bear. But fighting Rossi-could that end in anything other than being crushed?
Hera churned beneath her feet, lightning trailing afterimages.
As that enormous figure vanished beyond Dressrosa's skyline, her parting words still hung in the air.
Katakuri's gaze swept over the ground-the bodies strewn everywhere, some already motionless, others still twitching.
He turned to his two brothers and silently raised a hand.
No one stopped the three of them as they withdrew.
Those watching could see clearly that all three had held back from beginning to end.
The battlefield suddenly emptied.
Without anyone to command them, the remaining troops began to scatter, like fish stranded on the sand by a receding tide, struggling and wriggling in every direction.
Rossi did not pursue them.
He crouched and pressed his fingers against the side of a Family member's neck-there was still a pulse, faint, but still beating.
The plateau reeked of blood, mixed with gunsmoke and scorched earth.
A gust of wind stirred dust that smelled of rust.
Bainessarna descended from the sky, the spiral blades on her wrists slowly folding away.
Blood stained her face, and sweat plastered her bangs to her temples, yet it was hard to look away-not because of delicate beauty, but because of a sharp luster like a blade tempered in fire.
"They've all withdrawn."
Her voice was a little hoarse.
Two arms slung themselves over Rossi's shoulders from either side, weighing heavily on him.
Trebol grinned, traces of blood still clinging to his teeth; Diamante chuckled, deliberately pressing down with his elbow.
Neither had a clean spot on him. Their clothes were