'Boom… boom…'

  On Isnd No. 1, two figures cshed violently. Despite his immerength, Oars Jr., the A Giant, was eventually overpowered by Garp’s relentless assault. Like a onball, he was sent flying through the air, crashing into tree after tree at a frightening speed.

  'Boom… boom…'

  The massive green figure spun untrolbly, smashing through tree trunks until he tore through one of the isnd’s giant trees, causing it to colpse with a thunderous crash.

  "Oars—!"

  Rock, Fish-man Jien, and the others were shocked. They hadn’t expected Garp to be so powerful, capable of sending Oars flyie his formidable attack. Oars’ teique, one of his most powerful, harhe A Giant’s immerength bined with high-speed rotation, capable of devastating force. If Oars shrank himself to thumb size, he could potentially piery target with that spin. Among their crew, only Linlin and their leader, El, could withstand such force; the others could only dodge. Yet, Garp had mao overpower it head-on.

  "Don’t worry, Oars isn’t that fragile!" Linlin waved dismissively, uned for Oars’ safety. The members of the Fallen Angel Pirates had sparred tless times, and Linlin knew Oars’ capabilities well. His powerful body may have taken some damage, but he wouldn’t be defeated so easily.

  'Crackle…'

  Meanwhile, oher side of the battlefield, Sengoku, though he had mao release a shockwave at the st moment to block Linlin’s devastating attack, was still sent flying, crashing inte tree. Now ba his human form, he stood up, covered in blood and looking disheveled.

  "Sengoku, are you alright?" Garp, wary of Linlin and the others, quickly moved to Sengoku’s side. Seeing the deep, bloody gash stretg 20 to 30 timeters across Sengoku’s chest, Garp’s face darkened.

  "I’m fine…" Sengoku waved him off, though blood still trickled from his mouth. His eyes locked on Linlin and her crew before darting toward the au house, filled with . “Tsuru…”

  But as Sengoku, Garp, and the nearby Marines and CP agents turned pale, two figures emerged from the dust of the au house. Tsuru, with a green colr around her neck, walked stiffly, clearly under someone’s trol. Walking beside her was Naef.

  “Tsuru—!”

  Sengoku and Garp’s expressions grew grim. Tsuru had been captured and was now uo resist.

  “Sorry, Sengoku, I made you lose focus…” Tsuru, seeing Sengoku covered in blood and badly injured, uood what had happened a guilty. “Are you alright?” she asked, full of .

  “I’m fine, don’t worry about me… 'Life Return!'”

  With that, Sengoku stood tall, his muscles rippling as he used the teique to suppress his injuries and prevent further blood loss.

  'Blip… blip…'

  Suddenly, a sound came from the Den Den Mushi in Tsuru’s pocket. Naef raised an eyebrow and took it from her, answering the call.

  “The Navy fleet has arrived and is about to pletely surround the Sabaody Archipego. Admiral Hark is preparing to nd. What’s the situation? Have you rescued the Celestial Drago?”

  'Click!'

  Before Tsuru could respond, Naef hung up the Den Den Mushi.

  “You heard that?” Garp, furious, ched his fists and gred at Linlin and her crew. “You’re finished. Don’t make this harder on yourselves. Surrender now!”

  “That’s right. The Navy fleet is here. Not even a fly escape this isnd. Let our rade go!” Sengoku gritted his teeth, his for Tsuru clearly affeg his judgment.

  “Hehe, there’s o worry… With your strength, you wouldn’t have lost so quickly. You were just distracted by her,” Linlin teased, motioning toward Tsuru. Then, with a smirk, she added, “Is she your lover? Or perhaps you secretly love her?”

  “Don’t talk nonsesuru’s face flushed red as she rebuffed Linlin’s cim. She and Sengoku were close rades, having joihe Navy together and fought in tless battles over the years. Their bond was one of deep friendship and trust, strong enough to entrust their lives to each other. If Garp had been the one isuru was sure Sengoku would have been just as worried.

  “We’re just rades!” Sengoku, his face pale from blood loss, also blushed slightly. Tsuru was admired by many in the Navy, known as the "Navy’s Flower." Naturally, Sengoku harbored some feelings for her, though he had never acted on them, feariion and awkwardness between them. For now, he kept those feelings hidden, insisting, “It’s a deep camaraderie, something a ruthless pirate like you wouldn’t uand!”

  “Ha! Still trying to deny it…” Linlin scoffed, clearly not vinced by Sengoku’s words. “But I’ve got a more iing idea…”

  A wicked grin spread across Linlin’s face as she approached Tsuru and Naef. Sengoku, Garp, and the others sensed danger and braced themselves.

  “What are you pnning?” Sengoku’s expression darkened.

  “What am I pnning?” Linlin sneered, her cws brushing against Tsuru’s face. “She’s got quite a lovely face. I bet El would like her. I wish I could grow up this quickly…”

  With that, Linlin’s cws seized Tsuru.

  “Stop it!!”

  “Don’t e any closer, or I ’t guarantee her life!” Linlin’s threat stopped Sengoku and Garp iracks, their anger mixed with dread.

  But what happened left them in shock.

  Tsuru’s body rapidly aged before their eyes. Her dark blue hair turned white, her face wrinkled, and her posture became hunched.

  “What did you do to me?”

  Feeling her youth draining away and her body weakening, Tsuru’s voice trembled. Even her voice had grown old and frail.

  “This…”

  “How is this possible?”

  Sengoku and Garp were left speechless, their jaws dropping. Even the Marines and CP agents around them were stuhe once beautiful and powerful Rear Admiral Tsuru, admired by many, had been transformed into an old woman in an instant. The sight was horrifying.

  “Ahhh—!” Tsuru screamed in horror, staring at her now wrinkled hands and frail body, struggling to accept what had happened.

  “Damn you… what have you doo me?”

  She gred at Linlin, her fury burning as she demanded an expnation.

  Linlin licked her lips and ughed darkly, “What did I do? I simply took your youth! Now, you’re like ay-year-old woman. If you were meant to live to a hundred, you might have ten years left. Oh, and by the way, unless I give your lifespan back, even if you defeat or kill me, it won’t return!”

  “What!?”

  “You monster—”

  Sengoku and Garp’s faces turned ashen, their rage intensifying as they stared daggers at Linlin.

  Meanwhile, Tsuru, pale as a sheet, trembled as the terrifying realization sank in. The Marines and CP agents around them recoiled in horror, stepping bastinctively from the devilish figure before them.

  “Charlotte Linlin, what do you want?” Tsuru took a deep breath, f herself to stay calm. It was clear that Linlin didn’t io kill her yet and wasn’t afraid of their threats.

  “Heh, you’re a clever woman…” Linlin grinned, sav the moment. “If you kill Sengoku, I’ll return your youth. Or Sengoku, if you kill your rade Garp, I’ll return her lifespan a her go.”

  “What!?”

  “Never—”