Run, they could only run!
Lafitte and the others had no idea how terrifying Fujitora was.
But Maude knew all too well.
It wasn't just his swordsmanship and Observation Haki. Just the ability to summon a meteor was enough to cause havoc.
Maude's crew sprinted across the plains at full speed.
"Is he not chasing us?"
Maude glanced back at the village, now reduced to a small black speck in the distance, his expression uncertain.
Only then did he have the time to acknowledge Philo, who had followed them.
"Philo, don't follow us."
"Why?"
Through the circular lenses of her mask, Philo's gaze locked on Maude's tense face.
"You'll die."
Maude's eyes shifted past Philo, scanning the direction of the village.
Those two words were enough to explain their dire situation.
Philo responded calmly, "I'm not afraid of death."
Whether masked or unmasked, Philo had always been unafraid of dying.
If she weren't, how could she have ventured alone into a plague-stricken area, risking her life to combat the epidemic?
Her indifference to death wasn't tied to her personality.
She was a doctor.
That was all there was to it.
Seeing Philo's resolve, Maude spoke coolly, "We're not heading to another village. Following us is meaningless."
"Huh?"
Philo finally grasped the situation.
Indeed.
Judging by their current actions, Maude and his crew were planning to leave the island entirely.
If not for the plague, her following them truly served no purpose.
Even so, Philo chose to follow Maude and his crew.
She naively believed that even if the pursuing Marine caught up, she could act as a witness to explain the situation on their behalf.
In her mind, the Marine would have no reason to attack Maude and his crew after hearing the truth.
Such were her simple, naive thoughts.
Maude, unaware of what Philo was thinking, saw her stubbornness but had no time to argue further.
The group dashed forward.
"Boss, behind us!!!"
Bailey, perched on Maude's shoulder, kept a watchful eye on their rear.
Then, he saw something unbelievable.
The pursuing "Marine" was standing on a floating boulder, soaring through the air.
Bailey's warning prompted everyone to look back immediately.
When they saw Issho chasing them on a rock, their expressions changed drastically.
Law's eyes turned grave. His understanding was far from the level he would reach three years later. He exclaimed in shock, "What kind of ability is that…?"
"Paramecia-type Press-Press Fruit."
Maude quickly withdrew his gaze, speaking in a low voice. "This man's strength is on par with an Admiral…"
For the first time during their escape, Maude clarified Issho's level of power to his crew.
"What?!"
Law was stunned.
Lafitte and Jaya were equally shocked.
This seemingly unknown man possessed Admiral-level strength?
If not for their unwavering trust in Maude, they would find this impossible to believe.
Under the Press-Press Fruit's power, Issho's flying speed was alarmingly fast.
The distance between them rapidly diminished.
As Issho closed in, Maude's heart sank.
At this rate, running was pointless.
"You go on ahead!"
Maude abruptly stopped, his feet carving deep grooves into the grass as he came to a halt. His blade, Chidori, was already drawn.
The sudden stop put several meters between him and the others.
Due to the abrupt motion, Bailey was flung off Maude's shoulder by the force.
"Maude…"
Gaya didn't hesitate to stop as well.
Lafitte, though silent, immediately halted too.
Even Law and Bepo, after a moment's hesitation, stopped running.
Their pause allowed Issho to close the gap instantly.
Swoosh!
The airborne boulder descended steadily to the ground.
Then, Issho, holding a wooden staff, calmly stepped off the rock. His serene face seemed to "look" at them.
"It's been a long time since I've had to chase someone. I must say, it's rather entertaining."
"…"
With Maude at the forefront, the group stood on high alert.
"I told you to go on ahead," Maude said, his eyes fixed on Issho.
Without someone staying behind to cover them, it was only a matter of time before they were all caught.
That's why Maude had chosen to stay behind.
In the worst-case scenario, he still had Moonwalk and Stealth Walk. Though he harbored a sliver of hope, he might still escape Issho's grasp.
But to his surprise, the usually obedient crew chose to stay.
In response to Maude's words, Lafitte drew his cane sword without hesitation, while Gaya took down the single-bladed axe from her back.
Their actions spoke louder than words.
Maude detected their movements with his Observation Haki and couldn't help but feel helpless.
It had come to this. They had no choice but to fight.
Even if the odds were slim, they had to gamble for a chance at survival.
Issho turned his attention to Maude, who was closest to him, and spoke calmly, "You are the Maude Pirates, correct?"
"Yes."
Maude held his blade steady in front of him and responded without hesitation.
"Hmm…"
Issho hummed, his right hand moving to the end of his staff.
Within the wooden staff lay a hidden blade, and at its end was a hilt.
Gripping the hilt tightly, Issho asked, "Why did you call me by the name 'Fujitora' earlier?"
"No particular reason. I just think… the name Fujitora suits you."
If it were anyone else, Maude might've spun a story.
But the man before him possessed Observation Haki capable of sensing emotions.
Thus, Maude offered the closest thing to the truth.
"Oh?"
Issho appeared surprised.
Interestingly, he didn't dislike the name Maude had suddenly bestowed upon him.
On the contrary, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with it.
"Fujitora, huh… Not bad."
Issho's lips curved into a slight smile as he accepted the name, as if it had fallen from the heavens.
His casual demeanor left Lafitte and the others visibly astonished.
Their understanding of Issho was limited to Maude's vivid descriptions.
Even now, though they could sense his sharpness, they felt no killing intent.
But just as confusion began to surface, the seemingly calm atmosphere shifted abruptly.
One moment, Issho was all smiles, and the next, he drew his blade.
The unsheathing of his weapon unleashed a wave of pressure that rippled through the air around him.
"This strike… shall embody the tiger's ferocity."
Issho's eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a sliver of white.
Holding the blade in a reverse grip, he unleashed a sudden surge of energy. Purple ripples danced along the blade, radiating outward.
Maude's crew instantly braced themselves.
"Wait, they're not bad people!"
Just as tensions reached their peak, Philo stepped forward.
But Issho didn't stop.
"Gravity Blade: Tiger!"
With a reverse slash, Issho sent a horizontal wave of crushing gravity hurtling toward Maude and his crew.
Amazingly, his precise control ensured that Philo remained untouched.
"Room!"
Law quickly activated his Op-Op Fruit's spatial field.
"What—?!"
However, before he could move the crew to safety, an invisible force compressed the spherical space inward.
With no time to react, the sphere collapsed, and a powerful shockwave struck Law.
Boom!
The force sent everyone flying, including Maude.
Blood spattered into the air.
Only Philo remained unharmed, standing within a meter-wide circle of untouched grass.
Beyond that circle, the ground had been stripped bare, leaving only rock.
Staring at the scene, Philo froze in place.
Issho slowly sheathed his blade and said calmly, "Whether they are or not, I will decide that for myself."
Hearing his words, Philo snapped out of her daze.
"How could you do this?!
"Maude and the others… they're not bad people!"
Her anger, almost tangible, burned even through the mask she wore.
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