"Sengoku, Zephyr… let's… give up."
As Tsuru spoke these words, something flickered and died in her eyes.
"You… what do you mean by that?"
Sengoku and Zephyr stared at her in disbelief.
Tsuru looked at Zephyr and Sengoku. "I think you understand what I mean!"
"We cannot continue this fight!"
"Let's give the Op-Op Fruit to El. Let's surrender!"
Sengoku and Zephyr were utterly astonished by Tsuru's words.
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
Before Sengoku could even utter a word, Zephyr roared. "You want us to surrender to El?! I will never do anything so humiliating!"
"Even if it means death, I will not give up!"
"This is my pride as a Marine!"
Zephyr stated with utmost gravity. He was always righteous, hating evil to his core. To surrender to a pirate was unthinkable. The mere thought was an insult to his life's creed!
Sengoku also couldn't believe it. "Tsuru, do you know what you are saying?!"
"The four of us represent the face of the Marines! You want us to surrender to a pirate?"
What was most difficult for him to accept was that this idea came from Tsuru. Tsuru was not this kind of person!
He and Zephyr simply couldn't fathom it. Earlier, when they told her to leave, she had faced El without fear of death. So why had she changed her mind now?
"Tsuru… never speak of such a suggestion again!"
Sengoku said firmly, "I will never surrender to a pirate!"
Tsuru's eyes flashed with anger. "Do you think I want to do this?!"
"But if we don't surrender, all four of us will die here!"
"So what if we die here?!" Zephyr and Sengoku retorted simultaneously, "Are you afraid of death?!"
Tsuru shook her head. "No, of course, I'm not afraid of death!"
"But it must be a death with meaning!"
"Think about the power gap between us and El."
"Even if we die, will it cause El even a scratch?"
"He will still get the Op-Op Fruit he wants!"
Tsuru's words struck Sengoku and Zephyr like a bolt of lightning, hitting them hard.
She was right! Before the battle, they had been prepared to die.
But if they died, and El was still unharmed and obtained the Op-Op Fruit… what would be the meaning of their deaths?
It would only mean the Marines lost four of their top fighters!
The thought made Sengoku and Zephyr waver. They knew Tsuru was making perfect sense.
But deep down, their pride and principles refused to yield to El!
Sengoku looked down at the unconscious Garp.
"My dear friend, if only you were awake right now!"
Sengoku sighed. Garp was always the most resolute among them. If he were awake, perhaps he would know what to do!
Sengoku looked at Zephyr and Tsuru.
"Zephyr, Tsuru, what should we do?"
At this moment, Sengoku was more lost than ever before. The pressure El's immense power exerted on them was too great, unprecedented. It had twisted their deepest beliefs.
"Sengoku… you are the one who makes the decisions among us. You decide!"
Tsuru said to Sengoku.
Zephyr also looked at Sengoku expectantly.
Sengoku looked at El in the distance.
El, his aura overwhelming, was slowly walking toward them!
"Sengoku, Zephyr, Tsuru! Are you ready to die?!"
El said coldly to the three, his aura like that of a terrifying god!
Watching El approach, and feeling his incredibly powerful Haki, Sengoku felt a chill run down his spine.
He was afraid!
The Marine Admiral, a man who had stood at the pinnacle of the world's power for many years… felt genuine, visceral fear!
He knew that if they continued to fight El, all three of them would die!
This was not an exaggeration; it was a deep, unsettling feeling from his very core!
As El drew closer, beads of cold sweat appeared on Sengoku's face.
He looked at the unconscious Garp.
When Garp had still been fighting, the four of them couldn't even put a scratch on El.
Not only that, Zephyr had lost an arm, and Garp was severely injured.
If they continued fighting El… He couldn't bear to think about it!
El kept approaching.
His Conqueror's Haki solidified even further, pressing down on the three of them!
Sengoku finally made his decision.
"WE SURRENDER!!!"
Sengoku suddenly roared to El.
Behind him, Tsuru painfully closed her eyes.
Zephyr let out a deep sigh!
In the end, Sengoku chose to save their lives! If he had the choice, he would rather die here!
El heard Sengoku's words and looked at him in surprise, his eyes widening slightly.
"What did you say?"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, saying painfully, "We surrender. We are willing to give you the Op-Op Fruit!"
"Just spare our lives and let us take Garp with us."
As Sengoku spoke, Tsuru produced the Op-Op Fruit.
Seeing El make no move, Sengoku emphasized again: "Please rest assured, we have no other intentions. Just spare our lives."
Sengoku was begging!
For a proud master like him, this was the ultimate humiliation!
But he had no other choice.
If he didn't do this, not only he, but Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru would all die!
He couldn't stand by and watch that happen!
El looked at them thoughtfully.
He stepped forward and took the Op-Op Fruit from Tsuru's hand.
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