The main force of Worldwide Smoke exited the forest, finding themselves in a small village of ramshackle huts and crop fields on the outskirts of Lant. The river that cut through the forest ran alongside the village and continued through to the city. Sounds of chaos could be heard from the city, and villagers looked up from their work tending the fields to go look at the commotion.

"Oh… that cannot be good," Schwarz muttered as the crew walked through the village.

In the river, Shaska's transponder snail started going off.

Purupurupurucaaalick

"Wow! Did you clowns find the barracks already?" Shaska asked.

"We messed up, boss! We messed up bad!" Delilah shouted.

"What's this 'we'?!" Freddie shouted. "I'm not the one who attacked a Celestial Dragon!"

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Shaska shouted. She bolted out of the water with a loud splash and dashed toward the rest of Worldwide Smoke, lighting up a new cigar as she did so.

"Shaska, darling, what about the pla—" Lulupo tried to ask.

"The plan's off! Our 'Marines' attacked a World Noble and any second now this whole island's gonna be swarming with Marines! An admiral's gonna be here any minute!" Shaska shouted, her cigar burning up faster than normal.

"Boss, I—" Delilah tried to say over the transponder snail.

Shaska pinched the bridge of her nose and exclaimed "YOU'RE FIRED! Find a place to hide so the Marines don't rip you to shreds! Or I might do it first!"

She hung up the transponder snail and hastily shoved it in her jacket pocket.

"Okay… think, Shaska, think…" she muttered as her cigar turned to ash and she pulled out another one.

"What now, Miss Shaska…?" Zinnia asked, cocking her head to the side.

"This place is about to become a war zone; we have to get civilians out as quickly as possible before the full forces of the Marines show up. Not to mention Minus World," Shaska said. "Schwarz, get the rest of our troops into Lant as quickly as possible!"

"Roger that," Schwarz responded with a nod. He warped himself back to the deck of the Humo Robinson.

Shaska felt a tug on her skirt. She looked down to find a little old lady, hunched over and supporting herself with a cane.

"Now hold on, missy!" the old lady declared. "Us Lanters ain't goin' anywhea! This is our home! Th'Marines'll protect us!"

More and more villagers came out of the fields and their huts, agreeing with the old lady's sentiment.

"Yeah! Who d'ya think ya are?!"

"We live hea!"

"You guys need to run and hide!" Shaska shouted. "The Marines don't give a single solitary damn about the common folk!"

"They will level city in instant!" Ren added.

"You folks just show up shoutin' 'bout a Celest'l Dragon gettin' hurt and expect us t'believe ya?!" a young man shouted. "Who even are you folks?!"

"Dammit! We don't have time for this!" Shaska thought.

Then, she got an idea. A painful idea, but an idea nonetheless.

She quickly pulled off her jacket and pulled out several wads of cash.

"See this jacket? It's full of cash!" Shaska declared. "You want it? Go get it!"

She gave the jacket to a grunt and whispered "run as far as you can, we'll come back for you!" into his ear, to which he nodded.

The grunt took off into the forest, being followed by large swathes of the village.

"Mmmmm, ah still don' trust ya, missy!" the old lady growled, shaking her cane.

"Well, trust that the Marines and/or Minus World will have a nice mass grave for you in the near future, granny!" Shaska exclaimed.

As the old lady hobbled away back to her hut while grumbling, Shaska turned back to face her employees. Shortly thereafter, a portal opened up next to her, and Schwarz and two hundred or so Worldwide Smoke soldiers filed through, each armed with a pistol and a cutlass, just like the Kemurchants of old.

"You made sure to leave behind a skeleton crew, right, pretty boy?"

"There's still like a hundred people left on the Robinson, yes," Schwarz replied.

"Worldwide Smoke, let's get moving! Our objectives are simple: take out Minus World while leaving as few bodies behind, and do it all before the admiral gets here!" Shaska ordered. "Let's go! Get the civilians out of Lant!"

The soldiers gave a rallying cry and took off into the city.

—

Commodore Franco received the news of Saint Legree being attacked and rallied a squadron of Marines to head onto the island into Lant, which was about a mile inland. The soldiers ran as fast as they could, Franco far ahead thanks to his robot legs. He had his sword and shield drawn.

"Dammit! I knew Worldwide Smoke was up to no good! And Minus World is in the mix, too! This is bad!"

He kept up his pace and began to give orders to the soldiers behind him.

"FIRST DIVISION! KEEP UP WITH ME TO PIEDMONT STREET! ALL OTHER DIVISIONS, EVACUATE THE CITY!"

"YES, SIR!" the soldiers called back.

—-

On the southeastern edge of the island, the Spirit of Liberty effortlessly sank the Marine battleships and docked at the port town of Sens. Countless ranks of Minus World soldiers filed off the massive ship, totaling at least five thousand in all. At the front was Balthasar von Esens, towering over his troops while cracking his stiff neck. His creepy sister daintily behind him, eating candy as she did so. Flanking von Esens were two men: one was effeminate with long, flowing blue hair and wearing a short black dress, the other wearing what resembled a priest's cassock. The latter man had slightly tanned skin and was well built, with long, blond hair. The people of Sens stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to make of this new situation.

"Ach, von hell off a voyage. You all know vhat zat is like, ja?" von Esens casually asked the townsfolk.

"Who… who are you?!" a citizen of Sens shouted.

"Me? I am your new king! Ze vorld's new king!" he responded. "Hafen't you heard?! Ze time for refolution is nigh!"

"Big bro said I get to kill today!" Rusila cheerfully exclaimed.

"REJOICE, LOST SHEEP! Ze Heafenly Fahzer hass chosen yours truly to rule over zis vorld! Und now ze time hass come for me to proof my mettle to ze Vorld Gofernment by leveling zis pasetic excuse of a facation home for ze Celestial Dragons! Anyvon who does not vant to die vhere zey stand vill join me now on ze Spirit off Liberty! FOR I! AM BALTHASAR VON ESENS! UND I! AM GOD'S CHOSEN TO BE ZE VORLD'S NEW KING!"

"Now hold everything!" exclaimed a World Noble, flanked by a small squadron of Marines and a slave on a chain. "You'll do no such thing! This ahland b'longs to th'Government!"

"Not anymore, it does not," von Esens responded. He kneeled down and prayed. "Lord, if it iss your vill, grant me ze strength to conquer zis island."

Von Esens stood up again and walked over to the slave. "Vill you join my cause, young voman?"

The slave looked at her captor, then back at von Esens, then sheepishly nodded.

"Relax, zis vill take only a moment," he calmly said, reaching his hand toward the slave's bomb collar.

"And just what in tarnation d'you think yer doin'?!" the Noble shouted. "FIRE!"

The Marines all fired their rifles at von Esens, but the bullets simply ricocheted off his armor. Von Esens, for his part, grabbed the slave girl's bomb collar, crushed it in his hand, then threw it at the squad of Marines, where it exploded and killed one of them.

"Join me, child. Your home in ze refolution awaits on ze Spirit off Liberty."

The former slave girl hugged von Esens and then took off to the Spirit of Liberty. The Celestial Dragon said nothing, then pulled out his own gun and attempted to shoot von Esens, but again, the bullet bounced off his armor.

"Rusila, vould you like to do ze honors in dispatching zis Noble?"

"YAAAAAY!" Rusila cheered.

Faster than the eye could track, Rusila appeared before the Celestial Dragon with an almost innocent grin on her face. The Dragon began to cower as she raised her Haki-coated hands. She placed one hand on the left side of the Noble's helmet, then one hand on the right. Then with a single swift motion, she clapped, shattering the World Noble's helmet and crushing his skull like a grape.

The townsfolk and the Marines watched in abject horror as Rusila licked the blood off her fingers. A lone Marine girded his loins and found the wherewithal to raise his rifle again, but again, faster than the eye could track, Rusila closed the gap between the two of them and bent the rifle upward with her bare hands, causing the rifle to fire upward. Then, with a quick backhanded slap, she took the Marine's head off.

She giggled to herself, then turned to face the other Marines, who were shivering in abject terror. A shockwave emanated from Rusila's eyes, blowing her hair back and rippling through the air. The Marines all passed out.

"NOW!" von Esens called, holding his right arm up with his hand parallel to the sky. "Who vill join me?! Zis vorld order iss at its end! A new vorld off true eqvality shall soon reign!"

The stunned townsfolk remained silent for a few moments, then began murmuring amongst themselves.

"Did they… just kill a Celest'l Dragon…?"

"D'ya think… if we follow them… we won't have t'be slaves t'th'Celest'l Dragons no more…?"

Slowly, applause began to come from the populace of Sens. It began to build until it was deafening, the people cheering "BAL-THA-SAR! BAL-THA-SAR!" in rhythmic unison. Von Esens' face lit up at this, and he lowered his hand, opting to cross his arms now.

Von Esens looked down at the two men at his sides and told them "my archangels, go, gazzer ze citizenry und escort zem to ze Spirit off Liberty."

The two men turned to their king and bowed. The man in the cassock then turned to the crowd and pulled a full transponder snail seemingly out of nowhere and tapped into the PA system of the Spirit of Liberty. His loud, but soothing voice projected over the port town.

"People of Vicks Davis. Secure your place in the new, equal, collective world order as designed by God's chosen by boarding the giant ship! I, your beloved archangel, Michael, shall be your guide on this great voyage!"

The townsfolk continued their cheering and made their way through the ranks of Minus World soldiers onto the deck of the Spirit of Liberty. Michael's transponder snail seemingly disappeared again with a gust of wind.

As this happened, von Esens turned to his small army and gave his salute again, to which all five thousand soldiers saluted back. He drew his sword, the Balmung, and swiveled around, pointing the sword forward.

"COMRADES! VE VILL LEFEL ZIS CITY! Destroy eferysing! Kill eferyvon who remains! Especially ze Marines und ze Celestial Dragons!"

A lone Marine, scared out of his wits, made his way up to von Esens after his declaration, carrying a sheet of paper. Rusila promptly closed the gap between them and raised her hand to kill him, but von Esens raised his hand to order her to stand down.

"Ja? Vhat iss it?" von Esens asked.

"A-a-a m-message from th-the commanding o-officer of this i-i-island…" the Marine stammered.

He began to read the paper.

"By o-order of V-Vice A-A—"

Von Esens, growing annoyed with the Marine's constant stuttering and stammering, simply sliced the poor soldier's head off and grabbed the sheet of paper as the body collapsed. He began to read to himself:

By order of Vice Admiral Izmena, Minus World is to meet the main force of the 98th division of the Marines on Piedmont Street in the city of Lant to settle their grudge. We are waiting.

Von Esens crumpled up the paper and threw it away. "Vhat iss zis? Some sort off trap? No matter. Ze von aboff hass determined zat our fictory iss certain zis day." He raised Balmung again and called "RAZE ZE CITY! KILL ALL ZE STRAGGLERS! Ve vill march on Lant und kill all who refuse to submit to my rule! ONVARD, COMRADES! TO FICTORY!"

As the soldiers began to ransack the city, Rusila picked up the dead Marine's head and began to play with it like a ball, giggling to herself.

—-

The grunts and officers of Worldwide Smoke poured into the streets of Lant. They banged on doors and threw rocks at windows to get as many peoples' attention as possible.

"Hurry! You have to get out of city!" Ren shouted at a group of bystanders, rifle slung over her shoulder.

"Wah should we listen t'you, girl? Just cause a World Noble got attacked don't mean we gotta evac'ate," one of them rudely replied. "Th'Marines'll protect us townsfolk."

"THE MARINES ARE PROBLEM!" Ren shouted even louder. "Marines will destroy city to get only one criminal! I have seen it myself!"

"Pfft. Go away, girlie," said another bystander.

Ren growled and yelled "FINE! It is your funeral!" before taking off to warn any civilians who would listen.

—-

Zinnia ran past a group of children playing in the street. As she did so, Ruth hissed in her ear to go back and warn them. "Oh yeah," she replied.

"Children," she said calmly, bending down to the childrens' level. "Please leave the city, a force of Marines and anti-government revolutionaries will soon descend upon you. I wish to minimize civilian casualties."

"Ooh! Cool snake, lady!" one of the children said.

"Can we touch it?!" another asked.

Ruth angrily hissed at the children, causing Zinnia to stroke the snake's chin to calm her down. "Where are your parents, children?" she asked.

"Our parents told us not t'talk to strangers!" said a third child.

A passing Celestial Dragon (riding on a slave) noticed Zinnia and the children and rode his slave over to the group.

"Now, now. What d'we have heah?"

"This strange snake lady wants us t'leave th'city!" said the first child. "Should we go, Saint Calhoun?"

"Nonsense. Th'Marines'll protect me. Yer lahves're completely expendable, though," Saint Calhoun casually replied, pulling out his gun. He pointed it at one of the children, who began to cower, but Zinnia grabbed his hand and made him fire in the wrong direction.

"Sir. I insist that you leave these children alone and evacuate the city for your own sake," Zinnia sternly ordered.

"HM?! You DAYUH lay a hand on me?! A GOD among men?!" Saint Calhoun shouted as the children fled. He then eyed up Zinnia and asked. "Y'look familiya, girl. Weren't ya one o'Legree's slaves?"

"My past is none of your business, sir."

"No matter. A fahne-looking lady lahk you'd make me a fahne wahf! Come!"

Zinnia's expression changed to one of anger, and she clenched her fists. Ruth hissed in her ear, and Zinnia relaxed.

"You're right…" she said. "Attacking him would only make our situation worse."

Zinnia took off down the street, looking for more civilians to warn.

—-

Lulupo ran through the streets of Lant, trying to warn as many people as he could to get out of the city.

"Hurry, darlings! You must evacuate!"

"Just who are you people?!" shouted a townsperson sitting on a stoop. "All y'all comin' through heah tellin' us t'leave! Ah saw it! 'Twas one o' those Marines who hit Saint Legree! And th'Marines will rahtly court martial and prob'ly execute her!"

"The Marines will destroy an entire city to get one person! Please! Listen!" Lulupo pleaded.

"Nope! Not gettin' outta this chaya!"

Lulupo became incensed at this, and his brow furrowed. "Fine, then, darlings. If you don't want to leave of your own volition, I'll do it for you!"

He grew out his hair and spread tendrils of it up and down the street, capturing any and all citizens he could find, including World Nobles. They all shouted at him to let them go.

"I'm sorry, darlings! This is for your own good!"

He extended his hair as far as he could (which was quite far) toward the outskirts of Lant, and dropped them off.

"That was only twelve people. I have to save more!" Lulupo commented as he took off down the street.

—-

Schwarz strolled rather nonchalantly down the street as Worldwide Smoke grunts pleaded with townsfolk to flee. His hands were clasped behind his head as he watched.

"Hm. There seems to be an awfully simple solution to all this," he thought.

One by one, he started opening portals up under the feet of stubborn townspeople, dumping them out in the village at the outskirts of Lant. As he stroked his chin, he commented to himself "damn is my power useful."

—-

Shaska ran as fast as she could down what happened to be the scene of the incident, Piedmont Street.

"FLEE, DAMN IT! FLEE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "THIS CITY IS ABOUT TO BE A WAR ZONE!"

It was then she came to the very building of the incident and saw the big hole in the wall.

"This must be it…" she muttered, blowing smoke. She looked through the hole, and saw two figures: one helping the other to its feet.

"Saint Legree, you must be more careful in who you decide to take as a wife," Korla said.

Legree got to his feet and pushed her away. "DON'T Y'FORGET WHO HOLDS TH'CARDS HEAH! Ah am a god among men!" he shouted.

The sight made the cigar fall from Shaska's mouth as she saw exactly who was there.

"K-Korla…?"

The slave looked away from her master and at the large figure in the wall.

After a brief moment to process, she simply said "Sh-shaska…? Is… Is that you?"

TO BE CONTINUED