Chapter 41: Veloria - part 2
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Heart pounding, Emi sprinted breathlessly toward the main entrance of the town center. As expected, the explosion's crash had alerted the mercenaries stationed near the port. A surge of shouts and commands echoed from their ranks as they gathered to charge toward the center. She knew every second counted. Upon arriving, she saw the fighters already in position, hidden behind makeshift barricades they'd thrown together just hours earlier. She exchanged a look with them, her eyes flashing with urgency and determination. There was no time to celebrate the collapse of the bridge—waves of mercenaries were storming toward them, a furious tide ready to crash down.
Emi took her place at the front, wiping the sweat from her brow. The first mercenaries appeared in the distance, heavily armed and visibly enraged.
"Get ready," she murmured, her voice low but steady as she watched the shapes draw closer.
The mercenaries came charging in, unaware of the second trap lying in wait.
Emi glanced at the large barrels of water placed at the plaza's entrance. This water, a source of life for the villagers, had become a symbol of oppression under the taxes imposed by the noble. Part of her felt guilty for having to destroy their reserves, but it was the only way to slow the mercenaries down.
She took a deep breath, pulling out her whistle. The mercenaries were nearly upon them. She clenched her teeth and, without another moment's hesitation, blew.
The signal set off the explosion.
A crash resounded as the barrels exploded, unleashing a massive wave that surged with incredible force. Water burst in all directions, sweeping away everything in its path. The mercenaries were carried off by the power of the surge.
Emi stood still for a second, watching the mercenaries struggle against the wave. A faint smile crossed her lips, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared when she saw the opposite effect unfold. Instead of breaking their spirits, the explosion had only fueled their fury.
"That won't hold them off for long…" one of the rebels muttered to her, his jaw clenched.
And he was right. The mercenaries, soaked and seething with anger, got back on their feet, their eyes dark with rage. They charged again, now with doubled ferocity. Their battle cries filled the air, wild and vengeful, like beasts thirsting to reclaim their pride.
Emi didn't have time to think further. The real fight had begun.
The first mercenaries reached the barricades, weapons drawn. Emi narrowly dodged a saber strike, retaliating with a swift kick. Around her, the clash of blades echoed. The village fighters joined her, clashing with the mercenaries in brutal close combat.
A mercenary larger than the rest charged at her with a spiked club in hand. She ducked just in time, sliding beneath his legs and quickly sticking a small explosive to his armor. Leaping back, she blew her whistle, and the explosion sent the man sprawling, putting him out of the fight.
But she barely had a second to breathe before she heard the scrape of metal behind her. She jumped up, dodging a blade as it whistled through the air. Pivoting on her feet, she struck with a swift kick, hitting her attacker square in the chest and sending him hurtling back against a wall. Almost instantly, another mercenary lunged at her, sword raised high. Emi dropped to the ground, evading again, then rose with a powerful spinning kick that connected with his jaw, sending him reeling backwards.
But there were still so many of them.
Too many, damn it.
She took a deep breath, grabbed the handle of her satchel, and drew her spear. It was time to see what this weapon could really do. Another attack was coming: a mercenary charged at her, wielding a two-handed axe raised above his head. Emi dodged with a quick side-step, the sharp metal smashing into the ground where she'd been standing a second before. Before he could recover, she struck a thunderous blow to his knee with her spear, followed by a kick to the throat that sent him crashing down.
Breath ragged, Emi straightened, scanning the battlefield. It was pure chaos. The fighting was intensifying. The mercenaries were relentless, and despite their best efforts, the village defenders seemed to be weakening. A mercenary prepared to strike a rebel already on the ground, fury in his eyes. Without hesitation, she took hold of her spear, and with a precise motion, hurled it forcefully. The spear sliced through the air and brutally embedded itself in the mercenary's back. The man let out a choked scream, coughing up blood as he collapsed to the ground.
Without wasting a second, Emi rushed forward to retrieve her spear. A shiver of disgust ran through her at the sight of the bloodied mercenary, but she didn't have time to dwell on the horror. The cries of villagers fleeing the mercenaries tore through the air, and the ground trembled under the invaders' footsteps. Flames began to spread through some of the houses. The whole village seemed to be sinking into chaos.
Dread gnawed at her as she realized they were outnumbered, facing an unrelenting wave of mercenaries. Her comrades, though fierce, were overwhelmed, and despair threatened to consume her.
No. They couldn't lose.
Not now. Not after everything she'd done.
Emi clenched her fists, crouching behind a crumbling wall, her frustration palpable. Despite all her efforts, fatigue was catching up with her. Her muscles screamed in pain, and her breathing grew shorter with each passing moment. Even with the help of a few village fighters and rebels, their attempts to slow down the mercenaries had only bought a few minutes, and she could feel her strength fading.
"We can't hold on much longer at this rate..." she thought, a lump of frustration forming in her throat.
She couldn't shake a sense of deep misalignment with the situation, gripping her spear in hand. Deep down, she knew she was just a journalist, an observer of world events, not a warrior. Yet, the promise she had made to her father echoed within her, driving her to fight alongside the rebels.
As she prepared for one last attempt, a sudden sound vibrated through the air—a high-pitched whistle. An explosion boomed at the entrance of the square, followed by a thick cloud of dust.
The mercenaries paused for a moment, caught off guard. Emi, panting, straightened slightly, her eyes wide. Through the smoke, a familiar silhouette emerged, striding forward with confidence.
A metal staff in one hand, a long black coat billowing behind him, his blond hair shining in the glow of the flames.
Sabo.
The right hand of the Revolutionary Army.
The heavy silence that followed was broken by a single word, murmured in hope: the fight was about to begin again.
Sabo, his face set and determined, didn't need to speak for the mercenaries to understand that their time was running out. With a fluid motion, he struck his staff against the ground, sending a shockwave that made the earth tremble beneath their enemies' feet. Behind him, several members of the Revolutionary Army spread out, taking strategic positions throughout the village.
Emi felt an indescribable relief seeing the mercenaries falter; they were finally regaining the upper hand. Villagers who had been hiding began to emerge slowly, drawn by a flicker of renewed hope.
Sabo approached Emi, his eyes quickly assessing her condition.
"Emi ! You fought well. Let us handle the rest," he said firmly, though there was a hint of gentleness in his gaze.
Emi shook her head, wiping dust from her cheeks.
"I can't just stand by and do nothing. I promised to help these people."
Sabo nodded, recognizing her determination, but before he could respond, a gunshot echoed through the air. They turned just in time to see a group of mercenaries regrouping near the village entrance, clearly intent on taking back control.
"I'll take care of this," Sabo declared as he launched himself across the battlefield.
With astonishing speed, Sabo moved through the mercenaries, his staff striking with relentless precision. Every blow was calculated, each movement devastating. Beside him, Hack, the powerful fish-man, cut through enemy ranks, his massive fists hitting the mercenaries with colossal force. His movements were smooth, and each punch sent a mercenary flying, lifeless. On the other side, Koala practically danced amidst the chaos, her Fish-Man Karate style allowing her to evade and counterattack with brutal elegance. Her feet and fists landed with unexpected power, each mercenary collapsing under her onslaught. Within mere minutes, the remaining enemy resistance was swept away, and the mercenaries scattered in all directions, overcome with panic.
Emi watched the scene, impressed. She knew the Revolutionary Army was powerful, but seeing Sabo, Hack, and Koala in action reminded her just how formidable they were. They moved as one with the chaos, turning the confusion of battle into an orchestra of martial precision.
Koala approached Emi, wiping a few drops of sweat from her forehead. "You bought them a lot of time; that was well done," she said with an encouraging smile. "Without you, the villagers wouldn't have held out."
Despite the praise, Emi felt a dull frustration knotting in her stomach. She'd done everything to protect the villagers, but she knew that many had been hurt, and she hadn't managed to stop the mercenaries before they caused harm. Her fists clenched, a shadow of guilt passing over her face.
"I... I couldn't protect them all," she murmured, lowering her eyes. "Many were hurt. Maybe even killed..."
Koala gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did everything you could. You gave them hope, and that's what mattered."
Emi felt a weight lift from her chest. She hadn't lost everything. They were finally here, and together, they would put an end to this threat.
Once the calm settled, Sabo returned to her, adjusting his hat. "The mercenaries are just a symptom. Their base is further out, and as long as it stands, this village will never be safe."
"I'm coming with you," Emi replied immediately.
Sabo's gaze hardened as he looked at her.
"No. It's too dangerous. These mercenaries are armed to the teeth and will stop at nothing. You've already done so much here."
Emi clenched her fists, frustration welling up inside. She hated staying behind. But as she looked around at the injured villagers who needed her, she knew Sabo was right—someone had to stay and protect them.
"Be careful. These guys aren't playing around," she sighed.
Koala flashed a confident smile. "Neither are we," she replied with a wink.
"Take care of the villagers—they need you now," Sabo said firmly.
"We're counting on you, Emi! Let's meet up when it's over, right, Sab—" Koala began, stopping mid-sentence as Sabo headed swiftly out of the village without a word.
Koala blinked, stunned, before hurrying to catch up. "Sabo, wait for me!"
Emi stayed rooted, watching their figures fade into the darkness. Sabo hadn't changed, she noted. Hopefully they would put an end to this for once. They were the village's best hope.
.~~~~
The village of Veloria was finally under control, and for the first time in weeks, a relative calm settled over it. Emi, her face covered in dust, hurried from one injured villager to the next, her mind focused on providing care. Cries of pain and sobs filled the air, but she did her best to ease their suffering.
"Hang in there," she said, wrapping a bandage around a wounded man's arm.
The villagers looked at her with eyes full of gratitude. She had risked her life for them, and now she was here, offering comfort and hope. Yet, despite the reassuring smiles she gave them, Emi felt a heavy weight on her heart. The battle was far from over. They may have pushed back the mercenaries, but the Noble remained the true source of their suffering, and as long as he ruled these lands, peace would never be theirs.
And speaking of the Noble... Just as she straightened up, a cold voice echoed behind her. "What do you think you're doing, you vermin!"
Emi turned around, her breath catching for a moment. A man, flanked by a dozen agents in black uniforms, strode toward her at a measured pace. His coat—a garish shade of orange that made her inwardly cringe—billowed in the wind as he carefully adjusted the collar. His face, a mix of arrogance and feigned amusement, barely concealed a simmering annoyance.
"Do you have any idea the inconvenience you've caused me?" he sneered, waving a hand with exaggerated drama. "I had to cross these filthy, mud-covered roads because my esteemed mercenaries dared to alert me to such an intolerable disturbance."
He leaned forward, inspecting his coat with a look of disdain, as though a single speck of dust might mar his prized garment.
Emi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The noble. Damn. She had never imagined he'd have the audacity to come here himself. Was he truly that arrogant? Did he think his position and the government's protection made him untouchable, even against the Revolutionary Army? Maybe he believed his power placed him above the law, above consequences. But this time, he was about to taste his own arrogance.
This man, responsible for so much suffering. The one who had reduced the island's people to slaves, the one responsible for her father's death. And those agents... She recognized them immediately. The CP2. Their black uniforms hit her like a punch, dredging up memories she'd rather bury forever. Her heart pounded frenetically, drumming in her chest like a war beat. Each breath became harder, more erratic, as rage surged within her, blazing and uncontrollable.
She forced herself to take a deep breath, to calm the storm threatening to overtake her. But it was them. The ones who had shattered her life, stomped on her hopes. And today, finally, she faced them head-on.
"I'm not going to dirty my hands over your petty rebellions." The noble raised an eyebrow, his arrogance blatant, before turning to the mayor. "And you, what are you planning to do to rectify this situation? I don't have time to play this ridiculous game."
The mayor, who had been trying to organize the survivors, hurried to intercept the man.
"We have nothing left to give! You've taken everything from us!" the mayor cried out, his voice trembling but determined.
The noble, strutting around, couldn't resist reveling in the misery surrounding him. With a haughty smile, he spat on the ground right in front of the mayor and chuckled.
"Look at these pathetic villagers! You rebelled against me, and now you're paying the price. You're nothing but a bunch of failures. Do you really think anyone cares about your fate?"
The villagers, horrified by his words, lowered their heads, eyes filled with tears. Some muttered words of anger, while others, overwhelmed by fear, shrank in on themselves. The mayor, meanwhile, tried to stand taller, his face twisted with shame and rage.
"No. You're not taking anything here anymore," the mayor added, his words soaked in fury. "Not this time."
The noble burst out laughing, his disdain evident.
"You really think you have rights? In this world, only power matters. You're lucky I don't have this rat-hole of a village leveled," he sneered, turning toward the villagers. "You deserve the suffering you're going through. Go on, show me what you're worth! I bet you're incapable of doing anything usefuー"
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" Emi shouted fiercely, cutting off the noble mid-tirade.
The noble, stunned, widened his eyes as he turned to Emi. "What the…?" he stammered, not expecting to be interrupted like that by a girl.
Emi, who had been watching the scene until now, could no longer contain her anger. She clenched her fists tighter, her nails digging into her skin. Each word from the noble made her want to hit him. She couldn't stay silent any longer. Stepping forward with purpose, she approached him, glaring.
"I said, shut your fucking mouth."
She stood there, her gaze fierce, challenging the noble with a boldness he had never encountered before. The villagers, surprised by her courage, turned to watch her. The noble, though taken aback by her audacity, quickly regained his superior air.
"And who are you to speak to me like that, you insolent brat?" he sneered, his voice filled with disdain.
Emi stepped closer, her face set with determination. "The one who'll end your rule. You have no right to speak to people like that."
The murmurs among the villagers grew louder. Anger and hope were beginning to take root in their hearts. The noble, realizing his authority was wavering, replied with a desperate arrogance.
"You don't know who you're dealing with! If you dare lay a finger on me, believe me, you'll regret it, and you won't escape the government!"
Emi let out a scornful laugh. This guy had no idea she was willing to do whatever it took to bring him down. Whatever the consequences.
"I know exactly who you are," Emi shot back. "A filthy rat hiding behind a mask of nobility." She took a step forward, her voice growing stronger, galvanizing those around her.
As Emi advanced toward the noble, her gaze fixed on him, three agents exchanged discreet glances before stepping toward her, aware that she was getting dangerously close to the man they were meant to protect.
Seeing the three agents step in front of the noble, Emi couldn't hold back another scornful laugh. "A coward hiding behind government puppets."
One of the agents suddenly furrowed his brow, recognizing her voice, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, well, that voice... You're the daughter of that pathetic journalist, aren't you?" he sneered venomously. "What was his name again? Hiro? The one who got himself killed for poking his nose where it didn't belong... You should follow his example, stay in your place if you want to survive."
Emi froze, her chest tightening as his words sank in. Him. The man responsible for her father's death, now standing smugly before her, daring to mock his memory. Her hands clenched into fists so hard her knuckles went white, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.
"You will fucking regret this," she hissed, her voice barely more than a whisper
She drew her lance, its blade sparking with a fierce, crackling energy that surged through the air. Static charged the atmosphere around her, amplifying the fury in her gaze locked on the man who dared to mock her father's memory. Every muscle in her body coiled with purpose as she lunged at him, aiming a precise, electrified strike at his side. He twisted away just in time, their eyes meeting for a split second that told her everything: she would not relent, no matter what it took.
The battle in the square intensified, revolutionaries joining her as explosions and gunfire reverberated through the chaos. But Emi's focus remained on him, her every attack fueled by an overwhelming rage. Yet this bastard was skilled, his movements nearly inhuman as he evaded her strikes, slipping out of her reach only to reappear, grinning, with brutal counterattacks that kept her on edge.
She pulled a small bomb from her satchel, quickly tossing it at his feet, and leapt back, her fingers grazing the whistle ready to set it off. But the agent's eyes widened, and with a flash of his own speed, he kicked the explosive aside. She blew the whistle, and the bomb detonated in midair, close enough to shake him. He stumbled back, brow furrowing as he realized how close he'd come to losing his legs.
Then, just as she thought she'd found another opening, the agent backed away, letting out a sinister laugh. "You're not the only one with surprises, girl."
He began to transform, his body grotesquely shifting. His arms became massive wings, his face twisted into something more beastly, and a pair of enormous yellow eyes fixed on Emi.
A giant owl. A Zoan-type Devil Fruit user.
"Great," Emi muttered, bracing herself for impact.
The owl-agent lunged at her with terrifying speed, his wings striking with a destructive force. Emi rolled to the side, barely avoiding the blows as the owl's talons tore through the ground inches from her. The impact threw debris into the air, briefly blinding her.
"Is that all you've got?" the agent taunted, his voice distorted and grating from his transformation.
Emi stood up, brushing the dust from her face. Damn it. She knew she couldn't match a Zoan in sheer brute strength, but she had no intention of backing down. Gripping her electric lance with fierce determination, she charged at him, ready to do whatever it took to avenge her father.
"You're going to regret running your beak, you fucking bird!" she growled, diving back into the fight. Her movements became faster, more precise, her focus zeroed in on a single objective: to bring this bastard down, no matter the cost.
The rest of the battle around them was reaching its climax. The other CP2 agents fought fiercely against the Revolutionary forces, but they were outnumbered. The rebels, galvanized by Emi's courage, were determined to defeat their enemies. Under the pressure from the advancing Revolutionary Army, the agents fell one by one, their refined techniques proving insufficient against the wave of rebellion. The noble, once secure in his protection, now found himself desperate, searching frantically for an escape as his guards were taken down.
But none of this mattered to Emi.
Her focus was entirely on the owl agent, fighting as though her life depended on it. With every strike she delivered, her body suffered from the relentless blows. Her muscles screamed in agony, but her spirit refused to give in. Not after everything she'd endured, and certainly not now. The owl agent's gaze grew sharper as he recognized the shifting tide of the battle. Victory was slipping from their grasp, and the other agents were already defeated. His thick, feathered brows furrowed, and he looked at Emi with disdain.
"I don't have time to toy with you any longer," he growled, his voice grating through his beak.
With a sudden movement, he flapped his wings, creating a powerful gust that sent Emi staggering backward. Her feet slid across the dusty ground as he took flight, beating his wings with enough force to stir up clouds of debris.
"No ! You're not getting away !" Emi yelled, her voice ringing with fury at its peak.
Without a second thought, she launched herself after him, racing straight toward the port. The giant owl flew at a blistering speed, rising into the air above the rooftops. But Emi refused to let him escape. Not after everything he'd done, not after what he'd dared to say. Her breath came in gasps, but she forced her body to its limits.
Arriving at the dock, she leapt with desperate precision. With a final, frantic jump, she managed to grab onto the owl agent's leg just before he soared too high. Surprised, he flapped his wings even more furiously, but Emi held on, clutching her spear in one hand as her body was tossed violently in the air. The wind whipped at her face, and she could feel the sea's mist rising around them as the island slowly vanished on the horizon.
"You'll pay for what you did !" she shouted in fury.
Emi tried to drive her electric spear into the owl's abdomen, but before she could strike, he spun through the air with terrifying agility. He snapped his head around, delivering a brutal beak strike to her side, hitting her with shocking force. Pain shot through her like lightning. Emi cried out and lost her grip, her spear slipping from her hand.
She felt her body plunge through the air, the icy ocean rushing up to meet her. The wind screamed in her ears, and for a moment, everything seemed to unfold in slow motion. Her gaze, filled with hatred and frustration, stayed locked on the owl agent as he grew smaller, disappearing into the sky. She wanted to scream, to shout out her rage, but all she felt was the crushing pain of her failure.
She struck the frigid water hard, the impact jolting her already bruised bones. As she surfaced, she could hear the agent's sadistic laughter echoing above her, piercing her mind like a blade. She finally screamed in rage, her cries lost in the roar of the turbulent waves. She had been unable to bring justice for her father, unable to avenge him, and a bitter taste lingered in her mouth as she stared up at the sky where the agent had vanished.
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Thank you for reading this chapter!
I didn't want Emi to defeat her father's murderer too easily—I'm trying to avoid making her a Mary Sue, lol. I hope you still enjoy the action scenes I'm working on, though!
The next one will be published soon! :D
