Resuming Group 1
After discovering the Skypieans were faking their injuries, Kalev and Allana dropped into fighting stances and charged the nearest foes.
Allana: "Harpy: Aether!"
Using one wing like an arm, Allana punched forward, sending a barrier of air crashing into the Skypiean before her. However, it wasn't very effective, as their Yokeru blocked most of the damage.
Kalev: "You'll pay for trying to deceive us!"
Already understanding how Yokeru worked thanks to Shanthi, Kalev quickly coated his katana in a faint white light that amplified its cutting power. With this enhancement, he unleashed a flurry of slashes at the Skypiean nearest him, knocking him unconscious.
After taking Allana's blow, the Skypiean grabbed a fan-like weapon and swung it. A blade of wind shot toward Allana.
Not being a fool, she swiftly shifted into her Mink form and, in a flash, electrocuted her opponent, rendering him unconscious.
Allana: "That's weird... I've never heard of using a fan as a weapon... interesting. Maybe I should try it."
Allana reached for the fan in the unconscious Skypiean's hand, but before she could get close... a barrage of wind blades filled her peripheral vision.
Skypieans: "HOW DARE YOU TRY TO TAINT OUR COMRADE'S FAN!"
Caught off guard, Allana couldn't dodge the storm of wind blades bearing down on her.
But before the cuts could land, a wall of white flames erupted in front of her.
Kalev: "Ishtamariya: GederEsh (Fire Fence)!"
Having sensed the Skypieans' attack before Allana, Kalev plunged his Ortzurugi into the ground and channeled divine energy through it, directing it in front of her. Upon arrival, the energy exploded, raising a fiery fence that shielded Allana.
Kalev: "Get out of there, now! I don't know how much longer I can hold it!"
Hearing Kalev, Allana activated her Electro, snatched the fan, and sprinted clear.
Seeing she was safe, Kalev deactivated Geder Esh, letting the remaining wind blades slam into the ground and trigger a massive wind explosion.
After unleashing so many slashes, the Skypieans looked visibly fatigued – something Kalev noticed.
Kalev: "Ishtamariya: CherevNeshamah (Soul Sword)!"
Syncing his breath with his body's divine energy, Kalev guided it fluidly to his katana's tip. With a motion as smooth as air itself... he unleashed a surge of divine energy toward the Skypieans.
Skypiean: "Huh... huh... huh? What is th- AHHHHHH!"
Taken by surprise, the three front-line Skypieans were hit dead-on. Unfortunately for Kalev, they managed to stall the slash just long enough for the others to raise a wind barrier that blocked his Cherev Neshamah.
Exhausted from the attack, Kalev quickly formed a new plan.
Kalev: "Dammit...! Allana!"
Allana: "What?"
Kalev: "I need you to fly me to the top of this tent."
Allana: "Got it!"
Running at full speed, Allana shifted forms again near Kalev – this time into her Oni-Skypiean hybrid, affectionately called the Fallen Angel. In this form, she easily lifted Kalev and soared upward.
The Skypieans didn't stand idle; they occasionally launched wind blades, but fatigue slowed their attacks significantly.
Allana: "Whoa! Why are they attacking so slowly?"
Kalev: "Guess they overdid it with that earlier barrage."
Allana: "You don't look much better."
Kalev: "I'll admit... I overdid it too. Didn't think they'd block that... Did you get the fan earlier?"
Holding up the fan, Allana grinned.
Allana: "Of course! And since we're near the roof, I'm testing this baby out!"
Swinging the fan with all her strength, she produced a massive gust. Instead of slicing the tent fabric, the sheer force ripped a huge hole in it, stunning everyone – especially Allana.
Allana: "I knew this form made strong wind, but... I can't even make wind blades... so how'd I do that?"
Kalev: "Wait! You don't know how to–... never mind. We've got bigger problems right now."
Allana: "Yeah... you're right!"
Dismissing the thought, they reached the tent's peak.
Kalev pulled out a small Den Den Mushi and made a call, answered instantly.
D.D.M.: "What happened?"
Kalev: "It was a tra–"
Before he could finish, searing pain erupted in his gut. Looking down, Kalev saw a bullet hole in his abdomen. Following its trajectory, he spotted Peek A. Paul... aiming two pistols at him.
But before Kalev could react... his body was mysteriously yanked backward.
Peek: "Tarraing! (Pull!) So you uncovered our little act... Damn incompetents! A shame, but I'll just have to fini–"
***BOOOOOOOOOM***
As if in a cruel joke, the same thing that happened to Kalev befell Peek A. Paul, though for different reasons...
Peek: "What the hell...?!"
In Peek's line of sight, a giant playing card was hurtling toward them, but...
Peek: "It just... stopped mid-air?"
Somehow, the colossal card hovered motionless above the Skypieans' tent, as if suspended by a thread.
Things only got stranger.
Peek: "What the fuck is happening?! Why are cannons coming out of a giant card?!?"
Just as Peek shouted, dozens of cannons magically emerged from the skyborne card and began firing on the tent, exploding it and killing everyone inside.
Only Peek (who was farther away), Kalev (yanked by Peek), and Allana (who'd chased after Kalev) survived unscathed.
Peek: "Everyone...?"
Staring in disbelief at his obliterated subordinates, Peek's shock quickly morphed into rage.
He screamed, firing wildly at the giant card.
Peek: "I don't know who you are! But you'll pay for this! *Sgrios!! (Destruction!!)*"
Firing both pistols, something bizarre occurred... the two bullets spiraled around each other, colliding... fusing into a single projectile radiating pure malice – a bullet that promised certain death.
As it flew toward the card, a blur shot out from it at incredible speed. The moment the blur cleared, the bullet struck. Upon contact, the card seemed to implode and explode simultaneously... confusing? Simply put: the card was utterly annihilated.
???????: "HEY, BIRD BRAIN! Who do you think you are, tormenting my rookies like that?!"
The shout came from the formidable Rear Admiral Bagness. Hearing Kalev's call, he'd sensed disaster. Using Observation Haki to locate the group, he'd thrown the card – using his Devil Fruit powers to neutralize enemies and teleport himself.
Peek ignored the question, just leveling his pistols at the man who'd destroyed his men and firing again.
Peek: "How dare you?! How dare you do that to my incompetents!"
Bagness: "No answer? Poor choice... Now it's showtime!"
In a flash, Bagness reached into his sleeve, drew a sansetsukon, coated it in Armament Haki, and – like swinging a baseball bat – smashed the Sgrios bullet back at Peek with terrifying speed and force.
Peek: "BASTARD!"
Blinded by rage, Peek reacted too late. To avoid his own attack... he hurled his pistols into the Sgrios's path. The guns shattered, canceling the technique.
Peek: "I'll kill you! I'll ki– *BONK*"
Seeing Peek's irrational state, Bagness didn't hold back. With a swift motion, he delivered a crushing blow to the top of Peek's head, knocking him out cold.
With the enemy dealt with, Bagness turned to Allana and Kalev, his expression serious.
Bagness: "You two alright?"
Kalev: "Just minor injuries... nothing I can't heal."
Bagness: "Good! I'll be right back!"
As he spoke, Bagness tossed his coat upward.
As it fell over him... his body seemed to vanish... as if stepping through a portal.
To Be Continued...