"I will not let you harm Lady Perona," the Hippo Gentleman said as he raised his sword and round shield. There were two animalistic figures at his side, one a hulking tiger zombie holding a spear and the other a sheep-headed swordsman.
Maya's eyes narrowed as she drew her blade, Eros Edge. "Vivi will not harm her," she said firmly.
"Lady Perona will defeat her regardless," the Hippo Gentleman replied.
The tiger zombie snarled and lunged. He aimed his spear at Maya's chest.
"Vivi is strong," Maya said calmly as she looked at the charging beast. "Cess Thrust," Maya added as her blade flashed in a clean horizontal arc and sliced across the tiger zombie's chest.
The creature staggered back. It opened his mouth. Maya seized the moment and flicked a cube of salt into its maw. The zombie swallowed the cube. Its body convulsed violently, before a black shadow ripped free.
"You took his shadow," the Hippo Gentleman muttered.
The sheep-headed zombie bleated a guttural cry and charged. He raised his sword high.
"Cess Slice," Maya said as brought the blade down in a vertical slash and cleaved through the zombie's chest. Its mouth fell open in shock, and once again Maya hurled a cube of salt inside. The creature shuddered and collapsed as its shadow escaped into the void.
Hippo Gentleman's eyes widened. "What power," he whispered as his grip tightened on his sword.
He stomped forward. "For Lady Perona," he said as he raised his blade high and swung his sword towards Maya.
Maya met the strike head-on, her sword Eros Edge clashed against his steel. Sparks burst between them.
He followed with a sweeping slash.
Maya leapt back and dodged the attack and looked at him charging towards her.
He raised his sword high and the blade came down. Maya put her sword up and blocked the attack. "I have fought people much stronger than you," Maya said. She thought back to the fight with Phantasm Whitebeard, the fight with Phantasm Akoiji.
She looked at him. "Cess Sweep," Maya said as she dropped low and swung her sword in a wide, sweeping motion. She cut Hippo Gentleman`s leg.
Hippo Gentleman rolled to his head and got up. "Zombies don't feel pain," he said as he raised his sword and shield.
"Hex`s Blast," Maya said as she concentrated. She felt the sword draw her energy. The red got brighter. Maya then fired a red beam at Hippo Gentleman. It flew through the air at great pace and hit Hippo Gentleman. There was a huge explosion and Hippo Gentleman went flying to the ground. His suit was all burnt.
Maya walked over and saw Hippo Gentleman`s mouth open. She threw a cube of salt into his mouth. He shuddered. A black blob appeared from his mouth and it went into the sky.
Meanwhile, Conis looked at Hildon as he hovered above. His bat-like wings flapped in the smoky air. "Get back down," she said.
Hildon circled overhead. "That doesn't sound intimidating at all," he said with a frown.
Conis's eyes narrowed. She raised her weapon. "Blazing Lance Barrage," she said as the Heat Javelins ignited and she unleashed a fire blast in rapid succession.
Hildon's eyes widened. "Hey stop it," he said as he twisted in the air. His wings were frantically moving as he tried to dodge the attack. The first fire blast grazed his wing. Another whistled past his head, the heat searing his cheek.
The barrage closed in and one hit Hildon in the body. "No," Hildon said as he fell to the ground and landed with a big thud. There was dust on the ground. He could feel the flames burning his body. He rolled around. "Hot, hot," he said as rolled around and then the flames went out.
"Who are you?" Hildon asked. "You were not with the other group," he added as he got up.
"I am part of the Love Pirates," Conis replied.
"Love Pirates?" Hildon asked. "I will have to tell everyone," he added.
"You are not going anywhere," Conis said.
"Thermal Impale," Conis cried as she drove the Heat Javelin deep into the ground.
The floor beneath Hildon began to glow red-hot. There were cracks spreading outward as heat surged upward. In an instant, a pillar of searing fire erupted directly beneath him and engulfed his body in roaring flames.
"Aaagh, stop it," Hildon shrieked as his wings thrashed wildly as fire consumed him. His figure staggered through the blaze.
Conis's eyes hardened. She thought it felt cruel but my Captain entrusted me with this task. I will not fail, she thought.
As Hildon screamed. He opened his mouth wide. Conis flicked the cube of salt straight into his mouth. His body convulsed violently. Then, with a guttural cry, a black shadow burst free from his mouth. It writhed upward before disappearing out the window.
Hildon collapsed as his body laid on the ground.
Usopp pulled back the string of his slingshot. He closed one eye. "Eat this," he shouted as he released a rapid volley of salt cubes.
The projectiles whistled through the air and struck the open mouths of the surrounding zombies. One by one, their bodies convulsed violently as black shadows ripped free, dissolving into the air.
"You got them all," Porche exclaimed as she had her baton in her hand.
Usopp puffed out his chest proudly. He had a large grin on his face. "Of course I did. That's the power of Captain Usopp," he said.
At that moment, Robin and Raki appeared. Porche looked at the two ladies. "Are you both okay?" Porche asked quickly.
"We are," Robin replied with her usual calm composure.
From the other side, Maya and Conis arrived as well. They regrouped with the others.
"Are you all okay?" Conis asked.
"I am the bravest of them all and defeated all of the animals," Usopp laughed.
"He is annoying," Raki commented.
"He is Kaya's best friend," Maya replied.
"We should go and help Vivi," Porche said as she looked around.
"Princess is strong," Robin giggled.