11. Buggy the Clown

Noir adjusted his sunglasses, gazing at the eerily silent streets of the town. It wasn't what he expected—normally, if Luffy was in a place, it would be bustling with noise and chaos, not this unsettling quiet. He took a drag from his cigarette and sighed, his sharp eyes scanning the abandoned buildings.

"Is this really the place?" Noir muttered, his voice low and skeptical.

Zoro walked beside him, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Feels like a ghost town," he commented, his green hair ruffling slightly in the sea breeze. "No one at the docks either. Weird."

"Actually…" the pudgy man who had guided them here began, nervously scratching his head, "this town's been taken over by Captain Buggy and his crew. That's why it's so empty."

"Buggy, huh?" Noir exhaled smoke, tilting his head thoughtfully. "A clown pirate. Should be fun."

Zoro's attention suddenly shifted to the sea, his sharp ears picking up faint shouts carried by the wind. He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where he spotted a small boat speeding toward the docks. "They really managed to catch up," he said with a faint smirk.

Noir followed his gaze, his sunglasses reflecting the approaching vessel. "About time."

The small boat came to a screeching halt at the pier, water splashing up as its passengers stumbled onto the dock, breathing heavily. Yuki collapsed onto her knees, gasping for air, while Maki leaned on her staff for support. Fubuki, ever composed, adjusted her hair despite the sweat on her brow. Ihwa, as always, looked calm but visibly annoyed.

"Finally!" Yuki wheezed, glaring up at Noir and Zoro, who stood casually at the edge of the pier. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to catch up with you two?! Noir, you're lucky I didn't—"

Her words froze mid-sentence as her eyes locked onto Noir, who had turned away and was heading toward their ship. Something primal surged within her, and despite her exhaustion, Yuki sprang to her feet, launching herself at Noir with surprising force.

"Nooooiiirrrr-kuunnnnnn!" she cried dramatically, leaping into the air.

Noir barely had time to turn his head before Yuki collided with him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. The impact sent Noir stumbling slightly, and Yuki pressed his face directly into her chest, holding him with the strength of someone who had nothing left to lose.

"Yuki, what the hell—" Noir's muffled voice came from somewhere within the suffocating embrace.

"Oh, Noir, I was so worried!" Yuki exclaimed, ignoring his protests. "We thought you'd left us behind for good!"

Noir, however, had no intention of indulging her dramatics. He calmly placed his hands on Yuki's head, gripping her like one would a mischievous child. With one smooth motion, he lifted her off the ground, her legs dangling comically as she flailed in protest.

"Stop acting like a kid," Noir said flatly, setting her down once her energy had drained. Yuki, now out of breath, pouted but couldn't muster a retort.

Maki smirked from where she stood. "Yuki's like a puppy sometimes. Throw her a bone, Noir."

"More like an overly clingy leech," Fubuki muttered, earning a glare from Yuki.

Once the group had gathered, the women wasted no time launching into a tirade.

"Do you two have any idea how reckless it was to leave us behind like that?!" Maki started, jabbing a finger at Zoro.

"We barely had any supplies, the currents were unpredictable, and none of us knew the way!" Fubuki added, her voice icy.

"Zoro was the one rowing," Noir interjected casually, flicking ash from his cigarette.

"Which is exactly the problem!" Maki turned her wrath on Zoro, who stiffened under her gaze. "You're terrible with directions, and yet you thought you could steer a boat?!"

"Like I had a choice!" Zoro shot back, his frustration bubbling. "Noir was injured! and Luffy was caught by a bird, What, was I supposed to sit there and let us drift?"

"And why didn't you stop him, Noir?" Fubuki's piercing gaze turned to him.

Noir shrugged. "I told him it was a bad idea. Not my fault he's as stubborn as a mule."

"Stubborn?! You—" Zoro began, but Maki cut him off.

"You could've asked Ihwa to help! At least she's reliable!"

Zoro clenched his fists, his face turning red from a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You women are impossible!"

"And you're hopeless!" Fubuki countered, crossing her arms.

Once the commotion settled, Noir briefed them on the situation.

"Alright, here's what we know," Noir began, leaning against a barrel. "This town's under the control of some pirate named Buggy. It's likely Luffy's gotten himself tangled up with them."

"So what's the plan?" Maki asked, her staff resting on her shoulder.

"We split up," Noir said. "Zoro, Ihwa, and I will go after Buggy directly. The rest of you search the other parts of town for Luffy. If you find him, regroup at the docks."

"Why do you get to decide the teams?" Yuki pouted, crossing her arms.

"Because I'm not dragging you into a fight with a clown who's probably got a gimmick," Noir replied bluntly. "Zoro and I can handle it, and Ihwa's got experience keeping us grounded."

"Fair enough," Fubuki said. "Let's just get this over with."

As the groups prepared to split, Noir turned to Yuki and placed a hand on her head. "Don't do anything reckless, alright?"

Yuki's pout turned into a small smile. "You're such a worrywart, Noir."

Noir smirked. "Only because you're a magnet for trouble."

*****************

"Now where is this Buggy we're looking for?" Asked Ihwa who was walking beside Noir, the three of them were walking looking for Buggy the clown who was said to have taken over this city, but they still didn't know where Buggy was.

"I just hope this Buggy makes a scene-" said Noir who was cut off when the three of them heard the sound of a cannon being fired then not far from them, from the direction of the sound of the cannon being fired, several buildings in a row were immediately destroyed which reflected the power of the cannon and the cannonball was not normal.

"And it turns out they are there" said Ihwa while pointing to a two-story building and the cannon was fired earlier.

"Yes this will be easier, let's go there, maybe this Buggy knows where Luffy is" said Noir then walked towards the building but he looked to the side and Zoro instead of walking in the direction they were headed.

"Oi, Zoro," Noir called out sharply, halting in his tracks. He glanced over his shoulder to see the swordsman confidently striding in the opposite direction. Noir's brow twitched in irritation.

"What?" Zoro grunted, glancing back at him briefly but continuing his march in the wrong direction.

"The building we're headed to is this way," Noir said, pointing to the two-story structure with the massive tent on its roof.

"I know," Zoro replied nonchalantly, waving a hand dismissively.

Noir sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're literally walking in the opposite direction, dumbass."

Zoro stopped in his tracks, frowning as he turned to look back at Noir, then at the building Noir was pointing at. A slight hint of confusion crossed his face before he shrugged. "Huh. I could've sworn it was this way."

"No, it wasn't." Noir's voice was flat as he strode over, grabbed Zoro's collar, and began dragging him toward the correct path.

"Oi, let go of me!" Zoro protested, his tone indignant as he attempted to wrestle out of Noir's grip.

"Not a chance," Noir replied dryly. "Not until I'm sure you won't wander off and get lost again."

Ihwa, walking alongside them, let out a light chuckle, smirking at the situation. "Honestly, Zoro, you might be the only person alive who could get lost in a straight line."

"Shut it," Zoro muttered, his face reddening slightly, though whether from embarrassment or anger was unclear.

"Don't bother," Noir said as he continued dragging Zoro forward. "Trying to reason with him is like talking to a wall. I swear, it's like traveling with a defective compass."

After a few more minutes of walking, the trio finally arrived near the two-story building. A massive striped tent adorned the roof, flapping slightly in the breeze. The faint sounds of laughter and shouting could be heard even from the ground, growing louder with each passing moment.

Noir released Zoro, giving him a look that said, Stay on track this time. Zoro clicked his tongue in irritation, brushing off his shirt as if Noir's grip had left some sort of stain.

"There's definitely a party going on up there," Ihwa commented, crossing her arms as she glanced up at the tent. "Looks like Buggy's crew is getting pretty comfortable."

"Good," Noir said, his hands sliding into his pockets as he took a step forward. "That makes it easier to find them."

They approached the building cautiously, entering through a side door that led to a dimly lit hallway. The interior was eerily quiet compared to the raucous noise above. Broken furniture and debris littered the floor, and the faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

"This place is a mess," Ihwa muttered, nudging aside a toppled chair with her foot.

"Not surprising," Noir replied, glancing around. "It's been taken over by pirates, after all."

"Let's just get to the top," Zoro said impatiently, his hand resting on one of his swords.

As they climbed the staircase, the sounds of celebration grew louder. The chants of "Fire! Fire!" became more distinct, accompanied by the metallic clanking of cannonballs being loaded.

"They're definitely planning to fire another round," Noir remarked, his tone calm but with a hint of irritation. "Let's pick up the pace. I'd rather not get caught in the blast."

"Agreed," Ihwa said, her steps quickening as they ascended.

The trio reached the final landing just as the sound of fighting broke out above them. The shouts and clashes of steel echoed through the air, mingling with the chants of Buggy's crew.

Bursting onto the roof, the trio took in the chaotic scene before them. Buggy's crew surrounded a massive cannon, cheering and jeering as they prepared to fire another "Buggy Ball." The cannon was aimed directly at a caged Luffy, who sat cross-legged inside, looking more annoyed than afraid.

At the cannon's base stood an orange-haired woman, her hands desperately smothering the lit fuse. Her face was twisted in determination, but her agonized scream cut through the air as the flames licked at her hands.

"Oi, look out!" Luffy's voice rang out, his expression shifting from annoyance to urgency.

The woman turned sharply, her eyes widening as several of Buggy's men lunged at her from behind.

Before they could reach her, Zoro and Ihwa stepped in. Zoro's swords flashed in the sunlight, and the men dropped to the ground one by one, groaning in pain. Ihwa, though wielding no weapon, took down one of the attackers with a swift and well-placed kick, sending him sprawling across the rooftop.

The orange-haired woman stared at the scene in shock, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

"You okay?" Ihwa asked, her voice calm but firm.

The woman nodded shakily, still processing what had just happened.

Meanwhile, Noir had slipped around the commotion, walking leisurely along the edge of the roof. His hands remained in his pockets, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. He approached Luffy's cage with an air of indifference, his sharp eyes taking in the scene as if he were an observer rather than a participant.

He glanced briefly at the woman and the fallen pirates around her before muttering, "What kind of men gang up on a defenseless woman? Pathetic."

"Noir! Zoro! Ihwa!" Luffy's voice broke through the chaos, his face lighting up as he spotted his crewmates. "Man, am I glad to see you guys! I thought I was gonna end up as bird food or something!"

Noir stopped in front of the cage, exhaling a plume of smoke. "How the hell did you even end up in here?"

Luffy grinned sheepishly. "It's actually a pretty funny story, ya know—"

"Noir, stop entertaining him," Zoro interrupted, his tone exasperated as he approached the cage. "First, you let a bird carry you off, and now you're stuck in a cage. What's next?"

"Well, I—"

Before Luffy could explain, a gruff voice cut through the air.

"So, you're Zoro, huh?"

The trio turned to see a man step forward. He wore a garish pirate outfit, his face painted in bright colors that gave him a sinister clownish appearance. He grinned widely, twirling a pair of daggers in his hands.

"And you are?" Zoro asked, his tone flat and unimpressed.

"The name's Buggy," the man said, his grin widening. "So...what do you want, huh? You here to take my head?"

"Not really," Zoro tells him rather bluntly. "I gave up the pirate hunting business. So, I'm not interested in you at all, Buggy."

"Oh, but I'm interested in you!" Buggy flashes a grin as he reaches into his coat, pulling a pair of daggers that he rapidly twirls around in his hands. "See, killing you will undoubtedly increase my fame!"

Buggy grinned widely, his painted face twisting into a sinister smirk as he twirled the daggers in his hands. His crew erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the rooftop.

"Kill him, Captain!" shouted one pirate.

"Chop him up!" yelled another.

Zoro, unbothered by the chaos around him, stepped forward and placed his hand on the hilt of one sword. His expression was calm, yet his voice carried a sharp warning. "If you insist on doing this, don't blame me when you end up dead."

Buggy let out a cackling laugh and licked the blade of one of his daggers with exaggerated theatricality. "Oh, we'll see who ends up dead. If you don't show me what you're capable of, you'll be the one regretting it!"

"Fine," Zoro said coolly, drawing his sword and placing it in his mouth. He assumed his signature Santoryū stance, the other two swords drawn and ready.

"Because you're so determined to fight," Zoro said, his voice slightly muffled by the sword in his mouth, "I'll show you why that was a mistake."

"Let's see if you live up to the hype, Pirate Hunter!" Buggy roared, charging forward.

Zoro's movements were a blur, his swords cutting through the air with precision and force. In an instant, Buggy's body appeared to split into two, his torso falling backward while his legs crumpled beneath him. A third cut sliced cleanly through his right leg, sending it tumbling away.

The rooftop went silent for a moment.

"Whoa, that guy was weak!" Luffy shouted from his cage, his voice filled with disbelief.

But instead of panic, Buggy's crew erupted into laughter, their amusement filling the air.

"Hahahaha! That's our captain!"

"Good one, Captain Buggy!"

Luffy, Zoro, and Nami stared at the pirates, bewildered by their reaction. Noir and Ihwa, however, noticed something odd. Noir's sharp eyes caught the peculiar detail first—Buggy's severed torso wasn't bleeding.

"That's not normal," Noir muttered, his tone low and calculated. He turned to Ihwa, who was standing near Zoro.

Before anyone could react, Ihwa's sharp instincts kicked in. She spotted a disembodied hand gripping a dagger flying toward Zoro's left side. Without hesitation, she moved swiftly, catching the blade mid-air with her bare hand.

Blood dripped from Ihwa's palm as she held the knife tightly, her expression grim but determined. Buggy's severed hand jerked in surprise before retreating.

"What the hell was that?!" Zoro exclaimed, his eyes darting to the floating hand as it returned to Buggy's torso, reconnecting seamlessly.

Buggy's grin widened as he stood up, completely unharmed. "You caught that? Impressive. I didn't think anyone here would figure it out."

"What's going on?" Zoro demanded, his swords still at the ready.

Buggy extended his arms dramatically. "Let me enlighten you fools! The power of my Bara Bara no Mi!"

He paused for effect, enjoying the confused stares of his opponents. "This Devil Fruit allows me to split my body into pieces and control them as I wish. And—here's the best part—I'm immune to slashing attacks! That's right, swords can't hurt me!"

"Devil Fruit?" Nami whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "I thought those were just legends…"

"Wait," Luffy said, his face scrunched up in confusion. "So, you're a Splitting Human? is he a monster?"

Noir, standing a few feet away, let out a dry chuckle. "A Monster? Coming from the guy who's basically a living rubber band?"

"Hey, that's different!" Luffy protested, gripping the bars of his cage tightly.

"Alright, let me out so I can deal with him too!" Luffy shouted, his voice echoing across the rooftop.

Buggy turned his attention to Luffy and smirked. "Oh, that's rich. You're in a cage, and you think you're going to fight me? You'll die here along with your friends!"

Luffy grinned back, unfazed by the threat. "We're not dying here. No way."

Buggy raised his hand, gesturing to his crew. "Enough talk! Brothers, let's finish this—together!"

"Ha ha ha!" Buggy and his men laughed maniacally, their confidence bolstered by their captain's power and the sheer number of pirates on the rooftop.

Despite Buggy's bravado, the situation looked dire. Noir, still injured, couldn't unleash his full strength without worsening his wounds. Ihwa's hand was bleeding from stopping the dagger, and Zoro was struggling to adapt to Buggy's immunity to slashes.

"Zoro, Ihwa, Noir! Run!" Luffy shouted suddenly, his voice firm and commanding.

Zoro hesitated for a moment before smirking. "Understood."

Nami, however, was furious. "What do you mean run?! They came here to save you!"

Noir ignored the chaos around him, his sharp mind formulating a plan. He tossed his lighter to Ihwa. "Light the cannon," he instructed before walking toward the massive cannon pointed at Luffy.

"What are you—?!" Ihwa started, but Noir cut her off with a sharp glare.

Gripping the cannon, Noir began to lift it with both hands. The veins in his arms bulged as he strained against the immense weight, his teeth clenched tightly. Slowly but surely, he began turning the cannon, redirecting its aim away from Luffy and toward Buggy's crew.

The pirates stopped laughing, their expressions turning to shock as they realized what Noir was doing.

"Get him!" Buggy shouted, but it was too late.

Ihwa struck the fuse with the lighter, igniting the cannon.

"Run!" Noir shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

Zoro hoisted Luffy's cage effortlessly, and the group bolted as the cannon fired. The deafening explosion sent the Buggy Ball hurtling across the rooftop, obliterating a large portion of Buggy's crew and scattering the rest in chaos.

As they fled down the stairs, Zoro glanced back. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

Noir smirked despite the pain in his shoulder. "I told you, I'm not dying here."

Buggy's enraged screams echoed behind them as they disappeared into the city streets.

***************

The streets were eerily silent, and the desolation was unsettling. Fubuki, Maki, and Yuki moved cautiously, their senses heightened as they navigated the ruined town. Each of them kept glancing at the crumbling buildings and destroyed streets, some of which were reduced to mere pillars of stone.

"Seriously," Yuki muttered, kicking a small rock on the road, "why does Ihwa always get the good assignments? Sticking close to Noir and Zoro while we're out here wandering through a ghost town?"

"Probably because Noir trusts her to keep them on track," Fubuki replied, her tone calm but edged with subtle annoyance. "Unlike you, who'd probably jump at him every five minutes."

Yuki pouted, folding her arms. "Hey! That's unfair. I'd—well—maybe once every ten minutes."

Maki chuckled softly, resting her staff on her shoulder. "She's got a point. Ihwa does have that cool, collected thing going for her. Noir seems to value that. Though honestly," she gestured to the empty streets, "I'm not sure what he'd think of this place. Feels more like a battlefield than a town."

They continued walking, the silence occasionally broken by the crunch of rubble beneath their boots. The air was thick with the faint scent of smoke, and a distant chill lingered, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

"Still," Yuki grumbled, her voice breaking the silence, "I can't believe how dead this place is. You'd think there'd at least be some survivors or something."

Fubuki's sharp eyes darted around. "No survivors means the pirates probably wiped the place clean before settling in. And judging by the damage, Buggy's crew isn't just here to loot. They're trying to send a message."

Yuki shivered at the thought but masked it with a scoff. "Typical pirate scum."

Suddenly, a loud explosion ripped through the air, startling the three women. They whipped their heads toward the source of the sound, a massive plume of smoke rising from deeper within the town. The ground shook slightly, the reverberation echoing in their chests.

"What the hell was that?" Maki asked, gripping her staff tightly.

"A cannon," Fubuki said, narrowing her eyes. "A big one."

"Buggy Ball," Yuki added, her voice unusually serious. "I heard rumors about them. Massive cannonballs that can destroy entire streets. Looks like the rumors were true."

The three exchanged glances before wordlessly heading toward the source of the explosion.

As they neared the site of the blast, the destruction became more apparent. A row of buildings had been completely obliterated, leaving nothing but jagged rubble and smoldering debris. The scene was haunting, and yet, the three of them pressed on, their determination overriding their unease.

They didn't have to wait long to find trouble. Just as they turned a corner, they came face to face with three of Buggy's pirates. The men were rummaging through what little remained of the town, their laughter and crude jokes filling the air.

One of the pirates, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, held a large sack stuffed with stolen goods. "Captain's orders," he sneered to his companions. "Strip this place of anything valuable. We're not leaving a single coin for anyone else."

"Not like there's anyone left to stop us," another pirate chuckled, a lanky man with a hooked nose.

The third pirate, shorter but stocky, grunted in agreement as he rifled through the remains of a collapsed shop.

The three pirates immediately froze when they noticed the three women standing at the edge of the rubble-strewn street. Their confident sneers faltered for a moment as they sized up their unexpected opponents.

"Oi, who the hell are you three?" the burly one with a scar across his cheek barked, dropping the sack of stolen goods to the ground. His hand hovered near the cutlass strapped to his waist.

"Does it really matter?" Yuki stepped forward, cracking her knuckles, her lips curling into a taunting smirk. "We're here to stop you from playing scavenger in someone else's town."

The lanky pirate with the hooked nose sneered, pulling out a jagged blade. "Big talk for a bunch of little girls. You think you can stop us?"

"You won't even make it through the first round," added the stocky one, his deep voice rumbling as he flexed his meaty fists.

Maki sighed, planting her wooden staff into the ground and leaning on it slightly. "Why do these idiots always think they can win? It's getting old."

Fubuki stepped forward, her icy gaze locking onto the pirates. "Enough chatter. Let's handle this quickly."

The pirates didn't hesitate, rushing forward with malicious grins plastered across their faces.

The burly pirate with the scar charged directly at Yuki, his cutlass gleaming in the faint light. Yuki ducked under his initial swing, her movements raw and unpolished but fueled by sheer determination. She spun to her left and delivered a sharp jab to his ribs. The impact made him grunt in pain, but it wasn't enough to knock him back.

"Heh, that all you got?" he growled, swinging his cutlass downward in a wide arc.

Yuki jumped back just in time, the blade narrowly missing her shoulder. She gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing. "You're gonna regret saying that."

The hooked-nosed pirate lunged at Fubuki, his jagged blade aimed straight for her chest. Fubuki stepped aside, her movements quick and calculated. She raised her hand, and a nearby wooden crate lifted into the air, propelled by her weak telekinetic power.

The crate slammed into the pirate's side, staggering him for a moment. "What the—?!" he exclaimed, glancing around for the source of the attack.

Fubuki wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her telekinetic abilities draining her stamina faster than she liked. "I don't need much to deal with you," she said, her tone cold. She rushed forward, delivering a swift kick to his stomach, forcing him back a few steps.

Meanwhile, the stocky pirate aimed for Maki, who stood her ground with her staff held in both hands. His massive fists swung toward her like hammers. Maki awkwardly blocked the blow with her staff, the force rattling her arms and making her wince.

"Damn, you hit hard," she muttered, stepping back to regain her balance.

"You won't last long," the pirate said, grinning as he stepped closer.

Maki tightened her grip on the staff and took a deep breath. She swung the staff in a wide arc, aiming for his legs. The pirate jumped back, but Maki pressed forward, jabbing the end of the staff into his stomach. He grunted but grabbed the staff, yanking it away from her.

"Uh-oh," Maki muttered, retreating a step.

The pirate raised the staff, intending to swing it at her like a club, but Maki ducked low and swept his legs out from under him with a quick kick. He hit the ground with a loud thud, and Maki quickly retrieved her staff.

The burly pirate growled as he swung his cutlass at Yuki again and again, each attack faster and more aggressive. Yuki dodged and weaved, her movements growing sloppier as her stamina waned.

"Stop squirming!" he roared, his blade narrowly missing her neck.

"Make me!" Yuki snapped, delivering a powerful kick to his knee. The pirate stumbled but didn't fall.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yuki saw Fubuki struggling against the hooked-nosed pirate. He had managed to close the distance, forcing Fubuki into hand-to-hand combat. Fubuki dodged his strikes while trying to conserve her energy, but her telekinetic abilities were too weak to be of much help.

"You're annoying," Fubuki muttered, delivering a swift punch to his jaw. The pirate staggered but retaliated with a punch of his own, catching Fubuki in the shoulder and making her wince.

Nearby, Maki clashed with the stocky pirate again, her staff swinging wildly as she tried to keep him at bay. Her attacks were unrefined, and the pirate easily deflected most of them. He grabbed her staff mid-swing and yanked her forward, forcing her to use her free hand to punch him in the face.

"Not bad," the pirate admitted, rubbing his nose. "But you'll have to do better than that."

As the fight dragged on, the three women began to adopt a more reckless approach, mimicking the fighting style they had seen Noir use. Yuki's smirk grew wilder as she lunged at the burly pirate, her fists and kicks landing with increased ferocity.

"You're starting to look scared," she taunted, her voice dripping with confidence.

"Shut up!" he roared, swinging his cutlass again.

Yuki ducked low and delivered a powerful uppercut to his jaw, finally knocking the weapon from his hand. "Not so tough without your toy, huh?"

Fubuki, despite her exhaustion, used her telekinesis to lift a nearby barrel and hurl it at the hooked-nosed pirate. The barrel shattered against his side, and Fubuki took the opportunity to close the distance, delivering a series of quick punches to his torso.

Maki, meanwhile, fought with renewed vigor, her staff striking the stocky pirate's legs and arms. She added kicks and punches into her attacks, her movements still unpolished but effective enough to keep him on the defensive.

"You're pretty strong," she admitted, panting heavily. "But not strong enough."

With a final swing of her staff, Maki struck the pirate's head, knocking him out cold.

The burly pirate and the hooked-nosed pirate, both bloodied and battered, tried to retreat, but Yuki and Fubuki didn't let up.

"You're not getting away," Yuki said, her voice low and menacing. She lunged at the burly pirate, delivering a knee to his stomach before grabbing his head and slamming it into the ground.

Fubuki finished the hooked-nosed pirate with a powerful kick to his chest, sending him sprawling onto the rubble.

Breathing heavily, the three women stood over the defeated pirates, their bodies bruised and their energy nearly spent.

"That was harder than I thought," Maki admitted, leaning on her staff.

"Yeah," Yuki agreed, wiping sweat from her brow. "But we won."

Fubuki didn't say anything, her cold gaze fixed on the fallen pirates. After a moment, she turned to her companions. "Let's move. We've still got a town to search."

The three of them walked away, leaving the unconscious pirates behind as they continued toward the source of the chaos.