As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the black-sailed ships emerged ominously from the thick, swirling mist. There was no heralding cry, no diplomatic call for discussion, only the roar of fire following their arrival. Cannonballs whistled through the air, crashing into the towering cliffs with thunderous force. The once-serene wind gardens erupted into a blaze, flames licking hungrily at the sky. The air was filled with the desperate cries that reverberated throughout the valley, a symphony of chaos and despair.
Standing resolute at the front gate, Lila felt the winds whip fiercely around her clenched fists, a tangible force of nature waiting to be unleashed. "Positions!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the pandemonium like a blade. The Driftborn answered her call with blinding speed, their movements a blur of precision and purpose.
The pulse mine lay dormant, embedded in the rocky terrain, waiting with lethal patience for an enemy to trigger its wrath. Lila stood in front, her eyes fixed on the approaching vessel. The cliffs above her vibrated with anticipation, a low rumble that echoed through the air. As the ship closed in, the tremors intensified, sending loose stones skittering down the rocky faces.
When the ship reached the village's front, Veyra's powers froze the water path beneath it, halting the vessel abruptly. The cliffs responded to the sudden stillness with a violent quake, and then, with a deafening roar, they gave way. Rocks of all sizes, from massive boulders to sharp pebbles, cascaded down, crashing onto the enemy ship with relentless force. The Marines onboard were caught in chaos, many crushed beneath the avalanche of stone.
Buzz, standing on a nearby ledge, let his ashes fall from his hand, watching them swirl and dance in the air like mythical dragons during a lunar festival. As the ashes drifted down to the Marines on the deck below, he snapped his fingers, and they ignited in a fiery blaze.
Amidst the chaos, Zin leaped gracefully from one of the larger rocks, descending through the thick smoke that enveloped the ship. His Tonfas, gleaming black with the power of Haki, were poised to strike as he landed, ready to smash through the enemy lines. Meanwhile, Veyra aimed from a distance, shooting ice bullets infused with Haki. Each shot found its mark, piercing through the Marines' skulls with chilling precision. Blood spurted from the wounds, tracing erratic paths down their faces as their lifeless bodies collapsed, tumbling backward or slumping forward onto the deck.
Some of the Marines managed to escape the initial chaos of the attack, sprinting forward with determination. Their rifles spat out armor-piercing bullets aimed at the heart of the village, the sound of gunfire echoing sharply. Lila and Veyra exchanged a quick, meaningful glance, a silent pact to protect the villagers at all costs. Veyra swiftly dodged to one side, her movements fluid and precise, while Lila activated her wind devil fruit powers. With a sudden gust, she launched herself into the air, soaring over the village, the icy surface of the water reflecting her shadow. Rocks tumbled from above as the ground shook, but Lila navigated through the falling debris with agility. She descended into the fray, engaging the marines in close combat. Her body twisted and turned, skillfully dodging attacks while her fists, fortified with armor haki, struck with precision, systematically incapacitating each marine she encountered.
"Kill the leader!" one of them shouted through the madness.
A smirk danced on Lila's lips. "As if," she scoffed, her voice dripping with confidence and a touch of mockery. She stood defiantly in the middle of the mayhem, where only a few cliff rocks still tumbled sporadically. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she harnessed the power of the wind, causing the rocks to whirl around her like obedient satellites. Suspended in the air, she conjured a swirling tornado of stone, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and power. With deliberate slowness, she raised one finger to the heavens, the smirk broadening as she gradually lowered it to point at the remains of the marine's ship below. "Kill me? Are you sure?" she taunted, her voice full of challenge. Yet, her words were lost to the wind, unheard by the figures below, who could only watch in silent disbelief.
The Village holds for now. The villagers fought with unyielding ferocity. Young boys and girls, perched precariously on the rooftops, launched stones with fierce determination, carved into their expressions. The elders, their hands rough and calloused from years of toil, wielded slings with expert precision and flung smoke bombs that erupted into dense, suffocating clouds, shrouding the scene in madness. In the streets, farmers clutched their pitchforks with such intensity that their knuckles blanched, marred by jagged scars, as they stood resolute, shoulder to shoulder, ready to defend their home to the last breath.
Juno shouted, "They are like cockroaches. They keep coming!" Her frustration was palpable as she struggled with her unruly white hair, which slipped from beneath her bandana and into her eyes. She hastily tucked it back, determined to keep her vision clear.
Meanwhile, Riven crouched behind a rusted metal barricade, his keen eyes scanning the chaotic scene. He provided cover for the retreating civilians, each shot from his rifle finding its mark with terrifying precision. "We don't run," he muttered under his breath, his jaw set with determination. "Not today."
Gorren clenched his fists, feeling the surge of his rock devil fruit power coursing through his veins. With a swift motion, he swung his arm forward, and jagged stones shot out from his fist, slamming into the marines' midsections with bone-crushing force. The marines doubled over, gasping for air, their faces etched with pain as they toppled over, unable to advance toward the villagers. Gorren then drove his fist into the earth, and the ground beneath him rumbled ominously. Cracks snaked outward from where he struck, and massive shards of rock erupted from the soil, cascading into the ranks of the marines. The soldiers cried out in alarm, their formation disintegrating under the barrage of stones, leaving chaos in their wake.
Buzz cackled wildly, flames crackling around him, "Now this is what I call a housewarming bash!"
Zin deftly deflected a halberd, then swung his right foot to send a marine stumbling backwards. "You're out of your mind."
Buzz retorted with a mischievous grin, "You say that like it's something new."
Vexa's voice crackled over the comms, "They've broken through the east wall. I need five minutes."
Lila, clenching her jaw like a vice, snapped, "You've got three."
"I need more chili powder for them!" Milo roars over the comms.
As one of the enemy commanders strode into the sunlit square, his imposing figure was sheathed in menacing black armor that clinked with each step, casting long shadows on the cobblestones. Lila faced him without wavering, her stance firm, her expression unyielding. "You're the one they call the storm or wind demon," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as his eyes swept over her with a dismissive flicker.
"Unfortunately, you people have zero taste," she replied, her voice steady and defiant, "However, the one who ends yours." With a swift, powerful motion, she twisted her body into a cyclone punch. The air crackled with energy as the force of her strike exploded outward, pulverizing the cobblestones beneath her feet into a cloud of dust and debris. The commander was launched violently into the air, his body twisting uncontrollably with the deadly intent of her blow. Her long black hair whipped around her face, caught in the fierce winds she had summoned. Her black eyes, cold and focused, narrowed as if they belonged to a ravenous demon freshly escaped from hell, ready to devour its prey.
But more ships arrived, their shadows looming over the horizon like a gathering storm. The decks were bristling with soldiers, their armor glinting under the harsh sunlight. An eerie silence settled over the battlefield, broken only by the distant footsteps. The Driftborn were holding the line, but just barely. Their ranks were thinning, their strength waning.
Vexa's voice crackled through the comms, a thread of tension woven into every word. "We can't win this forever," she warned.
Lila scanned the faces of the villagers around her. They were bloodied and bruised, their clothes torn and stained, yet their eyes burned with a fierce determination. They stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to defend their home.
"We don't need forever," Lila replied, her voice steady and resolute. "We'll finish this soon. We have too."
With a determined glare, she turned her attention to the enemy commander. In a swift motion, she used the swirling winds to lift herself into the air, her hair whipping around her face. She focused the gusts beneath her, drawing on their power as she descended with lethal precision. Her armored haki boots struck the commander's back with a resounding crack, the force splitting his body in two. Blood sprayed into the air, painting her body in crimson streaks, a testament to her resolve.