Wapol looked at Kuromarimo, who had been sent flying by a punch and seemed a bit disheveled, then at Dalton, who exuded a wild aura in front of him. He simply burst into an even more arrogant laugh:
"That's all you have to say? Quite a big mouth! But I'm coming back no matter what, what can you do about it, Dalton?"
With a wave of his hand, he ordered the soldiers behind him: "Come on, I'm giving you a chance to prove yourselves! Kill your former captain for me!! The one who kills him will be heavily rewarded!!"
A flicker of hesitation crossed the soldiers' faces, but it was quickly overshadowed by their greed for the bounty and their fear of Wapol.
They all raised their long spears, and the dark muzzles were uniformly aimed at Dalton.
"Fire!" Wapol commanded.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A volley of gunshots rang out simultaneously, and dozens of bullets flew towards Dalton!
However, Dalton, in his bull-headed form, displayed an agility that belied his massive physique!
He stomped his huge bull hooves on the snow, his massive body leaving a trail of afterimages as he quickly dodged with strange movements.
"Flanking attack!!" The bullets didn't even graze his fur, merely hitting the snow behind him, kicking up snow.
After a round of volleys, the soldiers were in a brief pause to reload their ammunition.
Dalton immediately seized this opportunity!
"Even if you were my subordinates before, now! Since you are by that guy's side, I will show no mercy!"
He let out a low roar, his entire body's muscular strength erupting. A wild bull at full speed, he charged furiously at the soldiers!
"Ugh!"
"Scatter quickly!"
Screams rang out one after another. Wapol's soldiers had no time to react and were met head-on by this unstoppable, immense force!
Dalton didn't even throw a punch; he simply relied on the momentum of his charge and his Animal-type Devil Fruit body to completely overwhelm the entire soldier formation, sending them sprawling!
Their long spears flew out of their hands, and the soldiers all fell scattered in the snow, unable to get up for a while. Instantly clearing the path to Wapol, Dalton didn't stop, his eyes filled with rage fixed on the culprit of everything.
He pointed at Wapol and let out a deafening roar, his voice filled with a determination to protect his people and this country that was restarting:
"Now it's your turn! Get out of this country!!!"
Dalton's huge bull body gathered strength again, the snow cracking under his hooves. He was about to launch his final charge towards Wapol!
"Your tone has become quite arrogant, Dalton, but you're up against us, who have known you for so many years."
Jhess's faint voice rang out. He had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow at some unknown point, but the arrow's tip was aimed not at Dalton, but at the simply armed villagers behind him.
"Now, can you protect everyone at once?"
Whoosh—!
Three arrows flew from the bowstring, turning into streaks of light, shooting straight towards the villagers in the crowd who were holding guns, intending to defend their country!
In that instant, time seemed to stop for Dalton. He should have charged forward fearlessly, intending to take Wapol's life.
But now! His charging footsteps came to an abrupt halt! His hooves left two marks in the snow.
No! They can't block Jhess's arrows!!
But... Wapol is right in front of me... No... I must protect them!! Arghhhhhh!!! You inhumane bastards!!!
Having instantly firmed his resolve, Dalton's body twisted sharply almost at the same moment the arrows were shot, unhesitatingly abandoning the attack opportunity that was within reach.
He threw himself towards the direction of the arrows without a second thought, not even having time to make any effective defensive moves, simply trying to use himself to block this fatal blow for the villagers!
He only wanted to protect the people behind him... those who, even after the king fled, had not given up on this place and were thinking of building a better tomorrow.
Just at this critical moment!
"Sure-Kill! Pop Green! Three Shots!"
Usopp's shout came from the side and behind! Three Pop Greens shot from his slingshot, intercepting the arrows' trajectory in mid-air without any error!
Bang! Boom—!
The gunpowder exploded in mid-air, the blast engulfing the arrows, though it didn't completely destroy the sturdy arrows.
But the explosive force of the Pop Greens successfully blasted the arrows off their original trajectory, sending the three arrows twisting and turning into the snow several meters away from Dalton.
There was a moment of silence across the entire scene.
Dalton looked at the scattered arrows and the long-nosed man waving a slingshot.
He hadn't expected that pirate, who didn't seem so strong, actually had his own abilities.
Usopp, wearing his small goggles, stood on a slightly higher snowdrift, his slingshot wildly displayed for everyone to see.
Although there was still a hint of nervousness on his face, a triumphant smile was already appearing on his lips: "Want to harm innocent citizens in front of Sniper King? You're a hundred years too early!!"
The smile that had been on Wapol's face all along froze, then turned grim. He looked at Usopp, who had taken a stance, Vivi beside him, and the safe and sound Dalton.
"So it's you... the hateful Straw Hat... You actually appeared in my country. I'll show you my true strength."
Wapol's voice grew cold. He opened his signature large mouth and bit into an iron sword handed to him by a nearby soldier, chewing it like a biscuit.
"Everyone, listen up! Throw all your guns to me to eat! As for that long-nosed man and the blue-haired one beside him, find a way to capture them alive!!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers who had been sprawled on the ground gradually stood up and echoed Wapol. They first picked up their long spears from the ground and threw them all into Wapol's mouth, then their gaze turned to Usopp and Vivi.
Kuromarimo shook his numb arm, his gaze first fiercely fixed on Dalton. Jhess silently nocked three more arrows, his eyes flitting between the three individuals, looking for the next opportunity.
Wapol chewed on the long spears given by the throng of soldiers, his body began to change dramatically, with guns continuously emerging from him.
"Munch-Munch Factory: Super Spear Factory!"
His body continuously expanded, like a factory building, becoming huge and sprouting countless guns. Wapol didn't hesitate, directly aiming and shooting at the villagers behind Dalton again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Pop Green! Continuous Volley!"
Usopp gritted his teeth, his slingshot continuously firing Pop Greens, intercepting some of the bullets in mid-air.
"Damn it... there are too many!" Beads of sweat were already forming on Usopp's forehead.
The firepower, like a gun factory, was far beyond what he could intercept with a slingshot. Many stray bullets flew past the villagers.
There are already [ 86 ] chapters available on Patreon!
To Support and view them
[[email protected]/Naruto11]
If you enjoyed this chapter, add it to your library ❤️
Leave a Power Stone and a quick review if you can! ⭐