Chapter 84: Skypiea – Usopp's Stand & the Clash of Spears
"Just got lucky dodging one hit," Shura slowly lifted his goggles, cold light flashing across the lenses. "And you already dare tell me to prepare myself?"
He flicked his long spear; the tip ignited with eerie flames. "Listen well, Qinghai trash—I am Shura, one of the four priests under God Enel, master of the 'String Trial'!"
"Hanegane!" He barked over his shoulder. The massive three-meter bird immediately spread its wings, casting a huge shadow over Chopper and Karoo. "The blue-nosed raccoon dog and the yellow duck are yours."
"Four priests?! Enel's people?!" Usopp's pupils shrank; cold sweat instantly soaked his back. (This is bad… they picked the moment when Luffy and the others aren't here!)
He spun around and yelled at Chopper: "Chopper! Blow the whistle! We can only bet on that Sky Knight being nearby!"
Before the words finished, Shura's spear struck like a venomous snake! Usopp rolled away in a frantic dodge—BOOM! The deck was pierced; flames erupted instantly!
"You bastard!!" Usopp's eyes nearly split with rage as he watched the Merry's deck blacken and twist in the fire. "You dare burn our ship?!"
Shura twirled his spear mockingly: "You're all about to become charred corpses anyway—what's burning this junk heap matter?"
"Special Move · Fire Powder Star!"
Usopp gritted his teeth and fired back; ammunition screamed through the air! Shura merely tilted his head contemptuously—the explosion blasted a huge crater far away, shockwave ripping up large swathes of grass.
"Hah?" Shura raised a brow. "You keep saying don't destroy things, yet you're the biggest demolition crew here."
(Must draw him away… fighting on the ship is too passive!) Usopp panted heavily, eyes flicking to the growing scorch marks across the deck. If this continued, the Merry really would turn into a sieve!
On the other side—tweet!! Chopper desperately blew the whistle while standing back-to-back with Karoo in alert.
Hanegane dove down; its sharp talons tore through the air!
"Blue Wave Ball… can't use it yet!" Chopper's hooves trembled, but he still assumed a fighting stance. "Karoo, be careful."
"Quack!"
"Chopper! Karoo! Get over here—" Usopp suddenly flung several special pellets. "Special Move · Smoke Star!"
Bang! Thick smoke instantly engulfed the Merry, turning the deck into a gray-white fog.
"Now! Swing across the vines!"
Using the smoke as cover, the trio grabbed dangling vines and swung toward the opposite shore like Tarzan.
Splash!
They landed safely on the other side. Behind them came Shura's furious roar: "Hanegane! Clear the smoke!"
The giant bird beat its wings furiously; a storm-like gust shredded the smoke screen in moments—but the Merry was already empty.
"They ran?" Shura narrowed his eyes, flipped onto the bird's back. "Chase."
In the forest on the opposite shore
"U-U-U-Usopp! They're coming!!" Chopper's tongue tied itself in knots; his little hooves dug pits in the ground. Karoo curled into a ball, feathers puffed out like a dandelion.
"C-Calm down! The more panicked we are, the worse it gets!" Usopp said aloud while his legs shook like sieves. "A-Anyway, execute Plan A first!"
"Plan A? What's that?!"
"Strategic retreat of course! You think we can fight a monster like that head-on?!" He turned and bolted—only to see Chopper and Karoo already ten meters ahead. "Hey!! That's cheating!!"
In the sky, Shura looked down at the three fleeing figures and sneered: "Qinghai rats—even your death struggles are part of the trial. Accept God's judgment quietly!"
Before the words finished, a silver streak tore through the air! Clang—!
Shura hastily blocked; spear and lance collided in a shower of sparks.
Looking up, he saw Gan Fall diving down on Pierre, cloak snapping in the wind.
"Gan Fall?!" Shura's pupils contracted. "You washed-up old relic—what are you doing here?!"
"Now call me Sky Knight." The old man pulled the reins; Pierre neighed and spiraled upward. "Where the whistle calls, duty arrives!"
Suddenly Pierre flipped into a somersault! Gan Fall used the momentum to leap off, arm guard extended, palm aimed straight at Shura's face. "Impact!"
"What?!" Shura was caught off guard and blasted off the bird's back! Hanegane dove instantly, beak precisely snatching its master's weapon, whipping around to catch Shura and rapidly pulling away.
"Pierre!" Gan Fall shouted as he fell. Pierre swooped in to catch him. "Chase them—we need to push harder."
"Don't underestimate me, old man!" Shura stood steady on Hanegane's back again, spear gleaming coldly. "Since you want to die, I'll play with you to the end!"
Clang!
Gan Fall's lance thrust like a striking snake at Shura's throat—blocked by a reverse grip, sparks flying! The two clashed at high speed in the air; metal rang like torrential rain.
The trio who should have been running were now hiding behind a rock, nervously watching the aerial battle.
"S-So fast! I can't even see the moves!" Chopper's deer eyes were round as saucers.
Chopper looked at Usopp who was aiming and asked, "Usopp, can you see their movements?"
"Hmph, I'm a sniper—of course I can see this level clearly!" Usopp aimed at Shura. "Our friend came to help—we can't just watch! Right now!"
"Special Move · Flame Star!"
Gan Fall was locked in combat with Shura when he suddenly felt his body grow unbearably heavy and immovable. As Shura's spear thrust toward him, Usopp's attack arrived at the critical moment, separating the two.
Whoosh—BOOM!!
The flaming pellet tore through the sky and precisely detonated the transparent string cloud wrapped around Gan Fall!
The blast wave forced Shura back. Gan Fall seized the chance to break free, backflipped, and landed steadily on Pierre's back.
"Thanks, long-nose kid." Gan Fall shook his numb arm.
"Hehe, piece of cake!" Usopp wiped his nose proudly.
"Damn Qinghai…" Shura stared at the shattered string cloud, murderous intent surging. "Hanegane! Take out that annoying long-nose first!"
He leaped from the bird's back, spear aimed straight at Usopp! Gan Fall moved to intercept, but Hanegane suddenly opened its beak—blasting a pillar of scorching flame that forced Gan Fall to veer away!
"It's over." Shura's spear tip descended from above, only a step away from piercing Usopp.
Crack!
A sudden arm swung horizontally and slammed into Shura's waist! It was Chopper who had swallowed a Rumble Ball and saved Usopp at the last moment.
"Don't you dare touch my friends!!!"
Shura rocketed into the rock wall like a cannonball; dust and debris exploded skyward.
Usopp collapsed on his butt: "W-We're saved…"
"Damn it…" Moments later, rocks burst apart. Blood-soaked Shura staggered to his feet. "I'll burn you all to ashes!"
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