"You... are the Revolutionary Army!"
Black Maria swiftly grabbed Hiyori and pulled her behind her back, her eyes wary as she scanned the group before her, her shock undeniable.
Among these figures who had appeared out of nowhere were Sabo, wreathed in flames; Ivankov, the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom; the Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma; the four Revolutionary Army commanders; as well as Trafalgar Law, Eustass Kid, and Nico Robin.
"Tch! Release Hiyori, and we might spare your life!" Koala snapped, pointing at Black Maria.
Behind her, Robin crossed her arms, ready to activate her Devil Fruit powers to restrain Black Maria and rescue Hiyori.
The next instant, a massive hemispherical dome descended, enveloping them all.
"ROOM... Shambles!"
Law crossed two fingers and casually flicked them.
With a whoosh, Hiyori behind Black Maria vanished, replaced by a falling stone.
Meanwhile, Hiyori's figure abruptly appeared between Koala and Robin.
"Hiyori, are you alright?" Robin quickly stepped forward, grasping Hiyori, who was still dazed.
"Hmph!" Sabo snorted coldly, ready to strike.
Ivankov, the Queen of Kamabakka, shrank in size, transforming into a curvaceous, sharp-chinned beauty.
Swinging her long whip, she giggled, "Sabo, let me play with her."
"This is bad. Why have so many powerful Revolutionary Army members come to Wano Country? Did something happen outside?"
Black Maria's expression darkened as she glanced at Page One, who had been blasted away by Sabo—his fate unknown—and Ulti, who was writhing in agony under Sabo's grip, scorched by his flames.
"Stop! Let Ulti go!"
Suddenly, to Sabo and Koala's astonishment, Hiyori shrieked and lunged at Sabo, throwing her arms around the still-burning Ulti.
"Hiyori! You—"
Sabo froze, quickly releasing Ulti and withdrawing the flames engulfing her.
Despite his swift reaction, Hiyori's palms were already burned by the searing heat, covered in blisters.
Yet she seemed oblivious, tears streaming down her face as she clung tightly to Ulti, who appeared barely conscious.
"Ulti, Ulti, wake up! What's happening? What are you all doing?"
Hiyori cradled the severely injured Ulti, her voice filled with anguish.
"Huh? Ulti and the others are enemies, Hiyori!" Sabo said, bewildered.
Nearby, Robin frowned while observing the factory, Hiyori, Ulti, and the others.
She noticed a crowd gathering in the distance, rushing toward them.
From inside the factory, a swarm of dust-covered workers armed with weapons stormed out, their faces twisted in fury.
Old Crow and Ronmoku led the charge, stumbling out of the factory.
The first thing they saw was Hiyori, weeping uncontrollably, her clothes singed by flames, collapsed on the ground, and Ulti, charred black and unconscious.
"Ahhh! Let go of Her Majesty you bastard!"
Old Crow, driven by some inexplicable courage, let out a hysterical roar, his eyes bloodshot as he charged at Sabo!
Ronmoku followed closely but rushed toward Hiyori, intent on rescuing the queen first.
Still confused, Sabo saw a wild-eyed, deranged old man charging at him like a madman, his hands outstretched to claw at his face.
Almost instinctively, Sabo waved at Old Crow, unleashing a burst of flames.
"NO!" Robin shouted in horror.
But it was too late.
BOOM!
Old Crow's frail body instantly turned into a human torch.
Unlike Ulti, Old Crow had no physical resilience or Haki to withstand Sabo's flames.
In mere seconds, without even a scream, he was reduced to a charred, unrecognizable husk.
"OLD MAN!"
Ronmoku let out a grief-stricken cry, dragging Hiyori and Ulti desperately toward the factory entrance.
At the same time, a large number of workers from the factory rushed out armed, crowding together to shield Hiyori behind them.
"My God! It's Her Majesty the Queen! Damn beasts, they beat Ulti-sama like this and even burned Her Majesty!"
"Bastards! Old Crow was burned to death by them!"
"Just this morning, Old Crow was bragging to us about building a new house, marrying a beautiful wife, and having several sons. That fire-spewing bastard is a demon from hell!"
"Kill them! Kill them!"
The workers were furious, forming layers of protection around Hiyori.
Despite their thin, dust-covered chests and trembling hands, they firmly aimed their weapons at Sabo and the others.
Sabo instantly turned pale, trembling as he looked at the charred human figure before him and his own shaking hands.
"What have I done...."
Koala's expression was grave as she watched the enraged workers, her voice strained.
"They... seem to be workers from the factory."
"Have they been deceived by the Beast God Pirates? Let me encourage them."
The speaker was Belo Betty, commander of the Revolutionary Army's East Army.
She wore a tall red hat with long tassels at the back, short purple hair with straight bangs, and sunglasses.
Her upper body was clad in a red long-sleeved vest with a tie around her neck and leather gloves, the open front revealing large areas of fair skin.
Below, she wore a long-tailed skirt and red boots, a burning cigarette dangling from her lips.
Betty stepped forward, standing before the workers.
The wind blew, lifting her flimsy clothes to expose more of her figure, but she paid no mind, raising her fist and shouting spiritedly.
"Don't be afraid, everyone! We are warriors of the Revolutionary Army, here to save Wano Country! Don't be intimidated by the thugs of the Beast God Pirates—stand up, resist them, defeat them! Come on, you can do it!"
Betty spoke passionately, her voice clear and resonant.
As the user of the Encouragement Fruit, her words carried a powerful allure, capable of inspiring even the weakest to muster several times their usual strength and courage.
In Betty's experience, she had encountered countless situations like this.
Every time, all it took was for her to step forward, deliver a rousing speech, and the demoralized side would be reinvigorated, their combat effectiveness soaring.
However, contrary to her expectations, the workers before her didn't burst into tears of gratitude or kneel in reverence to the Revolutionary Army.
Instead, they grew even more agitated, pointing at her and cursing furiously.
"Shut up, you bitch! I don't care about any Revolutionary Army! If you dare harm our Queen, dare to destroy the factory and ruin the good life we've worked so hard for, we'll drag you to hell even if it costs us our worthless lives!"
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