A short time after the villagers arrived at the circus...
Two girls were running at full speed along the path that led out of the village.
The first, with short purple hair, ran ahead without looking back.
The second, with short orange hair, followed closely behind, trying not to fall behind.
"Nami, run, don't fall behind! Come on, come on!" shouted the girl with purple hair.
"Nojiko, there's no need to rush so much!" replied the orange-haired girl, panting a little as she tried to catch up.
"We have to see what's going on with those guys!" exclaimed Nojiko, stopping behind a bush and observing the scene from afar.
In front of the circus, X, Ahu, and Buggy were standing next to the old man, talking calmly as if nothing were happening.
"It's them… right?" murmured Nami, crouching beside her sister and parting the branches a little to get a better look.
"Shhh, careful… don't make so much noise or they'll hear us," whispered Nojiko in a low but firm voice.
Seconds later, the two sisters were caught in a net and dragged toward the inside of the circus.
"It can't be! They did that again… those idiots!" shouted Nojiko, struggling angrily.
"Wait, sister… look closely," said Nami, pointing toward the entrance with wide eyes. "Several pirates are flying out of there!"
And it was true. Several bodies were being launched like cannonballs from inside the circus, crashing hard onto the ground.
"Aaaghh!" "AAAGHHHH!"
Each scream sounded worse than the last. The two sisters were completely frozen. They had seen those same pirates many times before, plundering travelers and throwing them mercilessly into the sea... but they never imagined seeing them like this: defeated, humiliated, and being tossed around like mere dolls.
"T-This... i-is... i-impossible!" stammered Nojiko, her voice trembling and her eyes wide open in shock.
"Sister! This is our chance!" shouted Nami with determination, standing up and looking at Nojiko, who was still paralyzed.
"Huh?" murmured Nojiko, still confused.
"We have to warn mom! Maybe, with the help of those guys, they can defeat those stupid pirates!" exclaimed Nami with a confident smile, extending her hand toward her sister.
Nojiko looked at her for a few seconds, then nodded and took her hand firmly.
Both of them started running with all their strength, heading back to the village, determined to bring help.
Minutes later, the two arrived home, running. As soon as they crossed the door, they saw their mother sitting in the living room, drinking a cup of coffee. Her body was covered in bandages that hid several wounds.
"Bell-mère!" shouted both of them at the same time, panting from the run.
Bell-mère looked up, somewhat surprised.
"What's wrong, Nojiko, Nami?" she asked, with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"T-the circus... new visitors arrived..." managed to say Nami, almost out of breath.
"But they're not normal people, mom. They're defeating all the pirates!" added Nojiko, gradually catching her breath.
"What did you say?" murmured Bell-mère, setting the cup down on the table. Her eyes widened. "If that's true... then maybe we have a chance..."
Saying that, she stood up abruptly and went straight to the closet. She took out her uniform, put it on quickly, and finally placed her Marine cape over her shoulders.
"You two, stay here. It's too dangerous," said Bell-mère in a firm voice as she walked quickly toward the door.
"But...!" Nami and Nojiko tried to protest at the same time, wanting to follow her.
However, they couldn't take another step. Suddenly, a loud sound echoed throughout the village.
DIIIING!
DIIIING!
DIIIING!
DIIIING!
The sound of a bell. It was so loud that even the pirates stopped fighting. The echo spread everywhere, making everyone stand still, looking around, realizing what was happening.
At that moment, all the adults in the village became serious, as if the sound of the bell had awakened them from a trance. Some began rushing the children into their homes, while others lowered the curtains of their shops or slammed their doors shut.
In a matter of seconds, the streets were empty. Only the hurried footsteps of the adult villagers could be heard, marching silently toward the circus.
Each one carried a different weapon: swords, spears, axes, even work tools turned into improvised weapons. Their faces were filled with determination... but also with something else: fear.
All the villagers were heading toward the center of the battle, the circus. Meanwhile, Bell-mère understood perfectly what that meant: the moment had come.
Minutes later, the ex-Marine was running at full speed along the main road, the wind striking her face and her cape fluttering behind her. Suddenly, she came across a group of armed villagers marching with determination.
"Listen, everyone!" shouted Bell-mère, stopping in front of them.
"Bell-mère? What are you doing here?" asked one of the villagers, surprised.
The others looked at her as well, some with astonishment, others with respect. They all remembered how she had defended the village in the past, even knowing she had no chance of winning.
Bell-mère took a deep breath, raised her voice, and quickly began explaining the situation: the new visitors, the fight against the pirates, and the opportunity they finally had to free the village from Krieg.
That's how we arrive at the moment when the chaos of the circus was interrupted.
The crowd slowly parted, giving way to a figure walking forward with firm steps. A woman with hair between reddish and pinkish hues, a white Marine cape over her shoulders, and a gaze full of authority. Her very presence commanded respect.
She stopped in front of everyone, lifted her chin, and with a strong voice that echoed through every corner of the circus, shouted:
"This is where your reign ends, Pirate Krieg!"
Krieg frowned in fury.
"Well, well... look who we have here. The ex-Marine Bell-mère," he said mockingly, then shouted in rage,
"Didn't I make it clear what would happen if you dared oppose me?! Pearl, attack!"
A tremendous crash shook the ground. From above, a huge, broad man fell right in front of the villagers. His body was covered with two massive iron plates, one in front and one in back. His mere presence was enough to leave everyone speechless.
Snap.
A second later, Pearl was motionless on the ground, with X's foot pressing hard against his chest.
"Who gave you permission to attack the villagers while I'm here?" asked X with chilling calm, looking at Krieg without lifting his foot from his enemy.
"T-That brat... How did you do that?!" shouted Don Krieg, a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Who is this boy?" thought Bell-mère, just as confused as the villagers who watched him, not understanding what was happening.
"This is dragging on too long... I got a little carried away," murmured X, while Pearl kept trying to move, unsuccessfully. It was as if something invisible was holding him down to the ground.
"I-I can't move... it's like something enormous is crushing my entire body. I try to resist, but I can't... damn it, damn it!" thought Pearl, full of helplessness, his breathing growing heavier and heavier.
X calmly raised his hand. Everyone watched him in silence. Ahu and Buggy only smiled; they knew exactly what was coming.
"Krieg's pirates..." said X without changing his tone.
"It's time to sleep."
Snap.