Dalton roared, swinging his thick arms to swat away the stray bullets raining down on the crowd. Sparks erupted against his tough fur with sharp metallic pings.
Amid the chaos, Krogh seized the opportunity.
His target was that long-nosed pirate who kept causing trouble! The Explosive Head Boxer lunged forward like a leopard, bypassing the bison-formed Dalton to charge directly at the snowdrift where Usopp was hiding!
"Brat! Your opponent is me!" Krogh flashed a menacing grin, his boxing gloves shimmering with an odd gleam.
"Waaah! Stay back!" Usopp panicked, hastily redirecting his slingshot. "Ultimate Attack! Smoke Star!"
A cloud of smoke suddenly enveloped Krogh, but he merely paused briefly before charging forward through the haze by instinct!
"Vivi!" Usopp shouted while retreating.
"Understood!" Vivi's eyes sharpened, already poised to strike. The moment Krogh emerged from the smoke, Vivi drew her Peacock Thorns.
The weapon consisted of mobile blades controlled by thin wires attached to her pinky rings, resembling the tail feathers of a peacock.
"Take this! Peacock Unfurls!"
With a sharp cry, Vivi flicked her wrist, sending the weapon spinning as it traced several sharp arcs of cold light aimed directly at Krogh's chest and abdomen!
"Huh?!"
Krogh hadn't expected this seemingly delicate blue-haired girl to possess such skill. Caught off guard, he could only twist his body awkwardly, executing a clumsy sidestep to evade the sharp points. Still, his clothes were torn open.
"Damn brat!"
Humiliated at being forced back, Krogh turned his furious gaze toward Vivi—but this was merely a feint. Mid-movement, he abruptly changed direction, pushing off hard with his feet to charge toward the now slightly distracted Usopp!
"Usopp! Watch out!"
"What?!" Usopp had no time to react before Krogh's fist—large as a sand pot—slammed solidly into his stomach!
"Urgh—!"
With a pained grunt, his body flew backward like a severed kite string, crashing heavily into a dense thicket of bushes in the distance.
"Usopp!" Vivi cried out in alarm as she saw him get sent flying.
Having dealt with the nuisance, Krogh didn't hesitate. He immediately turned and lunged at Vivi!
Vivi hastily swung her Peacock Thorns to block, but the difference in strength was overwhelming. Krogh easily deflected her defense, his other hand instantly clamping around Vivi's slender wrist and twisting hard!
"Ah!!!" Vivi cried out in pain, her weapon falling from her grasp as Krogh completely subdued her, holding her firmly captive.
"Bastard!!!" Dalton roared in despair and fury, forced to watch helplessly as Vivi was captured. But Chess's cold gaze and the arrows once again aimed at the villagers, combined with Wapol's relentless hail of bullets, kept him rooted in place.
He frantically swung his arms, straining to block the bullets targeting the villagers. Bullet marks began appearing on his body, gradually staining his fur and clothes crimson.
"It's over, Dalton." Chess's voice came from ahead, dripping with cruel satisfaction now that Usopp had been dealt with. He merely loosed a single arrow.
Whoosh—
Dalton could no longer hold on, his hooves giving way as he crashed to his knees, sending snow flying everywhere. He breathed heavily, his eyes filled with bitterness and despair.
Seeing the situation under control, Wapol's factory-like body slowly reverted to its original form. He then strode triumphantly up to the kneeling Dalton, glanced at the captured Vivi, and looked toward the bushes where Usopp had disappeared.
"One less?" He curled his lip, his tone dripping with contempt. "But it doesn't matter. Take this traitor and the blue-haired girl! It's time we reclaimed my castle!"
The soldiers stepped forward, binding the weakened Dalton and Vivi tightly with thick ropes.
Wapol gazed smugly at the silhouette of the castle on the distant snowy mountain and waved his hand grandly:
"Move out! Back to the castle!"
With the prisoners in tow, Wapol's forces paid no further mind to the scattered villagers or Usopp's unknown fate, marching imposingly toward Drum Castle.
Only devastation remained by the shore.
......
"...He's over here!"
"He's still breathing! Quick! Carry him inside!"
Several rough hands dragged Usopp out of the freezing snow. He coughed violently, spitting out mouthfuls of snow.
Slowly opening his eyes, he saw several villagers' faces full of anxiety.
"Young man! You're awake!"
Usopp struggled to sit up, but the pain in his stomach made him gasp sharply, even making it difficult to speak.
Cough—
He grabbed the arm of the nearest villager, urgently asking, "What happened to them?! The fight?!"
The villagers exchanged glances, their faces showing grief and helplessness. A middle-aged man spoke gravely: "Mr. Dalton... and your blue-haired companion... were both captured by Wapol. They... they headed toward the castle."
"That bastard Wapol... said he was going to reclaim his castle..."
Usopp froze completely, his hand slipping weakly from the villager's arm. A wave of self-blame washed over him, far more painful than the punch from that afro-haired man earlier.
Captured... Vivi and Mr. Dalton... both captured...
And I'm lying here...
I... I confidently promised on the sled that I'd handle everything...
Sea Warrior? Sniper King?
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!! In the end, I'm nothing! Just full of hot air! I can't even protect my comrades!
Shame and powerlessness threatened to drown him. He gritted his teeth, fists clenched tightly.
Why am I always like this? Failing when it matters most, only good at boasting...
"No..."
Usopp muttered to himself. After just a moment of despair, his hoarse voice immediately carried a rekindled spark. "This can't be... it can't end like this..."
He lifted his head sharply, his eyes still pained but now filled with determination: "Is there any way to get to the castle quickly?! Tell me! I have to save them!"
The villagers were stunned. Someone instinctively tried to dissuade him: "Young man, you're badly injured! Wapol's forces are too numerous... and his two subordinates are as strong as monsters..."
"We... we can't win against them..."
"We have to go even if we can't win!" Usopp nearly roared, propping up his aching body as he swayed to his feet, his gaze fixed on the distant castle.
"My comrades are there! How can I hide here alone?! I must go!"
His voice wasn't particularly loud, even trembling slightly. But the determination in his words to do anything for his comrades pierced through the gloom and fear shrouding the villagers' hearts like a beam of light.
Among the crowd, a young villager who had remained silent until now stared blankly at Usopp, watching this injured and somewhat frightened man who could still speak such words.
He suddenly slapped his own head, as if remembering something crucial:
"Wait! I remember now! Over at neighboring Kestard Village... there seems to be a cableway! Not sure who installed it!"
Hearing there was another way up, Usopp's eyes instantly lit up: "A cableway?! Where? Take me there quickly!"
The young man looked at Usopp's determined expression and nodded firmly: "I know the way! I... I'll go up with you!"
Usopp's gaze swept over the still-hesitant villagers around them. He knew that just the two of them were far from enough.
He took a deep breath, mustering all his strength. With a somewhat contorted expression, he shouted hoarsely to all the villagers:
"IF!!!"
"IF there's anyone else who doesn't want to endure Wapol's oppression any longer! IF there's anyone who wants to fight for this country's future!! Then follow me!!"
"Will you keep waiting here forever!!? Return to that rule where you have to kneel and beg just to see a doctor!!"
"IF you still want to fight then follow me!! Let's go defeat Wapol together! Save our comrades! Take back your country!!!"