Noah staggered a little, wiping dirt off his face.
"Noah, are you alright?" Emma asked, stepping close, worry all over her face.
"I'm fine. Let's continue our sear—"
Before he finished, Noah's eyes went dim. His knees buckled.
He collapsed.
"Noah!" Emma rushed forward, grabbing him before he hit the ground. "What's wrong!?"
"Nothing…" Noah muttered, trying to push himself up while she held him steady.
Emma frowned. "You just collapsed! That's not nothing!"
Noah finally got back on his feet with her help. "It's the sword… I think it drains too much energy."
Emma opened her mouth to argue—
But the forest rustled around them—heavy footsteps, cracking branches, the smell of sweat and metal.
A deep, guttural voice growled:
"We are God Warriors."
Noah tensed, gripping Emma's arm. "Seriously? Now?"
Emma gently set Noah against a tree.
She stepped forward.
One warrior.
Then two.
Then three.
More shadows emerged behind them.
Soon the clearing was crowded—thirty-three armored warriors surrounding them in a tightening ring.
The lead warrior pointed his spear. "In the name of God Enel… your lives end here."
Emma exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
She drew both blades in one smooth motion.
"Because I needed to hit something."
And she launched herself straight into them.
Emma ducked under the first spear thrust, her twin blades flashing in a silver arc.
CLANG!
SHRRK!
Two warriors dropped before they even understood what happened.
Another swung from behind—Emma spun, metal ringing as she parried, her heel kicking him in the jaw.
She moved like lightning, weaving between spear tips, slashing wrists and dodging heavy swings.
One warrior shouted, "She's too fast—!"
Emma appeared right in front of him.
Her blade tapped his chestplate.
"Too slow."
BANG!
He flew backward into three others, knocking them over like stones.
More charged, yelling battle cries.
Emma tightened her grip on her blades, her breathing steadying as she focused.
Noah watched through blurry vision, stunned.
She wasn't just fighting.
She was dominating.
"This is child's play," Emma said, sliding into a stance.
"Let's make it fair… all of you at once."
The God Warriors roared and swarmed her.
The forest shook.
[Meanwhile — West Side of Upper Yard]
A blade sliced the air.
"Nami, DUCK!" Zoro yelled.
Nami dropped instantly, eyes wide. The blade flew past her hair and embedded itself in a tree.
"What the hell!?" Nami screamed. "Are they trying to cut my head off!?"
"I'd say yes," Zoro grinned.
More warriors stepped from the shadows.
Robin's eyes narrowed. "We have company. A lot of company."
Twenty God Warriors tightened their formation.
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji with one hand, cracking his neck. "Perfect. I was getting bored."
The warriors rushed him.
Zoro charged right back.
The first spear thrust at his chest—
Zoro sliced it clean in half, the broken shaft spinning past Nami.
A second came from behind—
Zoro twisted, cutting upward, sparks exploding from the clash.
Three more jumped in at once.
Zoro blocked two, kicked the third in the gut, and sent him flying into a tree.
Robin stepped forward, arms crossing.
"Treinta Fleurs… Clutch."
Multiple arms sprouted across the battlefield, snapping joints and slamming warriors into the ground.
Nami swung her Clima-Tact. "Thunder—TEMPO!"
A burst of electricity blasted several warriors backward.
But more kept coming.
Zoro grinned, blade between his teeth.
"Twenty to one, huh? Not bad odds."
He leapt forward, becoming a blur of white steel.
[BACK TO EMMA AND NOAH]
The clearing was torn apart.
Branches fallen. Dust clouds rising. Warriors groaning on the ground.
Emma stood in the center—sweat on her brow, cuts on her arms, breath sharp…
…but still smirking.
"Come on," she taunted. "I know some of you can still stand."
A dozen warriors rushed at her all at once.
Emma met them head-on.
[Meanwhile — Far Above.]
A lone voice echoed through the chamber.
"Out of my 103 warriors, only fifty remain," Eneru murmured, a grin spreading across his face as lightning crackled faintly around him.
"Three Priests. One hundred Shandorian warriors. Nine intruders… and myself."
His grin widened, lightning crackling faintly across his shoulders.
"That leaves one hundred and sixty-four players remaining."
He leaned back lazily.
"This game… is becoming fun."
[Back to Emma and Noah]
The last God Warrior hit the ground with a thud. Dust swirled around the clearing.
Emma wiped sweat from her brow, blades still in hand, but she relaxed slightly.
Noah leaned against a tree, catching his breath. His chest heaved, but he smiled at her.
"That… was amazing, Emma," he said. "You took all of them down by yourself."
Emma smirked, sheathing her blades. "Told you I can handle myself."
Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "I know. But still… really impressive."
Emma laughed softly. "Don't sound so surprised."
Noah reached for his sword and slid it back into its sheath with a soft click.
"This sword's strong… but it drains me. I'll keep it away for now."
Emma nodded. "Good. You'll need your strength for what's ahead."
Noah straightened up, looking ahead. "Alright… we keep moving. I'll lead. You follow me."
Emma grinned. "Got it, captain."
Noah took the first step, moving carefully through Upper Yard. Emma followed close behind, eyes sharp for any danger.
[Meanwhile — South of Upper Yard]
Luffy stretched his arms, grinning. "Heh… this guy looks fun."
Sanji adjusted his tie. "Stay focused. Don't get careless."
Usopp gulped, gripping his slingshot. "I don't like him…"
Satori stood across from them, his round body dancing lightly, cane in hand.
"Welcome, intruders," he laughed. "Let's play with some Surprise Balls."
Suddenly, fluffy cloud‑balls floated around him, drifting in the air.
Luffy and Sanji tensed. Usopp's eyes went wide.
Satori pointed his cane. "Bikkuri Tamatsuki!"
He kicked one of the cloud-balls, and it ricocheted off another — they shot toward the three pirates with deadly speed.
"Gum‑Gum… Pistol!" Luffy shouted, stretching his arm for a punch — but the cloud-ball exploded into shards of metal and blades mid-air.
Sanji leapt up to dodge, his leg sweeping. "Party house Kick!"
Usopp fired his slingshot, but Satori raised his gloves and released a shockwave — the Impact Dial inside absorbed the attack and blasted it back at Usopp with force. Usopp staggered.
Luffy grinned, shaking his head. "Whoa… he's faster than he looks."
Sanji's eyes narrowed. "He… he seems to know what we're going to do before we even do it."
Usopp gulped. "If he can see our moves… how do we even hit him?"
Satori laughed, twirling his cane. "You'll see… this is just the beginning!"
He raised more cloud-balls, and they started to circle them, floating faster now.
Luffy clenched his fist. "Bring it on!"
Sanji stayed ready, foot raised for another kick. "We'll find a way."
Usopp swallowed hard, then straightened. "Okay… let's go!"
The three rushed forward, dodging cloud-balls and shards flying in every direction.
Luffy stretched, smashing a ball with a punch.
BANG!
Sparks flew.
Sanji jumped high, kicking two more balls apart mid-air.
CRASH!
Usopp fired a rapid volley, but Satori absorbed it with a flick of his gloves and sent the force back, blowing him off his feet.
"Gah!" Usopp yelled, scrambling up.
"Keep moving!" Luffy shouted, charging at another ball.
Sanji landed gracefully, spinning into a kick that shattered two floating clouds. "We can do this!"
Satori laughed again, floating slightly off the ground, spinning his cane. "Interesting… you move fast, but predictably."
"Predictably?" Luffy grinned. "Heh… we'll see about that!"
Clouds swirled faster, forming a giant rotating sphere above them — a Ball Dragon.
Luffy's eyes widened. "Uh-oh… that can't be good."
Sanji muttered under his breath. "We need to hit him all at once… carefully."
Usopp gulped again. "Carefully… yeah, right."
The three braced themselves, ready to strike, as the Ball Dragon descended toward them.