The Enraged Army [Minion Island Contestation Arc Part 2]

The white wind howled... Steam hissed as the mighty vessel reached its destination. A walkway slammed against the snowy shore with a satisfying thud. Dozens of marching feet drummed against it. The marines spread out to set up a perimeter around the landing spot. Tents, guard posts and fences of barbed wire popped up like mushrooms during rain. The abandoned port offered reasonable enough protection, considering that much of the island’s buildings were either rubble or about to be rubble. Every moment was precious as the forces prepared for the imminent battle. The pirates might be a little miffed once they found out what happened to their comrades.

Among the first on the shore was Yumiko. In the usual fashion, she had jumped off with a gust of wind. Her long kimono proved warm enough in the chilly weather. Red splotches still dotted her clothing here and there. She had vehemently denied all attempts to treat her wounds, insisting that there were others in far greater need. A noble thought, perhaps but a misplaced one when they were on the verge of another fight. Fortunately the few scrapes she had suffered were shallow. Zoan-eaters tended to be hardy and she was no exception. In fact, she was itching to get to the field, to be useful.

While the other soldiers secured the area, the swordswoman took it upon herself to scout their surroundings. Her experience as a hunter might finally prove useful. She tentatively sniffed the air, before dropping onto all fours for closer snooping. Her cold gaze narrowed. Enemies... Everywhere... Well, it made sense considering this was pirate territory, but knowing that wasn’t enough. She needed facts. How many...? And where...? Meanwhile, her colleagues watched with cocked heads and quirked brows as a grown woman crawled around with her nose in the snow. Feeling their stares drilling into her back, she shot back a quizzical look that ended up seeming like a fierce glare. Nobody dared to say a word. She could feel strange warmth beginning to glow on her face. In hindsight, maybe transforming would’ve made this... less awkward.

Soon, the weasel woman returned to the ship. Whirling winds heralded her arrival. She landed near the captain with the lightest tap. A rosy color painted her nose and cheeks, but she was going to pretend it was just the cold weather. Kneeling down, she bowed her head. “Master! Petty Officer Yumiko reporting in!” Following the proper procedure gave her some much needed reprieve. “We are surrounded by armed forces. They are approaching on foot through the ruins.” She paused briefly, searching for the right words. “I... was not able to discern how many exactly, but... If thou allow it, I shall go and find out.” Oh yes, running off alone into the middle of hostile territory. Surely that idea couldn’t possibly backfire...

Good thing that it wasn’t her call to make.

Despite the advantage in sheer numbers, common pirates weren’t exactly known for fighting honorably. Well, being often outgunned or otherwise outmatched by a better equipped force wasn’t much of an incentive to fight fair. In a way, the swordswoman from Wano could understand that. This was a struggle for power, not a kabuki play. Yet, she still found herself disappointed. Deep down, she had been hoping for a charging horde, a heroic stand against overwhelming odds and a chance to go out in a blaze of glory. Closing her eyes, she pictured herself gasping her final, crimson breath in the arms of her superior officer... Ah, just thinking of it was enough to make her steel heart flutter.

The echoing command shook Yumiko out of her grim daydream. Immediately her gaze hardened. A defensive battle then? She took a mental note of the Master’s preferred method. If she was to mold herself into a perfect weapon for him, she had to know these things by heart. However, the immediate contradiction that followed took said mental notes, rolled them up into nice, little balls and tossed them right into the imaginary trash bin. “Master...?” She shared Celia’s concern, especially since he had just ordered all hands to take defensive positions. In fact, her lips already parted, trying to find the proper words to protest.

...Until she heard the final order.

Yumiko blinked. For the briefest moment, her gaze held an oddly... unfitting twinkle. Like a pair of tiny stars. A wistful sigh left her lips. “Yes, Master.” Without wasting a moment, the Kamaitachi summoned a gust of wind to scoop her up to the sky. Exactly as the savvy captain predicted, his self-proclaimed servant followed right behind him. When he landed for a jump, she too dove down, only to swoop back into the air. It resembled an elaborate dance, a ballet performed on a stage of snowy ruins.

Meanwhile, in the distance, a very puzzled pair of eyes peered through binoculars. When a chorus of rough voices demanded to know what the scout saw, apparently 'a giant grasshopper flying a kite' was the wrong answer. The poor scout was told to stop drinking on the job. With a bitter mutter, the fellow insisted he knew what he saw. ...But silently he agreed that he should probably put a cork on the bottle of rum keeping him company. Hm, well, one more sip wouldn’t hurt.

Back outside the Marine encampment, Yumiko landed right behind Anton. She closed her eyes and focused. White coloration started spreading across her hair and tiny tufts of fur decorated her features. Her nose turned black and grew a set of whiskers on each side. She tentatively sniffed the air. Alcohol, gun powder, men who were long overdue for a bath... Yes... The scent of enemies was strong here. Her ears perked, catching distant sounds of footsteps on snow. A patrol. As she focused on the sound, she could almost... feel it. An indescribable feeling at the edge of her senses, pointing only a vague direction of danger. She still wasn’t quite sure if it was real or just her imagination.

Casting the distracting thoughts aside, the swordswoman leaned closer to the captain for a careful whisper. She pointed her sheathed sword towards some large ruins ahead, a former church of sorts. “Master... Contact at eleven o’ clock. Fifty meters. Two people. Armed with guns. One has been drinking and the other hasn’t bathed for three days.” She based her odd estimations on how the cabin boys smelled after a shore leave. “Thy orders?” There were so many ways to handle the situation. Would they try to ambush them or sneak past them? Fight them and risk blowing their cover? Or try to find a good position first before launching an assault? Every choice tended to have unintended consequences...

Seeing Anton’s cheeks turn red sparked immediate worry in Yumiko. Her intense gaze narrowed and she leaned even closer to study his features. Hm... Redness could be an early sign of frostbite. She was well aware that not all shared her fondness or tolerance towards cold weather. Her mind raced along the twisting road of misunderstanding, right past the field of common sense and the forest of obvious clues. She was, in fact, trying her hardest to remember the proper first aid procedure. Frostbite needed to be... warmed up, yes. And under these circumstances the most reliable way was, naturally, body heat.

Fortunately, before the swordswoman could do anything questionable, the captain issued his orders. She snapped to attention and saluted. “Sir, yes, sir!” Any protests she might have had against his plan to draw fire was muffled by the suffocating grasp of blind loyalty. As her superior leaped away, she silently steeled her resolve. Her trembling hand balled into a tight fist. No, a tool did not question its wielder. With a deep breath, she gathered her focus and launched herself back to the skies. She had been given a task, which she vowed to accomplish or die trying. Or both. Preferably both.

Yumiko’s gaze scanned the snowy landscape below. She saw her superior officer ambush a pair of pirates. The commotion alerted their friends. Reminiscent of ants in a maze, they started scurrying through the streets of the ruined town. She squinted, trying to spot anyone who seemed particularly important. With pirates, it was always so difficult to tell. There was no uniform or insignia to designate one of them as the commander. Even something as simple as imposing size or presence could be misleading. The wind howled in her ears, drowning most sounds. Only the scent of smoke drifted up this high. But where was it coming from...?

Further away, something gleamed at the top of a tall pine tree. The flying weasel woman focused her senses. It was... a person? Peering through a looking glass? Down below, hiding among the evergreen trees and shrubs, was a small group of pirates, maybe five in total. There were six tents nearby at least. Between them was a well-concealed bonfire keeping them warm. She sniffed the air. And roasting sausages. None of them had noticed her approach. She had the perfect opportunity to ambush them. Fighting honorably was a fool’s choice. The wise would cast the whole notion aside. Everything would be fine as long as she simply stayed hidden and didn’t drop right into the middle of the enemy camp shouting-

“Halt, evildoers!”

Yumiko had found her way right in the middle of the enemy camp. Standing between the men and their bonfire, she brandished her blade with unflinching bravado. “Thy vile reign ends today, for you face Kamaitachi no Yumiko! Surrender and thou shall be spared!” She took note of her enemies. Two burly men with hammers, two lanky, wily ones with swords and finally an unarmed one several heads shorter than the rest. None of them looked like a fierce pirate commander to her. Oh well, she could always just ask, once they had been apprehended.

Meanwhile, the surprised pirates were a little puzzled by all the fancy and foreign words being thrown their way. “Whatkama?” The question was muttered in unison. A tiny geezer with countless scars across his wrinkled features and a red bandanna wrapped around his head scratched his gray beard thoughtfully. “I think she said okama.” His dry wheeze elicited more confused murmurs. “What’s that?” Fortunately, the experienced pirate was happy to elaborate. Raising a finger, like some sort of teacher, he continued. “Well, it means that ‘she’ is actually-” His implication was cut short by a cold comment. “On a second thought, I would very much like to fight thee now. Please prepare thyself.” Her tone was as icy as the howling wind. ...And slightly offended.

Falling silent, Yumiko took her stance. A deep breath filled her lungs. Meanwhile, the veteran pirate recognized the telltale signs of an imminent attack. “Careful now... Here she comes...” There was a tense pause. Even the wind stopped. The swordswoman made the first move. ...By pointing her sheathed sword at the foes. “Thou sit upon a throne of villainy and stolen riches! These ruins are a reminder of what thou do to the innocents. I hope thou are prepared to face the consequences of thy greed, as we Marines shall not sit idly any longer. Defend thyself!” The shout echoed far, perhaps far enough for even Anton to hear. It was a good thing he was already keeping other enemies busy.

[LT - "Defend thyself"]

After the spiel was over, the Suspicious Old Pirate cocked a skeptical brow. His bony fingers pressed together. “...Get ‘er, boys.” A click of fingers sent the lackeys barreling towards the lone marine. [LT - "Get ‘er, boys."] If the speech had shaken their morale, it certainly didn’t show. They moved in practiced unison, quickly overwhelming the foe. Each attack was quickly followed by another. She raised her blade to block a hammer from bashing her head, only to get slashed by a pair of daggers. [UT] A streak of crimson painted the white snow. Gritting her teeth with a pained growl, she wordlessly berated herself for being careless. Unfocused. When would she learn? What would she have to lose before she finally found her focus? Utterly shameful...

Even the leader rushed into the fray. He swung his cane low, aiming a tactical blow at the woman’s knee. [LT - Kneecapper] Briefly, her fur stood up on the end. A sudden surge of wind blew through the woods, snaking past the trees like it was alive. It carried the swordswoman into a quick leap. [LT - Storm Chaser] She slashed the foes in her path, delivering some nasty strikes, but seemingly missed the small old-timer. [UT] Landing on the other side of the bonfire, she stopped to speak. “For thy information... Kamaitachi...” She slowly sheathed her blade. “...Is a wind that cuts.” Right on cue, a blade of wind slashed across the old man’s chest. [LT - Sickle Wind] Unfortunately, the cut was left a little too shallow and he soon struggled onto his feet again. He had not survived this long just to be an easy target.

While Anton was keeping an entire army busy -and dealing significant damage to their ranks- Yumiko had her hands full with a group of scouts led by the old, suspicious pirate. Her simple, direct approach had backfired spectacularly. At this rate, the villains wouldn’t spill anything, least of all the location of their commander... The weasel woman suppressed a frustrated snarl trying to creep to the surface. She disliked tapping into the cursed powers for too long. It brought forth strange urges... Craving. Lust. Hunger. The sharp stench of blood clawed at her sensitive nose, making her feel sick. At least she hoped this foreign sensation at the bottom of her stomach was simply sickness.

Unfortunately, the sneaky old-timer still had no intention of cooperating. Clutching his bleeding chest, he scrambled back onto his feet. “So yer a fruit user too, huh...” His lips curled into a wry smile. “Explains a lot, actually...” With another click of fingers, he sent his cronies on the offense again. [LT - Pile On] [UT] Two of them swung their weapons, while the third kicked the bonfire, sending hot coals her way. Yumiko inhaled sharply. Her entire body tensed. [LT - Unwavering Conviction] Several flashes of steel split the air with shining streaks. The incoming blows were deflected aside with careful precision. Even the glowing hot coals were cut apart before they could reach her. The snow sizzled as they slashed pieces fell.

Before the foes could recover and continue the onslaught, the swift swordswoman suddenly flipped backwards. [LT - Gale Warning] [UT] A heavy gust of wind sent the goons stumbling back. She swung her blade in a wide arc, sending a flying slash after them. [LT - Weasel's Tail] However, the clever old-timer quickly dove behind the staggering henchmen. [LT - Meatshield] The unwitting meatshield took the slash with a pained howl. Despite the marine’s best efforts, the key player was still standing... His guards were in bad shape, but he didn’t let that shake his focus. “Well, aren’t you just a whole coo of bad news...” The mutter was accompanied by a knowing glance towards the ruined town. He was willing to bet his beard that the troublesome woman wasn’t alone either. Marines never were. The boss would need to hear about this...

As the foes staggered, Yumiko leveled her blade at their leading figure. Something about the suspicious, old pirate made her fu-erm, hair stand on end. “I ask thee once more to surrender gracefully.” With similarly unwavering certainty, the old-timer smiled and shook his head. “Heh, we both know that ain’t an option. For neither of us.” The swordswoman found herself hesitating. “I... understand. So be it...” She sheathed her blade, closed her eyes and breathed deep. Focus... The word felt like a voiceless whisper inside her head.

Unfortunately, the wiley old man wasn’t about to give the girl any freebies. He smacked his downed buddies with his cane. “Now! Charrrrge!” As if invigorated by some unseen force, the badly wounded pirates actually rose back to their feet. [LT - Charrrge] They charged in unison catching the marine completely off-guard. [UT] While she was reeling, the leader leveled his flintlock at her and pulled the trigger twice. [LT - Bang Bang] Two lumps of lead pierced her skin with a spray of crimson. Yet she refused to fall... With sheer, stubborn will, she steeled herself... And vanished. A cold wind blew across the forest. [HT - Final Mercy] [UT] In a blink of an eye, she appeared behind the pirates. One after another, they collapsed like a line of bloodied dominoes.

Yumiko turned to the downed foes, gasping for air. Careless... She clutched her bleeding shoulder. Again she had gotten careless! Gah! Would she never learn?! His icy gaze narrowed. No matter. Master had entrusted her a task and she would not rest until it was complete. Her commanding tone echoed through the ruined camp. “Now, tell me where thy leaders reside! We have come to free this island from their foul clutches!” Silence was her only answer. She blinked, briefly stunned by the loyalty and determination of these pirates. ...Until she realized they were simply out cold. “...Oh.” Something told her she had not thought this through. N-no matter! There had to be more pirates out here! She would find and question them instead!

With reignited determination, the wounded woman dashed off, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. However... Moments after the Marine had left, the lumpy snow nearby stirred. Quietly the old, suspicious pirate peeked out of hiding. A glance to the left and another to the right confirmed that the coast was clear. He reached into his pocket and dug out a tiny, snoozing snail. It snapped awake as the receiver was lifted from the shell. A couple of tense vibrations later, someone picked up on the other end and a deep voice demanded to know what was the big deal. However, the old-timer’s hushed tone quickly silenced the grumbling with its dead-serious weight.

“Boss, it’s Vinnie... We’ve got a problem...”