MARINES - A ONE PIECE story (ENGLISH) - Part I

CHAPTER CXLII - Mad

Haru was impressed by Jun's progress : despite her recent elbow injury, she was twirling her blades like a deadly dancer, chasing the enemy at lightning speed, following him relentlessly. As she was harassing their opponent with sharp, piercing attacks, the clown could only dodge, back off, retreat. Haru wondered, puzzled : was he intimidated by Jun's aggressive style, did he have gaps in close combat ? Or was it just a trap he was trying to lure her into ? From the terrified screams he was giving at every offensive of Jun, she deduced that he was probably not acting... She could see him trying to do something, every time he had the opportunity, and had to concentrate her haki on him to find out his secret : in his gloved hand, he was carrying a golden pen ; from his colorful leotard, he was trying to draw something out, similar in the shape to a notebook. Was this how he could change the structure of the park ? This strange clown was probably not as weak as they thought. Harassed by Jun's attacks, he just didn't have the opportunity to use his powers.

- Watch out, miss !

The children's voices snapped Haru out of her reverie and she fought off the hyenas' new assault at the last second. As focused as she was on Mad Mime, she had forgotten about her own fight. In her hands, Daisy was hissing aggressively. The beasts attacked again, together this time, and just missed biting her by an inch : pulling herself up on both hands, in a headstand as she had seen Jun do before, she struck the air with her legs and created a Tempest Kick powerful enough to push them all away at once.

Yet, as she was busy defending herself from the three beasts, a terrible premonition struck her, like a vision of the immediate future.

- Jun, on your left ! she shouted at once.

Mime had managed to keep his distance from Jun, who was beginning to run out of steam after her recent battles and injuries. Finally, the clown had managed to open what turned out to be a worn notebook and scribble something down. Upon hearing Haru's warning, Jun immediately turned to the left, just in time to see the wall rising from the ground before her eyes : spikes formed on it and almost impaled her, but nimble and quick, she hurried to distance herself.

- What is it ?! she stammered. Did you see that ? That guy just made a wall appear out of thin air !

- Be careful ! shouted her friend. I think he can manipulate space by writing things down in his notebook. Be careful, to... Jun, under your feet !

The cook barely had time to look down as spikes were shooting out of the ground, scratching her skin. Luckily, she stepped away and fell on her back, avoiding the worst. But the clown had not said his last word.

- Above you ! Haru shouted.

Without taking the time to think, Jun followed her friend's instructions and dashed forward with the Shave, narrowly avoiding the new trap that nearly crushed her. Thus, while repelling the hyenas that were attacking her relentlessly, Haru kept trusting her intuition and gave instructions to her partner to enable her to dodge the traps that were almost tearing her apart every time. Mime, annoyed by this unexpected teamwork, kept his distance from his assailant as best he could and set ever more vicious traps to try to stop her. However, the grimace that was appearing on his face was more and more pronounced : close combat was not his specialty, he liked to rely on his ingenious inventions and the powers of his devil fruit, but the haki of this damned Kuja represented a most annoying obstacle. Especially since his hyenas could not get rid of it, any more than they could get rid of the children. The cooperation of these two girls was exemplary.

- That's not very cool, babies ! he hissed through clenched teeth. You could play fairer !

- So call back your hyenas and we settle this in one on one duel, you clown ! Jun grated with a provocative smile. Shave !

Disconcerted by these secret techniques of which he knew nothing, he understood only too late that Jun's Shave was not intended to hurt him, but only to get closer : sharp as a tack, invigorated by the confidence she had in her friend, she picked up the pace and dashed to her opponent. She was now so close that he could not flee from her. He clumsily tried to create a protection around him but, in panic, let his pen slip through his hands. And as he was stammering some inaudible supplication, Jun shouted :

- Gyuto style : hyoshigi !

Hit by the blade, which left on his belly a clean cut, Mad Mime collapsed to the ground where he curled up like a child to whine. As Haru was repelling a new assault of the hyenas, left breathless by the ever increasing ardor of their attempts, she could not repress the provocation that was burning her lips.

- Is that it ? Circus executives are not as bad as they are said to be...

And as Jun was giving her a look of amusement and complicity, a voice rose in the air and echoed throughout the entrepot.

- There will be no congratulations, dear brother. Your powers look ridiculous against such bright girls.

Immediately, Mime raised his head and froze. Drops of sticky sweat were now running down his pale cheeks instead of his previous tears of pain.

- Let me come, the voice ordered. With us united, those girls will not be able to do anything.

- But... But, baby... he stammered, his whole body shaking.

- A door, Mime, and quickly !

Reluctantly, with terrified hiccups, he grabbed his little notebook and scribbled something new. Then, in the stone wall of the room, a door appeared.