Legacy's Wake

Yumiko's allies ventured into the town's more populated areas, but they found more people hiding in their homes than walking along the main road.

They reached the town center, expecting to see more civilians.

However, the people they encountered were the last ones they expected.

They knew of the marines, but the ship's identity remained unknown until the very last moment.

"Wait... That marine looks familiar," Yumiko said, pausing to examine the person more closely.

Codey, along with Xasha and the marine officers, exchanged glances, and everything came to a sudden standstill.

"I recognize that face... We met at Harventona Park. You're the blue-haired woman who had trouble with the Black Shock pirate. I suppose it was inevitable that we'd meet again, now on entirely different sides..."

Yumiko's eyes widened in surprise as she stepped back, raising her arm defensively before her chest.

"Yikes! You were the last person I expected to see here!" she exclaimed. Tarot and Kyora quickly moved to stand beside her. Yumiko, still in the same defensive pose, glanced at them nervously, her cheeks damp with sweat from the shock.

"You know each other? And why is that guy glaring at you like you did something awful?" Kyora asked, while Yumiko noticed Joker stepping forward, sharing the same curiosity.

Yumiko giggled, shy and embarrassed. "Well... You see, this is..." She didn't get to finish as Elliott suddenly bounced forward like a bunny rabbit, leaned in, and raised his arm high, flashing a wide, sparkling smile.

"Yo, yo, yo, Codey! Long time no see, bro!" Elliott kept hopping closer, acting like an overexcited puppy. He pranced around Codey, examining him from every angle, even stomping his foot like he was testing for quicksand.

"What's all the fuss about? It's my pal!" Elliott spun his fingers dramatically and pointed them at Codey's shoulders. "Look at that death glare! So intense! What's the beef, mate?"

Elliott's friend, standing off to the side, wore a face that screamed 'unimpressed' and 'not amused' in equal measure.

Meanwhile, Elliott persisted in his tomfoolery while the rest of the group watched, their eyes glued to the spectacle.

"How you been, buddy? Missed that skyscraper height of yours! And those luscious curls, man, I just can't look away," he twirled around like a drunken ballerina, flapping his arms under his armpits and pointing both fingers at Codey with a cheeky wink.

"You feelin' me, bro? If you were a chick, I'd be sweepin' you off your feet. But with those puny muscles, I'm not so sure!"

Joker blinked in confusion, his metallic brow somehow glistening with surprise. "I'm a robot and I'm sweating? How does that even work?" he pondered aloud, pressing a finger to his forehead like he was trying to reboot himself.

"Elliott, buddy, I think you're more excited than he is to see you," Kyora quipped, while Tarot added, "Those curls are killer, but those muscles... not so much!" Kyora swiftly grabbed Tarot's face and gently redirected it towards her knee. "Dial it down a notch!"

Tarot pirouetted like a tipsy flamingo, stars swirling around his head before dramatically collapsing to the ground with all the grace of a malfunctioning robot. He waved a white flag he'd miraculously produced from who-knows-where, admitting defeat in his over-the-top performance.

Following the comedic chaos on Yumiko's side, the marines themselves wore expressions of dismay, questioning whether these were the fearsome pirates they were supposed to apprehend.

"Chief Codey, I hate to say it, but we seem to have stumbled upon a group of buffoons. Should I take them out?" Xasha inquired, ready to take action, but Codey gestured for her to hold back.

"Hold your fire, Xasha. Allow me to handle this," he said, placing a calming hand in front of her. Codey positioned himself with arms folded behind his back, exuding an air of authority.

"Phoenix Pirates. It seems you've arrived on this island at an inconvenient time, facing us at our most vigilant. However, despite the lack of menace on your faces..."

Before Codey could continue his stern address, Yumiko suddenly stepped forward, hands on hips in defiance. "Lack of menace? I'll have you know I can be plenty intimidating!"

The others were taken aback by Yumiko's outburst, and Joker coughed awkwardly into his hand. "Your speeches aren't exactly bolstering my image as a fearsome pirate. I feel like a tiny ant about to get squashed by marine boots."

Yumiko whipped her head to glare at Joker. "Shut it, you useless piece of junk!" Her annoyance was evident, causing Joker to quickly avert his gaze and mutter, swallowing down his pride of talking to women, "I feel insulted..."

Codey appeared visibly irritated by the interruption. He closed his eyes and sighed in exasperation, his expression tinged with disappointment.

"Anyhow... You've undoubtedly achieved significant feats to earn such notoriety as one of the most wanted pirate crews across the Vast Expanse. However, fate has brought us here as adversaries with divergent goals. I won't waste words on you, riffraff, but I will say this: your journey ends now."

Elliott jumped in surprise. "Wait, are you serious?" He suddenly noticed the marines gripping their guns, while Codey brandished his bladed boomerangs and Xasha unsheathed her sword. They all assumed battle-ready stances, while Elliott's crew exchanged concerned glances.

Elliott gulped nervously as he leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding a swift blitz from the flying boomerang. He had to dodge again as the boomerang changed direction, returning perfectly into Codey's waiting hand.

"Whoa! You've really gone full baddie mode, Codey! Not to mix it up with a female baddie, of course."

Codey didn't utter a word as he dashed forward, a whirlwind of speed propelling him toward Yumiko who swiftly drew her blades and braced herself for impact.

To everyone's surprise, Codey's body passed through Yumiko like a gust of wind, delivering a devastating blow to her abdomen that felt like a shockwave, crushing her organs.

However, Yumiko wasn't his intended target. Elliott had already intercepted Codey's attack, blocking the strike with the tip of his blade. "What's gotten into you?!" Elliott demanded, sensing a newfound strength in Codey since their last encounter.

Their blades clashed fiercely, each strike ringing out like a bell in the midst of battle.

Meanwhile, Xasha followed up with an attack aimed at Yumiko, who met her blade with equal ferocity. The marine officers quickly surrounded the area, rifles trained on the remaining members of Elliott's crew.

The encounter escalated into a fierce battlefield between the marines and the pirates.

To be continued...