Boom!
A large sound was heard in a 15-meter radius of the town square of The Scorching Haven. The cause of it all is the light beam of Pierre clashing with the sword of Pops.
"What kind of sword is that, old man?!" Pierre asked in disbelief.
"Hmph, it's not for you to know. You're going to die here anyway!" Pops answered as he charged his sword towards Pierre.
"Licht Kick!" Pierre yells as his feet turn to light.
Clang!
As soon as the sword meets Pierre's feet, it slowly turned back to normal, causing Pierre to have a scratch on his leg as he pulled back a second late.
"Damn it! That sword is a pain in the ass." Pierre whined.
"What is it then, kiddo? Didn't you say you'll be the King of the World?! Well, prove it to me now!" Pops continues his taunt as he charged at him.
Pierre clenched his fists and took a deep breath as it was enveloped in light.
[Licht Punch] and then [Accel!].
Pierre coats his fist with light and accelerates towards Pops' blind spot and lands a punch.
Knock!
As soon as he gets a hold of Pops' timing of attacks, Pierre began a barrage of punches in Pops' guts.
[Licht Punch Barrage!]
Pops received a hundred barrage of punches all done at light speed. Each punches deliver a gut-wrenching impact, all to be felt in one instance at the same time.
Despite all the punches that Pierre delivered, Pops is still standing his ground, almost losing consciousness from all of that instance.
"You're pretty tough for an old man, ain't you, Pops?" Pierre asked him as if it is a compliment.
"And you're pretty skilled for a snotty brat, kid." Pops complimented his young opponent.
As they were standing still in the middle of what could be described as a scorching island at this point, reality hits them, snapping them to reality. The ground starts to shake and a pool of lava starts to appear near them.
"Let's call it a truce, for now, Pops. You know how to stop this?" Pierre asked for a truce and asked Pops.
"It's a natural occurrence here on this island. Once every two years, the whole island undergoes a natural change, reforming the entire island from its core. That's why people like us are thrown in here as our lifetime punishment." Pops explained to Pierre the situation they found themselves in.
"You're wrong, Pops. This is not a natural occurrence." Out of nowhere, Bedi showed up in front of them, all wounded.
"Bedivere?! What the hell are you doing here?" Pops asked him, shocked to see him.
"I've come to finish the deal I've had with you, Pops! I'll take back my sword from you now!" Bedi answered showing signs of stubbornness and resolve that he will not take no for an answer.
"Oi, Bevil! I told you to stay put, didn't I?" Pierre intervened in their conversation.
"This is not your problem, outsider! I have something important that I must take back from him at any cost!" Bedi yelled at Pierre.
"W-wait, Bedivere. What do you mean, it's not a natural occurrence?" Pops asked as if that statement stuck in his mind.
"Huh?! Obviously, it's all the doings of the Doll Factory! Every two years, they sent out some scouts to look around the place and they will all disappear without a trace after the changes. Don't you think it's a little suspicious to scout a place that inhabits a lot of the world's most unforgiving thieves and bandits which will bring them no benefits in doing so?" Bedi explained to Pops.
"Now that you mention it; when I was hungry, I accidentally bit this one octopus guy wearing different clothing. I thought they were suspicious in the first place. Are they the ones you're talking about?" Pierre asked casually.
"An o-octopus, you said?!" both Bedi and Pops asked him in shock.
"Yeah," Pierre answered as he picked his nose.
"I never imagined a Doll Factory member as high rank as he will appear in this town in the first place." Pops contemplates the sudden changes in the situation they were in.
"Is he some kind of a big shot?" Pierre asked as he flicked his booger.
"A really big shot! He's one of the members of Doll Factory and a high-ranking officer at that! His name is Tako Yaki!" Bedi told Pierre of the danger they found themselves in.
With all of the new information they gathered, all plans Pops had are in shambles as the whole island is starting to crumble into pieces. Both Pops' Faction, Bedivere and Pierre found themselves in a stalemate. As they called a truce upon themselves, what would be their next move going forward? What is the deal Bedivere had with Pops after he lost their match?