Festival (2)

"Akatora!" Gloria and the rest didn't know what to make of the situation. Though the man was dying, they didn't know if Akatora killed him due to his actions. They didn't know if their friend was a murderer.

"His insides are a mess, but I don't think he'll die. I've seen worse, but those people lived." Akatora didn't look like himself as his appearance was still quite wild. His voice was also different, much deeper than normal. His eyes were fierce and striking, yet cold and unfeeling.

It was then that he suddenly fell back and landed on his back. The marks on his body was gone and his eyes became listless. The people around them were stunned, but soon afterwards, they all jolted in shock when Akatora suddenly sat up.

"Hey, why am I on the floor? Who is that?" An innocent expression was in Akatora's face. His eyes was wholly different from just a few seconds ago. But it didn't return back to normal as well, his expression looked like a meek lamb.

"That's uncle Larry, he's something of a nutcase. He usually goes around the village, asking for a job. Though father has been strict to him for a while, they usually get along well enough for father to take care of him. He's a nice man, but he's pretty useless." Diana who didn't realize anything strange about how Akatora was acting explained. She was pretty useless earlier so she was glad to be of service. But then she looked at Akatora's curious expression as he scanned her face. Making the young girl blush in return.

"Wh- What is it?" Diana hid her face between her hands to block Akatora's view. His pure eyes made the girl's heart beat faster than normal, but his words made her heart turn cold.

"You shouldn't call someone useless, whoever you are. There's a reason for everything, a purpose for everyone." A righteous smile was in Akatora's face as he pushed himself to stand. But as soon as he did, he stumbled back to the ground as he felt no support from his right leg.

"Wha- Ahhh! I'm burning! Help me!" Akatora raised his voice to the limit as he looked at his yellow, glowing foot. Spurts of fire came from it, making him panic as he didn't know what to do. But what was strange was that the three children did nothing. The adults around them did nothing.

That was because they all knew about Akatora having a devil fruit, and that he could change into a human sun. So he looked pretty stupid right now. Their attention was even more removed from Akatora when a shout came from the top of the village's scouting tower.

"The- They're coming! The beasts are on their way!" Defender Ed shouted at the top of his lungs while ringing the alarm for a beast horde. The people were rushing to their homes while the men and women who can fight readied themselves for a battle. It was time for the festival to start, the cleansing of the forest festival.

"What? Speak more clearly!" A man who was already prepared with his trusty sword on his waist intruded. He seemed to be excited for the upcoming fight.

"The head hunters are already moving towards the Village center! They'll arrive in a half a minute!" Ed readied his spear as soon as he finished shouting. He wanted to get a hit in this year, he didn't get to do one last time.

"Everyone! Ready your spears! We are eating boar meat tonight! Haha!" Boisterous laughter rang out in the village center as the adults of Disco Village carried a wide variety of weapons on their person. Some had spears, some had bows while a few had swords. Excitement was in all their faces, but a child was screaming in fear all this time.

"Ahhh! Ow! What did you do that for?" Akatora soothed the pain on his head that was caused by a slap by Brendon. He felt wronged and abused, he was already burning here!

"Stop screaming! Look, your foot is just fine!" Brendon pointed at Akatora's foot while showing an annoyed expression. He was more irritated when Akatora's face showed actual surprise, like he didn't know what happened himself.

"Huh?" Akatora massaged his previously burning foot as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was sure that it was burning just a little while ago, so what happened?

It was then that the ground trembled as a row of giant boars passed through the path between the forest and the village center. A few men and women were running from them with smiles on their faces. The man leading them held a basket filled with berries as he crackled into a fit of laughter.

"Oh my god! Why would the beasts attack the Village?" Akatora hurriedly took to his feet without a care for anyone else. His eyes were showing evident fear while his body was trembling all over.

"Akatora! Where are you going?" Though Diana and the rest had excited expressions, Akatora was running away. Confusing his friends who knew Akatora as the madman who feared nothing. This was strange.

"I'm going to call for the Marines!" It was only now that Gloria and the rest were sure. Something was wrong with Akatora.