While Hera and the others were discussing their plan, the Brujam Pirate Crew pulled up to the shore. Captain Brujam also spotted the four people on the beach.
"Listen up, boys! Keep your eyes peeled. That girl and the noble brat must be taken alive. If the other two brats resist, kill them."
"Got it, Boss." The Grunt Soldiers in the Pirate Crew were already itching to get off the ship and start the slaughter.
Seeing the Pirate Crew had reached the shore, Hera said to the other three, "Don't dodge. I'll give you a buff first. First Bullet!" With that, another surge of power was injected into the dual guns. This time, to ensure Luffy could escape after the explosion, Hera wanted the First Bullet's duration to be a bit longer. Zafkiel seemed to sense her intent, and even more energy poured in.
Luffy didn't even notice the muzzle; instead, he was preoccupied with a question: "What's a 'buff'? Does it taste good?"
"Never mind that! Just remember, the time acceleration is limited. Run out quickly after you light the fuse."
With that, she applied the First Bullet to Luffy.
"Sabo, Ace, you two focus on stalling. Wait for their officers and the Captain to charge before you engage. Dadan should be here soon after she hears the explosion. I'll also deal with the grunts as quickly as possible."
Sabo and Ace replied, "Got it. We're pretty strong, you know."
Seeing that the four of them weren't running but were instead coming forward to meet them, Captain Brujam laughed. "Ho ho! Choosing to face us instead of running away? We're really being looked down upon, aren't we?"
Seeing the fodder pirates disembark, Hera said expectantly, "Finally, business is open. Zafkiel, you've been waiting for this moment for a long time, haven't you? Let's start with a feast. City of Devouring Time!"
At Hera's call, black shadows surged from the darkness, and the entire battlefield was pulled into the City of Devouring Time.
"What is this? Why do I feel my body getting weaker?!"
"No! Stay away! What are these black shadows?!"
"Watch your step, everyone! The ground feels like it's dragging me down."
As soon as the City of Devouring Time expanded, it posed a massive threat to the fodder pirates. Some pirates who were already injured were instantly drained dry, their corpses sinking into the darkness to become nourishment.
Hera felt the power of time slowly flowing into the clock face in her eye. In the eyes of the pirates, this cute loli had transformed into a black-clad demon with eyes flashing with bloodlust and golden light.
The oppressive environment of the City of Devouring Time and the deaths of their comrades made some cowardly pirates want to retreat. When Brujam saw the deserters, he lopped off their heads with a single strike.
"Don't be afraid! Using an ability consumes stamina. Anyone who runs will be shown no mercy. Are you more afraid of her or me?"
Hearing their Captain's words, the grunts' fear of their brutal leader overcame their terror of the darkness, and they all began firing at Hera.
"Trying to defeat me through attrition? You've made a grave mistake."
With that, Hera's figure sank into the ground, then suddenly reappeared behind a Grunt Soldier. "Surprise?" As she spoke, a bullet pierced the grunt's skull.
Hera continued to slaughter the grunts using the shadows of the City of Devouring Time. Beljam couldn't stand it any longer. "I'll go limit her speed. If this keeps up, there won't be anyone left to sail our ship."
Beljam charged toward Hera. Seeing Beljam's move, Sabo and Ace couldn't hold back either. "We can't let you interfere with our little sister." The two of them, armed with Supreme Steel Pipes and a dagger, met Beljam head-on.
Because of the City of Devouring Time's weakening effect on the pirates, Beljam found himself temporarily unable to handle the two children. Seeing his men being harvested one after another, Brujam finally lost his patience.
"A few mere brats, and I have to step in personally? You lot are absolutely useless."
Brujam rushed at Hera, who had just emerged from the shadows, with incredible speed. Ignoring the grunts in his way, he swung his blade.
"So fast!" Hera was startled by the strike, but her movements remained calm. She blocked the blow with her long gun, the minute hand, though the massive force sent her flying backward.
Brujam instinctively wanted to follow up with a shot but forced himself to stop. "Such a beautiful face... if it gets scarred, I won't get a good price for her."
Hera felt a wave of revulsion at Brujam's lecherous gaze. To think of such things in the middle of a fight! She adjusted her orientation in mid-air, fired two shots at Brujam, and then called out, "First Bullet!"
Seeing Brujam charge at Hera, Ace wanted to intercept him, but Beljam realized he couldn't let his boss be disturbed and stubbornly held the two of them back.
After loading the First Bullet, Hera decisively shot herself. "It seems this pirate has some skill. I can't afford to be careless anymore."
"Little girl, stop resisting. If you come with me, I'll let these brats go and won't burn this place down. What's the point of hanging around with these commoners? I'll hand you over to the Celestial Dragons. Wouldn't it be better to serve them?"
Hearing this, Hera was instantly disgusted. "I'd rather die here than surrender! If you want to be a dog, go be one yourself!" Using the power of the First Bullet, she vanished into the shadows.
"How ungrateful. Many people would kill for the chance to be their dog, yet they lack the opportunity. Besides, in front of me, you don't have the right to refuse."
Although Hera could emerge from anywhere within the domain of the City of Devouring Time, her lack of proficiency meant it took too long to come out of the darkness. Furthermore, the First Bullet now required a bit of preparation time. She could only rely on the grunts to obstruct Brujam's vision. As the two chased each other, the number of Grunt Soldiers rapidly dwindled.