Exploration of the Lake Kingdom, Blood Oath on the Great Ship

Smack, smack smack!

The pain coming again and again from his face woke the unconscious warrior. Pikamu opened his eyes with difficulty, and a huge, unfamiliar face appeared in his vision. He blinked hard before he saw, hanging at the neck beneath that big face, a strange golden amulet that seemed to be the sun and a bird?

"Itako!"

Pikamu abruptly came to himself. These were the southern tribes who had invaded the ancestral land! He suddenly let out a roar and was about to reach for the short dagger at his waist. However, his arms could not move in the slightest; they had long since been bound fast.

"Ah!"

Hearing the angry shout, Grey Earth Puapu jumped in fright and sprang up from the deck. But after only a few breaths, he came to his senses. Humiliated into anger, the Grey Earth warrior stretched out his arm and raised his hand, delivering seven or eight slaps.

"Damned savage, what are you yelling for? You dared scare me—watch me beat you to death!"

Smack! Smack!

The crisp sound of slaps echoed across the deck. Chiwako watched for a while, eyes narrowed, and said nothing.

Smack!

Puapu slapped him more than a dozen times, until stars burst before Pikamu's eyes and his head went numb. Only then did he stop and call Mountain Bird over to translate.

"Savage, why did you attack us?"

".?"

Pikamu's gaze was vacant, and for a moment he failed to react. After a long while, he finally glared fiercely at Mountain Bird, who spoke Seri, and spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.

"Pah! You sand rat who betrayed your tribe and led outsiders to the ancestral land! I'll twist off your head and offer it to the souls of the ancestors!"

Mountain Bird was tongue-tied,