Captain Arlong's eyes turned cold as he surveyed the scene before him.The stench of burnt flesh still hung in the air, mingling with the smoke rising from the charred remains of his crewmate. Several fish-men lay scattered across the courtyard, moaning or unconscious, the once-proud blue skin of their bodies blackened by fire.
The audacity of a human child to kill his own men right in front of him—it was a direct insult to his pride as a fish-man.
Arlong's grip on his saw-like blade tightened, webbed fingers creaking. His shark-like jaws flexed slightly, baring rows of jagged teeth.
From the report he had received moments earlier, this incident was somehow tied to Nami.
Had that girl betrayed him?Or worse—had his secret dealings with the Marines been exposed?
He didn't know yet. But one thing was certain: this little blonde human had just interfered in business worth 100 million Bellies.
And no one—human or otherwise—walked away after touching his money.
Without a moment's hesitation, Arlong barked an order."Chew! Kill this brat—and bring Nami here."
Even if the girl was strong, he had no reason to move personally. After all, who was he?Arlong, captain of the Arlong Pirates!A noble fish-man didn't dirty his hands on insignificant human pests.
"Understood, Captain Arlong!" replied Chew, one of his cadres.
Fixing a predatory glare on the little girl, Chew approached the pool beside the courtyard. She took a deep breath and gulped down an enormous quantity of seawater, her throat bulging grotesquely as she stored the liquid inside.
Then, with a snap of her jaws, she spat it out in a deadly burst—transforming the seawater into a storm of high-pressure projectiles that screamed through the air.
"Hundred Times Water Gun!"
Mina's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected a fish-man could store that much water inside their body. The attack was faster than bullets, slicing through pillars and cracking stone tiles around her. But even as the shards flew past her face, Mina was already moving—graceful, sharp, untouchable.
She pivoted and flipped backward, the jets of water missing her by inches.The corners of her lips curved slightly. "So that's how fish-men fight… not bad."
That wasn't a Devil Fruit ability—she could tell immediately.It was something innate. A natural power born from being creatures of the sea.
"Then I'll respond in kind," she murmured, pressing her palms together.
The fish-woman reloaded another gulp of seawater, ready to fire again—but Mina's chakra flared, hot and fierce.In one fluid motion, her hands blurred through seals she had practiced countless times under her brother's stern gaze.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu! — Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
She inhaled deeply and exhaled a torrent of flame, a blazing sphere roaring forth like a miniature sun.The blast engulfed Chew before he could react—the courtyard exploded with light and heat.
"AAAAHHH!" the fish-man screamed, his voice dissolving in the crackle of fire. The smell of burnt scales and smoke filled the air as he collapsed, blackened and lifeless.
Even the surrounding fish-men staggered back in shock, shielding their faces from the heatwave.
Mina landed lightly, her hair flickering with embers, eyes sharp and unwavering.
Only two fish-men remained standing:Hachi, the six-armed octopus swordsman, and Kuroobi, the martial artist in a black karate gi.
The flames didn't touch them, but both looked pale—staring at the smoldering corpse of their comrade.
"How… how is this possible?" Kuroobi stammered. "Did that human eat a Devil Fruit?"
Hachi scratched his head with two of his six arms, completely bewildered."But that doesn't make sense! Ace from Whitebeard's crew already has the Flame-Flame Fruit! She's not using any tools either!"
Their confusion deepened as Mina exhaled softly, steam rising around her.
Even Arlong, who had remained calmly observing until now, felt unease coil in his gut. This girl wasn't normal.Devil Fruit or not—it didn't matter.She was dangerous.If she grew stronger, she could become a threat even to fish-men.
And that, Arlong decided, could never happen.
He stood from his chair, the wooden floorboards creaking beneath his weight. His towering form cast a long shadow across the courtyard as his fins twitched with irritation.
"Little human girl," he said, his voice low and venomous. "I heard you're trying to avenge Nami?"He grinned wide, rows of teeth glinting like blades. "I am Captain Arlong, ruler of this sea. Do you have the guts to face me?"
Mina's expression remained unreadable, but her chakra stirred like fire in her veins. The aura coming from Arlong was far stronger than any of his subordinates—but that only made her grip her kunai tighter.
"Fine," she said coldly. "I'll kill you myself."
She didn't waste another second.Her hand moved—a kunai whistled through the air toward Arlong's head.At the same time, she thrust her other hand forward. Blue chakra spiraled violently, forming a swirling orb of raw energy.
"Rasengan!"
Arlong tilted his head, the kunai slicing past his cheek. He sneered.Fast—but not fast enough.
Planting his feet, he lunged at the girl, opening his monstrous jaws wide to tear her apart.
That glowing blue ball didn't scare him. His body was ten times stronger than any human's—fire, bullets, blades, none of it mattered.He'd crush her and watch her burn.
But then—the girl vanished.
"What—?!" Arlong's eyes darted around, sharp and wild. She was gone.At the same time, a rumble echoed from beyond the gate—the angry shouts of villagers approaching with torches and makeshift weapons. Among them, Nami, Zoro, and Usopp were leading the charge.
But where was the girl?
A chill raced down his spine.
"Captain Arlong!" Hachi and Kuroobi shouted in panic."She's behind you!"
Arlong spun around just as Mina appeared out of nowhere, her expression calm—and her glowing palm already pressed against his back.
"Rasengan!"
The air detonated. A spiral of energy erupted, blasting Arlong off his feet and into the stone floor. The ground shattered, sending dust and debris flying as a massive crater formed beneath him.The shockwave rippled through the courtyard, toppling walls and throwing fish-men into the air.
"GAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Arlong's roar split the air—then died as his body hit the ground with a thunderous crash.
Silence followed.
Mina stood amidst the swirling dust, her blonde hair lifting slightly in the fading breeze. She lowered her arm, the fading chakra light glimmering on her hand like blue fire.
Arlong lay at the bottom of the crater—motionless.
Hachi and Kuroobi froze, their wide eyes reflecting the impossible.
Their captain—the tyrant of the East Blue—defeated by a human child.
"What… what kind of power is that?" Kuroobi whispered hoarsely, trembling. "Another Devil Fruit? But that's impossible. No one can eat two… their body would explode!"
Mina exhaled slowly and turned toward the gate, where the villagers and Straw Hats were storming in.
Seeing them, Kuroobi's instincts screamed."Hachi! Go stop that brat! I'll carry Arlong and escape!"
He dragged Arlong's limp body, panic gripping his heart.It couldn't end like this. The captain wasn't weak—he'd simply been caught off guard.Yes, that had to be it.He'd rise again once he recovered.
But as Mina turned her gaze toward them, her blue eyes glowing faintly with chakra, Kuroobi felt the first true taste of fear.
He understood, in that instant—this human child wasn't just another opponent.She was a force of nature.