Chapter 17: The Navigator's Tears and the Betrayal's Sting
[SYSTEM MISSION: AID NAMI. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: IRON WILL (UPGRADE) / RESILIENCE TO PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK. SECONDARY GOAL: INFLAME STRAW HATS' RAGE.]
"Nami's breaking point. This is emotional. My system wants me to aid her, which means understanding her despair and resisting whatever psychological torment Arlong inflicts. An 'Iron Will' upgrade or 'Resilience to Psychological Attack' would be perfect. I need to experience the full force of Arlong's cruelty, not just a physical blow, but the emotional gut punch that he delivers to Nami. Time to get caught in the crossfire of his malice, and truly understand the weight of Nami's burden, even if it means dying from sheer emotional trauma. Or something close to it."
The truth of Cocoyasi Village unfurled like a grim banner. Nami, cornered and heartbroken, finally revealed her terrible secret: her alliance with Arlong, the Beri she had been painstakingly saving for years to buy back her village, and the agonizing betrayal she had just suffered at his hands. Luffy, who had been listening in stunned silence, finally saw the true depth of Nami's pain when she stabbed her own arm, trying to tear away the Arlong tattoo. Then, her tearful plea: "Luffy... help me!"
My compass vibrated violently, no longer just for Robin, but resonating with Nami's profound despair and the raw, righteous fury building within the Straw Hats. The air crackled with emotion. The system prompt that appeared was the most emotionally charged yet.
[SYSTEM MISSION: AID NAMI. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: IRON WILL (UPGRADE) / RESILIENCE TO PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK. SECONDARY GOAL: INFLAME STRAW HATS' RAGE.]
"This is it. The emotional core of the arc. This death isn't about physical damage. It's about breaking my spirit, my will, as a proxy for what Nami has endured. An 'Iron Will' upgrade would be perfect, making me utterly unshakeable. Or 'Resilience to Psychological Attack' – vital for future encounters with genuinely terrifying foes. I need to be a target for Arlong's specific brand of cruelty, something that emphasizes his complete disregard for human life and emotions. This is going to hurt more than a physical blow."
As Nami sank to her knees, crying and begging, Luffy's straw hat was placed gently on her head. Then, the iconic walk. Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji, marching silently towards Arlong Park, their faces grim, their intent clear. I fell into step beside them, my own heart heavy, but my mind sharp, seeking the opportunity.
We reached the gate of Arlong Park, a symbol of oppression. Arlong, perched on his throne, simply sneered. "So, the Straw Hats finally show their faces. And the demon who can't die. You think you can stop me?"
"You made Nami cry," Luffy stated, his voice low, devoid of his usual cheer. "That's why we're here."
Arlong laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You humans are pathetic! Weak! Easily manipulated! Just like Nami. She thought she could buy her freedom. Foolish girl. I strung her along for years, playing with her hopes, crushing them whenever I pleased! And now, I'll do the same to this pathetic village!"
As Arlong delivered his verbal assault, his words were like psychological daggers. He wasn't just speaking; he was radiating malice, a contempt for humanity so profound it felt tangible. My Spiritual Resistance helped, but I deliberately lowered my guard against the psychological wave.
"He's attacking Nami, attacking her will, her hopes. I need to take that hit. To experience the psychological crushing blow. To draw his personal malice. To make him truly believe he's broken me, as he tried to break her."
I stepped forward, directly into Arlong's line of sight, meeting his cold, disdainful gaze. "You know, Arlong," I said, my voice deceptively calm, "you're truly a piece of work. You revel in breaking people, in crushing their dreams. You think because you're a Fish-Man, you're superior? You're just a cowardly bully who preys on the weak. You didn't just hurt Nami; you twisted her entire life into a nightmare. That's unforgivable. And pathetic."
Arlong's sneer vanished, replaced by a chillingly calm, predatory expression. His eyes, usually filled with arrogance, narrowed to slits of pure hatred. "Insolent human. You understand nothing. You want to see pathetic? I'll show you what it means to truly be broken. Not just your body, but your will. Like I did to her. Like I will do to all of them."
He didn't move. He didn't punch or kick. Instead, he channeled his raw, venomous hatred directly at me. It felt like an invisible, psychic assault, a wave of despair and futility washing over me, attempting to extinguish my fighting spirit, to make me believe that resistance was useless, that all my efforts were meaningless. It was an attack on my very resolve, a psychological death. My Mental Fortitude and Spiritual Resistance fought back, but I deliberately allowed them to be overwhelmed, absorbing the full, crushing weight of his contempt and malice. The sheer force of his will felt like a physical blow, collapsing my consciousness under the weight of his hate. My body sagged, my eyes glazed over, and I slumped to the ground, feigning utter defeat, as if my spirit had just been utterly extinguished.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DEATH RECORDED. KILLER: ARLONG (PSYCHOLOGICAL/SPIRITUAL DOMINATION). ABILITY ACQUIRED: IRON WILL (UPGRADE). REVIVAL INITIATING. PLEASE WAIT.]
"Iron Will (Upgrade)! Yes! That was excruciating, but exactly what I needed. I can feel it – an unshakeable core of pure resolve. My spirit is now fundamentally tougher, resistant to fear, manipulation, and despair. Arlong tried to break me like he broke Nami, but I just got stronger. The irony is delicious. Time to rise and shine, and make him truly regret that little psychological 'display.'"
I gasped, my eyes snapping open. The despair was gone, replaced by a cold, unyielding resolve. I felt an inner strength, a core of pure, unbending will that now permeated my entire being. Arlong was still watching, a look of grim satisfaction on his face, believing he had just crushed my spirit.
"Hmm," I murmured, slowly pushing myself up, dusting off my clothes. "Interesting technique, Arlong. Very… soul-crushing. I give it a solid 7 out of 10 for raw despair. But you need to work on your follow-through. It's too… temporary."
Arlong's satisfied sneer froze. His eyes widened, his jaw slack. He stared at me as if I were a true ghost, the colour draining from his face (or as much as it could for a Fish-Man). "W-what?! You… you're back?! But I… I broke you! I felt your will shatter!"
"Oh, you certainly tried, you overgrown guppy," I said, stretching contentedly, feeling the newfound, unyielding strength of my spirit. My smile was cold, utterly devoid of my usual levity. "But unlike Nami, I don't have a spirit to break. Not permanently, anyway. All you did was make me stronger. Thank you for the upgrade, Captain Clownfish. Now, about that payment for all the suffering you've caused…"
My words, delivered with a chilling calm, sent a shiver through the Fish-Men. The Straw Hats, who had been watching in stunned silence, now felt a fresh surge of fury. Arlong had tried to break their nakama, their First Mate, and all he had done was make him stronger. Luffy's fists clenched, his anger simmering.
"You're finished, Arlong," Luffy stated, his voice flat, but filled with an ominous power.
The battle for Arlong Park had truly begun. My "death" had served its purpose, hardening my resolve and igniting the fury of my crew.