"Kid… this is the end. Time to finish this," Arlong growls.
Luffy, sprawled in the center of the room after diving in, doesn't rise despite Arlong looming close. He should stand, but something holds him back.
His attention is stolen by the room's stark scenery.
Ignoring Arlong, Luffy scans the space, eyes landing on stacks of nautical charts.
"What's with this room? Just a bunch of paper," Luffy mutters.
"The map room," Arlong replies. "All the sea data we gathered, charted by a brilliant navigator. Nami drew these. This was her room."
"Hmm," Luffy hums, unmoved.
The room is bleak.
Charts dominate, leaving no space for a bed—just a desk, a chair, and a few bookshelves. It's hard to imagine a young woman living here. The space feels cold, lifeless, devoid of warmth.
Luffy, raised in the mountains, wouldn't know a typical girl's room. Yet even he senses the oddity. The air is heavy with loneliness.
It's not about what he sees—it's a gut feeling.
This place feels too desolate to have been anyone's home.
"If you hadn't barged in, acting all high and mighty, she'd still be here, drawing charts," Arlong sneers. "No wants, no needs. We gave her food, clothes, everything. All she had to do was turn data into charts—simple work. No reason for complaints. Your meddling's probably pissed her off."
Luffy's gaze falls to something under the desk.
He reaches out, picking up an old, feather-tipped pen.
She must have used this to draw all those charts.
Uncertain if he's even listening to Arlong, Luffy stares at the pen.
"There's blood soaked into this pen," he says quietly.
"She was happy here," Arlong continues. "Living without a care, drawing charts for us. But now, after this mess, I can't let her off…."
Arlong raises Kiribachi, its blade hovering just shy of Luffy's neck.
Sitting cross-legged, Luffy looks up as Arlong looms, sneering.
"With these charts, I'll wipe out humans and build a fishman empire. Cocoyashi Village was the foundation. I considered letting humans live as slaves, but you've ruined it all. The village, Nami—both need to be dealt with today."
"Huh," Luffy murmurs, head bowed, eyes fixed on the pen.
"You call yourself a pirate, right?" Arlong taunts. "But we're on different levels. Unlike you, a reckless fool, I use talent efficiently—fishmen, humans, Nami. Even if you took her, could you use her?"
"Use her?" Luffy echoes.
"I used her. Eight years, and she drew all these charts, laying the groundwork for my ambitions. I'm the only one who could make the most of her."
Silently, Luffy sets the pen down.
Then, as if driven by a sudden thought, he touches the blade at his neck with his right hand.
The moment his bloodied hand makes contact, Kiribachi freezes.
Arlong's face twists with suspicion, sensing something off in Luffy's gaze.
(What…? Kiribachi won't move.)
The blade, wielded freely until now, is immobilized by Luffy's grip. The sensation is unnatural, tied to the overwhelming presence emanating from him.
Luffy slowly raises his head, glaring at Arlong.
"Use her, huh?" he growls.
His fingers tighten on the blade, and with a sharp crack, it pierces through, fracturing. Another piece of Kiribachi shatters, fragments scattering across the cold floor.
That oppressive aura grips Arlong again.
It's simple to call it intimidation, but this is extraordinary.
Like the presence of a king.
Arlong grits his teeth, his eyes sharpening.
"What do you think she is to you?" Luffy demands.
"A brilliant navigator," Arlong snaps. "Or was. She betrayed my plans, so she can't live. I forgave her sins, but she's a fool, choosing a pointless death. Though, if she begged, I might reconsider."
"You'd lock her in this room again?" Luffy asks.
"For her own happiness, right? She'd come around."
Luffy's fist clenches, and with a surge of force, the blade shatters into pieces. Kiribachi's second blade is gone, shards littering the floor.
Luffy rises slowly.
Then, still glaring at Arlong, he suddenly kicks a nearby desk, sending it crashing through the wall.
"What!?" Arlong shouts.
Luffy spins, stretching his arm to smash a bookshelf, hurling it through another wall. Ignoring Arlong, he kicks the door apart next.
What's his intent?
Arlong, stunned, can only watch as Luffy pounds a stack of charts, sending them flying.
"Stop it! What the hell are you doing!?" Arlong roars.
"Raaagh!" Luffy bellows.
His attacks are fiercer than ever. His fists shatter walls, his kicks demolish objects with precision, the deafening crashes echoing outside.
The six crew members below, staring up, witness the chaos. Desks, bookshelves, charts—items from the map room—fly out through broken walls. Unable to see Luffy or Arlong, they're left bewildered.
"What's going on? Why's it just furniture and stuff?" Usopp stammers.
"They're fighting hard, but something's off. It's like—" Sanji starts.
The crashes continue as the room is torn apart, its appearance shifting from the outside.
Nami gazes up, hand to her mouth, whispering to herself.
(Luffy…)
Inside, Luffy rampages. Arlong tries to stop him, but the charts—painstakingly crafted over eight years—are kicked away, scattering into the wind.
While the others are confused, Nami alone understands Luffy's intent. Tears stream down her face, unstoppable.
(Thank you…!)
The room crumbles.
Debris flies, the noise growing chaotic.
Luffy avoids targeting Arlong, his attacks passing close but focused solely on destroying the room. For Arlong, this is catastrophic—eight years of charts, his plans, are being obliterated.
Losing composure, he swings Kiribachi to stop Luffy.
"Those are my charts!" he yells.
The overhead strike misses, embedding in the floor. Luffy dodges, punching another stack of charts, sending them through a wall. Papers flutter away in the wind.
Arlong's plans are dismantled piece by piece.
His desperation surges.
He swings Kiribachi sideways, but Luffy leaps, dodging again. The blade slices a stack of charts, ruining dozens in an instant.
"Damn it, my charts…!" Arlong curses.
"Raaagh!" Luffy roars.
"You—!"
Luffy's onslaught continues, tearing through the room. Arlong, realizing Kiribachi's ill-suited for close quarters, discards it to prevent further damage. Lunging barehanded, he grabs Luffy's neck and slams him against a wall.
"Stop it!" Arlong snarls.
"Guh… raaagh!" Luffy shouts.
"What!?"
Even pinned, Luffy stretches his arm, punching the wall. Dust rises as it collapses.
Sensing danger, Arlong opens his jaws, biting into Luffy's neck.
His teeth pierce flesh, and Luffy freezes, eyes wide, silenced by pain. The bite is life-threatening, his breathing ragged. His body trembles, sensing death's proximity.
Blood gushes, yet Arlong digs deeper.
A crushed scream escapes Luffy, but his resistance doesn't waver.
"Enough, you damn rubber!" Arlong roars.
"Gah…!?" Luffy gasps.
His trembling hand grabs Arlong's spiked nose. The thorns pierce his palm, blood spurting, but he holds tight, finally catching his foe.
Enduring the pain, Luffy moves, strength surging in his arms.
"Fishman pride, charts, reasons—I don't give a damn about any of it!" he shouts. "I finally know how to save her…!"
Crack. Arlong's unbreakable nose bends grotesquely. He screams, releasing Luffy and rolling in agony.
Luffy, face hardened, mutters, "This room's the problem. A place she never wanted to be—I'll destroy it all!!"
"You…!" Arlong groans.
Luffy swings his right leg upward, piercing the ceiling, stretching toward the sky.
"Gomu Gomu no—!"
"Don't get cocky, kid! A lowlife like you can't bring down Arlong Park!" Arlong bellows.
Forcing his mangled nose back into place, Arlong drops to all fours, shifting his stance. Spinning rapidly, he launches at Luffy, aiming to bite.
"Feel it! Shark on Tooth!" he roars.
Luffy holds his leg steady, waiting until the last moment.
Arlong, hurtling forward, clamps his jaws onto Luffy's abdomen, teeth piercing skin, threatening to topple him with the spin.
But this is what Luffy waited for.
His right leg crashes down, slamming into Arlong's body.
"Axe!"
The blow drives Arlong into the floor, smashing through it. Luffy's leg doesn't stop, breaking through each level, dragging Arlong downward.
Pain compounds with each floor, consciousness fading.
They reach the ground floor, Arlong's body slamming with a thunderous crash. He lies still, silent.
Luffy retracts his leg with a snap, collapsing to his knees, peering into the hole.
Exhaustion clings to him, his body barely responsive. Sitting, he dreads standing again. His breathing is ragged, blood loss pushing him to his limit.
Arlong Park trembles, struck by a blow that pierced its core. Collapse is imminent.
Luffy knows he should escape, but he hasn't confirmed Arlong's defeat. He can't flee yet.
Arlong lies sprawled on the first floor, eyes closed, breathing uncertain.
Is it over?
Then, Arlong's eyes snap open, pupils slit like a reptile's. Luffy startles, shouting, "He's still moving!?"
"Damn rubber…! One last fight!" Arlong roars.
Without thinking, Luffy stretches his arms skyward, twisting them into a spiral, like winding a spring.
He dives headfirst into the hole.
Arlong, summoning his last strength, kicks off the ground, leaping upward.
Bloodshot eyes see only Luffy.
They close the distance, soaring from earth and sky.
"Gomu Gomu no—!"
"Ignorant human! Feel the wrath of fishmen! Shark on Darts!"
"Rifle!!"
Luffy's spiraled arm unleashes, the rotating fist slamming into Arlong's face with amplified force. Arlong, soaring upward, crashes back to the ground.
The impact is colossal, Luffy pouring all his strength into it.
Arlong Park collapses.
Its core shattered, the building crumbles, engulfing both fighters in rubble.
The six crew members, evacuated after sensing the collapse, witness the devastating fall.
Luffy's nowhere in sight, likely trapped inside.
Nami, held back by Silk, screams, "Luffy!!"
Her cry is drowned by the roar as Arlong Park fully collapses, leaving a mountain of debris. Silence falls, grim and heavy.
No sign of Luffy. Could he be buried?
No one knows his fate, and they stand frozen, speechless.
Time passes—how long, they're unsure. Hesitantly, Usopp speaks, voice trembling.
"What… what happened? Luffy, is he…?"
"No sign he got out. Probably still in there," Kiri says.
"Swallowed up…?" Zoro murmurs.
The outcome is unthinkable. Destroying the building itself—classic Luffy, but without seeing him, can they celebrate?
Victory or defeat? It's unclear.
Worry gnaws at them, and Usopp voices it. "He… he's not dead, right?"
"He's fine," Kiri assures. "Luffy's a rubber man. Rubble won't crush him."
"But he might be stuck," Sanji adds.
"Possible. But—"
A clatter interrupts Kiri—a pebble rolling.
Something's pushing through the debris.
They hold their breath, waiting.
Slowly, a figure emerges, staggering but upright. It's not who they hoped for—Arlong, blood-soaked, barely conscious, still standing.
"Arlong!? That guy's still alive after all that!?" Usopp gasps.
"My… fishman empire…" Arlong mutters.
He collapses, unconscious, silent for good.
The six freeze, stunned.
Then, another faint sound—rubble shifting. Their eyes turn upward.
Atop the ruined Arlong Park stands a figure, bathed in moonlight. Bloodied, battered, it's Luffy.
Before relief settles, he shouts, "Nami!!"
Her eyes lock on him, unwavering.
His words are simple, carrying raw conviction.
"You're my crew!!!"
That's the outcome.
Tears spill from Nami's eyes. Wiping them with her fingers, she nods softly, gazing at him.
"…Yeah!"
The crew erupts in cheers.
Usopp leaps, arms raised, ecstatic. Sanji clenches his fists, joy bursting. Silk waves her arms, thrilled. Kiri beams, and even Zoro smirks.
Seeing his crew, Luffy's weary face breaks into a grin.
Too exhausted to move quickly, he descends the rubble. Usopp, unable to wait, rushes to him.
"Luffy, you did it, you bastard!" he shouts.
"Shishishi, kicked his ass," Luffy laughs.
"Hell yeah! We won!" Usopp cheers.
He supports Luffy, injured himself but oblivious, helping him down the unsteady rubble without falling.
The others revel, Sanji especially elated. His first pirate battle, first victory, first shared triumph with the crew—it feels good. Nami's joy, despite her tears, fuels him.
Unable to stay calm, he instinctively kicks off the ground.
"We did it, Nami-san! He won!" he yells.
"Hey!" Silk snaps.
"Guh!?" Sanji grunts.
"Don't just hug girls like that, Sanji!" Silk scolds, smacking him with her scabbard.
Sanji crashes face-first, nose bleeding—a pity, unscathed in battle but not here.
Silk, protecting Nami, sees her expression and feels genuine joy. For the first time, she senses the real Nami.
The subtle but clear change is evident to those close by.
"We did it, Nami. We won," Silk says.
"Yeah… I'm glad I trusted you all," Nami replies.
"Hehe, of course! We're crew, right?" Silk beams.
Nami's tears stop, replaced by a radiant smile as she nods.
Seeing them, Sanji leaps up, arms wide, pleading, "Nami-saaan! What about me!?"
The hugging pair glance at him, chuckling wryly.
The atmosphere is lively, almost playful. Luffy and Usopp join the group.
Kiri and Zoro, quieter, exchange words, relieved the fight's over.
"Well, case closed, huh?" Kiri says.
"Bit boring, though. Could've used tougher foes," Zoro grumbles.
"Squid not enough? Wanted an octopus?" Kiri teases.
"Eh, wouldn't have mattered. They're nothing to hope for," Zoro replies.
"Yeah, octopuses don't have bones, I hear," Kiri quips.
"That's not the point," Zoro retorts.
They talk loosely, finally at ease.
Luffy and Usopp reach the group, raising their hands and shouting, tension gone, reveling in victory.
"Alright, everyone, look here! This guy single-handedly took down the enemy captain, Arlong—Pirate Boss Luffy! And I'm his sniper, Captain—" Usopp boasts.
A disturbance from the sea cuts him off.
Kiri and Zoro turn first, Luffy tilting his head as a massive splash erupts.
Moo Moo, enraged, emerges from the water.
"Gyaah!? A cow from the sea!?" Usopp screams.
"Moo Moo!" Nami calls.
Fury blinds the beast, likely smarting from earlier blows, focused solely on revenge. Spotting humans nearby, it lunges, not caring who.
"Moooo!" it roars.
"Came outta nowhere!?" Usopp yelps.
The target seems to be Nami, who shielded Silk. Sanji, fixated on the women, shifts. His lovestruck gaze turns fierce, burning hotter than Moo Moo's rage.
His movements are lightning-fast.
Leaping before the beast, he swings his right leg, striking its jaw.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Sanji roars.
"Moo!?" the beast grunts.
Moo Moo, dozens of times larger than a human, is knocked back by one kick, its posture shifting, face recoiling.
Its eyes lock on Sanji, but his blazing glare—terrifying even to a ferocious beast—replaces its anger with fear.
This man is a demon.
To protect the women, he radiates unmatched intensity.
Pointing at Moo Moo, Sanji's voice drips with fury.
"Who'd you just try to hurt? Answer, cow! You targeted someone untouchable, didn't you!?"
"Moo…!" it whimpers.
"You don't know chivalry, you dumb beast. Hurting women's a universal no! This lousy pirate crew—if any others were conscious, I'd kick them all! But I'll teach you one thing! Burn it into your soul!"
"Moo…!?"
"Women are never to be harmed! And—!"
Sanji stomps the ground with a deafening crack, launching himself.
Closing in on Moo Moo's neck, he delivers a ferocious kick.
"Love's always a hurricane!"
"Moooo!?"
"Wild Charge! Boar Pot Shot!!"
The kick sinks deep, the shock and pain rippling through Moo Moo's massive body, lifting it into the air. Like a dream, it soars, crashing onto land with a thunderous boom.
Silenced, the chaotic air settles.
Sanji lands cleanly, rising slowly from a crouch.
Turning, his eyes shift back to adoration.
"Nami-saaan! Now, into my arms—!"
"Idiot," Zoro sighs.
"Gah!?" Sanji yelps.
His words to Nami are cut off by Zoro's dismissal. Fury reigniting, Sanji lunges at him.
Their kick and sheathed sword clash, sparking another fight.
"No use for you! Go die from your wounds, moron!" Sanji snaps.
"Die? You die, idiot!" Zoro retorts.
"Both of you, stop! I said no fighting!" Silk yells.
Their high-speed brawl, clearly unrestrained, prompts Silk to rush in, drawing her sword. A gust of wind sends them flying into the sea, cooling their heads.
They swim back, calmer.
Kiri, chuckling at the chaos, walks past a stunned Usopp to Luffy. Raising her hand, she meets his raised palm in a high-five, their smiles easing the tension.
"Good work, Captain. One more for the injury list," Kiri says.
"No big deal. Man, I'm starving. Wanna eat meat," Luffy replies.
"You'll eat soon. It's all over," Kiri assures.
Luffy laughs, then glances at Nami, speaking warmly, unchanged from their first meeting.
"Hey, Nami, let's throw a party. Get the whole village, make some noise!"
"Huh?" Nami blinks.
"C'mon, we won!" Luffy grins.
His simple logic draws a sigh, but Nami can't refuse. Gratitude overwhelms her.
Shrugging, she smiles faintly and nods.
Luffy, thrilled, bounces his shoulders.
"You're always like that," Nami says. "But fine… everyone can finally smile now."
"Right? To be happy, eat meat and laugh loud!" Luffy declares.
"Haha, idiot. Hey, Luffy," Nami says softly.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Her gentle smile is met with Luffy roughly plopping his straw hat on her head.
Adjusting it with one hand, he laughs it off.
"No worries, don't sweat it. I'm good as long as I get meat!"
Grinning playfully, Luffy walks off. Kiri, smiling softly, passes by, while Usopp, rubbing his nose proudly, steps away from Nami.
Behind them, the crew's raucous noise fills the air.
Childish? Pirate-like? Never a dull moment.
Nami stands before the ruined Arlong Park, voices at her back. Looking up at the moon, tears wet her cheeks.
With a joyful, serene smile, she speaks to someone absent.
"Bellemere-san… it's over. I'm free."
Countless stars glitter in the sky.
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