On a sea roiled by the storm, Don Krieg gnashed his teeth in frustration.
His task was to cut off the enemy's escape by destroying their ship. He'd expected it to be easy, leading fifteen ships to strike at the right moment from the open sea. But the outcome was far from his plan—catastrophic, even. The sight before him was unbearable.
All but one of his fifteen ships had been reduced to sea foam.
The culprits were the Arlong Pirates, a crew of fishmen. When they sensed the enemy's approach, they didn't move their ship. Instead, they dove into the sea, using their overwhelming strength to dismantle Krieg's fleet from below. No matter how many men Krieg had, humans couldn't breathe underwater. The fishmen destroyed ships unilaterally, dragging men into the depths where numbers meant nothing.
The battle was hopelessly one-sided. Humiliation stripped Krieg of composure.
He hadn't been warned about this. No one told him the Straw Hats had fishmen, and he had no counter for underwater enemies.
The inability to fight back fueled his rage, consuming him.
"Boss! We can't keep this up! We need to retreat—!" Gin pleaded.
"Shut up! You think I'd run from a fight? Who do you take me for?!" Krieg roared.
"B-But…!"
Gin's plea only deepened Krieg's recklessness. Retreat meant annihilation, but his pride branded it shameful, refusing to yield. The sea was Arlong's domain now. Krieg's remaining pirates, on their last ship, were too terrified to fight.
Krieg clicked his tongue. Then, a figure leaped from the sea onto the deck.
Arlong.
One enemy. Mocking them, surely. Krieg's fury erupted as he stepped forward, weapon in hand. His ruined golden armor was replaced with a gleaming aqua-blue set. Holding shoulder pauldrons, he readied a massive war spear, identical to his last, and charged.
Arlong's eyes were calm, almost indifferent.
"You… mocking me?!" Krieg bellowed.
"You the strongest one here?" Arlong muttered, barely glancing at him.
His casual demeanor carried an eerie weight. Krieg likely didn't notice, but Arlong didn't see him as a threat.
Though they faced off, Arlong's attention was elsewhere, standing still with unnerving ease. Gin, sensing danger, grew anxious. This wasn't an ordinary foe. As the East Blue's highest-bounty pirate—higher than Krieg's—Arlong was a bad matchup.
"Boss, calm down! This guy's—!" Gin tried to warn.
"Out of my way, Gin! You saying I'll lose?!" Krieg snapped.
"N-No, but it's dangerous! We should regroup—!"
"I'm here, so it's fine! No one defies me!"
Krieg charged head-on, spear raised. Arlong, unflinching, watched coolly, gripping his Kiribachi.
Both weapons swung simultaneously, closing the distance. The clash of Kiribachi and war spear triggered a small explosion from the spear's mechanism. Startled, Arlong was pushed back, his stance faltering slightly.
Krieg grinned, seizing the moment. As Arlong stumbled, he swung again, confident his spear's power would end it.
Arlong, reading Krieg's intent, discarded his Kiribachi. As the spear arced down, he stepped forward, twisting his body. The spear missed, striking the deck with an explosive boom. Arlong, despite his faltering stance, had dodged with uncanny agility for his size.
Krieg's eyes widened in shock. Arlong, unfazed, extended his right arm, grabbed Krieg's neck, and slammed him to the ground with superior strength. The impact dazed Krieg, stars flashing in his vision. No armor could shield his flesh from the pain, his body stiffening.
"Guh… you…!" Krieg groaned.
"That your best? This is all you've got?" Arlong taunted.
His grip tightened, strong enough to strangle. Krieg felt death looming. Arlong's eyes blazed with sudden fury, as if something deeper fueled him.
"This isn't the sea—it's a ship. You humans can breathe here, right? And this is your best? Done already? This ain't enough!"
Fishmen boast ten times human strength. Arlong lifted Krieg effortlessly, slamming him onto the deck again. Another blow to the head knocked Krieg out cold.
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