Arlong stood, releasing him, jaw clenched. Not from fatigue but from unsated anger, he questioned himself. Beating Krieg brought no joy, no pride. He craved a stronger foe.
"Beating you doesn't satisfy me or prove anything… Where's a real challenge?!" he roared.
"Boss! Get away from him!" Gin shouted, charging with tonfas, driven by rage.
Arlong hoped for a thrill, but as Gin closed in, disappointment hit. Too slow. Pathetic.
His mind flashed to a man he'd fought daily—one far faster. This wasn't enough. To matter, he needed to beat someone stronger. Defeating Gin wouldn't get him closer to that man.
Tormented by the thought, Arlong dodged Gin's strike with a backward leap, grabbing his Kiribachi. He swung despite his awkward stance.
He imagined that man would've dodged effortlessly. As expected, his blade sliced Gin's chest, blood spraying with a scream.
"Gah?!"
"Tch. Another weak human," Arlong spat.
Disappointment deepened. Useless. A waste of time, no stepping stone to strength. Furious, he raised his Kiribachi high, slashing Gin's chest deeply in a diagonal cut.
"Weaklings don't stand in my way!" he bellowed.
"Gaaah?!"
"Anyone else?! Anyone who can stop me?! Anyone who can kill me?!"
Arlong ignored the fallen Gin, shouting to the ship. Krieg's terrified crew froze, unable to respond. His rage grew, but he deemed them unworthy, halting his attack.
The ship shuddered, struck from below. Arlong stood motionless, uncaring. Victory was his, yet he felt no joy.
Hachi leaped aboard, spotting Arlong. "Arlong-san, this ship's done. No more enemies targeting ours."
"Hachi. Am I weak?" Arlong asked.
"Nyu? No way! You're the strongest among us!" Hachi replied.
"Then why can't I beat him? I crushed a dozen ships, defeated humans, so why can't I take down that flimsy rubber human?"
"W-Well…"
Gazing at the stormy sky from the sinking ship, Arlong spat venomously. To Hachi, he seemed different—consumed.
"This isn't enough. I need to make him pay with my own hands. I need to get stronger… to crush Straw Hat!"
As he spoke, the ship split in two, Mom's headbutt from below shattering it. The wreckage sank into the stormy waves. Arlong and Hachi, unfazed in the water, swam effortlessly, unlike the screaming humans drowning around them.
In naval combat, fishmen were unmatched. They'd obliterated fifteen ships, proving their dominance with Mom's aid. Yet Arlong felt no satisfaction.
His focus wasn't on this fight. His sole target was Straw Hat Luffy.
Even submerged, his grim expression never softened.
Rain pounded the town as Sanji, Nami, and Usopp raced toward the Going Merry. No enemies blocked their path so far.
Smooth sailing, despite the odds. The storm likely scattered their pursuers. They hoped to reach the ship unscathed, Usopp and Nami visibly relieved at the empty streets.
"No enemies around. Guess they're all at the plaza," Usopp said.
"Can't relax yet. This storm'll make sailing tough," Nami warned.
"Ugh, but staying here's not an option…" Usopp groaned.
"No choice. Grand Line it is. Dangerous, but…" Nami trailed off.
"Ha… never a safe moment, huh?" Usopp sighed, head down.
They kept running, enduring the lashing rain.
Despite the chaos, preparations were set. Before Kiri's call, the crew had returned to the Merry, loading supplies. Now, they just needed to board and sail for the Grand Line. Getting caught now was unthinkable.
Sanji glanced back at Nami, concern mixed with admiration. "Nami-san, tired? I can carry you if you're at your limit."
"Thanks, but I'm fine," Nami replied.
"Hey, Sanji-kun, I'm beat. Carry me?" Usopp pleaded.
"Drop dead," Sanji snapped.
"Harsh, man! No care for your crew?!" Usopp whined.
"Shut it! I only carry delicate ladies! Want a lift? Get a sex change, long-nose!"
"Grr! I didn't know you were that guy! Fine, I'll become gorgeous!" Usopp shot back.
"What's with you, Usopp? Got some energy after all," Nami said, smirking.
Usopp's banter lightened the mood. No enemies helped. Sanji, annoyed but composed, was better than reckless.
Just as they relaxed, a voice called from behind—unfamiliar, hostile. Turning, they saw flamboyantly dressed pirates, clearly furious. Nami and Usopp tensed, but Sanji grinned, stopping to let them go ahead.
"Wait, you bastards! Think you'll escape?!" one shouted.
"After all this, no way we're letting you go!" another added.
Buggy's crew, led by Cabaji on a unicycle and Mohji atop his lion, Richie. Sanji, seeing them for the first time, found their oddity intriguing.
"A lion, huh? That guy riding it human? Weird costume," Sanji mused.
"It's not a costume! This is my real hair!" Mohji snapped.
"Liar. If it's real, you're a rare breed," Sanji teased.
"Shut up! Leave it!" Mohji roared.
Sanji's taunts drew anger, but he stood his ground, ready to fight. Letting them chase to the Merry would be trouble. Better to end it here. With Nami behind him, he wanted to impress her. The enemy's numbers? A bonus.
He braced for their attack. But a figure darted from an alley, intercepting them. Cloaked in black, face hidden, their movements suggested a woman. Sanji's eyes widened in shock.
She stood alone against the pirate horde. Unable to stay calm, Sanji ran to her, calling out despite the distance. "Hey, it's dangerous! They're pirates!"
No response. She faced the pirates, crouching low.
"You can't stay there! Come here—!" Sanji shouted.
"Out of the way!" a pirate yelled.
Too far to stop her, the pirates closed in. Then, she raised her fist. Despite the distance, she struck, an invisible force shaking the air, vibrating the water in the pirates' bodies. The impact sent them flying, unconscious before hitting the ground.
Sanji halted, staring at her back. After sparring with Kuroobi during a week's break, he recognized the technique: Fishman Karate, used by a human.
A half-fishman, perhaps? Strange. "That was… Fishman Karate," he muttered.
"You're safe now. Hurry on," she said softly.
"Hey, you—!" Sanji started.
She turned, revealing a young, lovely face. Sanji melted, smitten. Nami and Usopp, catching up, gaped and questioned her.
"Wow, a stunning girl! Why's she here?!" Usopp exclaimed.
"How'd you do that? Devil Fruit user?" Nami asked.
"Who are you? Friend or foe?" Sanji added.
"Hmm, friend, I guess. Our leader wanted to help you," she replied.
"Leader?" Nami pressed.
"Don't worry. We won't harm you," she said, smiling warmly.
Her genuine expression disarmed them. Despite her mystery, she didn't seem malicious. Her innocent smile was oddly trustworthy. Judging her safe, they relaxed.
More shouts signaled approaching enemies. Usopp yelped, sensing trouble.
"No time to chat! More coming!" he cried.
"Go ahead. I'll handle them," she said.
"No way I'd leave a delicate girl like you alone!" Sanji protested.
She ignored him, stepping forward, raising her fist again. "Shark Tile True Fist!"
The shockwave hit, toppling the pirates instantly. The power gap was vast—she felled them effortlessly. Even Sanji might not match her.
The trio stood stunned, speechless.
She turned, smiling gently. "I saw what happened at the platform. Hope you make it—to Pirate King."
With that, she dashed into an alley, vanishing. They never learned her identity.
Nami snapped them out of their daze. "No time to gawk! Sanji-kun, Usopp, let's go! We need to leave this island!"
"Right! Can't let Nami-san stay in danger!" Sanji agreed.
"Got it! Let's move—the storm's getting worse!" Usopp urged.
They ran, not looking back. Friend or foe didn't matter now.
Their goal: escape Loguetown.
No time for distractions, they pushed through the rain-soaked darkness toward the Merry.
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