The midday sun poured across Cocoyasi Village, baking the shattered stone and scorched earth. Dust and smoke rolled through the ruins, carrying the taste of salt and blood.
On the far end of the village square, Kuina's blade gleamed cold under the light. The young swordswoman stood motionless—long blue hair fluttering in the wind, eyes calm as still water. Across from her, the towering shark-fishman bared his jagged teeth, fury twisting his face into something monstrous.
"You filthy humans… you think you can humiliate me?!"
Arlong's voice thundered across the rubble. His chest was slashed open, a dark gash that still bled freely, but he didn't seem to care. His rage burned brighter than pain.
"You're strong for a human," he sneered, spitting a mouthful of blood. "But I am Arlong of the Fishmen! I was born stronger than your kind could ever dream!"
Kuina's expression didn't flicker. Her tone was cold, almost detached.
"Then prove it. If all you have is talk, you'll die with your words."
Her right foot slid forward, blade lowering to her waist. The faint hum of her Inner Force rippled through the air like the tremor before a storm.
A sharp whistle cut the silence.
From the cliffside, Tashigi—no, the pink-haired woman once known as Tina—sat lazily atop a boulder, legs crossed, watching the duel unfold. She had already finished wiping out the rest of Arlong's crew, and now, she smirked at the sight below.
"Hey, Kuina! You're usually faster than this. What's taking so long?"
Kuina ignored her completely. Her eyes never left her opponent.
Arlong's nostrils flared; her composure made him angrier than any insult could. He crouched low, muscles coiling like steel cables.
"You dare look down on me?! I'll slaughter you and every human in this village!"
He lunged. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he blurred forward, jaws wide. His shark teeth glinted like knives.
Kuina moved only at the last second. Her body turned, the blade in her hand flowing like water.
The clash rang out—
CLANG!
Arlong's teeth met steel, the shockwave blasting dust in all directions. His monstrous strength forced Kuina back half a step, but she held her ground. The two locked eyes for a heartbeat, predator against predator.
Then Kuina twisted her wrist.
The blade's edge shimmered crimson—Blood Fang's aura surging to life.
A loud crack tore through the air as Arlong's teeth shattered. Blood and enamel scattered like shards of glass.
"Impossible!" he roared, stumbling back, new rows of teeth already growing from his gums.
He spat, the blood dark against his blue skin. "You think breaking a few teeth means anything? I'll crush you, little girl!"
Kuina's grip tightened around her blade.
"You talk too much."
Her body flickered.
She appeared beside him, blade trailing a scarlet arc. Arlong barely raised his forearms to block before the edge sliced across his scales, carving deep. He roared, spinning with surprising speed, swinging a massive fist toward her.
The blow hit the ground, erupting in a cloud of broken stone. Kuina had already moved again, sliding low beneath his arm. Her movements were clean, sharp, deliberate—every strike aimed to kill.
Each exchange drew blood. Each clash tore the earth further apart.
Far in the distance, the villagers watched in awe and terror. Even seasoned fishermen and ex-soldiers like Genzo felt their hearts pound.
"This girl… she's barely older than Nami, and she's fighting that monster like an equal…"
"No—look. She's winning."
The crowd gasped as Arlong staggered, scales split open, blood painting the dirt red.
Beside them, Bell-mère clenched her rifle, her cigarette trembling between her fingers. The smoke curled around her sharp eyes as she whispered,
"That stance… it's no ordinary swordplay. I've seen Marine officers tremble before techniques like that…"
Arlong's patience snapped.
"Enough!"
He tore two rows of jagged teeth from his mouth, gripping them like twin blades. "Let's see you stop this!"
He charged again, faster this time, twin shark-tooth swords slashing in a storm of brutality. The air howled with the force of his swings, every strike capable of splitting stone.
Kuina parried once—twice—then leapt back, boots skidding across the cracked ground. Her breaths came slow and measured. She could feel the weight of each movement, the thrum of her heart syncing with her blade.
He was strong—stronger than most men she'd fought. But his strength was wild, untamed. Her swordsmanship was precision.
"You rely on your body," she murmured, almost to herself. "That's why you'll lose."
Arlong roared and leapt, raising both tooth-blades overhead, ready to cleave her in two.
Kuina didn't flinch.
Her eyes narrowed. Her blade rose.
"Blood Fang Style…"
Her right foot sank into the earth, channeling every ounce of Inner Force through her core and arm.
"Moon Sever."
She moved.
A streak of crimson light split the battlefield.
Arlong barely had time to raise his weapons before the force slammed into him like divine judgment. The shockwave shattered the rocks beneath them, tearing a canyon through the center of the village.
When the dust settled, Arlong was on one knee, both shark-tooth blades shattered to powder. A deep, cross-shaped wound stretched across his chest.
His breathing was ragged, disbelief twisting his face.
"That… that strike… it wasn't human…"
Kuina stood above him, the tip of her sword pressed against his throat. Her voice was quiet.
"You should have stayed in the sea."
She thrust.
The blade pierced through his neck cleanly, silencing him mid-roar. Blood sprayed across the ruined ground. Arlong's body twitched once, then collapsed with a heavy thud that shook the dirt.
Silence fell.
The sea breeze carried the smell of salt and iron as the last echoes of battle faded.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then the villagers cheered—raw, trembling, half in disbelief. Tears streamed down weathered faces. They had lived under terror for so long that freedom felt like a dream.
Bell-mère dropped her rifle, a smile breaking through her exhaustion.
"She did it…" she whispered. "That girl actually did it."
Nami and Nojiko peeked from behind Makino's skirt, eyes wide.
"Mama, the shark man's gone," Nami said softly.
Makino smiled, crouching to their level.
"Yes, sweetheart. He won't hurt anyone anymore."
Kuina exhaled, lowering her blade. The edge dripped crimson, glinting faintly before she flicked the blood away. Her breathing was calm, though the cuts along her arms and waist burned sharply.
"Still too slow…" she muttered.
From behind, Tina sauntered up, her usual smirk tugging at her lips.
"You call that slow? You just split a fishman captain in half, little miss perfectionist."
Kuina gave her a sidelong glance.
"You're late."
"Oh, come on. You looked like you were having fun. Didn't want to ruin your moment."
Kuina sighed, sliding her blade back into its sheath.
"You could at least have helped clean up the rest."
"Already did. Every last one of them." Tina stretched lazily, cracking her neck. "Guess the old shark wasn't as scary as he thought."
The two women stood amidst the wreckage—blood, smoke, and broken steel around them.
From the hill above, Makino approached slowly, carrying a bundle of bandages. Her green eyes softened as she looked at the two young warriors.
"You're both hurt," she said gently. "Come with me. I'll patch you up before Jin sees the mess you made of yourselves."
Kuina hesitated, then nodded. For the first time that day, her stern expression eased.
Later, as night fell over Cocoyasi Village, the smell of sea salt and rain drifted through the repaired windows of Bell-mère's home. Inside, candlelight flickered across the walls.
Kuina sat quietly near the window, dressed in fresh bandages and a light robe. Her sword rested beside her, cleaned and polished. Makino was tending to Tina's scraped arm, while Nami and Nojiko peeked curiously from the doorway, whispering about how cool the "sword lady" looked.
Bell-mère poured a cup of orange wine and handed it to Kuina with a grin.
"You've done more for this village than any Marine ever has. Thank you."
Kuina accepted the cup but didn't drink. She simply looked out the window at the moon reflecting over the sea.
"Don't thank me," she said softly. "The next wave will always come. You just need to be ready for it."
Makino smiled faintly.
"Spoken like Jin himself."
For a moment, the candlelight seemed to dance brighter, as if carrying his presence even from afar—the calm, unbending will of the man they followed.
Outside, the sea murmured against the shore, and for the first time in a long while, Cocoyasi Village slept in peace.
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T/N :
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