"Pirates! Pirates are coming!"
On the edge of a once-peaceful island village, a shrill cry of terror rang out. The man who shouted it bolted madly toward the village center, repeating the warning with panic in every breath.
Villagers rushed out of their homes, staring wide-eyed as he sprinted past. Those living closer to the shore soon saw for themselves—out on the horizon, a pirate ship was closing in.
Its flag bore a strange symbol: a red shark emblazoned over crossed bones.
In an instant, the whole village was in an uproar.
Normally, pirates avoided this area. After all, there was a Marine base nearby, and attacking here risked being intercepted before they could escape. But now, the villagers remembered all too clearly the true terror of pirates.
Some panicked and tried to flee by boat from the opposite shore. Others grabbed pitchforks and farming tools, steeling themselves for resistance.
BOOM!
The pirate ship didn't even bother docking. It plowed straight into the shore, crashing through houses as it surged inland, sending up plumes of smoke and dust.
"Bring me everyone! If they resist or try to run, kill them!"
Arlong brandished his massive jagged blade, his voice booming like thunder.
With savage cheers, the fishmen leapt from the ship and charged into the village.
Screams and cries echoed instantly through the streets.
Arlong stood proudly on the prow, savoring the chaos. His grin widened as he thought of the harvest this attack would bring.
Humans were greedy—that was the core of his plan.
With a Marine base nearby, he would avoid excessive slaughter. If the Marines came, perhaps he could negotiate. Too much bloodshed would only draw overwhelming Marine reinforcements, jeopardizing his ambitions to dominate East Blue. But if he could strike a deal with the local base commander… things would be far simpler.
"Shahahahaha! I'm a genius."
He congratulated himself aloud.
Among the crew was also the octopus fishman, Hatchan.
Listening to the villagers' wails, Hatchan shrank back, secretly reaching for his Den Den Mushi.
A few days ago, Jinbe had already arrived in East Blue. By now, he should be close.
If only Jinbe-nii could arrive in time. If Arlong killed too many, it would put Jinbe in a terrible position.
Buruburu…
Arlong's ears twitched. He turned sharply toward the sound, blade resting on his shoulder as he strode in that direction.
"Jinbe-nii, hurry! Arlong has started… he's attacking a human village!" Hatchan whispered urgently into the receiver.
"Can you stop him?" Jinbe's stern voice came through.
"Jinbe-nii, I—I can't stop Arlong!" Hatchan's tentacles trembled as he admitted his helplessness.
"I understand. I'll be there soon," Jinbe answered, then hung up.
Hatchan sighed. But as he turned around, his whole body froze.
"Hatchan… who were you talking to? You dare betray me?"
Arlong's eyes glinted with malice, fixing on him like a predator.
Hatchan shivered, then forced himself to look back.
"Arlong-nii, humans are stronger than us. Fisher Tiger-nii and Jinbe-nii both fought for peace between humans and fishmen. If you do this, you'll ruin everything they worked for!"
"You fool! Humans will never live in peace with us. Fisher Tiger treated them with kindness—how did they repay him? With death! He'd rather bleed out than accept their filthy blood. I am the one carrying Fisher Tiger's will forward! Jinbe is nothing but a coward!"
Arlong's fury exploded. His blade swung wildly, carving the air with rage.
"If not for Jinbe-nii becoming a Warlord, you'd still be rotting in prison!" Hatchan shouted back desperately.
Those words hit a nerve.
Arlong's expression twisted. His jagged blade, once slashing the air in frustration, suddenly came down toward Hatchan in a murderous arc.
Caught off guard, Hatchan barely dodged, but not fast enough.
Three of his left arms were severed in a single stroke.
He crashed to the ground, writhing and howling in agony.
Arlong froze, staring at his fallen crewmate. His face shifted darkly, but in the end he turned away, leaving Hatchan to writhe in the dirt.
Inside the village, the massacre continued.
Anyone who resisted was cut down on the spot.
The fishmen's raw strength far outstripped the villagers, who were mostly fishermen themselves. They had no chance.
The village elder, watching his people slaughtered, suddenly remembered the young man who had visited recently. That man had left behind a Den Den Mushi.
The elder had never been able to afford one. But the young man had insisted: If pirates come, use this to call me.
Clutching the device like a lifeline, he fumbled with it in desperation.
Buruburu…
The snail-phone stirred, then connected.
"Pirates?" came a calm voice.
"Yes! It's the fishmen!" the elder cried.
But before he could say more, a fishman barged into the hut, eyes blazing as he spotted the Den Den Mushi. With a roar, he hacked down, severing the elder's arm in a spray of blood. Another slash silenced him forever.
The snail remained connected. The elder's dying screams echoed out.
…
Out at sea, Don sat quietly aboard his drifting boat, listening. Through the Den Den Mushi came both the elder's final cries and the distant chorus of suffering.
BOOM!
A burst of fire erupted around him. Don bent his knees, then launched skyward.
Flames engulfed his entire body, his legs spouting jets of searing fire. Like a blazing comet, he tore through the sky, trailing a long tail of flame behind him.
Before leaving Cocoyasi, he had given a Den Den Mushi to every nearby village.
At first, his purpose had been simple: to save Bellemere.
Not out of some personal desire—just because he could, and because he wanted the training.
Now, the time had come.
His flames ripped across the heavens.
And as he had hoped, this method of travel was fast. Perhaps not as fast as Kizaru's light, but for a short while, by burning through his stamina, he could surpass even supersonic speed.
In mere minutes, Don saw the thick plumes of smoke rising from the targeted village.
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Fireborne Legends
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