Watching his underlings sliced apart in a single stroke, Arlong's eyes bulged in disbelief.
Impossible!
Wasn't the East Blue supposed to be the weakest of all seas?
How could a monster like this exist here?!
"Damn inferior race!"
His terror, instead of consuming him, ignited an unbridled fury that boiled within his chest. Rage drowned fear—for a moment.
"Inferior race?"
Don's gaze lifted at Arlong's words. His eyes locked on the Fish-Man's, and Flame flashed forth in a sudden strike.
"Fool. The difference between our races can never be erased!"
Snarling, Arlong thrust his head forward, his razor-sharp teeth grinding against Flame's blade like interlocking gears, clamping it tight.
Don twisted his wrist. Flame rotated with it.
Crack!
The sound of breaking rang out.
Arlong's proud teeth—his sharpest weapon, his greatest pride—splintered and snapped. Blood poured from his jaws as he stared at Don in utter disbelief.
"Shark On… Tooth Grinder!"
Arlong roared, snapping his right leg back before lunging forward, his entire body whirling into a spin. His pointed saw-nose became a deadly spear aimed straight at Don.
Don met the charge head-on. With a single motion, he raised Flame and slammed the hilt down hard.
Boom!
Arlong crashed into the ground, his nose driving deep into the stone-paved square.
Struggling furiously, he wrenched himself free from the shattered slabs. Just as he lifted his head, he froze—an icy blade pressed against his throat.
Don stood over him, Flame poised at his neck. His eyes, however, were on the horizon.
Out at sea, a massive ship approached rapidly. Its pirate flag—shining like the sun—was unmistakable.
Suddenly, a figure burst from the waves, a round, stocky body soaring high into the air.
"Water Shot!"
The newcomer drew his fist back to his side. The water he carried surged and condensed, then blasted forward like a cannon, roaring straight at Don.
Don swung Flame in a clean arc.
Slash!
The surging torrent split in two, crashing into the ground like falling cannonballs.
The blue, rotund figure flipped midair and landed heavily not far from Don.
"Swordsman!"
Jinbe's expression was grim. His eyes shifted quickly from the mangled corpses of Fish-Men to the terrified humans huddled together.
It didn't take much to piece the truth together.
"I am Jinbe of the Sun Pirates. Please, spare Arlong!"
He took a deep breath and bowed deeply.
"No."
Don's voice was firm. Flame quivered slightly at Arlong's neck.
Before Jinbe could speak again, the blade moved. Arlong stiffened, eyes meeting Jinbe's in bitter unwillingness—then his head rolled to the ground.
His body twitched, then fell still.
Jinbe's heart clenched.
Madam Shyarly's prophecy… it had come true.
But fury followed swiftly.
Yes, Arlong had committed atrocities. If taken back, Jinbe would have punished him severely. But this man—this stranger—had chosen his own justice.
Observation Haki unfurled. Jinbe sensed it immediately—this village was littered with death. Many humans had perished. Many Fish-Men too.
"Big Brother Jinbe!"
Dozens of Fish-Man pirates leapt down from the ship, storming toward the square.
"That bastard killed Arlong!"
They spotted the severed head at Don's feet and erupted in rage.
Flash!
Don vanished. An instant later, he reappeared before the loudest pirate. Flame came crashing down toward the Fish-Man's skull.
Boom!
A powerful arm intercepted. Armament Haki glistened dark across the thick limb. Jinbe had blocked it.
The force was immense.
Jinbe's face darkened as the impact hurled him back. He crashed into his own men, scattering them like pins before regaining his footing.
Each step back cracked the stone ground, spreading fissures in all directions.
"Return to the ship. Take Hachi with you."
Jinbe's voice was iron, his gaze locked on Don.
The others hesitated, stunned.
Jinbe's strength rivaled even Fisher Tiger's. Yet this swordsman had forced him back with one blow.
Don, meanwhile, paid them no attention. His focus was wholly on Jinbe.
That single exchange had already told him everything. Of all the foes he had faced, Jinbe was the strongest yet.
Koushirou's swordsmanship was formidable—but in sheer Haki and physical might, he was far behind Jinbe.
"Hand me the bodies. This matter ends here."
Jinbe's tone was grave. He had no idea who Don really was.
Yes, Arlong's men had slaughtered villagers. Yes, the humans had fought back. But now, only Hachi remained alive.
"No. I'll take these corpses to the Navy for bounty."
Don smiled lightly as he refused.
"You're a bounty hunter?"
"You could say that. But my hunt doesn't stop with them." Don's hand rested on Flame's hilt once more. His eyes sharpened. "You're included too—Warlord Jinbe."
"Arrogant fool."
Jinbe's expression hardened, anger flashing across his face.
"Caress Slash."
Don's voice was calm.
Shhhk!
A gleam of steel streaked toward Jinbe's thick neck.
But with shocking agility, Jinbe bent backward, twisting his massive frame into an almost impossible flip to avoid the strike.
Boom!
The slash carved through the air, slicing the Sun Pirates' flag clean in two.
Don gave no pause. He pressed forward, Flame wreathed in Armament Haki, thrusting for Jinbe's chest.
"Karakusa Straight Fist!"
Jinbe met the thrust head-on, fist shrouded in Haki.
Crash!
Sword and fist collided, blasting out a violent shockwave that forced both men backward.
Don landed smoothly, Flame angled toward the ground. Jinbe skidded to the shoreline, feet striking the sea surface before stomping hard.
"Water Shotgun!"
With a booming slap of his palm against the ocean, water bullets screamed through the air like a storm of gunfire.
Don charged forward, sword flashing as he split every droplet that dared near.
"Rain Shower!"
Before he could close the distance, more jets of water surged forth—thicker, faster, more powerful than before.
Don's brows drew tight. Flame whirled in his hands, slicing through the torrent, but more kept coming.
Flame erupted. Fire raced up his arms, cloaking his entire body and sword in searing heat.
"Torch!"
With a blazing arc, Don cleaved downward. A pillar of fire roared forth, evaporating the oncoming torrents.
When it reached Jinbe, it detonated
Whoosh!
A tornado of fire, dozens of meters high, spiraled into the sky, engulfing Jinbe in its hellish heat.
END OF CHAPTER
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