The sun hovered on the horizon, half-drowned in the sea. Arlong Park lay fractured from the previous fight but still standing.
Coral towers were shattered, the pool churned red, and the walls that once trapped Cocoyashi's hope now lay cracked and trembling. The air smelled of salt, smoke, and blood.
In the center of it all stood Arlong, his gills flaring with fury, his massive saw-like sword—Kiribachi—resting on his shoulder.
Every breath he took rumbled like thunder.And opposite him, stepping through the dust and wind, came the man whispered in taverns across the East Blue as the Grim Reaper—Ash.
A dark coat fluttered behind him; his boots echoed against the fractured coral floor. In his right hand gleamed a sleek black katana, its edge rippling faintly with reflected light, as though the ocean itself moved within it. The steel breathed.
Behind him, at a distance, Zoro, Medusa, Nami, and Nojiko watched from the remains of the courtyard.
The villagers huddled near the gates, their eyes wide, feeling the weight in the air.
"She called in him?" whispered a villager.
Nami didn't answer. Her eyes glistened with both relief and fear.
"He's not here to help… he's here to end it,"
Zoro said quietly, his voice tinged ,carrying finality of the conversation.
Arlong's laughter broke the silence—sharp, cold, like a shark's bite.
"So this is the human I've been hearing about,"
he snarled, rows of serrated teeth glistening.
"The so-called Reaper. You think you can stand against the ruler of these seas?"
Ash smirked tilting his head just slightly.
"Ruler?"
he murmured.
"You're just a predator that forgot the ocean has deeper monsters."
His hand gripped the hilt. The air shifted.
Arlong lunged first, swinging Kiribachi with crushing force.
The blade cut through air and stone alike, blasting apart the floor where Ash had stood.
But the Reaper was already gone.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
The black katana swept horizontally, leaving a shining arc of blue that sliced water and air together.
The technique clashed with Kiribachi, sending a shockwave through the courtyard. Sea spray and dust filled the air.
Ash slid back, eyes calm, sword still dripping from the clash.Arlong's grin widened.
"Fast, for a human."
He slammed the sword into the ground, cracking it.
"But strength wins wars, not fancy moves!"
He ripped up the ground itself, hurling coral boulders like cannon fire. Ash's voice stayed calm, almost gentle.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide."
He dashed forward, weaving through the flying debris in a fluid dance, every movement slicing another stone to fragments.
When he reached Arlong's chest, his katana sliced in nine swift arcs—waves overlapping, one after another.
Arlong stumbled back, the cuts shallow but burning.The Second Current
"Fishman Karate—Shark Arrows!" Arlong roared.
He spat a barrage of water bullets that shattered pillars and fountains around them.Ash's eyes glinted. His left hand opened slightly, glowing faintly with crimson light.
For an instant, a ripple swept across the battlefield—a shimmer of magic that twisted the landscape.
A faint voice echoed inside his mind.—Trace, on.
Around him, invisible lines illuminated the air like threads of fate. Phantom blades formed—a dozen spectral weapons circling him in the fading sunlight.
Each shimmered with the same craftsmanship as heroic arms once known in legend.Arlong's grin faltered.
"What—what sorcery is this?..Y-You ate a devil fruit ! "
Ash closed his eyes.
"A memory of battle. A world of swords."
He pointed his katana forward.
"Now sink."
The environment warped. For just a heartbeat, Arlong saw it—the horizon of endless blades stretching across sand, their edges gleaming like a dying sun.
Then it vanished. The weapons shot forward in streams of ethereal light, crashing into Arlong's incoming water bullets and detonating mid-air.Smoke rolled.
The explosion hurled Arlong backward through the coral archway, snapping it in two.
Zoro whistled lowly. "Well... isn't he quite flashy ? "
Rider's lips curved faintly, admiration in her usually still expression as she recognised the noble phantasm of archer.
"He fights like a mortal shaping divine art."
Arlong erupted from the rubble, blood trailing from one gill. His roar shook the remains of the park.
"You think your tricks can defeat me in my sea!?"
He leapt skyward, spinning his massive blade.
"Shark On Darts!"
He hurled himself down like a spear—water cascading behind him in a spiral of force.
Ash looked up, expression unreadable. He drew his blade back.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form…"
The black katana slashed upward in a calm, perfect arc.
"…Constant Flux!"
The strike became a spiraling current that coiled from his sword like a tidal serpent.
When Arlong's body collided with the whirlpool, it twisted around him like fate itself, funneling his strength back in waves.
The coral ground snapped outward from the impact.With a final surge, Ash adjusted his grip, channeling his remaining energy through the blade—mana and breath uniting in a brilliant azure spiral.
"Trace Complete. Unlimited Flow—Final Form!"
A blinding explosion of light engulfed the park.When the storm cleared, the sun had vanished below the horizon. The air shimmered with the last orange rays of twilight.
The statue of Arlong lay in pieces; every coral tower of the park reduced to dust and rubble. Only ashes, driftwood, and the sound of distant waves remained.
Amid the destruction stood Ash, his coat fluttering gently, his katana resting on his shoulder. Arlong lay half-buried in the ruins, unconscious, his once-proud grin broken.Not a word passed for several seconds.
Then, from the village edge, Nami ran forward, tears streaming. She fell to her knees, staring at the ruins that imprisoned her childhood nightmares—now nothing but rubble.
"He… he really did it," she whispered.
Nojiko clutched her shoulders from behind.
"It's over, Nami. It's really over."
Zoro crossed his arms, a smirk flickering under his exhaustion.
"That's the captain I chose to follow."
Medusa simply nodded, eyes soft but amused .
"A reaper who delivers freedom instead of death ....well, isn't my master something?"
The villagers began to cheer—hesitant at first, then with rising strength. The air filled with voices of joy, disbelief, and release.
Ash turned away from the ruins, sheathing his katana. The setting sun caught his silhouette—a dark figure against the blazing horizon.
"Well nami ?" he said quietly, voice almost lost in the wind. "Your sea is free again."
Nami smiled as tears of Joy flowed down her cheeks.
"T-Thankyou Ash , really...Thankyou ."
Ash jumped down from the rubble near nami and helped her stand up, He grinned in his usual carefree attitude.
" How about you gift me few million berries as a gift ?"
Nami smiled softly and said-
" Get lost,.... you bastard ."
However their Happiness was short lived as a shout interrupted them - from behind the crowd a figure came into view.
Nezumi, a tall and wiry man, standing with a sly grin that revealed sharp teeth, his dark hair slicked back with a pair of piercing green eyes that glinted in malice.
He was wearing a crisp white marine uniform adorned with insignia, flanked by burly marines, loyalty was evident in their rigid stances.
His voice was driping with arrogance as he surveyed the aftermath of Arlong's defeat.
He was literally a self-proclaimed opportunist who revels in capitalizing on chaos, always seeking to profit from the misfortunes of others.
" Well well !? If it isn't the famous grim reaper of east blue. So you've finally defeated the fishmen pirates as well huh ."
He spoke as malice dropped from his voice.
"Seeing how the villagers are happy - it seems like time for a celebration, right sir reaper ?"
No matter how much of a bastard nezumi is, he was a man who knew when to bow and when to bare his teeths, or else he wouldn't have survived this long with arlong.
Ash smirked seeing the rat bastard nezumi.
"Well well, if it isn't our precious marines.. ...I suppose you are here to give me that fish head's bounty ?"
Nezumi stilled for a second , as he was thinking of claiming arlong's defeat for his own promotion !
"O-ofcourse ....s-sir reaper."
He muttered while forcing a smile.He turned to a marine nearby and ordered him to bring 20 million berries.
[Funfact:-Bastard nezumi carries all his money with himself to flaunt and bullshit.]
The marine hurried and brought a chest containing bills of berries.
As the time passed and the marines took care of the aftermath - nezumi brought the 20 million berries ( the bounty on Arlong's head) .
Ash smirked while tilting his head a little-
" What do you think you are doing nezumi ?"
Nezumi scowled puzzled .
"This is the money you requested, the 20 million bounty of arlong."
Ash grinned.
" My...my, don't tell me the Navy is going to handle it just like that. Obviously not right ?"
Nezumi was puzzled-
"What are you trying to say grim reaper ?"
Ash walked near nezumi towering over him-
" What I mean is - you should compensate this village for everything arlong did in your presence , don't you ?"
Nezumi 's eyes widened -
"W-what blasphemy ! I did not do such a thi-"
Before he could complete his sentence there was a sharp sword on his neck glinting on the last of sunrays falling from the dying sun.
As he turned slightly he saw zoro holding wado ichimonji looking at nezumi with indifferent and cold gaze.
" Let the captain complete his sentence."
Ash gave zoro 5 stars for such an badass entry.
" As I was saying -..... compensate nezumi-
I want all of your money and valuables you are carrying with you."
Before nezumi could respond ash spoke again.
" Ah-ah, hold your horses you rat bastard, and I suggest you think twice before you speak. because my friend holding the sword is not as merciful as me ."
Nezumi tensed , beads of sweat trickling down his face -
"I-I understand,.....T-The Navy will compensate."
Ash grinned as zoro lowered his sword.
"Well, wasn't that easy....I knew we had a understanding between us you rat - Hahaha."
Nezumi cursed his luck but said nothing and just forced a smile, he knew better then to challenge someone who defeated arlong . someone like nezumi was an ant for ash.
As the money and valuables were exchanged and pirates was handed to navy, the villagers cheered in victory.
Nezumi tried to leave , irritated by the villagers and ash.But before he could leave Ash spoke to departing nezumi-
" Remember nezumi- the moment you think of doing something to cocoyashi village , - you'll be signing your death certificate to grim reaper himself !"
Nezumi tensed but said nothing and continued on his way .
Nami spoke softly as nezumi's figure disappeared from their view-
"You shouldn't have done that ash- that marine bastard is curupted to core yes. But ,making out an enemy out of him was really not a good move ."
Ash just smiled softly and said -
" if I had done nothing - that bastard would have taken the control over cocoyashi village just like arlong, and the cycle would have continued....now doing this, his target will shift to me ....and I couldn't care less about some rats you know ."
He winked playfully as he completed his sentence.
Nami just shook his head helplessly.
Medusa also spoke as she walked upto the group with nojiko.
"Ash is right nami, this would keep the village safe."
Nami smiled softly
"Thankyou everyone, I truly mean it ."
Ash grinned.
"Well, how about some mone-"
Before he could complete his sentence nami punched him in gut.
"No"
"Hahahah~"laughter followed by the group as the cocoyashi village was finally free from the opression it faced for several years.
Meanwhile in a distance on marine vessel- nezumi was fuming with anger as he destroyed furniture of ship.
" That bastard Ash - I'll make sure he will see hell - bring me the den den mushi !... I'll send the report about cocoyashi village myself !"
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________To be continued ________