The sun had not yet fully set, and on the other side of the horizon, a pure white crescent moon had already risen, reflecting a picturesque scene of the sun and moon sharing the dusky sky.
Meanwhile, inside Arlong Park.
"This idea is absolutely brilliant, Boss Arlong. I'd love to see the look on that woman's face right now."
"I didn't expect you to have this trick up your sleeve, Boss Arlong. I thought you actually planned to give the village back to her."
"Hahaha, who told her to openly defy us? This is the punishment she deserves."
By the pool, a group of Fish-Men gathered around, laughing wildly.
On a lounge chair in the center, Arlong's lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"Give the village back to her? That's certainly possible. After all, I'm no monster."
"Once she finishes drawing the sea charts for the entire East Blue, I'll be merciful and reward her with Cocoyasi Village."
"Of course, that won't be for another few decades, shahahaha!"
Arlong threw his head back and roared with laughter, his mouthful of sharp teeth looking fierce and evil.
The surrounding Fish-Men joined in the raucous laughter, showing no pity for the cruel suffering inflicted upon Nami.
"Bad news, Boss Arlong!"
Just then, a panicked shout echoed from outside the park.
Arlong frowned and looked over.
A Fish-Man rushed in through the side gate, his face pale with panic as he yelled,
"Those guys are here! Over a dozen of our brothers have been killed!"
"What did you say?!"
Hearing this, Arlong stood up in a sudden fit of rage, veins bulging on his forehead as he bellowed,
"What the hell is going on?!"
"It's that pirate crew from earlier today! And the villagers of Cocoyasi Village—they've all rebelled!"
The messenger Fish-Man cried out frantically.
At these words, the expressions of all the Fish-Men present changed drastically. Furious, they whipped their heads toward the park's entrance.
At the end of the road, a massive crowd of figures appeared. They could vaguely make out pirates armed with swords and guns, marching toward them with menacing momentum.
"I knew it! That pirate crew is definitely the backup Nami brought in to deal with us! We should have killed them right there in Cocoyasi Village today."
Kuroobi gritted his teeth, then looked at Arlong and said indignantly,
"I told you we couldn't trust that woman! Boss Arlong, we absolutely cannot let her off the hook this time, no matter what!!"
"Na...! Mi...!"
Arlong glared hatefully at the distant figures, his jaw clenched tight and his fists trembling.
"I could let things slide in the past. As long as she drew sea charts for me, I could tolerate a little rebellion. But this time!"
"To actually dare to kill my brethren! Unforgivable!!"
Arlong's eyes widened until they nearly tore, bloodshot and burning, showing just how furious he was.
No matter what reasons or excuses the other side had, anyone who dared to kill his brethren would face an inescapable death sentence!!
"Brothers! Grab your weapons! Today, we'll show these bastards what happens when you make an enemy of the Fish-Men!!"
"Kill them!"
"Mere humans! How dare they rebel!"
"Despicable, inferior species!"
At Arlong's command, all the Fish-Men scrambled out of the water, grabbed their weapons, and roared with vicious hostility.
Stepping into Arlong Park, Allen halted his steps. In his hand, he held a battered, bleeding Fish-Man who was barely clinging to his last breath.
"Takeshi...!"
Recognizing the Fish-Man, Arlong glared darkly at Allen, his savage gaze looking as if he wanted to swallow him alive.
Their eyes met. Neither spoke, seemingly having lost the patience to exchange even a single word of nonsense.
For a moment, the park fell dead silent, the air heavy with a suffocating, murderous tension.
The silence lasted less than two seconds before Allen, his gaze cold, gently raised his hand and waved it.
"Do it."
"Slaughter them!!"
Arlong responded with a furious, explosive roar.
The next instant.
"Charge!"
"Second Division! Push to the very front!"
"Kill them!!"
Sanji, Gin, and the Nyaban Brothers took the lead, spearheading the charge of the fierce-looking pirates behind them!
Opposite them, the Fish-Men surged forward in a swarm, charging aggressively under the leadership of their officers!
"Damn humans! Slaughter them!!"
"Avenge our brothers!!"
Chaotic war cries echoed above Arlong Park. Without a single wasted word, the two sides clashed the very second they met!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A dense barrage of gunfire erupted. Accompanied by the ringing clash of swords, the Demon Lion Pirates and the Fish-Men collided in their charge.
The two sides instantly engaged in a brutal slaughter!
"All the pain and grievances Miss Nami has suffered over the years! Today, I'll pay it all back to you tenfold, you bastard Fish-Men!"
Sanji dove headfirst into the crowd of Fish-Men. A raging fire seemed to burn in his eyes, and the anger he had suppressed for so long erupted like a volcano!
"Fish Banquet・Revolving Table!!"
Sanji planted his hands on the ground and flipped upside down. His two long legs spun rapidly, unleashing a continuous barrage of kicks fueled by endless fury!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"Pfft-gah!"
"Uwaah!"
Unsurprisingly, every Fish-Man who tried to approach was kicked flying, either crashing into the water or slamming against the walls.
In an instant, bloody froth and shattered teeth splattered through the air as wails of agony rang out continuously around Sanji.
Hearing the commotion, Kuroobi quickly turned his head. He recognized Sanji at a glance and cursed through gritted teeth,
"This bastard again...!"
Bam!
He sent an attacking pirate flying with a straight punch, then pivoted on his heel and immediately charged toward Sanji!
Kuroobi kept his arms close to his chest, using the large, triangular fins on the outside of his elbows as blades. With a loud shout, he swung them fiercely!
"Fish-Man Karate・Arm Blade Slash!!"
Sensing the threat, Sanji's eyes widened in alarm. He hurriedly pushed off the ground with his hands, transferring the force to his legs, and thrust both feet out heavily together!
Bam!
The two attacks collided, erupting with intense concussive force. Kuroobi sank into a half-crouch and skidded backward.
Sanji likewise backflipped several meters away, finally dispersing the full force of the impact.
"To actually block my Arm Blade... for a human, you've got some skill."
Kuroobi's expression was solemn, yet tinged with a hint of mockery.
Sanji's feet touched back down on the ground. He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a flat tone,
"If this is all you've got, it's nothing. I've never seen a chef lose to a fish."
"Heh, then let me be the exception today."
Kuroobi said playfully, the corners of his mouth curling up.
With that, he kicked off the ground and lunged forward, pulling his arms to his waist in a karate stance.
"Fish-Man Karate・Upper-Level Explosive Palm!!"
Kuroobi roared, thrusting his right palm fiercely toward Sanji's face!
Facing the whistling palm strike, Sanji calmly twisted his body and raised his leg, swinging it in a half-circle to kick the side of Kuroobi's wrist.
After deflecting the attack, Sanji used the momentum to leap into the air. He spun a half-circle mid-flight and whipped another vicious kick right at Kuroobi's face!
"Mid-Air Neck Strike!!"
Bam!!
The kick landed solidly. The immense force sent Kuroobi flying sideways, his face smashing heavily into the ground as he skidded over a dozen meters away.
"Big Bro Kuroobi!"
"Where did that human come from?!"
The surrounding circle of Fish-Men stared at Sanji in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
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