Chapter 26 Defeat! Ah Long's Swan song
Arlong, his face turning ashen, stared intently at Lister as he watched his people being defeated.
"To have defeated my people is unforgivable! I'll show you the true power of the merfolk!"
Arlong leaned forward and suddenly lunged, aiming his sharp nose at Lister.
"Too slow, and too much nonsense!"
Just as his nose was about to pierce Lister, Lister shifted half a body length to the side and threw a punch, striking Arlong in the abdomen. The fist dented his perfect abs, and the terrifying force traveled through his internal organs and back, tearing his trench coat.
Arlong was now under Lister's fist like a fully drawn bow, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop.
"Wow..."
He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, crashing into seven or eight houses.
The villagers, who had been secretly watching, opened their eyes wide and mouths agape.
"Wow, that's amazing! He sent Arlong flying with just one punch!"
"Who is this young man? What terrifying power does he possess?"
"Could it be that the village can be saved?!"
After suffering under the Arlong Pirates for over two months, the villagers' hope had nearly vanished. This punch was like a candle in the darkness, rekindling their courage.
"Huh? He's... the head chef!"
Lister glanced at a familiar face and raised his hand in greeting: "Ahui, you're still alive? Oh, I forgot, you said you were from this village. What, after three years away as a pirate, you've lost the courage to pick up a knife?"
"What? Ahui was a pirate?"
"Hey, really? Didn't you say you were going to become a sailor?"
The villagers murmured among themselves.
"Oh? Your name is Ahui!"
"Yes, head chef," Ahui said excitedly.
He had fought alongside Lister before and trusted him completely.
"Do you have a doctor in your village? Please take her to the doctor," Lister said, pointing to Kuina.
"Yes, Uncle Gao is the best doctor in our village."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Okay, okay. Arlong has a bounty of 20 million Berries, just like Zeff!" Ahui asked worriedly.
"No problem," Lister replied calmly.
Ahui called over two villagers, and together they escorted Kuina into the village.
Splash…
Arlong brushed aside the rubble and sat up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He glared coldly at Lister.
"This human..."
The pain in his internal organs silenced his contempt for a moment.
"As expected of a fish-man, can he still stand up?"
Lister walked toward Arlong.
"Do you know the biggest difference between us?" Arlong put his hand in his mouth, pulling out his sharp braces. New, even sharper teeth quickly grew.
Holding the braces in both hands, Arlong looked like he had three mouths. He lunged forward, opening his mouth wide.
"Iron Teeth Kung Fu!"
"Shave – Shadowless Kick!"
Lister delivered a series of side kicks.
Bang!
Arlong was kicked in the arm, chest, waist, and abdomen. His eyes widened, but he couldn't see Lister's legs at all. It was as if he had encountered an invisible wall. In moments, he was kicked hundreds of times and sent flying again.
"Shave" involves stomping on the ground dozens of times at high speed in an instant, generating explosive reaction force, making it appear as if the enemy disappeared.
While Arlong was still in mid-air, Lister appeared above him, kneeling down.
Arlong opened his mouth to bite at Lister's knee.
Click!
Arlong's teeth, which could crush rocks, shattered as if biting steel.
"Iron Block – Meteorite!"
A knee strike landed hard on Arlong's face, forcing him to the ground.
Boom!
The village streets cracked and sunken beneath the impact.
Finger Gun!
Puff puff puff…
Arlong's body exploded into blooming blood flowers.
When the smoke cleared, he was covered in blood, panting, incredulous.
"How could I lose to an inferior race?"
"Inferior race?" Lister chuckled.
"What a ridiculous argument. If fish-men were truly as powerful as you claim, you would have dominated the world long ago. Why be holed up on Fishman Island, always worrying about your fellow fish being captured?"
Arlong was stunned. He had hated humans for seeing his peers bullied, but Lister's words cut deep.
"Heaven gave fish-men strong bodies and special powers. It gave humans wisdom and potential. Humans may not be as strong at birth, but their adaptability surpasses other races, which is why they thrive in this world."
"Moreover, the pain inflicted on you cannot justify oppressing the weak. In this era of lawlessness, those who kill will always be killed."
Lister tapped Arlong's chest with a fingertip. "Any last words?"
"Please forgive my compatriots!"
"Then who will forgive the humans you killed?"
Arlong opened his eyes wide.
"Finger Gun – One-Finger Zen!"
The burst of power from Lister's fingertips penetrated Arlong's skin instantly.
Puff!
A blood hole the size of a thumb appeared in the middle of the red sun tattoo on Arlong's chest. His heart shattered.
"Brother Arlong!"
Some fish-men pirates who regained consciousness cried out mournfully.
To humans, Arlong was a villain; to fish-men, a hero.
My hero is their enemy!
Heroes cherish heroes, but sometimes, duty and morality collide. Even Garp and Roger were once adversaries.
Arlong's staunch fish-man supremacy meant that sparing him would allow future oppression to continue. Evil must be washed away with blood.
If reason were clear, Arlong and Jinbe wouldn't have split over their differing beliefs. Some convictions are so strong that they fear death itself.
The Great Pirate Era is about freedom and dreams, but also bloodshed and tears.
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End of this chapter...