The Arlong Pirates

East Blue · Cocoyasi Village · Coast

The sea breeze howled, and the waves roared.

A massive black Pirate ship cleaved through the waves, its bow painted with a menacing shark, a rusty anchor hanging on its side, and dripping ropes swaying in the wind like the whip of death.

At the bow of the ship, a tall figure stood with his arms crossed.

Arlong, captain of the Arlong Pirates, is of Fish-Man Race and has a bounty of 20 million Beli.

His jagged nose gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and his entire face was etched with contempt and ferocity.

"Hmph... let's start here."

Arlong licked his sharp teeth, a sickly smile creeping across his lips. "From this day forward, this human land will become Paradise for us Fish-Men!"

"Brother Arlong is right!"

Hachi waved his six arms, his eyes shining with excitement, "I can't wait to use the takoyaki pot from the village!"

Kuroobi, Chu, Kinjō, Shioyaki, Kobu, Pizarro, and other Fish-Man Pirates also jumped off the ship and stepped onto the beach.

They were all burly men with varying skin colors, but all were bloodthirsty and ruthless.

However, they were not alone.

Dozens of villagers stood in front of the dock, holding rusty harpoons, hoes, and machetes, forming a loose but unyielding "defense line."

At the very front was a middle-aged man wearing a windmill hat: Genzo, the police officer of Cocoyasi Village.

His eyes were bloodshot and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he did not take a single step back.

"Pirate crew, I'm warning you!"

Genzo raised the harpoon high, his voice hoarse but firm, "There's no place for you in Cocoyasi Village! Go back to your stinking ditch!"

The Fish-Man paused for half a second.

The next moment, it was as if I had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Hahaha!"

"That's hilarious! A mere lowly human village dares to rebel against us?!"

"Was this harpoon unearthed from ancient times? Is it still usable?!"

Arlong walked forward step by step, his steps heavy, each step like a drumbeat striking the hearts of the villagers.

He stared at the harpoon in Genzo's hand, then suddenly grinned.

You mean this?

Click!!

He bit down hard on the tip of the harpoon, and the steel weapon shattered like paper in his mouth! Blood dripped from his teeth, and scraps of metal flew everywhere!

Genzo staggered backward, the harpoon was now only half intact, and his hand trembled slightly.

Listen carefully!

Arlong tossed the shattered harpoon head to the ground, looking down disdainfully at the villagers. "I'm no ordinary 'Fish-Man,' I'm the great Pirate with a bounty of twenty million— Arlong!"

"Wh... what?!"

"That's a notorious Pirate with a bounty of over ten million?!"

"We're finished..."

A commotion broke out among the villagers; several elderly people collapsed to the ground, and the young people also showed expressions of fear.

"From today onwards," Arlong held up a finger, his smile turning cold, "This village is under our jurisdiction."

"You will have to pay a 'head tax' every month: 100,000 Beli per adult and 50,000 per child."

"If you can't hand it over..."

His hand gripped the massive, serrated sword at his waist, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight like sharp shark teeth. "Then pay with your life."

"... Bastards!" Genzo's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth. "We are the people of the East Blue! You Fish-Men..."

"Smack!"

Kuroobi flashed over and punched A-Jian hard in Genzo stomach, sending him flying several meters and knocking over the wooden crate behind him!

The villagers screamed in alarm.

"Genzo!!"

"Don't come any closer!!"

Genzo lay on the ground spitting blood, but he struggled to his feet, his hands trembling as he tried to stop the young man who was still trying to rush forward.

"... You can't escape."

Chirp licked its sharp teeth, approaching step by step, its face full of cruel excitement.

"Submit obediently, you inferior race."

"From this day forward, you are ours—"

Boom!!

Before the words were finished, a dark shadow suddenly descended from the sky, like a thunderbolt hitting the earth!

"Bang!!"

The force of the punch was explosive. Before he could even let out a scream, he was hit like a cannonball and flew dozens of meters away with a loud "boom," crashing into a pile of Reef on the beach and raising a cloud of dust and pebbles.

The scene was completely silent; the air seemed to freeze.

As the dust settled, a boy was seen crouching amidst the rubble, his fist pounded deep into the ground, a bright smile spreading across his face, "Hehe~ Luffy!"

"Luffy! Why are you in such a hurry!"

Another figure landed steadily, black hair fluttering in the wind, bluish-white flames dancing at his fingertips—it was Ace.

The two stood side by side, one on the left and one on the right. They were young, but their aura was as imposing as a storm.

The Arlong Pirates' pupils constricted, Kuroobi blurted out, "Two brats?!"

Arlong's forehead veins bulged, his eyes filled with a fierce light. "Two immature humans... how dare they humiliate us like this?!"

"Kids, come back quickly!" Genzo roared anxiously, "You're no match for them!!"

"It's alright!" Luffy around, a bright smile on his face, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "We were trained by Brother Roy!"

"Court death!!"

"Shark ON DARTS!!"

With a roar, Arlong stomped his foot, and his jagged nose suddenly extended, transforming into a cold glint that pierced straight into Luffy's back!

"Luffy, watch out!" Ace's expression hardened, and he instantly attacked!

"Whoosh!"

He grabbed Luffy's head and pressed it down, and the next moment, Arlong's terrifying nose pierced Ace's chest with a "plop"!

The villagers screamed in terror, "Ahhh!!"

But strangely--

The spot where it was pierced instantly transformed into a raging, burning flame!

"What?!" Arlong's pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react, he felt a burning, stinging pain in his nose!

"Hiss!!"

He screamed and quickly pulled his nose back, only to find that the tip of his nose was charred and cracked by the flames!

Ace frowned slightly, and the flames reformed. "Luffy, you were too careless."

Luffy foolishly. "Isn't it because Ace was there~"

"Hateful!!"

Arlong, enraged, roared, "So what if they have special abilities?! They're just two brats!!"

He raised his broadsword and roared, "Everyone, charge!!"

"Kill them!!"

Kuroobi, Hachi, Kinjō, Shioyaki- Pizarro, and Pizarro charged forward like ferocious beasts unleashed from their cages!

The air was thick with murderous intent, and the momentum was terrifying!

Luffy.

"Um!"

"Let them see..." Ace erupted in flames, transforming into a scorching sun!

"A disciple personally trained by Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral!!"

"Fire Fist!!"

Ace took a step forward, unleashing a blazing dragon-like flame that shot straight at Kuroobi and the other Fish-Man!

His right arm transformed into a torrent of flames several meters long, and slammed out!

"Boom!!"

The blazing flames swept across like a giant wave, instantly engulfing the four small fry: Kinjō, Shioyaki, Pizarro, and Kobu!

The sand and gravel are charred black, and the sea wind is blowing them backward!