"Nojiko, Gen, everyone..."
Nami ran through the village, shouting as she went, but no one answered her. A desolate air filled the entire village.
The overturned houses on both sides seemed to tell of the terrible events that had taken place here not long ago.
"Why? Why now of all times...?"
Nami dropped to her knees, her eyes empty.
She had worked so hard. She had been so close to saving up 100 million Belly and buying back the village and her freedom from those bastards...
Why did this have to happen now? Why did she have to fail when success was already within reach?!
Helpless tears rolled down her cheeks as memories of all the hardship she had endured came flooding back.
Bell-mère had been killed for her sake. And for the villagers, she had willingly drawn sea charts for Arlong, her enemy; willingly tattooed his symbol on her arm; willingly become one of his officers and worked herself to the bone for him.
Countless times, she had wanted to take a knife and carve up the disgusting tattoo on her arm. Every time, she held herself back. She kept telling herself that she would truly be free soon!
She had stolen and swindled everywhere she went, all for the day when she could save enough money to give everyone their freedom, to protect the place where she had grown up.
But why did it have to end like this?
She stopped crying and returned home with a cold expression. Beneath this place, where the tangerine grove grew, lay years of blood and tears.
At least the tangerine grove had not been destroyed!
She took out a long staff sharpened at both ends and headed toward Arlong Park with determined eyes. She had nothing left to worry about.
At the very least, she would take one or two of them down with her!
Meanwhile, at Arlong Park.
Led by the villagers, Cifer and the other two finally arrived at the Arlong Pirates' headquarters—a building that looked extremely expensive.
The gates were tightly shut. Fish-Men's laughter and cheers occasionally rang out from inside, standing in stark contrast to the grave atmosphere outside.
"30 Million Volts - Raiju!"
Enel lightly tapped the drum on his left with his staff. A wolf-shaped thunder beast roared out, blasting the gates to pieces before everyone's widened eyes.
"Who goes there?!"
A voice filled with confusion and fury rang out.
As the smoke cleared, everyone present came into Arlong's view.
Seeing the three unfamiliar people at the front, he gave it little thought. He merely assumed they were some useless helpers the ignorant villagers had found from who knew where.
"Looks like I'll have to make you remember that fear properly!"
A chilling smile appeared on Arlong's face, and everyone could not help recalling the brutal way he had acted when he first arrived in Cocoyasi Village.
Behind him, the Fish-Men drew their weapons. Clearly, they would attack the moment Arlong gave the order.
But no one took even half a step back. If they chose fear now, they would never escape Arlong's shadow for the rest of their lives!
"Can I kill them all?"
Enel scratched his head and looked at Cifer. Since he was Cifer's crewman, he had to ask for his opinion while Cifer was here.
"Of course."
That had been Cifer's plan from the beginning. Besides, Enel could use the chance to bully a few grunts and regain some confidence, though he did not seem to have been discouraged in the first place...
"Mr. Cifer..."
Tashigi had wanted to stop this slaughter. In her eyes, even pirates should be interrogated before being sentenced and dealt with.
"Shut up. Use your brain before you speak or act!"
Cifer cut her off directly.
Only then did Tashigi remember that the person before her was not a Marine, but one of the Shichibukai! And a monster known as the "Butcher" at that!
Then she looked around and realized that everyone was excited by Cifer's answer. She understood that these pirates must have done many terrible things to them.
She was dazed. She began to wonder why pirates could do such horrible things to civilians, yet only end up imprisoned after a trial.
Having received Cifer's permission, Enel spun the Golden Tonfa in one hand and slowly stepped forward, his face full of arrogance.
"Your expression and your words have greatly displeased this god. Don't you know you should fear a god?"
With a sweep of Arlong's large hand, all the Fish-Men except the officers charged Enel with blades in hand. Yet their weapons passed straight through his body, unable to harm him in the slightest.
"Could this be... a Logia?!"
As a former member of the Sun Pirates who had once traveled the Grand Line, how could Arlong not know what that meant?
Sweat began to drip down his face. If this was a powerful Logia Devil Fruit user, then he was no match for him.
"30 Million Volts - Discharge!"
He merely raised his palm, and powerful currents coiled around his body. In an instant, every Fish-Man who had rushed forward was electrocuted black and charred, collapsing to the ground with their fate unknown.
"Run! Jump into the sea!"
Seeing his fellow Fish-Men reduced to such a state, Arlong's eyes nearly split apart. Still, he chose to abandon them, though he did not know whether they were dead or alive.
Enel had only made a slight move, yet he was already this terrifying. Arlong did not believe he could contend with him. Escaping into the sea was the most important thing now!
Devil Fruit users were people abandoned by the sea. Everyone on the Grand Line knew that. As long as he got into the ocean, he would be safe!
At this moment, he realized that opening a port connected to the sea within Arlong Park had truly been the smartest decision of his life!
"Hm?"
"30 Million Volts - Raicho!"
Seeing the remaining Fish-Men trying to flee into the sea, Enel lightly tapped the drum on his right with the Golden Tonfa. A swift bird-shaped thunder beast spread its wings and soared.
It moved so fast that the officers had no time to react before they were struck down, their bodies convulsing.
"Hachi! Kuroobi!"
Arlong, the only one to make it into the sea, had bloodshot eyes as tears mixed with the seawater.
All the brethren he had brought with him had fallen to humans today. How could he ever return to Fish-Man District and face anyone after this?!
He swore that after these people left, he would return and slaughter every person in Cocoyasi Village to accompany the dead Fish-Men in death!
"It's over! Arlong got away!"
The strongest one had escaped. The villagers were frantic, and Gen had already begun taking off his clothes, intending to dive into the sea and fight Arlong to the death.
"He can't escape! A mere dried fish dares defy a god?!"
"Divine Judgment!"
After using Mantra to lock onto Arlong's position, Enel fired a bolt of lightning from his fingertip. It flew over the sea and transformed into a massive thunderbolt that crashed straight down.
Lightning flickered across the ocean. After the thunder passed, all kinds of injured fish floated to the surface. Amid everyone's expectant gazes, Arlong also floated up, blood pouring from all seven orifices.
"We won!!!"
Seeing that Arlong's chest no longer rose and fell, the villagers burst into tears. Their cheers echoed across the land as they tossed their weapons to the ground and embraced one another.
Nojiko tightly held Gen's arm, and his face was filled with joy for the first time in a long while.
"Hey, hey, this was solved by a god for you!"
Enel, the greatest contributor, saw that he had been ignored again and reminded them.
The villagers came to their senses and surged forward. Under Enel's puzzled gaze, they grabbed his limbs and lifted him high into the air.
"Thank you, God, for your help!"
As they raised and lowered him, the villagers followed his wishes and called Enel a god. After all, to them, Enel truly was the god who had saved them!
"Yehahahaha! This is the treatment a god deserves!" At that moment, Enel finally understood how to become a true god!
Nami, who had already come close to them, heard the cheers coming from Arlong Park. It was as though her life had suddenly been lit by hope again.
She quickened her pace, threw away the long staff in her hands, and sprinted toward Arlong Park at full speed. Then she saw Fish-Men corpses scattered everywhere and the cheering villagers.
"Nojiko, Gen, everyone... I'm so glad you're all okay..." Nami covered her mouth as unstoppable tears fell once more.
"Nami!"
Nojiko released Gen and immediately ran toward Nami.
The two of them embraced tightly.
Before you continue