Nami vs. Arlong

Bellemere, I can finally avenge you with my own hands.

Nami forcibly suppressed the excitement in her heart and held the Orange-gold Spear-staff at her side with one hand.

She turned to look at Can Yue.

"Let Arlong go. Let me 'duel' him."

Can Yue nodded in agreement. After retracting the Time Whip binding Arlong, he gave Arlong a warning.

"If you want to live, if you want to save your companions, then defeat Nami."

With that, Can Yue walked behind Nami and stood with Luffy and the others.

Sanji quietly asked Can Yue,

"Is it really okay to tell Arlong that? Even if that guy is seriously injured, he's still dangerous for Nami."

Zoro looked at Sanji with disdain.

"Why are you being so stupid, cook? Are we just decorations?"

Sanji immediately smacked his forehead, realizing that his concern had clouded his judgment.

With them here, could they really let Arlong win?

That would be unbearably embarrassing.

In front of Can Yue and the others.

Arlong forcibly pushed himself upright. He knew that his chances of surviving today were slim.

But as long as there was still a chance, he had to seize it.

"Bastard! I bear the Fish-Men's hatred for you humans, built up over hundreds of years. I absolutely cannot fall here!"

With that, Arlong threw back his head and roared. Fueled by his hatred for humans, he regained some of his strength.

Arlong's eyes were bloodshot as he glared viciously at Nami.

Yet Nami showed no fear. All she felt was the rage she had accumulated against Arlong and the others over the years.

In an instant.

Nami swung her staff and smashed it toward Arlong.

Arlong had yet to recover, while Nami's physical abilities had improved greatly through her recent hard training.

The staff struck Arlong squarely on the head.

The blow was so powerful that even with Arlong's defenses, his head buzzed.

Taking advantage of Arlong's dizziness, Nami repeatedly swung her staff.

The orange metal staff struck Arlong's head, cheeks, neck, and other places again and again.

"This one is for the villagers you bullied every day."

"This one is for the innocent people you murdered."

"This one is for Nojiko."

"This one is for Mr. Gen."

"This one is for myself!"

Every strike was heavy, every one filled with the anger Nami had amassed over the years.

She beat Arlong until he was dizzy and disoriented, blood spilling from his mouth.

And every heavy blow did more than help Nami vent her emotions.

The villagers watching the scene felt immensely satisfied as well.

Nojiko and Gen in particular clenched their fists, thrilled beyond measure. They wished they were the ones beating Arlong.

Just as everyone was enjoying the sight, the situation began to change.

"The last one is for Bellemere!"

Just as Nami swung her staff directly at Arlong's face.

Arlong reached out with one hand, his forearm muscles bulging as he tightly gripped Nami's metal staff.

Then Arlong bared his sharp teeth and spoke to Nami with a savage expression.

"Nami, have you really forgotten how terrifying I am?"

This sudden turn made everyone present worry.

Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, and the others prepared to act at any moment.

But Can Yue remained calm and showed no concern that Nami would lose.

Arlong's strengths lay in the Fish-Men's powerful bodies and recovery abilities.

Although Nami's close-combat skills had improved greatly compared to before.

She was still far behind Arlong in strength, speed, recovery, and other aspects.

From the start, Can Yue had not believed Nami could win through a direct confrontation.

Our navigator has a very high battle IQ.

Hearing Arlong's threatening words, Nami seemed to recall the fear of being beaten by him in the past.

A look of panic suddenly appeared on her face.

She gripped the back of her staff with one hand. This seemingly fearful action actually held a deeper intention.

Seeing Nami's fear, Arlong's smile became even more terrifying. He stretched out his free right hand, aiming straight for Nami's head.

Nami did not dodge. As her right hand turned, she revealed a smug smile.

Arlong immediately sensed something was wrong, but it happened too quickly.

From the front of the staff, a forty-centimeter blade shot toward Arlong's forehead at tremendous speed.

Damn it! Arlong could only rely on instinct and tilt his head as far as possible.

With a sharp shing, blood sprayed out.

Arlong's ear was severed by the sudden strike.

That move sent cold sweat pouring down Arlong's face.

If he had reacted even a little slower, his skull would likely have been pierced through.

"Nami, you bastard! You tricked me!"

Taking advantage of Arlong's pain, Nami pulled back her staff and leaped away.

There was not the slightest trace of fear on her calm face.

"A beast like you deserves to be fooled, you trash one-eared fish!"

After saying that, Nami raised her middle finger at Arlong.

Seeing this, the villagers burst into laughter.

"Serves you right, Arlong!"

"You should've just died earlier. At least you could've avoided being humiliated."

"Go die already, you bloodthirsty piece of trash!"

The searing pain, the blood loss, the humiliation, and the rage all made Arlong completely lose his mind.

As though in a final burst of life, Arlong charged at Nami at nearly the highest speed he could reach when uninjured.

Nami's expression grew solemn. She swung her staff forward and used Arlong's force to propel herself several meters backward.

But Arlong's push had been too powerful, so Nami could only roll when she landed to disperse the excess force.

Seeing this, the three main fighters could no longer stand by.

Just as they were about to intervene, Can Yue stopped them.

"Don't rush. Enjoy Nami's battle."

Sanji's scalp went numb. "Nami clearly can't hold him off anymore!"

Even Luffy began to panic. "Can Yue, if we don't act now, Nami's going to get hurt."

But Can Yue's attitude remained firm, so Luffy and Zoro stopped as well.

"Can Yue, if Nami gets hurt, I won't let you off."

Sanji said that angrily, but he did not act either.

Can Yue smiled faintly, because he had clearly noticed something earlier.

Every time Nami struck, she released many tiny, nearly invisible "bubbles" around Arlong.

And now, Nami, Arlong, and the small bubbles were perfectly aligned in a straight line.

Seeing that Can Yue and the other four were not moving, Arlong felt a surge of joy.

Whether Can Yue and the others would honor their promise to let him go if he defeated Nami or not.

At the very least, under the current circumstances, he was certain he could take Nami down with his next strike.

Hmph, just wait until you regret this. Even if I die, I'll make you pay the price.

In an instant, Arlong charged toward Nami once more.

The villagers and the Straw Hat Crew alike had their hearts in their throats.

Although Can Yue outwardly told everyone not to worry, when he truly saw this, an emerald-gold Light Whip had already begun forming around his right index and middle fingers.

Arlong unleashed the fastest speed he could currently achieve. Opening his huge, bloodthirsty mouth, he was about to bite off Nami's head in a single snap.

But at the instant he approached Nami.

Behind Arlong.

Electric currents surged.

Nami smiled faintly, confidence shining from her delicate features.

My weapon was never designed for close combat.

Five days earlier.

Aboard the Merry.

Can Yue had just finished Nami's staff-fighting training.

At that moment, Can Yue brought Nami and Usopp onto the deck and told them some of his ideas.

"Nami, your greatest talent is definitely not fighting. It's your extraordinary perception of subtle changes in the air.

So, I want Usopp to make you a weapon.

A weapon that can alter the weather in a localized area."

Nami looked puzzled, still considering what Can Yue meant.

Can Yue continued to explain.

"Becoming a mage who can control localized weather is the direction that will bring out your greatest strengths, Nami.

Close-combat training is only meant to increase your chances of surviving on future battlefields."

Afterward, Can Yue patiently explained all of his ideas to Nami and Usopp. At last, they understood.

Thus, under Can Yue's guidance, Usopp began modifying a weapon specially made for Nami.

Back to the present.

The crisis was at hand.

Yet there was not the slightest tension on Nami's face.

Instead, there was a trace of anticipation in her eyes.

Feel the terror of nature's power, Arlong.

Just as Arlong was about to swallow Nami's head in one bite.

Nami smiled and called out the name of her move.

"Weather Stick—Thunder Strike!"