Zero-Palm Grapple Throw: Reborn in Fire

Hoo—!

A sky-blue flame streaked across the battlefield, chasing after Roman's figure, leaving him frustrated that he couldn't use his Devil Fruit ability at all.

If only I had prepared some weapons...

I wouldn't be fighting bare-handed like this. In that case:

Then,

I'll beat you down with my bare hands!

Roman tensed, his muscles rippling like mercury, exuding a powerful beauty! He transformed into a blur, like a suddenly explosive, ferocious beast, creating a fierce gust of wind as he curved around to pounce on Canson, the flame-spewing Fish-Man.

Even without weapons, Roman's imposing aura made Canson realize he was not to be trifled with. He turned his head, and a stream of sky-blue flame, carrying intense heat, shot out from his mouth towards Roman.

At the same time, two Fish-Men behind him seized the opportunity, brandishing their weapons and thrusting them towards Roman's unguarded back.

"Roman, watch out—"

However, just as Zoro's warning was issued, Roman stomped his feet, pausing his forward momentum. The entire battlefield trembled violently as he retreated backward with a speed no less than his forward charge!

Where his feet had struck, the cracked stone ground erupted, sending up a 'barrage' of earth and stone that blocked his path, slightly impeding the oncoming flame.

This retreat and kick allowed him to evade Canson's blue flame. Simultaneously, Roman spun around abruptly! His open palms clamped down on the throats of the two Fish-Men attempting a sneak attack, and then:

Bang!

Gripping one Fish-Man's throat in each hand, Roman unleashed a surge of strength, stomping his foot down!

This kick carried the force of ten thousand pounds, truly as heavy as Mount Tai and as powerful as rumbling thunder. The stone floor beneath him caved in, with rings of cracks spreading outwards! The other Fish-Men closing in around them were sent staggering.

The two Fish-Men whose throats were gripped roared and struggled desperately! However, their strength, said to be 'ten times that of humans,' and their sharp claws could only leave white marks on Roman, emitting a grating sound like metal friction. Roman twisted them and spun around abruptly.

"Damn it,"

The two burly Fish-Men blocked Roman's view, completely obscuring him. Canson, the Fish-Man of crimson hue, was forced to stop spewing flames, while Roman, using them as 'Fish-Man shields,' rapidly closed in on him!

Trying to use 'hostages' to fight up close?

Facing Roman, who was hiding behind the two Fish-Men, Canson, the red-skinned middle-aged Fish-Man, remained as calm and expressionless as a statue.

Naive—

Swish,

?

In a dizzying spin, Roman was sent flying backward! The two Fish-Men he had used as shields had already separated to his sides, spinning a few times in place to dissipate the force, and were somehow unharmed?

Crack,

Roman landed on the ground, tucking and flipping himself in mid-air to regain his balance. He looked at the red-skinned Fish-Man opposite him with a serious expression.

"Fish-Man Karate - Air Dance."

Canson, who had adopted a proper stance, faced Roman with no change in his expression.

"Unlike other Fish-Men who focus on destructive Karate, my 'Karate' only has one move: Grapple Throw!"

"But it's different from a normal Grapple Throw, which requires a grab (entanglement) before the throw. My 'Air Dance' only needs to touch someone's weapon, the edge of their clothing, or even their skin, and I can throw them."

That's right, how could Captain Canson, whose bounty was once 35 million Belly, only know 'flame-spewing'?

Even without the flame-spewing ability, his technique of being able to 'touch' and throw people or weapons, combined with the Fish-Men's powerful physique, was his truly terrifying aspect.

In fact, if he were in water, he could even 'throw' invisible water as if it were a weapon!

"Young man, your swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and Devil Fruit abilities are all quite good."

"But they are too scattered!"

"If you cannot master one path, you will never reach the pinnacle—"

"Ha, sorry about that."

Roman stretched his muscles. "I'm not some warrior or swordsman. Swords, fists, and Devil Fruit abilities are all just tools to me."

"What I want is victory! And only victory!—Because those who lose have no future. So:"

Rustle, rustle,

Sheets of white paper appeared in Roman's hands, transforming into two slender katanas.

"Useless..."

Swish,

Roman tossed the dual katanas in his hands towards Zoro beside him, because the sound of footsteps approaching from outside Arlong Park had already begun! It was the villagers from Cocoyasi Village arriving.

Damn it, I thought I could quickly deal with a few executives before the villagers arrived, and then have them cheer '66666' from the side while I dealt with the grunts. Now it seems:

"Zoro! Usopp! Joseph! Johnny!"

Roman called out the names of his 'high-end' combat forces in one breath.

"Help me hold off the other Fish-Man executives."

As the villagers' battle cries echoed from outside the walls, Roman narrowed his eyes.

"One minute, I'll take care of this guy first!"

"Kill!"

"Aaaaaah~~~"

"Roar roar roar!!"

"Die—"

Lead bullets flew, swords roared!

Mutated roars, flesh and bone splattering, every person/Fish-Man desperately killed the enemy beside them! The air became hot and heavy, as if scalding sand was constantly being poured into their insides, and only the enemy's blood could relieve this thirst.

One side was strong and robust, the other was well-equipped.

One side considered themselves noble, the other was filled with hatred!

When the villagers of Cocoyasi Village appeared fully armed at Arlong Park, there were no empty threats, no negotiations. Both sides were left with only one path: to plunge weapons into each other's bodies, tear out hearts, and smash brains!

It was either you die, or I live!

This was war.

Bang,

"Thirty seconds have passed,"

Facing Roman, who had once again been easily thrown away by him, the middle-aged Fish-Man named Canson showed no joy or sorrow.

"You can't possibly defeat me."

"Hoo, hoo, hoo,"

Damn it, is this the legendary 'butterfly effect'? I never expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent here because of me...

Roman glanced at the entire battlefield:

Zoro, with his three swords, was overwhelming the six-armed 'Six-Sword Style' Octopus Executive; victory was not an issue.

Usopp had lured away the Fish-Man executive with the long mouth; their situation was unknown...

Joseph and Johnny... were being suppressed by Fish-Man Karate practitioners with bone blades for arms! Defeat... depended on how much longer they could hold on.

As for the battle between ordinary Fish-Men and villagers, it could only be described as evenly matched. For now, it seemed like a stalemate, but—

The enemy still had Arlong, their leader here!

He sat on his chair with a dark expression, his increasingly heavy killing intent indicating that he was about to 'lose patience' and abandon his dignity as a leader to go on a killing spree.

The battle situation was unfavorable, should they 'strategically retreat'?

How could that be!

Ah, sorry, Nami.

I originally wanted to finish off my opponent cleanly, but it turned into this kind of situation...

If too many villagers were casualties, it would make you even sadder, wouldn't it? A girl's tears and all...

So, "Give me—"

Bang!

Roman charged at the Fish-Man named Canson once again! The strong wind scraped his face like a knife, his eyes focused only on the rapidly enlarging opponent, and:

"Die!"

"Paper Dance - Great War Spear!"

The paper that flew from his twirling arms wrapped into a massive lance, piercing the air, piercing the distance between them, and charging towards Canson like a drill. Its momentum was like a dragon, its speed like a startled swan! But:

"It's useless."

A mouthful of sky-blue flame greeted him!

It was indeed useless. As a well-traveled captain, Canson knew very well that Roman's Devil Fruit ability was to create 'paper.' In the face of his flames, there was only defeat—

Boom!

However, from the flames that suddenly erupted in front of him, a 'Flame Person' lunged out!

Slap!

A hand burning with flames gripped Canson's throat before he could even react, while the other burning hand grasped one of his wrists. The immense strength pushed the Fish-Man captain to the ground.

"Don't you like flames?"

Roman's voice came from within the 'Flame Person.' Compared to his usual calm and indifferent demeanor, the youthful passion and madness finally appeared on him.

"Then I'll let you burn to your heart's content—let's see who gets scorched first!"

"Paper Dance - Sea of Fire!"

Boom boom boom—!!!

Roman's paper, created with all his might, instantly ignited the two into a blazing 'torch'! No, it should be a sea of fire! The soaring flames arrogantly radiated light and heat in all directions, even forcefully separating the chaotic battlefield.

"Aaaah~~ Fire~~"

"Run—"

"Water, water, give me water!!"

Faced with the raging flames spreading from the two, the Fish-Men were all greatly alarmed. They retreated in panic, fearing being caught in the inferno. On the other side:

"Roman! You bastard—"

Zoro, gritting his teeth and drawing his swords, glared fiercely at Hachi, the six-armed octopus swordsman who was stubbornly entangling him.

"Get lost!"

"I won't let you—"

"Onigiri!"

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

With a sudden burst, Zoro, like a rampaging demon god, shattered all six of his opponent's katanas with a single move. Then:

"Tornado!"

Puff-puff-puff-puff

Poor Hachi instantly spurted blood and flew into the air, while Zoro's figure charged towards Roman without hesitation.

"Roman—"

Among the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, Nami watched Roman engulfed in flames, tears streaming down her eyes. The tears she had shed these past few days were more than she had in the previous eight years combined! Even facing the raging inferno, she rushed forward without hesitation.

"Hahahaha, see that. Captain Canson!"

Roman laughed wildly within the flames, as if the surrounding inferno was merely a festive celebration.

One side couldn't escape, One side charged forward;

One side was fearful, One side worried and crying;

"These are my comrades, my current comrades! All these good comrades are mine, and you have nothing—"

The captain of the 'Flame Pirates', the combat captain of the 'Silver Light Pirates', both were pirates who had lost everything from their past. It's just that one had found a place to rest and trusted comrades. And the other...

"...You win..."

"Kid!"

***

Fighting scenes are such a headache...

PS: Thanks to readers 'Dragon Cat' and '80012135' for the monthly tickets.