Genzo, Nojiko, and the others were dumbfounded. Reading M
Natsuya and Nami had simply vanished before their eyes!
"They went to the Arlong Empire!?"
Coming back to their senses, everyone's expressions changed drastically.
They did not know how Natsuya had made Nami disappear with him, but from what he had said, it seemed he was going to deal with Arlong and the others!
"Everyone, grab your weapons! Let's go to the Arlong Empire together!"
Genzo suddenly shouted.
Everyone responded at once.
Although Natsuya's performance just now had been astonishing, Arlong's strength had long since been deeply ingrained in their minds after all these years of rule.
So in their eyes, Natsuya's odds of winning were not high.
Of course, even if his odds were high, they still would not feel at ease letting Nami go there.
Thus, Genzo, Nojiko, and the other villagers rushed toward the Arlong Empire with fierce determination!
Meanwhile.
Arlong and the others, who had left first, had already arrived near the Arlong Empire.
"Hatchan, go call Momoo back."
Arlong suddenly instructed Hatchan.
He still felt somewhat uneasy, so he made another precaution.
Hatchan felt it was unnecessary, but seeing Arlong's gloomy expression, he hurriedly did as ordered.
Only then did Arlong return to the Arlong Empire with Kuroobi and the others.
But the moment they returned, Arlong, Kuroobi, Chew, and the rest all showed slight changes in expression!
There were actually two figures in the Arlong Empire, which should have been completely empty.
A young man in a suit, and a little girl with orange hair!
They were Natsuya and Nami!
At that moment, Natsuya was even sitting brazenly in Arlong's seat!
"What!?"
Seeing this, Arlong and the others were both shocked and furious.
What shocked them was that Natsuya and Nami, who should have still been near Nami's home, had somehow appeared in the Arlong Empire!
What enraged them was Natsuya's arrogant attitude!
He really did not take them Fish-Men seriously at all, did he!?
"Nami, what is going on!?"
As he looked at the two of them, a flash of cold light crossed Arlong's ferocious eyes.
Nami's entire body trembled.
The fear of being ruled by Arlong over the years surged uncontrollably through her heart again.
In truth, she did not know what was going on either.
Natsuya had said he would bring her to destroy the Arlong Empire, and in her daze, she had followed him here.
When she came back to her senses, she had discovered that they had somehow arrived at the Arlong Empire.
Then Arlong and the others returned.
And now, facing Arlong's chilling gaze, Nami could not help becoming frightened.
More than Genzo, Nojiko, and the others, she knew how powerful Natsuya was.
But likewise, she knew very well just how terrifying Arlong was!
Having stayed by Arlong's side all these years, she had seen countless pirates die miserably at Arlong's hands!
Sometimes, Nami had even felt that humans simply could not defeat creatures like Fish-Men!
So at that moment, Nami was somewhat lost as well.
Who was stronger, Natsuya or Arlong!?
What choice should she make!?
"Nami, what are you standing there for? Get back to my side already."
"Only our great Fish-Man Race can make the most thorough use of your talent!"
Seeing Nami remain silent, Arlong's tone suddenly turned low.
Kuroobi and the others sneered as well.
"That's right, Nami. Don't entertain any foolish ideas!"
"You don't actually think this guy is a match for us, do you!?"
"Hmph, so what if this Natsuya has a hundred-million-Beli bounty? As a Devil Fruit user, he will be restrained by our Fish-Man Race!"
"Our Fish-Man Race is the strongest in the world! Nami, get over here now!"
Hearing those words, Nami's little face turned pale.
The heart that had just glimpsed a ray of hope seemed to be covered by heavy shadows once more.
But at that moment, Natsuya let out a soft laugh.
"Heh."
The laugh was not loud, but it sounded exceptionally grating to Arlong and the others.
"You inferior human brat, what are you laughing at!?"
Arlong turned toward Natsuya and snorted coldly.
Natsuya merely shook his head with a laugh. "I really don't know where you get your sense of superiority from."
"Back on the Grand Line, you're rats everyone wants to beat, only able to live in dark corners. Now that you've been throwing your weight around in the East Blue for a few years, you think you're above everyone else?"
Hearing this, Kuroobi and the others' expressions immediately changed.
Arlong's expression, meanwhile, became extremely ugly.
Natsuya's words had struck directly at their sore spot, making every one of them fly into a rage from humiliation.
At the same time, they could not help feeling alarmed.
Natsuya knew the status of the Fish-Man Race on the Grand Line, which meant he had most likely been to the Grand Line, or perhaps had simply come from there!
That made things troublesome!
Because Natsuya's origins could mean completely different things!
If he had merely come from the East Blue, they would not have been overly wary of him!
But if he came from the Grand Line, then things would be troublesome!
Or perhaps his strength really matched his hundred-million-Beli bounty!
Realizing this, Arlong and the others naturally did not look any better.
As for Nami, she froze.
She had heard of the Grand Line too.
She had heard that its seas were more dangerous and more exciting, far beyond anything the East Blue or the other three seas could compare to!
Did the Fish-Man Race, including Arlong and the others, actually have such low status on the Grand Line?
Nami suddenly felt as if her worldview had collapsed.
So Arlong and the others, who were called the overlords of the East Blue here, were nothing on the Grand Line?
For some reason, at that instant, Nami felt a powerful yearning for that legendary sea!
If possible, she wanted to see that sea.
She also wanted to understand this world from a broader perspective!
With that thought, Nami suddenly became resolute.
She looked at Natsuya.
"Lord Natsuya, please destroy the Arlong Empire!"
Hearing that, Natsuya smiled.
"As you wish."
As he spoke, Natsuya slowly rose from his seat.
Arlong's expression instantly became extremely gloomy.
"Nami, my tolerance for you has reached its limit."
"If you want to destroy my Arlong Empire, then you can all die here together!"
"Hatchan!!!"
At the last word, Arlong suddenly shouted.
At that moment, violent movement suddenly erupted from the enormous pool in the Arlong Empire.
BOOM!!!
The next instant, the seawater split apart, and a gigantic creature leaped forth, crashing down toward Natsuya and Nami like a small mountain!!
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