Bloodbath at the Arlong Empire

"Very good."

A satisfied smile immediately appeared on Kael's face as he looked at Krieg's current state.

Clearly, he had underestimated the power of Tsukuyomi before.

Once the gap in spiritual power was great enough, he could even use Tsukuyomi's limitless time and space to alter a person's mind, consciousness, and even memories out of thin air!

After prolonged torment, Krieg had now completely become exactly what Kael wanted him to be.

And that was still the result of Kael using Tsukuyomi for the first time and not having fully mastered the skill.

Fortunately, Krieg himself was an utterly heinous pirate, allowing Kael to experiment on him without the slightest guilt.

As for having him establish the Witch Cult, that had merely been an idea Kael came up with on a whim after seeing Krieg's condition.

As the world's largest gathering place for criminals, Impel Down held countless notorious and powerful offenders.

After being confined for years on end, many of them had developed mental problems.

People like that were precisely the ones who needed faith to support them.

Even a clown like Buggy had managed to gain a huge number of followers. Kael believed that Krieg, now transformed into an "enlightened monk," would not disappoint him.

And once these criminals became believers, Nami could learn information from their memories through them...

For example, treasures they had hidden before being imprisoned, places where they fenced stolen goods, criminal gathering spots, and sources of weapons...

Not only could this information bring Kael substantial wealth, it could also earn him a huge amount of goodwill from Fleet Admiral Sengoku!

That way, he would have enough leverage to make a few demands of the Marines.

Morgan and Nezumi, those two scum of the Marines, were merely appetizers he had offered Sengoku.

These nests that nourished pirates were the true key to changing the balance of the seas!

Leaving the underground prison, Kael returned to the deck of the Tiga.

The Tiga sped across the sea, riding the wind and waves. The oncoming swells were split cleanly in two by the sword-like hull, turning into white foam that scattered to either side of the ship.

At the same time.

Not far ahead of the Tiga, a large building that looked remarkably similar to a Marine base slowly entered Kael's view.

That was their destination...

Fish-Man Paradise, established by the Arlong Pirates—Arlong Empire!

A paradise exclusively for fish-men!

Under Arlong's leadership, a group of fish-men released from prison huddled within the luxurious Arlong Empire, enjoying the wonderful life they had once never dared dream of!

A few years ago, humans had been every fish-man's nightmare.

Once they were captured by humans, the only thing awaiting them was the ugly brand of slavery, after which they would become merchandise in human hands.

But now...

Under their big brother Arlong's leadership, these fish-men had not only occupied human territory, but had also penned up a large number of humans for their own use!

This was the life fish-men were meant to enjoy!

After letting out a sigh, Hatchan lay back in a poolside lounge chair, basking in the warm sunlight as he dozed contentedly.

Tomorrow was the day they would go to Cocoyasi Village to collect protection money again.

Whenever he thought of the fear and helplessness on those humans' faces before them, Hatchan felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

"Hehehehe..."

Half asleep, he let out an unpleasant laugh.

But just then, a burst of noisy commotion abruptly shattered his sweet dream.

"Damn it! You lot without fins! Are you going to let me get any proper sleep or not!?"

Hatchan opened his eyes, cursing under his breath.

But then.

A scene that left him utterly dumbfounded appeared before him!

Whoosh!!!

A violent tornado suddenly appeared in the very center of Arlong Empire as if by magic!

Fierce winds howled!

Everything on the ground was swallowed by the storm.

Under the effects of the high-speed airflow, Hatchan felt a tremendous force pulling at his body. Instinctively, he tried to grab the lounge chair beside him to weigh himself down.

Yet in the next second, both he and the chair in his grasp were swept into the terrifying storm, instantly swallowed by the raging hurricane.

A painful tearing sensation spread across Hatchan's body. He stretched out a hand, his eyes trembling as he tried to cry for help.

But amid the fierce winds, he could not make a sound at all.

Until...

Splat!!!

As if sliced apart by sharp blades, Hatchan's body was suddenly twisted and torn into several pieces by the storm, blood spraying everywhere!

And within the storm were countless fish-men suffering the same fate as him!

"Who is it!?"

Beneath the Arlong Empire building.

The shark fish-man Arlong stared at the scene before him with bloodshot eyes.

As a pirate from the New World, he knew that the storm before him could never have been formed by East Blue's natural climate.

Someone with special powers had to be attacking them!

At the same time, several officers of the Arlong Pirates broke free from the storm using their own abilities.

However, unlike Arlong, who had been completely unaffected by the storm, they looked incredibly miserable.

Nearly every officer bore bloody cuts of varying sizes across their bodies.

"Arlong!!!"

Suddenly!

An enraged feminine shout rang out from the sky!

The swirling storm abruptly dissipated.

Countless severed fish-man limbs mixed with blood fell like rain, pelting down with loud splats.

The once picturesque Arlong Empire instantly turned into a living hell!

Blood rained from the sky, and wreckage filled the air!

High above, Nami stood suspended in midair, fury blazing from her eyes.

Years of grievance erupted all at once!

"Nami!!! Why is it you!?"

When Arlong and the others saw the enemy attacking Arlong Empire, disbelief immediately appeared on their faces.

But before they could figure out what had happened...

An incomparably scorching aura suddenly erupted from the gates of Arlong Empire!

In the next moment, surging, blazing flames swept in every direction and slammed into the gates.

Under the terrifying impact of the flames, even the walls connected to the gates were blasted into fragments and collapsed in an instant.

Then another storm swept forth, forming a barricaded passage made of swirling cyan-green currents.

The Tiga slowly sailed in along the Arlong Empire pool, welcoming the bloody rain and carnage.

At the bow, Kael glanced at Nami in the sky and let out a proud laugh.

"Looks like the audience really likes that opening, Nami."

"Seems that way."

Nami gave a cold laugh.

Then she waved one hand and slowly flew onto the Tiga, standing respectfully behind Kael.

"You!?"

When he saw the suddenly appearing, overwhelmingly imposing Tiga and the figures aboard it, Arlong's eyes instantly widened.

At that moment, he recognized Kael and the others.

After all, that pirate flag fluttering above them was far too conspicuous!

Arlong gritted his teeth and roared furiously:

"Nami! Kael!... What have you done!? Are you looking to die!?"

"Looking to die?"

Nami let out a scornful snort from aboard the Tiga.

"Why don't you open your dog eyes and take a good look at who's actually looking to die!?"

"Let me tell you, Arlong!!!"

"Your time to die has come!!!"