Slaying Arlong

This was the real world. There was no such thing as hacking at someone with a blade for ages without even scratching their skin—no wounds, and certainly no blood.

Wherever blades passed, blood would inevitably spill. Sometimes, limbs would even be severed.

That was exactly what matched Zoro's initial, devil-like description.

"Black Ink!"

As Arlong's top subordinate, Hachi immediately made his move. He spewed a massive amount of octopus ink from his mouth toward Zoro.

This move did little damage, but it was hard crowd control!

No one wanted to get covered in ink, and if it got into their eyes, that would be even more troublesome.

Zoro had no choice but to flash aside and evade the attack. Hachi seized the opportunity. "Octopus Fist!"

It had to be said that racial advantages could sometimes be truly astonishing.

Hachi continuously threw punches with all six fists, all aimed at Zoro. Even Zoro was startled by the sheer ferocity of the assault!

"Two-Sword Style: Bull Needle!"

But Zoro was merely startled, nothing more.

When it came to counterattacking, he did not hesitate in the slightest. He charged forward like a bull, unleashing countless thrusts. This was one of Zoro's rare forward-rushing techniques.

He rushed past his opponent and launched a continuous barrage of attacks as they crossed paths. He could unleash multiple thrusts in an instant.

It was a technique meant to kill an enemy in an instant.

Yet this time, it was used to fend off Hachi's attack.

Hachi had not awakened Armament Haki. How could he dare meet Zoro's blades with his fists?

"Six-Sword Style: Barehanded Blade Catch!"

Hachi switched from offense to defense, using all six hands to catch Zoro's twin blades. However, the immense impact sent Hachi sliding back seven or eight meters before he stabilized himself.

He had completely blocked the attack.

"Oh?!"

Zoro could not help showing a surprised expression.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his pupils contracted. He had initially thought Hachi was merely a somewhat stronger minor opponent. Now, it seemed his strength was quite impressive!

Although Zoro had not gone all out, even so, there were only a handful in the entire East Blue who could block that attack.

He had not expected the Fish-man before him to stop it.

This immediately excited him. Fighting spirit erupted from him, and a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

"Astonish..."

Though they had exchanged only one move, Hachi had already deeply experienced Zoro's overwhelming presence. Unarmed, he was absolutely no match for him.

He pushed off with both legs and rapidly retreated. Then, at even greater speed, he climbed to the second floor and retrieved six swords.

"Six-Sword Style: Scabbard-Foot Strange Sword!"

After taking the swords, Hachi leaped into the air and arrived above Zoro. From midair, he wildly slashed with all six blades, seemingly intent on chopping Zoro on the ground into minced meat!

"Six-Sword Style?"

Seeing the six swords slashing toward him, Zoro could not help getting a face full of black lines. In his view, what kind of swordsmanship was this? It was simply utterly disorderly.

Any person who had learned swordsmanship would be better than this.

So this so-called Six-Sword Style relied purely on racial advantages.

With two swords in hand, he was completely fearless.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Every one of Hachi's attacks was blocked.

"How is this possible?"

Hachi had always been confident in his swordsmanship. Yet he had not expected that he still could not harm his opponent in the slightest.

He found it hard to believe.

In the East Blue, there had never been a swordsman who could emerge unscathed from his Six-Sword Style.

"Damn it..."

Hachi cursed under his breath, then shouted, "Take another move from me—Six-Sword Style: Octopus Jar Technique!"

He thrust all six sword tips toward Zoro, while Zoro swung his twin blades to meet them.

"Shark ON DARTS!"

At that moment, Arlong attacked Ener. His entire body shot toward Ener like a torpedo, his spike-like nose stabbing at him.

This move was immensely powerful. If it landed—

Even hard stone would be pierced through. Combined with its terrifying impact, it could even directly shatter stone.

That showed just how powerful this move was.

Ener crossed his arms before his chest and shouted, "Iron Body."

This move was known as the strongest illusion technique among pirates. Those who used it usually met a bad end, but that did not mean its power could be denied.

The main reason it was called an illusion technique was that the protagonist's plot armor was too powerful.

In truth, since it was listed among the Six Powers, it absolutely could not be underestimated. With this move alone, one could block most attacks in the first half of the Grand Line.

Not to mention in the East Blue.

"Clang..."

The next second, Arlong's nose viciously stabbed beneath Ener's arms. Yet it was blocked, and Ener was not injured in the slightest.

Only the tremendous force of the impact—

Sent Ener back more than ten meters, his feet carving two deep trenches into the ground. This showed the power of that blow!

When Ener stabilized himself—

He grabbed Arlong's nose and violently swung him. Arlong suddenly felt an enormous force hurling him upward before smashing him viciously into the ground on the other side.

"Bang!"

A dull crash rang out, and Arlong let out a muffled groan.

Under that immense force, the ground was smashed into a crater. Cracks then spread from the crater's center, rapidly extending in all directions.

"Pfft..."

A mouthful of blood sprayed from Arlong's mouth.

But Ener had no intention of letting him go so easily. He exerted force again, flinging him into the air.

And smashing him toward the other side!

Arlong had traveled the Grand Line before. He used both hands to seize the arm Ener was using to hold him, then borrowed the momentum and actually flung Ener away.

"Fish-Man Jujutsu?"

Ener was somewhat surprised. However, as he was thrown away and flew straight toward a distant wall, this was no challenge for him. Ener swung his leg, and a Rankyaku slash burst forth.

This Rankyaku slash was like one unleashed by a Master Swordsman.

It was incomparably sharp.

Everything in its path was cut apart. Even the bluestone-paved ground was sliced through like tofu.

And it rapidly shot toward Arlong.

"Not good!"

Arlong's expression changed drastically. It was already too late to dodge, because Ener's counterattack had come too quickly.

It caught him completely off guard.

Moreover, the attack speed of this move was extremely terrifying.

Dodging was impossible. He could only take the attack head-on, raising both arms before himself...

"Bang..."

The next second, Arlong was sent flying by the slash.

At the same time, Ener was already only two meters from the outermost wall. He flipped in midair, turning his body sideways and planting both feet against the wall.

He suddenly exerted force.

"Boom..."

Under the combined force of his explosive power and the original impact, the wall could not withstand it and a large section collapsed. Yet Ener himself shot out like a cannonball.

And rapidly caught up to the flying Arlong.

"Shigan!"

Ener's finger shot out like a bullet, directly piercing Arlong's heart. He gave him no chance to launch another counterattack.