King of the Banquet

Noil clapped along obligingly. "Brilliant! Is this a circus act?"

"Shut up, human!" Arlong had no patience for this smart-mouthed human brat.

"This is the advantage Fish-Men have. My whole body is a weapon. I have plenty of ways to kill you!"

Noil shrugged. "So?"

Arlong charged with the set of teeth in his hand. "Take this! Iron Teeth Technique!"

Noil raised his sword in one hand and parried left and right. For all the ferocity of Arlong's attacks, he couldn't break through Noil's simple defense.

Noil brought his blade down, pinning the teeth in place. Then he swiftly turned its edge and knocked them from Arlong's hand.

He didn't let the opening go to waste. His blade, coated in Armament Haki, swept across Arlong's exposed chest and left a deep gash.

Bright red Fish-Man blood poured out. The onlookers could almost see the stark white ribs beneath the torn flesh.

"Aaagh!!"

Arlong clutched the wound and fell to his knees, screaming.

Noil flicked the blood from his blade and sheathed it. There wasn't a trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at Arlong.

"When was the last time you trained?" Noil asked softly, his voice mocking.

"You've been slaughtering humans weaker than you because your species gives you an advantage. Have you forgotten how to train?"

"What gives you the right to look down on humans? That strength of yours that hasn't improved one bit?"

Arlong's blue face flushed red. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Summoning every last bit of strength, Arlong leaped high, bared his teeth, and spun toward Noil.

"Gear!!"

He really never learns.

Noil looked on with disdain.

He slowly held out both hands, intending to catch Arlong bare-handed.

"Don't look down on me!" Arlong roared as he spun.

But Noil's body swelled. Coarse brown fur sprouted across it, and his handsome face became a bear's.

His Devil Fruit talent activated!

Thick bear paws caught Arlong's Gear without budging. Noil looked at the stunned Fish-Man and gave him a smile that was both guileless and sly.

Noil struck an embarrassingly dramatic pose and roared, "Dragon Embrace Murder!!"

What?!

Confusion had barely crossed Arlong's face when Noil spread his bear arms and pulled him into an embrace.

For an instant, Arlong felt warm and cared for...

Though the bear fur was a little prickly.

Then his eyes went wide. Noil tightened his arms, squeezing Arlong with all his might!

"N-no... don't!!"

Ignoring Arlong's miserable cries, Noil roared with the fervor of someone unleashing his ultimate move. "It's over, Arlong!"

"Let me give you a proper hug, sweetheart!!"

Creak, creak—crack!

First came the teeth-grinding sound of bones shifting out of place, then the crisp snap of one breaking.

Noil slowly released his arms. Arlong slid from his embrace and collapsed like a limp, dead fish.

"Damn... human..." Arlong cursed weakly.

Noil stared in surprise. "He's still alive?!"

Fish-Men really are built tough, huh?

Could I copy some kind of Fish-Man talent from Arlong?

Noil reached down to lift Arlong, but Arlong suddenly pulled a capsule from somewhere.

That's...

Noil's pupils contracted.

Arlong threw the capsule into his mouth. With a sudden burst of energy, he slapped Noil's bear paw away and retreated.

Hatred filled Arlong's eyes. He wanted nothing more than to tear the brat apart.

But he knew he couldn't do it now.

Fortunately, his old companions from Fish-Man Island had sent him an experimental forbidden drug called Energy Steroids ES.

It granted immense strength for a short time by burning through the user's life force. Arlong had been too proud to ever consider taking it.

But he'd been driven this far!

With his fighting strength temporarily restored, Arlong had no intention of continuing the fight. "Attack the villagers!" he shouted to his crew.

The Fish-Men were overjoyed to see their captain recover. They understood at once and rushed into the crowd of villagers.

Noil frowned. They're drawing my attention away?

Arlong had found his weakness. Noil couldn't abandon the villagers.

He had no choice but to leave Arlong, who could still fight, and turn to protect the villagers from the Fish-Men.

Noil sent one Fish-Man flying with a swipe and planted himself firmly between the attackers and the villagers. Arlong used the chance to reach his three officers.

He hoisted them onto his shoulders and ran. Once the other Fish-Men saw the officers had been rescued, they stopped tying Noil down and fled as well.

They didn't even take the Arlong Pirates' ship. The Fish-Men plunged into the water and vanished beneath it like shadows shot from a bow.

Noil chased them to the shore and watched the Fish-Men scatter in silence.

Damn it. They got away even after all that?

The King of Parties

Noil pursued them all the way to the shore, but the figures beneath the surface vanished too quickly. All he could do was watch.

Fish-Men were Fish-Men. Their speed underwater was no joke.

"Damn it!" Noil said bitterly. "Why did Arlong have Energy Steroids ES? He never used them in the Original Story!"

What Noil didn't know was that if he hadn't driven Arlong into a corner, Arlong would have thrown the dangerous drug away within days.

Arlong was a thorn in his side, a constant threat to Bellemere and the villagers.

Noil's face hardened.

I'll hunt Arlong down. I can't leave him alive!

Just then, the system's voice rang out.

Ding! Host has successfully altered a major plotline! Rewards doubled!

Rewards issued! Observation Haki Awakening (beginner) ×1, Fish-Man Karate Training Manual ×1, Red Talent Copy Card ×1, White Talent Copy Card ×10!

The rapid string of cold system announcements left Noil's head spinning. Then delight surged through him.

He had awakened Observation Haki too. Now the only form left was Conqueror's Haki.

And with the Sovereign's Gift talent, he was guaranteed to gain Conqueror's Haki by the age of seventeen!

Fish-Man Karate was an excellent fighting style as well.

Fish-Men weren't the only ones who could learn it. Humans could become powerful practitioners too, and at a high enough level, they could even manipulate water.

Most importantly, it could replace the nearly useless Village Police Fighting Style talent Noil had copied from Genzo.

Only after gaining that talent had Noil realized how poor it was. It was barely good enough for self-defense; against an expert hand-to-hand fighter, he'd be finished.

That was why Noil had gone on to study Swordsmanship.

During his fight with Kenbula, for instance, his sword had been broken. Left empty-handed, Noil had been able to do little more than take hits and rely on his toughness.

Now he had Fish-Man Karate, a fighting style renowned even in the New World. It would cover that weakness.

Better yet, it didn't occupy a talent slot. Noil could train in it himself.

He could find a chance to replace the talent he'd copied from Genzo later.

As for the Talent Copy Cards, getting another red one was great.

But what am I supposed to do with so many White Talent Copy Cards?

After testing them, Noil was certain of one thing.

White talents are all small-fry abilities, aren't they?

Still, having them was better than having nothing...

Noil sighed, turned away from the shore, and walked back toward the villagers.

"Noil!"

Seeing the pirates driven off, the villagers cheered and surged forward, surrounding Noil with warmth and excitement.

The first to reach him were, of course, the two adorable little girls.

Nami and Nojiko threw themselves into Noil's arms, hugging and nuzzling him until he burst out laughing.

Bellemere wore a broad smile as she watched her child bask in the villagers' attention.

"Ohhh!"

Before long, the villagers lifted Noil high. Then, with a collective heave, they tossed him into the air.

As Noil flew upward, he held a little girl in each arm. Both laughed like chirping sparrows.

"Long live Noil!"

"Long live Noil!"

"Long live Noil!"

Being tossed up and down made Noil a little dizzy, but he still grinned smugly. "Wahaha! Keep it down, keep it down! I'm just that—holy shit, who touched my jewels?!"

After the commotion died down, everyone finally remembered Gen-san, who was still lying on the ground half-dead.

Genzo's face looked like he'd eaten dirt!

He'd lain there for ages, breathing in the earthy scent of the ground, and not one person had come over to help him.

And which blind bastard had stepped on him?!

The villagers hurriedly helped Genzo up. His expression finally eased, and he said weakly, "All right, let's go back to the village. Hurry and find me a doctor..."

A villager beside him suddenly lit up and called with a laugh, "Gen-san's right! Let's get back to the village and throw a banquet!"

"A banquet! A banquet!"

"Ohhh—"

Genzo exploded in fury. "You baaastards!!"

Night fell. The day's toil and exhaustion drew to a close, and under cover of darkness, people let their troubles fade and their spirits reset.

Cocoyasi Village, normally quiet by this hour, was still bustling with life.

A huge bonfire burned in the village square. Nearby grills held all kinds of meat, brushed with sauce and roasted golden-red. Oil glistened on the surface, and the rich aroma made mouths water.

Sitting by the fire with his arms slung around a few burly villagers, Noil laughed at jokes, played drinking games, sipped liquor, and boasted.

Beside him, Nojiko and Nami eyed the wine in a wooden barrel with curiosity. They each dipped a finger in to taste it.

Their eyes immediately lit up. Each filled a cup to the brim, clinked cups in imitation of the adults, and gulped it all down.

The two little rascals gave satisfied, wine-scented burps, never noticing Bellemere creep up behind them...

Time to hunt!