Of all the humans Arlong had ever seen, Norton was the most handsome.
But aside from his handsome appearance, Arlong could sense nothing powerful about Norton. He seemed no different from the ordinary villagers of Cocoyasi Village...
He was even more ordinary than those villagers, as unremarkable as the flowers and grass by the roadside.
Yet a man like this had so many powerful subordinates!
Arlong couldn't help wondering who Norton was. Was he some great noble from another kingdom? Where had Nami found him?
The immediate crisis left Arlong no time to dwell on it. Together, Zoro and Sanosuke were far stronger than the Marines from a branch base, rivaling the elite of Marine Headquarters.
Arlong had only one thought now: kill everyone who had invaded the courtyard!
With that murderous intent, Arlong lunged at Norton.
But before Arlong could get close, a sharp kunai stabbed into his face!
Steel struck scales, throwing off brilliant sparks.
Arlong wiped the blood from his face and glared viciously at Sanosuke.
Then he glanced behind him. Kuroobi had already fallen in a pool of blood.
"My brother!!"
Arlong roared toward the sky, his voice shaking all of Arlong Park.
Though he despised humans, Arlong treasured his fellow fish-men. Seeing his comrades fall before him filled him with blazing fury!
"Damn invaders! And you... Nami!" Arlong's savage gaze swept past Norton and settled on Nami.
Nami stared coldly back at him, without a trace of pity. "I told you that you'd regret this, Arlong."
"You'd better never fall into my hands again, Nami! I've been far too kind to you all these years!"
"Keep dreaming. Today, you'll answer for your sins!"
Nami drew a dagger and plunged it into her arm, brutally slicing through her skin to cut apart the tattoo marking her as one of Arlong's crew. Even through the agony, she shed no tears.
"I've wanted to do this for so long! Starting today, I'll have a new life!" Nami placed her other hand on Norton's shoulder. "My captain will get justice for me!"
"Him? That pretty boy?" Arlong sneered at Norton. "I'll kill him right now!"
"Don't you dare harm my lord!" Sanosuke blocked Arlong's path.
Compared with the furious, savage Arlong, Norton looked utterly calm-so calm that he seemed arrogant.
In fact, Norton had never taken Arlong seriously at all. Ever since entering Arlong Park, he had been studying the surrounding buildings.
They looked exactly like what he had once seen in the manga, but standing among them now felt entirely different, almost surreal.
"Nami, show me around. After tonight, Arlong Park will no longer exist," Norton said.
Nami froze, stunned by Norton's composure. With a formidable enemy right before him, he acted as though Arlong didn't exist.
She had never imagined that Arlong, the nightmare that had haunted her for so long, would matter less to Norton than a collection of buildings.
"Aren't we in the middle of a fight?" Nami couldn't help asking.
"What fight? Let Sanosuke and Zoro get some practice first." Norton smiled, utterly unconcerned.
"All right..." With Norton putting it that way, Nami could only give in.
"Bandage your wound." Norton tore a strip of cloth from his clothing and handed it to Nami. "Then show me around."
Ignored by Norton, Arlong grew so furious that his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Yet Sanosuke stood like a wall across his path!
The kunai stabbed precisely toward Arlong's eye again, forcing him to turn his head aside. It scraped across his scales with a piercing screech and a shower of sparks.
Forced to stop, Arlong hurled a furious punch at Sanosuke with a howl of rushing air, only for Sanosuke to narrowly evade it with incredible flexibility and speed.
The blast from his punch struck a nearby stone pillar, sending chunks of stone flying from its thick shaft!
Arlong roared, but he didn't recklessly charge straight at the protected Norton again. Instead, he abruptly turned and lunged toward the weapon rack in the corner of the courtyard.
An enormous, terrifying weapon rested against it!
It was a huge saw-bladed sword. Instead of a smooth cutting edge, its blade sported massive, jagged iron teeth like a shark's, gleaming with a dark, bloody chill in the firelight. Its thick hilt required a two-handed grip.
This was Arlong's personal weapon-Kiribachi! Its name proclaimed that its serrated teeth could tear through anything, even cleave a mountain!
Clang!
Arlong lifted the incredibly heavy weapon with one hand, its teeth cutting through the air with a teeth-grating creak. His monstrous fish-man strength made him perfectly suited to wielding a weapon no ordinary person could handle.
With his weapon in hand, Arlong's presence surged. The brutality and confidence of the East Blue's overlord seemed to return.
Arlong dragged Kiribachi behind him, its teeth scraping across the paving stones in a trail of sparks and shrill noise.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Sanosuke-the slippery ninja who had wounded him. He would be the first to be sawed to pieces!
"Die, insect!"
Arlong charged forward, even faster in his fury. With the momentum of his charge, he swung the heavy Kiribachi diagonally upward from below-a simple strike backed by terrifying power!
The enormous serrated blade tore through the air with a dreadful roar like a speeding train.
Its sweep covered a vast area, targeting not only Sanosuke but also both sides where he might dodge!
Sanosuke's gaze grew grave. Against an attack that overwhelmed through sheer strength and the weapon's size, his refined close-quarters combat and kunai techniques could hardly stand their ground.
He retreated without hesitation, darting backward as both hands flicked in succession.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several shuriken flew in a triangular pattern toward Arlong's face and the joints of his sword arm, attempting to disrupt his attack.
Arlong neither ducked nor dodged. He simply roared and continued Kiribachi's upward swing. Its terrifyingly broad blade moved like an iron wall, knocking away or shattering every incoming shuriken!
Amid sharp metallic clangs, he pursued with enormous strides. On his second step, he twisted his body, using the centrifugal force to turn Kiribachi's rising stroke into a horizontal sweep!
The serrated blade bit effortlessly into a nearby stone pillar so thick that two people would have to join their arms to encircle it, cutting through it as though it were tofu!
Stone fragments and dust exploded outward. A corner of the courtyard's covered walkway collapsed with a terrifying crash.
Sanosuke had retreated to the edge of the courtyard, with a wall behind him.
As the sweeping saw-blade sealed off a wide stretch of space, he kicked off the wall behind him and scrambled several meters upward like a gecko, barely avoiding the terrifying edge that would have cut him in half.
Boom!
The serrated blade missed him and smashed into the wall where he had just stood. The thick masonry tore like paper, leaving an enormous jagged breach as shattered bricks flew everywhere.
"Is scurrying around like a rat all you can do?!" Arlong roared.
Seeing Sanosuke clinging to the wall, he gripped the end of Kiribachi's hilt with both hands and unleashed a savage upward strike straight at him!
Just before the serrated blade reached him, Sanosuke kicked hard against the wall. Instead of moving backward or upward, his body shot sideways at an uncanny angle, like light reflecting off a mirror-blindingly fast and along a treacherous path!
It was the ninja's advanced movement technique-Flash Step!
Kiribachi buried itself deep in the wall, scattering rubble, but caught only a fluttering corner of Sanosuke's clothing.
Arlong wrenched the saw-blade free and turned to find his target.
But Sanosuke hadn't moved far away. Instead, he seized the brief delay as Arlong pulled out his sword and closed in again like a phantom!
This time, the kunai in Sanosuke's right hand stabbed toward Arlong's exposed right flank, while his left hand discreetly closed around the hilt of the ninja sword at his waist.
"Annoying tricks!"
Though massive, Arlong was quick to react. He immediately brought his blade back to block while slamming his left fist toward Sanosuke's head, forcing him to abandon his attack.
But Sanosuke's kunai thrust was only a feint!
The moment Arlong moved to defend, Sanosuke's outstretched right hand suddenly released the kunai. His fingers spread, and a smoke bomb dropped silently onto the ground between them.
Poof!
Dense, pungent purple smoke burst outward, completely engulfing Arlong's head!
"Cough, cough! What is this?!"
With his vision blocked and his sense of smell sharply assaulted, Arlong's movements faltered.
He hurriedly swung Kiribachi wildly before him, creating a storm of serrated steel to ward off a sneak attack.
But that momentary disruption was exactly what Sanosuke wanted!
Within the smoke, he lowered his body like a venomous snake slithering along the ground. He slipped through the tiny blind spot beneath the wildly swinging Kiribachi and instantly entered Arlong's guard!
"Ninja Art: Shadow Stitching!"
Sanosuke shouted under his breath, finally drawing the ninja sword his left hand had been gripping!
This time, the blade traced a tight streak of cold light as it thrust straight toward the center of Arlong's chest, where the irritating smoke had slightly loosened his guard!
It was the fatal strike of a ninja who had waited patiently for his moment!
Though hindered by the smoke, Arlong sensed the deadly threat through his beastlike instincts!
He roared. With no time to bring his blade fully back, he could only force the heavy end of Kiribachi's hilt across his chest while tensing his muscles and bristling his scales!
Clang-!!!
An ear-splitting collision rang out!
The tip of Sanosuke's ninja sword struck the end of Kiribachi's hilt with perfect precision as Arlong moved it across to block!
That connection was cast from metal and exceptionally sturdy.
Sparks burst outward like a small fireworks display!
The tremendous recoil made Sanosuke's arm shudder and numbed the web of his hand. Yet his gaze remained fierce, and his blade never stopped. Using the force of the collision, he slid his sword forward, turning the thrust into a slicing stroke along the thick hilt, aiming straight at Arlong's fingers!
Arlong was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected the ninja to be so troublesome, or to change his attack so swiftly and viciously.
If he didn't let go, he would lose his fingers. If he did, he would drop his weapon and lose much of his fighting strength.
In a split second, Arlong released his left hand, holding the end of Kiribachi's hilt with his right alone. At the same time, he pressed the fingers of his freed left hand together and jabbed at Sanosuke's throat!
An attack Sanosuke had no choice but to defend against!
If Sanosuke insisted on cutting off Arlong's right fingers, his own throat would be pierced.
Without hesitation, he pulled back his blade and leaned away. Arlong's left-hand jab skimmed the skin of his Adam's apple, the force of its passage leaving his throat stinging.
The two broke apart, each retreating several steps.
Arlong held Kiribachi in his right hand alone. His left hand trembled slightly, its palm aching where the edges of the hilt's end had pressed into it. His fingers had nearly been injured, feeding his fury.
Sanosuke was breathing a little harder.
The repeated high-intensity dodges and explosive attacks had drained considerable stamina, especially that final head-on collision with Kiribachi's hilt. The web of his sword-bearing right hand had split, seeping blood.
Just as the two faced off and briefly caught their breath, a piercing scream and the thud of a heavy body came from the other side of the courtyard.
Arlong glanced over and saw that Kissing Fish-Man Chew had been utterly defeated by Zoro's ferocious Three Sword Style: Oni Giri, collapsing to the ground covered in blood.
Most of the other fish-man subordinates had also fallen under the pirates' coordinated assault. Their defeat was certain.
"Chew!!"
Arlong's eyes nearly split with rage. Kuroobi's fall had already enraged him; Chew's defeat only made it worse.
He knew he had to break the deadlock quickly! Take down the leader first! Kill that silver-haired man and Nami, and these invaders would naturally fall apart!
Arlong's gaze abruptly swept past the panting Sanosuke and locked onto the other side of the courtyard again.
Norton and Nami were walking toward the Main Tower, apparently about to enter the building!
Norton even looked back, casting a casual glance toward the battlefield.
That utter disregard filled Arlong with more humiliation and fury than any insult or mockery could!
It was as though his desperate battle were nothing more than a meaningless monkey show in Norton's eyes!
"You bastard! Stop right there!"
Arlong completely lost his mind. He ignored Sanosuke, who was injured but still dangerous, and paid no heed to Zoro, who had just defeated Chew and was turning a cold gaze toward him.
All he wanted was to charge over and saw those two into pulp with Kiribachi!
"Raaaaaah-!!"
Arlong let out an inhuman roar. Dragging Kiribachi behind him in one hand, he charged toward Norton and Nami's retreating backs like a steel bull gone utterly berserk, crushing the paving stones along his path!
"Stop him!"
Sanosuke forced himself past the pain in his right hand and his depleted stamina, hurriedly giving chase, but Arlong's reckless charge was incredibly fast.
Yet a green figure moved faster than Sanosuke!
Just as Arlong was about to cross the middle of the courtyard, Zoro appeared directly in his path as though he had teleported!
Zoro's gaze was as keen as a drawn blade, his fighting spirit boiling. Defeating Chew had been a warm-up that left him hungry for a stronger opponent!
The sounds of fierce fighting, furious roars, and clashing weapons rang out without pause.
Meanwhile, guided by Nami, Norton strolled leisurely through Arlong Park's corridors, occasionally stopping to admire the crude decorations on the walls or glance through a window at the battle outside.
His relaxed demeanor was utterly at odds with the murderous atmosphere around him.
Nami had hastily bandaged her arm with the strip of cloth Norton had given her. It still hurt, but a strange feeling surged within her.
The man beside her was so powerful and composed that she, too, seemed temporarily freed from the shadow of fear that had haunted her for years.
After wandering around for a while, they climbed the tower and reached the Charting Room Arlong had prepared for Nami.
The room was filled with navigational instruments and drawing tools. Detailed charts of the East Blue hung on the walls, many drawn by Nami herself.
"Do you like these things?" Norton asked, casually picking up a half-finished chart from the desk.
Nami looked around at everything so familiar and suffocating. After a brief silence, she shook her head.
"Not at all. This isn't what I wanted to do. Every second I spent here... was torture."
Norton smiled and said evenly, "Is that so? In that case..."
He took an exquisite metal lighter from his pocket, lit it with a click, and casually held the unfinished chart to the flame.
The paper's edge quickly blackened and curled, and a bright tongue of fire sprang up!
"Then let's burn it."
The flames licked across the chart and soon spread to the nearby papers, books, and wooden desk...
Thick smoke began to rise. Orange-red firelight gradually illuminated the room, lighting Norton and Nami's faces as well.
In the courtyard, Arlong's battle against Sanosuke and Zoro had reached a fever pitch.
The courtyard lay in ruins.
Sanosuke clung to Arlong like a relentless affliction, using a ninja's extraordinary speed and agility to leave fine cuts in his tough scales with kunai and ninja sword.
Zoro was like a tiger unleashed, his Three-Sword Style strikes savage and precise. Having utterly defeated Chew, he now joined the assault on Arlong, piling on the pressure.
Arlong roared again and again, wounded in numerous places. Sanosuke's cunning kunai attacks and Zoro's heavy slashes left him struggling to keep up.
Just as he finally seized a tiny opening in Sanosuke's defenses and forced him back, he caught sight of thick smoke and fire pouring from a window at the top of the tower!
That was... his tower! Nami's room!
"No-!!!"
Arlong let out a heart-rending roar.
He took one of Zoro's slashes head-on, his shoulder scales shattering as blood sprayed. Yet he used that impact to smash through their blockade like a torpedo, launching himself straight toward the top of the tower!
But when he smashed through the burning window and burst into the room, now a sea of flames, no one was left inside.
Only the flames spread unchecked, devouring everything he had once regarded as his "spoils" and "tools."
"Nami-!!!"
Arlong's roar echoed through the blaze, filled with boundless hatred and madness.
By then, however, Norton had already brought Nami back to the center of the courtyard.
The fire lit up half the night sky, illuminating the Fish-Men strewn across the courtyard-all of Arlong's men had been defeated.
Arlong leaped from the tower like a meteor and slammed into the courtyard, cracking the ground beneath him.
Scorched, covered in soot, and riddled with wounds, he fixed his bloodshot eyes on Norton and Nami standing side by side. His rage had burned away his last shred of reason.
"I'll kill you both!!!"
Arlong swung "Shark Saw," abandoning all technique and pouring every last bit of his strength and life energy into the blow as he slashed savagely at Norton!
Sanosuke's and Zoro's gazes sharpened, and they moved to step forward.
But Norton gently raised a hand, stopping them.
Faced with Arlong's desperate charge, Norton casually struck out with a slap.
Smack!
Time seemed to freeze for an instant. Arlong abruptly changed direction and flew sideways! As though struck by an invisible sledgehammer, he smashed into the thick brick-and-stone wall surrounding Arlong Park!
Crash-!!!
Masonry crumbled and dust billowed. An entire stretch of the wall collapsed into rubble under the impact, burying Arlong beneath it.
The courtyard fell deathly silent, save for the crackling flames.
A moment later, the rubble shifted, and Arlong struggled painfully out of the wreckage.
Half his face was swollen, his scales had fallen off, and his mouth was full of blood. His eyes held utter bewilderment, shock, and... fear.
He shook his head and tried to steady himself, only to stagger several times and nearly fall again.
"...How is that possible?" Arlong muttered hoarsely, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
That effortless slap had held a force he could neither imagine nor resist.
Norton slowly walked forward, with Sanosuke and Zoro close behind on either side. They looked at Arlong as though he were already dead.
Nami followed too, her fists clenched tight.
Norton stopped and glanced at Nami beside him. She was still trembling slightly, but she struggled to hold her back straight.
Norton bent down, picked up a pistol, and handed it to Nami.
Nami gripped the cold handle, her fingers white with tension. She raised her arm and aimed the muzzle at Arlong, who was struggling to get up a few meters away.
Arlong lifted his head and met Nami's eyes. All he saw was coldness!
"Go to hell, Arlong," Nami said softly.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed through the silent courtyard.
The bullet struck Arlong squarely between the eyebrows. His vicious expression froze forever, the light rapidly faded from his eyes, and he toppled backward.