Following the guidance of the magnetic pointer, the Daybreak arrived at Cocosia Village. From a distance, they could already see the island engulfed in flames.
"What's going on? Even though Tiger was rescued, I specifically asked him to keep Arlong in check. Why is Cocosia Village still under attack?" Arias commanded Salome to speed up the voyage.
As they approached the port, they noticed a pirate ship docked there, with seven or eight pirates guarding it. The approaching Daybreak quickly drew their attention. Since it wasn't flying a pirate flag, the pirates mistook it for an ordinary merchant ship.
Arias instructed Salome to steer the ship alongside the pirate vessel, then leaped aboard their ship.
"This guy's an idiot! He dares to board a pirate's ship alone!" The pirates guarding the ship laughed as they surrounded him.
"Hey! There are some fine-looking women on that ship too!" one pirate sneered, as Hancock and the others appeared on the deck of the Daybreak. The pirates stared in disbelief, entranced by their beauty.
However, their moment of awe was short-lived. With a few quick gestures from Hancock, several large hand seals were unleashed, reducing the pirates to nothing more than splatters of blood. One pirate, paralyzed by fear, stood in shock, his hand trembling as he held his weapon.
"Who is your boss?" Arias asked calmly, snapping the pirate out of his daze. The pirate, now petrified, looked at Arias as if he were a god or demon. Swallowing hard, he realized this man's power was beyond anything he'd ever seen. Even his captain, with his supposed invincibility, would likely be begging for mercy.
"Our boss is Krieg!" the pirate stammered, revealing everything he knew.
Krieg? Arias mused as he casually crushed the pirate's throat. What's Krieg doing here?
Leaving the ship, Arias led his crew toward the village, leaving Yamato behind to help Salome guard the ship.
As they entered the village, the devastation became evident. Fires raged, villagers cried out in despair, and the pirates strutted about arrogantly.
Out at sea, not far from the village, a Marine warship was anchored. An officer aboard observed the chaos in Cocosia Village through a telescope but made no move to intervene. The sailors behind him were slacking off, drinking, and playing cards, completely indifferent to the destruction unfolding on the island.
On the island, Arias and his group grew increasingly grim as they took in the scene. "It's horrible—so many people have been killed!" Hiyori's voice trembled as she recalled the horrors of Wanokuni. It was just like when Orochi and Kaido had invaded her homeland.
Young Zoro clenched his jaw, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Though small in stature, he carried three swords: Ryokaito Shujumaru, a gift from Shimotsuki Kozaburo, and two ordinary longswords from Koshiro's dojo.
"These pirates deserve to die!" he growled, his desire to slay them all barely contained.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, followed by a heart-wrenching cry.
"Over there!" Arias led the group toward the sound of the gunfire. When they arrived, his eyes widened in shock.
A tall man in golden armor, holding a flintlock gun, was laughing maniacally. "This is what happens when you don't pay the protection fee!" he jeered.
Before him lay a woman in a pool of blood, her dark red hair matted with dirt. Her figure suggested she was someone who had lived an active life. Beside her, two little girls sobbed uncontrollably—one with orange hair and the other with blue.
This was Bell-mère, along with Nami and Nojiko! Despite Arlong's absence, Bell-mère was still dead.
Arias couldn't understand why this tragedy had unfolded despite his efforts to change the course of events. Was this the unbreakable grip of the world line? Did Nami need to endure this childhood trauma to become the great navigator she was destined to be?
But hadn't the system indicated that the future had changed?
If the future had changed, why was this happening?
Krieg turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps. Before him stood what looked like gods and goddesses, with four children trailing behind them. The smallest, only about eight years old, caught Krieg's attention, but it was the stunning beauty of the older women that truly captured his lustful gaze.
"This place belongs to me, Krieg! Since you dared to come here, you better leave something behind!" Krieg boasted. He was the self-proclaimed overlord of the East Blue, unmatched by any in these seas. And he was ready to expand his fleet, aiming for complete domination.
Arias, ignoring Krieg, approached Bell-mère's lifeless body and turned to Hiyori. "Hiyori, you take on the big one. As for the other pirates, leave them to Kuina and Zoro. Their sword skills need to be tested in battle."
Hiyori nodded, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword, Tian Yu Zhan, and said to Kuina and Zoro, "Go, take care of the pirates."
No sooner had she spoken than a small figure darted forward.
Zoro, with the beads of his three swords clutched between his teeth, shouted, "Leave the biggest one to me!"
"Zoro!" Hiyori and Kuina exclaimed in unison. He was just a child, how could he possibly fight such a dangerous pirate? If he wasn't careful, he could be killed!
Krieg burst into laughter as the little boy charged at him. This kid thought he could take him on?
With a single swift motion, Krieg kicked Zoro in the chest, sending him flying into a nearby tree. The impact left Zoro coughing up blood, but he still refused to give in, using his sword to prop himself up.
"Zoro!" Kuina rushed to his side. "You're too injured! Let me handle this!"
But Zoro struggled to his feet. "No, I… I want to fight!"
Meanwhile, Hiyori had already drawn her sword and was engaging Krieg. The other pirates, seeing their captain under attack, rushed to join the fray.
Seeing Zoro's determination, Kuina reluctantly used the flat of her blade to knock him unconscious. "Please, Carina, take care of Zoro. I'll deal with the pirates!" she urged.
Carina took Zoro's limp form, her face paling when she saw the deep indentation in his chest. Krieg's kick had clearly broken his sternum.
She laid Zoro down as gently as she could, whispering in fear, "Master Hancock, is he going to die?"
Hancock glanced over at Zoro, noting his serious injuries but also the incredible vitality within him. "No, Arias will save him."
On the battlefield, Hiyori and Krieg were locked in a fierce battle. Despite Krieg's overwhelming strength, Hiyori's agility allowed her to evade his attacks with ease. His heavy weaponry was no match for her nimble movements and expert swordsmanship.
Realizing that brute force alone wouldn't suffice, Hiyori decided to employ the true meaning of Tai Chi she had learned—Ghost Walk—to close the gap in their power.