"Humans, stop pushing your limits!" Arlong roared, baring his jagged steel teeth.
He lunged at Luffy, aiming to bite down on his neck, but Luffy dodged nimbly, countering with a powerful kick to Arlong's chin.
This wasn't an ordinary kick—Luffy's strength had grown far beyond what it was in the original fight. With the awakening of his nen ability, his power had multiplied. The blow shattered Arlong's steel teeth and sent him hurtling backward into a building, the impact echoing like a thunderclap.
Dust and debris clouded the air as the house crumbled, but when Arlong emerged from the rubble, he was far from defeated. His steel teeth had already regenerated, and in both of his hands, he now carried his teeth, its jagged edges gleaming menacingly.
Watching from the sidelines, Usopp's legs trembled at the sight of the weapon. "Uh… maybe we should go help Luffy?" he suggested, voice shaky.
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, dismissed the idea. "Soldiers fight soldiers, generals fight generals. Our part's done. Now it's up to Luffy to settle this."
Ikki nodded, smiling confidently. "Believe in Luffy. He's got this."
Usopp fell silent, though he still looked nervous.
Zoro, meanwhile, sat calmly, taking a swig from a gourd of sake as he watched Luffy's battle with a knowing smirk.
As the fight resumed, Arlong's weapon initially put Luffy on the defensive. But Luffy's adaptability soon turned the tide. Focusing his energy into his fists and feet, he began to counterattack with precision.
When Arlong swung his teeth in a wide arc, Luffy clasped his hands together and caught it mid-swing. With a surge of strength, he snapped the weapon in half with a loud crack.
Arlong's eyes widened in disbelief. "How...?"
Luffy didn't wait for him to finish. With his arms stretched back, he launched himself forward.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!"
The attack landed squarely in Arlong's stomach, launching him back into the already damaged Arlong Park building. The force of the blow caused walls to crumble further as Arlong crashed through them.
Despite the damage, Arlong staggered to his feet once more, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away and tried to step forward, but Luffy was already on him.
"Gum-Gum Gatling!" Luffy shouted, his fists becoming a blur as they pounded into Arlong.
Punches rained down like a storm, hitting every part of Arlong's body with devastating force. The sound of breaking bones echoed with each strike, and blood sprayed from Arlong's mouth as if it were endless.
The relentless assault shook the entire structure of Arlong Park. Walls cracked, pillars collapsed, and the building itself began to give way under the sheer force of Luffy's attacks.
By the time Luffy finally stopped, Arlong was unconscious, lying amidst the rubble of his once-mighty base. The remaining structures of Arlong Park collapsed entirely, reduced to ruins.
As the dust settled, the dark clouds that had loomed overhead began to disperse, and sunlight broke through, bathing the battlefield in warmth for the first time in ages.
"Huh? Who won?" Usopp asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Of course Luffy wins!" Ikki declared with a grin. He dashed forward, digging Luffy out of the rubble. Despite the destruction around him, Luffy emerged virtually unscathed, dusting himself off with his trademark carefree smile.
Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi Village...
Marine Captain Fullbody, seated in his wheelchair, was going door-to-door, explaining the purpose of his unit's visit. However, the villagers were far from trusting. They all knew the Marines in this area were in cahoots with the Arlong Pirates.
Despite their skepticism, Fullbody persisted, speaking earnestly. After some time, his words started to sink in. The villagers cautiously began to believe that this time, the Marines had truly come to dismantle Arlong's regime.
"And..." Fullbody added, "strong fighters from the private Marines are battling the Arlong Pirates as we speak!"
Nami, from her vantage point, noticed the commotion and the Marines' movements. Her eyes widened in shock. "What... Luffy and the others actually came here?"
Holding her head in exasperation, she muttered, "You idiots... Why did you follow me?"
Deep down, though, her frustration was mixed with worry. She had come to care for her crewmates as true partners, and the thought of them being harmed by Arlong filled her with dread.
Clenching her fists, she grabbed her weapon and dashed out of her home, determined to face Arlong herself.
Just as Nami stepped outside, she came face-to-face with Colonel Nezumi, who had just arrived with a squad of Marines. Nezumi noticed Fullbody and his men but dismissed them as inconsequential. After all, Fullbody was only a captain, and his unit was small compared to Nezumi's forces.
Ignoring Fullbody's claims of someone defeating the Arlong Pirates, Nezumi focused on his goal—Nami's treasure. Leading his soldiers, he headed straight for the orange grove where the 100 million berries were hidden.
Nami tried to block his path, but Nezumi's soldiers drew their guns, forcing her to retreat. As the group approached the grove with shovels in hand, Nami realized this had to be one of Arlong's ploys. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to fight with everything she had.
Before Nami could act, Fullbody arrived with his men—and behind them, a crowd of Cocoyasi villagers armed with farm tools. They surrounded Nezumi's group, cutting off their advance.
Nezumi's expression darkened. "What's the meaning of this? Are you fools trying to rebel?"
Stepping forward from the crowd, Genzo—wearing his signature windmill hat and bearing scars that told the story of his battles—spoke with unwavering determination. "Nami has carried the hopes of this entire village. We've seen her suffering every day under Arlong. I won't let anyone hurt her anymore!"
The villagers behind him cheered in agreement, raising their makeshift weapons.
"That's right! Nami's done more for us than anyone!"
"She's our family. We won't let you take anything from her!"
"Nami, you've suffered enough. We're with you now!"
Tears welled in Nami's eyes as the villagers rallied around her. She had carried the burden alone for so long that their support left her overwhelmed and speechless.
Nezumi, however, was panicked. He barked orders to his soldiers, "Shoot them all if you have to!"
Before they could act, swordsmen Johnny and Yosaku stepped in, cutting down those who hadn't dropped their weapons. Even Fullbody, despite his injuries, stood tall.
Unbeknownst to Nezumi, Ikki had healed Fullbody using his Sky Magic earlier, restoring much of his strength. Now, Fullbody was ready to fight.
Charging forward, Fullbody slammed an iron-gloved fist into Nezumi's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Standing over him, Fullbody pressed his foot onto Nezumi's chest. "Drop your weapons, or this rat becomes a dead rat!"
Seeing their leader captured, Nezumi's soldiers hastily surrendered, throwing down their arms. Those who hesitated were swiftly dealt with by Johnny and Yosaku.
Fullbody sneered at Nezumi. "With skills like yours, it's a miracle you're a Captain. Guess that doesn't take much when you rely on bribes, does it?"
Nezumi spat blood and glared. "You're a lieutenant commander—if you act out of line, I'll have you court-martialed! I'll report you to headquarters and have you stripped of rank!"
Fullbody laughed coldly. "Do you even know who you're messing with? The private Marines have the backing of Vice Admiral Garp. Do you really think you stand a chance?"
Nezumi's face paled at the mention of Garp, realizing he had no leverage in this fight.
Ironically, Fullbody failed to acknowledge his own rise through flattery and nepotism. But in this moment, he played the role of a hero to perfection.
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