Raphael: <>
System: []
******
On the small, battered port of Cocoyasi Village, the stench of dread hung thick in the sweltering air. The midday sun beat down mercilessly, casting long, cruel shadows across the bloodstained wooden planks of the dock. There, Genzo and four other villagers knelt with their hands bound tightly behind their backs, their faces pressed against the rough, splintered boards.
A line of Fish-Men loomed before them. Closest stood Hatchan, the octopus Fish-Man, his eight arms folded casually across his broad chest, wide mouth twitching with a cheerfulness far too out of place for the grim scene. The others prowled behind him like sharks circling prey, their weapons already drawn and gleaming, hungry for blood.
"Well, well," sneered a green-scaled Fish-Man with jagged fins running down his spine. "If it ain't the brave sheriff of Cocoyasi." He let out a mocking laugh and rested his blade against the neck of the woman kneeling beside Genzo.
She whimpered, trembling, but Genzo didn't flinch. His eyes, once fierce and defiant, were now dim and lifeless, staring vacantly toward the horizon.
Another Fish-Man struck him in the shoulder with the blunt end of his weapon, making him jerk forward. "Oi! Don't ignore us, you pathetic worm. Weren't you the one screamin' about freedom and resistance just last week?" He leaned closer, voice dripping with cruelty. "What happened, huh? Gonna fight for your village? Gonna stand up to Captain Arlong?" His laugh was long and harsh, echoing across the dock. "Where's all that fire now?"
"I'll tell you where it went," growled the largest of them—a hulking brute with a twisted scar pulling at one corner of his mouth. "It got snuffed out... just like your precious Nami. Just like every other fool who thought humans could defy us."
"Humans," another Fish-Man spat, curling his lip in disgust. "Soft bones. Soft hearts. Soft brains. You're not built to rule. You're built to serve. And if you're lucky? To survive. But not today."
Genzo said nothing. His lips stayed shut, but the pain in his eyes deepened, an ache sharper than any blade. At the mention of Nami, the final ember of hope flickered and died behind his gaze, leaving behind only silence and despair.
"Look at him," Hatchan chuckled, scratching behind one of his ears. "He already looks like a dead fish. Maybe we don't even need to finish him off."
"Not yet," the green-scaled Fish-Man replied, stepping forward. He crouched in front of Genzo until they were eye to eye, his jagged teeth gleaming in the sunlight. "I want him to hear this first. I want it to stick." He grinned, a twisted, cruel smile. "Nami. That wild little redhead, always clinging to your leg, always so full of hope. Thought she could scrape together a hundred million berries and buy your freedom from Arlong?" He scoffed. "How pathetic."
Cruel laughter echoed from the surrounding Fish-Men as Genzo lowered his head, silent tears slipping down his weathered cheeks.
"But you know what's even better?" the green-scaled one sneered, leaning in closer. "I bet that Marine's already turned her into a broken little toy by now. That'll teach her what happens when you even think about leaving Arlong's crew."
He stood slowly, face hardening. "But that doesn't matter to you, does it?" he said coldly, raising his sword high. "You won't be around to see her come back."
The blade arced toward Genzo, but never reached him.
A thunderous bang split the air. A golden laser tore clean through the Fish-Man's skull, leaving a neat, smoking hole. He collapsed without a sound while the rest of the Fish-Men stared in horror at their fallen comrade, frozen in disbelief.
For a moment, silence reigned until three more sharp cracks rang out in rapid succession. Each shot found its mark. One by one, the other Fish-Men dropped lifeless to the dock, their weapons clattering uselessly beside them.
Meanwhile, on the Going Merry, which was slowly approaching the dock, Uta stood crouching on the figurehead of the lamb, holding a Tour De Force in her hand while aiming down sight.
"Four down, one to go..." Uta said as she brought the translucent holographic sight to her purple eye and aimed at the terrified eight-armed fisherman standing frozen in his place.
However, just as Uta began to steady her finger on the trigger, a hand gently landed on her shoulder.
"Wait a minute," Luffy said, his voice calm but firm. "Let me handle this."
Without waiting for a response, he leapt off the Going Merry just as it drifted to a halt at the dock. He landed with ease and began walking slowly toward Hatchan, who stumbled back in fear and fell onto his rear.
"P-Please don't hurt me!" Hatchan cried, tears already spilling down his cheeks. "I surrender! I give up!"
Luffy's eyes were cold and unreadable as a shimmering crystal blade materialized in his hand. "You've got a lot of nerve saying that after everything you've done to this village and its people," he said. "But before I pass judgment... tell me something. Do you know an old man named Rayleigh?"
Hatchan blinked rapidly, confusion flashing briefly across his tear-streaked face before he remembered an old form Sabaody. "Yes! Yes, I know Rayleigh! Please, I know him!"
"In that case, I won't kill you," Luffy said, and for a moment, hope returned to Hatchan's eyes, only to vanish in the next second as he screamed in pain. Luffy had slashed with his sword, severing two of Hatchan's eight arms. "But I can't let you walk away unscathed, not after everything you've done to these people."
He rested the sword's edge against Hatchan's neck. "Now you have two options. You can flee, leave this place, and never show your face in the East Blue again. Or you can stay... and die like the rest of that trash."
"No! No, I'll leave! I'll go! Just don't kill me!" Hatchan sobbed, pressing his remaining hands against his wounds.
Luffy gave a nod and signaled Kaya, who floated over and used her power to close the gaping wounds, sealing the flesh and stopping the bleeding on Hatchan's shoulders where his arms had once been.
"Now go," Luffy said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And remember, the only reason you're still breathing is because of your connection to Rayleigh. Don't make me regret it."
Hatchan nodded frantically, too afraid to speak, and scrambled toward one of the rowboats tied at the end of the dock. With trembling arms, he pushed off, casting one final glance back at the island, debating whether he should warn Arlong. But fear and the overwhelming instinct to survive made the choice for him. The memory of Luffy's blade and the icy look in his eyes crushed the thought before it could fully form, and without another word, he turned and rowed away from Cocoyasi Village.
Meanwhile, back at the port, Luffy let out a quiet sigh as Hatchan's rowboat faded into the horizon, vanishing into the endless blue. Just then, he sensed a presence behind him. Turning, he saw Uta standing with her arms crossed, a deep frown etched across her face.
"Why did you spare that octopus Fish-Man?" she asked sharply, as the rest of the crew began untying the villagers and helping them to their feet. "What makes him different from the rest of those pieces of a shit?" She gestured pointedly at the lifeless corpses of the four Fish-Men sprawled across the dock.
Luffy shrugged. "Nothing that I can think of," he said simply.
Uta's eyes narrowed, but he didn't offer her much else. "Then why?" she pressed, clearly irritated by his vague response.
Luffy smirked at her, deliberately testing her patience. "Just think of it as me investing in our future," he said in a cryptic tone, before walking past her. Uta stood still, lips pressed into a thin line of frustration, the unanswered question still burning in her mind.
Luffy then approached the freed villagers, who stood around in stunned silence, still shell-shocked by what they had just witnessed. A faint awe flickered in their eyes as they looked from the bodies of the fallen Fish-Men to the people who had defeated them, a feat they had never thought possible for any human.
But one among them looked no different than before.
Genzo stood off to the side, arms limp at his sides, his gaze locked on the horizon. The same gray, lifeless stare he'd worn before the bloodshed had never left his face.
"Well, old man, you look pretty down for someone who just got saved from execution," Luffy said, stopping in front of him.
Genzo didn't look at him. His voice came low and hollow. "What is there to be happy about?"
A long silence stretched between them as the wind rustled gently through the ruined village.
"I'm a failure," Genzo continued, his eyes never leaving the sea. "I couldn't keep a promise to a dead friend. I couldn't protect the one girl in this whole godforsaken village who still had hope." His voice wavered as his fists clenched, trembling at his sides. "Her mother trusted me... and I let her daughter walk into hell alone," he drew a shaky breath, shoulders heavy with regret. "Tell me... what's the point of someone like me still being alive?"
"Well, old man, I can't exactly tell you what you should or shouldn't do with your life," Luffy said, resting a hand on Genzo's shoulder. "But I know someone who'd be pretty upset if you threw it away like this." He tilted his head toward the Going Merry, where an orange-haired girl stood silently on the deck, eyes locked on Genzo. A single tear slid down her cheek, tracing a line across her freckled face.
Nami didn't speak. She didn't need to. The pain, the relief, and the guilt were all there, written in the way her fingers gripped the railing. She had always known, deep down, that Genzo cared about her and Nojiko. It had been obvious, even to someone who didn't want to see it. He was the quiet sort of guardian, always there in the background, helping where he could, scolding when he had to, shielding them from the world in the only way he knew how.
But she had never imagined he cared this deeply. Never expected that her absence could leave him so hollow, so broken, so willing to give up. It warmed her heart in a way she wasn't prepared for, knowing that someone beyond her sister had loved her enough to grieve like this. And at the same time, it made her heart ache even more. She hadn't meant to make him or anyone worry about her.
Genzo stared at Nami as though seeing a ghost. His eyes widened, breath caught in his throat. "Nami..." he whispered, the name barely audible, as if he didn't quite believe he was saying it, or that she was really standing there.
From the Going Merry, Nami descended slowly, each step hesitant. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as if holding herself together. She looked torn between the urge to run to Genzo and the overwhelming weight pressing down on her. The single tear that had slipped down her cheek earlier was just the beginning; more followed, glimmering in the sunlight as they traced quiet paths down her face.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice fragile, cracking under the emotion she could no longer contain. "I'm so sorry I made you worry..."
Genzo didn't move. He stood there as if rooted to the earth, as though the grief and guilt of the past days had chained him in place. His body remained frozen, but his eyes were locked on her, wide with disbelief.
"You... you're alive," he murmured, stepping forward, one shaky foot after the other. "You're really here... I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone, and that it was my fault. That I hadn't done enough to stop it. I was supposed to protect you..."
"You did," Nami said softly, closing the distance between them. "You and Nojiko... you gave me the strength to survive. To keep going when everything felt hopeless. That's why I didn't give up... even when I wanted to."
Genzo's lip trembled as he looked at her, overwhelmed by emotion. "I... I don't deserve your forgiveness," he said, barely managing to hold himself together. His voice cracked, but he pressed on, shaking his head. "But this isn't about me. Not now. There's someone else who needs to see that you're safe with her own eyes."
With that, Genzo took her hand and began leading her into the village, while the rest of the crew followed in silence, having first kicked the Fish-Men's corpses into the sea.
******
In a small house nestled near the hill, a young woman sat alone in silence. Her light blue hair fell messily over her shoulders, and her tanned skin glowed faintly beneath the inked patterns that marked her right arm and chest. Every curtain in the house had been pulled tight, shutting out even the faintest trace of daylight. The room was steeped in shadow, save for the dim, flickering light of a half-melted candle on the table.
She was hunched over, elbows resting on the worn wood of the dining table, her fingers clenched tightly around a nearly empty bottle. Her breathing was uneven, shallow, and growing worse with each bitter sip. The alcohol trembled in her grip with every ragged inhale as her eyes remained fixed on a single, small photograph lying before her: an old picture of her younger sister, smiling brightly, full of life.
She lifted the bottle again, lips parting as if to drink, but stopped halfway. Her hand shook too much. A few drops spilled onto the table, but she didn't notice. Or maybe she didn't care.
Nojiko didn't speak. She hadn't spoken in hours. Maybe days or even months. She just sat there, drowning not only in liquor but in guilt, fear, and the unbearable weight of not knowing the fate of her dear little sister.
Just then, a knock echoed from the front door. Nojiko didn't respond. She had heard knocks like this dozens of times over the past few months, and she had learned to ignore them. It was always the same, someone from the village bringing kind words she didn't ask for, gently telling her to hold on, to keep hoping, to endure. But what they really brought was pity. And pity was the last thing she wanted. No.. the only thing she wanted was her sister back. And just the thought of Nami was enough to make her chest ache and her eyes blur with fresh, bitter tears.
But whoever was at the door seemed oblivious to her grief. The knocking turned into pounding, relentless and sharp, snapping what little composure she had left.
Finally, with a strangled cry of frustration, Nojiko slammed both hands down on the table, the sound echoing through the quiet house. The force sent the nearly empty bottle skittering and the chair behind her toppling to the floor with a harsh crash. She stood there for a second, trembling with fury and pain, then took a sharp, shaky breath through clenched teeth before storming into the kitchen and grabbing a ten-inch kitchen knife from the counter as a cold, bloodthirsty gleam lit up her eyes.
She had made up her mind that if it was someone from the village, she would tear into them with words and make it crystal clear that she didn't need comfort. And if it was one of Arlong's men, she would strike first, no matter the consequences.
With her mind made up, she moved toward the door with steady steps, the knife hidden behind her back, fully prepared to take at least one Fish-Man down with her.
Nojiko stood just inches from the door, her chest rising and falling with shallow, rapid breaths. The knife trembled in her grip behind her back, fingers clamped so tightly around the handle her knuckles had gone white. Her nostrils flared with every ragged inhale, the air hot in her lungs. Her other hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitating.
"Just get it over with," she muttered under her breath, her voice hoarse, raw from silence and swallowed grief. Then, with a sharp inhale, she yanked the door open.
And everything stopped.
There, silhouetted by the fading afternoon light, stood a girl with messy orange hair, thinner than she remembered, but unmistakably her sister...
"...Nami?" Nojiko breathed, the word catching in her throat like a prayer she didn't dare believe. The knife slipped from her fingers and clattered uselessly to the wooden floor.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Nami's lips parted, trembling. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, her voice a soft, fragile whisper. "Hey... sis. I... I'm home."
Nojiko took a staggering step back, her hands flying to her mouth as her eyes brimmed with tears. "No... no, no, this can't be... you..." Her voice cracked under the weight of disbelief, the dam she had spent months building crumbling all at once.
And then Nami ran to her.
Nojiko moved instinctively, catching her before she could fall. They crashed into each other in the doorway, arms wrapping around one another like lifelines tossed into a storm. Nami buried her face into her sister's shoulder, her small frame trembling with each broken sob. Nojiko held her tight, one hand tangled in her messy hair, the other gripping her back with such force it was as if she feared letting go would make her disappear again.
"You're alive," Nojiko gasped, voice shaking. "You're alive, you're alive, you're alive..."
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again," Nami choked out between sobs. "I thought I was going to die in that place... I thought I'd never make it back."
"I thought you were already gone!" Nojiko sobbed, her whole body shaking as she clung to her sister. "Every day, I waited. Every night, I dreamed that this door would open and you'd be standing there. And every single time... it was someone else. Or it was no one at all."
"I'm sorry," Nami whispered, the words muffled against Nojiko's shoulder. "I'm sorry I made you worry. I didn't mean to—"
"Don't you ever say that," Nojiko whispered fiercely, pulling back just enough to cup Nami's face in her trembling hands. Their foreheads pressed together, tears streaming down both of their cheeks. "You came home. That's all that matters. Nothing else. Nothing else..."
For a long moment, they just held each other there in the doorway before pulling apart.
"By the way, Nami," Nojiko said, glancing past her sister toward the group standing a few feet from the porch, "who are these people?"
Nami turned and smiled faintly. "Oh... that." She rubbed the back of her neck, then began to explain how Luffy had rescued her from the 16th Marine Branch, how he and the rest of his crew had helped her recover afterward, and how they'd brought her home, safe and whole.
When she finished, Nojiko turned to the Straw Hats. Her expression softened, and she stepped forward slowly. Then, without a word, she bowed her head low. "Thank you," she said quietly, voice filled with as much gratitude as she could gather. "Thank you for saving my sister... for bringing her home."
Luffy blinked, then scrunched his nose and took a step back. "That's nice and all," he said, waving a hand in front of his face, "but could you maybe back up a little? You seriously reek of booze. I'm afraid I'll get drunk just breathing the same air as you."
Nojiko froze, her eyes widening in alarm as the realization crashed down on her. In all the emotion, she'd completely forgotten the stench of alcohol that clung to her skin and clothes, the same stench that had surrounded her for months. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as shame curled in her gut.
"Oh god..." she muttered under her breath, suddenly mortified. "Right. Yeah. Uh... everyone, just give me a moment! I need to, um, clean myself up a bit." She turned on her heel and bolted back inside the house.
But a few seconds later, she reemerged, wincing and pressing a hand to her temple. "Genzo!" she called out, her voice slightly strained. "Can you grab me something for a hangover? My head's killing me. I think Nami's return sobered me up too fast, and now I remember just how much I drank."
Genzo, who'd been standing off to the side quietly until now, lit up with a new sense of energy. "I'm on it!" he shouted, already jogging down the path toward the village. His footsteps were lighter, almost eager, as if he'd shed years of exhaustion in the span of a few minutes. Nami's return had brought him back to life too.
Nami, watching the two of them with a soft smile, shook her head gently. "Still the same as ever," she murmured fondly, then stepped inside the house. The warmth faded from her expression almost instantly.
The moment she crossed the threshold, a wave of sour air hit her like a punch to the gut—stale booze, musty fabric, and the heavy dampness of long-closed windows. She coughed, recoiling slightly. "Ugh... now I get what Luffy meant," she muttered, squinting as she crinkled her nose. "I think I'm getting drunk just standing here."
Her eyes swept over the living room, and what she saw made her stomach tighten. Empty bottles lay scattered across the floor and counters. The curtains were still drawn, the light inside dim and yellowed. Dust clung to every surface. There was a weight in the air that hadn't lifted in months.
She stood there for a long moment, just staring—until finally, with a tired sigh, she crossed the room and threw the curtains open, letting in the afternoon sun. Light spilled across the floorboards, catching on the glass and highlighting the mess in full detail. It wasn't much. But it was a start.
She rolled up her sleeves. "Guess I'll get this place looking like a home again," she said softly, and got to work while Luffy and the others helped in whatever way they could.
******
Later that night, Nami stood alone on the grassy hill overlooking the sea, her arms wrapped loosely around herself as the full moon cast its silver glow across the gently rolling waves. Her expression was calm, serene, almost peaceful, but there was a quiet weight behind her eyes as the cool breeze brushed past her.
Behind her, nestled in the earth, stood the grave of her mother, marked by a simple headstone and surrounded by wildflowers that had grown tall in the summer air. It was a familiar place, one that had always brought her comfort in the worst of times, the place she had always come to when she needed clarity, a place that brought her peace. And it was this very hill she missed most during those long, hopeless days locked in that dungeon.
Then she turned around, deciding to head back when she spotted Luffy returning from somewhere. Luffy noticed her as well and walked towards her.
"Nami? What are you doing out here this late?" he asked as he came to stand beside her, glancing briefly at the grave behind her before turning his gaze back to her.
Nami looked down and rubbed her forearm absently. "Just... thinking about stuff, needed some air, you know," she said quietly. "What about you?" she asked after a pause. "Where were you coming from?"
"Just checking if that bastard Nezumi was still snooping around," Luffy replied, and caught the way Nami flinched at the name but chose not to comment on it. "He's still here. Staying on the island tonight."
"Oh..." Nami murmured, barely louder than the breeze. Her arms wrapped a little tighter around herself, as if bracing against something colder than the wind. "I see."
A long silence stretched between them, filled only by the sound of distant waves and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. "So… do you want to get revenge on Nezumi? For everything he did to you?"
Nami blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Revenge? Me?" she repeated, as if testing the word on her tongue. It caught in her throat. In that instant, a flood of memories surged forward... those long, hellish days in the dungeon, the humiliation, the fear, the countless times Nezumi's voice had slithered into her ears like poison, laced with cruelty and contempt. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as anger flared to life within her. But then she looked down at herself... at her too-thin arms, the bruises still fading from her skin, the toll of months spent in captivity etched into her body, and that flickering fire began to dim. "I… I don't think I can," she said in a small voice. "Not like this…"
"But what if you could?" Luffy asked, turning his head towards her. "What if I gave you the chance to get your revenge? Would you take it?"
"Yes!" Nami said instantly, her voice trembling with unconcealed fury and desperation. "If I could… I'd end that bastard Marine captain's life with my own hands. I want to be there when he takes his last breath... looking into the eyes of the girl he thought he could break… and turn into his plaything! I want that to be the last thing he sees."
"That's the spirit, girl!" Luffy grinned, then pulled something out of nowhere... a Devil Fruit, its surface an unnatural shade of blue, covered in swirling patterns.
"What is that?" Nami asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"This is a Devil Fruit that'll help you get your revenge," Luffy said, holding it out toward her, "And as for the powers it offers…"
******
The next morning, Marine Captain Nezumi strolled along a narrow dirt road that wound through the quiet outskirts of the village, flanked by two of his subordinates. But his mind wasn't on the path ahead. It was still back at the 16th Branch base, fixated on a certain prisoner locked away in the dungeon. A slow, revolting grin crept across his face as he licked his lips, lost in the haze of his perverse imagination. Each twisted fantasy played through his mind like a favorite melody, growing more depraved with every repetition.
But then, his smile faltered as another face intruded on his thoughts… Isuka. That damn new recruit. She had already made it perfectly clear that she wouldn't let him do as he pleased, especially not with that prisoner. And worse still, she was stronger than him. He knew he couldn't lay a finger on her without losing a tooth or two in the process.
Still, he wasn't without options. As base captain, he held enough authority to fabricate charges, and he intended to use it. All he needed was the right excuse, something to have her removed, reassigned, or even court-martialed. Whatever it took to get her out of the picture.
Once she was gone, there'd be no one left to stop him from doing whatever he wanted with the girl in the dungeon.
That vile grin slithered back across his face as he let out a low, wheezing giggle like a rat choking on its own filth.
The two Marines trailing behind him exchanged a quick, uneasy glance, but neither said a word. They both knew exactly what their captain was likely thinking about, but they also knew there was nothing they could do to stop it. They were just low-ranking soldiers, without the authority or influence to challenge, let alone restrict, a superior officer's decisions.
But there was another truth... one far more damning. A truth they, and every other Marine under Nezumi's command, were reluctant to admit even to themselves. Deep down, they simply didn't care enough. Not about the girl rotting in the dungeon. Not about the people of the Conomi Islands. Not enough to speak up, and certainly not enough to risk their positions and the steady paycheck they received each month for doing next to nothing. Especially when compared to some of their Marine Academy classmates, who were out risking their lives in far more dangerous parts of the sea for the same or sometimes even less compensation.
So, like always, they kept their heads down and marched on in silence… like loyal dogs trailing behind a rotten master.
"Oy, Nezumi!"
A loud, deep voice suddenly rang out from behind. The group froze and turned, their bodies instinctively tensing as they spotted a large, muscular saw-shark Fish-Man striding toward them. His skin was a light blue, his grin wide and filled with jagged teeth.
"Arlong…" Nezumi muttered, his voice faltering as he instinctively straightened his back, trying and failing to hide the fear creeping into his tone in front of his men.
"It's a good thing I found you here," Arlong said with a chuckle, clapping a massive hand onto Nezumi's shoulder. The force of the gesture made the Marine captain flinch. "Otherwise, I'd have been really irritated."
"Y-Yeah… lucky for you," Nezumi replied through gritted teeth, his voice strained. "So… what do you want from me?"
"Nezumi," Arlong's grin widened, taking on a sharper, more menacing edge, "even if you are human… I thought you were better than this."
Nezumi immediately picked up on the unspoken message. Arlong wanted to speak in private. He turned to his subordinates without hesitation. "Leave. Now."
They didn't need to be told twice. Without a word, both Marines turned and walked away briskly, neither daring to look back.
"Come with me," Arlong said, veering off the dirt path and into the dense forest. Nezumi hesitated for a brief moment, then followed a few steps behind.
"You see," Arlong began as they walked beneath the thick canopy, "some of my people have been hearing rumors… that the villagers are gathering money to buy that girl, Nami, back." He let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "They actually believe that handing over a few million Berries to you will get her released."
Nezumi snorted. "They really are delusional fools," he sneered, the corners of his mouth curling up in contempt. "So what do you suggest we do?"
"There's nothing to plan," Arlong replied coolly, coming to a stop once they were deep within the trees. He turned to face Nezumi, and the grin on his face stretched wider, twisting into something wild, cold, and cruel.
Nezumi's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" he asked warily, a sliver of unease creeping into his voice at the sudden shift in Arlong's tone.
"I mean," Arlong growled, his voice low and dangerous, "that after today, they won't need to pay a single Berry. Not to Arlong..." His eyes narrowed, sharp as blades. "...and certainly not to a filthy rat like you."
Before Nezumi could process the words, Arlong's massive arm lashed out. The blow hit with crushing force, sending the Marine captain hurtling through the air like a rag doll. He slammed into a tree with a sickening thud, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs and leaving him sprawled in the dirt, gasping.
"Arlong! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Nezumi shouted, gritting his teeth against the pain as he clutched his side. "Have you forgotten that your entire rule depends on the two of us working together?!"
"Hah! Look at you, squirming on the ground like the filthy rat you are!" Arlong barked out a laugh, striding toward him with heavy, deliberate steps. "And let me tell you something…" He loomed over the wounded captain, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "I don't know if Arlong gives a damn whether you live or die…" his grin stretched wider, teeth glinting in the dappled forest light, "…but I certainly don't."
Suddenly, strange ripples shimmered across his skin, like the surface of disturbed water, and Nezumi's eyes widened in shock as the towering Fish-Man's height began to shrink. Muscles drew inward. The long, saw-like nose retracted into the face. His broad shoulders narrowed, and his massive hands became delicate and familiar.
In the blink of an eye, standing where Arlong had been was Nami. The very girl who was supposed to be locked away in the 16th Branch dungeon. But now she stood tall, her body lean yet visibly stronger, far more muscular than someone who had been starved for three months should have been.
"Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch," Nami said coldly, her voice steady with fury, "today, you'll feel everything you did to me. Today, you'll feel the helplessness you forced on me… the despair you made my family endure."
Ripples shimmered across her hand as her nails extended into razor-sharp claws.
"Today… you'll feel pain."
To be continued...