Marine Headquarters Academy.
Sakazuki had just stepped into the courtyard when he caught sight of Morris and Zephyr walking out together. Behind them trailed a purple-haired boy, shy at first glance but carrying himself with calm steadiness.
Zephyr smiled and gave a nod when he saw Sakazuki.
"Back already, Sakazuki," Morris said with surprise. "You—"
Sakazuki raised his hand to interrupt. "Stop right there. No, no plans. Alright. go on."
Morris shook his head with a laugh. "You really…"
The purple-haired boy also stepped forward and greeted, "Uncle Sakazuki."
Sakazuki looked at him with a faint smile. "You've grown this much already. Time flies."
He patted the boy on the shoulder, feeling the firm muscles under his uniform. "Not bad. You carry yourself well. Any Devil Fruit you like? I'll help you look for one later."
The boy's eyes lit up at that, but before he could speak, Zephyr cut in, "I'm still here, Sakazuki. That's going too far."
Sakazuki replied casually, "Don't be so old-fashioned. If harnessed properly, a Devil Fruit can be useful against pirates. Imagine an island full of them. You could either knock them out one by one with a punch or just drown them in lava. Much more efficient."
Zephyr let out a snort. "That won't do. Devil Fruits come with fatal flaws, and they can never be overcome."
He turned to his son. "Put those little thoughts away. Focus on training your body."
The young man was discouraged as Sakazuki tried to comfort him. "Relax, I'll convince your father."
Zephyr only chuckled. "Don't play tricks with me, Sakazuki. You won't change my mind."
The admiral's smile turned playful. "Oh?"
* * *
Grand Line, first half.
On an unnamed island covered with jagged rocks, two groups of fish-men faced each other. Jinbei and Arlong stood at the front, locked in opposition.
By becoming a Warlord of the Sea, the former had secured pardons for several fish-men, including Arlong, pulling him out of Impel Down. But soon after reuniting, division erupted. Riled up by Arlong, a number of radicals had already rallied to his side.
Jinbe locked eyes with his old comrade and spoke quietly, "Say what you intend to do, Arlong."
A cruel grin split Arlong's face. "You became a Warlord, Jinbe. You're a lapdog for those humans in the government now. How pathetic."
Jinbe's brow tightened. "Have you forgotten what Big Brother Tiger told us? Don't live in hatred and anger."
Arlong sneered. "I'm not like you. If I just stay here and obediently serve under you, then I wouldn't be Arlong. Big Brother Tiger's dead, so I'm restoring my crew. I'm taking the brothers and leaving. From now on, we will go our separate ways."
Jinbe's eyes narrowed. "Arlong... you—"
Arlong's chest swelled with righteous fury. "If you intend to stop me, kill me here! If you can't, I'm free. I am... the rage of the fish-men!"
Jinbe's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't get cocky!"
A single powerful punch slammed into Arlong, driving him into the ground and leaving a crater. His mind went blank. Before he could recover, Jinbe's massive weight pinned him down. Fists rained like thunder. The fish-man barely clung to consciousness until others separated them.
Helped to his feet by Hatchan, Arlong's face was a mask of ferocity and shock. He had expected a gap in strength, but not this wide. He had been utterly overwhelmed and could not land a single counterblow.
Jinbei stared at the person he had grown up with in the Fish-Man District. He could not bring himself to finish the man off. He closed his eyes and muttered, "Take him away and treat him."
Only when Arlong was carried away did he slump to the ground. He slammed a fist into the earth. "That fool. Why can't he understand Big Brother Tiger's teaching?"
Aladdin put a hand on his shoulder. "No matter where he goes, a commotion will draw the Marines. If that's not the case, then when it becomes necessary, we'll stop him ourselves."
A group of Arlong's followers carried their wounded leader away. They did not head back to the Sun Pirates' ship. Instead they drifted off, leaving the island behind. Jinbei and the others made no move to stop them. They could not bring themselves to do it.
* * *
Not long after, Arlong's faction regrouped on some other shore. Faces that had been grim were now full of joy.
"This is great! We're back to how things were."
"No more annoying rules. We can do as we like!"
Arlong, still supported by his men, laughed weakly. "That strong idiot. But it's worth it. Shahahaha! Let's tear those inferior humans apart!"
* * *
A few days later, in the darker stretch of the Grand Line, a large marine warship rested at anchor under a moonless sky. Arlong's gang had seized a small boat of unknown origin and crept close.
A bloodthirsty smile spread over Arlong's face. "In the dead of night, even if we sink one warship, nobody will notice! Shahahaha! Follow me!"
Plunging into the water, silhouettes streaked beneath the waves toward the vessel. Explosions broke the surface. Water jets shot skyward. The ship's sentinels and sleeping marines were shocked awake.
Arlong hit the deck with a thud and roared, "Kill them all! Leave none! Shahahaha!"
* * *
Up in the highest cabin, a door slammed open. Bare-chested and covered in terrible scars, Bullet stepped out. He looked down at the snarling fish-men and murmured, "So noisy."
* * *
Meanwhile, the fish-men also realized something was wrong.
The one-sided slaughter they had imagined never happened. Every soldier on this warship, even the ordinary ones, was several times stronger than those they had faced before. The pressure mounted as marines pushed them back step by step. And when a scarred, terrifying brute appeared on the top deck, even these battle-hardened raiders felt the shift.
Arlong's eyes flashed with a vicious light. Using his raw strength, he burst through the circle of marines and reached the railing, shouting, "Retreat!"
At the same time, he reached for a soldier's head, hoping to take a hostage.
Snap!
But a giant hand caught his wrist and held it in place. Bullet appeared before him silently.
"Is this what you wanted?" he asked, pressing his broad palm over the fish-man's face.
Crack!
A sickening crunch rang out as he ground his hand across Arlong's features, shattering his serrated nose.
"AAAHHHHH!" The fish-man's scream tore the air, only to be cut off as Bullet squeezed harder. Bones shattered with a crack, his jaw crushed into paste.
With his other hand the vice admiral twisted Arlong's wrist. Flesh ripped. The entire arm tore free and hit the deck. Only a shred of muscle and skin dangled from his shoulder. Blood spattered across the boards.
Bullet forced Arlong's head down, slamming him to his knees on the deck. The fish-man writhed as two sharp cracks followed. Both of his knees broke under the vice admiral's stomp, reduced to pulp and pinned into the planks.
Bullet let go, and Arlong slumped, his eyes rolled white in pain. Around them, the rest of his crew had already been subdued. This ship did not hold ordinary marines alone. The Howling Commandos, honed for years, stood ready and merciless.
"Bring them here," he ordered.
The captured fish-men were dragged before him, their legs broken so they could not resist. Bullet's disdainful gaze swept over them. "So now even trash like you dares to raid a marine warship."
He flexed his hand.
Bang!
"Who gave you the courage?"
Bang!
"Hmm?"
Bang!
The heads of three fish-men burst apart instantly, spraying blood like smashed watermelons. Red mist splattered over the horrified faces of the survivors.
Tap, tap, tap…
Bullet's polished shoes clicked against the boards as he stepped toward the next prisoner. He set his hand gently on the fish-man's head and said almost softly, "Tell me. Who gave you the courage?"
The long-snouted fish-man shook violently in terror. "It… it was… it was…"
Bullet frowned.
Crack!
With terrifying force and speed, his palm drove the man down. The body split in half from the neck, collapsing in a heap. The head had vanished completely.
Tap, tap, tap…
Bullet moved to the next. This one was a fish-man with octopus limbs. He fixed his cold eyes on him. "Can you tell me? Hmm?"
Hatchan trembled, throat dry, his mind blank like the others. But when Bullet's brow tightened, survival instinct snapped him back. He swallowed hard and cried out "Wait, sir! We're from the Sun Pirates! Captain Jinbei is… he's... a Warlord of the Sea."
Bullet chuckled. "Oh? A Warlord, huh."
Hatchan nodded frantically. "Y-Yes, sir!!! We are all—"
Before he could finish, the vice admiral seized him by the throat and hoisted him into the air.
As the fish-man struggled desperately, Bullet extended a hand.
Rip!
One of Hatchan's arms was torn clean off. Bullet's voice remained indifferent. "A Warlord of the Sea is nothing more than a dog of the Marines."
Rip!
"And since when do dogs dare bite their masters?"
Rip!
He continued in the same detached tone, tearing off each arm one by one.
Boom!
When all six had been ripped away, Hatchan's head burst into a spray of blood and mist.
Bullet turned to the rest of the fish-men, his face devoid of emotion. "Who's the leader?"
Terrified, they all glanced toward Arlong. His eyes flicked in his direction. "Well, what a coincidence. Kill them all."
The words left his mouth, and explosions thundered behind him, echoing without pause.
Bullet walked up to the unconscious Arlong, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him. With a glance toward his second-in-command, he gave a silent signal.
Moments later, a massive wine barrel filled to the brim with strong liquor was brought forward.
With a splash, Arlong was thrown inside.
The searing sting jolted him awake, but with all four limbs broken, all he could do was thrash and writhe helplessly, trying to escape. It was useless. His consciousness dimmed rapidly.
Just as he was about to go limp, Bullet's huge hand clamped around his neck. He swirled Arlong's body within the barrel before yanking him out.
Noticing his shattered jaw hanging like ruined flesh, Bullet reached out and tore it away, skin and meat ripping in his grip.
With the obstruction gone, guttural, agonized breaths rasped from deep in Arlong's throat.
Bullet said coldly, "Inject him with a strong dose of nutrients, and bring me the Den Den Mushi."
**
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