KABOOOOOOMMM!!!!
The combined assault hit the gate simultaneously, and the wood and iron simply ceased to exist as a barrier. The sound of destruction echoed across the battlefield as debris rained down around us.
CRASH! BOOM! CRUMBLE!
And just like that, we're in. All that buildup, all that preparation, and the final obstacle gets obliterated in about three seconds. There's something almost anticlimactic about overwhelming force meeting immovable objects.
'Time to finish this. One way or another,' I thought, adjusting my wizard hat as the last of the debris clattered to the ground around us.
As the dust settled, Arlong Park lay open before us, its interior revealed for the first time.
The scene that greeted us beyond the shattered gates was... well, apocalyptic would be putting it mildly.
Buildings that had once stood proud and imposing were now reduced to smoking rubble, their foundations cracked and crumbling like broken teeth.
Fires blazed everywhere, casting dancing shadows across the destruction—especially above the water in front of the park, where flames licked hungrily at the air, stretching all the way to the inner pools of Arlong Park itself.
The acrid smell of smoke mixed with the salty tang of seawater, creating a nauseating cocktail that burned my nostrils.
'Our cannon bombardment really did a number on this place,' I observed, surveying the devastation with a mixture of satisfaction and unease. 'Sometimes I forget just how destructive people can be when they put their minds to it.'
Scattered throughout the ruins were dozens of fishmen, many of them sporting fresh wounds and burns from our earlier assault.
Some were hunched over, clutching injured limbs, while others leaned heavily against broken walls for support.
The sight should have filled me with sympathy—these were, after all, living beings who were suffering.
Instead, all I felt was a cold determination settling in my chest like a weight.
'They made their choice when they decided to terrorize innocent people,' I reminded myself, my hand instinctively clutched harder on the Gryffindor Sword's hilt. 'And they sealed their fate when they took what was mine.'
For a moment, the entire park fell silent. The fishmen stared at us with wide, disbelieving eyes, their mouths hanging open in shock.
Up until a few moments ago, they had been confidently sending wave after wave of their soldiers through these very gates to fight us. Now, suddenly, we were the ones standing victorious on their doorstep, having carved our way through their defenses like a hot knife through butter.
The realization that we had defeated all of their men was slowly dawning on them, and I could see the exact moment when fear began to replace their earlier confidence.
"Impossible..." one of them whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling of flames.
"They... they defeated all the guys outside..."
"How many of them are there?"
'Not nearly enough to justify the panic you're about to experience,' I thought wryly, watching as understanding spread through their ranks like wildfire.
The stunned silence lasted exactly three more seconds.
"BLAST THEM!" someone bellowed from the back of the crowd. "KILL THEM ALL!"
"MAKE THEM PAY!!"
"DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!!"
The fishmen erupted into motion, shouting orders and battle cries as they scrambled to organize a defense.
Johnny and Yusako stumbled behind us, their faces pale with a mixture of adrenaline and terror.
I couldn't blame them—charging headfirst into a fishman stronghold wasn't exactly what most people would call a sound tactical decision.
'Then again, most people weren't traveling with a rubber boy who thought strategy meant punching harder.'
Dozens of fishmen produced guns and hand cannons from their person or their fallen comrades, the metallic clicks and clatters of weapons being readied filling the air.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The first volley of gunfire erupted like thunder, muzzle flashes lighting up the smoky air as bullets whizzed past our heads.
I quickly drew my pistol and channeled my Hamon energy through the weapon. The Ether's kaleidoscope of golden light erupted from the barrel, forming an intricate, magic circle-like shape in the air before us.
The Ether barrier shimmered and pulsed as it expanded, intercepting the incoming bullets with bright sparks and metallic.
VOMVOMVOMVOMVOMVOMVOM!!!
"STAY BEHIND ME!" I called out to the guys behind me, who were practically cowering behind my cloak.
But even as my Hamon Ether deflected the smaller arms fire, I could see the fishmen bringing up heavier weapons—hand cannons the size of small trees, bazookas, and what looked suspiciously like actual artillery pieces.
'Of course they have cannons too,' I sighed internally. 'Because why wouldn't they?'
"DODGE!!"
BOOM!
The first cannon shot thundered across the park, and I immediately dove to the side, pulling Sanji with me.
My Hamon barrier was strong enough to stop bullets, but a cannonball would go through it like tissue paper. The massive iron sphere whistled past where my head had been moments before, embedding itself in the stone wall behind us with a tremendous sound.
CRASH!
"This is insane!" Johnny screamed, his voice barely audible over the continuing gunfire. "How are we supposed to fight all of them?"
'Good question,' I thought, ducking as another cannonball sailed overhead. 'Should I conjure a huge shield until the support—'
"STEP ASIDE!!"
Roronoa's voice cut through the chaos with calm authority. I looked over to see him readying all three of his swords simultaneously, his face set in that familiar expression of deadly focus that meant someone was about to have a very bad day.
Without hesitation, I grabbed Johnny and Yusako and yanked them backward just as Roronoa brought his blades down in a devastating arc.
"Three Sword Style—Toragari!"
SLAASHH!!
The sound was like thunder and breaking glass combined. Roronoa's swords carved through the broken concrete ground beneath us with supernatural precision, the cuts so clean they looked like they'd been made with a giant razor.
A perfect rectangular section of the park's foundation separated from the rest, creating what amounted to a massive shield.
'Now that's what I call literally thinking outside The Box,' I admitted grudgingly.
"Cook!" Roronoa barked.
The cook was already moving, his leg muscles coiling like springs as he positioned himself behind the cut section of concrete.
With a powerful kick that sent shockwaves through the ground, he launched the makeshift barrier into the air, then caught it with his other leg and angled it perfectly to intercept the incoming fire.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Bullets and cannonballs alike hammered against our improvised shield, sending up clouds of concrete dust and stone chips. The barrier held firm, creating a temporary safe zone in the middle of the chaos.
'I have to admit,' I thought, genuinely impressed despite myself, 'for a couple of hot-headed idiots, they make a pretty good team when it counts.'
But our respite was short-lived. I could see fishmen moving to flank us, positioning themselves along the broken walls of the park where they could shoot at us from angles our concrete shield couldn't cover.
Their weapons were already aiming toward us, preparing to turn our temporary advantage into a deadly trap.
"LEFT SIDE!!" I called out, raising my flintlock.
"ON IT!!"
"Gomu-Gomu no Pistol!"
Luffy was already on it, his arm stretching impossibly far as he delivered a devastating punch that sent four fishmen flying. His rubber fist bounced back to him with a satisfied snap.
I turned my attention to the right flank as I took aim.
I aimed my flintlock and began methodically picking off the flanking fishmen with practiced precision.
BANG! ZING!
The first bullet struck a fishman in the shoulder, sending him spinning backward with a gurgled scream.
BANG! CRACK!
The second caught another center mass, dropping him instantly.
BANG! THUD!
A third fishman clutched his leg and toppled to the ground.
BANG! SPLAT!
The fourth went down with a cry of pain, his weapon clattering uselessly to the stones and debris.
I quickly reloaded with one hand, my hand moving with the fluid efficiency born of countless hours of practice. Four more shots rang out in rapid succession.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four more fishmen fell, their positions along the broken walls now cleared of threats. Eight shots, eight targets neutralized.
Meanwhile, regular bullets were still pinging off my cloak and hat, the Hamon-infused fabric deflecting them like they were pebbles.
With the immediate flanking threat neutralized, I could hear the familiar boom of Usopp's shots echoing from outside the park walls.
"Exploding Star!"
KABOOM!
One of the Mini Bazooka rounds I'd given him earlier detonated in the middle of a group of fishmen, sending bodies and debris flying in all directions.
The explosion was followed by the sharp cracks of rifle fire as the Cocoyasi villagers joined the assault, their shots ringing out like deadly music.
"The walls are clear!" I heard Usopp's voice calling from outside the compound.
'About time,' I thought. 'Though I suppose better late than never.'
"Now!" Luffy shouted, his rubber arms snapped backward like a giant slingshot then returned, launching the massive chunk of stone directly into the heart of the fishmen's formation.
The improvised projectile bowled through their ranks like a cannonball through paper, scattering bodies and forcing the survivors to abandon their coordinated gunfire in favor of pure survival.
CRASH!
THUD!
SPLASH!
The sounds of impact filled the air as chaos erupted throughout the park. Fishmen dove for cover, scrambled over rubble, and shouted contradictory orders at each other. Their earlier tactical advantage had been completely shattered in a matter of seconds.
'And that's what happens when you rely too heavily on superior numbers and firepower,' I observed, flicking the Sword of Gryffindor with my free hand. 'Sometimes, all it takes is one unexpected move to turn the tide.'
"Let's go!" Luffy yelled, already charging forward with his usual reckless enthusiasm.
The six of us—myself, Luffy, Roronoa, Sanji, Johnny, and Yusako—surged into the park proper, engaging the disorganized fishmen in close combat.
The tactical situation had shifted completely; with their formation broken and their heavy weapons useless at close range, the fishmen were forced to fight us individually or in small groups.
Much better odds, all things considered.
CLANG!
My sword met a fishman's crude cutlass, the superior steel of Gryffindor's blade shearing through his weapon like it was made of tin.
A quick follow-up thrust, enhanced with Hamon energy, sent him crashing into a pile of rubble with golden electricity crackling across his scales.
The next five fishmen met the same fate, as I met the combined assault of three of them with a swing of mine, the Hamon cutting past their weapons, sending a kick to the fourth, then shooting the fifth, all in quick, consecutive movements.
To my left, Roronoa was carving through enemies with his three-sword style, each movement a deadly dance of precision and power.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Three fishmen fell in rapid succession, their weapons and armor providing no defense against his supernatural skill.
Sanji was displaying his own brand of devastating combat prowess, his kicks sending fishmen flying with bone-crushing force.
Each impact was accompanied by a bone-chilling thud or crack as his attacks found their marks.
'It's almost unfair', I thought, parrying another desperate attack and responding with a Hamon-charged pommel strike that left my opponent convulsing on the ground.
'They're strong, but they've never faced anything like us before.'
Still, despite our clear advantage in close combat, the occasional fishman would try to use a pistol at point-blank range, thinking they could catch one of us off guard.
These attempts were much easier to handle than their earlier coordinated volleys, but they still required constant vigilance.
BANG!
A bullet sparked off my Hamon-enhanced hat as I ducked under a ray fishman's swing, then responded with an upward slash that sent him tumbling into the ground.
As I fought my way through the melee, scanning the battlefield with practiced efficiency, my eyes swept across the crowded park in search of a specific target.
There were dozens of fishmen scattered throughout the area, some still fighting, others retreating, and many simply just down.
But I was looking for one in particular.
And then I found him.
Even among the impressive physiques of his fellow fishmen, Gyaro stood out like a beacon.
His tall, muscular form was clearly visible despite the smoke and confusion, his blue skin bearing the scars I remembered from our last encounter.
But what drew my attention immediately—what made my blood run cold with a mixture of rage and anticipation—was the familiar weight hanging from his belt.
My Barbossa Sword.
The jeweled hilt caught the firelight, gleaming with an almost mocking brilliance. The weapon that had been my lifeline, that had been my boon two years ago, was hanging from the waist of the bastard who'd nearly killed me.
'There you are,' I thought, my grip tightening on Gryffindor's hilt until my knuckles went white.
Gyaro must have felt my gaze, because his head turned in my direction.
For a moment, our eyes met across the battlefield, and I saw the exact instant when recognition flashed through his features. His lips spread in a grin that was equal parts mocking and sneering, showing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
'He remembers me,' I realized, feeling something hot and dangerous unfurling in my chest. 'Good. That'll make this so much more satisfying.'
The sight of him—standing there, wearing my sword like a trophy, grinning at me with that same arrogant expression he'd had two years ago—sent a surge of anger through my system like nothing I'd felt in years.
It was raw, primal, and completely at odds with my usual analytical approach to combat.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I wanted to hurt someone. Really hurt them.
"SNIPER!" I called out, not taking my eyes off Gyaro. "I am rushing deep in the enemy line! I need covering fire! Now!"
"Got it!" came the sniper's reply from the broken walls of the park.
BOOM!
Another of the Mini Bazooka rounds detonated nearby, clearing a path through the fishmen between me and my target.
I immediately charged forward, channeling Hamon energy through both my sword and my body as I cut a bloody swath through anyone foolish enough to get in my way.
SLASH!
BANG!
CRACK!
THUD!
Each fishman who tried to intercept me found himself on the wrong end of a Hamon-enhanced blade or a lightning-fast pistol shot.
I moved through them like a force of nature, completely focused on reaching my destination. Everything else—the ongoing battle, my companions, the fate of the village—all faded into background noise.
'Two years,' I thought as my blade carved through a swordfish fishman's weapon and deep into his side.
'Two years I've been carrying this grudge.'
'Two years of wondering if I'd ever get the chance to pay him back.'
I was perhaps twenty feet away from Gyaro when a massive shadow suddenly fell across my path.
My Mantra, sharpened by training and honed by countless battles, immediately screamed danger.
Looking up from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of an enormous figure bearing down on me with murderous intent.
'Arlong.'
The sawshark fishman was even more imposing up close than he'd appeared from a distance.
His muscular frame towered over me, easily two and a half meters tall and built like a living weapon. His huge fist was already swinging toward me in a devastating arc that would have lunched a normal human like a cannonball.
'Of course he'd try to interfere,' I thought with annoyance. 'Can't let me have my moment of personal vengeance without making it about him.'
But even as Arlong's massive fist descended toward me, I didn't change course or attempt to dodge. My Mantra had already detected someone moving to intercept him.
BANG!
"Gomu-Gomu no Pistol!"
Sure enough, a stretching arm came bulleting through the air like a flesh-colored cannonball, connecting with Arlong's face with tremendous force.
Luffy's rubbery fist sent the sawshark fishman flying backward, his massive body skidding across the concrete and crashing into a pile of debris with a thunderous crash.
"Stay away from him!" Luffy shouted, his voice carrying that tone of absolute determination that brooked no argument. "He's got his own fight to finish!"
'Sometimes that rubber idiot is surprisingly perceptive,' I acknowledged gratefully, not slowing my advance toward Gyaro. 'Though I suppose even he can recognize when someone has a personal score to settle.'
With Luffy handling Arlong, I kept my focus on slashing through the remaining fishmen in my path.
My mind was clouded with anger—a dangerous state that went against everything I'd learned about combat efficiency—but I couldn't seem to care.
Every step brought me closer to the bastard who'd taken my sword and left me to die, and that was all that mattered.
My Hamon-enhanced cloak and hat deflected several more bullets as I carved my way forward, the golden energy shimmering around my body like a barrier.
Each deflected shot sent sparks cascading through the air, adding to the already chaotic light show of the ongoing battle.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was probably only thirty seconds, I reached my destination.
I raised Gryffindor, channeling Hamon through the blade until it glowed like a star made of silver. The energy crackled and sparked along the edge, and several nearby fishmen took involuntary steps backward.
Gyaro was ready too, bringing my stolen sword down in a diagonal slash that would have bisected me if I'd been foolish enough to stand still.
I pivoted on my heel, bringing Gryffindor up to meet his blade.
'Hamon—Severing Tide!'
"Fishman Karate—Thousand Tile Hammer!"
CLAAARRRRNNNGGGG!!!!!!!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward from the point of contact, the competing power of the two magical weapons creating visible distortions in the air.
Several weaker fishmen nearby were knocked flat by the pressure wave.
'What the….When did sword fights become weather events?'
We were locked in place for a moment, the blades grinding against each other as we tested each other's strength.
Gyaro was physically stronger—that much was obvious—but I had technique, experience, and most importantly, I had motivation.
"Look who's here!" Gyaro snarled, pressing down with his superior leverage. "The boy who liked playing hero! I thought you'd never have the courage to come here after barely surviving!"
'You son of a bitch,'
I put more power into Gryffindor, pushing back against his assault.
Gyaro disengaged suddenly, his massive frame pivoting on his left foot as he spun clockwise.
The Barbossa Sword traced a silver arc through the air as he brought it around in a horizontal slash aimed at my midsection.
I dropped into a low crouch, feeling the blade whistle over my head close enough to ruffle my hat. Before he could recover, I thrust upward with Gryffindor, aiming for the gap in his defenses under his extended arm.
CLANG!
Gyaro twisted his wrist, bringing the Barbossa Sword down in a defensive parry that caught my blade mid-thrust. Sparks flew as magical metal met magical metal, the impact sending vibrations up my arm.
'Fast. Much faster than he used to be. And he can still block my Hamon Techniques!'
/Fast and powerful diagonal downward cut/
"Are you here to get revenge?" Gyaro taunted, his voice mocking as he immediately transitioned into a diagonal downward cut. "After cowering in fear for two years?"
I jumped backward without responding, breaking contact and coming up in a defensive stance as his sword bit into the stone where I'd been kneeling.
CRACK!
/Quick low diagonal slash/
The Barbossa Sword carved a deep groove in the courtyard floor. Gyaro flowed into his next attack.
"Or maybe you're here to give us new toys?" He gestured at Gryffindor with his eyes while pressing his attack. "I heard that you were making a name for yourself as a treasure hunter. Did you find some good stuff?"
I sidestepped to my left, bringing Gryffindor up to deflect the strike while simultaneously pivoting to put myself at his flank.
"Is it as good as this one? Though I doubt it is!"
I said nothing, focusing entirely on channeling more Hamon through my blade to make it glow ominously.
RING!
My blade caught the Barbossa sword near the forte, redirecting the blow past my right shoulder.
The silver light seemed to catch his attention, his eyes tracking the light as I immediately riposted with a thrust toward his exposed ribs.
Gyaro's eyes widened slightly at the display, and he twisted away from my strike.
But the distraction cost him—my blade scored a long but shallow cut across his side, drawing a line of blood.
'The Hamon is working.'
'Now, keep him focused on the sword.'
"Tsk! Your Devil Fruit is still annoying, just like your Haki."
'My what…?'
"You lucky bastard, let's see if you can keep up!!"
I didn't get the chance to know what he meant as he snarled and launched into a series of rapid attacks.
Horizontal cuts, diagonal slashes, and overhead strikes that I deflected while continuing to channel visible Hamon along Gryffindor's edge.
CLANG! CLASH! RING!
Each clash sent silver sparks flying, creating an increasingly mesmerizing light display.
We engaged in our high-speed exchange, our blades meeting and parting in a deadly dance.
Gyaro's strikes came with precision, each attack flowing seamlessly into the next.
The Barbossa Sword moved like liquid lightning in his hands, and it felt like such with how heavy and impacting it was, even with me using my Hamon Techniques.
'Is that the Fishmen Karate? Can he even use it with the sword? Or, is it now stronger because of the sword?'
'Tsk!'
But his eyes kept tracking to the crackling energy on my weapon, never meeting it without using his Fishman Karate Techniques.
'Damn it! His sword skills are good. Really good. But he's becoming wary of the Hamon. Time to capitalize on that.'
I focused on making the effects sharper and stronger with each parry and counterstrike, the golden energy—now silver because of the Gryffindor sword—crackling and flashing along Gryffindor's edge like miniature lightning.
Gyaro's attacks became slightly more aggressive as he tried to overwhelm my defenses and Mantra, but also more predictable as he became wary of the sword.
/Feint swing followed by an overhead strike/
As I pretended to dodge, he changed direction mid-attack, bringing the pommel around toward my temple.
I was ready, adjusting my Hamon-charged sword to meet his attack.
The impact sent sparks flying and created a miniature thunderclap. I could feel the vibrations in my bones, my arms feeling the power of the clash.
Gyaro's eyes automatically tracked to the brilliant display, his pupils contracting against the glare.
In that moment of distraction—when his attention was completely focused on my sword—I spun the side wheel of the flintlock in my other hand, changing the rounds to rubber rounds, and channeled Hamon through the barrel.
'Now. While he's fixated on the blade.'
He launched into a devastating combination attack, the Barbossa Sword moving so fast it left afterimages in the air. I gave ground steadily, apparently overwhelmed by his skill and speed.
'Come on, just a little more. Get confident. Get sloppy.'
The opening I was waiting for finally came. Gyaro overextended on a particularly aggressive thrust, his momentum carrying him slightly off balance. It was a tiny mistake, visible for perhaps half a second.
But half a second was enough.
Instead of parrying with Gryffindor, I aimed my flintlock with my other hand and channeled Hamon through the barrel. The Ether turned into a small, magic circle-like shape around the muzzle of the pistol as I pulled the trigger.
'Hamon Bolt—Curse!'
BANG!
The Hamon-charged projectile caught Gyaro in the shoulder, and his eyes widened in shock as the Ripples began disrupting his internal systems. His blood started flowing erratically, his heart rhythm becoming irregular.
'Surprise. Turns out bringing a gun to a sword fight isn't a disadvantage.'
"What—" he gasped, staggering backward as his body began to betray him.
'NOW!!'
My Hamon-charged Gryffindor sword was moving, ready to deliver a technique I especially prepared for him.
But before my sword reached the bastard—
"Fishman Jujutsu!" Gyaro roared. "Sea Current Serpent!"
Water from behind him, moving and shaping itself into a writhing, serpentine form that grew larger as he fed more liquid into it from who knows where.
It split into five separate serpentine forms. Each water serpent was the size of a large python, their bodies undulating and coiling as they shot directly toward me.
'Wha…?!?!'
I dove to the side, but the water constructs followed me like heat-seeking missiles, their forms constantly shifting and flowing but never losing cohesion.
The first serpent struck the ground where I'd been standing with tremendous force, sending spray and debris flying in all directions.
'What is that?! Ninjitsu?!! Did he say Ninjitsu or Jujutsu?!?! Are we still in the same Anime?!?!?!'
I rolled to my feet and raised Gryffindor.
The previous technique failed as I lost my focus, but the Hamon was still there.
The silver energy shone so brightly that it cast sharp shadows even in the midday light.
"Hamon—Crushing Wave!" I shouted, bringing the sword down in consecutive slashes that met the water serpents head-on one after the other.
SLASH SLASH SLASH!
HISS! SIZZLE! STEAM!
The Ripple energy tore through the water constructs like acid through paper. The serpents writhed and dissolved, their form breaking apart into ordinary seawater that splashed harmlessly to the ground.
But Gyaro wasn't done. Even as his water attack dissipated, he was pressing the Barbossa Sword against his shoulder, using the blade's mystical ability to…stabilize the blood flow in his system…?
'…how exactly…did he do that…?'
The Barbossa Sword shouldn't have any power to control living beings…
'What the fu*k is going on?'
"Nice try, Sorcerer-kun," he panted, his breathing labored but stable.
"But it'll take more than these tricks to bring me down," Gyaro said as he looked at me with a triumphant confidence.
'…Yeah… this would not be easy, as expected…'
…
A\N: Okay, That's it for now.
Thank you all for reading! Hope you enjoyed this one!
Feel free to leave a Comment guys! And Powerstones are much much welcomed!
Have a good day!
You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.
https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt
There are +12 Chapters there.