Whoosh—thwick!
BOOM!!!
Over the boundless sea came a piercing crack of air.
Riding that crack was the sound of a sharp projectile entering flesh.
The waves couldn't drown it out. It was like a shell detonating underwater, a thunderous blast, and another after it.
A towering water column speared into the sky.
The mass of water fell as a pounding downpour that nearly soaked the three of them to the bone.
Rewind a moment. A massive sea beast had surged up from the depths, blocking the ship's course.
It was Moomoo, the sea cow the Arlong Pirates had brought from the Grand Line, the monster Nami said could destroy a village.
For years, ships that strayed into these waters or came to investigate were all sunk by this beast.
It was precisely this beast that had cut off Nami's thoughts of seeking help from outside.
A monster from the Grand Line was simply too terrifying.
Now that terrifying beast had been killed by Yami with a single finger flick.
With a snap of his fingers through the air, an arrow-like air bullet, carrying penetration beyond that of a sniper round, bored into Moomoo's skull and felled the massive creature.
"Shigan extension—Flying Finger Pistol."
Yami explained the move to the two girls, who were staring wide-eyed. "Once you learn Shigan, you can strike the air with your finger, tear it or twist the airflow, and shoot an air bullet like this."
Gulp.
Carina swallowed and said, trembling a little, "Doesn't that mean if I learn it, my finger becomes a flintlock, even a sniper rifle?"
"Correct. If you grow strong enough, Flying Finger Pistol can hit as hard as a cannon shell." Yami nodded.
"A-amazing."
Their eyes shone, and they were more motivated than ever to train.
With Moomoo down, the ship didn't detour around the carcass but sailed on.
Mad Treasure's ship had very limited stores.
At Yami's appetite, the food wouldn't even make one proper meal.
So these past days he'd done nothing but fish and grill on the side, barely touching the ship's supplies.
If not for his body being able to go days without food or water, he'd have wasted away.
The reason he hadn't stopped to resupply was Moomoo.
A monster from the Grand Line would have meat rich and nourishing.
To grow strong, training wasn't enough. Nutrition was essential.
Carina and Nami were in their growth years. If they ate Moomoo, even meat of Sea King caliber, every meal and burned the calories into power, their bodies would skyrocket.
It would work for Yami as well.
He fetched two knives from the galley, dressed Moomoo's carcass, and packed the icehold full to bursting.
With the food stored, they sailed on.
Soon the outline of an island rose ahead.
Yami formed the OK sign with both hands and held the ring to his eyes.
After a moment he lowered his hands and asked Nami, "Thirty-eight fish-men in all, right?"
Nami blinked, then, remembering Yami's Paramecia Glare-Glare ability, nodded quickly. "Mm. The Arlong Pirates number thirty-eight, counting the sea beast from before."
"Good. The headcount is enough."
Yami pushed his palm out. The air congealed into a door.
He opened it and stepped one foot into the white threshold, then said to Nami, "I'll go handle them first. You go explain things to the villagers. I hope by the time I finish with the Arlong Pirates, you've made peace."
"Eh? Master, I…"
Nami's eyes widened, as if she had more to say.
But Yami didn't answer. He shut the air door and used Moonwalk toward Cocoyasi Village.
He knew what Nami wanted.
Caution. A plan.
For the weak, maybe it was needed.
For Yami, it was a waste of time.
He had come to the East Blue for the Paramecia Barrier-Barrier Fruit and the Logia Flame-Flame Fruit, and for a navigator named Nami.
Since the Barrier-Barrier and Flame-Flame Fruits hadn't surfaced yet,
he had no reason to linger in the East Blue.
Time was money, especially for Nami and Carina.
Five years remained until the story began.
At their current physiques and potential, in five years they might still not have the Six Powers.
At twenty, Nami had yet to awaken Haki.
Even with the gift of feeling the wind and reading weather hundreds of miles away, she still hadn't awakened Observation Haki.
To shortcut into Six Powers and awaken Haki, they needed outside force to boost their bodies.
That outside force was a Devil Fruit.
The earlier they ate one, the better for them.
He meant to secure fruits for them in the coming days.
So he wouldn't waste time in the East Blue.
The third strategic-grade fruit he desired would also require him to return to the Grand Line and scheme.
The faster the Arlong Pirates fell, the faster they'd reenter the Grand Line. It would be good for Carina and Nami, and good for Yami.
Once the monster moved, the fish-men feasting and drinking in Arlong Park had no idea their lives were already counting down.
Thanks to Nami, Cocoyasi Village hadn't been harassed lately.
The fish-men not eating and drinking at the park were loafing on watch elsewhere.
Only the octopus Hachi, down by a ruined stretch of shore, was fishing and tending Moomoo.
Whoosh—thwick.
Yami went for Hachi first.
He didn't bother with a rotating door sneak attack, nor step out early from the other space. He used the same Flying Finger Pistol that had killed Moomoo and punched a hole straight through Hachi's head.
Yami knew Hachi had big ties inside the Arlong Pirates.
As the life-saving benefactor of the Pirate King's right-hand man Silvers Rayleigh and of Shakky, there might well be a vivre card for Hachi in their hands.
If he died, those legendary pirates might avenge him.
But Yami struck him down anyway.
Without the Door-Door and Glare-Glare abilities he might have hesitated.
Now he feared no one and no power's threats.
The real world wasn't a manga.
Even a Marine admiral like Zephyr had his family murdered in revenge by pirates.
Yami wouldn't gamble that defeating Arlong would make him spare Cocoyasi Village like in the original tale.
If soft-heartedness led to the village's destruction and left Nami weeping daily, he would never forgive himself.
Root and branch removal was the best way.
After one-shotting Hachi, Yami hunted down the fish-men lazing outside Arlong Park, then walked toward the park itself.