Seeing Nami take the initiative, Arlong realized his old threats no longer worked on her. With a furious roar, he shouted, "Use seawater! It can hit her! Everyone, attack together!"
Seawater was the bane of all Devil Fruit users, Nature-Type included.
"Kill her!" "Nami, you backstabbing traitor!" "Raaargh!"
The Fishmen howled like ghosts, splashing seawater and charging at Nami. To them, she'd been nothing but a toy for their amusement. What right did she have to act so bold?
"Thunderstrike!"
Nami's expression was cold as she raised her hand, summoning silver lightning bolts from the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thick bolts struck without warning, hitting the charging Fishmen. The weaker ones collapsed instantly, eyes rolling back, bellies up.
"Arlong, I'm paying you back for eight years of pain today!" "All of you—die!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dense lightning enveloped Arlong Park, sealing off all escape routes and unleashing indiscriminate devastation.
"Captain, save me!" "Run, quick!"
Under Nami's control, the silver-white lightning slithered like venomous snakes, reaping Fishman lives one by one. Agonized, desperate screams echoed through the park.
The commotion drew the attention of Cocoyasi Village's residents. When they saw the terrifying scene, their eyes widened, filled with disbelief. That's… Nami?!
At that moment, Arlong Park had become a graveyard for the Fishmen. In mere moments, over half of them lay dead under the lightning. Against the catastrophe-like bolts, they had no power to resist.
"Not enough! Not enough!" Nami's eyes were cold and unyielding. Ignoring her stamina drain, she intensified the lightning output.
Boom! Rumble!
Bolts as thick as bowls crashed down, collapsing Arlong Park's buildings and kicking up clouds of dust. The remaining Fishmen lost all will to fight, scattering like rats. Some unlucky ones were crushed into fish paste by falling debris.
"Looks like Nami's really angry," Kaya said from aboard the Going Merry, watching the scene below with Makino, both awestruck. They'd never seen Nami so violent, so ruthless.
"Let her vent," Reno said, understanding Nami's emotions. Eight years of resentment—let it all out today.
Under the relentless lightning barrage, Arlong Park was reduced to ruins. Curious villagers gathered at the gates, drawn by the noise.
Nami's face was flushed, her breathing heavy. Minutes later, the lightning stopped, the noise faded, and the ground was scorched black.
"Arlong, get out here!"
Nami's focus was on Arlong—she knew he wasn't dead.
Cough, cough.
From a pile of rubble, a coughing sound emerged.
"Nami!"
A voice filled with hellish resentment roared. Arlong clawed his way out of the debris, battered and broken. His eyes were bloodshot, his serrated nose half-snapped.
Despite surviving the lightning onslaught, he was gravely wounded.
"Hah, Arlong, your life's pretty tenacious," Nami mocked. "Your crew's all dead. You're the only one left."
Arlong panted heavily. As the dust settled, he saw the ruins before him. His Fishman comrades were gone—most killed by lightning, some crushed by collapsing structures. Even Hachi in the pool hadn't escaped. Now, only he clung to life.
"Nami!" "You'll pay!"
Arlong's eyes bulged with rage, his roar shaking the sky.
Nami walked toward him, her face expressionless, a mocking smirk on her lips. "Arlong, the pain you're feeling? It's not even half of what I endured!"
"Thunder Spear!"
A high-density lightning spear formed in her hand, its tip aimed at Arlong.
"Nami, I'll kill you!"
Knowing escape was impossible, Arlong roared with final defiance and charged.
Nami's face twisted into a cruel, cold smile as she hurled the spear without mercy.
Whoosh!
With a piercing sound, the spear shot through Arlong's body. Lightning surged, ravaging his vital functions.
Drained of strength, Arlong collapsed into a pool of blood, his body twitching. He was barely alive, clinging to a thread.
Nami approached, looking down at him. Like a queen of lightning gazing at an ant.
"Arlong, look at your pathetic state."
Arlong could no longer speak, but his venomous glare fixed on her.
"Go to hell and repent for my foster mother and everyone you killed."
Nami raised her hand, unleashing a final burst of terrifying lightning.
Bang!
Arlong's head exploded.
Staring at his lifeless body, Nami stood dazed. Did I really do this? The Arlong she'd once thought invincible was dead by her hand.
Crack.
Something in her heart, like a shackle, shattered.
Coming to her senses, Nami looked to the sky, murmuring softly, "Mother, I killed Arlong. You can rest now."
At that moment, Reno descended with Kaya and Makino, the Going Merry still held aloft by the island cloud.
He approached Nami, gently pulling her into his arms. "It's over."
Nami nodded firmly, looking at Reno with gratitude. Meeting him was the luckiest thing in her life. He'd given her a new beginning.
"Reno, let me take you to my home. My sister will be thrilled to hear Arlong's dead," Nami said, taking his hand.
Reno shook his head with a smile. "Not yet. There's still one fish that slipped the net."
"Get out here!"
…