Chapter 9
"OHHHHH!!!"
The villagers erupted in cheers the moment Sanji's kick seemed to land on Arlong.
But the expected impact never came. Arlong's body twisted, blurred, and then vanished.
An afterimage!
"Not good!"
Sanji's face changed drastically.
Before he could react, Arlong was already at his left. Both fists slammed down like hammers onto Sanji's chest.
Crack!
Three ribs snapped instantly.
"Pffft!"
A huge mouthful of blood sprayed out as Sanji crashed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The cheering stopped dead.
The villagers experienced the full emotional whiplash from heaven to hell in a split second.
The savior they had pinned their hopes on had been defeated in a single move.
In the blink of an eye.
Arlong truly was invincible!!!
Nami and Nojiko exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.
Thank goodness they had submitted. The consequences otherwise would have been unimaginable.
Nami Affection +1 Nojiko Affection +1
Even that works?
Arlong blinked in surprise, then prepared to finish Sanji off. He had watched the anime; the Straw Hats were all unkillable cockroaches.
He also wanted to test whether that strange feeling from yesterday had been real.
That half-second of hesitation gave Luffy exactly the opening he needed.
"Gum-Gum Bazooka!"
A furious shout.
Luffy's rocket-powered arms shot forward. Arlong's body shattered into another afterimage.
Again!
"So fast!"
Zoro's pupils contracted sharply.
This Arlong was definitely the strongest enemy they had faced since Hawkeye.
Luffy's arms had just retracted when his whole body was suddenly launched upward. Arlong had vanished from his sight.
"Is this the power of a protagonist?"
Arlong sneered at Luffy's reaction, appearing behind him and delivering a full-power kick to the boy's waist.
He was treating this like a lion hunting a rabbit—no mercy, no chance for a comeback.
"Watch out!"
Zoro yelled.
No reminder was needed. Luffy already sensed the danger.
Too late to dodge!
He inhaled sharply, instantly inflating into a round balloon.
BAM!
Luffy shot away like a giant rubber ball.
"Devil Fruits really are annoying."
Arlong frowned, used Soru to accelerate, and chased after him. Extending one finger, he struck.
"Shigan!"
A single poke into Luffy's belly.
"Waaah!"
Luffy screamed as the air burst out. He turned into a deflating rocket and blasted off into the jungle.
Embarrassing, but it coincidentally disrupted Arlong's follow-up attack.
Classic protagonist halo.
"Luffy!"
Zoro could no longer sit still. He charged with both swords drawn.
"Two-Sword Style: Flash!"
An accelerated slash passed straight through Arlong's body.
Another afterimage.
Zoro now fully understood the helplessness Sanji and Luffy had felt.
A bit discouraged, but he had expected this. Without turning, he thrust both blades behind him.
"Good reaction. Shame you guessed the wrong spot."
Arlong's voice came from above.
Zoro instinctively looked up—just in time to see a shadow falling over him.
BAM!
Pain exploded across his face. His vision went black, and he toppled backward, still gripping his swords tightly.
Usopp was completely paralyzed with fear.
Sanji down in one hit. Luffy down in one hit. Now even Zoro in one hit.
All in the span of a few breaths.
Suddenly the slingshot in his hands felt like it weighed a thousand tons. He couldn't lift it.
Joseph was slightly braver. He raised his sword high and charged at Arlong.
He might die.
But dying alongside Big Bro Zoro was worth it!
"Hey, don't!"
Usopp reached out, but only caught air as Joseph's clothes slipped through his fingers.
"Arlong, eat this!"
Joseph leaped high, swinging his blade down.
Arlong didn't dodge. He simply caught the blade with one bare hand and squeezed.
Clang!
The sword shattered into countless fragments.
Then a left hook straight into Joseph's stomach.
"Pffft!"
Blood sprayed. Joseph lost consciousness instantly, hanging limply from Arlong's fist like overcooked noodles.
"So… so strong!"
Everyone present was horrified. Arlong had crushed steel with his bare hands.
The watching villagers knew the fight was lost. Many turned and fled home.
Others stood frozen—either too shocked or utterly despairing.
Nami and Nojiko, however, had stars in their eyes.
Their Big Bro Arlong was so strong!
Nami Affection +2 Nojiko Affection +3
Arlong casually tossed Joseph at Usopp's feet and mocked, "Come on, God of Comebacks. Your turn!"
"God of Comebacks" was a nickname fans gave Usopp, and his luck in clutch moments was indeed legendary.
"D-don't come any closer!"
Usopp had no idea what Arlong was talking about.
Seeing the fishman approach, his legs shook uncontrollably, voice trembling.
"Certain-Kill… Gunpowder Star!"
He finally raised the slingshot, but at ten meters he missed completely.
Another shot. Arlong caught the projectile with one hand and squeezed lightly.
Pfft~
Black smoke leaked between his fingers.
Seeing this, Usopp put away the slingshot and somehow pulled out a giant hammer labeled "100t."
"D-don't come closer! This is a hundred-ton hammer!"
He bluffed desperately.
"Skwahahaha~"
Arlong couldn't help but burst out laughing. Only Luffy would fall for a trick like that.
At that moment, a figure burst from the jungle—Luffy, back for more.
Seeing Arlong about to attack Usopp, he let out a furious roar.
"Arlong! Your opponent is me!"
With that, he threw a punch.
His arm stretched rapidly, fist rocketing toward Arlong like a cannonball.
"Too slow!"
Arlong didn't even bother with Soru. He sidestepped, grabbed the extended arm, and yanked hard.
Luffy shot forward uncontrollably.
Arlong raised an elbow and drove it straight into Luffy's face.
Luffy's features were squashed flat against his skull. Momentum kept his body moving forward, stretching his neck absurdly long.
Arlong seized him by the throat.
Luffy flailed wildly—punching, kicking, even headbutting.
But Arlong's body was like iron. He didn't budge.
Luffy planted both feet on Arlong's chest and pushed with all his might. His neck stretched over a meter long, yet he still couldn't break free—and used up the last of his oxygen.
"Re… lease…"
Suffocation set in. Luffy's face turned purple.
There was no fear in his eyes—only boundless unwillingness.
I'm going to become the King of the Pirates!
Suddenly, an overwhelming, mysterious power erupted from Luffy's body, spreading in all directions.
Thump… Thump…
One by one, people still standing collapsed unconscious.
Only Arlong remained.
"He actually awakened Conqueror's Haki early!"
"But it's only the beginner stage."
A cold smile curled Arlong's lips. He tightened his grip.
Luffy's struggles grew weaker and weaker until his arms fell limp and he passed out completely.