Chapter 70: Ralph... You're So Hard!
"Shall I enlighten everyone about the origin of that sun mark on your chest?"
Arlong was momentarily stunned by Ralph's words, then sneered coldly:
"This is the symbol of our Fish-man Pirate crew! That's why we're also called the Sun Pirates! And I was once a member of the Sun Pirates. What's there to explain?"
"I'm talking about its origin."
Ralph's voice echoed through the courtyard, "Who was the first person to get the sun tattoo? How did the sun tattoo... come into existence?"
Arlong's expression instantly changed.
His pupils contracted, his sharp teeth grinding with an audible "crunch."
"You..." his voice squeezed through clenched teeth, "who exactly are you? What do you know?!"
This detail didn't escape the villagers' notice.
For eight years, they had seen Arlong rage, go mad, and kill.
But they had never seen such an expression on his face.
Amid the anger, there was clear unease.
Even... fear.
What was he uneasy about?
What was he afraid of?
Could it be that the sun tattoo... truly held some unspeakable secret?
Ralph spoke unhurriedly, his voice calm, "The Sun Pirates' current leader is your big brother Jinbe. But the original leader was called Fisher Tiger. When he branded this sun on his chest... there was a reason."
"Shut up—!!!"
Arlong roared violently!
He lunged at Ralph, moving so fast he left afterimages!
His mouth full of sharp teeth opened wide, like a shark's maw, snapping toward Ralph's head!
He would make this human who knew too much shut up forever!
But Ralph simply raised his fist.
Not to attack.
More like... offering his fist to Arlong's mouth.
"CRACK—!!!"
A teeth-grating shattering sound!
The moment Arlong's mouthful of sharp teeth bit into Ralph's fist—
They all shattered completely!
Meanwhile, Ralph's fist took on a deep, metallic black hue.
Completely unscathed.
Under the moonlight, that black fist stood out starkly amidst Arlong's broken teeth.
The courtyard fell into dead silence.
The villagers' eyes widened in shock.
Arlong's sharp teeth... could bite through rock and pierce steel!
Yet... they couldn't break this man's fist?!
Lufia looked at Ralph's fist, her eyes shining like stars:
"Wow! Ralph... you're so hard!"
Ralph kicked Arlong in the face, sending him flying, then pulled his fist from the now-toothless mouth.
He continued where he left off:
"Fisher Tiger. A world-renowned Fish-man adventurer and traveler. His greatest feat was climbing the Red Line alone and attacking Mary Geoise—
"Freeing the slaves there."
Arlong climbed up from the ground.
His mouth had already grown a new set of sharp teeth.
He shouted at Ralph:
"That's right! Big Brother Tiger! He was such an incredible hero! Yet he was betrayed by you damned humans and killed! Tell me! Aren't you humans the most despicable race?!"
Ralph looked at him, his gaze calm:
"Because some humans betrayed him, you judge all humanity as a despicable race? Well, when your big brother saved the slaves, he didn't discriminate by race. He was regarded as a hero by all races, including humans."
He paused, his voice suddenly rising:
"And what are you doing now? You're enslaving others, belittling other races! Doesn't this prove that you've given the Fish-man race a despicable and lowly reputation?!"
"You're spouting nonsense—!!!"
Arlong roared.
He reached out and actually tore the sharp teeth from his own mouth with brute force!
Two rows of sharp teeth were now clutched in his hands.
And instantly, a new set grew back in his mouth.
"See?!" Arlong brandished his "tooth blades," his voice fanatical, "The gap between races! This powerful regenerative ability! Now you understand how superior the Fish-man race is!!"
Ralph shook his head.
"I've always acknowledged that there are differences between races," he said. "But starting from a higher point doesn't mean you're inherently stronger."
He looked directly into Arlong's eyes:
"If you're truly so confident... why are you throwing your weight around in East Blue, the 'Weakest Sea'?"
Arlong froze.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He couldn't possibly say: I came to East Blue precisely because it's weak and easy to bully, where I can build my empire.
Ralph said it for him:
"Your Fish-man Island is stuck between the first and second halves of the Grand Line. It's a place frequently visited by the Navy and Pirates. Over the years... you must have suffered plenty of bullying from humans, right?"
His voice was like a cold scalpel:
"Admit it. The reason you hate humans is because of the long-standing oppression they've inflicted on Fish-men. And you—"
Ralph spoke each word deliberately:
"Have become exactly what you despise most."
"You're lying—!!! Humans are disgusting! Fish-men are superior!!"
Arlong went completely mad.
Holding one set of sharp teeth in each hand, plus the set in his mouth—
Three sets of teeth, like three gaping maws, lunged at Ralph from three directions!
He was going to tear this human to shreds!
But Ralph simply raised his hands calmly.
All ten fingers were simultaneously coated in that profound, jet-black color.
Armament Haki.
His fingers curved like hooks, meeting the two sets of sharp teeth in Arlong's hands.
"CRACK—!!!"
A crisp shattering sound.
The sharp teeth in Arlong's hands were crushed by Ralph's bare grip!
Even Arlong's fingers were slightly deformed from the force.
At that moment, Arlong's mouth had already reached Ralph's head.
The newly grown sharp teeth clamped down fiercely!
Ralph didn't even dodge.
He merely lowered his head slightly—
And met the attack with his forehead.
"Tekkai."
He said softly.
"CLANG—!!!"
A sound like metal clashing!
Arlong's sharp teeth shattered once again!
And Ralph's forehead... no, his entire face was now covered in that jet-black metallic sheen!
Armament Haki, covering his head!
Headbutt!
Ralph slammed his forehead hard into Arlong's nose!
"CRUNCH—!!!"
Arlong's proud, blade-like nose was bent out of shape.
His mouthful of sharp teeth shattered for the third time.
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Due to mastering 'Shigan' and 'Armament Haki,' automatically comprehended 'Six Powers—Tekkai']
['Tekkai' has been upgraded from Beginner to: Intermediate]
['Tekkai' has been upgraded from Intermediate to: Advanced]
Information flooded his mind.
How to instantly harden muscles, how to coordinate with Armament Haki to form dual-layered defense, how to seek counterattack opportunities while defending...
A faint, almost imperceptible curve lifted the corner of Ralph's lips.
Good thing I didn't waste my chance on Tekkai!
Tekkai?
Even dogs wouldn't learn that trash!
He looked at Arlong, whose face was covered in blood, nose crooked, and teeth shattered.
Ralph's dark skin gradually returned to its normal tone.
He shook his hand casually, his tone calm:
"So, shall we continue?"
Dead silence fell over the courtyard.
The villagers stared at the young man standing unscathed under the moonlight.
They stared at Arlong—once so arrogant—now reduced to such a pitiful state.
Something quietly shattered within that silence.
Fear.
The deeply rooted fear of Fish-men that had plagued their hearts for eight years.
And something new was beginning to grow.
Hope.
Arlong knelt on the ground, clutching his crooked nose as blood seeped through his fingers.
He lifted his head to look at Ralph.
For the first time, those Fish-man pupils showed...
Doubt.
Ralph turned away, no longer looking at him.
He walked toward Lufia and extended his hand:
"Still able to fight?"
Lufia grinned, grabbing his hand to pull herself up:
"Of course!"
She adjusted her straw hat, her eyes burning with fighting spirit as she looked toward Arlong:
"This time... I'm getting serious."
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