Nami and Carina looked around, searching for Hiroto's figure.
Tap...
The sound of footsteps rang out at the bow.
The still-shaken crowd looked toward the bow, only then seeing Hiroto gasping for breath.
Hiroto leaned on his sword against the deck, regulating his breathing to recover his strength.
As a purple entry, [Incoming Chaos] was very useful but he had rarely used it in past battles.
On one hand, it was because his enemies weren't strong enough.
On the other hand, it was because actively using [Incoming Chaos] would drain 10% of his stamina.
This was why, despite possessing the ability to foresee the future, [Incoming Chaos] hadn't reached orange level, nor was it frequently used by Hiroto. It wasn't that it wasn't strong enough, but that the consumption was too great.
There was also the consumption from [Fiery Heart] for adding flames to his attacks.
And the consumption from [Budget Shinso] for rapidly extending the length and width of the blade.
One could say it was fortunate that Hiroto's attributes had increased. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to end things today as unscathed as he was.
"Hiroto!"
Nami was startled upon seeing this and hurriedly ran over.
Carina, on the other hand, observed Hiroto carefully and found no injuries, only a bit of water vapor on him. Only then did she give up on getting the medical kit and ran toward Hiroto with Nami.
The next second, Hiroto, who was still recovering his breath, felt a weight on him.
Nami's face was full of worry, her hands fumbling over Hiroto's body, trying to check for injuries.
Holding her, the corners of Hiroto's lips quirked up, and then he looked up to see Carina standing there.
Carina smiled and teased intentionally, "It seems I didn't come at the right time."
Hiroto thought for a moment, then freed up half of his body and extended a hand. "No, you came at exactly the right time."
Carina rolled her eyes, then pulled away Nami, who had realized Hiroto was fine and breathed a sigh of relief.
Then the two of them started fooling around.
"Where are you touching? Is this how you check?"
"I was just worried."
"I don't believe you. I'm worried about you too, let me touch yours."
"Ah, what are you doing!"
Amidst the two's fooling around, the others understood that Hiroto had simply used up his strength in one go. After resting for a while, there would be no problem.
"Captain Hiroto really is amazing."
"I thought we were done for."
Johnny and Yosaku exhaled in relief, exchanging grateful glances before breaking into smiles.
"As expected of Captain Hiroto."
Laughter aside, both Johnny and Yosaku still felt a lingering dread. The danger just now had been no joke. Thankfully, Hiroto's overwhelming strength had resolved the crisis in an instant.
Yet…
As Johnny's laughter faded, his mood sank, and Yosaku followed suit.
Clearly, they sensed how out of place they were on this ship—like dogs among wolves.
No… even worse than that.
'He's actually this strong… he definitely held back when he sparred with me.'
Zoro, noticing at once that Hiroto was unhurt, wasted no time on needless worry. While eyeing the dying Fishman, he glanced toward the sea and committed the colossal sea beast to memory.
If he could one day fell such a creature with a single slash, perhaps he would finally catch up to Hiroto.
No, perhaps it wouldn't be that simple.
Hiroto's aerial Flying Slash must have struck something.
Recalling the Fishman Hiroto had flung aboard, Zoro realized the sea beast wasn't the only enemy. More foes lurked beneath the waves, targeting the Going Merry.
Without Hiroto, could he have handled the situation as effortlessly?
The thought spurred Zoro's urgency.
'Looks like one of them survived?'
Hiroto spared a glance toward the dark sea off the Going Merry's port side.
Those Flying Slashes before capturing Kuroobi had left him nearly spent. Ordinary Fishmen couldn't survive his strikes, yet one stronger aura had endured.
He couldn't be certain, the creature's presence had become faint—if it wasn't already dead, it was surely dying.
'I'll check with Incoming Chaos later.' Hiroto shook his head and dismissed the matter.
Scouring the vast ocean for a possibly dying Fishman sinking into the depths was too much even for him.
Meanwhile, Nami and Carina's scuffle ended quickly. It was simply their way of venting emotions.
Once calm, they remembered the living enemy aboard.
"Was this one of the attackers in the sea?" Carina asked, stepping beside Zoro to look at the creature under his blade.
Surprise flickered in her eyes—her first encounter with a Fishman.
"So it's a Fishman."
"That means Captain Hiroto was striking at others beneath the surface?"
Johnny and Yosaku crowded in, chattering and staring with open curiosity.
In the East Blue, Fishmen were almost mythical, glimpsed only in World Government papers.
"Kuroobi!"
Nami approached, teeth clenched as she identified the dying Fishman.
"Hah."
Kuroobi lied on the deck in a pool of blood, lifting his gaze with effort to the human girl he despised.
Nami glared down at him, equal parts furious and relieved.
That look, that stance, tormented him.
Once their plaything, forced to map seas for Arlong Pirates after her foster mother's murder, now she stood above him.
This should not be.
She should collapse, wailing for another chance, then return to Cocoyasi to witness her family's grim fate and become their tool once more.
But reality didn't unfold according to his expectations.
The root cause...
Hiroto stood relaxed, eyes on the horizon.
Kuroobi hadn't seen Hiroto exhausted as the agony had blinded him. Now, only the man's back filled his vision.
Hiroto barely acknowledged him—utter disdain.
Typical arrogant human powerhouse.
Yet… that could be exploited.
With his last strength, Kuroobi ripped the pouch from his waist and let it slide across the deck.
"Think you've won?" He sneered at Nami while Zoro tensed.
"You cling to a powerful ally and believe you're free? Too bad, you can't change a thing, just like how that Genzo couldn't protect your sister."
"What?!"
Carina caught the metallic scent, snatched the waterproof bag, and paled at the touch.
"What is it?" Nami froze, rooted in place.
Carina opened the bag slightly: inside, a blood-soaked pinwheel and a soft, severed outline.
"Genzo…" Nami's face drained of color.
"Lament your betrayal! Hahaha!" Kuroobi spat blood, laughing.
He was certain this would break her and spur reckless haste toward Cocoyasi Village.
If defeat was absolute, at least the enemy would arrive unprepared. Perhaps some Fishman survivor would carry the grudge.