Zaraki ignored Nami's horrified look and didn't even pause his steps.
He lazily raised his hand and waved it in front of her like shooing a fly, signaling her to step aside.
"Move. Don't block me from grabbing my weapon."
His tone was completely flat, sounding like he just threw away an empty bottle.
Zaraki walked right past the frozen girl. He tossed a quick glance at the backpack on the ground holding a hundred million Beli.
'With this much cash, exchanging it all for booze would probably be enough to drown that old man.'
He stepped past Kuroobi, who was still embedded in the broken wall and grabbed the hilt of the plain sword trembling in the stone floor.
Clang.
He yanked the blade free, dragging up a spray of stone chips and dust.
The edge of the nameless sword was stained dark red from the earlier throw, but the steel itself remained intact.
"You bastard..."
A furious roar echoed from under the jagged tower.
Arlong slowly stood up from his stone seat, his tall frame casting a huge shadow over the courtyard.
He stared at his top officer hanging lifeless on the wall.
Bloodshot anger filled his eyes and his saw-like nose twitched in rage.
"Whoever you are... if you dare cause trouble in my paradise, get ready to be torn to pieces!"
Arlong waved his hand and the panicked Fish-Men suddenly found their backbone.
"Kill him!"
"Chop this human up and feed him to the sharks!"
"Arlong-san is pissed! This guy is so dead!"
Dozens of Fish-Man pirates gripped their broadswords, spiked clubs, and flintlock pistols.
They rushed Zaraki from all sides.
The smell of fish and raw killing intent flooded the air.
Zaraki held his ground against the rushing crowd. He took a step forward, his mouth stretching into a massive, excited grin.
That familiar feeling returned.
The restless heat of blood pumped through his veins, making his skin prickle with excitement.
These guys were as weak as roadside weeds, yet the thrill of a fight still sent a tremor deep into his soul.
"Prepared?"
Zaraki gave the bloodstained sword a casual shake. Golden light danced deep inside his pitch-black eyes.
"Only the weak need to prepare before they die!"
Before he even finished speaking, a charging Fish-Man raised his heavy broadsword high and brought it crashing down toward Zaraki's head.
Zaraki didn't bother looking up.
Just as the blade brushed his hair, his body shifted a single inch to the left in a jarring, unnatural motion.
Whoosh—!
The heavy slash cut through empty air, failing to graze a single strand of hair.
A dull thud rang out a second later.
Zaraki swept the plain sword out with zero flashy moves, slamming it right into the Fish-Man's side.
Crack.
The sharp sound of breaking bone stood out clearly over the chaotic battle cries.
The heavy Fish-Man didn't even have time to scream. The hit launched his massive body like a baseball, sending him spinning through the air.
He crashed into the crowd behind him, taking down a whole group.
"How weak...."
Zaraki frowned, clearly annoyed.
Chopping down weaklings like vegetables couldn't soothe the battle hunger gnawing at his bones.
"Get out of my way! I'll tear him apart with my own hands!"
Arlong roared and shoved his crew aside.
He swung his giant serrated sword, Kiribachi. The heavy blade whistled through the air, aimed straight for Zaraki's shoulder.
This strike carried power and speed far beyond what his lackeys could ever reach.
Nami covered her mouth in shock, wanting to scream a warning.
Zaraki didn't dodge a blow meant to split solid rock. He didn't even bother taking a proper defensive stance.
He just raised his left arm.
A thick layer of Busoshoku Haki flowed under his skin, hardening his flesh like iron.
Clang—!!
A deafening metallic clash echoed across Arlong Park, sending sparks flying.
The murder in Arlong's eyes froze over.
He stared in pure shock.
Under the deadly teeth of his proud Kiribachi, the boy's forearm remained untouched.
The blade didn't even tear the thin fabric of his sleeve!
"Is this the monstrous strength you brag about?"
Zaraki slowly lifted his head.
His face showed nothing but disappointment and open mockery.
He let out a yawn, then gave his left arm a sudden hard shake.
A massive force surged back up the blade.
Sharp pain stung Arlong's palms, and the heavy Kiribachi almost flew right out of his grip!
"If you want to play, then I'll get a little serious."
Zaraki's figure blurred.
This came from pure, raw physical speed, feeling completely different from the Marine technique Soru.
A one-sided massacre followed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
He used no flashy sword styles and no named finishing moves.
Zaraki dove deep into the crowd of Fish-Men. That plain nameless sword turned into a deadly weapon in his hands.
The sound of shattering bones and terrified screams followed every single swing.
"Monster… he's a monster!"
"Our swords can't cut him! Is his skin made of iron?!"
"Run! Stay away from him!"
The Arlong Pirates, who wanted to tear humans apart just moments ago, completely broke.
Seeing their crewmates fly through the air and watching that blood-soaked boy laugh like a maniac shattered their pride.
Survival instinct took over, forcing them to back away.
In less than a minute, groaning Fish-Men covered the entire courtyard.
Zaraki stood in a sea of blood and beaten bodies.
He rested his foot on a broken harpoon. The plain sword in his hand was already stained dark red from hilt to tip.
Feeling highly unsatisfied, he lowered the bloodied blade and turned to face the last man standing.
Arlong shook hard as cold sweat covered his proud blue skin.
His old tyrant aura was completely gone.
As a pirate who sailed the Grand Line, he knew strong fighters existed everywhere.
He had just never met a madman who enjoyed slaughtering people quite like this.
Zaraki's emotionless eyes locked onto him.
Arlong's legs turned to jelly, and he stumbled back two steps.
"D-don't come any closer!"
Arlong waved the broken half of his sword in a panic. His eyes darted around before finally locking onto the stunned orange-haired girl nearby.
"Nami! Nami!"
Arlong clung to her like a lifeline.
His voice pitched high, losing all of its usual mocking arrogance.
"Make him stop! You're my crew, right? We still have a contract! Just make him stop, and I'll forget the 100 million Beli! I'll give your village back! Whatever you want!"
The tyrant who brought eight years of nightmares to Cocoyashi Village now begged like a dog in front of someone he used to treat like trash!
Zaraki raised an eyebrow but kept walking forward.
Trash who only bullied the weak and feared the strong wouldn't even give him 0.1% of his Unlock Progress.
Just as he got ready to crush the bug for good, the sound of marching boots echoed outside the gate.
"Everyone, freeze right there!"
A sleazy voice broke the heavy silence inside the courtyard.
Zaraki stopped and tilted his head.
The Marine captain Carina mentioned earlier—the guy with the rat face—charged through the gate with a full squad of armed Marines behind him.
Captain Nezumi stroked his thin mustache.
He came here to put on a show with Arlong and pocket some Beli on the side.
But when he actually looked at the courtyard, he froze in his tracks.
Beaten Fish-Men covered the ground, and blood stained the dirt.
Arlong knelt in the middle of it all, begging Nami for his life.
Standing right in the center of the slaughter was a black-haired guy, staring at Nezumi like he was a piece of trash.
Captain Nezumi swallowed hard.
The official speech he practiced got stuck in his throat.
"Marines?" Zaraki asked with a smirk. "Nice of you to show up."
Arlong saw the Marines, and a spark of hope lit up in his eyes.
Tossing away his last bit of dignity, he crawled toward Captain Nezumi and let out a hoarse cry.
"Nezumi! Quick! Kill him!"
Arlong pointed a shaking finger at Zaraki, grasping his only chance to live with eyes gleaming in madness.