The three Straw Hats moved as one.
"Got it!"
Luffy nodded, his face dark and serious as he clenched his fists, glaring at Arlong.
"I'm going to punch you out of here!"
"Kehahaha! Is that so? Quite the bold declaration, but can you really do it?"
Arlong laughed loudly, looking down at Luffy with disdain.
"These humans are so full of themselves. To stand up to Lord Arlong like that, they have no idea how high the sky is!"
"It's not just Lord Arlong. Even Lord Hatchan, Lord Kuroobi, and Lord Chew are beyond what these weaklings can handle. They seriously underestimate us!"
"Humans always do the dumbest things. To charge into Arlong Park with just four people—isn't that just plain stupidity?"
The Fishmen around them laughed heartily. Luffy and his three companions storming in alone was nothing short of laughable to them.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
In just moments, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji were sent flying in their respective battles. Usopp, in particular, was caught off guard when Chew bit down on his iron pellet, spitting it back with double the speed, nearly hitting him. Sanji was overpowered by Kuroobi's brute strength; his kicks, though powerful, were ineffective against the Fishman's tough body. Zoro, already injured, struggled against Hatchan's Six-Sword Style. Each of Hatchan's strikes was like a fierce storm, and Zoro's own sword swings only aggravated his wounds, leaving him gasping for breath and forced to retreat.
Meanwhile, Luffy's Rubber Pistol attack was easily intercepted. Arlong recognized him as a Devil Fruit user and, with a swift bite, broke apart the ground Luffy was standing on, causing Luffy to plummet into the shallow waters of the park's central pool, his fate uncertain.
"Devil Fruit users are indeed troublesome. Their powers are a headache, but they're nothing but dead weight in water. Fishmen have no fear of Devil Fruit users; we're ten times stronger in the sea than on land!"
Arlong shook his head dismissively. He had barely exerted any effort, yet Luffy was already struggling. The others were equally overwhelmed.
"Humans are so fragile. This is just the beginning, and they're already done for!"
"Look at the long-nosed one—what a joke! Against Lord Chew, all he can do is run away. He's useless! Lord Chew, go ahead and bite off his nose for fun!"
"And that swirly-brow guy—what a clown, and he runs like one too! What's he doing with that cigarette? He's getting trashed out there!"
"The green-haired swordsman is the funniest of them all. He's already covered in wounds, yet he dares to challenge Lord Hatchan with a sword. He's barely managing to defend himself, let alone counterattack. He's stumbling around like a drunk! Hilarious!"
"Are these guys serious? They're clowns, every one of them. I'm dying of laughter!"
The Fishmen mocked and jeered, reveling in their easy victory.
"Too weak. This is what humans are like?"
Chew scoffed, shaking his head. He had expected Usopp to put up more of a fight, but it turned out he was nothing more than a boastful coward.
"Swish!"
In a blink, Chew appeared in front of Usopp, grabbing him tightly. Usopp panicked, flailing his legs, but against the powerful Fishman, he was utterly helpless.
"I'll bite off your nose first, then your throat. Die pitifully, human!"
Chew snarled. Usopp struggled in vain, the vast gap in strength leaving him desperate and terrified.
"Usopp!"
Sanji shouted, rushing forward to help, but Kuroobi blocked his path, shoving his massive palm forward.
"Fishman Karate!"
"Boom!"
A terrifying blast of compressed air exploded from Kuroobi's palm, sending Sanji flying. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his cigarette shot out, and he crashed into the shallow waters where Luffy had fallen, his fate now uncertain.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Meanwhile, Hatchan's attacks grew fiercer, a relentless storm of blows. Zoro, already worn out, collapsed to his knees, his wounds torn open and bleeding profusely. He looked like a man drenched in blood, struggling to stand.
"Die!"
Hatchan showed no mercy, swinging his six swords in a flurry of slashes. Zoro, overcome by pain, seemed unable to respond.
"Kehahaha! It's over!"
Arlong laughed, turning his head, already disinterested in the fight.
"Swish!"
Just then, a crescent-shaped sword aura descended like a divine strike, sweeping toward everyone in the park.
"Iai Slash!"
A clear voice rang out.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Hatchan was sent flying, Kuroobi was sent flying, Chew was sent flying! The slash swept through, scattering the Fishmen and knocking back the three Arlong officers. Even the waters in the park's central pool churned violently, swirling into a whirlpool that pulled Sanji and Luffy back onto the shore.
"Who's there?!"
Arlong jumped to his feet.
"Who did that?"
Hatchan, Kuroobi, and Chew sprang up, wounded but still strong thanks to their resilient Fishman bodies.
"Who's responsible?"
The surrounding Fishmen turned, eyes wide with shock. Whoever had just unleashed that slash had not only knocked back Arlong's officers but also stirred up the waters of the park. Who could wield such power?
"A member of the Straw Hat Pirates—Moonlight!"
A black figure slowly emerged from the entrance, stepping into view. All eyes turned toward a young man in black, wielding a gleaming sword. Behind him was Nami, tears streaming down her face, clinging to him like a lifeline. Her eyes were filled with boundless hatred as she stared at Arlong and his crew.
"The Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Moonlight? Never heard of him!"
The Fishmen murmured, unfamiliar with the name.
"That hurt, you bastard! You dare to sneak attack me?!"
Hatchan roared in anger, glaring at the crescent mark left on his tentacle by Moonlight's attack.
"What an impressive sword strike. So there's actually a swordsman like this among the Straw Hats. But that's all it is."
Kuroobi flicked at the slash wound on his body; for a Fishman, it was little more than a scratch.
"Damn human, how dare you sneak attack me! I'll bite you to pieces!"
Chew snarled, charging at Moonlight.
"Nami, so you've found yourself a helper? But he doesn't look like much. Are you finally ready to defy me?"
Arlong sneered, his eyes locked on Nami. The gaze sent shivers through her. It was a look she had seen countless times, a nightmare that had haunted her for over ten years.
"Moonlight!"
Nami cried out in fear.
"Don't worry," Moonlight reassured, squeezing her hand reassuringly before turning his icy gaze on Arlong and his crew.
"You made my navigator cry. For that, you'll pay dearly."
"Conqueror's Haki!"
With those words, Moonlight unleashed an invisible wave of intense pressure.