"Stop."
Luffy's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
He stood at the edge of the flooded courtyard, arms spread slightly apart, palms open. The water lapped against his boots, rippling outward in perfect concentric circles—as if the sea itself hesitated.
"I'll handle this."
Zoro exhaled slowly and lowered his swords. His instincts screamed to fight, but his trust in Luffy was stronger than any battle urge.
Sanji flicked his cigarette away, eyes narrowing. "Figures."
Usopp swallowed. Hard.
"…Good luck, Captain."
Across the courtyard, Arlong laughed.
Not loudly.
Not hysterically.
It was a deep, satisfied chuckle—the sound of someone convinced they were about to watch a human drown.
"Finally," Arlong said, spreading his arms. "You understand your place. Alone. Facing the sea."
The pond erupted.
Momoo surged forward, water exploding outward as the massive sea cow charged, jaws open wide enough to swallow a house. Behind it, Fishmen leapt into motion—Chew, Kuroobi, and the remaining elite charging from all sides, weapons raised, muscles flexing.
The villagers screamed.
Nami's breath caught in her throat.
Luffy didn't move.
He didn't raise his arms.
He didn't change his expression.
Instead, he looked up.
The storm answered.
Lightning crawled across the clouds in jagged veins, illuminating the sky in stark white flashes. The wind shifted violently, whipping coats, tearing banners from walls, bending palm trees until they screamed in protest.
Luffy slowly clenched his fists.
Blue-white electricity wrapped around his arms—not sparking wildly, but spiraling inward, compressing, obeying.
"Raging Thunder."
The words were spoken softly.
The sky screamed.
Fifty bolts of lightning descended at once.
Not randomly.
Precisely.
Each bolt struck a Fishman mid-charge, bodies convulsing as electricity tore through muscle and bone. Weapons flew from their hands, clattering uselessly across stone. The air filled with the sharp, acrid smell of ozone and burnt flesh.
Momoo took the full force.
Lightning surged into the water around him, the conductive surface turning into a death trap. The sea cow roared in agony, body spasming violently as electricity coursed through every nerve.
The courtyard lit up like daylight.
Then—
Silence.
Bodies collapsed.
Fishmen lay scattered across the ground, smoke rising from their forms. Some twitched once… then went still.
Momoo floated, unconscious, massive body bobbing uselessly in the pond.
The villagers stared in disbelief.
Johnny whispered, "He… wiped them out."
Yosaku's knees buckled. "That wasn't a fight…"
"That was an execution."
Only four Fishmen still stood.
Arlong.
And the three Luffy had encountered earlier on the road.
They stared at the fallen bodies of their brothers, eyes wide, breaths ragged.
Arlong's jaw trembled.
Then he snarled.
"You—!" His voice cracked with rage. "You slaughtered them!"
Luffy lowered his arms.
Electricity faded from his body, leaving him standing calmly amid scorched stone and drifting smoke.
"Trash," Luffy said flatly. "They weren't worth my crew's time."
He pointed behind him.
Zoro smirked.
Sanji rolled his shoulders.
Usopp shook—but nodded.
"Those three," Luffy continued, pointing at Arlong's remaining men, "are yours."
Zoro's smile turned sharp.
Sanji's eyes lit with fire.
Usopp gulped. "…I'm gonna die, aren't I?"
The Fishmen charged.
Hachi lunged at Zoro, six swords flashing.
Zoro met him head-on.
Steel screamed as blades clashed. Despite his wounds, Zoro moved with terrifying precision—each strike calculated, each parry ruthless. One by one, Hachi's swords shattered, unable to withstand the force behind Zoro's blows.
With a final cross-slash, Hachi was launched through the air, crashing into the stone courtyard and carving a shallow crater where he landed—unconscious.
Luffy nodded. "Good."
Sanji was already airborne.
Kuroobi barely had time to react before a kick slammed into his ribs, sending him crashing through the main building wall. The structure groaned, cracked… and partially collapsed.
Sanji landed lightly, lit a cigarette, and exhaled.
"Dinner's canceled."
Usopp screamed as Chew charged him.
"WHY ME—!?"
Explosions rang out.
Firebombs. Smoke pellets. Blinding flashes.
Chew staggered back, eyes wide as Usopp—bloodied, shaking—stood his ground.
"For the record," Usopp shouted, "I HATE fish!"
One final shot.
Chew went down.
Silence returned.
Only Arlong remained.
He stared at the fallen Fishmen.
At Momoo.
At the humans who stood unbroken.
"…Impossible," he muttered. "Humans can't do this."
Luffy stepped forward.
"I guess it's my turn."
Arlong roared and charged.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he closed the distance, fist swinging with enough force to shatter stone.
Luffy moved.
One step.
One punch.
An electrified fist slammed into Arlong's stomach.
The impact launched him backward, body crashing through a wall and embedding deep into the structure of Arlong Park.
"You talk too much," Luffy said calmly.
The villagers erupted.
"He hit Arlong!"
"With one punch!"
Arlong staggered back to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth, eyes burning with hatred.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
He lunged again—only to stop short as Luffy stood completely still.
Arlong grabbed Luffy's head and shoulder, jaws opening wide.
He bit down.
Lightning exploded in his mouth.
Arlong screamed as electricity detonated inside him, hurling him backward.
Luffy's neck regenerated instantly, crackling with light.
"Oh," Luffy said mildly. "Did I forget to mention?"
Arlong stared in horror.
"I ate a Logia."
Rage twisted Arlong's face.
He turned and dove into the pond.
Zoro frowned. "Captain—"
Luffy walked to the edge.
"…Does he think water helps?"
He extended both hands.
"Electro-Murder."
Electricity surged into the pond, boiling the water, sending waves crashing outward. The villagers retreated as steam filled the air.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A shadow shot upward.
Arlong burst from the water, nose aimed straight at Luffy's heart.
Luffy sighed.
Coated his palm in Armament Haki.
And caught him by the nose.
Crack.
The sound echoed across the island.
Arlong screamed as his unbreakable nose shattered.
Luffy hurled him through the air, straight into the upper floor of Arlong Park.
Lightning flashed.
Luffy vanished.