The midday sun poured its heat over the land, making the day feel scorching.
Luffy withdrew the long sword from Arlong's chest.
"Second one," he said calmly.
Glancing at the Fishmen sprawled on the ground, he turned toward Nami in the distance. "There are a total of 138 Fishmen. Once these are taken care of, you'll officially be my navigator."
"What?"
Nami and the others were still reeling from Luffy's overwhelming power, unable to react.
Without repeating himself, Luffy moved instantly, sword in hand, approaching a Fishman and pressing the blade gently to its throat.
Before anyone could react, a body fell.
The experience notification sounded in Luffy's ears.
He checked his XP: 2550/3000—almost ready to level up again. Excitement surged.
Each Fishman gave over 200 XP; if he cleared them all, it could amount to tens of thousands, possibly reaching level 20 soon.
Though Luffy's mind raced with calculations, his hands never stopped.
Punch. Slash. Thrust.
Each strike incapacitated a Fishman immediately.
With the Arlong Pirates' captain already defeated, and the top three officers neutralized—Kuroobi beheaded, Hyo immobilized—the only remaining force was the octopus Fishman, Hatchan.
Yet as the last defender, he had to step up.
Clang!
Luffy's sword, aimed at a fleeing Fishman, was suddenly blocked.
Hatchan, wielding his six-sword style, deflected the blow with practiced skill.
"Oh? You want to interfere?" Luffy tossed the sword aside, forming a quick fist stance.
Fear was plainly written in Hatchan's eyes. "I… I won't let you massacre my comrades freely."
"Then let's see if you're up to the task."
Before Hatchan could respond, Luffy vanished.
All he saw was a blur and then felt a sharp pain in his legs—thud! He collapsed to the ground.
"Looks like you're not quite ready…"
Hatchan barely had time to process before Luffy reappeared, fists raised.
The result was inevitable. Tears streamed down Hatchan's face.
Facing the small, relentless fighter, Hatchan recalled his childhood encounters with slave hunters.
Then, as a child, he was powerless, able only to cry.
But Arlong had driven the hunters away, and from that moment, Hatchan had devoted himself to following him.
Arlong…
Luffy's fists approached, and Hatchan saw his own reflection in the boy's eyes—helpless, like in his childhood.
Wait!
Hatchan noticed something different.
What was it?
It was… the sunlight.
The Sun Pirates' sun.
Clang!
"Hmm?" Luffy's eyes widened slightly as Hatchan blocked his punch with the swords. "I didn't expect you to keep up with my speed."
Hatchan pushed with all his strength, sending Luffy briefly back.
Luffy landed nimbly, steady as ever.
Hatchan stood, swords forming a defensive stance.
"Unless you defeat me, you won't pass!"
Luffy glanced at the fleeing Fishmen, growing slightly impatient.
"Then I won't hold back!"
He surged forward again.
Hatchan swung his swords, striking Luffy's fist repeatedly.
The soft flesh of Luffy's fist met sharp steel with a ringing clang, each strike countered by sheer will.
Clang!
After continuous exchanges, Hatchan's stamina began to falter. Luffy seized the moment.
A heavy punch knocked one sword aside, followed by a crushing kick to Hatchan's arm.
"Ah!"
Hatchan shouted, enduring the pain, while the other five arms continued their attack.
But all six hands were no match for Luffy now.
He struck again, breaking another arm.
Clack!
Third arm.
Clack!
Fourth arm.
Hatchan's forehead glistened with sweat, enduring the agony of severed limbs.
Luffy spared no hesitation, ruthlessly breaking the fifth arm.
"I admire your courage, but I'm afraid this is necessary," Luffy said calmly, accelerating so fast that Hatchan could only see a black blur.
The remaining hand raised a sword across his chest. He smiled faintly, whispering, "Thank you, Arlong…"
Thud!
The blade snapped in two, falling to the ground.
Luffy's arm sank into Hatchan's chest.
Spilling a steady stream of blood, he withdrew, shaking it off. Perhaps he'd need better gloves in the future; this much blood was hardly presentable.
Scanning the area, he saw no living Fishman remained.
"This is troublesome…"
Luffy hadn't expected Hatchan to be so tenacious. The other two officers fell in a single strike each.
He glanced at Nami and the others, who were still staring blankly.
Apologetically, Luffy smiled, then pursued the route the remaining Fishmen had taken.
Seeing the dead Arlong and Hatchan, Nami hesitated briefly, then ran after Luffy.
"Nami!?"
"Nami, where are you going?"
Bell-mère and Nojiko hurried after her.
Arlong, injured, stayed behind, guarding the corpses.
Luckily, several Fishmen who cared for Hatchan hadn't fled far.
Luffy struck each remaining opponent, clearing around twenty more. With Hatchan's large XP, he reached level 15 and allocated free attribute points to stamina, as per usual.
At the harbor, he saw the remaining Fishmen boarding their ship, preparing to flee.
Now truly urgent, Luffy leapt onto the ship, continuing his relentless assault.
The cornered Fishmen tried to fight back.
They could have jumped overboard, but as lifelong comrades, none considered abandoning each other.
Yet not one could withstand three moves from Luffy.
By the time Nami and her companions reached the shore, the deck was already littered with bodies.
Seeing Luffy still attacking, Nami shouted tearfully, "Enough!"
Luffy had noticed Nami's arrival but assumed she was checking if the Fishmen were all dealt with, so he hadn't stopped.
Hearing her, he paused mid-motion, lowering his hands.
The Fishmen froze.
Through tears, Nami continued, "Please… stop fighting. It's enough. Don't kill anymore."
Luffy fell silent for a moment. The scene became still.
"Leave the ship. Swim away," Luffy said suddenly.
The Fishmen hesitated, then obeyed, plunging into the sea without another second to waste.
Watching them escape, Luffy jumped down, washing his arms by the shore.
Though his clothes remained bloodied, at least his hands and face were clean.
After washing, he ran over to Nami.
"Sorry, I thought you'd hate them," he said, smiling brightly despite everything, radiating warmth and apology.
"It's… it's fine." Nami had not expected someone so fierce to listen to her and even apologize.
"It's a pity our deal isn't complete," Luffy said sadly. "I can't let you officially join my crew yet."
Most of this sorrow was an act; a small part stemmed from nearly reaching level 17 after just a few more strikes.
Years of experience with girls in past lives meant he knew how to use this.
The young girl had no resistance to this playful coaxing.
"Ah… I stopped it myself, it's not your fault, so… so…" Nami fidgeted, tugging at her dress.
"So, that means you agree to sail with me, right?" Luffy said, delighted, his tone filled with affirmation.
"…Yes." Nami lowered her gaze, continuing to fidget with her skirt.
"Good! But Nami…" Luffy's voice suddenly grew serious, and Nami looked up, puzzled. "If we sail, you should know that kindness alone won't protect you in these seas."
Reflecting on how she had allowed Luffy to spare the Fishmen—who had been threatening the villagers and nearly killed Bell-mère—she understood.
"But!" Luffy raised his voice.
"Your kindness… I will protect it!"
Luffy placed a fist over his heart, smiling warmly.
Nami stared at him, her small frame somehow making her cheeks flush.
Bell-mère and Nojiko said nothing, but seeing Nami's expression, they knew she might really be leaving.
[Ding! Host gained a second companion. Please enter the companion system to assign a unique item to
the new companion.]