The Fish-Men inside Arlong Park stared in shock as an impossible scene unfolded before them. All eyes turned toward the entrance.
Four figures stepped through the broken gate, and in Rolan's arms lay Nami, trembling, drenched, and barely able to catch her breath.
"You… who are you? You worthless human!" Arlong roared, livid that the girl he was moments away from killing had been stolen from his grasp.
Rolan didn't bother hiding the boredom on his face. "Me? I guess I'm a chef."
He pulled a coat from his system space [Inventory] and gently draped it over Nami's shoulders.
"A chef? You think there's business for a chef here, human?!"
Arlong shot multiple high-pressure water jets toward him.
Rolan didn't raise his head. An electromagnetic barrier shimmered into existence before him, stopping every shot like raindrops hitting glass.
"Anyone who really knows me," Rolan said, lifting his gaze with a crooked smirk, "knows I'm especially good at cooking fish."
The casual taunt only made Arlong sneer, interpreting Rolan's calmness as arrogance.
"Forget it. I'll take you apart after this."
Without hesitation, Rolan lifted his hand. In an instant, an enhanced electromagnetic field wrapped around all of Arlong Park, sealing the Fish-Men inside and muting every sound.
Nami looked up at him in shock. "Rolan… you shouldn't have come."
Rolan brushed her soaked hair back gently, his tone calmer than ever. "Relax. These small fries can't hurt me, Did you forget what my bounty was?"
Her breath caught. 'That's right, his bounty , 200 million, Even Along's own seem inferior.'
The warmth of his touch made her instinctively look up at him, her eyes trembling but softening.
Rolan froze for a brief moment, staring into her clear, trembling blue eyes. 'What a cute child' He thought.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
"Nami, we know everything you've done for this village."
It was Genzo, the village sheriff, scars and stitches covering his face, standing at the front of a crowd of villagers all armed with farming tools and makeshift weapons. "We were powerless, and you carried the burden alone."
"No…" Nami's heart tightened painfully. "Genzo san! Everyone… leave now! You can't fight them!"
Years of loneliness and sacrifice began to shake loose. If the villagers died here, all her suffering would truly have been for nothing.
A villager rolled up his sleeves angrily. "We can't let you suffer all this alone! There are many of us. We can defeat Arlong together!"
"You…" Tears finally spilled over her cheeks. She clenched her fists and looked desperately at Rolan. "Rolan… please. Help me."
Rolan gave her a small smile. He nodded once, as if the request had already been decided from the start.
He turned toward the villagers and spoke firmly. "Stay outside. We'll handle the Fish-Men."
Genzo frowned deeply. "Don't talk big, kid. You're too young. Leave this to us adults."
Rolan blinked once… then a warm flicker passed through his eyes.
Then, without warning, his pupils turned scarlet.
A pulse of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
The villagers collapsed on the ground instantly, stunned but unharmed.
"Rolan…?" Nami stared in confusion. She hadn't expected him to knock out the villagers.
"They're fine." Rolan exhaled. "I just didn't want them doing anything stupid."
He turned to the others. "Let's get to work."
Lina ignited into living flame, her body wreathed in bright heat.
Kuro transformed into a massive roc, beating his wings with a powerful thrum.
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu, his eyes sharpening into predatory focus.
Rolan lifted his hand, dissipating the barrier around Arlong Park, and took slow, deliberate steps toward Arlong.
Arlong trembled imperceptibly. Nothing he had done earlier worked. His water shots, his speed, even his brute force had been repelled by an invisible wall.
Combined with the previous scene — where his attack froze in mid-air — he already knew this black-haired human was not normal.
"What happened to your big Fish-Man confidence, Arlong?" Rolan asked casually.
"Humans are filth!" Arlong snarled. "Fish-Men are the gods of this world!"
Rolan's eyebrow twitched slightly, but he said nothing, simply stepping aside to let Zoro pass as the swordsman faced his own opponent.
---
Zoro vs. Hachi
Zoro faced Hachi the octopus Fish-Man, but he didn't charge in swinging. Instead, he calmly sheathed his swords.
Hachi blinked in shock and annoyance. "You're a swordsman, right? What are you doing? Are you looking down on me?"
"I was thinking about something," Zoro said casually. "I've never tried takoyaki before."
Hachi puffed up with pride. "That's right! Octopus is the tastiest in the world— wait! Oi! What did you just say?!"
Zoro grinned sharply. "Enjoy this moment. When I move next, hell's the only place you'll have time to reflect."
"Then die, green-haired brat!"
Hachi swung his six swords in a spinning net, overwhelming Zoro with sheer volume. Blood traces appeared on Zoro's arms and torso as he dodged.
"Hmph! I thought you were strong, but you're just talk!" Hachi jeered.
Zoro didn't respond. He simply reached into his waistband and tied the black bandana around his head.
"Alright," he murmured, "real training starts now."
Hachi hesitated, confused. It almost looked like Zoro was provoking him on purpose.
"You're mocking me! Die!"
The octopus surged forward again, attacks faster and sharper.
But Zoro's movements changed.
What were once messy dodges became graceful, fluid steps.
He began slipping through the blades like a swimming fish, untouched, as if he could see every attack before it came.
His Observation Haki sharpened mid-battle.
Once he found the rhythm, he exhaled deeply.
"I'm done warming up."
His hand gripped Wado Ichimonji's hilt.
"… Iai Slash."
A single line of steel light flashed.
Hachi froze.
Then blood spurted as the massive octopus collapsed, trembling.
Zoro removed his bandana. "Thanks. That little dance helped my Observation Haki improve."
"You… used me as a stepping stone…?" Hachi whispered bitterly.
"You should be honored you contributed something before dying."
Zoro stepped past him and charged straight into the group of Fish-Men.
The ground trembled as battle erupted behind him.
Hachi watched that back fading into the chaos. "Did we really… do something wrong…?"
---
Rolan, without turning, sensed everything happening behind him.
He never interrupted his crew's battles.
And feeling Hachi's fading life signature, he shook his head slightly.
"Octopus guy is pretty tough. He probably won't die."
A faint smile played at the corner of Rolan's lips as he focused on Arlong. This was the moment he had been waiting for — a true test, not for his crew, but for the black-haired tyrant before him.
The room seemed to shrink around Arlong, the very air charged with Rolan's presence, silent yet overwhelmingly dangerous.
Arlong's confidence wavered, just slightly, but it was enough for him to realize: the rules had changed, and he was now the prey.
_______
All fanfics are currently 70–90 chapters ahead on Patreon.
Become a Patron to gain early access!
Thank you all for the amazing support.
Patreon.com/Zphyr_