Lina's right hand suddenly erupted into blazing flame. "Fire Fist!" she shouted, unleashing a torrent of fire toward the Fish-Men.
The inferno hit them without mercy. Those nearest turned to charcoal ash; others were burned into dried, crispy husks. Among them, "Chuu" let out a final surprised gurgle before collapsing, reduced to cinders.
Lina's eyes shimmered with furious satisfaction. She wasn't holding back. She didn't see the Fish-Men as people — only as the enemy to be purged. With Rolan's nod, she raged, and her flames danced wildly across the battlefield, leaving devastation in every corner.
---
From above, Kuro swooped in with lethal grace. "Wing Blade!" he shouted, transforming his arms into expansive roc wings.
With crushing speed, Kuro slashed through the air. He moved in a blur — faster than before, smoother than ever. He teleported from one target to another, then another, landing behind "Blackfin" in a heartbeat.
Blackfin sneered, but before he could react, an X-shaped wound split his chest. Blood erupted and he collapsed, a sad grin frozen on his lips.
Kuro didn't hesitate. Without staying to gloat, he vanished, leaving behind dozens of afterimages — each strike drawing blood, each figure causing a Fish-Man to drop lifeless.
Nami watched from the edge of the fight, completely astonished. They're wiping them out like they're vegetables, she thought, disbelief mingled with awe.
Nojiko's eyes were wide too, fear and wonder locked in her gaze.
---
Arlong's fury boiled over. He roared to the sky. "Fools! What have you done to my comrades?" Each word was venomous. He paced on his throne, trembling with rage as his Fish-Men fell one by one.
Rolan spoke softly, his voice strange in contrast to the chaos. "Tell me, Arlong… did you ever think of the villagers as people when you slaughtered Coco Village?"
Arlong sneered as if disgusted. "We Fish-Men are the supreme race. Humans are nothing more than lowly things who can't even breathe in water. We are gods here, life and death in our hands."
Rolan's smile was easy. "Is that what you believe?"
He raised a hand. "Attraction." A surge of Rolan's power shot toward Arlong, drawing him in as though by invisible force. Rolan gripped his neck with a single hand, holding him aloft.
"Have you ever considered that to me… you're just fish?"
Arlong thrashed, but couldn't break free. "Get off me, human scum!"
Rolan's eyes turned red for a moment — a sign of his Conqueror's Haki — and his grip tightened. "It's natural to eat fish."
Arlong snarled, resisting. "You're just a weak human. Don't lecture us."
Rolan shook his head, disappointment laced through his calm. "You're too blinded by hate. You refuse to admit your own cruelty."
With a swift motion, he twisted Arlong's neck. The Fish-Man's body went limp and he was thrown aside like garbage.
Then Rolan flared his Haki. A red aura surrounded him as he released all his Conqueror's Haki, pouring his power outward.
The entire field quaked under the force. The remaining Fish-Men gurgled and fell one after another, foam at their mouths, their life extinguished.
Rolan's voice rang out clear and powerful, echoing across the ground. "Nami! This place of nightmares, this Arlong Park that caused you grief and suffering — it ends today!"
His words landed like a promise. "Arlong Park is over!"
Nami couldn't hold back. She dashed to Rolan and flung herself into his arms, trembling. "Rolan… thank you. Thank you so much."
Tears soaked his clothes as she clung to him, years of pain and fear pouring into that embrace.
Rolan cradled her, his voice soft. "There there little one, It's over, Nami."
She buried her face against him. "Thank you". But then she raised her head, "What do you mean by 'Little One's you don't even look that older than me".
Seeing her outburst, Rolan just whistled pretending he didn't hear her.
---
To celebrate, the villagers held a grand banquet. For three nights and three days they feasted.
Zoro laughed and drank with the villagers. Lina joined the kitchen crew, learning to cook the village's signature dishes. Kuro sat quietly on the rooftop, staring into the distance with a thoughtful expression.
During the festivities, Rolan turned to Nami, voice surprisingly gentle. "Nami, would you like to come aboard my ship?"
Her cheeks flushed bright. "I-I … I'm not an adult yet."
Nojiko stood by her sister, arms protectively wrapped around her. "Rolan sama, you saved us all, but Nami is still very young. This is a lot to ask."
Rolan rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "No, you misunderstood. I didn't mean… married or anything. I meant we need a navigator. My ship is missing one."
Nojiko's suspicion flickered. "You want Nami to become a pirate?"
He looked at the two sisters, calm, honest. "Yes. But not the kind you think. I don't care about ruling. I want freedom. I don't want to impose fear."
A long pause hung between them as Nami looked up at Rolan, her eyes softening.
He leaned back, reclining in his chair, arms crossed behind his head. "If you come with me, I promise — I'll protect you. And I'll do my best to make things different."
---