On the ground covered in dirt and stone debris, Nami was slumped helplessly, her hair in disarray. Her clothes were filthy from being pinned down earlier, making her look weak and pitiful.
Does Goku already know everything between Arlong and me?
And he said he's going to... seek revenge for me?
Hearing Goku's words, her mouth hung open slightly as she froze in place.
The warm sunlight spilled down, offering its unreserved warmth to her.
But she felt no warmth; instead, a terrifying chill crept through her body.
No... Goku couldn't possibly be a match for Arlong. It's impossible...
No... he absolutely cannot die here. He can't die at Arlong's hands just for my sake...
At the thought of Arlong's ruthless, murderous face, a wave of immense fear washed over her.
She hurriedly cried out, her face filled with panic, "Goku! Run! Don't say stupid things about getting revenge for me!!"
"Just run!!!"
She desperately wanted Goku to leave so he could survive.
She would stay behind and stall Arlong's crew. After all, she had nowhere left to go anyway.
Goku's serious expression faltered at her words. "Run? Why should I run?" he asked, confused.
"Stop asking questions! Just run because I told you to!!" Nami shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Having said that, she struggled to her feet, wanting to push Goku away.
But right then, Arlong's voice drifted out from the Park. "Shahahaha! Want to run? Too late!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Arlong emerged from the entrance of the Park followed by a swarm of fishmen.
He glanced to the side at the Marines lying unconscious in various positions against the outer wall, a look of disdain crossing his face.
Inferior humans really are just inferior humans. Pathetically weak.
He turned back, sizing up Nami and Goku with a mocking grin. "I never expected you to have backup, Nami. A human brat with a tail? Shahahaha! You're clearly not normal. No wonder you could take down those trashy Marines."
When facing her nemesis, Nami's eyes instantly burned with a crimson rage. This was the monster who had murdered her mother and enslaved her for eight years.
"Arlong!! You bastard!! How dare you lie to me!!"
Her rage suppressed her fear. She picked up the long staff that had fallen to the ground and marched toward him, fuming.
Eight years. A full eight years!
For eight years, she had clung to her only hope, braving the elements day after day and risking death countless times just to fulfill the agreement he had made—to liberate her village and herself.
But in the end, she was nothing more than a grasshopper he toyed with at his whim. He had never intended to honor the agreement from the very beginning!
"Get out of here!! Just go!!!"
"I don't need you to get revenge for me!!"
As she passed Goku, she shoved him hard, trying to force him to leave.
But Goku was like a stone pillar rooted to the earth; no matter how hard she pushed, he didn't budge an inch.
"Nami, don't you trust me? I said I'd get revenge for you, and I'm going to do exactly that."
Goku looked up, his gaze filled with sincerity and resolve.
Nami's furious expression froze. Her body, which had been as tense as a cornered tiger, suddenly went limp.
After a couple of seconds, her nose twitched, and tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes again.
"Can... can you really do it, Goku?"
She lowered her head, her voice trembling and choked with sobs.
"Leave it to me!"
Goku nodded solemnly. He then turned around and strode toward the crowd of fishmen, shouting angrily at Arlong:
"Hey! You're Arlong, right? How dare you do that to Nami! I'm going to give you a real thrashing and get revenge for her!!"
Arlong cracked his neck, his mouth full of sharp teeth pulling into a wide grin.
"Shahahaha! How amusing. It's been a long time since anyone dared to say that to my face."
"You might not be an ordinary human, brat, but you're still just an inferior creature compared to us fishmen."
His words were thick with contempt and disdain.
As a supremacist, he believed that fishmen were naturally superior to humans. To him, humans were nothing more than inferior creatures destined for enslavement.
"Enough talk! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
Goku took a fighting stance, speaking with righteous fury.
"Arlong-san, there's no need for you to trouble yourself with a brat like this. Let me handle him."
Before Arlong could speak, an ordinary fishman from behind him stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with an eager smile.
This was the first time he'd seen a human kid with a tail; he wondered what it would feel like to beat him up.
He was filled with anticipation.
Arlong didn't stop him, crossing his arms to watch the show. After all, how could a mere human brat possibly win—
Thud!!
A figure soared over his head and slammed heavily into the outer wall of the Park, joining the ranks of the unconscious Marines.
Arlong's smile froze. The figure was the very fishman who had just stepped out.
Goku pulled back his fist and said coldly, "He's too weak. All of you, come at me at once!"
Without waiting for Arlong's order, five or six fishmen from the crowd rushed forward in a rage.
"Damn human brat, how dare you hurt our comrade!"
"Die! You're just a human kid!"
Armed with blades and spears, the fishmen charged aggressively at Goku.
Faced with the incoming enemies, Goku drew the Power Pole from his back. Instead of retreating, he lunged straight into their midst!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Like a wolf among sheep, he moved with unstoppable force, swatting away the fishmen and their weapons as if they were toys!
"Ar... Arlong-sa..."
The fishmen sprawled on the ground didn't even manage to finish their trembling words before their eyes rolled back and they passed out.
Grind! Grind!
"How dare you harm my brethren..."
Seeing this, Arlong's face darkened, and the sound of his teeth grinding together echoed.
"Stop. None of you are a match for him."
Beside him, the towering Kuroobi stopped the other fishmen who were about to charge. Stepping forward, he said in a low voice:
"Arlong-san, leave him to me. I'll take care of this brat and make sure he learns the price of hurting our people."
Arlong nodded expressionlessly. "He's all yours."
Kuroobi strode toward Goku, looking down at him from his height.
As one of the three top officers of the Arlong Pirates, his strength was undeniable.
Holding a 40th-degree black belt in Fishman Karate, he was arguably the strongest close-quarters fighter among the three officers.
"So you're my next opponent!"
Seeing that Kuroobi carried no weapons, Goku put away his Power Pole and took a stance.
Kuroobi crouched low, adopting his own stance.
"I'll show you the true power of a fishman."
"Hundred Brick Fist!!"
Boom!!
With a low shout, he threw a punch at Goku with incredible speed.
A powerful, invisible shockwave erupted from his palm, pushing Goku back and carving two deep furrows into the ground.
"Now it's my turn!"
Goku lowered his guarding arms. With a sudden flash of movement, he reappeared right in front of Kuroobi.
"Yah!!"
Bam!!!
When his small fist slammed into Kuroobi's massive, muscular frame, the fishman's pupils dilated. He coughed up foam and doubled over like a cooked shrimp.
"How... how is this possible?!"
He clutched his stomach and stumbled back several steps, his expression filled with shock.
But soon, that shock was replaced by a savage ferocity.
"A fishman would never lose to a human like you!"
"Ha! Thousand Brick Fist!!"
Gathering all his strength, he unleashed one of the secret techniques of Fishman Karate—the strongest move he had mastered.
Boom!!!
An invisible shockwave, far more violent than the last, erupted from his palm. It whipped up a howling wind as it roared toward Goku.
This time, having already seen through the attack pattern, Goku didn't foolishly stand his ground to block. Instead, he flickered away, leaping high into the air just as the shockwave was released.
"What?!"
Kuroobi's expression froze as he looked up in disbelief.
In the next instant, the black sole of a foot rapidly expanded in his vision.
"Hah!!"
Bam!!!
As the flying kick landed, his head snapped violently to the side, teeth flying from his mouth.
The momentum carried his entire body, sending him crashing into the trees like a cannonball.
He snapped several large trees before slumping to the ground, completely unconscious.
Suddenly, the clearing fell into a silence so profound that even a pin drop would have been heard.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]