Chapter 69: How Did The Sun On The Chest Get There?
The whirlpools on the sea surface gradually subsided, leaving only fragments of naval vessels floating on the water.
Hachi and Kuroobi leaped from the sea, landing on the shore of Arlong Park.
Both carried the scent of seawater and gunpowder, their faces still flushed with post-victory excitement.
The mere human Navy stood no chance against the power of the Fish-men.
But when they saw the scene in the courtyard, their smiles froze.
It was completely different from when they had left.
The ground was littered with the bodies of their Fish-man brethren—they knew this was the work of those humans.
But the perimeter of the courtyard was now surrounded by people.
The villagers of Cocoyasi Village.
They held crude weapons in their hands, their eyes no longer filled with the numbness and fear of the past eight years, but with something... burning.
And in the center of the courtyard—
Their boss Arlong stood there dazedly, his eyes vacant as if asleep, trapped in some illusion.
His hand remained in a "lifting" posture, but it held nothing.
An unfamiliar black-haired young man knelt beside the Straw Hat Girl, pressing rhythmically on her chest, then leaning down to breathe air mouth-to-mouth into her.
His movements were steady and methodical.
As if everything around him meant nothing.
"This..." Hachi blinked his round eyes, completely failing to grasp the situation.
Kuroobi frowned.
His gaze swept across the courtyard:
Zoro was buried under rubble, only a hand gripping a sword visible;
Sanji lay motionless near the pool;
The long-nosed Usopp stood before the villagers, clutching his slingshot tightly.
And their boss...
"Boss Arlong!" Hachi called out tentatively.
No response.
Kuroobi's eyes turned cold.
He stepped forward, approaching the guy administering aid.
The sound of footsteps echoed distinctly in the silent courtyard.
But the human didn't even look up.
He just focused intently, pressing rhythmically on Lufia's chest before leaning down again to transfer air into her lungs.
Kuroobi walked behind Ralph, his massive shadow falling over him.
"You," his voice was deep, "are you with this group of troublesome humans?"
Ralph didn't answer.
He didn't even pause in his movements.
This utter disregard enraged Kuroobi.
"I'm talking to you!"
Kuroobi reached out, his rock-shattering hand grabbing for the back of Ralph's neck—
In that instant!
"Don't interfere with Miss Lufia's treatment—you bastard!!!"
A furious roar!
Sanji, who had been "unconscious" by the pool, suddenly snapped his eyes open!
His body sprang up like a released coil, his right leg carving a fierce arc upward—
"Anti-Manner Kick!"
Whoosh—
A solid kick landed squarely on Kuroobi's chin!
Kuroobi didn't even have time to react before his massive, muscular body was sent flying through the air, tracing a parabolic arc before crashing heavily to the ground ten meters away!
"Boom—!"
Dust plumed.
Sanji landed, kneeling on one knee while gasping for breath. Water still streaked his face, his hair plastered wetly against his forehead, but his eyes burned with rage:
"To abandon an unconscious lady and even try to interfere with her rescuer... Don't you Fish-men understand the most basic etiquette?!"
With these words, he charged forward, determined to completely incapacitate this karate Fish-man!
Meanwhile, Hachi was startled to see Kuroobi get kicked flying.
He hurried to Arlong's side, slapping Arlong's face vigorously:
"Boss! Boss! Wake up! What's going on?!"
Under the slapping, the emptiness in Arlong's eyes gradually faded as focus returned.
He blinked and looked down at Hachi.
Then he saw the scene in the courtyard.
Villagers, enemies, and Ralph who was saving someone.
Memories came flooding back.
"I..." Arlong began to speak.
But at that moment—
A blade flashed like a ghost!
Hachi instinctively blocked in front of Arlong, only feeling a chill in his chest.
He looked down.
A deep sword wound stretched from his left shoulder to his right abdomen, blood instantly gushing out.
And simultaneously—
"Pfft!"
Zoro, who had swiftly drawn his sword, also spat out a mouthful of blood.
That slash had aggravated the wound on his chest.
It was the severe, unhealed injury left by Hawk Eye.
New and old wounds burst open simultaneously.
Hachi and Zoro fell to the ground almost at the same time.
"Hachi—!!"
Arlong's pupils suddenly contracted.
Hachi lay before him, chest drenched in blood.
"You..." Arlong's voice trembled with rage, "Judging by the wounds... you're the one who killed all my comrades in this courtyard, aren't you?!"
He took a step forward, cracking the ground.
"How dare you injure my brother right before my eyes—!!"
Arlong rushed to Zoro, his large hand shooting out to tightly grip Zoro's neck, lifting him completely off the ground!
Zoro's face turned red from lack of oxygen, but he didn't struggle.
He was even... smiling.
His eyes weren't looking at Arlong, but glancing in another direction—
Towards Ralph and Lufia.
Arlong followed his gaze.
There, Ralph had just finished giving another round of artificial respiration.
Just as he was about to administer another—
Lufia's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
"Cough! Cough cough cough—!!"
Violent coughing.
Seawater gushed from her mouth.
She opened her eyes.
Those large eyes that always brimmed with happiness quickly regained clarity.
She saw Zoro being choked by Arlong.
She saw Ralph smiling at her.
No words were needed.
Not even eye contact was necessary.
Pure instinctive understanding.
"Gomu Gomu—"
Lufia's arm instantly stretched!
"—Pistol!"
Her fist shot out like a cannonball, striking Arlong squarely on the cheek!
"Bam!"
Arlong's head was knocked sideways.
But he didn't let go.
He didn't even step back.
He just slowly turned his knocked-aside face back, looking at Lufia with utter contempt:
"Is that all the strength you've got? Not even enough to—"
Before he could finish.
A figure appeared like a ghost at his side.
Ralph.
Somehow he had already reached Arlong's side, his fingers like guns, precisely striking the wrist Arlong was using to choke Zoro!
"Argh!"
Arlong's wrist stung with pain, his grip instantly weakening.
Ralph seized the opportunity to snatch Zoro from his grasp, stepping back several paces and gently laying Zoro on the ground.
The entire sequence flowed smoothly, happening in the blink of an eye.
Arlong rubbed his wrist and looked at Ralph.
His gaze shifted from contempt to icy killing intent.
"Another lowly human who doesn't know when to quit."
Ralph frowned.
He raised his head, looking at Arlong,
"You can spout nonsense in front of others all you want. But in front of me... you still dare to spout such rubbish?"
He paused, pointing at the Sun Tattoo on Arlong's chest:
"Shall I enlighten everyone about how that sun on your chest came to be?"
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