"So... so strong!"
Kalei, who had been following behind Hiroto and was prepared to fight to the death, was beyond shocked.
Beside him, Genzo, who had pulled out an equally old flintlock, stood with his mouth agape, speechless.
Is this the man Nami had placed her trust and hope in?
Is this the pirate with a bounty as high as 70 million berries?
He's so strong he barely seems human.
What was that just now? How on earth did he do it?
A series of questions and shocks surfaced in the hearts of the gathered civilians.
But... regardless, Arlong had been dealt with.
'Did he hold back?' Zoro glanced over.
Having seen Hiroto cleave a hill with a single strike, he wasn't particularly surprised.
He drew Raichi, said "Catch this," and sent out a pale blue slash.
Swoosh!
He cut down the iron cage hanging from the other half of the building.
Carina moved upon hearing the sound, and the two worked together to set the iron cage safely on the ground.
Meanwhile, Hiroto was already moving frantically using Shunpo, devouring the dying Fishmen one by one. He was continuously stacking the quantity to seek a qualitative change in his entries.
Finally, he stopped in front of the immobile Arlong, looking down at this Fishman who had just been trying to yap on about something.
Arlong, who had completely lost the ability to move, looked up with difficulty. On his chest was a hideous wound that had almost split him open. It was as wide as a normal person's arm, and his charred internal organs were faintly visible.
This was a fatal injury!
Even so, Arlong showed no sign of cowardice, his eyes fixed in a glare on that human.
He tried to stand up just as before, but he failed at the very start, which was why he was kneeling on the ground. Ironically, in Arlong's initial plan, it was Hiroto who was supposed to be kneeling before him, dying.
However, reality was the exact opposite of his imagination.
This human...
He was strong, terrifyingly strong, completely different from what he had expected.
But why?
Back when he followed Fisher Tiger, he had fought enemies of this level before.
Why? Why was the gap so huge now?
Was the opponent too strong... no, he had become weaker.
Was he wrong?
Was it wrong to pin his hopes on Nami's sea charts and utilize the Fishman race's greatest advantage? Could that be a mistake?
There was no answer.
Hiroto looked down at Arlong, who was struggling but unable to move, seemingly still wanting to say something.
His large hand reached out and gripped Arlong's neck. After a brief two seconds of devouring, there was a sharp 'crack'.
Arlong's neck snapped, and he slumped to the ground like a dead fish, silent.
Information surfaced in Hiroto's mind, the stacked quantity had triggered a qualitative change.
[Panel Updated]
[Fish-Man Strength (Blue) → Fish-Man Strength (Purple)]
Hiroto clicked to view it. This time, the limited range had risen from D- rank to C rank. In other words, it was on par with the level of a hundred-million bounty.
The tenfold amplification remained unchanged.
The Fish-Man Gills did not evolve, but the oxygen-increasing effect had become much stronger.
'While [Gluttony] is strong, it seems I can't stack quantity to form high-level entries... no, it's that the upper limit of Fishmen only goes this far.'
Hiroto glanced at [Fish-Man Strength (Purple)] and roughly understood what he needed to do next.
He sheathed his sword and turned to walk back.
Nojiko had already been rescued by Nami, who was now holding her tight and crying loudly, venting her long-suppressed emotions. The two sisters wept in each other's arms.
Genzo stood to the side, speechless, his eyes also turning red.
The civilians who had picked up weapons were also affected, their eyes reddening as they recalled their experiences of being persecuted by the Fishmen.
Carina was giving Nojiko simple medical treatment and bandaging. She first removed the decayed, necrotic flesh and then applied bandages. She wasn't a professional doctor, the rest would have to be handled by Cocoyasi Village's doctor.
Hiroto didn't disturb them. He just watched as the brilliant light in his panel soared all the way to a dazzling orange.
Another orange entry, acquired.
A while later, Nojiko and Nami's emotional outburst subsided, and the two gradually calmed down.
Genzo took the opportunity to exchange a few words, and then Nami supported Nojiko as they walked over to Hiroto.
"Are you Hiroto?" Nojiko sized up the young man before her, her words a question but her tone certain.
Because while she was hanging up there, she had witnessed everything that had happened below.
It was hard to imagine that the powerful Arlong, the nightmare the people of Cocoyasi village were completely unable to resist, would be so easily crushed to death by Hiroto.
But she accepted it quickly.
Because this was the man Nami had chosen, the person she said was destined for greatness in the future.
In fact, even now, Hiroto, with a bounty of 70 million berries, was already a legendary figure to her.
"Yes."
Hiroto nodded, his gaze lingering on the bandages on Nojiko's lower body.
He wondered what kind of story she had gone through.
"Don't worry, I won't die."
Nojiko seemed to misunderstand something, her dry, cracked lips pulling into a smile.
Then, trembling, she stood steady on her own and reached out to grab Nami's hand, extending it forward.
Hiroto's eyes flickered as he reached out and took Nami's hand.
"My sister... I'm leaving her to you. I won't bother with things like 'you'd better treat her well' and all that. After all, I don't think the person Nami chose could be wrong."
Nojiko smiled, and then Genzo hurried forward to support her from the other side as she nearly lost her balance.
Then, she pushed Nami, whose eyes were filled with tears, toward Hiroto.
As she backed away with Genzo's support, Kalei and the civilians who had followed also gathered into rows. Then, led by Nojiko, these people all bowed in unison to Hiroto and the others to express their gratitude.
"Thank you for everything you've done."
"We will remember this kindness. Whatever you need, please just say the word."
"Our savior..."
A cacophony of grateful voices rang out, carrying different sentiments, but what they shared was that they all remembered the words Hiroto had spoken.