The blue-haired girl let out a deep sigh and spoke with a hint of concern, "Look, I know you're a great guy, but let's face it, you don't stand a chance against him. He's a monster, and no one has ever challenged him and survived..."
Just as she finished speaking, a colossal shadow emerged behind Saitama, casting an ominous darkness over the scene.
As soon as the blue-haired girl finished speaking, a red octopus holding six swords appeared before Saitama and his companions.
He looked down at them with a menacing glare before speaking in a low, ominous voice, "Here... There are still humans in the town!. Just hearing the voice, I didn't believe that someone dares to come back here, so I came here on purpose to be sure..."
Saitama blinked, then turned to the octopus with a blank expression and remarked, "Ah, It's the first time I've seen a real moron in the world..."
"I'M NOT A MORON!! I'M A FISHMAN!!" the octopus shouted, offended by Saitama's comment.
He then held a knife to Saitama's neck and demanded, "Listen here, boy! If you want to live, you better hand over all your money! Or else, I'll make sure you see some colors..."
Saitama ignored the octopus' threats and instead touched his chin, staring at the creature's six claws.
"It looks delicious..." he mused, "I don't know if there's a difference between an ordinary octopus and a weird one..."
"You want to eat me?!" the octopus exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise at Saitama's remark.
As Saitama continued to examine him, the pirate couldn't help but feel unnerved by the bald man's serious expression and demeanor. "I don't know why..." he thought to himself, "...but this bald head looks serious... His tone... His looks... Ah! What's wrong with me! Heh! As if it can really be done!"
"Don't underestimate me, stupid human!" he growled, his expression becoming more aggressive, then suddenly leaped back, assuming an attack position and holding his six swords in his wrists. "I'm Hatchan, the most powerful sword fishman in the Arlong crew! There's no chance for a rookie like you against me... You're no match for me! I can chop you into pieces in a second!"
As the realization hit her, the blue-haired girl's eyes widened in horror. "A fishman with six claws... these swords... That face!" She froze, unable to look away from Hatchan.
The memories flooded back like a nightmare, making everything suddenly clear once again. "It's him!! The one responsible for Aunt Bell-mère's death!"
"Hey! There's enough food here for three people!" Hatchan shouted. "Oh, a family of three, huh? Hahaha..." Suddenly, he noticed that Saitama was ignoring him.
"Hey, don't ignore me! Who do you think you are with that salty fish face?" Hatchan exclaimed. Taking a deep breath, he shot streams of ink from his mouth like a true octopus. "Take this!..."
-TAKO-HACHI-BLACK!-
"Hahaha! You won't be able to see a thing... Hahaha," Hatchan laughed as he charged towards Saitama with six swords in his hands. "And to finish you off... "
-Roku-tou-ryu!- he declared, aiming to strike Saitama down.
Death is an inevitable consequence of attacking from behind the veil of ink. However, Saitama stood calmly, unfazed by the six blades concealed within the darkness, poised to slice him into a million pieces!
Suddenly, with incredible speed and power, a fist shot out, aimed directly at the danger lurking behind the ink.
- Bang! -
A powerful gust of wind swept through the area, causing Nojiko and the young boy to experience a momentary ringing in their ears. Amidst the chaos, a shadowy figure emerged, having just delivered a crushing blow with his fist. It was none other than Saitama.
With a single earth-shattering punch, Saitama obliterated the surrounding area and reduced the Fishman and his ink to nothing but ashes. His incredible strength and indomitable spirit were on full display, leaving no doubt as to his unmatched power.
"No way! It can't be..." Nojiko and the young boy were left dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at the bald man who had just transformed into a fierce and formidable warrior.
With effortless ease, he had vanquished the cruel and powerful Fishman, reducing him to mere fragments.
The sheer magnitude of his power left everyone in awe.
"Who the hell is this guy? What is he?" wondered Nojiko, amazed at the seemingly endless depths of his strength.
"Uncle!" the little boy cried out, his eyes fixed on Saitama's back. He couldn't quite explain why, but he felt tears welling up in his eyes. "You're a hero... a real hero!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration and gratitude.
Saitama had proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with, a true hero in every sense of the word.
He knelt down beside the debris, muttering quietly to himself. "Ah, I'm Saitama," he said. "I used to be a hero... I mean, a professional hero. Now, I'm a marine officer who also carries out hero activities."
"Marine officer?!" Nojiko was taken aback, frozen in disbelief. She took a step back, her eyes filling with tears. "Has the World Government really sent you here?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope. "Our cries for help have finally been heard! They... they really sent a marine to help us!"
"World Government?" Saitama turned around, looking somewhat confused. "No, this task isn't related to them. I'm just here on behalf of someone who asked me to investigate some rumors. But regardless of who's involved, the goal remains the same: to protect the innocent."
He turned to Nojiko, seeking her agreement. "Isn't that right?" he asked, a determined look in his eyes. For Saitama, the identity of the person or organization behind the task was of little importance. What mattered most was his commitment to justice and the protection of the vulnerable.
Nojiko blinked in surprise, realizing that Saitama didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation.
"It does matter," she replied firmly. "If you intend to confront the Arlong Pirates, you'll need to come with me first. There's a lot you need to know before we can proceed. Please, come with me."
"Ah, okay," Saitama nodded, his expression serious. "If there's some tea to drink, I'll come with you." He knew that this mission would require his full attention, and he was ready to do whatever it took to help the people of this island.
Nojiko raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Just tea? I was expecting you to ask for something stronger! You're not like other Marines I've met," she remarked. "Let's get out of here before another fishman catches on to what's going on. Follow me, my house is in a nearby village. By the way, my name is Nojiko and I grow delicious tangerines in Cocoyasi Village."
"Sure." Saitama replied, falling in step beside her. "Lead the way. By the way, I'm Saitama"
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As they arrived at the outskirts of Cocoyasi Village, Nojiko led Saitama to her orange orchard and invited him to take a seat.
"Please, have a seat... This is the tea you requested," she said, as she handed him a cup.
The aroma of oranges filled the air as Saitama took a sip of the tea. For a moment, he gazed at the cup in silence, lost in thought.
Nojiko raised an eyebrow at Saitama's hesitation. "What's the matter? It's just orange tea! You're welcome to it," she said, sounding slightly perplexed.
Saitama scratched his head, "Ah, thank you...I just think tea made with oranges is a little strange. Could you perhaps make me some black tea or oolong tea instead?" he requested politely.
"Really? Is there something wrong with orange tea?" Nojiko asked, looking puzzled. She then proceeded to brew a fresh cup of black tea for Saitama. "I bought this tea a while ago, I hope it's still good!" she said with a smile.
Saitama chuckled nervously, noticing Nojiko's stare. "Don't worry, if the taste is strange, I'll just spit it out!" he joked, before quickly adding, "I'm just kidding!"
It was clear that he was quite serious about his tea preferences. She smiled gently and took a seat opposite Saitama.
"Now, let's get to the point, Saitama-san. I hope you don't mind me asking, but how many reinforcements do you have to deal with the Arlong Pirates?" she inquired politely.
Saitama took a careful sip of the black tea and savored its taste. "Since it's a private matter, I'd rather not involve others in my crew. I'll take care of the Arlong Pirates myself," he said, sounding determined.
Nojiko looked at him with concern, "Although you're incredibly strong, dealing with Arlong won't be as simple as you think," she warned him. She let out a sigh and wore a sad expression on her face. "Arlong has not only a large and powerful crew, but he also has a huge monster that he brought from the Grand Line. Even with your strength, it will be difficult to defeat that kind of beast," she explained.
"A monster?" Saitama mused as he held the teacup. Suddenly, he realized, "No wonder the houses were destroyed and the roads were bumpy!" he exclaimed.
"That's his doing," Nojiko confirmed as she took a sip of her orange tea and looked at him with concern. "Saitama-san, are you able to deal with that kind of monster?" she asked, her eyes fixed on him.
Saitama thought for a moment before answering, "I don't know for sure, but I think one punch will be enough to take care of it," he replied confidently.
Nojiko took another sip of her tea as she contemplated his words. "Is this guy for real?" she thought to herself. "Even if he is, no one has managed to defeat that monster and come out alive," she said aloud, doubting his abilities.