CHAPTER 28: BATTLE AT ARLONG PARK (II)
Sanji stood opposite Kuroobi, his cigarette dangling loosely from his lips. The tension in the air was palpable, the fierce determination of both fighters radiating from their stances. The battlefield, once pristine, was now a chaotic mess of debris and fallen Fish-Men.
"You think you can stand against me, human?" Kuroobi's voice was a guttural growl. "I am a master of Fish-Man Karate. Your kicks won't even scratch me."
Sanji took a deep drag from his cigarette before flicking it aside. "Fish-Man Karate, huh? Sounds fancy. Let's see how it stands up to my Black Leg style."
Their first clash was a blur of movement. Kuroobi lunged at Sanji, his powerful arms slicing through the air with a series of karate chops. Sanji dodged with acrobatic precision, spinning and twisting his body to evade each strike. He retaliated with a swift kick aimed at Kuroobi's midsection, but Kuroobi blocked it with ease, barely flinching.
"Not bad," Sanji muttered, his eyes narrowing. "But I'm just getting started."
In their second encounter, Kuroobi charged forward with a series of rapid punches. Sanji countered with his own barrage of kicks, each one aimed with deadly accuracy. The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through Arlong Park as the two fighters exchanged blows. Sanji managed to land a solid kick to Kuroobi's chest, sending him stumbling back a few steps.
"You're stronger than you look," Kuroobi admitted, rubbing his chest where Sanji's kick had landed. "But strength alone won't save you."
Kuroobi launched into his third attack, using his superior strength and underwater abilities to his advantage. He executed a devastating karate chop aimed at Sanji's head. Sanji ducked at the last moment, delivering a powerful upward kick to Kuroobi's jaw. The force of the kick lifted Kuroobi off his feet, but he quickly regained his balance, landing gracefully a few meters away.
"Nice move," Sanji said, a smirk playing on his lips. "But you're still too slow."
For their fourth clash, Kuroobi decided to use his environment to his advantage. He dove into the large pool in the center of Arlong Park, his movements becoming even more fluid and dangerous. He emerged from the water with incredible speed, launching a water-laced punch at Sanji. The impact sent Sanji crashing through a nearby wall, debris scattering around him.
Sanji groaned as he stood up, dusting himself off. "You've got some tricks, I'll give you that."
Their fifth encounter was the most brutal yet. Kuroobi, still using the water to enhance his attacks, unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks that left Sanji on the defensive. Each blow was more powerful than the last, pushing Sanji to his limits. But Sanji, ever resilient, found an opening and delivered a powerful spin kick to Kuroobi's side, the impact creating a shockwave that cracked the ground beneath them.
"You're tough," Sanji admitted, panting heavily. "But I've faced tougher."
---
Meanwhile, in the forests surrounding Arlong Park, Usopp was in the midst of his own battle. Chew, the Fish-Man with sharp teeth, was hot on his heels, spitting powerful streams of water that sliced through trees and foliage with ease.
"Come back here, coward!" Chew bellowed, his eyes wild with anger.
Usopp, darting from tree to tree, looked back over his shoulder. "Why does this always happen to me?" he muttered, sweat pouring down his face.
As he reached a particularly dense area of the forest, Usopp spotted a large tree with thick branches. He quickly scrambled up, hiding among the leaves and hoping to catch his breath.
Chew stopped at the base of the tree, scanning the area with a predatory gaze. "You can't hide from me," he sneered, before unleashing a barrage of water bullets.
The powerful streams tore through the tree, splinters flying everywhere. One of the bullets grazed Usopp's arm, drawing blood and causing him to yelp in pain. Dramatically, Usopp fell from the tree, landing on the ground with a thud.
Chew approached, grinning wickedly. "Looks like it's over for you, human."
Usopp, covered in blood, lay motionless on the ground. As Chew turned to walk away, satisfied with his victory, Usopp slowly stood up, revealing a bottle of fake blood in his hand.
"You think it was that easy to beat me?" Usopp taunted, aiming his slingshot at Chew.
Chew whirled around, his eyes widening in surprise just as Usopp fired a pellet at the bottle Chew was holding. The bottle shattered, and its contents ignited, setting Chew on fire.
Chew screamed and flailed, trying to extinguish the flames. Usopp seized the opportunity, charging forward with a hammer in hand. He swung it repeatedly, each blow landing with a satisfying thud as Chew's screams grew weaker.
---
Back at Arlong Park, Sanji and Kuroobi faced off once again. The battle had taken its toll on both fighters, but neither was willing to back down.
"You're still standing," Kuroobi noted, his voice filled with grudging respect.
"I could say the same about you," Sanji replied, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
Their next encounter began with Kuroobi diving back into the pool, using his Fish-Man Karate to manipulate the water. He created powerful whirlpools and waves, attempting to drag Sanji under. Sanji, using his acrobatics, leaped and spun to avoid the attacks, delivering powerful kicks whenever he saw an opening.
Kuroobi emerged from the pool with a devastating punch aimed at Sanji's head. Sanji ducked and countered with a series of rapid-fire kicks to Kuroobi's midsection, each one landing with a bone-crushing impact.
Despite the attacks, Kuroobi somehow managed to grab Sanji and throw him into a nearby building, the walls crumbling from the force. Sanji groaned, struggling to stand, but his resolve remained unbroken.
"You're going to regret that," Sanji growled, his eyes blazing with determination.
The next clash saw Kuroobi using all his strength to try and finish Sanji off. He launched a powerful karate chop that Sanji barely managed to block. Sanji countered with a spinning kick that sent Kuroobi crashing into a wall, the impact shattering the stone.
Finally, in their final encounter, Sanji unleashed his full strength. "Mouton Shot!!" he shouted, his leg igniting with fiery energy. He delivered a devastating kick to Kuroobi's chest, the force of the blow sending Kuroobi flying through multiple walls before he finally crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Sanji stood over his fallen opponent, panting heavily. His legs ached from the exertion, the tough skin of the Fish-Men requiring extra force with each kick. "That's what you get for underestimating a chef," he muttered, his legs trembling from exhaustion.
As Sanji caught his breath, Usopp arrived on the scene, looking surprisingly upbeat despite his own injuries. "Sanji! Are you okay?"
Sanji nodded, though he was clearly worn out. "Just tired. Where's Zoro?"
Usopp pointed to where Zoro was resting against a pile of debris, also exhausted after his battle with Hachi. "We took care of them. But what about Nami and Goku?"
Sanji's eyes widened with concern. "They're inside with Arlong."
---
Inside the main building of Arlong Park, the sound of battle echoed through the halls. Goku and Arlong were locked in a fierce duel, their blows shaking the very foundation of the structure. Each punch and kick was delivered with ferocity, each impact sending shockwaves through the walls.
Arlong's disbelief was evident as he took a powerful punch to the jaw, stumbling back. "How can a mere human be this strong?" he spat, his eyes filled with rage and confusion.
Goku remained silent, his focus unwavering. He delivered a series of rapid punches, each one hitting its mark and pushing Arlong further back. The Fish-Man retaliated with a powerful kick, but Goku blocked it effortlessly, countering with a spin kick that sent Arlong crashing through a wall.
"You... you can't be this strong!" Arlong roared, his voice tinged with desperation.
Goku didn't respond, instead launching himself at Arlong with a powerful uppercut that sent Arlong flying through the ceiling to the upper floors. The impact created a massive hole in the floor, debris raining down around them.
Arlong lay on the upper floor, dazed and battered. Goku leaped up through the hole, landing gracefully beside his opponent. The building shook with the force of their battle, the walls cracking and crumbling under the strain.
---
Outside, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji watched as the building trembled. "What the hell is going on in there?" Zoro wondered aloud, his grip tightening on his swords.
Nami ran out of the building, her bag slung over her shoulder and a map in her hand. "I got it!" she called out, joining the rest of the crew. "Goku's still fighting Arlong inside."
"Is he alright?" Zoro asked, his concern evident.
Nami nodded, though worry still lined her face. "He's holding his own. But we need to be ready to help him if things go south."
They stood at the edge of the battlefield, their eyes locked on the trembling structure of Arlong Park. Dust and debris cascaded down from the battle-worn building, each tremor sending a fresh wave of anxiety through the crew.
Zoro's grip on his swords tightened. "Goku's giving it everything he's got in there."
Sanji, wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded. "He won't back down. Not until Arlong's finished."
Usopp, despite his own injuries, kept his gaze fixed on the building. "I just hope he comes out okay."
Nami, her heart pounding, could barely contain her emotions. "He has to win. For all of us."
***
In Cocoyasi Village, the villagers had gathered in the center, their faces etched with a mix of sorrow and determination. Mayor Genzo stood at the forefront, his expression stern yet hopeful.
Nojiko, standing beside Johnny and Yosaku, had just finished recounting Nami's harrowing ordeal. The villagers listened in shock, their hearts heavy with guilt and regret for how they had treated her.
"She sacrificed everything to save this village," Nojiko said, her voice trembling. "And Arlong betrayed her. But now, Goku and his crew are fighting to free us."
The villagers murmured amongst themselves, the weight of their actions pressing down on them. Tears streamed down many faces, and a collective resolve began to form.
"I can't believe we doubted her," one villager whispered. "We have to make this right."
"Will she ever forgive us?" another asked, their voice choked with emotion.
Genzo raised his hand, calling for silence. "We may have made mistakes," he began, his voice steady and strong. "But now we have a chance to stand with Nami and show her our support. We must be ready to help however we can. Let's not lose hope."
Suddenly, a young boy burst into the square, panting heavily. "A massive marine ship is arriving!" he shouted, drawing the attention of everyone. "And it's led by a tall, lean man. It's not Nezumi!"
The villagers exchanged worried glances. "Another Marine? Who could it be?"
The boy nodded earnestly. "He looks powerful. They're headed this way."
Genzo's expression hardened. "We can't let them disrupt this. Everyone, to Arlong Park!"
---
Back inside Arlong Park, the map room was a scene of chaos. Arlong, bloodied and bruised, stood with his gigantic sword in hand. The weapon, a menacing blade with jagged, triangular teeth, glinted ominously in the dim light.
Goku stood across from him, his body covered in dust, dirt, and streaks of blood. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the chains scattered across the floor, leading to a large drawing table. The blood and other bodily fluids on the floor told a grim story. This was where Nami had been enslaved, forced to draw maps for Arlong's empire.
Rage boiled within Goku. "This is where you kept her," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Arlong sneered, his jagged teeth glistening. "Yes, she was quite useful. You'll never use her talents like I did. I nurtured her skills, made her indispensable."
Goku's eyes blazed with fury. "I don't care about her talents. I care that she suffered because of you. And for that, you'll pay."
Their next encounter was immediate and brutal. Arlong swung his sword, the blade whistling through the air. Goku dodged, his movements a blur, and countered with a powerful punch to Arlong's gut. The Fish-Man staggered, but quickly regained his composure.
In the second clash, Arlong lunged at Goku, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Goku blocked the strike with his forearm, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his body. He retaliated with a spinning kick that caught Arlong on the jaw, sending him crashing into a wall.
The third encounter saw Arlong using his raw strength, swinging his sword in a wide arc. Goku ducked and weaved, his fists striking out in rapid succession. Each punch landed with devastating force, pushing Arlong back further and further.
By the fourth clash, the map room was in ruins. Arlong, enraged, swung his sword wildly, the blade tearing through the walls and floor. Goku met each strike head-on, his own attacks unrelenting. He slammed Arlong into the drawing table, splintering it into pieces.
In their final encounter, Goku's fury reached its peak. He delivered a powerful uppercut that sent Arlong crashing to the floor. Without pausing, Goku leapt high into the air, his hands glowing with energy. "Take this!!!" he roared, unleashing a barrage of Ki blasts.
The blasts rained down on Arlong, each one exploding with devastating force. The map room, already on the brink of collapse, could not withstand the onslaught. The building shook violently, the walls crumbling and the ceiling caving in.
Outside, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami watched in awe as Arlong Park began to collapse. The sound of destruction echoed through the air, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
As the dust and smoke settled, Goku emerged from the rubble, standing atop the ruins. The midday sun bathed him in its light, casting a heroic silhouette.
Nami fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "It's over," she whispered, her voice choked with relief. "It's finally over."
Goku looked down at her, a gentle smile on his face. "Nami, I still haven't gotten your answer. What's it gonna be?"
Her eyes filled with gratitude and joy, Nami nodded. "Thank you, Goku. Thank you for everything."
Cheers erupted from the villagers as they reached the park, their voices a chorus of joy and relief. They surged forward, eager to celebrate their freedom.
But their celebration was short-lived. A sudden silence fell over the crowd as a group of Marines appeared, led by a tall, lean man wearing a white suit and a sleep mask. Beside him was the familiar and despised figure of Nezumi.
"Round them all up, men," the tall Marine ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.
Nezumi sneered, stepping forward. "Collect any and all their treasures and belongings."
The villagers and crew exchanged worried glances as the Marines advanced, their moment of triumph overshadowed by this new threat.
[A/N: Read 10 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]