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As they walked, Nojiko, driven by concern for her village and the stranger before her, grabbed Coby's collar and yanked him to a stop. "Stop!" she yelled, her voice laced with desperation. "You will get yourself killed, and then Arlong will take his anger out on us too."
Coby turned to face her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Selfish, I like it," he commented, not with disdain but with an understanding nod to human nature. To him, selfishness was a fundamental human emotion, one that everyone was entitled to. Heroism for the sake of being a hero was foolish in his eyes.
Nojiko misinterpreted his words, seeing them as a slight against her and the sacrifices her mother, Bellemere, had made. She was the daughter of a selfless woman who had given everything for her daughters. Her own willingness to sacrifice a stranger for her safety weighed heavily on her conscience. Shame washed over her, but it was a feeling born from years of living under the shadow of terror. She released his collar, her hands trembling slightly.
Nojiko raised her gaze and looked directly at Coby. Her eyes was of resolve and desperation. "At least come with me for now. You cannot fight them openly," she insisted, her voice steady but carrying an underlying urgency. Her statement was pragmatic, another perfectly natural human emotion. She didn't know what Coby was capable of but she had seen Arlong's terror too many times, and knew, Arlong could use Coby as an excuse to hurt other villagers. Coby, recognizing the reason in her words, nodded in agreement.
Nojiko led Coby through the village's quiet streets, her steps cautious and fidgety, as if she was expecting a fishman to appear any second. She knew that Nami was back, and this time she had gathered enough money to buy the village's freedom from Arlong. Her primary goal was to delay any confrontation until Nami could complete her deal with Arlong. However, she was also acutely aware of the danger Coby posed, not only to himself but also to the villagers, if Arlong discovered his presence.
As they walked, Nojiko's mind raced with scenarios and plans. The best course of action, she decided, was to hide Coby at her house. It was a risk, especially if Nami brought Arlong to retrieve her stash, but it was the only viable option they had.
Upon reaching her house, Nojiko quickly ushered Coby inside. The interior was modest, a reflection of the simple life she and her sister led under Arlong's tyrannical rule. She motioned for Coby to sit down, her expression tense.
Coby took in his surroundings with a keen eye. He noted the sparse furnishings and the aura of resilience that seemed to permeate the space. This was a home that had seen hardship, yet it stood as a testament to the strength and determination of its inhabitants.
Nojiko, standing by the window, peered outside, her eyes scanning for any sign of Arlong or his crew. The tension in her posture was evident, a clear sign of the constant vigilance she lived under. "We'll wait here," she said, turning to face Coby.
Coby only grinned, knowing waiting and hiding wasn't an option. He already set his mind to confront and kill Arlong and his crew, it was inevitable at this point. But as an old woman barged into the house, Nojiko felt it was too late. "Genzo! Arlong is going to kill Genzo!" she yelled, her voice was pitched with panic. Without a second thought, Nojiko stood up and dashed towards the village, Coby swiftly following her.
As they approached, the air was filled with cries and shouting. "You hid swords, despite my orders not to!" Arlong's booming voice echoed through the streets. He held the village chief, Genzo, by the throat, suspended in the air. Genzo's face was contorted with pain, struggling for breath under Arlong's iron grip. "Four of my men died. Slain by a sword. Is it your doing?" Arlong's face was twisted in anger. His fierce loyalty to his men was evident, ready to unleash his wrath for their loss.
Coby assessed the scene, calculating the number of enemies. There were at least two dozen Fishmen, with two of them being Arlong's strongest men, Kuroobi and Chew. As Nojiko was about to move to intervene, Coby acted swiftly, hitting her neck to knock her unconscious. Gently moving her to a safe location, he then positioned himself outside the village.
He detached his two hands, each holding a knife, a skill he had acquired from his 'Bara Bara Detach Hand' ability. Taking a deep breath, he maneuvered his hands towards Kuroobi and Chew, targeting Arlong's key fighters first. The hands, guided by Coby's will, moved silently and swiftly, like shadows flitting through the chaos.
As Coby's detached hands closed in on Kuroobi and Chew, all of a sudden the stench of blood and the sound of tearing flesh filled the air. The knives in his hands glinted ominously as they sliced through their flesh, leaving a trail of crimson in their wake.
Chew let out a guttural scream as the first knife plunged into his chest, piercing his heart like a hot poker. His body convulsed as he tried to pull the blade out, but it was too late. Blood sprayed out of his mouth and nose as he fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Kuroobi, the martial arts master, was quick to react. Coby's other hand joined the first, flanking Kuroobi with a rapid succession of attacks. Kuroobi fought back with all his might, but Coby's moves were too fast and too brutal. His knives left deep, bloody wounds in their wake, and Kuroobi's body was soon covered in a sickening red sheen.
The sound of bones cracking and flesh tearing filled the air as Coby's blades found their targets. Kuroobi's body twisted and contorted under the onslaught, his screams drowned out by the sickening squelch of flesh being torn apart. Blood sprayed out in thick, viscous streams as Coby's knives found their mark time and time again.
Kuroobi deflected the knives with a swift movement of his arm, but the second one caught him off guard. It sliced through his neck like a hot knife through butter, severing a major vein and causing him to spout blood like a fountain. Kuroobi fell to the ground, his eyes wide with shock and pain as he clutched at his neck, trying to stem the flow of blood.
In the end, Kuroobi lay motionless on the ground, his body a twisted mass of gore and mutilation. Chew lay beside him, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. Coby's hands stood over them both, his knives dripping with blood as he let out a low, satisfied chuckle.
The commotion drew the attention of Arlong, who turned to witness the fall of his two strongest men. His eyes, once filled with brutal certainty, now burned red with a rage that resembled that of a sea beast. His gaze followed the two floating hands as they returned to Coby, who stood at the edge of the village, now holding two bloody knives.
Arlong bared his shark-like teeth in a snarl. "Who dares?!" he bellowed, his voice thunderous and filled with murderous intent. His eyes locked onto Coby, recognizing him as the source of this unexpected threat. On the other hand Coby looked at Arlong in bewilderment, "Ancestor is that you?"
Coby, just looked at Arlong with a teasing grin. He knew Arlong was strong, but compared to East Blue standards. Arlong was not just any pirate; he was a tyrant whose cruelty knew no bounds but also a fishy escaped from Grand Line because he was weak and pathetic. Coby already made sure he was strong enough to take him before confronting him. He had come to this island with a sole purpose, well a few additional ones as well but the main one was, taking Arlong down.
The villagers, witnessing the scene from a safe distance, murmured amongst themselves. The sight of Arlong's rage was terrifying, yet there was a glimmer of hope. For the first time, someone had stood up to the Fishmen, and it was a stranger, an outsider who had nothing to gain from their plight.
Arlong, with a swift motion grabbed one of the swords lied under his feet, Genzo's collection. "I'll crush you myself!" he roared, charging towards Coby with a speed that belied his size.
Coby waving at him, activated Stealth Foot, vanishing from sight just as Arlong reached him. The Fishman's attack cut through the air, missing Coby by mere inches.
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