The sky over East Blue was clear, and the sun shone brightly over the calm waters. The Viltrumite hovered above the ocean, his red eyes scanning the horizon. He had flown for miles from Loguetown, crossing vast stretches of open sea. So far, few islands had appeared in his path.
"This world... is strange."
He frowned. There were no continents, only small patches of land isolated in the sea. Most of the time, all he saw was water—endless, endless water. It bothered him. He urgently needed a map.
"If I keep flying aimlessly, I'll never understand the geography of this place."
Then, something below caught his attention. An island emerged on the horizon, larger than the others he had seen so far. But what truly piqued his interest was the peculiar structure standing out in the center—an enormous water park made of stone and concrete, decorated with arches and shark sculptures.
He descended quickly, landing on a nearby hill. From where he stood, he could see a village by the sea—simple wooden houses scattered along the coast. But the most curious thing was the creatures patrolling the area around the park. Humanoid, but clearly not human.
His eyes narrowed.
"So, this world also has fish-men."
His boots crushed the soil as he landed on the path leading to the park. Immediately, a group of grotesque figures noticed him. They were tall, muscular, with bestial features—gills, sharp teeth, wild eyes. Some held spears and swords, while others relied solely on their claws and brute strength.
One of the pirates, a blue-skinned fish-man with jagged teeth, stepped forward and growled.
"A human? Here?! You've got guts setting foot in Arlong Pirates' territory, you filthy inferior!"
The Viltrumite crossed his arms and analyzed the fish-men.
"Pirates..."—He murmured, processing the concept. "So, besides sailors, there are also groups that live as raiders and murderers at sea..."
The fish-man gritted his teeth and took another step forward.
"Hey, worm! I'm talking to you!"
But the Viltrumite didn't even bother to reply. The hostile tone was enough for him to understand that words were unnecessary.
The fish-man was the first to attack, lunging forward with sharp claws. But before he could even get close, the Viltrumite moved in a blur. In an instant, his hand was gripping the enemy's skull.
CRACK!
With a simple squeeze, he crushed the fish-man's head like a rotten fruit. Blue blood dripped from his fingers, and the lifeless body collapsed with a dull thud.
The other pirates froze for a moment. Then, shock was replaced by fury.
"Damn human! You think you can challenge us?!"
They charged, attempting to surround him. But the Viltrumite moved too fast. With a single strike, he pierced through one attacker's chest. Another had his jaw ripped off with a punch. A third was decapitated before he even realized what was happening.
Blue blood stained the ground. The few survivors backed away, pale.
"H-he's not a normal human..."
The Viltrumite sighed, wiping his hands on his coat.
"If you already figured that out, then why keep coming?"
The remaining fish-men tried to flee, but he was ruthless. Within seconds, not a single pirate was left breathing.
Then, a thunderous roar echoed from the center of Arlong Park.
"RAAAAAH! WHAT'S GOING ON OUT HERE?!"
An imposing figure emerged from the building. Blue-gray skin, a fierce face full of sharp fangs. A shark walking on two legs, dressed in striped pants and an open jacket. His eyes burned with fury.
Arlong.
"Who dares kill my men?!"
The Viltrumite looked at him, emotionless.
"You must be the leader of these pirates."
Arlong cracked his neck, his muscles tensing.
"And you're an arrogant human who needs to learn a lesson. I am Arlong! The king of these seas! And I don't tolerate humans in my territory!"
The Viltrumite smirked slightly.
"Curious. I don't tolerate insects trying to attack me either."
Arlong roared and leapt forward, his strength and speed far superior to his subordinates. He attempted to crush the Viltrumite with a devastating punch.
CRASH!
The impact shattered part of the ground, kicking up dust and debris. But as the mist cleared, Arlong saw something that made him freeze.
His fist was caught. Trapped in the Viltrumite's palm, held as if it were the strike of a child.
Arlong's eyes widened.
"What...?"
Before he could react, an excruciating pain shot through him. The Viltrumite had twisted his wrist at an impossible angle, tearing through flesh and bone with brutal force.
Arlong roared in agony, trying to retreat. But it was too late.
With a devastating punch, the Viltrumite struck the shark-man's torso, piercing through his abdomen like a spear. Blue blood gushed as Arlong gasped. His eyes trembled, his mouth moved without sound.
The Viltrumite pulled his arm back, letting Arlong's mutilated body drop heavily to the ground.
"As weak as the fish-men from my world."
The island fell silent. The air stank of blood and death. The villagers, watching from afar, did not know whether to celebrate or fear the being before them.
The Viltrumite glanced at the surrounding buildings, thinking.
"This world is in the Age of Exploration. Power seems to be divided between so-called 'pirates' and 'marines'... and there's a place called the 'Grand Line' that seems to be at the center of everything."
He turned toward one of the buildings that resembled an office. Certainly, a pirate like Arlong would have maps.
"At least I learned something useful today."
And, without caring about the terrified stares around him, he entered the building in search of what he needed.