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East Blue, Conomi Islands Waters
A small human community made up of about twenty villages lay scattered across the region.
Unlike other settlements, these villages didn't have a single chief or leader. Instead, peace officers were elected by the villagers to maintain order.
The entire sea area was under the jurisdiction of the Marine 16th Branch...
Logically, this should have been a peaceful place.
But eight years ago, everything changed.
A group of pirates, freed from prison, turned this once-quiet region into a land of suffering and despair.
"When will this nightmare... finally end?"
In the somber village of Cocoyasi, a frail bookstore owner trembled as she handed over several hundred thousand Berries to a strange-looking fish-man.
As she watched him walk away, she let out a heavy sigh.
Once upon a time, she had been overweight, struggling with high blood pressure and cholesterol.
But ever since the Arlong Pirates took over, the entire village had become lifeless.
Just last month, another village had been wiped off the map for resisting the fish-men.
That was the fourth village to be completely erased. Hundreds of lives lost at the hands of monsters.
And if things continued like this...
Who knew when they would be next?
"God, please save us!"
"Let divine punishment rain down upon these wretched beasts!!!"
The bookstore owner clasped her hands together, praying to the heavens.
And at that moment—
It was as if the gods had heard her plea.
BOOM!!!!!!!!
A deafening explosion tore through the sky, shaking the entire Conomi Islands waters!
Moments later, roaring flames shot into the air, a massive mushroom cloud rising in their wake.
All around, villagers peeked out of their homes in fear, staring toward the explosion's source.
In Cocoyasi Village, Nojiko stood beside Sheriff Genzo, keeping an eye on the fish-men to make sure they didn't stir up trouble.
But the sudden explosion made them both whip their heads toward the horizon.
"That's… isn't that where Arlong Park is!?"
"What the hell just happened!?"
Nojiko and Genzo exchanged bewildered glances before immediately rushing toward the source of the blast.
At the same time…
Outside the gates of Arlong Park, thick black smoke billowed from the cannon at the Going Merry's bow.
Usopp, who had just helped Nami aim and fire, clambered out from behind the massive barrel, his hair blown into an explosive afro.
Surrounded by swirling black soot, he coughed violently before peering through the cannon's lookout port.
"WHOA!!!" Usopp's voice cracked with excitement.
"As expected of the super-concentrated Buggy Bombs, developed by the great Captain Usopp!"
"The power is unreal!!!"
"This genius has done it again!!!"
His ridiculous afro bouncing with every movement, Usopp threw his head back and laughed, hands on his hips, his long nose practically pointing at the sky.
Watching the scene unfold, Red couldn't help but smirk.
"Not bad!"
Without hesitation, he praised:
"Even though it's just an improved version of the Buggy Bomb formula, Usopp, you really didn't disappoint!"
Red grinned as he watched the massive mushroom cloud rise over Arlong Park.
The sight stirred something deep in his memories—scenes of destruction that once unfolded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Of course, there was no real comparison. Usopp's modified Buggy Bombs weren't nearly on the level of Little Boy.
But still…
This cannonball had packed enough force to rival a Gear Third punch from Luffy!
It could easily sink a Marine battleship.
And as for Arlong Park… well, the result spoke for itself.
"Nami?"
Red turned around and saw Nami standing motionless behind the cannon. Her bright eyes were locked on the burning ruins of Arlong Park—her personal hell, now reduced to ashes.
The once-mighty gates had been obliterated, turned to dust by the cannon's blast.
The surrounding walls had crumbled.
In the center of the park, a massive crater had formed where the pool once stood, seawater rushing into the gaping hole.
The surrounding buildings were engulfed in flames.
Scattered across the battlefield were the bodies of fish-men—some blasted into nothing but blood mist, others charred and shriveled into dried fish.
Those who had somehow survived were writhing on the ground, limbs torn apart, wailing in agony.
It was pure devastation.
Usopp had specifically let Nami fire the cannon, giving her the honor of delivering the first strike.
Which meant that everything she was witnessing now—the destruction, the suffering, the justice—was her doing.
"Nami?"
Red's voice seemed to snap her out of her daze. Her vacant eyes suddenly regained their light.
For a moment, Red thought she might be overwhelmed by emotions—perhaps guilt, sorrow, or bittersweet relief.
But then…
Her pale cheeks flushed with excitement.
A grin spread across her face.
Her hands clenched into fists.
And then she turned to Red and Usopp, her voice filled with exhilaration.
"That was amazing!!!"
"Nami…?" Usopp blinked in surprise.
"Red, Usopp, can I fire another shot!?"
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the burning wreckage, watching the fish-men struggle in vain.
This was a sight she had dreamed of for years—a beauty she had never dared to imagine.
At this moment, Nami looked almost… possessed.
She was still smiling, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
A yandere smile.
Her hatred—the pain, the resentment, the years of silent suffering—had finally been unleashed.
And she was loving it.
"..."
"..."
Red and Usopp stood frozen, processing what they had just witnessed.
After a moment of awkward silence, Red finally spoke.
"I don't have a problem with that. Cannonballs are meant to be fired."
He glanced at Usopp.
"But Usopp's the one handling the ammo..."
At that, Usopp scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Uh… sorry, Nami."
"This was my first time making these, so I wasn't sure how strong they'd be. Plus, the materials alone cost hundreds of thousands of Berries, so I didn't make any extras..."
"WHAT!?"
The moment money was mentioned, Nami's battle frenzy instantly vanished.
Her stingy instincts kicked in at full force.
She glared at the burning remains of Arlong Park, arms crossed in irritation.
"Tch! What a waste! These bastards aren't even worth spending that much money on!"
"Even dying is too expensive for them!"
"Ah… haha…" Usopp could only laugh awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
"Now's not the time to complain."
Red's voice suddenly cut through their conversation.
His sharp eyes were fixed on something within the ruins of Arlong Park.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Your enemy isn't dead yet."
"Huh!?"
Nami followed Red's gaze—
And saw movement within the wreckage.
A few battered figures emerged from the flames, their bodies covered in burns, dust, and debris.
Arlong.
And his two top officers—Kuroobi and Chew.
Their luck had saved them.
Despite being caught in the explosion, their natural durability had allowed them to survive, escaping with only minor injuries.
Hatchan, however, wasn't so fortunate.
He had been at the very center of the blast.
Completely engulfed in fire and destruction, the six-armed fish-man had perished instantly.
"HATCHIIII!!!"
Arlong's furious roar echoed through the ruins.
He stood among the wreckage of his empire, his bloodshot eyes burning with hatred.
Kuroobi and Chew were no different.
As they took in the charred corpses of their fallen comrades, their faces twisted in rage.
The acrid scent of burning fish-men filled the air.
The flames crackled, cooking the remains of their brothers.
Arlong clenched his fists, his sharp teeth grinding together.
"WHO… WHO DID THIS!?"
His voice was filled with murderous fury.
And then—
A voice rang out from the sea, loud and clear.
"I DID IT!!!"
Arlong's enraged eyes snapped toward the source of the voice.
Kuroobi and Chew did the same.
And what they saw made them freeze in shock.
"…NAMI!?"