Sea Cow Momoo only hesitated for half a second before making the wisest decision.
It shut its eyes, pretending to be a salted fish going with the flow, and let itself plunge fully into the sea.
However, rather than floating back up, the "unconscious" sea cow began to sink deeper and deeper in a peculiar posture.
Before long, the massive Momoo completely disappeared into the currents, leaving behind only a large cloud of pale red blood dispersing in the water.
The Fishmen's faces turned grim.
Momoo had been one of the top combatants in their pirate crew, and yet it had been driven off with a single sword strike.
With their leader Arlong absent, they weren't sure if they should even try launching a counterattack against such a terrifying opponent.
Garen wasn't doing great either—after Momoo beneath his feet "fainted," he lost his footing and quickly plunged into the sea as well.
Wearing heavy armor and carrying a large sword made swimming nearly impossible, so Garen could only rely on his powerful body to keep himself afloat by furiously treading water.
This method of swimming looked incredibly clumsy—like a land duck flailing to stay alive in the water.
But with enough propulsion, even a brick can fly. And Garen's tireless, digitized body was just that kind of engine.
Under the stunned gazes of the Fishmen, Garen surged forward through the waves like a human-shaped speedboat, kicking up great sprays of water as he shot toward the still-dumbfounded Fishmen.
With his actions, he redefined the concept of swimming, increasing its efficiency by over 1400%.
"Don't panic!"
Fishman karate master and base defender Kuroobi barely steadied his nerves and rallied his comrades, shouting, "In the water, we Fishmen are invincible!"
"If we drag him into the sea, we can win!"
The Fishmen exchanged glances and, driven by years of "Fishman superiority" brainwashing, regained their fighting spirit.
Rather than retreat, they charged forward at the oncoming Garen.
"Oh?"
Garen's face showed a hint of interest. He made no effort to avoid them and charged straight in as well.
These Fishmen truly were sea creatures—their speed and strength underwater far surpassed normal humans.
But only normal humans.
Garen could clearly sense that these Fishmen were far from being a true threat.
The Fishmen seemed to realize this too. Though they rushed forward, they didn't launch direct attacks. Instead, they wrapped themselves around him like slippery water snakes, limbs tangled.
Garen didn't resist. He simply let the Fishmen close in and coil tightly around him.
Seven or eight Fishmen swarmed him from all directions, binding his arms and legs.
Soon, Garen's upper body, which had remained above the surface, was dragged completely underwater by the combined strength of the Fishmen.
This was a common Fishman battle tactic: drag powerful human enemies underwater, then use their innate ability to breathe in water to hold them down until they drowned.
These Fishmen clung to Garen like glue, trying to keep him submerged.
A submerged enemy would naturally panic.
Then, all they had to do was wait for him to drown.
Moments later—
"Hey, hey?"
Garen spoke up with a slightly amused tone, "How long are you guys planning to hug me like this?"
"We're all men here. Have some decency, will you?"
"You—!"
The Fishmen's faces twisted with terror. "How can you talk underwater just like us?!"
Not only was Garen not drowning, but he was also casually chatting in the water.
"Um…"
Garen scratched his head, looking a bit puzzled. "I'm not too sure myself!"
Once his digitized body was activated, he was no longer bound by the limits of a human body.
In essence, he had become the game character, while his body was the character model in a game—it couldn't be injured, couldn't drown, and could speak in any condition. Even with his mouth closed, it would still work.
After all, no matter what state a game character is in, the player behind it can always talk through voice chat.
"Well, since you're not letting go…"
Garen glanced at the dazed Fishmen, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Don't blame me then."
Even though Garen had an unscientific, digitized body, he was still subject to basic physical laws.
For instance, swinging a sword underwater would naturally reduce its damage—water would act as a natural shield that slowed and softened the blow.
However, there was one skill that defied such laws:
"Judgment!"
Though his body was still wrapped tightly by Fishmen, Garen gripped his greatsword and began spinning rapidly.
Neither the surrounding water nor the Fishmen's limbs could stop the high-speed rotation of his blade. Not even slightly.
Golden sword light carved perfect circles through the water like a meat grinder spinning at full speed.
The Fishmen who had wrapped themselves around him had no chance of escape.
Their muscular, powerful bodies were sliced clean in half the instant they made contact with the sword's edge.
The seawater, already tinged pale red, was instantly dyed an even thicker, bloodier crimson.
When Garen finally stopped spinning, the Fishmen had turned into an indescribable mass of organic debris.
"Ugh…"
Floating in the bloodied water, Garen wrinkled his brow in disgust.
"This move really is a bit too gross."
Judgment, the ultimate grass-cutting skill, was now harvesting real, living lives.
Those Fishmen had been sliced up like chives on a chopping board—a gruesome and sickening sight that left Fishman officer Kuroobi numb with fear.
His fellow Fishmen, supposed to be invincible in their home terrain, had been so easily slaughtered.
The proud words Kuroobi had spoken about the unbeatable power of Fishman sea superiority now tasted like ash in his mouth, and all his courage had silently vanished.
"Kuroobi!"
Another officer left behind to guard Arlong Park, the octopus Fishman Hatchan, couldn't help but speak up: "Let's retreat for now—wait for Big Bro Arlong to handle this!"
"Good idea!"
Kuroobi didn't hesitate for a second. He turned and started swimming back. "Everyone retreat! Go get Big Brother!"
The Fishmen immediately scattered like a pack of panicked strays, following Kuroobi in full retreat.
Garen didn't bother chasing after them. He floated up and waved toward the approaching Navy ship behind him.
As the warship drew closer, Garen suddenly pushed off the water and launched himself straight onto the deck with a powerful kick.
"Are you okay?"
Seeing Garen covered in blood that even the seawater couldn't wash off, Nami couldn't help but ask in concern.
Even though she knew full well that Garen couldn't be injured.
"I'm fine!"
Garen smiled lightly. "It's all just those small fry's blood!"
Nami said nothing more, but there was a glimmer of hope and joy in her eyes.
For the first time, she realized that the Fishmen she had feared for so long were actually this weak.
"All hands, listen up!"
Smoker, who had flown back from the air, shouted commands to his subordinates: "Prepare for beach landing operations!"
"Sir yes sir!"
After witnessing Smoker and Garen effortlessly repelling the Fishmen, the Navy soldiers' morale skyrocketed.
The warships quickly began pressing toward the beach of Arlong Park.
During the landing prep, Smoker's attention shifted to another important matter.
"Bring up that disgrace of a Marine!"
Smoker said in a low, cold voice.
The Marines quickly dragged out Captain Nezumi, tied up like a dumpling.
Behind him followed a group of witnesses—upright men who had reported their corrupt superior without hesitation.
Even before Smoker could speak, these "champions of justice" started shouting:
"I'm reporting him by name! That rat's been shielding the Arlong Pirates for years!"
That was the normal version. The more dramatic ones added emotional flair:
"Nezumi's been embezzling funds and abusing power, treating the base like his personal fiefdom!"
"We, loyal Marines, were forced to suffer under his tyranny!"
One particularly theatrical Marine had tears streaming down his face as he cried out:
"Captain, thank heavens you're finally here to set things right!"
"We've been waiting for this day for years!"
The tense atmosphere of the anti-pirate operation suddenly became lively and almost comical.
"Pah!"
Captain Nezumi, dead inside, couldn't hold back and shouted:
"When I took the money, didn't you all get a share?!"
"What money?!"
"What money did we ever take?!"
The deputy who had personally captured Nezumi bellowed righteously:
"All of that is evidence of your corruption!"
"We've endured humiliation for years just to preserve this evidence!"
(End of Chapter)