**Cocoyasi Village, Conomi Islands – East Blue**
**Night of the first real battle**
The street was lit only by the moon and the dying lanterns hanging from broken eaves. Splintered wood lay everywhere from Arlong's crash through the wall. Dust still hung in the air like slow smoke. The remaining fish-men—twenty-something now—formed a loose semicircle around their captain, weapons drawn, eyes gleaming with predatory excitement.
Arlong rose slowly from the crater of broken cobblestones. Blood trickled from his split lip, but his grin was wider than ever—sharp, silver, endless rows of teeth catching moonlight.
"A Marine who fights like rubber," he rasped. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Luffy stood in the middle of the street, straw hat low, fists clenched at his sides. His shirt was torn across the chest from the earlier exchange. Breathing steady. Eyes shadowed.
Behind him, the rest of the squad had fallen into position without a word.
Sanji on the left flank—legs coiled, cigarette glowing like a tiny ember in the dark.
Zoro on the right—three swords drawn, stance low, already bleeding from a shallow cut across his forearm.
Koby crouched behind an overturned cart, rifle steady, scope trained on the crowd.
Nami and Usopp had retreated to the storm drain exit with the last villagers—safe, for now—but Nami's voice carried back once, sharp and clear:
"Don't die, idiot."
Luffy didn't answer.
He just stepped forward.
One slow step.
Then another.
Arlong laughed—low, rolling, like thunder under water.
"You think you can take me, human? Me—Arlong—who carved my name into every island from here to Conomi? You're nothing. A child playing Marine."
Luffy stopped five meters away.
"Looked around," he said quietly. "Saw houses burned. Boats broken. People scared. Old man dragged into the street. Little girl crying."
His voice stayed even. Almost gentle.
"I don't like that."
Arlong's grin twisted.
"Then come stop it."
He lunged.
Faster than before—shark speed, pure predatory burst.
Right fist aimed to crush Luffy's skull.
Luffy didn't dodge.
He planted his feet.
**Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!**
Rubber arm snapped forward like a cannon shot.
Fist met fist.
The collision rang like a bell struck with a hammer.
Shockwave cracked the cobblestones beneath them.
Arlong slid back three meters—boots gouging furrows in the street.
His eyes widened for the first time.
Luffy shook out his hand.
"Harder than I thought."
Arlong laughed again—hoarser, angrier.
"Good. I hate boring fights."
He charged once more.
This time both arms—double haymakers meant to pulp Luffy's ribs.
Luffy bent backward at the waist—almost horizontal—dodging both swings.
Then snapped upright.
**Gomu Gomu no… Whip!**
Leg stretched, whipped around in a crescent arc.
Heel cracked against Arlong's temple.
The fish-man staggered sideways—blood spraying from his ear.
The watching fish-men roared and surged forward.
Sanji met the first wave.
**Concassé!**
Leg flashed upward—knee to chin—then down in a crushing axe kick.
Two fish-men dropped before they could swing.
Zoro flowed into the gap.
**Oni Giri!**
Three blades met flesh in a single spinning motion.
Blood sprayed.
He didn't stop—pivoted, cut again.
Koby fired from cover—precise shots to knees and shoulders.
Not killing.
Disabling.
The street became a storm of motion and sound.
Arlong recovered.
He spat blood.
"You're fast. But speed won't save you."
He reached behind his back—pulled free a massive serrated sword, longer than Luffy was tall.
"Kiribachi."
The blade gleamed wetly.
He swung.
Horizontal arc meant to bisect Luffy at the waist.
Luffy jumped—high, twisting in midair.
**Gomu Gomu no… Rocket!**
Both legs stretched back, then snapped forward—propelling him straight at Arlong like a human missile.
Fist extended.
Connected with Arlong's chest.
The fish-man flew backward again—crashed through a market stall, wood exploding around him.
Luffy landed lightly.
Breathing harder now.
Sweat on his brow.
Arlong rose once more.
Slower.
Grin gone.
"You… hit like a cannon."
He wiped blood from his mouth.
"But I'm not done."
He charged again—sword high.
Luffy met him head-on.
Fist against blade.
Metal sang against rubber.
Each clash sent vibrations up both arms.
Arlong pressed—strength of a fish-man, raw and monstrous.
Luffy pushed back—rubber resilience, endless rebound.
They locked—sword against fist—faces inches apart.
"You can't win," Arlong hissed. "You're human. Weak. Breakable."
Luffy's eyes were steady.
"I'm not breaking tonight."
He twisted—rubber body coiling like a spring.
**Gomu Gomu no… Storm!**
Both arms stretched wide—then snapped inward in a double hammer-fist strike.
Arlong blocked with crossed forearms.
The impact lifted him off his feet—sent him skidding back fifteen meters.
He crashed into the base of the mayor's house wall.
Plaster cracked.
Arlong coughed—blood flecked his teeth.
For the first time, doubt flickered in his eyes.
Around them the fight was turning.
Sanji had cleared his side—fish-men groaning on the ground, legs broken or ribs caved.
Zoro stood over four bodies—blades dripping, breathing steady, blood on his cheek but none of it his.
Koby's rifle clicked empty—he switched to pistol, firing controlled bursts.
The remaining fish-men hesitated.
Their captain was bleeding.
Their enemies weren't falling.
Arlong pushed himself up the wall.
"Look at you," he snarled. "A rubber freak and his little pack of dogs. You think this is justice? You think you can change anything?"
Luffy lowered his fists.
"I don't know about changing everything."
He took one step forward.
"But I know I can change this."
Arlong roared.
He charged one last time—sword overhead, all remaining strength in the swing.
Luffy didn't move.
He waited.
Waited until the blade was inches from his head.
Then—
**Gomu Gomu no… Bazooka!**
Both arms stretched back—far, far back—coiling like twin springs.
Then snapped forward.
Double hammer-fist to Arlong's chest.
The impact was deafening.
Arlong's sword flew from his grip—embedded itself in the wall of the tavern across the street.
Arlong himself flew backward—through the air—crashed into the base of the flagpole flying his Jolly Roger.
The pole bent.
Snapped.
The shark flag fluttered down—slowly, almost gently—landing across his body like a shroud.
He didn't get up.
The remaining fish-men froze.
Then dropped their weapons.
One by one.
Hands in the air.
Silence fell over the street.
Only the sound of waves against the pier, distant and steady.
Luffy stood in the center—chest heaving, shirt in tatters, straw hat crooked.
He looked around.
At the broken houses.
At the villagers peeking from windows—eyes wide.
At Usopp—standing frozen in the storm drain exit, slingshot dangling from numb fingers.
At Nami—beside him, hand over her mouth.
At Sanji—wiping blood from his shoe, looking almost bored.
At Zoro—sheathed swords, leaning against a wall, small smirk on his face.
At Koby—rifle lowered, tears in his eyes.
Luffy took a deep breath.
Then he smiled.
Wide.
Bright.
Tired.
"We did it."
Usopp dropped to his knees.
Started crying—quiet at first, then louder.
Nami walked forward slowly.
Stopped in front of Luffy.
Looked up at him.
"You're a mess," she said.
Luffy laughed—soft, hoarse.
"Yeah."
She reached up.
Fixed his hat.
"Thanks."
Luffy blinked.
Then grinned wider.
"Anytime."
Villagers began to emerge—slowly, hesitantly.
Old men. Women. Children.
They gathered at the edges of the street.
Watching.
One old woman—the same one from the house—walked forward.
She stopped in front of Luffy.
Reached up with trembling hands.
Cupped his face.
"Young man… thank you."
Luffy's grin softened.
"Don't thank me. Thank everyone."
He looked around.
At his squad.
At Usopp—still crying, but smiling through tears.
At the villagers—starting to cheer, quietly at first, then louder.
The sound rolled through the village like a wave.
Arlong groaned from under the fallen flag.
Tried to push himself up.
Couldn't.
Zoro walked over.
Placed one foot on his chest.
"Not today."
Arlong glared up at him.
"You think this is over? More will come. Fish-men will—"
Luffy crouched down beside him.
"Looked around," he said again. "Saw what you did."
He stood.
"Looked at these people. They're free now."
He turned to the villagers.
"You're free."
The cheering grew.
Children ran forward—hesitant at first—then laughing, crying, hugging legs.
Usopp stood up.
Walked forward.
Stopped beside Luffy.
Looked at the village.
Then at Luffy.
"I… I lied about a lot of things."
Luffy looked at him.
"But you didn't lie about wanting to protect them."
Usopp's lip trembled.
"No."
Luffy put a hand on his shoulder.
"Then stay. Help them rebuild."
Usopp nodded.
Then—quietly:
"And… maybe… when you get that ship…"
Luffy grinned.
"You're welcome anytime."
The moon climbed higher.
The village lights came back on—one by one.
Villagers brought water, bandages, food.
Sanji took over the makeshift kitchen without being asked.
Zoro sat guard over the bound fish-men.
Koby helped carry wounded.
Nami stood beside Luffy on the pier.
Watching the sea.
"You really did it," she said.
Luffy scratched under his hat.
"We did it."
She looked at him sideways.
"You're going to keep doing stupid, reckless things like this, aren't you?"
"Yup."
She sighed.
"But you'll keep your crew safe while you do it."
Luffy looked at her—really looked.
"Yeah."
Nami smiled—small, real.
"Then I'm in."
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Really."
They stood there a while longer.
Watching the waves.
Listening to the village come back to life behind them.
Somewhere far out to sea, the first hint of dawn touched the horizon.
A new day.
A new beginning.
For Cocoyasi.
For them.
To be continued…