Zoro charged towards Arlong, "I will beat this guys ass, then save you Luffyko." He vowed as he charge only to have the octopus step in and spit the black ink at him again. He carefully rolled out of the way and charged trying to cut down the fishman. He let out a small sound of surprise when the fishman ducked so only his hair was cut. He watched as the fishman got upset then brushed it off.

Sanji watched as Zoro attacked while the octopus tried to catch the sword with his bare hands only to miss and get cut. "What a stupid octopus, if this keeps up I might as well just go save Luffyko." He looked back over at Zoro and saw him already having trouble breathing. "That idiot, he's still not healed. Looks like this is going to rest on me saving her." He heard Kurobi run towards him and dodged his punch and returned a kick, "The fish fighting against the cook?" He asked as he kept kicking only to be blocked by the hard fins by his elbows.

Zoro cursed when he saw Sanji start fighting, "Shit, we are running out of time." He forced himself back together and charged at the octopus, "Quit struggling this is pointless!" He said as the octopus jumped and clung to one of the remaining pillars. He waited for an attack but when none came he got frustrated. 'I don't have time for this…' "What's with you? Get your ass down here!" When he didn't he glared and tried to contain his breathing, "Octopus bastard."

"Rorona Zoro! Can I ask you one thing? I've heard you fight with three swords, why do you only have one now?"

"One is just fine! You are still going to lose!"

"Shut up! I haven't gotten serious yet! Truth is a human swordsman doesn't stand a chance against me. Wanna know why? Wanna know? You wanna know! It'll surprise you! Astound you! Shock you!"

Zoro tuned him out and tried to block out the pain from his fight against Mihawk, 'Shit…the pain is coming back at the worst possible time. Fever's getting worse too…I thought I could just walk it off…' He felt himself loose his balance but he quickly corrected himself as his breathing got heavier.

Sanji noticed his teammate and cursed, "Shit, I knew it. He still hasn't recovered."

"What's this? Pretending to be sick, is a good strategy, very good. But I won't fall for it! Roronoa Zoro! Let me show you my true skill!" He quickly climbed into the building and came back out with six swords. "Behold, my real skill! Six sword style!" As he was talking Zoro fell o the ground, "Hey don't fall over! Don't insult me."

Sanji heard Johnny and Yosaku talking about how his injuries should have made him unable to walk and looked at the fallen swordsman, "I thought it was weird he could fight with a straight face. Stupid bastard." He turned as he saw Kurobi's fist, too late to dodge and felt pain enter his stomach.

Zoro listened as they decided Sanji and him were both dead and listened as Hatchi ranted about how he would have defeated him. He forced the pain from him, Luffyko's dream and his dream were being threatened. He got up to his hands and knees, "Six sword style? You're full of crap." He began to draw himself onto his feet, "Let me make sure something is clear, octopus. There is someone I must meet again, and until that day, not even death himself can take my life away." He said as he leveled his cold eyes into the fishman.

"What's with you, Roronoa Zoro? Why do you keep pushing yourself to go on? I don't think you can defeat me, and my six-sword style, with how you are now. I think anyone in the world right now would agree."

Zoro tied his bandana around his head holding his sword in his mouth, 'Shut up, it's none of your buisnesss. I'll show you, my three-sword style! Yosaku, Johnny! Lend me your swords!" He heard them throw the swords and felt himself sway, 'Shit, I'm losing it. How many more minutes can I keep this up? How much longer does Luffyko have?'

Hatchi gave a short laugh, "Now you will see the barrier that two handed human's can never pass!" He lunged at him wailing his swords towards the human swordsman.

Zoro caught the swords as the attack began and then countered exiting behind the fishman unscathed, as the octopus began to bleed from the many cuts he was given.

"I'm really mad now! I'm going to kill you! Just think about it normally! Three swords can never hold up to six swords! You cannot beat me!" Hatchi yelled.

"Normally? That's a major miscalculation." He thought back to his past and then spoke between breathes, "Three swords…six swords…numbers don't matter!" he forced himself to stand as he looked at the fishman, "I may only have three swords, but yours will never be as heavy as mine!"

Hatchi turned a sword to point at Zoro, "The weight, I understand now. Your swords are heavier? But don't forget each of my swords weigh 300kg, you know. They're much heavier and more powerful than any of your swords, you moron."

"It's useless talking to an idiot." Zoro muttered as he saw Hatchi charge. He managed to block the swords attack but was unprepared when he flung the swords away revealing his bandaged chest. Hatchi head butted him in the chest causing him to cough up blood. Zoro saw dark and when his eyes opened he saw the swirling of the blades right below he swung into action exiting the trap unscathed and leaving the fishman covered in cuts and unable to hold his swords.

Hatchi began to yell at him about how he had cheated and done tricks, but Zoro focused on staying conscious. 'A wound that a normal man would lose conscience too…I won't lose to it. I can't lose to it, my dream and Luffyko rest on me.' He watches Hatchi got ready to attack again and focused, 'A wound that would kill an ordinary man…I won't lose to it! To face one who is extraordinary, Miawk…I cannot allow myself to be ordinary!' He then attacked as he yelled, "Tatsumaki!" Cutting all of Hatchi's swords and sending the fishman into the air. "Octopus jerk, now do you understand…how much heavier my swords are? You satisfied?" He felt himself grow weak and sat down swords around him, "I'm sorry octopus, but I'm not impressed. I have to hurry and save Luffyko." He heard the other fishman cry out annd go to attack only to be blocked by Sanji, who had gotten back up from the heavy punch.

He began to crawl towards the water when Sanji called out to him.

"Hey stop! In your condition, your ass is as good as dead if you go underwater." Sanji said as he looked down at the injured swordsman.

"Shut the hell up! She's almost done for! She can't wait for your fight to finish!" Zoro yelled at him frustrated for being told to wait.

"Ya I know about that. I know there is no time left. That's why I'm stopping you." Sanji replied calmly, "As if I'd ever forget a damsel in distress!" He called out as he dove into the water.

Zoro watched in horror as the fishman began to laugh about the challenge, "You dumbass! An underwater battle is exactly what they want!" He watched as the fishman dove in after him and clenched the sides of the pool, 'He better save Luffyko, she won't last much longer!' He could picture the slim girl floating in the water limp and shook his head, 'Come on, lover boy. Don't let this be the first time you fail a lady.' Zoro watched nervously as Sanji remained underwater, then saw the bubbles. He leaned forward hoping to see the big eyes of his captain but instead he saw Sanji gasping for air without the girl, "You…" he watched, as Sanji get out of the water alone and felt the fury build up in him, "Oi-"

"Don't worry. She's okay." Sanji said as he breathed in more air.

Zoro felt relief go through him, but still wasn't sure as she wasn't with him, "Really?"

"Half of her."

"Half?"

"Tell you later." Sanji forced out as he was finally beginning to feel human again. He stood up, pointed at the water, and screamed, "But first…Get your ass outta the water! You fish freak! I still need to kick your small-time ass!"

Kurobi was still coughing and glared at Sanji, "You still don't understand? Whether it be land or underwater, it's still the same. You've really angered me. I'll show you the essence of Merman Karate!" He stood up on land and prepared for the attack, "The move that blew you out of the park! Was a 100 direct punch, but my special move is the 1000 direct punch! The chances of you surviving are zero!"

Zoro watched as Sanji disappeared and then kick the merman. The merman couldn't keep up with the kicks in speed or power and was blown away in seconds. He listened as Sanji taunted Arlong who was upset and ready to kill them, but all he cared about was Luffyko. "Hey, when you said Luffy's half okay, what did you mean?"

"Well she's not gonna die. But if you wanna free him, I gotta go back underwater again for a bit. And it doesn't look like this guy plans to let me go."

Zoro turned to Arlong and gripped his sword tight, this was the man who had tossed his captain into the water with her feet in stone; he would pay for that. "Well I'll watch him you go get her."

Sanji shoo his head, "Not yet, when it's time you will know."

Arlong glared at them, "Let me show you the difference in our power." He scooped up some water and threw it at the two pirates sending them back with ease.

Sanji forced himself up, "I feel faint, was it a dream? I'd even started having hopes for this battle."

"To kill humans like you, I don't need to do anything, but throw a little water around. That is the difference between mermen and humans!"

"Cut the crap!" Sanji yelled as he went to kick Arlong only to have the water hit him sending him back to the ground. 'He's not kidding, he's only playing with water!'

"Give it up! Your lives aren't important anyway!"

"Arlong!" Nami yelled as she saw the two beaten pirates at his feet.

"Yo Nami, I was just giving some loser pirates a demonstration of our power. What brings you here?"

"I'm here to kill you."

Arlong looked her over, "Here to kill me?" He laughed at the thought and looked down at Nami, "You still haven't given up. How many times have you tried to kill me in the past eight years? Murder, poison, assault, has it ever worked? You should know better than anyone else, that we can't be killed by you humans so easily. Listen, you can never kill me and you can never run away from me. Nami you will remain as my cartographer. Besides, you know I've been good to you. I really hope that you'll continue the mapmaking if possible. So how does this sound? Because of what's happened, normally I'd kill all these people but you. But, if you make a decision now to return to the Arlong Pirates, and continue to draw maps for me, I will let them live. These guys, however, cannot be spared; they have been too foolish. So make your choice Nami. If you choose me, the people of your village will be safe. Or you could choose to fight me with these fools. But, these guys you hope to count on are in such bad shape now. I don't think there's any way to avoid this ending tragically. Nami, are you on my crew, or theirs?"

Nami clenched her fist, 'If I say I'm Luffyko's friend everyone will be killed! If I go back to Arlong, then everyone from the village will be safe…It's all up to me…everyone's fate…' She thought of the strong young girl and clenched the girl's hat down harder on her head, then finally turned around, "Everyone sorry, will you die with me?"

Arlong glared at the villagers and Nami, "So you wish to be slaughtered." Suddenly a geyser of water shot into the sky, "What is that?"

Sanji grinned when he saw it, "There she is. All that's left is for me to take of the boulder at her feet. "

Zoro rolled over and put a hand to his bandana, "I get it now." Zoro got his swords and gave a nod to Sanji, "Thirty seconds. That's as long as I can hold him."

Sanji nodded and kicked off his shoes as he ran to the water, "That's more than enough."

Zoro watched as Arlong began to move towards the water and quickly stepped in the way cutting his cheek, "That's not what you should be worrying about right now. You half-fish bastard!"

"Didn't I tell you not to never say that word again?" Arlong said as he looked down at the human challenging him. "Looks like you are about finished, Zoro. Those who have the power of the devil fruit lose all power in the sea. She should be dead now. If she's alive, then someone must've been messing around with my little game."

"Messing with your game?" Zoro breathed out, fury filled him as he thought of the merman playing a game by drowning Luffyko. "I thought it was messed up to begin with, bastard."

"Whatever I'll find out who is doing it. Move."

Zoro prepared for the fight when someone screamed an attack and an egg his Arlong. 'He must have defeated the Merman…' he looked up and saw the fury Arlong held at a loss of another one of his crew.

"You dare stand in my way?" Arlong asked with annoyance. "You want to be the first to die, Roronoa Zoro?"

"I will not die. Allow me to break off that ugly nose you you love so dearly!" He yelled as he swung up to cut it off.

Arlong smirked as his nose stopped the attack, "Fool, I love it because it is unbreakable! If you weren't hurt so badly, you might've scratched or bruised it." Arlong attacked at him when Hatchi woke up and told them that he was going after Sanji. Arlong saw the frustration and smirked, "Don't get frustrated, you will all be dead soon enough." With a smirk he pushed forward plowing his nose into Zoro's chest.

Zoro fell back and felt Arlong pick him up by his neck. He heard the fishman laugh, "Done already? How boring. By the way what's with this huge bandage?" Zoro clenched his jaw together as he felt Arlong grab the bandages pulling away some of the dried blood with it, "Did you fall somewhere or something?" Zoro let out a strangled scream as his bandages were ripped away from his body. He could hear everyone gasp, even Arlong. Apparently, they were worse then he thought. However, he knew someone else with lots of wounds too and he laughed. Arlong narrowed his eyes at the laughing, bleeding man.

"If you take it easy , the wounds won't open up." Zoro said as he let out his painful laugh.

"Is that all you have to say? You think you are funny, don't you?"

"I didn't mean me, I meant the octopus guy." Zoro said with a small smirk on his face. "I told you before, we've already won this game." Suddenly, everyone heard Luffyko's voice yell out, "You're late, idiot." He muttered but inside he was grinning, she had made it.

Luffyko grinned and then reached out and grabbed Zoro, "Zoro!"

Zoro gave a nervous smile, "Hey stop! You're not going to…"

Luffyko dragged him away and up into the air by her, "Switch!" She yelled as she threw him behind her then went down after Arlong, "Gum Gum Bell!" She yelled as she brought her head down on his knocking him lower and then she whipped her leg around, "Whip!" Her kick pushed him back and by the time he stopped her hand was already way behind her, "Gum Gum Pistol!" She yelled as she slammed her fist into his stomach and then began to multiply her puches, "Gatling Gun!" He went through the wall and she grinned as some of the wall fell onto him, "Take that!"

Arlong pushed away the rubble and glared at the small human girl, "Did you really think that would do anything?"

Luffyko shook her head as she cracked her knuckles, "Nope, just a warming up."

Arlong glared at the girl as she began to stretch in front of him, "What's wrong with you, you pathetic scum? I think you would have been happier sleeping at the bottom of the ocean."

"No, actually, I'm pretty thankful to being rescued."

"Because then you wouldn't have to see how angry I can be." He said as his fury boiled over a the tiny girl stretching her arms and legs, "To see my brethren killed by your lame pals…soon enough, you are going to be wishing you had died earlier. Do you know the difference between me and you?"

"Noses." Luffyko replied easily ass he continued stretching out. When he glared at her she second-guessed herself, "Chins?" She thought a little longer than pointed to her fingers, "Oh, the webs!"

"It's our very race!" Arlong yelled as he lunged trying to bite her in half, to his frustration she kept rolling out of the way sounging like an idiot. He finally managed to grab her and pinned her against a pillar. As he went to bite her head off she pulled her head out of the way leaving him with only the pillar.

Luffyko slipped away as he broke the pillar with his jaw. "Scary!" She called out as she tiptoed away from the debris. However, everyone else was terrified.

'Holy shit! What's with this guy? Those teeth…they wouldn't just scar if they bite into her, it'd go through bones and everything!' Sanji thought worrying about Luffyko getting bitten.

Arlong grinned as he saw the girl, "Behold, this is the true power of Mermen. The Heavens made distinction between us. The Heavens only gave you humans enough strength to exist below us. You are inferior animals! From the very moment we are born, everything was different. I'll show you just how different we really are."

Luffyko stood up and flashed a terrifying grin, one that showed no fear, "Sure show me. But, there is no way I hell I'll lose to you fish-people. Because, I'm the one who will be King of the Pirates!"