Sanji yelled in shock as the fishman slammed right into him from behind. He wrapped Sanji's ankle with his hair, throwing the cook right into the wall of the pool. Then, the fishman noticed Genso, who was helping Luffy.
"It's that old man from the village. What a waste of time." Arlong's commander replied.
"Damn it! He's seen me!" Genso's eyes widened in horror.
"Such a pathetic attempt to keep rubber boy alive! I guess I'll just kill you too!" the fishman smirked and darted towards Genso. However, he was yanked back by his hair, by Sanji. Sanji swam in front of him, preventing the fishman from getting to Genso and Luffy.
"Where did you think you're going?" Sanji narrowed his eyes at the fishman.
"You foolish, human!" the commander laughed. "You really trying to fight me underwater? You can't even breath down here."
"As you wish, foolish boy." The fishman smirked. Sanji tried to launch a kick at him, but it wasn't strong enough as it was on land. The fishman caught it. "Too bad. Your kick is powerless down here. That's more of you human weaknesses . But, my fishman karate loses nothing in water! Quite the contrary, it's twice more powerful!" He punched Sanji, making him lose more air. Sanji quickly swam up to get to the surface before he would drown.
"Air! Air! Air! I've let out too much, I can't breathe! Suffocating!"
However, Sanji was stopped as the fishman blocked him. He smirked as he looked down at Sanji, with his arms crossed, seeing him struggle for air.
"Impressive."
"Crap! Let me through! I need to breathe! Move it!"
"You have amazing stamina. You sure you're human?" the fishman asked. Sanji narrowed his eyes at him, moving his arms desperately.
"I need to breathe now!"
"Didn't you just say "any man who hurts a lady is a piece of crap?" the fishman laughed. "And yet, look at where your precious love of woman has finally gotten you. You have no escape, you'll die by my hand. The old man and the boy he's trying to save, they'll die too. I'll kill Zoro, that girl, and the long nose guy and I'll massacre the entire village. And as my final pleasure, I'll murder that traitorous bitch, Nami!
Don't you see? Your love is worthless! If it can't save you then you protect no one, not even your little girlfriend!" the fishman continued. Sanji saw his vision starting to fade in and out. Then the fishman grabbed Sanji, wrapping his arms around him tightly, so he couldn't break free. "I'll admit you have some skills, but still in the end your just a human! Your body doesn't react well to a sudden change in pressure, does it? Let's see, I have a theory about what's going to happen to you. Your organs are going to explode from the inside out!"
Sanji yelped painfully feeling his organs starting to crush in from the pressure as the fishman dived deeper down the water.
"I can't let him do this! If I want to save her then the first thing I have to do is save myself!"
"What's with him? He just won't die!" the fishman went straight up, along with Sanji, getting ready to dive down again. "Very well, I guess we'll just have to try it again!"
"Fishman use their lungs to breathe air on land, but they use their gills to breathe water down here. Which means, the fishman's gills are useless on dry land and their lungs are useless underwater! Which means, forcing air into his gills should suffocate this bastard!"
Sanji quickly grabbed onto the fishman and breathed into his gills. Arlong's commander gasped, not able to breathe and released Sanji. Sanji quickly swam up to the surface, taking in a deep breath of fresh air, he desperately needed. He coughed and climbed out of the pool, next to Zoro and Aya, spitting out some of the sea water.
"You okay?" Aya asked concerned.
"I-I'm fine." Sanji panted, as he tried to breathe.
"Luffy?" Zoro asked him.
"Don't worry, he's okay!" Sanji told them.
"Are you sure?" Zoro said, unsure.
"Yeah...only half okay." Sanji replied. The swordsman raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Wait, how?" he questioned.
"I'll explain later," Sanji turned around, glaring back into the pool. "FIRST, YET YOUR ASS UP HERE! I WANT TO FIGHT WHERE I CAN BREATHE!"
The fishman crawled out, still gasping for air as he struggled to breathe. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Sanji and stood up and got into a fighting stance. "You still don't get it, do you? It doesn't matter to me if I'm on land or in water. I'm just as strong either way. Now, you will witness the true power of fishman karate! What I showed you before was just a sample of what's to come! My ultimate attack is ten times as powerful! And the chances you'll survive it are ZERO!"
Just as he was about to strike, Sanji quickly appeared next to him and kicked the commander right in his neck, knocking him down.
"You said my love is worthless." Sanji growled, kicking the fishman, again. "So then, I can't protect anyone, is that right?!" He continued, kicking the fishman repeatedly until he was knocked back right onto the ground. Arlong's commander got back up, completely enraged. He shot his fist out to attack Sanji, only to miss. Sanji jumped up and landed his foot right into the fishman's face. "And now, face shot!" The commander was sent flying into the building and crashing out to the other side of the compound. Sanji smirked, landing on his feet. "Now it's done. He won't be back."
Genso looked up while he was continuing to revive Luffy, hearing the commotion on the surface. "What was that? What's happening up there?"
"Kuroobi. Hatchi." Arlong frowned as he looked at his fallen crewmates, seeing them defeated at his feet.
"In the end, they're all just seafood." Sanji replied, putting his shoes back on. "A fish can't fight a cook. I don't know what he was thinking. This game is ours."
"You bastards! You killed my brothers one after the other. I'm afraid I've let you get too carried away!" Arlong shouted, furiously.
"Well that's your own fault." Aya replied. "You should've just fought me and my brother instead of hiding behind your cronies like a coward."
"Oh, I plan to." Arlong growled, glaring at her. "You're first."
"Okay, explain, Luffy's half okay? What does that mean?" Zoro asked, the cook.
"It means he's alive for the time being." Sanji explained. "But if we want him fully back on dry land, I got to get back into the water." He looked over at Arlong. "And something tells me, ugly over there won't let me."
"We'll, both distract him. You just get in the water and help Luffy!" Aya told Sanji.
The villagers and the two bounty hunters watched, completely amazed and in disbelief, seeing all of Arlong's gang had been wiped out.
"Amazing! Those people beat two of Arlong's best fishmen!" the doctor exclaimed.
Genso gasped as he breached the surface. He climbed out, kneeling next to Nojiko, who was holding Luffy's head out of the water.
"I'm done. I can't hold my breath." He told her.
"Take my place, I'll go." She insisted.
"He's looking better, not so pale." Genso said in relief.
"He spit out some water." Nojiko replied.
"Did I miss anything?" He asked. Nami's sister smiled, looking up to the sky with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"They're doing great! Everyone's fine! For the first time, I think I have hope! These guys have fought so well. We may actually be set free!"
"What a pain in the ass..." the long mouthed fishman remarked, disappointed. He stood over Usopp, who was lying on the ground in a puddle of blood. "That long nose freak sure could run forever. But, it just took one blast from my squirt gun to take him out completely. I guess I should head back. It's all over by now for sure." He started to walk away, leaving Usopp, who appeared to be dead on the ground.
Usopp smirked, hearing the fishman's footsteps retreat. "It worked! I'm alive! I'm so glad that I've made the ketchup star for such occasions. He thinks he killed me from the water blast. Run along, now, go home! These guys are totally freaking nuts! I don't know what I'm doing here! They destroyed an entire village and killed everyone in it! I know Nami can't do this all on her own, but seriously?!"
He sat up, still shaking from the adrenaline. "I don't mind hiding from death. Death is scary! Let's see, I'm covered in fake blood but I need to look a little more beat up, like I fought bravely! I know what's missing, dirt! Yeah, I'm too clean." Usopp grabbed some dirt and started to rub some on him, to make it look like he fought.
"I'm sorry, I got lost. No! I did my best, but he got me!" He murmured, trying to think of something to say, to explain to the others. "I was this close to the bastard and he got away! No, sounds like I'm trying too hard."
Usopp stopped when an image of Luffy appeared in his mind. "We're friends, right?" He still couldn't believe that Luffy would want someone like him on his crew.
"How about, don't cry, Nami. We all did the very best we could!" Usopp tried to think of something else to say, shaking the thought from his mind.
However, Zoro appeared in his mind as he remembered the swordsman. "Never in my life did I imagine losing!" He was never the one to back down from a fight. Usopp admired him for that.
"Or everybody fought very bravely." Usopp murmured softly before drifting off as he remembered Sanji.
"But, the truth is that our idiot captain is far better than a gang who prey on a lady."
"Maybe, but, I nearly died myself." Usopp tried to assure himself then he thought about Nami, how she risked her life to save him, so Usopp could get away.
"Its only business. This is my only choice."
"Nami, no, to tell you the truth, my injuries aren't had at all, really!" Usopp gripped his fists. Then he remembered Johnny and Yosaku, who had placed their faith and reputation on Luffy, him and the others.
"Big sis Nami was crying. Do they need any more reason than that to put their lives on the line!?" He remembered Yosaku shouting. Then he remembered Nami's sister, Nojiko as she told them about Nami and hers past.
"To make choice like that when you're only ten, do you know how hard it must've been for Nami?"
"I fought bravely. I never quit." Usopp felt his eyes starting to sting, gritting his teeth, frustrated. "I'm just...a liar!"
"There is more to you than you think you are, Usopp. You need to have more confidence and faith in yourself, like I have in you." Usopp's eyes widened as tears fell, running down his cheeks in streaks. Aya...
"I'm nothing but a coward!" Usopp stood up and turned around and faced the fishman. He took in a deep breath and yelled out at the top of his lungs. "STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"Oh, you're still alive?" The fishman stopped in his tracks, looking back at Usopp.
"That's right, big lips! It takes more than water to kill someone like me!" Usopp shouted, pointing at him. When I left home, I left everything behind. Peace, safety, when you live your life on the edge you savor every moment! That's why they're able to laugh so much. That's the reason I went to sea. I want to laugh that way too! "If I don't fight with all I've got then I don't deserve to be on the same ship as them! And I'll never be able to face my friends again!" Usopp's eyes widened in fear as he saw the fishman right in his face before he punched the sniper, knocking him down to the ground.
"You fool. You were better off pretending to be dead. The human brain is an absolute waste of meat." the fishman replied.
"I don't feel good..."Usopp groaned.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm just getting started!" The fishman started to kick Usopp on his side, beating him up.
"Stop it..." Usopp reached into his bag and pulled out his hammer. "Usopp Hammer!" He whacked the fishman across his leg with it. He pulled back, hopping on it in pain. Usopp pulled out a rubber band, aiming it the fishman. "Usopp rubber band of Doooom!"
The fishman flinched, closing his eyes, but nothing happened. He opened his eyes to see that Usopp had disappeared.
"Ah, crap! Where did that stupid son of a bitch go!?" He exclaimed, angrily. "I. Cant. Believe. This!"
"Special attack!" Usopp shouted as he launched a bottle at the fishman who caught it, looking at it confused. "Sake?" Usopp fired a pellet from his slingshot. "Lead Star!" It shattered the bottle, splashing the fishman with the liquid.
"Is this the only way you can fight, you coward!" the fishman growled. "There's no place to hide from my squirt cannon!"
"Stupid coward or whatever, I can't run from this fight! I'm supposed to be a man! Although, it doesn't really feel all that great to be manly. If I lose, I'll die. At least I'll die a pirate!" Usopp yelled back.
"Squirt Cannon!" The fishman fired multiple rounds into the dense woods that he saw the bottle was launched from, realizing that Usopp must be hiding somewhere in it. Usopp screamed as he took cover behind the tree, from the water bullets. Usopp opened his eyes, slowly, after hearing the firing had stopped. They widened in shock as he saw the devastation of the trees next to him, completely demolished and mowed over.
"No way!"
"Why should I have to waste my time with such an idiot? This is too easy. I'll shoot you to pieces," The fishman fired again. "Squirt machine gun!"
"I promise if I can survive this ordeal, I'll never pretend to be a pirate ever again!" Usopp hid behind the tree, as the water bullets hit it repeatedly. He covered his head with his hands. "I won't be a coward and run away! It is over!" Usopp quickly dodged out of the way as the fishman slammed his fist into the tree, shattering.
"What did you say is done?"
Usopp narrowed his eyes at him, pulling out his slingshot. "This whole fight! Alcohol lights on fire!" He fired a pellet at the fishman, igniting him on fire. "Usopp Flaming Star!"
"Water! Got to find water!" the fishman howled in pain. He quickly scrambled away, running to the closest water source he could find, a rice paddy field. "Water, water, water!"
Usopp quickly chased after him, pulling out his hammer. "Usopp Hammer!" He slammed it hard against the fishman, knocking him down.
"Bastard!" the fishman moaned as he twitched a little. Usopp screamed and slammed his hammer on the fishman's head, relentlessly.
"Usopp Hammer! Usopp Hammer! Usopp Hammer! Rubber band of Doooom! Usopp Hammer! Usopp Hammer! Usopp Hammer!"
Usopp panted as he stepped back, seeing that the fishman was unconscious and also with multiple bumps on his head from his onslaught. The sniper fell back, landing in the water, exhausted. "I did it! I beat a fishman!" He grinned, proudly. He couldn't wait to tell the others, especially Aya! "YOU SEE THAT LOSER, I BEAT YOUR ASS!" Usopp exclaimed.
"I can't believe I actually did I it! WHO'S A PIRATE NOW!? I AM USOPP, THE PIRATE!"
Back at the park, Genso looking down at Luffy, worried as he held his head, desperately wanting for him to wake up.
"Breathe, Breathe, Breathe! You need to come back now before it's too late, for your friends!" Nojiko continued to press her hands on the straw hat captain's chest.
Arlong laughed as he looked down at Zoro, Sanji and Aya, who were completely covered in cuts. However, Sanji was more damaged as he was trying to shield Aya from Arlong's attack. Aya was kneeling beside him, trying to support his body against hers.
"You didn't have to do that," she whispered. "Why would you do that?"
"It would go against everything that I was taught," Sanji answered her. "I don't like to see a woman get hurt."
Aya eyes widened a little, surprised by Sanji's words before she bit her lip. He shouldn't be wasting his life for her, putting himself in danger like that. Every fiber of her her being wanted to yell at him to scream at him "Why?" Then Arlong spoke, snapping her attention towards him.
"I don't even have to touch you. You humans are so fragile that I can kill you just by playing around with just a little water! That's the difference between you want me!" Arlong splashed them with water and surprisingly it started to cut their skin.
"Shut up!" Aya growled, looking up at Arlong. She was nearing her limit was well. They all were. But, she was not going to give up. Not after all of the training in the Marines, day in and day out, that she had to put up with. She was not a weak helpless little girl anymore!
"He's not kidding. That's why the shark is the king of the fishmen. He's a whole different level!" Sanji gritted his teeth.
"You should just die. You're lives are not worth that much. There's no one who will miss you!" Arlong laughed.
"ARLONG!" Everyone's eyes widened in shock and saw Nami standing by the doors with the villagers, who were surprised as well.
"Nami?!" Aya called out to her, surprised to see her.
"Hey, Nami, I was just teaching one final lesson to these pathetic little pirates." Arlong smirked. "What are you doing here?"
Nami narrowed her eyes straight at him, with a dark glare.
"I'm here to kill you."