AN: Sorry for the delay. I spent much of this time writing the next (and final) chapter as well, so you'll get that soon.
"GET OFF!"
With a right hook, Arlong smashed in the skull of a blugori. The blue-furred monster drifted away from the Marine ship.
It was the fifth one Arlong had defeated… this minute alone.
"There's no end to them, nyoo!" Hatchan cried, even as he swung his six swords around in a deadly typhoon of blades.
"At least—HAH!" Kuroobi delivered a palm strike to a blugori. "At least they're weaklings!"
Chew sucked in the surrounding water and spat it out as a projectile. "Still strong enough to sink the ship, choo! We can't let our guards down!"
Arlong and his crew were currently in the sea around the Marine ship they'd hijacked. It had been twenty minutes since they'd started sailing away from Impel Down, but the staff of the prison had yet to give up pursuit.
Suddenly, Arlong felt a series of shockwaves reverberate through the water. It was the sound of cannon fire.
The other ships are still chasing us as well… would've been nice to sink all the others before setting off, but we didn't have the time for it!
Arlong reached out a hand and grasped the hull of his ship, clinging to it to save energy. He watched another swarm of blugori approach, their legs propelling them through the sea just as quickly as fish-men.
At least we don't have to worry about our ship getting sunk. The Straw Hats can defend it well enough.
Even now, it felt strange to rely on humans to such an extent, especially this particular group of humans. And yet it had proven to be the right choice. Even with the help of the Straw Hats and, eventually, Ace, Arlong's crew had still barely reached Jinbe and gotten him out.
Magellan… Arlong remembered bitterly. Most people aren't as tough as their reputations, but that monster is even more terrifying than his reputation! If we'd just been a few seconds slower, if he'd caught up…
Well, they were away from Impel Down now. And despite Magellan having such a lethal Devil Fruit ability, it didn't help him cross the sea.
That monster could try following us on one of the ships… but unless he can crew it all by himself, he wouldn't be able to fight at full power anymore, not without killing his own minions.
The blugori came within range. Arlong used his free hand to throw water at them, then let go of the ship to engage them in melee.
We actually did it! We snuck into the world's biggest prison and got two of its worst prisoners out!
In the distance, Arlong saw another Marine ship sink into the water. It was the third time that had happened since their departure from Impel Down.
The main strength of the Marines is gathered at Marineford, to wait for Whitebeard! Even if they move out, their ships aren't any faster than ours—they'll be slower, since that cyborg is tinkering with our ship's paddle-wheels!
Arlong defeated three blugori with a flowing series of punches and kicks. His friends took care of the rest.
This isn't on par with what you pulled off, Brother Tiger. Nothing can ever match that. But still, we've done something that'll go down in history!
Then Arlong's thoughts were interrupted by the sensation of something new approaching, something vastly more powerful than the puny blugori. He took a few deep breaths and clenched his fists, ready for the fight of his life…
…and then he saw who it was.
"The last of our pursuers is sunk!" Jinbe announced as he swam up to the ship. "I also eliminated all blugori within my sight! That should reduce the threat we face!"
Indeed, when Arlong looked into the distance, he could see yet another Marine ship sinking. There'd been no need for him to worry so much.
Fuck… even though he's the one I came here to save, even though he's on our side… my body still remembers the fear of losing to him.
No, I didn't just lose. That makes it sound like some friendly scuffle. He utterly crushed me… eight years ago, and a few months ago…
"I can take over the duty of defending against any further attack," Jinbe said, now next to the ship. "You four can take this chance to rest yourselves."
"Nyoo, we can't just leave it all to you, Jinbe!" Hatchan said. "You only just got out of prison, you're not fully rested yourself!"
"I can manage," Jinbe said firmly. A hint of guilt entered his tone. "It's the least I can do after making you go to such lengths to free me—"
Suddenly, Arlong felt a terrifying presence—no, two terrifying presences. They were up on the deck of the ship. And judging from the grim look on his face, Jinbe had noticed as well.
"This is—!" Jinbe exclaimed. "I will deal with them! You four, stay here!"
Jinbe swam upwards and burst out of the water, disappearing from view.
"Jinbe!" Arlong yelled. "Dammit, that idiot!"
Naturally, Arlong and his friends couldn't just abandon their former comrade. They'd literally come all this way to Impel Down to save him in the first place. Thus, they kicked their legs furiously to rise up, out of the water and back to the ship's deck.
They immediately regretted their decision.
"Ooh?" said a human man in yellow clothing with a Marine coat over it. He was taller than Arlong and had an easy-going look on his face. "That's a face I haven't seen in quite some time…"
"Ki… za… ru…!?" Arlong gasped.
"Why do people keep calling me that?" said Borsalino, one of the three admirals of the Marines. "I do have a proper name, you know?"
Memories came flooding back to Arlong, all of them charged with pain, shock and total, mind-numbing fear. His heart raced, his knees trembled.
"That's… an admiral!" Kuroobi said. He hadn't taken on a martial arts stance, something abnormal for a fighter of his experience. "And… one of the Seven Warlords!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Arlong noticed another human intruder on the ship. He was even taller than Admiral Borsalino and had an enormous torso, giving the impression of a bear. He wore a black shirt with a white bullseye pattern, and grey pants with black spots. There was no emotion, positive or negative, apparent on his face.
Arlong also noticed the Straw Hats looking at the Warlord with horrified expressions. He faintly recalled that they had some history with Bartholomew "Tyrant" Kuma.
Finally, he brought his attention back to Borsalino and realised who was confronting him.
"I cannot let you do this," Jinbe said, holding his palms forward and his legs wide apart. "Make no mistake, starting a war with Whitebeard would only throw the world into chaos!"
"So would letting prisoners escape from Impel Down," Borsalino replied. "Well… I didn't come here to debate ethics with you. Both of us have made up our minds, and nothing we say will change that."
Throughout this speech, Borsalino's voice never wavered from a casual tone, as if he was discussing favourite hobbies with a friend during a warm summer's day. He'd spoken in a similar way when he'd beaten Arlong bloody ten years ago.
"I was expecting resistance from Portgas D. Ace as well," Kuma said. His voice was considerably smoother than what Arlong had expected. "It seems the reports from Impel Down were right. He's been incapacitated by Warden Magellan's poison."
"You're never locking up Ace again!" Luffy roared. Despite his obvious fear, he was clenching his fists in preparation to fight.
I can't fall behind…! Arlong thought. Got to pull myself together! Can't use Haki if I'm unsettled, and I won't stand a chance against him without Haki!
"Our plan is to execute him, not just to lock him up…" Borsalino said, bemused. "Well, that doesn't matter now."
One of Borsalino's long legs began shining in the same brilliant, blinding yellow as the sun itself. This was the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, the power that had earned him his epithet of "Kizaru".
"Now… it's time for us to settle this."
Arlong had spent recent months getting back into fighting condition. He was far above the level he'd been at during his time in the Sun Pirates.
But he couldn't even see what happened in the next instant.
KABOOOOM!
Arlong was knocked backwards by a tremendous force, as if he'd been tackled by a full-grown Sea King. He flailed around with his arms and managed to grab onto something.
What… the hell… just happened…!?
A moment later, Arlong realised he was holding onto the edge of the ship's deck. Digging his fingers into the wood, he pulled himself up, pulled himself back to the battlefield.
"ZORO!"
"ZORO!"
"HOW DARE YOU!?"
The Straw Hat's screams managed to make Arlong turn his gaze away from Borsalino and towards Kuma. He immediately saw what was wrong.
The kelp-headed swordsman's gone—did he get blown off the ship, like I almost was!?
"A-ARLONG!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Arlong whirled around. He spotted his three friends in the water, thankfully with no severe injuries that he could see.
"We'll get back up!" Kuroobi said, already swimming back towards the ship. "Just hold on—"
Thinking quickly, Arlong gave a reply—the only reply he could give in this situation.
"No! Dive deep and hide! That's an order!"
Arlong turned away from them and faced the battle. It hurt worse than any wound he'd ever suffered, but it was the best option.
They're stronger than before, but they still haven't picked up Haki yet! If they got blown away by the first attack, then they… they shouldn't be here!
With tears streaming from his eyes, Arlong let out a battle cry and entered the fray.
Currently, Jinbe had grabbed Borsalino by the leg and was hammering punches into the admiral's side. Borsalino, for his part, was firing lasers from one finger at Jinbe's chest. And despite guarding himself with Armament Haki, giving his body a metallic sheen, he grunted in pain with each attack.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM, MARINE!"
Arlong sent one Haki-clad fist at Borsalino's face. He expected the human to nonchalantly ignore the attack, just like in their previous fight…
…yet his fist found its mark, landing in Borsalino's cheek with a satisfying thud.
Borsalino and Jinbe both froze. Arlong silently pulled his fist back, just as surprised at managing to land this attack.
"…My, you've certainly grown compared to before," Borsalino said. There was now a smear of blood on his cheek, where the skin had split.
"Arlong!?" Jinbe said in alarm. "I told you not to come up here—"
"I've never listened to you before, Jinbe!" Arlong snapped. "Not about to start now!"
Arlong threw another punch, much more boldly now that he knew he could hurt his opponent, could finally pay him back for—
There was an explosion, and Arlong's eyes were filled with a blinding golden light. He felt himself smash through multiple layers of wood before finally coming to a stop.
"Guh… ugh…"
"Arlong!?"
"Dammit, what's going on out there!? Is Luffy okay!?"
Arlong opened his eyes blearily. He realised he'd been blasted into the interior of the ship, into its infirmary. This was a large room capable of accommodating dozens of casualties at once, thought it currently had only two people in it.
"I'm fine," Arlong groaned, waving away Chopper's hoof. He then stood up on his own. "Just focus on keeping that idiot safe!"
Arlong saw Ace writhing around in his bed, clearly trying to join the fight despite his condition. His movements were weak and clumsy, though Arlong wasn't sure if this was mainly due to Magellan's poison or a sedative Chopper had injected him with.
"You, there'll be no fighting for you for weeks!" Chopper said towards Ace. "And you…" the reindeer's head drooped. "Take care…"
There was a series of explosions and thuds from the main deck. Suddenly, the ship began tilting to one side.
"I will," Arlong said. "…Thanks."
Arlong hurried out of the infirmary, down several corridors and back to the main deck. The scenery here was already different to before.
The ship's main mast had been severed near its base. It now hung unsteadily over the port side of the ship—this was the cause of the tilting. The sails of this mast and of the foremast were burning with orange flames.
"WHERE DID THEY GO!?"
Straw Hat Luffy was pummelling Bartholomew Kuma with a barrage of punches as fast as a gatling gun. The Warlord did not react in the slightest to this assault. Nearby was long-nosed Usopp and cybernetic Franky—yet none of the other Straw Hats could be seen, not even as corpses.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Jinbe was firing off shockwaves from his fists, each of them strong enough to make the atmosphere tremble. His target was Borsalino, who flitted around at lightspeed to dodge the shockwaves.
Finally, Arlong saw the three corpses scattered across the ship's deck.
One was a ray fish-man who'd been torn in half at the waist.
Another was a smelt-whiting fish-man missing his head.
The third was an octopus fish-man whose entire body was charred black.
Arlong looked at the corpses. He looked back at Jinbe, who'd given in to pure rage.
They came back. Of course they came back. Just like I did…
He clenched his fists.
"KIZAAARRUUUUUU!"
There was now plenty of water on the main deck, thanks to waves crashing over the lowered port side. Arlong thrust his hand into one puddle.
"SPEAR WAVE!"
Arlong threw a long, Haki-enforced mass of water at his target. Borsalino dodged it with insulting ease… but that put him in the path of another attack, one of Jinbe's shockwaves.
"Oh dear!"
Borsalino flinched in mid-air. The shockwave hadn't done much damage to him, but it was enough to create an opening.
Jinbe leaped into the air, screaming furiously, and slammed into the admiral.
"Kill him, Jinbe!" Arlong shouted. "Tear that bastard to shreds!"
Yet Borsalino wouldn't go down that easily. He flew around chaotically, leaving behind a trail of golden light. He and Jinbe slammed into one of the remaining masts, toppling it.
Gotta do something… but what difference can I make!?
Arlong looked around the ship frantically. He spotted Kuma and Straw Hat, the latter trying and failing to choke the former. He spotted the remains of his three friends, and a mix of guilt and horror stabbed into his heart again.
And then he spotted the dark grey objects, rough-surfaced and of various sizes, near the port side of the ship.
Seastone… that's right, Seastone! Marine ships are coated in the stuff, to keep Sea Kings away!
Arlong hurried over and picked up a sharp-edged, fist-sized chunk of Seastone. It must have broken off the hull from the fury of the battle, then been washed up onto the deck by the waves.
At that moment, Arlong heard a tremendous crash from the poop deck of the ship. Borsalino and Jinbe must have landed there.
Arlong jumped up to the poop deck of the ship, where Borsalino and Jinbe were wrestling with each other. Borsalino was on top and, despite being bloodied and battered, he was in far better shape than his opponent.
Die, Kizaru!
Arlong brought the Seastone down in an arc, piercing into Borsalino's chest. The human cried out in pain for the first time in this fight—for the first time since Arlong had known him.
"No!"
Borsalino swung one of his fists, knocking Arlong's arm away with such force that it felt as if the bone had broken. He pulled out the Seastone with his other hand and tossed it away.
"Enough," Borsalino said harshly. He aimed one glowing finger at Arlong.
It should have been the end of Arlong. He couldn't possibly survive a serious attack from an admiral, even with the protection of Armament Haki. And he couldn't dodge an attack travelling at lightspeed from point-blank range.
But it didn't happen. Borsalino did not fire off a laser. Instead, his head burst into a cloud of red and his body slumped to the ground next to Jinbe.
"W-What!?" Arlong gasped. "Why would you do that!? He was your ally!"
Now, standing next to the fallen Borsalino, was the massive figure of Bartholomew Kuma. He had one palm outstretched. On the palm were six pink swellings: one large and five small.
"Being part of the Seven Warlords does not mean my allegiance is to the World Government; your own former crewmate is proof of that," Kuma said. Regret entered his tone. "I only wish I'd been able to do this sooner. But he was not someone I could defeat while he was still in prime condition. Only after he was worn down did I see the opportunity."
"If you're actually a… traitor to the cause… then why the hell didn't you switch sides earlier!?" Arlong demanded. He walked up to Kuma and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him down so they were on the same eye level. "If you'd fought with us from the start, then Jinbe wouldn't be like this! And Hatchan, Kuroobi and Chew wouldn't… wouldn't…"
"Do not blame him… Arlong…" Jinbe groaned.
"Jinbe!" Arlong said, his anger cooling slightly. He released Kuma and kneeled down next to his old comrade. "Don't talk, you'll just strain your body!"
"It could not have been easy… being an infiltrator…" Jinbe continued, now looking at Kuma with one eye—the other had been burnt black. "You must have faced… many difficult… decisions… to keep your cover…"
Kuma nodded slowly. "Truthfully, I did not expect you and Arlong to injure him to that extent. If you had not done so, I would have left Borsalino alive and continued my act. And if there had been any other witnesses, whether government-affiliated or random citizens, I would also have continued my act."
Arlong punched Kuma in the face with all of his remaining strength. If the Warlord felt any pain from the attack, he didn't show it.
"It's because of your goddamn act that my friends are dead, and this one's about to join them! Unless…" Arlong blinked. "Just hold on, Jinbe, I'll bring the reindeer here! He can pull off miracles!"
Arlong ran off, not caring that this exposed his back to Kuma—if the Warlord meant him harm, he could do so anyway. He went back to the infirmary, picked up Chopper in one hand and began running back.
"Hey, wait, what's going on!?" Chopper asked.
The two of them reached the poop deck, where Arlong set down the reindeer again. Chopper looked between Jinbe and Kuma in confusion, but his doctor's instincts seemed to win out eventually. He began examining Jinbe.
"You're in a terrible state!" Chopper said. "Burns going all the way up to sixth degree, and—wait, it can't be!"
Chopper tore away the front part of Jinbe's clothing, and Arlong sucked in a breath. It hadn't been apparent before, but Jinbe's torso was pierced through by a dozen holes, similar to bullets except in the edges being charred.
"With this amount of damage to your organs—a normal person would be dead already!" Chopper said.
"There has to be something you can do for him!" Arlong begged. "You can—you can graft on my skin or organs or whatever it takes, just save him!"
"Arlong…" Jinbe gasped. His voice was even fainter than before. "I'm past saving… We could never expect… to go up against an admiral… with no… casualties…"
"Shut up!" Arlong shouted. "Just shut it! There… There has to be something we can do!"
Kuma placed a hand on Chopper's tiny shoulder. "For now… could you please bring Portgas D. Ace up here? He should be part of the ensuing discussion."
Chopper changed to his bulky human form and brushed off the hand. "For now, tell me what's going on! WHERE DID MY CREW GO!?"
"…Unfortunately, there is no good way for me to explain that," Kuma said. "To start with—"
Chopper pulled back a fist and thrust it forward, roaring with fury.
Then Kuma tapped him on the shoulder with one palm, causing the reindeer to disappear from view.
Arlong snatched up a plank of wood, one of the countless pieces of debris created by the fighting. It was a feeble weapon, but it would suffice when reinforced by Haki.
"You're not doing a great job of convincing me you're actually on our side," Arlong growled. "What the hell did you do to the Straw Hats!?"
"My Paw-Paw Fruit allows me to push various things," Kuma explained, showing off his palms and the pink swellings on them—paw pads, Arlong now realised. "One of its uses is transportation, by pushing people over vast distances. The Straw Hats are currently not strong enough to achieve their goals, so I transported them to various locations where they might grow stronger."
"And, if you're telling the truth, it looks like you just erased them from existence," Arlong said, still holding his improvised club. "Guessing that's how you planned to sell that to Kizaru, if he survived?"
"Indeed," Kuma said. "But there is a new issue now—Tony Tony Chopper was tending to Portgas D. Ace, wasn't he? If we leave Ace alone, his condition may worsen… I'll see to him."
Kuma walked away. Arlong didn't particularly care about Ace's fate, so he used this opportunity to kneel down next to Jinbe again.
"I'm sorry…" Arlong sobbed. "I talked big about getting you out of Impel Down… and now… now you're…"
"I've already lived a fulfilling life…" Jinbe said. His voice was practically inaudible. "Broken the chains… of hundreds of slaves… lifted Fish-Man Island's… standing in the world… If you want me… to die happily… Arlong… promise me this…"
"Anything!" Arlong replied.
"Be someone… Brother Tiger… would be proud of… that's all…"
"YES!" Arlong said, gripping Jinbe's hand tightly. "I'LL DO IT!"
Jinbe's lips curled upwards in a faint smile. It was the kind that Arlong remembered from years ago, from those victory parties after successful raids.
And it was with that smile on his face that Jinbe took his last breath.
AN: This chapter was an extreme challenge to write. I changed my mind multiple times, writing up lots of paragraphs for completely different events. At one point, I planned to have Arlong himself die.
As I mentioned at the start, the next chapter will be released in a few days. Stay tuned.