Albert walked in with confidence, surveyed his surroundings, and focused his cold gaze on the ominous dragon, stating flatly, "You're Arlong, right?"
Only after Albert spoke did someone react.
"Kid, how dare you show up here and cause trouble? Let me, the great one, show you what happens when you mess with the wrong crowd!"
A tall fishman approached Albert mockingly, but as he got close, he suddenly swung a punch.
Albert dismissed the punch with disdain; it was far too slow to catch his attention. With a casual motion, he captured the punch in his left hand and then retaliated with a powerful right-handed blow to the fishman's abdomen.
Pfft...
The fishman felt as if he'd been hit by a train, spitting saliva as he was sent flying backward, crashing into a wall.
Arlong looked at the fishman, now spewing blood, and said with a scowl, "You foolish inferior race, human! You've made me angry!"
"Die, human!"
"Beat him to death!"
"Let him feel our strength!"
"Kill..."
A swarm of fishmen rushed at Albert. He quickly punched the first one in line, grabbed him, and swung him around, taking out several others behind. Then, Albert charged into the crowd like a whirlwind.
Smack smack smack… Crack crack crack…
The massive spin sent fishmen flying, accompanied by the sickening sounds of bones breaking. By the time Albert halted, the attackers were strewn across the yard, battered and unconscious.
This was a brutal aspect of Martial arts; while it emphasizes overcoming force with softness, it also incorporates fierce techniques.
"Impressive, indeed some skill," said a fishman with fin-like arms.
"Kroebi, show him your strength."
Albert motioned to Kroebi with a finger and taunted, "Come on, I have places to be."
"Damn it, inferior race! You want to die? I'll grant your wish."
Kroebi clenched his fists, the bones creaking, then suddenly leapt towards Albert with a powerful thrust.
Albert sighed helplessly, watching Kroebi approach. "Why does everyone think I'm an easy target?"
"Pfft... Ah..."
Kroebi's eyes widened in shock, his tongue dangling as he stared bewildered at the knee lodged in his abdomen. "You... how... is this possible?"
Bang...
Albert didn't let him finish. With a sweeping left strike, he sent Kroebi crashing into a building.
"Damn it! There's no other option—I'll reveal my Six Sword Style!"
Octopus Hachi, armed with six swords, stood defiantly before Albert, anger etched on his face.
Albert regarded him as if he were foolish; after displaying such power, how could they not recognize their vast disparity? Did being fishmen make them inherit the memory of a goldfish?
"Sigh, having more swords doesn't make you skilled. If you don't even grasp what a sword is, more won't help you."
"Hmph! You're just scared of my Six Sword Style, aren't you?"
"…"
Albert was left speechless; no matter how he tried to explain, they wouldn't listen. If it weren't for their potential to turn good later on, he would have already taken them down.
He flicked his toe, picked up a sword, and looked pityingly at Hachi: "Sigh, people unwilling to face reality. Fine, let me show you my swordsmanship."
"Hmph, prepare to witness my Six Sword Style."
Hachi's six swords merged into a cone shape, charging at Albert.
"Sigh, full of flaws." Albert remained unmoved, casually countering.
Crack...
Hachi's swords shattered, leaving an X-shaped laceration on his chest.
"Urgh... Damn it, this hurts! I won't let you win."
Seeing Hachi still attempting to advance made Albert admire the fishmen's resilience; any human would be immobilized by such injuries.
"Sigh, why can't you just pass out? What a nuisance!" Albert swiftly moved behind Hachi and struck him on the back of the neck.
Thud... Hachi collapsed.
"How can a human be this strong? I can't believe it!"
Long-nosed fisherman watched Albert in disbelief before charging at him in anger.
Albert lifted his leg, launching a crescent-shaped burst of energy that struck his in the chest, inflicting a serious wound and sending him flying back.
Naval Six Styles - Tempest Kick.
Feeling satisfied, Albert sheathed the sword in the ground, crossed his arms, and smiled at Arlong.
Arlong glared at his injured or incapacitated subordinates, narrowing his eyes as a dangerous aura enveloped him: "Despicable human! How dare you harm my noble kin? This is unforgivable."
Albert scoffed in response: "Superior? Inferior, ha ha ha, how absurd! Arlong, I am aware of your past. You detest humans for their arrogance, yet you're inferior inside. You desire to dominate too, but tell me, what's the difference between you and those you scorned before?"
"Shut up! Inferior human!" Arlong, exposed and enraged, roared at Albert.
Albert paid no heed to Arlong's rage, continuing, "In this world, there's no such thing as superior or inferior races; only the strong and the weak exist. In a survival-of-the-fittest world, are we really talking about races? don't make me laugh! Your years of struggle resemble that of a child—pathetic. All this time, and you still haven't grasped the essence of the world. If you're strong, you will be revered; if you're weak, no one will know your name. This world communicates through fists..."
"Shut your mouth!"
Bang…
Arlong propelled himself forward, creating a dent in the ground, charging at Albert like an arrow with his serrated nose.
"See? Just like this." Albert easily seized Arlong's nose and twisted it sharply, turning it to the side.
"Damn it, greedy and foolish humans like you have made this world dangerous!" Arlong tried to bite Albert's arm with a wide-open mouth.
Crack…
The sound echoed as Arlong's teeth shattered.
"Oh, it appears your teeth couldn't hold up—they broke!"
Arlong gaped at the blackened state of Albert's arm, neglecting his own broken teeth.
Albert chuckled at the astonished Arlong, "Curious to know? I won't tell you."
Bang...
Albert suddenly kicked out, sending Arlong flying like a released arrow, crashing through a wall.
...
"Albert! We're here to help you!" Albert turned at the shout, spotting Nami leading a group of villagers rushing toward him.
"Albert, I... uh... what is happening..." Nami brought the villagers closer, ready to speak, but froze at the sight of the injured and scattered fishmen.
"Albert, what is this..." Nami looked at him in disbelief.
Albert flashed a bright smile and said, "I took care of them! Nami, I told you I'm really strong!"
"Hiss..." Nami gasped, tears in her eyes. "Albert, thank you, thank you!"
"Wow, Nami's boyfriend is so powerful!"
"I never thought Arlong would end up like this."
"We're saved..."
"Wait, Arlong... Albert, be careful..."
Albert signaled for her to remain calm. Using his Observation Haki, he quickly sensed that Arlong was regaining consciousness. Turning back, Albert saw Arlong struggling to rise among the rubble.
At that moment, Arlong appeared disheveled, dirt-covered, with blood trickling from his mouth, slowly approaching a chair where he retrieved a massive serrated sword.
"Look, Arlong's eyes have changed."
"That sword is... it's Arlong's sword!"
"Albert, watch out!"
Albert observed Arlong's bulging veins and chuckled lightly, "Oh, finally pulling out a weapon."
Arlong glared fiercely at Albert: "I admit, I underestimated you, human. Now you will meet your end beneath my sword."
Albert laughed softly: "Oh, really? I'm eager for it. In that case, I'll just close my eyes." At that, he really shut his eyes.
"Albert, open your eyes quickly..." Nami urged anxiously, almost rushing forward if not for Joseph and Johnny holding her back.
"Ah, Nami, did you forget what I taught you?"
Nami suddenly recalled Albert's ability to use Observation Haki and felt slightly more at ease, though a twinge of worry lingered.
"Human, today you'll pay for your arrogance!"
Suddenly, Arlong swung his sword down at Albert's head. Albert, with his eyes still closed, simply leaned aside to avoid the strike, teasing Arlong, "Come on, if you go a bit faster, you might actually hit me."
"Damn it... die!"
Arlong relentlessly attacked Albert with his sword, but each stroke was narrowly dodged.
"Damn it, if you truly have guts, stop dodging!"
"Fine!" Albert declared, deliberately halting.
Bang...
Arlong's sword struck Albert's shoulder, but he remained completely unscathed.
Arlong gaped at Albert's shoulder, now entirely blackened: "Not this again!"
Armament Haki - Hardening!
Albert reached out and grasped the Zhan Feng, squeezing tightly until it cracked.
Turning to Arlong with a warm smile, he said, "Looks like your sword isn't up to it, either. Care to die? You made my Nami cry."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Albert flicked the broken pieces from his hand, sending them into Arlong's body. He then delivered a swift kick, launching Arlong into the building. In an instant, Albert followed him inside. Moments later, Arlong was expelled from the building, blood spattered, landing heavily on the ground, barely clinging to life.
After a time, Albert emerged from the wreckage with a frown, retrieved the sword he had embedded in the earth, and used a surge of sword energy to slash at the building.
Boom...
The structure crumbled into several pieces, reduced to ruins.
"Albert, why?"
Albert looked at Nami, "I glimpsed the drawing room within the building. I needed to destroy the place where you were held. If I don't, you won't come with me. Nami, come with me! From now on, I'll protect you!"
"Hiss..." Nami gasped, tears streaming down her face as she nodded vigorously, "Yes!"