Chapter 94: The Crazy Arlong

"It hurts! You bloody bastards! How dare you do this to us!" The Celestial Dragons shrieked in a frenzy after being thrust into the Sword Forest. Needle grass carpeted the ground, razor-sharp sword-trees surrounded them, and a swarm of venomous insects slithered through the undergrowth.

Jail guards stood watch, their stoic presence a chilling reminder of the Celestial Dragons' helplessness. Even the slightest movement meant excruciating pain – needle grass piercing their feet and sword-trees slicing their skin. This maddening torture offered them no escape, only the ability to vent their impotent rage.

"Hahahahaha! Spare yourselves the effort, you trash! There's no escape! No one gets out!" A maniacal roar echoed through the forest. The Celestial Dragons turned to see a deranged merman – Arlong.

Prior to their arrival, Arlong had endured countless cycles of torment within the Sword Forest. His spirit, battered and broken, had reached a point of near-collapse, bordering on numbness.

Domino then addressed the live broadcast audience, detailing Arlong's twisted request for monetary reward. Upon learning of his atrocities, the world recoiled in disgust. The revelation dealt a devastating blow to the Marines' reputation, sparking outrage. Many wished to tear those depraved Marines limb from limb.

"Arlong? Brother Jinbei, It's Arlong!" A voice bellowed in disbelief.

Jinbe, who had temporarily left Fishman Island, watched the live broadcast with the rest of the world. When Arlong appeared on screen, Jinbe was stunned.

Arlong had been arrested and imprisoned years ago, only to be released when Jinbe becoming a Shichibukai. However, Arlong had mocked Jinbe and left on his own, never to return. Jinbe hadn't expected to see him again, especially within the depths of Impel Down.

Jinbe initially suspected the Marines of breaching their agreement and attacking Arlong, but after Domino explained Arlong's situation, Jinbe fell silent. He could almost feel the accusatory gazes of the surrounding humans burning into him and his fellow Fishmen.

The live broadcast also detailed the devastation Arlong had inflicted on various East Blue villages. The suffering he caused, coupled with his betrayal of Nami, had significantly amplified the negative perception of Fishman Island.

"Damn it," Jinbe muttered, "I should have left him to rot back then!"

Arlong's actions had completely overshadowed the plight of Fishman Island, turning them from victims into villains in the eyes of the world. If not for Jinbe's status as a Shichibukai, the public outcry might have turned violent.

"Pops, is supporting Fishman Island still the right decision?" a Whitebeard Pirate captain voiced the concern now shared by many on the crew. "Did we bless the wrong side?"

Whitebeard sighed. "We can't condemn an entire race because of one piece of garbage. Arlong is undoubtedly scum, but you must also consider the circumstances Fishman Island faces."

Whitebeard found himself wrestling with his crew's impulsive nature. Young and brash, they tended to see things in black and white. While Arlong was undeniably a scumbag, judging an entire race based on his actions was unfair. Pirates themselves were a rough bunch, so Whitebeard understood their perspective to a degree.

Despite the potential blowback to the Whitebeard Pirates' reputation, he wouldn't abandon his commitment to protecting Fishman Island. Arlong's hateful actions had fueled prejudice against the race, blurring the lines between individual and collective responsibility. Some, perhaps, even admired Arlong's twisted form of societal revenge.

Whitebeard, however, remained resolute. His beard, a symbol of his unconcern for such matters, reflected his indifference to reputation. His sole desire was to be with his sons. Titles like "Four Emperors" and the elusive "Pirates King" held no sway over him.

The live feed switched back to Arlong, and the audience watched in horror as he allowed venomous insects to crawl freely across his body without flinching. Was he truly so impervious to pain?

"Hahahaha! You're just like me now! Immortal! We can never die!" Arlong cackled as he spotted a Celestial Dragon stumble and fall onto a bed of sword-grass. "As good as dead!" he taunted.

But to their astonishment, the Celestial Dragon's fatal injury rapidly healed. This triggered another episode of Arlong's deranged laughter.

The man's maniacal expression sent shivers down the spines of viewers. The reason for his amusement soon became horrifyingly clear – the Celestial Dragons were truly immortal. Arlong resorted to self-mutilation, even ripping out his own heart, only to have it instantly regenerate. It was a grotesque display of his inability to find solace in death.

Arlong's relentless attempts at suicide, all ending in failure, had driven him to this state of madness.

Witnessing the live broadcast, some pirates were shaken to their core. The prospect of ending up tortured in Impel Down shattered their romanticized notions of pirate life. No one relished the thought of such unimaginable suffering. This was just the first level; what horrors awaited them on the others? The message was clear: piracy wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Many dreams of setting sail were dashed, replaced with a newfound desire for honest work and a quiet life on land. Luo Ning's live broadcast was proving to be a powerful deterrent, turning the tide against piracy.

The days-long broadcast had left viewers numb with shock. Even Jinbe and his companions couldn't stomach any more. They hastened their return to Fishman Island, driven by a two-fold purpose: to deter potential troublemakers and escape the judgmental stares they were receiving.

News of the imprisoned Celestial Dragons sent shockwaves through Impel Down's prison population.

On the sixth floor, a raucous cackle erupted from Golden Lion Shiki. "Unbelievable! He actually did it! All the Celestial Dragons, brought low and treated like that fishman scum! How long do you think they'll last? Those Celestial Dragons" – he chuckled, a glint in his eye – "might be pampered nobles, but they'll learn the same harsh lesson Arlong did on this floor. Delicious food and drink won't last forever. The cycle of torture awaits them all."