The terrifying weight
Galan was standing in front of an unmarked wooden grave as the sun set behind it. He put Arlong down in front of the grave and pinched his neck saying "You know who's grave this is?"
Arlong barked out a laugh "That purple haired whore of a mother Nami has! I remember tearing her flesh after shooting her dead! Hahahahaha!" Galan nodded and replied "I bet you do. So now, I'm going to tear your flesh before shooting you dead right here. In front of her grave."
Arlong sneered "Do your worst, Human!" Galan took out a knife and replied "Trust me. I will. Until you beg me to stop and then I'll continue. Remember, this is what you deserve, Arlong. Fisher Tiger probably hates you… Unfortunately, you won't see him in hell." as he pinned Arlong down and started slowly peeling the flesh off his skin as though he was preparing a fish.
Blood curdling screams sounded from the grave after a few minutes as the birds on the trees were startled flying away in a hurry.
A while later
Galan lifted Arlong's head, whispering "Look. This is what you did. A stupid girl full of life died because of your idiotic racism. Let me tell you a secret… When Jinbe became a Warlord I went to Fish-Man Island and killed Otohime." Arlong's eyes widened and Galan continued "Then I started a war in the Fish-Man district, countless Fish-Men slaughtering each other to find out who killed the Queen."
Arlong's voice cracked and he said in a frenzy "Why?!" Galan showed him a bloodthirsty grin, one of pure malice and cruelty "Because I hate your disgusting race, you filthy half-breeds want to live on land… It's revolting, I would rather die than see a dirty inbred Seaking spawn walking in the sunlight…"
Arlong shook and Galan whispered in his ear "Now I have a perfect opportunity to wipe out all of you amalgamations in one fell swoop. Fish-Man island will be ash when I'm done with it, they won't even remember what a Fish-Man was… And it's all because of you. I had enough with your kind committing evil, I'm ready to wipe you all out and I can't wait."
Arlong cried and stared forward in disbelief, unable to believe he doomed the entire Fish-Man race… Galan finally said "It really pained me to see so many good slaves go free when Jinbe took that deal. Well… Fish are meant to be slaughtered, right?" before he sliced Arlong's neck, spilling his blood all over the dirt in front of Bell-mere's grave.
His bloodthirsty look disappeared instantly as he looked at the cross with a sad look.
Olvia watched from the trees, holding her hands behind her back as she looked at his lonely back, pounds of flesh and blood next to him in buckets.
Of course, she was here. She would always be with him. She closed her eyes, her nose feeling sour. His words all lies, once again. Why did he do this to himself, she didn't understand…
All she wanted to do is hug him and tell him everything was going to be alright. She wanted to share some of the burden, but he wouldn't let her…
She could only feel sadness from him. Observation Haki was her strong suit and she could hear what he was feeling all the time. It was never anything happy… Screams of pain and sadness came from deep within him most times.
And yet his face was completely detached. She even thought she was hearing things a long time ago… But it was him, it was always him.
However, this time she wasn't alone.
Nami, Nojiko, and the Village Mayor were watching as well, tears in their eyes as they looked up at the sky and cried.
Galan cut the flesh off of Arlong's skull and left it bare, hanging it on Bell-Mere's grave before holding out his Sun pendant, saying softly "May you rest in peace… I'm sorry, Bell-Mere."
He picked up the rest of Arlong and the buckets before walking away, not saying a word. What was he supposed to say? Everything that happened to these people was his fault, he shouldn't've let Arlong out…
No, he should've killed him before then!
Galan clenched his fists and walked away in shame, finding it harder and harder to live out each day as the time passed. How many tragedies has he condoned for those Warlords. How many innocent people are terrorized by Marines under his nose…
Today it was Bell-Mere, maybe tomorrow it would be Doll, and the day after Kujaku?
He closed his eyes painfully. All these sins were carried on his head, let him pay for it in hell. For now he had to be strong and finish his job. When he cleansed this world, the afterlife could have him, he didn't care anymore…
Olvia caught up to him and choked up at his hunched back, she ran after him and hugged him from behind as he stopped. She didn't speak but her tears flowed.
How tired are you?
Is it heavy?
Don't worry, I'll be here.
By your side.
Forever.