Chapter 52: Turning The Arlong Pirates Into Sashimi

(3rd Person: POV)

Just as the Thanatos Pirates completed their battle preparations the Arlong pirates ship entered their range.

As it did so Arlong and most of his crew stood on the deck of their ship, looking at Roberts and his crew with smug and arrogant grins on their faces.

"Well well boys, look what we have here." Arlong spoke. "Let's make sure we give a proper hello to those humans." He said.

His crew shouting in agreement.

The moment after this happened Arlong ran to the edge of his ship and jumped off. He then shaped himself like a bullet and dove head first into the sea.

Several of his fish-men crewmates following right behind him.

After Arlong and his crewmates entered the water they quickly closed the distance to the Black Pearl.

Then once they reached the ship Arlong and his crewmates with him in the sea planned to attack the hull of the Black Pearl.

But before they could even touch the ship Alfia unleashed a sonic scream at them from above. Leaning over the Black Pearl railing as she did so.

Having no time to dodge Arlong and his crewmates in the water were struck by Alfia's attack.

Then the second after they were all of them started crying out in pain.

Since sound travels faster in water and isn't focused on one single point but spreads all over.

In simple terms Alfia delivered an attack that damaged the entire bodies of Arlong and his crewmates in the sea.

Seeing this from the deck of their ship the remaining members of the Arlong pirates became angry.

Especially the officers Kurobi, Chew, and finally Hatchan.

"How dare those humans!" Kurobi angrily shouted.

"Yeah, we need to show them whose boss." Chew added.

"Right." Hatchan added.

Though no one on the crew noticed the hesitation in the octopus fish-man words.

"Move the ship closer." Kurobi ordered.

Since he had decided to initiate a close quarters battle with the Thanatos pirates aboard their ship. If only so the rest of the Arlong pirates didn't suffer the same fate as Arlong and their crewmates in the sea currently.

'Let's see how tough those humans are once we've got them by their necks. I can't wait to hear them beg for mercy.' Kurobi thought.

Having no idea just how wrong he was.

As the Arlong pirates ship began closing the distance even more to the Black Pearl Roberts and his crew saw all of this.

Yet when his crewmates got ready to attack the enemy vessel Roberts raised his left hand.

"Stop." He said.

"What, why?" Rean asked.

"If we destroy their ship claiming any treasure they might on board their vessel will be a pain in the ass. Plus, they are fish-men. The sea is their bread and butter and I would rather not give them any advantage on purpose. So let's wait until they board us then take it from there." Roberts spoke.

Though the real reason he wanted to wait for the Arlong pirates to board them is so he could enact another mind he had in mind.

Hearing the logic in Roberts words his crewmates stood down and let the Arlong pirates continue their advance.

A few minutes later the two ships were right next to each other.

The moment this happened the remaining Arlong pirates who were aboard their ship crossed over to the deck of the Black Pearl and surrounded the Thanatos pirates.

Even Alfia.

Who was forced to stop her sonic attack upon Arlong and his crewmates in the sea.

Once this happened all of them slowly but surely recovered.

On the outside that is.

However all of them had taken a large amount of internal damage. Several of their internal organs were now slowly bleeding. Though Arlong and his crewmates failed to notice this.

Mainly because all of them were extremely angry and had no other thoughts on their mind than ripping the Thanatos pirates apart limb from limb.

"Damn humans!" Arlong shouted.

His crewmates in the water agreeing with him.

"It's time we stopped playing around and show them who the superior race is." Arlong shouted.

His crewmates shouting in agreement with their captain.

Once they did so Arlong and his crewmates in the water exited it and shot up into the air. All of them landing on the deck of the Black Pearl seconds after they did so.

The moment this happened Roberts focused his gaze on Arlong and locked eyes with the sawshark fish-man.

Noticing Roberts gaze Arlong grinned widely.

"You have the audacity to stare me down human. Know your place." Arlong haughtily spoke.

"Pfft!"

But just after he did so Roberts snorted and started lightly laughing.

Seeing this Arlong and his all his crewmates were stunned.

But that only lasted for a second before all of them got angry at Roberts actions.

"What's so funny human?!" Arlong shouted.

"You. You're funny." Roberts replied. His laughter subsiding. "Acting like a big tough shark, when you're really nothing more than a newborn pup trying and failing to survive in the sea known as the world. Honestly you're so pathetic it's laughable. Which is why I did so in the first place."

Hearing Roberts words Arlong began grounding his teeth. He also clenched his hands which caused his knuckles to start turning white. "How fucking dare y-"

"-Shut up." Roberts spoke. Interrupting Arlong.

Looking him directly in his eyes as he did so. But unlike before all the light was gone from them and now Roberts eyes were like two black pools that threatened to swallow up anything and everything they made contact with.

Having such a stare level at him Arlong stopped speaking immediately and even took a step back.

Seeing this Roberts gave him a condescending smirk.

This of course made Arlong angry again.

"Fucking human!" Arlong shouted. "I'll-"

"-Didn't I just tell you, shut up." Roberts repeated. This time releasing a burst of conqueror's haki right after he spoke.

The second after he did so all the Arlong pirates fell to their knees from experiencing Roberts conqueror's haki. Some of them even gained fearful expressions on their faces.

Even so Roberts ignored all of this and simply kept his gaze focused squarely on Arlong.

"Do not speak unless spoken too. Do I make myself clear?" Roberts asked Arlong.

But instead of responding Arlong simply lunged at Roberts, going in for an attack.

Seeing this Roberts simply let a short sigh out of his mouth.

He then drew Dragon Fang and swung his blade in Arlong direction, sending out a flying slash which severed the fish-man left arm all the way up to the shoulder from his body.

"Agh!!"

As his severed arm landed on the deck fo the Black Pearl Arlong fell to his knees and clutched his wound. Releasing whales of pain as he did so.

Seeing this his entire crew suddenly felt a chill up their spines.

In that moment they finally realized one thing.

They had fucked up, big time.

Sheathing Dragon Fang Roberts then turned his gaze to Arlong. Who is currently rolling around on the deck of the Black Pearl, clutching his wound and crying like a baby.

"Pathetic." Roberts spat at Arlong. "To think a former member of the Sun Pirates would be so weak." He said. "But then again I guess that's why you are in East Blue and not still on the Grand Line isn't it?" Roberts said rhetorically.

Hearing Roberts word several members of the Arlong pirates looked at him in shock, as did Arlong himself.

Meanwhile his crew looked at him with confusion on their faces.

Sensing his crews gazes Roberts turned to look at them. "I'll tell you guys about the Sun Pirates later, since there history is kind of a long story. But the long and short of it currently Arlong is disgracing everything his former crew ever stood against. His former captain must be rolling in his grave right now."

That was the straw that broke the camels back for Arlong.

Consumed by rage he lunged at Roberts, his fangs at the ready to take a big bite out of him. "Don't you fucking talk about brother Ti like that you worthless human!! I'll fucking tear you apart!!" Arlong shouted at the top of his lungs.

But his words nor his actions made Roberts nervous at all.

The captain of the Thanatos pirates simply turned back around, and quickly drew his blade again.

Just as Arlong was seconds away from delivering a bite attack to him with his jaws.

"Go repent in hell, fucker." Roberts said.

Just as he sent forth a flying slash, which split Arlong in half horizontally perfectly down the middle.

As the two halves of the now deceased Arlong hit the deck of the Black Pearl his crewmates were in disbelief.

But that was quickly replaced with a burning rage, all directed at Roberts.

"Fucking human!"

"How dare you kill Arlong!"

"Kill him! Kill the human and his fellow allies!"

Wanting blood many of the Arlong pirates began moving to attack Roberts and take his life.

"No don't!"

Even as Hatchan screamed at them not too.

They ignored their crewmates warnings.

Immediately paying the price for their decision.

Before any of the Arlong pirates who moved to attack Roberts could get within range his crew sprung into action.

Drawing his blade Yakou Rean cut down several of the attacking fish-men without hesitation.

Releasing a sonic scream this time Alfia put down the fish-men unlike earlier.

Within seconds the Arlong pirates attack against Roberts had turned into a slaughter against their side instead.

Seeing this both Chew and Kurobi sprung into action.

But just like their crewmates their efforts to attack Roberts bore no fruit in the slightest.

Raising his shotgun Punisher in the direction of Chew Weisz pulled the trigger, blowing a gaping hole in the smelt-whiting fish-man chest.

Stopping in his tracks due to the attack Chew didn't even realize that Weisz had aimed Punisher directly at his head.

As Chew blinked Weisz pulled the trigger, blowing off the Arlong pirates head.

"Chew!" Kurobi screamed. "You bastards!" He cried.

Ignoring the fish-man shouts of anger Reiju closed the distance and delivered a kick directly to his chest.

An audible *pop* was heard as Reiju's attack broke several of Kurobis' ribs.

As he spat up blood Reiju delivered an axe-kick directly to the top of his head.

Crushing it and killing Kurobi.

Since during their training sessions Roberts had always taught his crew one very important lesson when dealing with enemies.

Always aim for the head.

Seeing their leader, his top officers, and several of their crewmates annihilated so easily the remaining Arlong pirates didn't dare move a muscle. Lest they end up like their dead comrades.

As a tense silence settled over the deck of the Black Pearl Roberts turned his gaze to the remaining members of the Arlong pirates.

Which made them all flinch.

"You can relax, we are not going to kill you." Roberts spoke.

As he did so the remaining Arlong pirates looked at him like he was insane.

"It's the truth. The only reason we killed your crewmates is because they attacked us." Roberts said. "And if you don't attack us then we won't attack you. Since my crew and I don't have a slaughter fetish." He explained.

"If you're not going to attack us, then what are you going to do with us?" Hatchan asked.

"Well, after you hand over any treasure and valuables you guys have to us you can be on your way." Roberts spoke.

"Don't fuck with us!" One of the remaining fish-men yelled. "You expect us to believe that after what you just did!"

"Believe it or not I don't really care. But it's the truth." Roberts replied. "So, are you going to take the deal on the table or refuse it? The choice is yours."

The remaining Arlong pirates started thinking about Roberts offer, and before long one of them spoke up.

"We'll take it."

It was Hatchan.

Hearing the octopus fish-man speak up Roberts smiled internally.

He had hope Hatchan would take the deal he was offering, since he didn't want to kill the Octopus fish-men despite him being a member of Arlong crew.

Roberts knew that deep down Hatchan was a good guy, he just fell in with the wrong crowd.

Back in his previous life that happened to Roberts once, and so he has a soft spot for people in the same situation.

However make no mistake if Hatchan had refused to take the deal and moved to attack Roberts he would've killed him without any hesitation.

Since his own life and the life of his crewmates come before anyone or anything else.

"Alright then." Roberts replied to Hatchan.

Once he did so the remaining Arlong pirates and his crew got a move on.

First all the treasure and valuables the Arlong pirates had stored on their ship were transferred over to the Black Pearl.

After this happened Roberts and his crew returned the bodies of Arlong and the other dead fish-men to Hatchan and the remaining fish-men.

Honestly Roberts didn't care what they did with the bodies. So long as Arlong and most of his racist bunch were dead and Nami didn't suffer the same fate as in the original story he was happy.

Roberts also began to wonder how Luffy would meet Nami and get her to join his crew now, but then he remembered how powerful the Nika man protagonist aura was and put it out of his mind.

When all was said and done Roberts and his crew once again set sail.

While the Arlong pirates had been turned into sashimi.