Chapter 32: Final Battle with Arlong, Power of Companions.

"Roman—"

"You guy."

Facing Zoro and Nami who ran to his side, Roman stood up and 'grinned'.

"I'm fine."

Well, Roman was now charred all over, looking like a perfect suspect in the Conan world, far from 'fine'. But:

"Good! Good! Good!!"

With three gritted 'goods', the fishman leader Arlong finally decided to take action!

Zoro and Nami stood beside Roman with their weapons, and also:

"Hahahaha~~~ cough,"

Outside Arlong Park, the heavily injured Usopp also walked in, leaning against the wall.

"I took down... that... long-nosed... perverted fish."

Facing Usopp's thumbs up, Roman, looking like a 'non-lucky' person, also gave a thumbs up.

"Well done, Usopp!"

Indeed, well done. Roman wasn't surprised that Zoro could defeat an officer, but Usopp taking down an officer was unexpected.

"Alright, so you don't put us great fishmen in your eyes!"

Arlong was about to explode with anger at the 'arrogant' attitude of these guys! But today, he was destined to be even more furious.

"Hahahaha, noble fishmen?"

Roman laughed up at the sky. With Cansong defeated, he could finally use his fruit ability without worry.

Sheets of paper flew out, wrapping around him to avoid the embarrassment of being 'naked'. At the same time, a sword and a shield fell into his hands, the knife pointing at Arlong's proud nose.

"The so-called 'noble'—"

"Is it the 'noble' that fetches high prices in the Sabaody slave market?"

!!!!

"Human, you're courting death!!"

"Oh, what? Did I hit a sore spot—"

Roman took a few steps forward to confront Arlong, cold sarcasm spilling from his mouth, "People in the East Blue don't know your true nature, but do you think no one knows?"

"The so-called 'fish-men' are nothing more than rare 'commodities' fought over by pirates and slave traders on the Grand Line!"

"What—"

"This..."

The surrounding villagers of Cocoyasi Village were stunned!

The fish-men who had oppressed them for eight years, who had occupied more than twenty villages and towns, who were invincible and unstoppable, were actually...

"Noble fish-men? Are you trying to make me laugh? A race that gets captured and made into slaves, how could they—"

"Shut up!!!!"

Swish, swish, swish—

Here it comes!

Several cold flashes shot towards Roman at a speed far exceeding bullets, causing Roman, who was full of sarcastic remarks but secretly focused, to tense up. He immediately raised his shield to block the path of those 'bullets.'

Thud, thud, thud,

In a series of sounds, Roman's shield easily blocked the opponent's 'Fish-Man Karate - Water Shot.' The so-called Fish-Man Karate - Water Shot was a technique that shot water like bullets. Not only was it as damaging as bullets, but it was also very stealthy. However:

Paper absorbs water!

And right after the 'water bullets' came a giant mouth opening at a ninety-degree angle, with teeth like two rows of daggers.

Crunch!!

The sharp teeth bit down hard, instantly taking a large chunk out of Roman's shield. But:

Swish,

As he forced the opponent back with a slash, Roman sneered.

"Don't casually eat things created by other people's abilities."

Slash,

The shield that Arlong had bitten off suddenly expanded into a 'hedgehog' in his mouth! Although it was just paper mimicking a spiked ball, it was enough to hurt the soft tissues of the mouth.

"Ahhh~~"

With a 'hedgehog' in his mouth, Arlong painfully retreated a few steps, then angrily reached into his mouth and pulled out his entire jaw along with the spiked ball:

Swoosh—

"Kid, I'll make you die a horrible, horrible death!"

Arlong's face darkened as he pulled out his entire jaw, along with the spiked ball stuck in his mouth. He crouched down, gathered his strength, and prepared to charge. Then, with a sudden burst of power—

"Shark ON DARTS!"

Using his powerful physique, Arlong shot towards Roman like a torpedo! His proud, steel-piercing nose was his most lethal weapon!

Good, just what I was waiting for—

"Paper Dance - Maple Leaf Hunt!"

Rustle—

A row of sharp paper suddenly 'grew' from the ground, standing like a forest of blades in front of Roman! And if viewed from the front, this thin paper trap would be almost invisible.

But:

Splat,

Arlong's eyes suddenly changed as he flew at high speed. He stomped hard on the ground to 'brake,' sending dirt and stones flying, and dragged out two deep grooves in the ground! At the same time, he crossed his arms in front of him.

Crash, crash, crash!

Although Arlong didn't end up killing himself like the former 'Captain Kuro,' he was still cut by several paper blades. Roman, already in a dominant position, didn't let up and charged with his sword and shield!

Roman's sword flashed, and his shield blocked and deflected. But Arlong, with his height and long arms, and muscles as strong as steel, could withstand Roman's 'chainsaw' mode sword and shield, suffering only superficial wounds. It seemed:

"Evenly matched."

On the other side, Zoro, who was blocking the last karate fish-man officer, glanced over and raised his eyebrows.

The battle between Roman and Arlong was too fierce, causing sand and stones to fly, walls to crumble, and the ground to crack! As the strongest fighters on both sides (Zoro had just taken a hit from Mihawk and was in a weakened state), their victory or defeat largely determined the outcome of this battle! So:

"Brother Arlong!"

"Take down that human—"

"Fish-men are the strongest~~"

The villagers of Cocoyasi Village were not to be outdone, cheering loudly.

"Go, big brother~~~"

"Cut down that fish-man!"

"Roman, go for it—" Bang!

After another clash, Arlong took advantage of the moment when Roman was pushed back and suddenly crashed into a tall building nearby!

The sturdy bricks shattered like tofu in front of him, and he immediately rushed inside. —Of course, he wasn't running away, but:

"What a... huge weapon..."

It was a three-meter-long 'great sword'! No, it was more like a saw.

"Sha ha ha ha, human!"

Taking out the weapon from the room, the tall fish-man named Arlong's eyes had turned golden yellow! It was the look of a king when enraged.

"I'll cut you into pieces with 'Zanpaku'!"

He swung the three-meter-long weapon at Roman, and the fierce sound of it cutting through the air was like a high-speed jet roaring past! One slash even left a long cut on the floor! But:

Snap,

A foot wrapped in paper stepped on the back of the 'Zanpaku' blade, and Roman's mocking voice followed.

"Who do you think you can cut with this big saw?"

Although Roman hadn't specifically developed abilities like 'Kami-e' to enhance himself, the 'Paper-Paper Fruit' still greatly improved his dodging ability. The violent attack's wind alone could automatically 'push' him away.

"—You!"

Arlong suddenly lifted the blade, but it was firmly stepped on by Roman.

It seemed like Roman had the upper hand, and victory was in sight! The villagers' faces slowly turned into smiles, gradually becoming cheers.

"Well done!"

"Finish off Arlong in one go!!"

"Finally, we finally..."

Great, almost messed up.

Roman breathed a sigh of relief, ready to finish off—

?

His vision blurred, and his well-trained body suddenly wobbled.

??

Hey, why do the people around look so shocked? Why is Zoro's face changing? Nami, what are you shouting...

His foot slipped, and Roman's whole body tilted. Opposite him, Arlong, with a face seven parts ferocious and three parts relieved, swung the huge 'Zanpaku' at Roman!

Must... block...

Although Roman immediately raised his shield to his chest, his whole body felt as if it had suddenly lost its bones, limp and weak. With a jolt, he was sent flying by Arlong's slash!

Crash!!

It was like being hit head-on by a speeding train, golden stars filled his vision, and Roman was sent flying through the air. A burning, metallic taste surged up his throat! As intense pain radiated from his back, he heard a series of crashing sounds, indicating that some building had suffered.

"Cough, cough, what... is this..."

Sliding down from the shattered wall, Roman half-knelt on the ground and touched his face. His hand came away slick with blood!

"Roman—"

He couldn't see it himself, but everyone else could: Roman had wrapped himself in paper like a 'mummy', and red-black blood was slowly seeping from his seven orifices.

This... could it be?!

Roman staggered to his feet, his gaze falling on the charred Can Song.

"Hahahahaha~~~~"

Having landed a hit, Arlong didn't rush to attack but laughed wildly instead.

"See that, weak human!"

"Cansong's flames are laced with poison. You've been fighting him for so long, the toxins should have already invaded your internal organs!"

He pointed his huge sawtooth sword at Roman, who was holding his temples and shaking his head, his mockery evident.

"You're finished!"

Careless.

But:

"I have indeed weakened, Arlong."

"But that doesn't mean you, a small fry, have gotten stronger—scared by the food in Impel Down and running to East Blue, you trash!"

"I'll kill you!!"

Whoosh,

The huge sawtooth sword swung down, splitting the wall in half! But Roman had already:

"Flying? You can't escape—"

Bang, bang, bang!!

Roman had barely formed 'paper wings' to hover when Arlong jumped up and slashed wildly! The two fought their way up the building until, near the top, Roman finally couldn't hold on and was sent crashing into the building by Arlong's slash!

"Damn, we need to help—"

"That room is..."

"Roman," gripping her three-section staff, Nami gritted her teeth! She could do nothing but watch her companions fight for her. This feeling...

Crash!

Jumping into the hole Roman had made, Arlong looked around the room and put away his huge sawtooth sword. This was Nami's workspace, filled with sea charts of the nearby waters.

"Actually..."

Lying on the other side of the room, Roman lifted his head to look at the tall fishman in front of him.

One was severely injured, the other still had most of his strength.

"Personally, I don't hate fishmen."

"Now you want to beg for mercy?"

Facing Roman's words, the fishman named Arlong sneered.

"I know the grudges between fishmen and humans, the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger, the Celestial Dragons... I know it all."

??

"If you were fighting the Celestial Dragons and their lackeys in the New World, maybe one day we could be friends, but!"

Roman slowly stood up, leaning against the wall.

"A great man once said: 'The strong get angry and draw their blades against the stronger; the cowardly get angry and draw their blades against the weaker.'"

Roman lifted his head, staring into Arlong's eyes. Even with red-black blood still seeping out, there was no fear in his eyes.

"Running to East Blue to bully ordinary people? Fishman Empire? Even self-deception has its limits. Any Vice Admiral from the Grand Line could wipe you out as easily as crushing a bug!"

!!!

"Are you done with your last words?"

Arlong gritted his teeth, but his trembling lips betrayed his fear. He knew that his so-called 'Arlong Empire' was nothing but a soap bubble, so:

"I'll kill you! Then I'll kill those people down there, and then I'll kill Nami—"

?!

"Why are you laughing?!"

"Hahaha~~~" Even though he couldn't stand up, Roman laughed heartily.

"Today, you won't kill anyone, because you're going to die here."

?!!

"Hahaha, how are you going to kill me?"

Arlong didn't mind exchanging a few more words with Roman; to him, it was just the 'barking of a defeated dog.'

"With your body that can't even stand straight, or with those useless people down there?"

"That's right, with six broken ribs, a fractured left hand, and poisoned... not to mention the 100% burns on my skin, those are just 'minor issues'..."

It seemed like he was at the end of his rope.

"Nami——!!"

Roman's voice echoed from the top of the building, resounding across the battlefield.

"——Lend me your strength!!"

??!!

While everyone else was confused, Nami covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face once again.

"Hahaha, Nami? Nami?!"

In the top room, Arlong laughed so hard he bent over, but when he wiped the 'tears' from his eyes, his face turned vicious!

"Nami's strength—Is that your final counterattack?"

"That's right,"

Roman reached for a map on the table and waved it.

"Do you know what this is?"

?

"A map?"

"Wrong," Roman, who was already at the end of his strength, grinned, his white teeth like a wolf's!

"The answer is:"

"Paper!"

"Paper Dance——!!"

A declaration echoed in the top building of 'Arlong Park'! It was Roman's voice.

"——Death Storm!!!"

Whirl!

A whirlwind!

A whirlwind connecting heaven and earth!

A high-speed rotating whirlwind appeared at the top of the building, and then:

The entire 'Arlong Park' began to disintegrate from the top floor in the whirlwind! In the high-speed rotating whirlwind, a tall figure let out a tragic scream!

"Ahhhhhhhhh~~~~~~~~"

"...We fish-men... are the..."

"Shut up."

Thud, thud, thud, thud——!!

The massive whirlwind spun downward like the sword of a war god, cutting the tall 'Arlong Park' into a pile of rubble! And a figure slowly emerged from it:

"Ro...Roman!"

Although his entire body was wrapped in white paper strips, there was no doubt about his identity:

"Brother Arlong?"

"Where's Arlong——!"

"No... impossible..."

As the fish-men stood in despair, trembling all over, Roman slowly reached out and caught a map that floated in front of him.

"Your Arlong is right here."

Yes, his flesh and blood were smeared all over this map! Only a red stain remained.

"Roman,"

Facing the orange-haired girl who was crying and laughing at the same time, Roman just gave a proud smile.

"I said, killing... is... my... job..."

The scene before him went black, and the boy named Roman fell forward, caught by a pair of soft arms.

"Yes, leave it to me."

"Roman.

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