the imminence of the pirate world.

He assumed a lotus position on the ground, with a sense of foreboding. He knew in advance that this situation would be compromised by the deep-seated hatred between races and pirate crews.

-Hey, octopus, what do you reckon Rayleigh would say in this situation? - Axel asked.

The eyes widened, giving him a childlike appearance. Unfortunately, naivety wasn't enough. A being filled with as much hatred and contempt as Arlong had led the octopus to behave unusually. He could only follow in Arlong's footsteps calmly and take refuge in Arlong's infamous reputation. Yet, Hachi was a person easily influenced by others.

-Do you think Jimbei freed you from prison so you could enslave villages? If that were the case, he'd be doing it himself. But no, he's following in the footsteps of his old captain while defending Fish-Man Island, - Axel said.

-Shut up! Who do you think you are? - Kurobi said. The reproachful words of humans are like a woman's lament.

-Let's go; it's better to leave without issues, - Axel said. Turning his back, he received a water bomb on his back, which turned out to be stopped by a fireball from Deuce.

-The power of a devil's fruit, so that's why you're insolent. But no one has permission to leave my kingdom without my consent. My orders are absolute! - roared Arlong, rising from his chair.

-Please, you're a failure hiding in the weakest sea! - retorted the young Axel, with his sword drawn from the recent sneak attack by Arlong.

-Ha, words of someone with very little time left to live. I'll kill all of you, -said Arlong.

-You're still arrogant and haughty! - roared Axel.

-Shahahahahhahahaa. Finish off those humans, - said Arlong.

Chew bent his knees, ready to throw water bombs.

-Are you, who stays holed up in your little kingdom while your people hide underwater, brave against simple fishermen, common folks, and villagers? You even colluded with the Marines to hide your misdeeds; it's obvious you're afraid. I don't know the first pirate who willingly gave money to the Marines. Well, those who live in fear even surrender their souls to a Marine! - said Axel.

Tashigi nodded in approval at Axel's words.

-' Tell us, Gad, you decide whether we leave or stay, - Axel said, giving his last chance to cease this evident conflict.

Sometime back, Gad's smile faded. Things couldn't be better; he could only feel depressed. He left the island at a very young age, and it's the first time he has found some siblings. Well, in bad times, you have to face them. -

-You heard the king; he won't allow anyone to leave this place without his word. To me, I must give these arrogant ones a beating, - said Gad.

-You, a Fish-Man who follows human rules, can't be part of us; you're a traitor, - said one of the fishermen.

-A battle it shall be, -- Axel whispered. -- Ussop, Nithtal, at my back. Kuro, take care of the filler, - he said.

-Something I'll gladly do, - said Kuro.

Kuro began to grow, his black suit merging with his leather skin. He stretched immensely, his broad back occupying almost the entire visibility. The carnivorous smile, along with the thirst for blood, added a terrifying touch.

He saw Kuro disappear into the air; his mastery of Soru resulted in an increase in power that was impossible to follow for any novice. The echoes resonated through the small clearing; Kuro's claws and ruthless style began causing problems for the fishermen. Kurobi, who saw everything from behind, shot out to attack Kuro forcefully with a karate technique.

He saw Ussop shoot two bullets, hitting Chew's water shots. The shooting speed was undoubtedly powerful.

- Tashigi, you face the octopus, - said Axel.

-Hundred Blue Tile Fist, - said Kurobi, who shot out to attack Kuro. However, Kuro easily dodged with his silent ability, reappeared behind him, and delivered a powerful kick to his back. The eel-fish was slammed into the wall. Although Kuro's arrogance was a noticeable mistake, at no point was he stupid. He continued pursuing his enemy to finish him off.

Tashigi was contending against Hachi's six swords, with flashy six-sword style abilities. Although not much, the dangerous combination of six swords weighing over 100 kilos each gave unimaginable terror to anyone facing it. Lia dodged with ease and apparent flexibility; her training with Koushiro had served her well. Although there were errors in her sword form, it was sufficient to keep up with Hachi.

-How dare you! How dare you! - said Arlong. Seeing Kuro continue to beat Kurobi, he jumped and made a surprise attack from behind. Kuro dodged and delivered a powerful counter-blow to Arlong, sending him flying a meter before he turned in the air.

-Silent Step. -

Kuro disappeared and struck Arlong's back. However, Arlong saw through the trick, dodged the kick, and responded with a powerful blow. Kuro took it head-on and fell into the sea, an unfortunate event.

-Shajajajjaja, he'll die. Devil Fruit users are weak in the water; only the superiority of the murlocs can swim in the water, - said Arlong.

-Deuce, take care of Arlong; I'll go for the bastard Kuro, - said Axel. However, he was interrupted by Gad's jump into the water to rescue him.

-Shark Dart. - The high spin attacked Deuce head-on, who materialized in fire, dodging Arlong's attack. Deuce ignited his fire and hit with a fiery punch. Arlong had no choice but to receive the fire; without the sea at his back, he couldn't evade the powerful flame.

The strong fiery punch sent Arlong soaring into the sky, smashing through all the walls. With a powerful wave of fire, Arlong's body caught fire, as his shirt demonstrated. Arlong drew his shark-toothed sword and cut Deuce in half, but the body rejoined.

-You're a Logia fruit, - said Arlong, amazed, recalling another enemy who had a similar power. With the taxing power of Logia-type Devil Fruits, Deuce's training is hampered because he can't find suitable rivals for his abilities. The powerful fire fruit is detestable, as are all Logia types. It takes a powerful Haki ability to stand against Devil Fruit users.

He saw Arlong surrender with slumped shoulders. This only meant he would escape by sea now. Axel couldn't allow such a time bomb to roam freely in these seas. A person with so much hatred would surely cause multiple problems for innocents, islands, and cities. In his rage, he would massacre towns with brutality, something Axel couldn't tolerate.

-I'm sorry, Deuce, but your carefree form would cause me some problems. For now, leave this guy to me, - said Axel.

The sound of breathing began to be heard in the surroundings. - First Water Breathing Stance. Soru. - The frontal water slash was enveloped by a reaping attack that Arlong's combat experience narrowly avoided. However, Axel didn't wait and sent two cutting waves of water that hit the fish-man's chest from the shoulder to the hip."

Continuing without letting go of his sword, Axel relentlessly attacked from various directions, sensing any presence of Arlong. A crucial mistake, as Axel's speed surpassed the pitiful sword swings. The multiple blows were met with soft counterattacks to Arlong's injured right shoulder, one after another.

Arlong, without showing any less pain, continued to fight desperately.

-Third water stance, Dance of the Currents. - The reflective stance cut through like water, without giving time for a rhythm.

He heard Arlong groan. "Fish-Man Karate." Referring to the water breathing that illuminated the sword's edges like an illusion, surprise escaped. What an arrogant technique this human uses; the sea belongs only to the Fish-Men. Arlong tried to bite Axel's neck as an escape, but Axel dodged with a gentle movement and buried his sword in his stomach, reaching the liver. With another move, he saved his sword with a strong chest blow that sent him flying into the wall. He noticed that Arlong feigned falling asleep, although he had enough wounds. His breathing betrayed his consciousness, he was about to lose that awareness, but Axel wouldn't let the bastard escape.

-Rise, king, - said Axel. - I know you're awake. -

He raised his sword and sent powerful marine water cuts. Arlong opened his eyes and crossed his arms, receiving the cut that left a star-shaped trail on his arms. Axel used a quick and powerful Soru to attack again; the blows came like water droplets.

Arlong pulled out his guns and shot successively. Axel jumped over the attack and spun in the air, followed by another jump that increased his power towards the gunman. - Second water breathing form, Water Wheel. -

Two powerful spins in the water caused a slightly dangerous movement, forcing Arlong to hide behind the wall. However, the water cut pierced the tough concrete and tore Arlong's back. The shark couldn't dodge the following blows that kept cutting him without giving him any time to recover.

In the distance, Lia, embroiled in a powerful battle, breathed heavily, and obvious pains were evident in her posture. Hachi's strength is superior, although the technique is inferior. Tashigi has had a powerful draw battle between the two.

-Laido style, Quick Cut, - said Tashigi, sheathing her sword and lowering her hips to respond with a quick knife strike. Her sword repertoire consists of two main attacks, Laido style, and sword maneuvers.

Lia left a blur in the air; the path of her sword was straight and fast. Pain spread across the octopus's easy features, who was on his last legs. Despite knowing combat, he is not a consistent fighter and usually has obvious flaws. However, he has never been one to impose himself on others in battle; he tends to escape or rely on a more powerful force.

-Sword style, Red Tide. - The numerous thrusts reflected something of Axel's water-breathing style, attacking various sensitive points. The octopus, breathing heavily, had no escape and received three of the ten blows dealt by Tashigi, falling heavily to the ground.

Tashigi raised a fist to the sky, a sign of victory. She is stronger, she has improved; she could feel herself growing in battle.

-I did it! - she said with a joyful smile.

Axel applauded her strength, recognizing Tashigi's power, compared to that of ten people. This is the strength of the fishermen.

Nithtal applauded from his electric chair, thinking about his captain's considerable power. Somehow, he has powers comparable to Simon's. His quick swordplay is worthy of admiration; it's beautiful to see water flowing from his sword like a marine current.

-Release the fishermen, with the promise that they return to their hometown. The three main figures will be imprisoned and delivered, - said Axel, clearing the fish-men and tying up Arlong.

...