The laughter didn't immediately resume.
It didn't completely stop either.
But it thinned.
Like air before pressure drops.
A Marine at one of the tables snorted. "Who's this kid?"
Another fishman leaned back in his chair. "Lost tourist?"
Nezumi squinted through his drink-haze. "This is a private matter. Leave."
Kael ignored him.
His eyes moved once across the courtyard.
Fishmen: armed.
Marines: partially armed.
Commanders: positioned on higher ground.
Arlong: center.
Nami stood just outside the gate now. Nojiko and Genzo behind her.
Arlong noticed.
Ah.
Understanding flickered.
"This about her?" Arlong asked lazily.
Kael didn't answer.
One of the fishmen stood up abruptly, cracking his knuckles.
"You've got nerve walking in here."
Kael finally spoke.
"You're hosting Marines."
Arlong shrugged.
"They drink. I pay. That's how the world works."
Nezumi straightened slightly.
"Watch your tone."
Kael's gaze shifted to him.
"You're a Marine."
"Yes."
"And you serve criminals."
Nezumi bristled.
Before he could respond, a fishman lunged.
No warning.
Just brute confidence.
First Impact:
The fishman's fist cut through the air with enough force to shatter wood.
Kael shifted half a step.
The punch missed.
His hand moved once.
Short.
Precise.
A single strike to the throat.
The fishman collapsed instantly, choking.
Silence fell fully now.
A marine lunged next.
Brave.
Stupid.
Kael stepped aside without even looking at him. His elbow drove into the man's ribs. A knee followed. The marine collapsed, coughing blood and rum.
Another fishman charged.
Kael caught his wrist.
Twisted.
Cracked.
Then threw him across the hall like discarded trash.
He still hadn't touched his sword.
The commanders noticed.
"He's not even drawing his weapon…"
Fishmen rushed him together.
Kael moved like wind through reeds.
Effortless.
Controlled.
He ducked under claws, pivoted through swings, drove fists into throats, shattered knees, and flipped bodies into each other.
No blade.
No named techniques.
Just humiliation.
A fishman swung a blade at his back—
Kael didn't even turn.
He kicked the wall, rebounded, and slammed his heel into the attacker's jaw mid-air.
The room grew quiet.
Arlong's grin thinned.
The Commanders Step In
A tall fishman with sharp teeth stepped forward — Kuroobi.
Another, broad and heavy — Chew.
Lastly, the octopus fishman wielding six swords — Hatchan.
"You think too highly of yourself," Kuroobi said, stepping forward.
Kael's hand finally rested on the hilt.
The air shifted.
(Now you're worth it.)
The blade flashed free.
Kael shifted his stance.
"Wind Breathing — First Form."
"Dust Whirlwind Cutter."
A thin arc of compressed air tore across the hall.
Kuroobi sensed the danger and tried to block—
Too late.
The slash ripped through his defense and carved deep across his torso.
Blood sprayed.
He staggered back in shock.
Chew roared and unleashed a barrage of water bullets.
Kael inhaled.
Deep.
Controlled.
"Second Form."
"Claws Purifying Wind."
He moved in a sharp zigzag burst.
Not one slash—
Multiple.
Rapid, curved arcs of wind tore forward like invisible talons, shredding through the incoming water projectiles and ripping into Chew's body.
Chew staggered backward, chest and shoulders lacerated.
Kael appeared in front of him.
One final clean strike.
Chew collapsed.
Kuroobi charged again despite the wound.
Kael inhaled deeply.
Wind pressure built vertically this time.
"Third Form."
"Clean Storm Wind Tree."
A rising, branching spiral of slashes erupted upward.
The attack split into layered arcs mid-swing, like a tree of cutting currents expanding outward.
Kuroobi tried to push through it—
His body was caught within the layered cuts.
By the time the wind settled, he was already falling.
Kael turned toward the octopus fishman trembling nearby.
"You're fortunate enough to call someone like Rayleigh a friend, yet you chose to follow trash like him."
For a moment, Hatchan couldn't process what he'd heard.
"How do you—"
"Leave," Kael cut him off. "If I don't see genuine change in you by the time I reach Sabaody, I'll kill you in front of Rayleigh himself."
His voice did not rise.
"I'm sparing you because I respect that old man. And because you once saved him."
Hatchan's mind reeled.
How could this young man know about something that happened decades ago?
But what he could feel clearly was that Kael meant every word.
"I won't forget this mercy," Hatchan said, bowing deeply. "When you arrive at Sabaody, you'll see that I've repented."
"Words mean nothing without action," Kael replied, already turning back toward Arlong. "Go."
Hatchan cast one final look at Nami and the villagers, shame heavy in his eyes.
Then he dove into the sea and disappeared beneath the surface.
Silence.
Then—
Arlong stood.
"You think sparing him makes you strong?"
Kael wiped blood from his mouth.
"Strong enough."
The Tyrant Moves:
Arlong stepped down from his seat slowly.
Not rushing.
Not angry.
Yet.
Wood cracked beneath his weight.
"You beat my men," he said calmly. "Don't misunderstand. That doesn't put you on my level."
Kael adjusted his grip.
Observation flickered quietly — not dramatic, not glowing. Just awareness tightening.
Arlong moved first.
Fast.
Faster than the others.
His fist came down like a hammer.
Kael twisted aside, but not fully.
The shockwave alone split the stone beneath his feet.
Arlong's elbow followed immediately.
This one landed.
Hard.
A dull crack echoed as Kael was driven across the courtyard, smashing through a wooden pillar.
Outside the gate, Nami flinched.
Nojiko grabbed her arm instinctively.
Genzo's jaw tightened.
"Monsters… both of them," Genzo muttered.
Inside, Kael rose slowly.
Blood traced from the corner of his mouth.
Arlong grinned wider now.
"There it is," he said. "You're still human."
Kael steadied his breathing.
Pain registered. Ribs strained. Shoulder numb.
Good.
Arlong lunged again, jaws snapping forward in a vicious bite.
Kael ducked under it and slashed upward.
Steel met flesh.
Not deep enough.
Arlong retaliated instantly, grabbing Kael by the collar and lifting him.
"You think swinging wind around makes you superior?"
Kael's eyes stayed calm.
"You left the Grand Line."
It was quiet.
But it landed.
Arlong's grip tightened.
"What did you say?"
"You couldn't survive there," Kael continued evenly. "So you came here."
A flicker.
Just a flicker.
Arlong hurled him across the courtyard in fury.
Kael crashed through a stone table, coughing sharply as debris scattered.
Villagers gathered beyond the walls now. Whispering. Watching.
Arlong walked forward, heavy steps deliberate.
"This sea is mine," he growled. "Here, humans know their place."
Kael pushed himself upright again.
"And that's why you chose it."
The insult wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
Arlong roared and charged recklessly.
Breaking the Tyrant
Kael inhaled.
Wind tightened around the blade.
"First Form."
"Dust Whirlwind Cutter."
The rotating slash carved across Arlong's chest again — deeper this time.
Blood spilled freely.
But Arlong powered through it and slammed his forehead into Kael's.
The impact blurred Kael's vision.
Arlong followed with a brutal body blow.
Another crack.
Kael staggered.
Outside, Kaya's hands clenched.
"He's injured…" she whispered.
Nami didn't speak.
She couldn't.
Arlong grabbed a massive chunk of broken stone and hurled it.
Kael sliced through it—
Too slow.
Arlong was already behind him.
A crushing punch drove into his back, forcing him to one knee.
Breathing rough now.
Blood dripping onto shattered tiles.
Arlong stood over him.
"Humans break," he said coldly.
Kael wiped his mouth again.
"Then why are you bleeding?"
Arlong's expression shifted.
Kael rose.
Not steady.
But standing.
Armament coated the blade faintly — thin, controlled. Nothing flashy.
Arlong frowned.
Is that… Haki? In the East Blue… how?
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hmph."
Recognition.
But no grand reaction.
Just irritation.
Kael stepped forward.
"Second Form."
"Claws Purifying Wind."
Multiple curved slashes tore forward at close range, ripping across Arlong's torso and shoulders. The courtyard filled with crossing arcs of compressed air.
Arlong roared in pain and swung wildly.
One strike clipped Kael's side, tearing fabric and flesh.
Blood spilled heavily now.
The villagers murmured in alarm.
Genzo gripped the gate harder.
"This is insane…"
Arlong's breathing had changed.
Heavier.
Less controlled.
"You think this makes you equal?" Arlong snarled.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Third Form."
"Clean Storm Wind Tree."
The blade rose in a branching spiral of layered cuts.
Arlong attempted to force through it—
The arcs split across his body, driving him backward for the first time.
His heel dug into the ground to stop himself.
His chest heaved.
The arrogance had thinned.
"You…" Arlong muttered, staring at the blood on his hands. "…in the East Blue…"
Kael didn't let him recover.
He stepped forward despite the pain screaming through his ribs.
"You ran," Kael said quietly. "And convinced yourself it was strategy."
Arlong's face twisted.
"I RULE HERE!"
"Because this sea can't fight back."
That did it.
Arlong charged one final time — reckless, furious, desperate to crush the narrative.
Kael planted his foot.
"Fourth Form."
"Rising Dust Storm."
Wind compressed downward—
Then exploded upward in a violent ascending spiral.
Kael moved through the center of it.
The thrust was direct.
Clean.
Armament reinforced the edge just enough.
The blade pierced straight through Arlong's chest.
Time slowed.
Arlong's eyes widened.
He looked down.
At the steel.
At the blood.
At the human holding it.
His massive hand grabbed Kael's shoulder weakly.
"No…" he rasped. "I am… superior…"
Kael held his gaze.
"You chose the weakest sea," he said. "And thought that made you strong."
Wind detonated upward through the wound.
Arlong's body jerked violently.
The spiral tore through him from within.
His grip loosened.
For a moment, he simply stood there—
Unable to accept it.
Then the strength left his legs.
Arlong fell backward.
The impact shook the courtyard.
Silence followed.
No cheers.
No speeches.
Just the end of a tyrant who couldn't survive beyond this sea.
Outside, someone dropped to their knees.
Nami stared at the fallen body.
Arlong.
Dead.
For real.
Her hands began to shake.
Not dramatically.
Just small tremors she couldn't control.
Demise of a Rat:
Inside—
Nezumi was pale.
He looked at Arlong.
Then at Kael.
Then at the blood everywhere.
And suddenly—
He smiled.
Thin.
Forced.
"Well done!" he said quickly. "Excellent work! A pirate worth twenty million berries eliminated!"
No one responded.
Nezumi stepped forward cautiously.
"The Navy appreciates such… assistance."
Kael turned toward him slowly.
Nezumi swallowed.
"Of course, these matters must be handled officially. We'll take custody of the remaining fishmen, file the appropriate reports—"
"You took bribes."
The words cut him off instantly.
Nezumi froze.
The villagers outside stirred angrily.
Kael walked toward him.
"For years."
Nezumi backed up.
"That's slander—!"
"You let them terrorize this island."
Nezumi stumbled over debris.
"I—I maintained order!"
"You maintained payments."
The courtyard was completely silent now.
Even the Marines avoided eye contact.
Nezumi's composure cracked.
"If you kill me—!" he blurted. "The Navy won't ignore that! An Admiral could—"
Kael stopped in front of him.
"You?"
One word.
Flat.
"You think they'd send one for you?"
Nezumi's face drained of color.
His bluff collapsed instantly.
Kael didn't hesitate.
One clean strike.
Nezumi fell.
No theatrics.
No second chances.