Arlong looked at the shattered pieces of his sword, Slasher, and felt as if his heart was bleeding.

Though Slasher wasn't made of any rare or valuable materials, its crafting was complex, and it suited Arlong's fighting style perfectly.

Moreover, it had been with him for many years!

It was as if Noir's sword had smashed Arlong's beloved companion into pieces!

Veins bulged on Arlong's forehead, and his steel teeth were almost shattering. His bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at Noir.

"Despicable human! Die!"

Arlong's blue head suddenly lunged forward, and his sawtooth nose thrust out like a vicious spear!

Noir blocked the sawtooth nose with his sword. As Arlong closed in, he opened his gaping maw to bite Noir's neck.

Noir quickly freed one hand, covered it with Armament Haki, turning it black and hard. Arlong's teeth bit down on the iron-like arm.

Kicking Arlong's body away, Noir retreated hastily.

This guy's entire body is a weapon.

Noir frowned, and Arlong found the human before him extremely difficult to deal with.

Back on the Grand Line, Arlong had been a cadre of the Sun Pirates, founded by Fisher Tiger. His experience far surpassed that of the East Blue's frogs in a well.

He knew about the power system of Haki, but as a pure racial supremacist, Arlong only relied on his species' natural physical advantages and never considered training other powers.

After Tiger's death, Arlong was captured by the Marine and later rescued by Jinbei, who became a Warlord. They went their separate ways, and Arlong retreated instead of advancing on the Grand Line.

He returned to the weakest sea, the East Blue. Given his experiences, his strength had clear limitations.

Arlong slowly reached into his mouth, gripping his sharp teeth.

Noir: ???

"Are you hungry?"

Arlong quickly pulled out his teeth with his hand, and then his mouth rapidly grew new ones.

Noir watched as Arlong pulled out a full set of teeth and held them like castanets.

Noir cooperatively clapped and cheered, "Bravo! Is this a circus act?"

"Shut up, human!" Arlong ignored the sarcastic human brat.

"This is the advantage of fishmen. My entire body is a weapon. There are countless ways for me to kill you!"

Noir shrugged, "So what?"

Arlong charged with his teeth, shouting, "Take this! Iron Jaw Attack!"

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Noir defended with his sword, blocking each fierce but ineffective strike from Arlong.

Noir slashed down, suppressing the iron teeth, then quickly changed the sword's angle, forcefully flicking the teeth away. Arlong's weapon was disarmed.

He didn't miss the opening. With a horizontal slash of his Haki-covered black blade, he inflicted a deep wound on Arlong's chest!

Fishman blood flowed freely, and the surrounding people could almost see the white bones beneath the flesh.

"Argh!!"

Arlong clutched his wound and fell to his knees, screaming in pain.

Noir shook the blood off his blade, then sheathed it, looking at Arlong with no hint of sympathy.

Noir taunted softly, "How long has it been since you trained?"

"Relying on your racial advantages to kill humans weaker than you, have you forgotten to train yourself?"

"What gives you the right to insult humans with such stagnant strength?"

Arlong's blue face turned red with rage, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Using all his strength, Arlong leapt high, spinning with his sharp teeth aimed at Noir!

"Jaw Wheel!!"

Some people never learn.

Noir thought disdainfully.

He slowly extended his hands, intending to catch Arlong barehanded.

Arlong roared in his spin, "Don't underestimate me!"

But then, Noir's body expanded, brown fur sprouted, and his handsome face turned into a bear's.

Devil Fruit ability activated!

With his thick bear paws, Noir caught Arlong's Jaw Wheel. Seeing Arlong's shocked and confused expression, a sly smile appeared on Noir's bear face.

Noir dramatically shook his head and roared, "Dragon Hug Killer!!"

Nani???????

Before Arlong could react, Noir wrapped his bear arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Arlong felt warm and snug… even the bear fur was a bit prickly.

But then he realized Noir was tightening his grip with all his strength!

"No… don't!!"

Ignoring Arlong's desperate cries, Noir, as if performing a secret move, yelled passionately, "It's over, Arlong!"

"Let me hold you tight!!"

Crack! Snap!

First came the nauseating sound of bones dislocating, followed by the crisp crack of bone breaking!

Noir slowly released his arms, and Arlong collapsed like a pile of mush, as if he were a dead fish.

"Damned… human!" Arlong cursed weakly.

Noir marveled, "Still not dead?!"

Fishman racial traits are impressive, ehh?

Can I copy a fishman ability from Arlong?

Just as Noir reached to pick up Arlong, Arlong suddenly pulled out a capsule from somewhere.

That's…

Noir's pupils shrank.

Arlong swallowed the capsule, and his body, as if revitalized, slapped away Noir's bear paw and retreated.

Arlong's eyes were now filled with hatred, wanting to tear this brat apart.

But he knew he couldn't do it now.

Luckily, his comrades from Fishman Island had sent him a prototype of the forbidden drug, Energy Steroid aka ES.

By overloading his life force, it granted temporary immense strength. Proud Arlong would never have used such a drug!

But now, he had no choice!

With temporary strength restored, Arlong didn't want to continue fighting. He shouted to his subordinates, "Attack the villagers!"

The fishmen, ecstatic at seeing their leader regain his strength, immediately understood and charged at the villagers.

Noir's brows furrowed tightly. They were trying to distract him?

Arlong had grasped his weak point—he couldn't ignore the villagers!

Noir had to abandon the still-capable Arlong and turn to protect the villagers under attack by the fishmen.

Striking down one fishman after another, Noir shielded the villagers, not letting any harm come to them. Meanwhile, Arlong seized the opportunity, rushing to the three cadres and carrying them on his shoulders as he fled. The fishmen, seeing the cadres being rescued, stopped fighting Noir and also fled.

The Arlong Pirates' ship hadn't even sailed off. The fishmen dived into the water, disappearing like shadows.

Noir stood at the shore, speechless as he watched the fishmen scatter and escape.

Damn, they got away?