The strike was overwhelming, heavy enough to lift Arlong off his feet.
The force churned his internal organs, and blood spilled from his lips.
Just as his large body was about to be sent flying, Light’s fist shifted, a dense, dark power expanding outward and locking Arlong in place as if gravity itself had tightened around him.
“Are you a Devil Fruit user!?” Arlong forced out the question, shock flashing in his eyes despite the pain.
Light gave no reply.
He had no interest in explaining himself.
With a slight exertion of force, the darkness surged.
It wrapped around Arlong completely, binding him like a cocoon and lifting him into the air.
The grip was absolute, leaving no room for struggle.
A cold glint appeared in Light’s eyes.
He stepped back, creating distance while calmly sheathing his sword.
Darkness swirled between his fingers like smoke, shifting and twisting with an eerie presence.
Before Arlong could speak again, Light clenched his hand into a fist.
“Dark Annihilation, Coffin of Darkness.”
The darkness tightened instantly.
It collapsed inward with crushing force, compressing Arlong’s body from all directions.
Only his head remained exposed.
Blood burst from his mouth under the pressure, spilling heavily onto the ground between them.
When the darkness receded, Arlong dropped.
His body twisted unnaturally, like something crushed and left without shape.
Bones were shattered throughout, leaving him completely unable to resist.
“Pathetic,” Light said quietly, placing his foot on Arlong’s head.
The battle had ended almost the moment it began.
The gap in strength was absolute.
Even now, Zoro’s fight had not yet concluded.
Seeing their captain defeated, several Fishmen rushed forward in desperation, aiming to save Arlong.
Zoro did not move to intercept them.
Instead, he calmly sheathed his swords.
“It’s over,” he said.
Nami frowned slightly.
“You are not going to help?”
“No need.”
His tone was steady, as if the outcome had already been decided.
Then, almost casually, Zoro spoke again, mimicking Light’s earlier tone.
“Dark Annihilation, Tidal Surge.”
The moment the words fell, darkness erupted.
It poured out from Light like a massive wave, spreading in every direction.
In an instant, it swallowed Arlong Park whole.
Nami’s vision vanished.
Everything went black.
Sound disappeared.
Just as she was about to react, the darkness withdrew just as quickly, flowing back into Light’s body like a receding tide.
When her sight returned, the scene had changed.
The Fishmen who had charged forward were gone.
The debris, the blood, even the bodies left behind from Zoro’s fight had all disappeared.
Only Arlong remained, still beneath Light’s foot.
Zoro glanced at her.
“See?
It’s over.”
“What was that just now!?” Nami exclaimed, her voice unsteady.
For a moment, she had truly believed she would die.
“It’s his ability,” Zoro replied.
“You have heard of Devil Fruits.
He’s a Logia user, the Dark-Dark Fruit.
He controls darkness itself.”
Before Nami could ask anything else, Light turned his gaze toward her.
“Navigator,” he said, “do you want to take revenge yourself?”
Nami’s eyes fell on Arlong.
His broken body lay motionless, his once imposing presence reduced to something pitiful.
A flicker of satisfaction passed through her eyes.
Slowly, she stepped forward until she stood beside Light.
“Give me the sword.”
Light handed it to her without hesitation.
Nami gripped the weapon, drawing it with a faint metallic sound.
She swallowed hard as she aimed the blade at Arlong’s neck.
He was unconscious.
One thrust would end everything.
Even without it, his injuries would likely kill him soon.
But this was different.
This was her chance to end it with her own hands.
Her arm trembled.
Despite everything she had suffered, despite the hatred that had built up over years, she could not move.
Her fingers tightened around the hilt, yet the blade would not fall.
Light watched her for a moment, then stepped behind her.
Without speaking, he reached out, placing his hands over hers.
His grip was firm.
He guided her.
Together, they drove the blade forward.
The sword pierced through Arlong’s neck.
Blood flowed freely, marking the end of the Fishman who had ruled over her life.
Light released her immediately after.
The sword slipped from her grasp as she collapsed to her knees beside the body.
Then she broke.
Her cries burst out uncontrollably, raw and hoarse, echoing through the ruined park.
“Belle-Mere…
Belle-Mere…”
Her voice carried years of pain, anger, and grief.
Everything she had endured spilled out at once.
It was over.
The nightmare that had gripped Cocoyasi Village for eight long years had finally ended.
Belle-Mere could rest.
So could everyone who had suffered and died under Arlong’s rule.
As Nami’s cries continued, a group of villagers rushed into Arlong Park, armed with tools and weapons.
At their front was a young woman with short indigo hair.
Nojiko.
“Nami, are you okay!?” she called out.
Her eyes immediately fell on Arlong’s corpse, then on Nami kneeling beside it.
Shock spread through the crowd.
None of them could fully process what they were seeing.
“Nojiko…” Nami reached out, her voice breaking.
Nojiko hurried forward and pulled her into an embrace.
“It’s okay,” she said softly, patting Nami’s back.
“It’s over now.”
“I…
I finally avenged Belle-Mere…”
Nami’s words came out through tears.
Not far away, Light leaned against a shaded wall, a cigar between his fingers.
Zoro stood nearby, taking a drink from his flask.
“So you knew all along,” Zoro said, glancing at him.
Light exhaled a thin stream of smoke, a faint grin forming.
“I told you.
Stay out of unnecessary matters.”
After a moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
Without hesitation, he dialed.
Soon, his voice carried as he spoke to Smoker, mentioning Captain Nezumi and reporting the situation in a casual tone.
Zoro paid little attention.
His gaze remained on Nami and the villagers.
They cried, laughed, and cheered all at once, emotions overflowing after years of suffering.
The atmosphere was chaotic, yet genuine.
A quiet warmth.
Perhaps this kind of journey was not so bad after all.