Kaguya raised an eyebrow, seemingly not surprised by her reaction.
“Oh?
Then just follow along.
However, I suggest you hide in the shadows.
After all, you won’t be of much help if you come with me.”
After Kaguya finished speaking, he shouldered the treasure chest and walked towards the woods.
He didn’t hide the treasure chest very well, simply tossing it into a bush.
Kaguya still had a lot of confidence in his own strength.
Although his Six Powers, Observation Haki, and swordsmanship could only be described as entry-level.
But it was enough to deal with the Arlong Pirates.
“Hey!
Wait for me!”
Nami jogged to catch up with Kaguya, stubbornly grabbing the corner of his clothes.
“Do you really not need me to do anything?”
Nami looked at Kaguya with a worried expression.
“You?”
Kaguya hesitated for a moment, then realized there actually was one thing Nami needed to do.
“Actually, there is.
Observe from the shadows.
If I gain the upper hand, go back and call for people, bring fishing nets and weapons, and prepare to round up those fleeing Fishmen.
If I’m at a disadvantage…”
Kaguya paused, a confident curve forming at the corners of his mouth.
“That situation won’t happen.”
Nami bit her lip and finally nodded.
She understood that what she could do now was indeed limited, but at least she could provide some support for Kaguya.
The two passed through the woods and saw the outline of Cocoyasi Village, with Arlong Park further in the distance.
“Alright, stop following me.
Be careful not to expose yourself.”
After saying that, Kaguya quickened his pace.
The onikiri at his waist seemed to sense the upcoming battle, its blade vibrating slightly.
Kaguya successfully arrived in front of the main gate of the park.
Looking at the tightly closed park gates, Kaguya slowly drew the Cursed Blade onikiri.
Although his swordsmanship was self-taught without a master’s guidance, after more than two years of cultivation, he had reached the level of a swordsman.
Kaguya took a deep breath, his right hand tightly gripping the hilt of onikiri, as the blade emitted a faint purple glow.
“One-Sword Style: Air-Shattering Slash!”
Wherever the edge passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound.
The heavy stone door cracked upon impact, the cut as smooth as a mirror, and the broken door panels crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
Holding onikiri, Kaguya stepped across the ruined gate.
His clothes fluttered in the wind, and his gaze was as sharp as a blade.
Angry curses from the Fishmen came from the courtyard; clearly, this sudden turn of events had alerted all of Arlong Park.
“Kid, who are you?
How dare you trespass into Arlong Park!”
Several burly Fishmen rushed out from the dust, the spears in their hands gleaming with a cold light.
Kaguya sneered, spinning the onikiri in his hand into a beautiful flourish.
“The one who has come to take your lives.”
As the dust settled, the members of the Arlong Pirates finally saw the intruder’s appearance—a slender young man, holding a long sword glowing with an eerie purple light, his eyes filled with cold killing intent.
The leading Fishman, Kuroobi, narrowed his eyes, sizing up the arrogant human before him.
“Just you alone?”
He sneered and waved his hand, signaling the other Fishmen to surround Kaguya.
Kaguya ignored their mockery, scanning his surroundings.
At least twenty Fishmen were surrounding him from all directions.
But what made him most alert was the tall figure standing on the distant high platform—the Captain of the Arlong Pirates, the Saw-Tooth Shark Fishman, Arlong.
“Boy, give me your name.”
Arlong’s voice was as grating as sandpaper; he slowly walked down the steps, each step carrying a suffocating pressure.
“A fish about to die has no need to know my name.”
Kaguya adjusted his breathing, feeling the pulse from onikiri.
This Cursed Blade also seemed to be trembling with excitement, thirsty for blood.
“Shahahahaha!
A human.”
Arlong let out a harsh laugh, his sharp teeth glinting coldly in the sunlight.
He looked down at Kaguya from above, his eyes full of contempt and cruelty.
“It seems you think your life is too long.”
Arlong waved his hand.
“Tear him apart!”
Before he even finished speaking, the surrounding Fishmen had already charged forward with a roar.
They held various weapons, their sharp fins glinting with a dangerous light in the sun.
Kaguya’s eyes narrowed, and his figure suddenly vanished from the spot.
onikiri drew a faint purple arc in the air, harvesting lives like a Grim Reaper’s scythe.
The Fishmen at the very front only felt a blur before their eyes, then a sharp pain in their chests; looking down, blood was gushing from wounds deep enough to see bone.
Kuroobi’s pupils shrank, immediately realizing that the human before him was no ordinary person.
He quickly assumed a Fish-Man Karate stance, preparing for battle.
Kaguya’s figure moved through the crowd of Fishmen like a ghost, each swing of his blade taking a life.
Blood stained the ground, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of blood.
Hatchan brandished six long swords, attacking Kaguya like a whirlwind, the blade light weaving into an airtight net.
Chew stood in the distance, his cheeks puffed out, preparing to launch a water cannon attack.
A hint of solemnity flashed in Kaguya’s eyes, but the smile at the corner of his mouth grew deeper.
“Six-Sword Style: Octopus Dance!”
Hatchan roared, his six swords slashing at Kaguya’s vital points simultaneously.
Kaguya’s figure flashed, onikiri drawing a strange arc in the air, accurately parrying Hatchan’s attack.
Sparks flew from the metal collision; Kaguya used the force to leap back, avoiding the high-pressure water cannon fired by Chew.
“One-Sword Style: Heart Flower!”
Kaguya shouted softly, the purple light on onikiri’s blade intensified as he suddenly lunged forward, the edge pointing straight at Hatchan’s chest.
In a hurry, Hatchan used four swords to parry, but was still knocked back several steps by the impact, his arms going numb.
“Damn human!”
Chew charged up again, the water cannon shooting towards Kaguya like a cannonball.
Kaguya sidestepped to avoid it; the water cannon hit the ground, blasting a deep pit.
He took the opportunity to rush towards Chew, the edge of onikiri aiming straight for Chew’s throat.
“Don’t even think about succeeding.!”
Kuroobi suddenly struck from the side, a heavy Fish-Man Karate punch slamming into Kaguya’s flank.
Kaguya was forced to change his move, blocking with onikiri horizontally and taking the punch head-on, being knocked back several meters.
“Nice teamwork.”
Kaguya shook his numb arm, the fighting spirit in his eyes growing even stronger.
He took a deep breath, and the purple light of onikiri gradually turned dark red as the power of the Cursed Blade began to boil.
“All together, finish him!”
Arlong finally couldn’t hold back anymore, leaping down from the high platform, his saw-like nose pointing straight at Kaguya.
The three top officers and Arlong attacked simultaneously; Kaguya was plunged into an unprecedented crisis.
The sun set and the moon rose; it was now night.
In the shadows, Nami clenched her fists, her heart beating like a drum.
She saw Kaguya being besieged and seemingly at a disadvantage, her heart filled with extreme anxiety.
“No, I have to do something!”
Overwhelmed by worry, Nami had forgotten Kaguya’s instructions.
She gritted her teeth and turned to run toward the village.