Arlong ParkThe usual calm of Arlong Park was shattered when Hachi — nicknamed Octy by his companions — pushed open the grand gates, dragging behind him the limp body of Kuroobi. Most of the Arlong gang members, petty thugs from the poor districts of Fish-Man Island, immediately stopped their activities, casting worried glances at the unusual scene.Of Fisher Tiger's legendary crew, only Arlong and Hachi remained here; the others had followed Jinbei into the New World, placing their island under the protection of an Emperor. Only these two had stayed behind... but the bond between them now seemed ready to break.Alerted by the commotion, Arlong emerged from his pavilion, a weary expression on his face. He froze when he saw his former comrade toss Kuroobi to the ground like a sack of meat."What's the meaning of this, Hachi?" Arlong asked, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.The octopus straightened to his full height, his supple arms trembling with tension."I punished that bastard for dishonoring our crew," he declared in a loud voice that echoed across the courtyard.Arlong cast a heavy gaze on Kuroobi, who was barely groaning, unrecognizable under his wounds. A smirk stretched across the captain's lips."Hmph. Looks like you haven't lost your touch, Hachi," he said lightly. But his eyes remained cold, calculating. He tapped his fingers slowly against the armrest of his makeshift throne. "And what exactly is our proud Kuroobi guilty of?""He defiled Nojiko."Hachi's voice was heavy, each word striking like a hammer. "You know as well as I do that Nami has only two treasures in this world: her sister... and her dream."At those words, Arlong slumped back into his throne, running a hand slowly over his face as if trying to wipe away a bad omen.A murmur of disapproval immediately rose among the underlings. Smack, one of the most fanatical among them, stepped forward, shouting:"She's just a human! Why beat Kuroobi-sama over something so trivial?!"Arlong's response was instantaneous."SHUT UP!!"His voice cracked like a thunderclap. The entire assembly froze, terrified. Arlong had never raised his voice against his own men before. The air grew heavy, almost suffocating."I strictly forbade you from touching any villagers connected to Nami!" he roared, his fangs glinting with rage. "She is crucial to my plan! Do you idiots not understand?!"In a flash, Arlong delivered a brutal kick to Kuroobi, sending him flying into the brackish water pools behind him. The impact was so violent that the sound of his body hitting the water echoed for a long moment.Arlong then slowly turned toward Hachi, and his voice, now colder than the North Sea, thundered:"And as for you, Octy… listen carefully."The sudden use of his nickname made Hachi flinch."I don't care what you do to ordinary humans. They are weak. Inferior. But when it comes to Nami and those she protects, it is I — and I alone — who decides whether they are to be punished."Hachi lowered his head slightly, his heart weighed down by bitter disappointment."I never cared about fighting or killing humans," he replied in a calmer voice filled with sadness. "Marines, pirates, it didn't matter... they had chosen their side. But what Kuroobi did... it's a disgrace. You are no longer the captain I chose to follow. Jinbei... Fisher Tiger... they would be ashamed to see what you've become, Arlong."Arlong's gaze darkened until it became that of a predator.Without warning, he lunged, slamming his massive fists down onto Hachi. Every blow was brutal, methodical, fueled by wild rage. But Hachi did not fight back. He simply took the hits, standing silent and firm, refusing to strike his former friend.Eventually, his body gave out under the relentless assault, and he fell to his knees before collapsing heavily to the ground.
Arlong, panting slightly, stared down at the unconscious octopus at his feet."Stay out of my sight for a few days," he spat with contempt. Then, without another word, he grabbed Hachi and hurled him with overwhelming force beyond the gates of Arlong Park.Hachi's body disappeared into the sea with a massive splash, thrown far, far away.Silence fell over Arlong Park. A heavy, oppressive silence, broken only by the lapping of the water... and the mute fear of the fish-men left behind, witnesses to the collapse of what had once been a united crew.When Hachi's body hit the water's surface with a resounding splash, it slowly began to sink toward the ocean floor, lifeless.The trail of blood he left behind did not go unnoticed for long.A shark, drawn by the metallic scent, burst onto the scene, snapping its jaws around the limp body. With a swift bite, it tore off one of Hachi's arms.But before the beast could continue its feast, a mass erupted from the depths in a furious surge.MooMoo, the sea cow who considered Hachi her protector, charged at the shark with wild rage. In a single savage bite, she tore the attacker in half, sending a geyser of blood swirling into the murky waters.MooMoo's normally gentle black eyes were filled with fury and grief.Without delay, she seized Hachi's battered body between her powerful fins and, with a mighty stroke, sped away toward a hidden cave a few hundred meters away.Behind her, the dense, heavy blood in the water attracted more hungry sharks.At the surface, the sea was turning a sinister shade of red.On the shores of Arlong Park, those who witnessed the scene were immediately gripped with terror.Arlong, still trembling with rage from his clash with Hachi, saw the water reddening… and his heart clenched violently.A terrible premonition struck him.Without hesitation, he leapt into the sea, followed closely by several of his men, slicing through the waves in a desperate race.The underwater scene was a nightmare: a dozen wild sharks swirling, tearing each other apart over scraps of flesh.At the center of the bloody frenzy floated a severed arm — an arm Arlong immediately recognized by the distinctive suction cups."Hachi…!" he screamed, his voice muffled by the water.Driven mad with rage, Arlong lunged at the sharks, slaughtering them mercilessly, striking, slashing, breaking bones and scales. The water turned an even deeper crimson as he unleashed his blind fury.Finally, panting, covered in blood — that of the beasts, and perhaps also Hachi's — Arlong slowly surfaced, trembling, clutching what remained: a shredded arm.He stared at the bloody relic, unable to look away.A raw, broken cry tore from his throat."No… no… Hachi... I… I'm sorry… I didn't mean for this to happen!" he sobbed, his voice shattered, strangled by grief.He collapsed to his knees in the shallow water, desperately clutching the severed arm to his chest as if he could somehow save him.Around him, his men — usually so brutal and arrogant — lowered their heads, unable to bear the sight.Arlong, the fearsome Arlong, was crying.And in those tears lay all that was left of the humanity in the monster he had become.He had just killed, with his own hands, one of his brothers.
Mandarin GroveI stopped in front of the cabin, feeling Nami trembling with tension beside me.I firmly placed my hands on her shoulders to stop her before she could enter."Nami..." My voice was rougher than I would have liked. I took a deep breath, feeling a painful knot form in my throat. "There's something I need to tell you... something that will hurt you."Her eyes locked onto mine, burning with a mix of expectation and worry.I searched for softer words, anything to lessen the pain. But there was nothing. No gentle way to say it.So I said it bluntly, my voice almost breaking:"Your sister, Nojiko... she was raped. By a fish-man named Kuroobi."The world seemed to stop around us.Her expression, at first frozen in horror, quickly shifted through a storm of emotions: shock, fear, anguish, anger... then pure, unfiltered rage.I saw her body tremble, her fist clenching so tightly her nails dug into her palm. A flash of lightning erupted around her, materializing her staff in a crackling fury."I'm going to kill him," she whispered, her voice trembling, devastated by hatred.Without thinking, I grabbed her from behind, holding her in a firm but respectful embrace, preventing her from launching into a murderous charge.Sparks of electricity struck my skin... but thanks to the copy of the Yellow Opera hidden in my shadow, I felt only a slight shiver.It did nothing to lessen the shock of seeing Nami like this.
"Nami..." I murmured, my voice hoarse. "You'll have your chance for revenge. I promise you. But striking an unconscious body won't bring you peace... and Octy already gave him a harsh punishment."I felt her hesitate, her fury still burning in her veins."What matters now is Nojiko. She needs you. She'll need your strength when she wakes up. I've placed her under a magical sleep... but I'm afraid of how she'll react when she comes to."My words finally seemed to reach her. Slowly, the lightning around her faded, and she let her staff disappear into the void with a simple gesture. She nodded without a word, her jaw clenched so tightly it seemed about to crack.I let her enter the cabin.Taking advantage of her focus on her sister, I quickly set to work.I stored the soiled bed, the blood-stained bedding, every physical trace of that vile act into my inventory.Then, opening a portal to our old abandoned base, I dumped everything onto a heap of rubble. With a simple gesture, I set it all on fire.I watched the flames devour those abominable memories without blinking, refusing to give them more emotion than a cold, detached gaze.But deep inside...I felt filthy. Powerless.As if merely being near that horror had left invisible stains on my soul.I then returned to the cabin.The room was dim, lit only by the golden light of the sunset filtering through poorly aligned shutters.Nami was sitting on the clean bed where Nojiko now lay, gently caressing her tangled hair.The blue-haired young woman gave a faint moan... before slowly opening her eyes.Her tear-blurred gaze immediately found Nami, and she burst into sobs, throwing herself into her sister's arms.Seeing Nojiko cry like that...Seeing Nami holding her tightly, whispering words I couldn't hear...It tore me apart inside.I had no place here.This was their moment, one I should not taint with my presence.Heavy-hearted, I slipped silently out of the room.Without thinking, I opened a portal leading straight to Fuschia, to the small house we had renovated.I immediately plunged into the familiar shadows and reappeared by the cradle.Grandma Heartless was sleeping soundly in her bed, peaceful.And in her little cradle, Léa was stirring gently, awake but silent.I crept forward on silent feet.I picked her up with infinite care, as if she might break in my hands.She lifted her big eyes to me, shining with pure innocence, and let out a soft gurgle.A sad smile brushed my lips."Mind if I hold you for a while, little sister?" I whispered, my voice hoarse, barely more than a breath.I sat in an armchair by the window, cradling her close against me.The warm, light weight of Léa, her tiny hands absentmindedly clutching my clothes, was an anchor amid the storm raging inside me.She fell back asleep soon after, her face serene.I stayed there a long time, rocking her gently, fleeing into her calm from all the ugliness I had witnessed that day.I had been rocking Léa for almost half an hour, letting her light, steady breathing slowly calm the turmoil within me. When she was deeply asleep, I carefully laid her back in her cradle, making sure not to wake her.It was only when I straightened up that I noticed the figure sitting on the nearby bed.Grandma Heartless was watching me, a soft smile on her lips, her eyes shining with infinite kindness.I hadn't even heard her move, so lost was I in my desperate attempt to clear my mind."You need to talk, Jordan?" she asked gently, motioning for me to sit beside her.Hesitating for a moment, I came to sit at the edge of the bed, leaning forward, my elbows on my knees, hands clasped together.The words came out easier than I expected.I told her what had happened to Nojiko. The brutality of it. My helplessness.I also confessed, my voice low:"I've killed a lot of people since I was old enough to fight... But I always knew why.They were cruel. Inhuman. Monsters in my eyes. Taking them down felt like clearing vermin from the world."I lifted a lost gaze toward her."But this... this isn't something I can fight with a blade. It's something else. It's... bigger than me."Grandma Heartless reached out, her parchment-thin yet gentle fingers taking mine in hers.Her touch was warm. Comforting.She smiled with that infinite tenderness only old souls can offer."You're doing more good than you realize, Jordan," she said in a soft, almost musical voice. "Never let anyone convince you otherwise.What you carry inside you... it's not violence. It's compassion. True compassion."
I felt a slight knot form in my throat.She paused, her gaze thoughtful, before continuing, her voice a little deeper:"For Nami and Nojiko... I can offer you only one piece of advice."She pressed my hand gently."Stay present for them. Be their anchor when everything feels like it's falling apart. And if the time comes to punish the one who hurt them..."Her eyes, despite their usual softness, flashed briefly with fierce determination."Let Nojiko see it. Let her see that justice is served. But don't let her carry that burden herself. Don't let her be the one to kill. It would eat away at her far more than you can imagine. It's not the death of the monster that will heal her. It's knowing that she's protected... That someone stood up for her. That someone took revenge, for her."Her words echoed inside me with the force of a silent promise.Before I could say anything, she leaned forward and, in a gesture simple yet overwhelmingly powerful, placed a kiss on my forehead.A kiss full of love. Of gratitude. Of silent pride.I stayed still for a moment, eyes closed, overwhelmed by a wave of bittersweet memories — those of my original grandparents, and everything I thought I had lost.When I opened my eyes again, Grandma Heartless was still smiling at me, as if she were carrying the full weight of my invisible wounds on her frail shoulders.I gave her a trembling, genuine smile, and murmured under my breath:For the first time in a long while, I felt that maybe... maybe I wasn't as alone as I thought.
(Author's note: If you still have your grandparents, don't forget to visit them and listen to them. They are wells of practical and emotional knowledge, and it's important to share moments with them.)
"Thank you, Grandma..." I whispered as I got to my feet.She gave me one last warm smile as I melted into the building's shadows.A portal opened in front of me, and without hesitation, I returned to the cabin where Nami and Nojiko were.The soft evening light filtered through the windows.I knocked gently on the bedroom door, announcing myself with a calm voice:"Good evening, ladies."As I stepped in, I immediately noticed the changes.Nojiko was standing, dressed in simple, clean clothes. Her still slightly damp hair framed her tired face.In her hands, a small shadowy creature in the shape of a kitten purred softly as she stroked it, almost absentmindedly.She lifted her eyes to me, and a faint smile touched her pale lips."Good evening. You must be Jordan," she said in a flat, almost fragile voice."Nami told me about you... Thank you... for healing me. And for..." she looked down at the little kitten in her arms, squeezing it a little tighter, "...for giving me this little companion."I responded with a small nod, feeling the heavy tension still hanging in the air.Nami, sitting nearby, seemed just as uncomfortable, worried for her sister, unable to find the right words to lighten the moment.I lowered my gaze slightly. Even though her body had been healed, I knew her heart would carry the scars for a long time.And I had no way to erase the memories of that night. No spell, no artifact. Only... time and support.Taking a soft breath, I began, my voice as gentle as possible:
"I'd like to propose something," I said.I turned toward Nami, seeking her gaze."Nami, do you think I could take Nojiko to Fuschia, to stay with Grandma and my little sister?"I paused before adding:"Grandma has experience... she could help Nojiko through what she's going through. It would be a safe place, far from here."Nami frowned, hesitating."But... if Nojiko disappears, the fish-men are bound to notice," she said, her voice tense.I gave her a reassuring smile."Don't worry," I said softly. "I can create an illusion — a shadow that will take her appearance. It will walk around the cabin, mimicking her presence. And after what she's just endured... her silence won't surprise anyone."Nami seemed to think for a few seconds.Then, seeing the flicker of life return to Nojiko's once-dimmed eyes, she drew in a deep breath and nodded."Alright, Jordan... Let's do it now, before another monster comes," she said, her voice filled with new determination.I knelt in front of Nojiko, looking at her with all the gentleness I could muster."Are you okay with this?" I asked.She answered with a faint smile and a whisper barely louder than a breath:"Yes... Thank you."I extended my hand and opened a portal before them.Nami gently took her sister's hand, and together, they crossed over to Fuschia, carrying with them the little shadow kitten still curled protectively against Nojiko.Once alone, I carefully shaped an illusion of Nojiko — her silhouette, her walk, even the discreet sadness in her gestures.The false Nojiko wandered slowly around the cabin, silent, exactly as one would expect from a victim still in shock.Satisfied with the illusion, I let my gaze sweep across the island.The lock I was seeking wasn't far...I could feel it, like a dull heartbeat under the earth, a vibration in the air.It was close to Arlong Park.I teleported silently to a height where I could observe the area.And what I saw below took my breath away.Slipping quietly down through the soaked ruins, I managed to catch the anxious murmurs of a group of thugs hiding behind a half-collapsed wall.Their low, trembling voices drifted to me between the cracks in the stone."I just hope Boss Arlong calms down before he levels the whole place..." one of them whispered, nervously glancing toward the center of the park.I crept closer, melting into the shadows, listening without moving."Shut up!" another hissed, giving him a sharp elbow. "After what happened... Who would've thought Octy-boss would get eaten by a bunch of damned sharks!"He shook his head bitterly."If he'd been conscious when Boss Arlong threw him out, he could've taken down fifty sharks without even breaking a sweat..."Their words hit me like an invisible punch.They think Octy is dead.A cold shiver ran down my spine.A new crash echoed from the center of the park, followed by a bestial roar."HAAAARGH!"I risked a glance and saw Arlong, chest heaving, frothing with rage, ripping up blocks of stone, entire pillars, and hurling them furiously across the park.The central slab — the emblem of his territory — shattered under a single titanic blow.
"HACHI!!" Arlong roared, his voice raw, almost inhuman."I didn't want this! Not like this!"Each scream echoed with the weight of his own guilt.Even his men no longer dared move, paralyzed by the blind violence tearing through their stronghold.Taking advantage of the chaos, I slipped silently into the water, merging with the underwater shadows.Not far from there, hidden in a sheltered nook, I found Kuroobi still unconscious, his body gently drifting with the currents.Without wasting a second, I discreetly grabbed him and dragged him along, moving under the surface like a patient predator.I followed the current until I reached a rocky underwater cluster, where I could feel the faint thrum of a lock.Circling the rocks, I discovered a natural opening, almost hidden by seaweed and coral.Inside, the sight before me made me freeze.MooMoo, the sea cow, was there, her massive body curled protectively around an immobile figure — Octy.She growled softly, protective, her bloodshot eyes glaring.She's protecting him...Knowing she might attack any intruder, I had no choice.I approached cautiously and cast a precise sleeping spell on MooMoo, enough to knock her out without causing harm.Octy, for his part, was still alive, but weak and unconscious.I placed Kuroobi in a sheltered spot and approached the lock.Placing my hand against the smooth rock, I recited the incantation.A low crack echoed as the lock gave way... and a tide of aquatic Heartless surged out in a whirl of shadows and churning water.I didn't waste a second.I grabbed Kuroobi and opened a portal back to my base, pulling him away from the chaos before he could be consumed by my new, involuntary recruits.Behind me, the Heartless flooded the area.MooMoo was also attacked, while Octy — either by chance or something deeper — was completely ignored.I guided the sea cow and Octy through the portal before slamming it shut, leaving the marine Heartless to pour out of the lock into the world.I carried Kuroobi and Octy onto our island, immediately setting them under the watch of my enhanced Heartless.Unlike the Heartless released by the locks, these ones obey me completely. I released several dozen to guard Kuroobi on land, preventing any of the soldiers from sneaking up on him.As for MooMoo, it was simpler — the only aquatic Heartless under my command was my crocodile, and he had no interest in harming the sea cow.Octy was alive.MooMoo was safe.And Kuroobi... Kuroobi would await his judgment.I lifted my eyes to the overcast sky, taking a deep breath.
(Author's note: Sorry for the delay, I didn't have access to my computer last week, but here's a slightly longer chapter to make up for it ^^)