Chapter 9+10 - Preview of One Piece: Reincarnated as Rimuru Tempest

Chapter 9: Arlong, Your Sister's Quite the Catch

...

Inside Arlong Park. 

The Fish-men were feasting.

"Captain, there's a pirate ship that somehow bypassed Momoo. Looks like they're heading for Cocoyasi Village. Should we take care of them?" a Fish-man reported to Arlong, interrupting his meal.

Arlong chuckled, picturing the villagers' despair. "Nah, let 'em raid those lowly humans first. We'll swoop in and claim the spoils... and their lives! Hahaha!"

"Brilliant, Captain Arlong! Saves us the trouble of searching for their pathetic hidden treasures!"

"As if those wretches have anything worth hiding! Hahaha!"

"Those humans are really pathetic. Abandoned by the Marines, now even their own kind preys on them! Scum of the earth!"

The Fish-men erupted in laughter, some mimicking the villagers' imagined terror.

"Captain, speaking of which, Nami's been gone for months. Shouldn't she be back soon?" Hatchan, the octopus Fish-man, asked as he distributed takoyaki. "Are you really gonna let her leave after she gets the money? We're living the good life here. I don't wanna go anywhere."

A hush fell over the room, followed by another round of boisterous laughter.

"Hahaha! Hatchan, you're so naive!"

"The Captain is just stringing that fool along!"

"With such a great navigator and a sweet setup like this, why would he let her go?"

"Only lowlifes trust anyone's words!"

Arlong smirked, savoring a takoyaki ball. "Of course, I'm not letting Nami go. This place is just a temporary base. Once we're ready, we'll set sail for bigger targets, conquer the whole East Blue!"

Ready? They'd been "readying" for eight years, their ambition dulled by complacency. Arlong's words were met with more hollow laughter.

"I was foolish to ever trust you..." a voice cut through the revelry. "But your reign of terror ends now."

The Fish-men froze.

BOOM!

The park's massive gates flew off their hinges, crashing into the building behind Arlong. The entire structure collapsed in a cloud of dust.

"N-Nami?" Arlong gaped at the figure emerging from the debris. Where did she get that kind of power?

"Captain! Look! A huge dog!" Hatchan shrieked, spotting a shadowy form in the dust cloud.

"Shut up, I see it!"

Before Arlong could finish, another voice echoed through the park. "Fish-men and merfolk... same species, different paths. But you lot are an insult to merfolk. Disgusting."

Rimuru, dusting himself off, glared at the Fish-men with open disgust.

Arlong ignored Ranga, the massive wolf beside Rimuru. His experience in the Grand Line told him that the seemingly harmless youth was the true threat.

"Well, well, Nami. If this is your backup, you underestimate me."

"You're Arlong?" Rimuru finally noticed the saw-nosed Fish-man, his dismissive tone making Arlong twitch. Then, Rimuru delivered the final blow. "Your sister, Sharley? She's quite the catch. Too bad she's mine now."

Arlong's eyes bulged, blood vessels throbbing in his temples. "You bastard!"

Before anyone could react, he charged at Rimuru.

"Don't even think about laying a finger on Rimuru-sama!"

Shave!

Finger Pistol!

Nami intercepted Arlong with blinding speed, a concentrated burst of air piercing his chest.

"R-Rokushiki?! How...?" Arlong clutched his wound, aghast. He recognized the techniques from his time in the Grand Line. Unpleasant memories surfaced. "No! That power… it's not yours!"

Basic Rokushiki techniques were only as strong as the user. Empowered by Rimuru's naming, Nami was now a hundred times stronger than a normal human.

"Die!"

Rankyaku!

Nami unleashed a whirling blade of compressed air. Arlong dodged, but she anticipated his movements, launching a barrage of attacks.

"No escape!" A sense of dread washed over Arlong as he realized he was trapped. The attacks landed, severing his limbs and slicing deep into his flesh.

Nami stood over the fallen Fish-man, her fists raining down on his face.

"This is for eight years of suffering!"

"This is for Bell-mère!"

"This is for Nojiko!"

"This is for everyone in Cocoyasi Village!"

With each blow, Rimuru sensed Nami's rage, a potent magical energy fueled by pure fury.

"C-Captain!"

"You monster!"

Hatchan finally snapped out of his shock, drawing his sword.

A giant form materialized before him, its overwhelming aura forcing him to drop his weapon.

"You have the guts to call me a dog, you.. overgrown squid?" Ranga roared, backhanding Hatchan into the air before biting him in half.

"Gah!" Hatchan coughed up blood, his voice barely a whisper. "Run! Everyone, run to the sea! Don't come..."

Thump!

Ranga crushed Hatchan's head with a paw.

"Hatchan!"

"You bastard! You killed him!"

"You'll pay for this!"

The remaining Fish-men, fueled by grief and rage, charged at Ranga. A few tried to slip away in the chaos.

But Rimuru had anticipated this.

"Fish-men are still fish, right? And Hatchan... an octopus who makes takoyaki. Did he carve the ingredients from himself?" Rimuru mused, looking at the mangled remains of Arlong and Hatchan. He pointed a finger at the sky.

"Black Lightning Storm!"

The sky above Cocoyasi Village darkened, crackling with ominous energy. Villagers watching from the hills gasped. Those with telescopes saw Rimuru, a god-like figure commanding the storm.

KABOOM!

A deluge of lightning rained down on Arlong Park, sparing only Nami and Ranga.

...

Chapter 10: Arlong Pirates Annihilated! Captain Nezumi Makes His Move

...

The relentless barrage of lightning reduced Arlong Park to rubble.

Screams filled the air as Fish-men fell, their bodies charred black. Amidst the carnage, a strange aroma began to waft through the air, the smell of cooked seafood.

Rimuru approached Arlong's scorched remains, a black vortex enveloping the severed limbs.

[Predation]

[Elite Fish-man devoured. Acquired 200 Magicules. Acquired Skill: Fish-Man Karate.] 

[Fish-man race information acquired.] 

[Alert! Fish-Man Karate integrated with Water Blade, Water Wave, and Water Jet. New Skill Acquired: Water Manipulation!]

He didn't need to consume the entire body. Even a small portion was enough to analyze and acquire the target's skills. His previously developed water-based skills, combined with Fish-Man Karate, had yielded a powerful new ability, Water Manipulation. It was essentially a Devil Fruit power, minus the elemental transformation. In the ocean, he would be unstoppable.

Tears streamed down Nami's face as she looked at Arlong's charred remains. It was a bittersweet victory. The weight of eight years of suffering finally lifted.

She threw her arms around Rimuru, sobbing. "Thank you... thank you!"

"There, there, little thief cat. Don't turn into a crybaby now," Rimuru comforted her, noticing a blue-haired woman approaching. He had sensed her presence earlier. Nami's sister, Nojiko.

"G-God! Thank you for saving Cocoyasi Village!" Nojiko cried, her voice trembling with gratitude.

[Alert: Plot Beauty Nojiko detected. Recommendation: Add individual Nojiko to Imperial Harem.]

Rimuru mentally added her to his ever-growing list of potential… companions. Even without significant power or potential, Nojiko deserved a place by his side. And with his guidance, she could become a force to be reckoned with.

But now wasn't the time for such… recruitment. "Your sister is exhausted. Take her home and let her rest. Tell the villagers they're free. I have a pest to deal with."

…

Minutes earlier, at Marine Base 16…

"Captain! Captain! We have a situation!" a frantic voice shouted through the Den Den Mushi.

Captain Nezumi, busy counting his ill-gotten gains, grumbled, "What is it now? If it's another inspection, I'll just bribe them again."

"No, sir! It's bigger than that!" A Marine hiding in the hills near Cocoyasi Village reported, "The Arlong Pirates are fighting… two people and a giant wolf! And Arlong seems to be losing!"

Nezumi shot to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you sure? Arlong? Losing? To two people and a wolf?"

"Yes, sir! I swear it's true!"

"What about the two… and the wolf? Are they injured?" Nezumi's hands trembled.

"Uh…" The Marine squinted, unable to see clearly through the distance and the storm clouds. He mistook the Fish-men blood on Nami and Ranga for their own. He couldn't fathom anyone in the East Blue surviving a fight with the Arlong Pirates unscathed.

"They're badly injured! Covered in blood! But Arlong and Hatchan are dead!"

"Dead?" Nezumi paused, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Keep watching. Report everything."

He slammed the Den Den Mushi down.

"Arlong's dead!"

"And their opponents are wounded!"

"This is my chance! Promotion! Riches! No, a windfall! Hahaha!" Nezumi cackled, issuing orders to his lieutenant. "Mobilize the troops! We're going to Cocoyasi Village! Bring me Arlong's body, the treasure, and… eliminate the villagers. Burn the village to the ground. There will be a handsome reward for everyone!"

His plan was perfect. He would kill the wounded heroes, claim credit for defeating Arlong, and pocket the bounty. Arlong's bounty alone was enough to get him promoted to Commodore! 

Maybe even a position at headquarters, though he doubted he'd want that. Headquarters had too many rules. The branches were where the real money was.

As for the villagers? Loose ends. They had to be silenced.

"Yes, sir!" The lieutenant, a corrupt officer himself, grinned and left.

Nezumi settled back, dreaming of his imminent promotion.

…

Meanwhile, the Marine scout watched in horror as lightning reduced Arlong Park to a smoking crater. The once fearsome Arlong Pirates were now charred corpses.

He frantically reached for his Den Den Mushi.

It vanished from his hand.

"Little pest, I've been watching you," Rimuru said, looming over him. "As a reward for leading those scumbags here, saving me the trouble, I'll grant you a quick death."

A bullet materialized in mid-air, then pierced the Marine's forehead.