Chapter 17 – Catharsis and Brutal Death! Nami's New Tag

"Crying your eyes out like that... how pitiful."

Jin crouched in front of Arlong, full of interest, slapping his face casually.

"What a shame. You're not crying because you realize your mistakes. You're crying because you know you're going to die."

The next second, a fist the size of a sandbag slammed into Arlong's face.

No technique. Just pure rage.

Jin held Arlong's head steady with his left hand and pummeled him with his right. His punches, as heavy as steel, crashed into Arlong's face one after another.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Each impact made one's spine shiver.

Arlong's face collapsed inward, blood spurted from every orifice, all his teeth shattered, and even his jagged nose bone was smashed to bits.

"Not enough. It's still not enough. I want your blood to burst right out of your face."

Jin gripped Arlong's head even tighter. His excited gaze sent a chill down Arlong's spine.

He was certain now—this man was a monster.

In terms of cruelty, Jin made even that bastard Kizaru from the past look like a joke.

Arlong's teeth kept regenerating, but every time they did, another brutal blow would crush them again.

Splurt!

Eventually, no one knew how much time had passed before Arlong's jaw shattered like a spiderweb.

Boom!

With a final blow, Arlong's eyes rolled back, and his jaw was completely obliterated.

His facial features were soaked in filthy blood, and his brain was barely functioning.

"Oi oi oi."

Jin opened his bloodstained hand and grabbed Arlong by the head, lifting him into the air.

"A member of the so-called strongest race—fishmen—can't just die like that, right?"

Jin's sneer was bone-chilling.

Arlong was now a pathetic wreck.

His jaw was shattered, his gums destroyed, his teeth could no longer regenerate, and his iconic saw-like nose had been ripped off.

His entire face was a bloody mess.

Ignoring Arlong's miserable state, Jin turned toward the courtyard gate and shouted:

"Nami, Nojiko, are you just going to keep standing there watching?"

"Eh?"

Nami and Nojiko snapped out of it and quickly ran inside.

Kaya didn't follow them. After all, the fishmen's past crimes had nothing to do with her.

She simply stayed by the gate with the villagers, repeatedly explaining that her older brother wasn't a pervert.

"Arlong!!"

Nami rushed forward. Staring at the murderer of her mother, she clenched her fists and growled through gritted teeth.

Arlong turned toward the voice.

"So it's you…"

Seeing that familiar orange-haired figure, Arlong's expression twisted with shock before he quickly figured it out.

No wonder that human monster had slaughtered all his comrades—it was this woman who brought him here!

At that moment, Arlong was filled with regret.

If only he had killed Nami back then. If only he hadn't spared her to make sea charts…

Then this monster wouldn't have come knocking, and today's tragedy wouldn't have happened!

Nami… Nami…

It's all your fault!!!

With that thought, Arlong's hatred toward Nami reached a boiling point. His eyes practically wanted to devour her alive.

"Hey, don't look at my girlfriend like that."

Jin had no patience for Arlong. He grabbed Arlong's face and forced him to look directly at Nami.

"Nami, watch closely. The demon who's haunted you for eight years is going to die here today."

"For the rest of your life, you'll never have to live in fear again. All the pain you've endured—I'll make it up to you."

As he spoke, Jin clamped down on Arlong's skull. His five fingers tightened like a vice.

"Arlong, once you're dead, I'm going to chop you up."

"I'll let the 'inferior' species you looked down on roast and eat you, bit by bit."

Hearing Jin's devilish whisper, the look of defiance in Arlong's eyes finally gave way to fear.

CRACK—!!!

Jin's fingers clenched, and a sickening crunch echoed through the air.

Blood gushed from Arlong's head. It streamed down his face as five glaring holes opened in his skull. His eyes went dull instantly.

Staring at Arlong's mutilated corpse…

Nojiko covered her mouth, crystal tears sliding silently down her cheeks.

Bellemere… your revenge is finally complete…

Nami stood frozen, overwhelmed by emotion.

The burden on her heart had vanished. Her whole body felt lighter.

She stood still for a moment, then reached up and touched her cheek. It was damp.

"These are… tears? I'm crying?"

Nami bit her lip, dumbfounded as tears streamed down her jaw uncontrollably.

Jin saw this and sighed quietly. Just as he was about to stand—

His head sank into something soft… a strangely pleasant sensation… like facial cleanser?

"Uuuuuu~~"

Nami didn't know why she was crying. Instinctively, she threw her arms around Jin's head, sobbing freely, tears pouring down on him.

"Nami…"

Nojiko's eyes were misty too. She stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Nami's shoulder, silently comforting her sister.

Jin swallowed the words he was about to say and simply let Nami hug him, letting her vent it all out.

After a while…

Nami's sobs gradually faded.

She let go of Jin's head, looked up at his towering figure, and forced a smile.

"Jin, from now on, I'm your navigator. I even brought the sea charts I drew, I—"

"Shhh."

Before she could finish, Jin gently pressed a finger to her lips.

His gaze was soft, and the full-power charm effect from his [Max Affinity] tag was already in full swing. Nami blanked out without realizing it.

"I don't need anything that brings you pain."

Jin ruffled her hair, then turned his eyes toward the tower.

A flash of purple lightning flickered in his pitch-black pupils.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Thunder raged like divine wrath!

With a deafening roar, the entire building collapsed.

BOOM BOOM BOOM…

But it wasn't over yet. The heavens poured down unending bolts of lightning, as if venting their fury.

It continued until all of Arlong Park was reduced to rubble beneath a storm of crackling light.

Only then did Jin stop, holding Nami tightly in his arms.

"Jin…"

Nami was once again in tears.

Suddenly—

A radiant golden light appeared over her body.

Jin's eyes narrowed as he noticed the change.

"Reading tag!"

The next moment—

A multicolored glow burst in front of him. A new tag screen appeared.

[End of Chapter]

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