NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: ARLONG!
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-POV Nojiko-
Nojiko despised the Fish Men, and she loathed herself for being weak and letting her younger sister endure suffering that was unbearable for a little girl, a suffering that persisted to this day. She also resented the Marines for neglecting her village and allowing the Fish Men to enslave humans as they pleased on the island, acting as if they were deities.
Had it not been for her younger sister, who was deeply concerned for her and unwilling to leave her alone in this harsh world, Nojiko might have departed from this life long ago.
"Hello Miss, do you need any help?"
Nojiko was startled by a male voice and turned to see where it came from.
A handsome man stood there; his good looks took her by surprise. Overwhelmed, she approached him for help and wept profusely, drenching his shirt with her tears and mucus.
"You! You're not a local of the island, are you?"
Nojiko paused her actions and scrutinized the attractive man before her, trying to recall his face, but to no avail.
"Yes, I'm not from this island."
"Quick, come with me; we need to conceal you, and you must leave the island before Arlong's men become aware of you... Ah! Is that a LION?"
As she was gesturing for him to come inside her house, she finally noticed Leo.
Hector accepted the invitation from the stunning woman, whose identity he seemed to know instinctively. He promptly entered Nojiko's home, and she instructed him to use the bathroom and change his attire, letting Leo do whatever he wanted.
Before Nojiko could mention that she only had women's clothing, Hector emerged wearing his preferred noble-like outfit, hastily explaining that he had spare clothes. Although Nojiko was puzzled, she proceeded to make some tea, and always keeping and eye on Leo.
Now seated opposite Nojiko, Hector observed her curious gaze upon his elegant black and brown garments. She couldn't recall seeing him carry anything, but she refrained from questioning him. Instead, she began to recount the events from years prior.
Nojiko had already begun to cry, she usually wasn't like this, but upon remembering her tragedies, she could no longer contain her feelings. Hector looked at the stunning beauty in front of him with pity.
She told him that she was an orphan and a woman who had found her on the battlefield, along with another girl who became her sister, the second girl called Nami. That woman was a marine who was wounded in a battle against pirates, her name was Bell-mere. She also told him about Bell-mere who decided to adopt her and Nami. Then returned to her hometown, Cocoyashi village, to live her days happily with the two children watching them grow through the years, and her demise.
"And it didn't just end there. Arlong, that son of a bitch, forced Nami to join his pirate crew and threatened her that he would kill all the villagers if she didn't draw him the maps he wanted. And he made her a promise, that if she brought him a hundred million Berries, she could buy the freedom of Cocoyashi Village."
"Because of this, Nami became a member of Arlong Pirates and had the Jolly Roger of Arlong Pirates tattooed on her shoulder."
Hours after awakening, Nami wept upon learning of Genzo's death, her grief turning to fury at the sight of their visitor.
"What's happened here?"
A taunting voice echoed from behind. They all spun around to confront Arlong's sneering presence.
"YOU MONSTER!"
Nami screamed, struggling to free herself from her bed.
"YOU VIOLATED YOUR PROMISE!"
"Shahahaha! Enlighten me, my dear cartographer, when did I ever break my promise to you?"
Arlong's laughter was sinister.
"STOP ACTING IGNORANT! YOU DIRECTED THOSE MARINES TO-"
Arlong seized her by the throat, his glare piercing.
"Answer me, Nami. When did I ever renege on my promise?"
He sneered, baring his sharp teeth menacingly.
"Release her, you fiend!"
Nojiko fought to reach her sister.
"I arrived upon hearing of your injury. It's not my fault the Marines preceded me and seized the money before you amassed one hundred million Berries, thus I haven't broken my word."
With a grin, Arlong flung Nami back to the floor.
"Moreover, it's merely a hundred million Berries. Simply gather it once more."
Nojiko rushed to aid Nami, she glowered at Arlong from the ground.
"Meanwhile, persist as my cartographer, Nami! Shahahaha! And should you even contemplate escape, I'll annihilate your entire village!"
Arlong departed, his back to them without a second look.
Tears streamed down Nami's face as she lay on the floor. Nojiko, too, wept, her teeth clenched in a rage that shook her entire being.
"Nami, Arlong has betrayed us. The earlier Marines absconded with all the money. Our hope for freedom is lost; this island has no future! We cannot forgive those fishmen who exploited your generosity! The village must be alerted.
"NO! Please, Nojiko stop!"
Nami wept, rising to stand beside Nojiko. She attempted a smile, even as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"I'll just have to gather the money again! You don't need to confront him! I... I'll deceive more fools into helping me rob pirates, it'll be simpler than before!"
"Nami..."
Nojiko sobbed, her hands over her mouth, embracing Nami tightly.
"It's okay, Nami, you've battled alone for our sake long enough. The villagers understand that working for them must have been excruciating. You've done all you could."
"Nojiko..."
Tears welled up in Nami's eyes.
"You don't need to remain here, you're free to leave us now."
Nojiko gently pushed Nami back.
"No... No!"
Nami retreated, brandishing a knife.
"Please... Everyone, I can't bear to see you get hurt..."
Nami's hands trembled as she wept.
"You realize you might die?"
Tears flowed unbidden down her cheeks.
"We're aware."
Nojiko approached Nami, enveloping her in an embrace.
Overwhelmed, Nami collapsed onto her bed, her wound reopening, and she was left to rest.
"And that's what happened. Now, when you finish the tea and leave the island."
Nojiko said finishing explaining what happened and then took a sip of tea.
"I do you have a ship, but after hearing you're story. I can't leave without you and your sister, now can I."
Hector said making Nojiko blush.
"I'm sorry, but we can't. As much as I'm tempted, it'll only cause problems for the village."
Nojiko frowned slightly.
-POV End-
Hector, raised among the Whitebeard Pirates, learned to cherish relationships and familial love, especially with those who merited it, like the sisterly duo who adored Bell-Mere. This trio lived joyfully until Arlong and his crew shattered their bliss, driven by their disdain for humans.
He dismissed Arlong's sorrowful history and deep-seated hatred for humans, resolving to make the fish-man and his gang rue their actions of toying with human lives.
As Nojiko pondered her sister's ongoing anguish, tears flooded her eyes, and she couldn't go on. Ashamed to weep before someone she'd just met, she persisted in crying, hiding her face with her hand, her body quaking.
Observing Nojiko's emotional turmoil, Hector rose to comfort her with an embrace.
"...?"
Nojiko found solace in the warmth of the hug. Initially resistant, she soon relaxed into the secure and comforting hold.
Meanwhile, as Nojiko found solace in Hector's arms, Nami was tormented by nightmares, haunted by Arlong's mocking visage.
"ARLONG!"
She awoke screaming, fixated on the tattoo marking her as his subordinate. Seizing a knife, she furiously stabbed at the tattoo, desperate to sever ties with Arlong, yet feeling trapped.
Suddenly, her door burst open, and a hand clasped her wrist, halting her self-harm. Through tear-stained eyes, she beheld a strikingly noble man, his attire exuding elegance and wealth.
He stood there, gripping her hand, his presence a comforting promise of protection from the malevolence that plagued her.
Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, weeping on his shoulder. In a frenzy, Nojiko fetched bandages to wrap her sister's stab wounds when a shadowy figure materialized before Nami.
His eyes were blank and white, his skin glowed a bright blue, and he was clad in ragged, black armor covered by a hooded cloak. In his right hand, he held a teal spellbook adorned with a pinwheel, and in the other, a blackish-blue mace.
[Dusk: Cleric Lv2]
Rank: Elite
As he raised his book, Nojiko and Nami became bathed in a radiant light, with ethereal green crosses floating around them. Shortly after, the agony in her shoulder vanished, and upon inspection, she found her wounds healed, as were Nami's.
RACE: Human■■■■■■
NAME: Hector Barbossa■■■■■■
Level: 13
Health Points: 5,480
Mana Points: 4,160
Stamina Points: 2,740
Attunement: 208
Vitality: 137
Endurance: 137
Strength: 137
Dexterity: 137
Perception: 137
Skill: 137
Safe Rewards From Daily Quest:
+Stat Points: 40
+Skill Points: 6
Skill Tree:
+Haki:
-Observation Haki: C Rank
-Armament Haki: C Rank
-Conquers Haki: S+ Rank
+Rokushiki
-Moon Step: E Rank
-Iron Body: E+ Rank
-Tempest Kick: E+ Rank
-Shave: E+ Rank
-Finger Pistol: E+ Rank
-Kami-e: E- Rank