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"Leave it to me!" Luffy's voice rang out across the battlefield. Lucas tried to stop him, but his words were lost in the chaos.
Luffy dug his feet into the ground, his body coiling like a spring. Tears streamed down Momoo's face as the seaking was forced to charge under Arlong's threats. The injustice burned in Lucas chest, this was pure bullying.
With a sudden motion, Luffy's rubber arm shot out, grabbing Moo Moo's horns. "Everyone, clear out!" Zoro warned. Sanji blinked. "What? Why?"
"I don't know," Zoro admitted, "but this idiot's about to cause collateral damage."
Meanwhile, Lucas and Usopp had already retreated to a safe distance. "Luffy's moves always have splash damage," Lucas noted. Usopp nodded sagely. "As expected of my vice-captain, always thinking ahead!"
True to form, Luffy began spinning, hurling the massive Seaking like a living wrecking ball. Fishmen went flying as the attack cleared the field.
Lucas jaw dropped. "This defies physics! Since when can humans do this?"
The villagers shared his disbelief, while Sanji and Zoro simply groaned. "Were you trying to take us out too?" Sanji yelled.
The fishman cadres stepped forward. "Brother Arlong," Kuroobi said, "let us handle them. If you fight here, you'll destroy Arlong Park."
Arlong shrugged. "Fine." Though Luffy had landed a hit earlier, the shark fishman still looked unconcerned.
Zoro eyed the three remaining cadres. "One each?" he proposed.
Sanji exhaled smoke. "I could handle all three. You two can spectate."
"Seconded!" Lucas raised his hand eagerly. He studied the fishmen Hatchan, Kuroobi, and one other. If memory served, the weakest was...
"Vice-Captain Usopp," Lucas tried, "team-up against one?"
Usopp was busy trying to dig Luffy out of the ground. "Ah, the captain's occupied! The vice-captain will have to solo this one!"
Lucas swallowed hard as he approached the six-armed Hatchan. Before he could speak, Arlong's voice cut through the air. "Wait!"
All eyes turned as the shark fishman rose. "I've thought of a better game." He strode toward the still-stuck Luffy. Usopp yelped and let go as Arlong approached.
THWACK!
Luffy went sailing, straight toward Lucas. He barely dodged as his would-be opponent got flattened by the flying rubberman.
"Captain Usopp delivers again!" Lucas cheered.
Chew, now fixated on Usopp, bellowed: "I'll kill you myself, coward!"
Lucas grinned. No opponent meant he could...
Arlong's laugh interrupted his thoughts. The shark man had Luffy by the arm, tearing up chunks of pavement. "Devil Fruit users sink like stones," he taunted. "Let's see you swim!"
"LUFFY!" Sanji moved to intervene, but Zoro blocked him. "Water's their domain. We finish this first."
Arlong sneered at Zoro. "Roronoa Zoro. We have unfinished business."
Zoro tossed a glance at Lucas. "Octopus is yours." He drew his swords. "Time to gut a fish."
Sanji squared off with Kuroobi. "If humans are 'inferior,' then you're just seafood."
Meanwhile, Usopp led Chew on a chase through the village, pelting him with Fire Stars. "Over here, calamari!"
The villagers blinked at the bizarre spectacle. "Who is this guy? Brave one second, running the next..."
Back at the park, Lucas faced Chew remaining colleague, the octopus fishman himself.
"Little human," Hatchan said seriously, "you can't win. Surrender now."
Lucas forced a smile. "Violence is so uncivilized. How about... takoyaki instead?"
Hatchan's eyes lit up. He plopped down cross-legged. "You make takoyaki? I'm an expert! Everyone says mine's the best."
"Really?" Lucas sat cautiously, legs trembling. "I'd love to try some. Professional opinion, you understand."
Nearby, Sanji did a double-take mid-kick. "Are they having a snack break?!"
WHAM! Kuroobi fist sent him flying. "Never drop your guard against a Fishman Karate master!"