The dock of Borg Town was soaked in blood and silence.
Kuroobi's broken body remained sprawled where Shun Kaien had left it, his once-proud visage crumpled into the dirt, his glazed eyes reflecting the broken pride of the Arlong Pirates.
The air trembled as Douglas Bullet stood amidst the remnants of the fishmen's bravado, his massive frame pulsing with the dormant power of a monster from a bygone age.
Shun, hands in his coat pockets, barely spared the fallen officer a glance.
"Enough games," he said softly, almost as if he were bored."Erase them."
Bullet's grin widened, a predator finally allowed to hunt freely.
Without preamble, Bullet's aura erupted—a suffocating wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
It wasn't just intimidation—it was domination, suffocation, the raw, oppressive will of a man who bowed to no one and would tolerate no insect pretending to be king.
The sky itself seemed to grow darker as his haki crashed into the surrounding fishmen like an invisible tidal wave.
Arlong's crew stood no chance.
Their bodies convulsed as the sheer force of Bullet's will crushed them from the inside.
Some collapsed instantly, bleeding from their eyes and ears.
Others staggered, clutching their throats as their minds fractured under the pressure.
Even Hatchan, the last of Arlong's so-called officers, crumbled, twitching like a dying insect, gasping for breath he could no longer find.
When the haze cleared, only Arlong remained on his knees, shivering uncontrollably.
His body was broken—bleeding, bruised, humiliated.
His mind, shattered.
His dreams of ruling the East Blue—reduced to ash beneath Bullet's casual disdain.
He whimpered.
"Please... I... I surrender..."
Shun's footsteps echoed ominously as he approached the fallen warlord.
Kneeling before him, Arlong no longer looked like a pirate captain.
He looked like prey.
Shun crouched, voice quiet, almost compassionate in tone—but cold as death.
"When you enslaved these people... when you crushed them beneath your foot... did you ask them to beg, Arlong?"
The fishman's lips trembled.
"I... I protected them from worse pirates... I... I was—"
"Spare me your excuses," Shun interrupted flatly.
"You lined your pockets with blood money.You bought off cowards like Nezumi in the Navy, feeding him scraps to keep your little empire safe."
Arlong's pupils dilated.
That this stranger knew of his dirty dealings with the corrupt Colonel Nezumi finally shattered whatever thin veil of pride remained.
Shun stood.
"Close your eyes."
And Arlong obeyed.
Like a beaten dog.
There was no honor left to salvage.
Bullet's shadow passed behind him.
The sound of bones breaking was quiet.
Efficient.
Final.
No speeches.
No ceremony.
Only silence.
They left the wreckage of the Arlong Pirates to rot.
Their stolen Navy warship, still bearing the insignia of justice, sailed from the harbor.
As they drifted out to sea, the villagers gathered at the shore.
They didn't cheer wildly.
They didn't laugh or weep.
They stared.
Like prisoners watching their captors die—too broken to understand if they had been truly freed.
Shun stood at the helm, watching the hollow expressions.
"They think we're the Navy," he murmured to Bullet.
Bullet chuckled darkly.
"Let them."
Shun exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.
"Killing pirates makes you a hero.But we're still pirates."
Bullet folded his arms.
"The world is full of fools who cling to whatever lie makes them feel safe."
Shun smirked faintly.
"Maybe the Navy will send me an invitation.Offer me a seat at the table of the Shichibukai."
Bullet spat overboard.
"Shichibukai? What is that?"
Shun blinked.
Of course.Bullet had been sealed away for twenty years.
"They call them the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Pirates given immunity by the World Government. They do what they want, as long as they dance when the Navy pulls the strings."
Bullet's lips curled in disgust.
"Pirates... as dogs for the Government?"
He scoffed.
"Disgraceful."
"They call it balance," Shun replied.
"The Navy uses them to keep the other pirates in check."
"Balance," Bullet muttered bitterly." The seas need no balance. They need predators. And only the strong decide who rules."
Shun tilted his head slightly.
"You fought one of them once."
Bullet's brow raised.
"Who?"
"Dracule Mihawk," Shun answered, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
Bullet barked a laugh.
"That little swordsman? Still alive? Hah... at least that brat had guts."
They sailed into the endless blue, the wind tearing through the white sails of their stolen vessel.
Behind them, the East Blue trembled in the wake of their departure.
And elsewhere... the world watched.
In the shadows of the World Government's chambers.
Reports flooded in.
The Marine Headquarters, in turmoil, gathered its might.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face darkened as he reviewed the latest news from the East Blue.
Douglas Bullet—escaped.
And with him, an unknown monster named Shun Kaien.
Together, they had decimated the Arlong Pirates, seized naval ships, and vanished into the sea.
The world's order had been shaken.
And the Navy... was preparing to answer.