chsdbacks 6. My fist is on top of your bad luck!
6. My fist is on top of your bad luck!
"What do we do! What do we do! What do we do?!"
Nami shook Norton's shoulders frantically, her voice distorted with fear, "We're all going to be eaten by the Sea Kings!"
The sea king, resembling a flat shark, slowly swung its tail, and the enormous travel ship on its back looked like a toy boat, its shadow pressing heavily on the sea like a dying twilight.
The deck was in disarray, and everyone looked on in despair.
Compared to such massive sea monsters, humans are practically no different from ants.
"There's no way he could survive..."
"I'm doomed! My life is over!"
"What bad luck! First pirates, then Sea Kings. Is this still the peaceful East Blue I know?"
...
Amidst such negative comments, everyone seemed lifeless, as if all hope had been lost.
An atmosphere of despair permeated the air.
Even in such an atmosphere, Norton remained calm and composed.
"Relax, I'm here," Norton said to Nami.
However, even with Norton's words, Nami was still uneasy.
The situation was so dire that there was a large hole in the bottom of the ship, and the shipwrights were helpless. They were even being carried on the back of the sea king, who seemed to think the ship was an interesting toy and was supporting them with his back.
With each jolt, the keel groaned under the strain, and the sound of the planks cracking was like the second hand of a countdown.
Even if the behemoth suddenly lost interest and threw them back into the sea, the ship, damaged to this extent, wouldn't last until the next island.
Are we supposed to swim to the next island? Please, there isn't a single fishman here.
"Damn it! I can't die yet!" Nami cried, tears streaming down her face.
"Don't worry, you won't die if you follow me." Norton patted Nami's head and looked at Sanosuke.
Norton still caught the hint of self-reproach in Sanosuke's eyes, even though it was well hidden.
The ship rocked violently again, and the sea king, having had enough of its "ball-balancing" game, suddenly swerved to the side.
The whole world tilted and collapsed in an instant.
The ship disintegrated under the irresistible force, turning into a shower of wood chips and ropes. Screams and cries of agony were torn apart by the howling wind and waves.
"ah!!"
"Help!"
"If there's an afterlife, I definitely won't be a pirate! I'd rather accept the marriage proposal from that fat mayor's daughter!"
...
Screams erupted one after another.
Nami plummeted through the weightless void, her eyes tightly shut, feeling as if her heart was about to shatter in her chest.
"Am I going to die?" Nami wondered.
The next second, the feeling of weightlessness vanished abruptly. The expected impact and seawater did not arrive; instead, a strong arm encircled her.
She opened her eyes shakily, only to be met with Norton's face, which was inches away from hers.
"So handsome..." Nami muttered to herself.
"Hold on tight," Norton whispered, and before Nami could react, he hoisted her onto his shoulder.
Nami cried out in surprise, "What are you doing?!"
Norton remained silent, but as he plummeted downwards, he delivered a simple punch to the sea king.
The force of the punch stirred up a violent airflow, and the surging pressure of the punch condensed into a visible shock wave, which slammed into the sea king's back, which was as vast as land!
The sea surface exploded, and on the sea king's back, a terrifying fist-shaped mark tens of meters in diameter suddenly collapsed, its scales shattered, and its flesh twisted!
The sea kings let out thunderous cries of pain.
Norton raised his hand, as if to throw another punch. Before the fist was even thrown, that overwhelming momentum had already gathered once more.
But the punch didn't land. Everyone heard a tremendous sound, the mournful cry of a sea king.
A pitiful cry, as if begging for mercy.
Sea Kings cannot communicate with humans, yet possess intelligence comparable to that of humans, and cannot be tamed like other sea beasts. Legend has it that only the "Sea King" can command them.
But at this moment, everyone felt that this sea king was giving in!
This enormous creature feared Norton's fist.
The sea suddenly fell into an eerie silence. The sea monsters quieted down, with only the soft sound of debris falling into the water and the heavy breathing of the crowd.
Norton slowly lowered his fist, looked at Sanosuke, and grinned: "Looks like my fist is more bad luck than yours!"
Sanosuke stood there dumbfounded, when a thought flashed through his mind like lightning once again.
Could it be that Norton really is the master he has been searching for, the one who can suppress his bad luck?
Nami slid off Norton's shoulder, staring blankly at his face. This guy was ridiculously strong!
Moreover, he is truly unlike any other pirate!
Her mind was once again in turmoil, and the thought of giving up resurfaced.
The crowd, relieved to have survived, gathered around to compliment Norton.
"Mr. Norton, you're amazing! You knocked down a Sea King with just one punch!"
"Thank goodness you were here!"
"We're saved!"
...
After a brief exchange of compliments, the Duke approached. "Mr. Norton, what should we do now? The ship has been destroyed, we..."
Although Norton defeated the Sea King, the ship was so badly damaged that it could not sail. If they hadn't been on the Sea King's back, they wouldn't have had anywhere to land.
"Simple, just have this fish take us to land," Norton said.
"But it's still at least a day's journey to land, and humans can't communicate with sea kings..." Nami said worriedly.
"Hey! Can you even understand me?" Norton yelled at the Sea King, seemingly ignoring Nami's words. "Since you destroyed my ship, get me back to land, or I'll kill you and make fish soup!"
As if understanding Norton's words, the sea kings let out a low growl and actually began to swim.
"It moved! It really moved!" Nami looked at Norton in surprise. "How did you do that?"
"Perhaps it's talent," Norton said, stroking his chin.
He didn't know how to explain it, but since he was a child he could communicate with all kinds of animals. Although he sometimes couldn't understand the animals' calls, the animals seemed to understand what he was saying.
A reverse version of Listening to the Voice of All Things?
Norton thought it probably wasn't the case; he hadn't yet grasped the power of Haki. His fists were enough to solve any problem, and he hadn't encountered a predicament that could trigger Haki.
Being too strong can sometimes be a problem. Being invincible is too lonely.
That's why Norton was so eager to go to sea.
"Hey! Big fish, swim over there!" Nami shouted at the sea king, pointing in a direction, just like Norton.
The sea kings remained unmoved.
"What's wrong with this stupid fish?" Nami complained.
Norton laughed heartily, while Nami bit her lower lip and glared fiercely at him.
"Don't laugh!"
"Then I won't laugh... haha..."
Despite saying that, Norton's laughter continued. After a moment, he pointed in the direction Nami had just indicated and shouted at the Sea Kings, "Hey! Stupid fish, swim that way!"
The sea king let out a low growl and swam in the direction Norton pointed.
...
...