Chapter 19: The Water-Wielder and the Pressure Point's Kiss
[SYSTEM MISSION: ELIMINATE ARLONG'S RANGED THREAT. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: WATER JET (UPGRADE) / PRESSURE POINT KNOWLEDGE. SECONDARY GOAL: SUPPORT CREW'S OFFENSIVE.]
"Chuu. The spitting Fish-Man. A dedicated ranged combatant, using water pressure. This is a chance to upgrade my very minor 'Water Jet' skill, or gain 'Pressure Point Knowledge' – incredibly useful for precise, debilitating strikes. I need to get hit by his full-power Water Jet, a direct, concussive blow that showcases the full extent of his unique power. This is about understanding focused, external force. Time to take a shower... a very painful, very deadly shower."
The battle within Arlong Park raged. Luffy was exchanging furious blows with Arlong, Zoro was recovering from his fight with Hatchan, and Sanji was dealing with the underwater chaos of Kuroobi. That left Chuu, the long-nosed Fish-Man with the powerful water-spitting ability, free to harass Usopp and Nami from a distance, constantly raining down high-pressure water jets.
Chuu's attacks were accurate and potent, capable of piercing wood and knocking humans unconscious. My compass, sensing the tactical threat and the opportunity, pulsed towards Chuu. A system prompt clarified the acquisition.
[SYSTEM MISSION: ELIMINATE ARLONG'S RANGED THREAT. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: WATER JET (UPGRADE) / PRESSURE POINT KNOWLEDGE. SECONDARY GOAL: SUPPORT CREW'S OFFENSIVE.]
"Chuu. The water cannon. This is a perfect chance for a specialized ranged attack, or an incredibly useful combat skill. 'Water Jet' could make me a ranged threat, or 'Pressure Point Knowledge' would allow me to disable opponents with precision. I need to take a direct hit from his most powerful water jet, to understand the force and its application. This is a calculated risk for a valuable skill. Time to become a human target practice dummy."
"Usopp, Nami! Get clear!" I yelled, noticing Chuu aiming a particularly powerful shot. "I'll handle this! Just… don't be surprised if I suddenly evaporate!"
I ran directly towards Chuu, weaving and dodging his initial, weaker shots, but deliberately allowing him to charge up his most potent attack. My Gum-Gum body flexed, preparing for the blunt impact.
"Hmph! Foolish human!" Chuu sneered, sucking in a massive amount of water. "Taste the might of a Fish-Man's Water Shot!" He then unleashed a torrent of highly pressurized water, a dense, focused projectile aimed directly at my chest.
"This is it. The pure, concussive force of his water. I need to feel every single molecule of its impact. This is a death by overwhelming, focused pressure. Not a cut, not a punch, but a hydraulic shockwave."
I braced myself, my Rubber-Rubber body stretching to absorb the impact, but the sheer pressure was immense, far beyond a simple blunt attack. It felt like being hit by a liquid cannonball. My internal organs convulsed, my bones groaned, and my blood vessels ruptured from the overwhelming hydrostatic shock. The water tore through my defenses, not by cutting, but by sheer force, collapsing my chest and rupturing my lungs. My vision exploded in a flash of white, then darkness, filled only with the deafening roar of the water and the sensation of being utterly pulverized from the inside out.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DEATH RECORDED. KILLER: CHUU (WATER JET). ABILITY ACQUIRED: PRESSURE POINT KNOWLEDGE. REVIVAL INITIATING. PLEASE WAIT.]
"Pressure Point Knowledge! YES! This is amazing! Not flashy, but incredibly tactical. I can feel it – an intuitive understanding of the body's vulnerabilities, where to strike for maximum effect, for pain, for paralysis, for knockout. This is going to make me so much more effective in combat, even against stronger foes. Arlong's guys are about to learn a very painful lesson. Time to pop back up and start disabling their limbs."
I gasped, sitting up, perfectly whole and dry. My body felt no pain, but my mind was alight with new information. I could instinctively visualize the pressure points on Chuu's body, the weak spots in his thick Fish-Man skin.
Chuu, meanwhile, was still gloating over my (briefly) defeated form. "Hmph! Pathetic human! Couldn't even withstand a single shot!"
"Oh, but I did," I said, my voice calm, and a predatory glint in my eye. "And I learned so much. Thank you for the demonstration, Chuu. I now understand the true power of focused pressure. And I intend to return the favor."
Chuu's eyes widened as I slowly stood up, brushing off my clothes. "You… you're back?! But I vaporized you!"
"Just a minor inconvenience, my fishy friend," I replied, then lunged. My movements were fluid, precise. I didn't waste time with big, flashy attacks. Instead, using my Pussyfoot Maneuver, I appeared directly in front of Chuu, and with a series of incredibly fast, almost imperceptible strikes, I targeted specific points on his body. A jab to the neck, a chop behind the ear, a quick tap to the back of his knee. Each strike was perfectly placed, designed not for damage, but for disruption.
Chuu cried out, first in confusion, then in pain, then in sudden paralysis. His arm went numb, his leg buckled, and he collapsed, utterly unable to move, his eyes wide with fear and incomprehension.
"See?" I said, standing over his prone form. "Pressure points. Highly effective. I recommend you learn them. Or avoid people who know them."
Usopp and Nami, watching from a distance, stared in disbelief. "He… he just paralyzed him!" Usopp shrieked.
"Amazing," Nami whispered, a newfound respect in her eyes.
With Chuu defeated, our strategic advantage grew. My new ability was a surgical tool, and I intended to use it to dismantle Arlong's remaining forces before the final confrontation.