Summary:
Sanji goes underwater to free Luffy from his concrete encasement and notices Genzo and Nojiko trying to resuscitate him by pulling his neck above the water. However, Kuroobi chases Sanji underwater and overpowers him with Fish-Man Karate attacks. However, before Sanji can be finished, he covers Kuroobi’s gills and returns to shore where Kuroobi confronts him. On land, Sanji is able to attack Kuroobi with several attacks before finally being finished off by Mouton Shot.
With Zoro defeating Hatchan and Sanji facing Kuroobi, Zoro prepares to go underwater to rescue Luffy. Sanji says that Zoro will die from his injuries underwater, but Zoro replies that they don’t have time left, so Sanji jumps instead. Zoro is horrified when Kuroobi gleefully looks forward to the fight in his natural element and jumps into the water to go after Sanji. As Sanji descends, he sees Genzo pumping Luffy’s chest and Luffy’s neck being stretched to the shore, lifting his head above the water as Nojiko holds her there. Luffy coughs up some of the water he swallowed, giving Nojiko hope and Sanji knowing that all he has to do is break the rock Luffy’s legs are encased in and free him. However, Kuroobi suddenly catches up to Sanji and punches him in the back of the neck, and then sees Genzo with Luffy, prompting him to go after the villager. Sanji grabs Kuroobi’s legs and holds him back, and Kuroobi is thrilled that Sanji is challenging him in an environment where not only is he much stronger, but Sanji is weakened by not being able to breathe.
Kuroobi wrapped Sanji in his tail and Sanji tried to kick him, but the power of the kick was halved and Kuroobi easily dodged it. Kuroobi’s attacks, on the other hand, are intact and sometimes even boosted, landing several powerful blows on Sanji. After the attack, Sanji desperately tries to swim up to catch his breath, but Kuroobi smugly blocks him. Kuroobi mocks Sanji’s chivalry, saying that this is how far he’s gotten and that once he dies, Kuroobi will kill all his friends and allies, meaning he can’t save a single person. Kuroobi then grabs Sanji by the neck and prepares to drag him very quickly to the bottom of the sea; the sudden change in water pressure tears apart Sanji’s organs. Sanji coughs up blood as he is brought to the bottom of the sea, and on land the Cocoyasi villagers wonder with concern at the status of Sanji, Genzo, and Nojiko.
Sanji remains alive after the sudden pressure change and points up. Kuroobi decides to do it again and swims back up to the top. Knowing that fish men underwater breathe with gills, Sanji bites Kuroobi’s gills, blocking them and causing him to suffocate. Sanji is freed from Kuroobi’s grip and returns to the air, shocking Zoro and Arlong. He tells Zoro that Luffy is fine and tells Kuroobi to come and kill him. Kuroobi arrives, not thinking about fighting on land, confident that he can still overpower Sanji and kill him with his ultimate attack. However, Sanji quickly attacks Kuroobi with powerful kicks and a stunned Kuroobi quickly tries to use his ultimate attack, but Sanji finishes him off with a Mouton Shot and asks him if he wants some dessert as he flies off.