Episode 42: Bursting Out! Merman Arlong, Fearsome Attack from the Sea!

Air Date: 2000-09-20
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Opening)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 90 (8-19/19), Chapter 91 (1-19/19), Chapter 92 (1-17/19)

Short Summary

Luffy and Arlong square off as Arlong displays his immense strength. He unleashes his Shark on Darts attack, which allows him to fire himself like a missile. Luffy uses his Devil Fruit powers to counteract Arlong, but Arlong unleashes the Kiribachi, a great saw-edged sword. Arlong chases Luffy into the map room, where Nami drew her maps for the mermen.

In-Depth Summary

The episode opens with Luffy and Arlong at a standoff, and Arlong declares that humans only exist to be below mermen. Sanji gapes at Arlong's teeth, noting that a bite would go through flesh and bones. Arlong lunges at Luffy with his teeth, but Luffy avoids it and stretches out his arms, grabbing Johnny and Yosaku's swords. He starts waving them wildly at Arlong, but Arlong blocks one of them with his nose after telling Luffy he knows nothing about swords, sending it flying through the air. Luffy then punches Arlong right in the face, knocking him down and shattering his teeth. Luffy declares that he knows nothing about swords, about navigating, about cooking, or about lying, but he does know that he needs others to help him keep on living. Arlong sits up, saying that they should have a captain they respect, someone not like Luffy, but Luffy replies that he'll beat Arlong.

As Arlong gets back up, he pops out his broken set of teeth and grows a new one. He laughs that since he is a shark, this is possible. He pulls out two sets of teeth, holding them out of weapons, and so he charges at Luffy, using Twist Gum. Arlong manages to knock down Luffy and wildly snaps the teeth at him, but finds out that he is actually attacking his fellow merman, infuriating him. Luffy casts away his shield as he gets an idea. He plants one foot firmly on the ground and delivers a kick to the side of Arlong's head, knocking Arlong to the ground and his current set of teeth out of his mouth. Arlong gets up, growing a new set, but Luffy sticks one of the old sets of teeth into his own mouth, causing everyone to gape. Arlong manages to get Luffy in the shoulder with his Twist Gum attack, knocking Luffy down and causing him to writhe in pain. He then gets Luffy in the side, causing more pain, but Luffy bites down onto Arlong's shoulder. Arlong stumbles back, pulling the teeth from his shoulder as Luffy removes the teeth from his side. Arlong says that Luffy's jaws are too weak, and that he is a shark, able to tear off limbs and flesh.

Arlong lunges down and bites Luffy on the elbow, causing great pain to Luffy. Luffy toughs it out and manages to slam Arlong onto the ground, as the both lay down, exhausted. Arlong gets back up and heads into the water, and Luffy looks around for him, spotting Arlong's fin. Arlong waits in the water, then charges out and uses Shark on Darts to graze Luffy and send him flying, landing on his head. Arlong emerges from the tower and uses Shark on Darts again, diving at Luffy, but Luffy rolls out of the way. The floor beneath Arlong's nose gives way, and he falls into the pool, where he dives deep down, readying another attack. The others yell at Luffy to hide, but Luffy refuses, saying that he is going to break Arlong's nose. Luffy pulls his fingers in front of him, using Gomu Gomu no Shield. As Arlong burst from the water again, Luffy manages to stop Arlong in his tracks, then pushes him back down, launching himself upward. Luffy clutches onto the wall of the Arlong Park tower, but Arlong shoots up from under him, causing Luffy to fall toward the pool. Arlong hangs from the roof, diving at Luffy again. Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Net to send Arlong right past him. He then uses Gomu Gomu no Spear to drive Arlong into the ground.

As Luffy lands, Arlong sits back up, his eyes different, more fierce. Sanji notes that the same thing happens to a Sea King when one becomes enraged. Arlong takes a swing at Luffy, driving his hand through a wall and grabbing a large saw-edged sword, a Kiribachi, from inside. Arlong swings the Kiribachi repeatedly at Luffy, who keeps leaping up higher and higher up the tower. Soon Luffy is knocked into a room that he notes is full of papers. Arlong explains they are on the top floor of Arlong Park, and it is the map room, where Nami drew all of her maps. Arlong declares that though mermen know the sea, they can't draw maps very well. Luffy replies by insisting that Luffy is his navigator, and his nakama, as the episode ends.

Mumbo230’s Notes

Luffy starts introducing new Gomu Gomu attacks left and right throughout his fight with Arlong. The animation quality, however, takes a notable dip in this episode.

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