Deep in the ocean, currents pulsed with tension as the warship hovered just above the abyss.
"Oh! There's a stubborn Fish‑Man chasing us," Admiral Silver Serpent savored the fried fish cake in his hand. He took the juice offered by his beautiful Vice Admiral Dore, drinking it thoroughly with a careless smile.
"However, this Fish‑Man… truly a pitiful creature," Silver Serpent said with nonchalance. "He spent most of his life at the bottom of the sea because of racial discrimination, interacting only with oppressed deep‑sea Fish‑Men. Without proper education or a guiding father like a king, influenced by the violence‑ridden Fish‑Man streets, he was indoctrinated with the idea that force is absolute, that might is the only solution!"
He chuckled lightly, then formed a silver‑white lightning trident in his hand.
"Such arrogance, built on ignorance. He truly believes Fish‑Men are the strongest race in the world. Yet in truth, his power is weak, pathetic even!"
As he spoke, Silver Serpent's grip condensed the lightning trident fully in his hand.
"Pitiful as your existence is, then I'll send you on your way!"
Sizzle! Sizzle!
"A Fish‑Man with a trident… a fitting target."
The slender lightning trident, its tip gleaming with silver‑white energy, was thrown by Silver Serpent in one swift motion.
Whoosh!
The lightning trident streaked through the water like a flash of living light. Unlike most attacks that lose power in seawater, this one remained potent, its force undiminished by the crushing pressure of the deep.
Swish!
In an instant, the trident reached Hody Jones, captain of the New Fish‑Man Pirates — a great white shark Fish‑Man whose fanaticism and hatred mirrored the extremist legacy of Arlong.
Sizzle!!!
Under the crackling glow of lightning, Hody Jones's eyes abruptly constricted before dilating fiercely.
"What… what is this!?"
Under the influence of E.S. Drugs, his body had expanded dramatically, his reflexes sharpened beyond normal limits. But even that boosted state was barely enough to perceive the incoming lightning‑charged trident.
Danger!
A threat to his life!
"Damn humans!!!"
Hody's eyes blazed as he tried to twist his massive form aside in a desperate bid to evade the strike.
Boom!!!!!
Thunder erupted through the deep sea, light and heat rushing outward in a blazing wave. The water temperature spiked rapidly, billowing steam as the lightning blast transformed a portion of the ocean into a boiling battlefield.
"Ahhh, it burns!"
Hody Jones, grievously struck, felt agony unlike any before. His body was scorched by the explosive lightning, seawater turning crimson around him. Yet through sheer tenacity, he managed to drag his remaining strength and swim out of the scalding blast zone.
"Ah! Captain Jones! You… you…"
Mux, a Giant Squid Fish‑Man and executive of the New Fish‑Man Pirates, watched in horror as Hody struggled, half his body torn apart and barely clinging to life.
"Only half your body remains! How are you even alive?"
"Quick! Help me! Bring more E.S. Drugs, now!" Hody rasped hoarsely, his trembling hand snatching a sack from Mux's grip. The bag contained about thirty E.S. Drugs.
With desperate strength, he swallowed them all, bag included.
Gulp…
Bang!
The E.S. Drugs dissolved inside him, rapidly absorbing into his system. Muscle enlarged, forced by the drugs to patch his wounds and staunch the mounting blood loss. His body pumped itself toward survival.
"Take… take me back…" Hody groaned, barely conscious. His remaining arm, now buffeted with muscle, clutched Mux's collar as he gasped.
"Look at me! If the E.S. Drug wears off, I'll die!"
His voice, strained and terrifying, shook with desperation. "Mux! Whatever can save me, I will try anything! Begging an evil god or becoming a slave… I don't care! Just save me!"
"Okay, okay!"
Mux swallowed hard, supporting the weakened Hody as he motioned for the others to retreat swiftly toward their base.
"Hold on, Big Brother Jones!!!"
The other Fish‑Men, seeing their strongest captain in this pitiful state, dared no longer engage the Marine warship. They fled in terrified haste.
How terrifying…
Could a Marine Admiral be so powerful? Captain Jones couldn't have even reached the opponent. Before he could close the distance, he was struck by an ability from afar — a Devil Fruit power ferocious enough to pierce his body. The shock shattered their collective spirit.
"Clap, clap!"
Admiral Silver Serpent casually applauded, pointing at Vice Admiral Dore, making a triumphant victory sign.
"Easily done!" he said with satisfaction.
"As expected of a Marine Admiral," Dore said earnestly, admiration clear in her voice. "Even in the deep sea, your Devil Fruit power remains formidable."
Silver Serpent smirked. "I told you. These Fish‑Men who boast the most are often nothing but nuisances. In Fish‑Man Island, the ones who seem weak can, once unleashed, make the world suffer."
As he spoke, a distant echo reached them — the name of Princess Shirahoshi, the Mermaid Princess of Fish‑Man Island and one of the legendary Ancient Weapons, the living embodiment of Poseidon.
Ryugu Palace — Fish‑Man Island
"What? Those lawless New Fish‑Man Pirates dared attack a Marine warship?"
A Merman soldier knelt respectfully, reporting urgently before King Neptune, sovereign of the Ryugu Kingdom.
"Yes, King! They surrounded the Marine warship! I rushed back to report!"
King Neptune, the majestic ruler and "Great Knight of the Sea," floated up from his throne, deep concern etched on his face as he stroked his thick orange goatee.
"This is troubling. With the rise of the Sky Island Alliance, the World Government's stance toward Fish‑Man Island had warmed considerably — becoming much friendlier."
Now, a Marine warship attacked underwater by Fish‑Men would almost certainly provoke Marine retaliation.
King Neptune exhaled, furrowing his brow as worry tightened his features.
"Immediately dispatch a reconnaissance team. Confirm whether any Marines survived that battle."
If there were no survivors, there might still be a chance to conceal what truly occurred. Accidents in the depths were common. Perhaps a Sea King attack could be blamed, and if no one lived to tell the tale, the Marines would not know the truth existed.
"Yes!"
Before the soldiers could act, another arrived in a panic.
"Report! King! A Marine warship is approaching Fish‑Man Island! And on that vessel flies the insignia of Marine Admiral Silver Serpent!"
"Marine Admiral Silver Serpent?"
King Neptune's face grew grave, his voice wavering with concern.
"Oh no. That means the ship attacked below was this Marine Admiral Silver Serpent's vessel."
His minister, equally nervous, added quietly, "Could it be that he is here for Princess Shirahoshi?"
"It's hard to say…"
King Neptune stood solemnly, turning to his council.
"Prepare a formal welcoming ceremony immediately. We must greet this Marine Admiral upon arrival!"
"Yes!"
Above Fish‑Man Island — Thunder Serpent Warship
"Is this Fish‑Man Island?"
The Thunder Serpent warship hovered above the island, encased within its massive protective air bubble. Admiral Silver Serpent looked down with amusement.
"I wonder what this island would look like if I unleashed a large‑scale lightning strike right now? A feast of grilled fish?"
"Please do not act rashly!" Vice Admiral Dore stood beside him in full Marine uniform, her tone firm.
"The World Government's current policy toward Fish‑Man Island is to win them over peacefully."
"Winning them over? Why didn't they do it sooner?"
Silver Serpent sneered contemptuously.
"Heh. The World Government merely wishes to use these Mermen as cannon fodder against the Air Force," he scoffed, glancing at the distant island.
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