Several days later, at the shore of Grove 16, Sabaody Archipelago.
Enel and Tom, faces smeared with black engine oil, emerged from the Leviathan's hull and collapsed onto the cloud bed, fast asleep.
For the past week, they had worked nearly non-stop, finally installing the Ark Maxim's [Despair] propulsion system and a weapons system onto the Leviathan.
However, since the conductors used weren't gold, the efficiency of electrical energy utilization had decreased. To achieve outer space travel capability, it would require Sakura's Odo Odo no Mi assistance to create low-temperature environments, reducing equipment and energy loss.
Simultaneously, the refitted Leviathan had propellers added to its stern and sides for sailing under special conditions. A large chimney, three meters in diameter and six meters high, now rose from the top of the quarterdeck, serving as an exhaust channel for the propulsion system's byproducts.
It was believed the new Leviathan would soon bring unexpected surprises to her enemies!
"This is truly magnificent," Tiger stood on the shore, gazing at their new ship. "By the way, Leviathan, aren't you affected by being gutted and opened up like this?"
"Don't worry, as long as the entire ship isn't destroyed, I won't be affected."
With a piece of Sabaody specialty barbecue in her mouth, Leviathan gave Tiger a thumbs-up.
"Hmm, I left Iceburg with Uncle Rayleigh. It's time to set sail!"
Sakura's voice suddenly rang out behind them, startling both.
Tiger and Leviathan turned in unison to see Sakura with a bruised chin and a battered Kuina behind her.
"Pfft, you two... got into a fight?"
Leviathan swallowed her food, covering her mouth to avoid laughing too loudly.
"No, I sought some long-overdue instruction."
Sakura raised a hand to touch the bruise, wincing. "That senior saw Kuina's talent and gave her a few pointers as well."
'Pointers' was an understatement. Rayleigh practically poured out everything he knew.
After all, his last disciple, this traitor, went off to learn some giant's combat techniques and actually made a name for herself, becoming an indelible stain on Rayleigh's teaching reputation.
Now another sword prodigy had come along. He genuinely wanted to teach her properly, to change his past, present, and future miserable state of losing reputation in the educational world.
Unfortunately, Kuina's resolve to sail with Sakura was firm. Rayleigh couldn't keep her, so he could only let her go like this.
"That senior... is it him?"
Tiger stroked his chin, walking forward to pull up the anchor.
Leviathan, who didn't understand their cryptic talk, jumped onto Sakura's back, pestering her to tell them everything that happened.
Amidst the noisy chatter, the coating system at the ship's bottom activated, and the entire vessel began its descent into the deep sea.
…
Directly beneath the Red Line, Fish-Man Island.
Morning. Sunlight filtered through the Eve Trees, the protectors of the Fish-Men and Merfolk, reaching the island's surface.
Ten-year-old Mermaid Camie pushed open her apartment door, swimming ashore. The bright sunlight was warm, making her scales feel comfortable.
Riding the floating currents through Mermaid Cove, Camie arrived at the coral school established by the kingdom in the Gyoncorde Plaza.
Five years ago, Queen Otohime had established this school here. The Ryugu Palace had cooperated by issuing a decree: all young Fish-Men and Merfolk under twelve could come here to receive an education.
Enrollment in the academy was voluntary. However, due to the Ryugu Palace's preferential policies, with students could eat free lunches at school, many island residents were happy to send their children to attend classes.
The school curriculum was divided into academic classes and martial arts classes. Academic classes were organized by Otohime herself, taught by Ryugu Palace's civil officials like the Left Minister, covering knowledge related to the Four Blues and how to recognize complex humans.
Martial arts classes were currently taught by the Warlord of the Sea, Jinbei, Ryugu Palace's military officials like the Right Minister, and instructors from the Fish-Man Dojo, primarily focusing on Fish-Man Karate and Mermaid Jujutsu.
"Why is there martial arts class again today?!"
Upon arriving at school and seeing the schedule posted outside her classroom, Camie let out a wail.
As a kissfish-type mermaid, physically weak and not suited for combat, her martial arts grades were notoriously low in the entire school.
Even many newly enrolled young mermaids could easily defeat her, leaving the school's instructors dumbfounded.
"If only a Sea King would come and disrupt today's class!"
Entering the classroom, Keimi listlessly flopped onto her shell-shaped desk, staring blankly at the blackboard.
Wooo-!
The moment Camie's complaint left her mouth, a long, drawn-out evacuation alarm sounded throughout the school.
Camie instantly shot upright from her desk, her mouth agape in disbelief. "Huh?! It actually worked?!"
Following the evacuation alarm to the square outside the school, Camie and the other young Fish-Men suddenly realized a huge shadow was covering the area above them.
Little faces filled with confusion looked up to see a composite trimaran hydrofoil plummeting toward them.
"Enel, you idiot, what did you even install on this ship?!" A clear, scolding voice echoed across the square.
"How was I supposed to know the ship's bow shockwave bombs would affect it?" Another frantic voice retorted. "Hey, wake up! We're going to crash, Leviathan!"
The children on the ground panicked and scrambled in all directions. Sakura's Observation Haki saw the disastrous future three seconds hence, so she gritted her teeth and jumped down from the ship's gunwale.
Using Geppo to accelerate in mid-air, she landed on the square a step ahead of the Leviathan.
"Pi... Pirate!"
Camie, who had been feeling cheerful about escaping martial arts class, turned ashen upon seeing the tall girl falling from the sky.
"Tch, you've got guts, kid." Sakura shook her head.
All the other young mermaids were fleeing as fast as they could, but this pink-tailed one dared to stand straight and watch the show.
But unfortunately, there was no extra time to get her to safety now.
To prevent the aftermath from harming the young mermaid, Sakura simply scooped her up with one arm and raised her other hand toward the Leviathan.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let me go! We'll die if that thing hits!"
Camie, held by Sakura, eyes streaming with tears, struggled frantically.
With a howl, the massive object fell.
Boom-!
The sound and shockwave from the collision spread like a surging tidal wave, kicking up a huge cloud of dust in the center of the square.
Ryugu Palace's guards pouring out of the school surrounded the square. Queen Otohime and Jinbe, having received the news, hurried to the scene.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the dust cleared, revealing Sakura, her feet deeply embedded in the ground.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura's arm, raised high, bulged with veins as she strained to lift the hundred-meter-long, four-hundred-ton hydrofoil.
Then she exhaled a white breath, slowly lowering the massive ship.
Every fish-man who witnessed this scene, young and old, felt their eyes bulge from their sockets, bloodshot whites showing.
Their mouths hung open as they exclaimed in unison:
"Eh-???"