After enduring countless hardships, Fisher Tiger finally escaped from the Celestial Dragons' holy city Mary Geoise. His body was battered and bruised, his spirit nearly broken, but his determination carried him all the way back to Fishman Island.
The moment he stepped into Ryugu Palace, Tiger demanded an audience with King Neptune and Queen Otohime. When he finally stood before them, tears welled in his eyes, his voice trembling as he began to recount his nightmare.
During what was meant to be his final voyage, he had been captured by the Celestial Dragons and enslaved. In that lightless hell, he had endured unimaginable torture and humiliation. But what truly shattered him was witnessing his fellow fishmen his kin suffering in chains beside him. Their eyes had long lost their light, their bodies reduced to shadows of life. To live like that, he said, was worse than dying.
By the time he finished, his fists were clenched so tightly that blood dripped between his fingers. Rage burned in his chest, threatening to consume him whole.
Neptune and Otohime listened in silence, grief and fury mixing in their hearts. They were enraged by the World Government's cruelty, yet powerless to resist it. Fishman Island's strength was far too small; even their safety beneath the sea was secured only by the Whitebeard Pirates' protection.
Seeing Tiger's trembling shoulders and blazing eyes, Neptune finally spoke. "Tiger, what do you intend to do now?"
"I'm going to free them," Tiger said, his voice steady and resolute.
"What? Absolutely not!" Neptune shouted, standing abruptly. "That's suicide! You barely escaped alive once if you go back, you'll never return. You know how heavily guarded Mary Geoise is. You can't possibly succeed!"
Tiger met his gaze without flinching. "Your Majesty, every time I close my eyes, I see them suffering. I can't sit here and do nothing. Even if there's only the smallest chance, I have to try."
Queen Otohime let out a quiet sigh. "Tiger, we understand your heart, but Neptune is right. It's far too dangerous."
"There's still a way," Tiger insisted. "When I escaped, I found a hidden path no one else seems to know about. It leads up the Red Line. If I use it to climb and create enough chaos on top, I might actually free our people."
Neptune exchanged a long, heavy look with Otohime. Finally, he asked, "What do you need from us?"
Tiger's voice hardened. "I'll need small, fast ships to carry the freed fishmen away, and explosives powerful ones. Those monsters in Mary Geoise deserve to pay a heavy price."
His chest heaved as he spoke, fury radiating from him like heat. Neptune and Otohime fell silent. They knew that once Tiger took this path, there would be no return. Whether he succeeded or failed, his death was almost certain. Yet they could see the unshakable conviction in his eyes and they couldn't bring themselves to stop him.
After a long pause, Neptune finally said, softly but firmly, "Very well."
Tiger bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please don't worry. Once I leave Fishman Island, I will declare that I no longer represent it. What I do will be my burden alone."
Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode away, his heavy steps echoing through the silent hall. Neptune and Otohime watched his figure disappear down the corridor, neither speaking for a long time. The weight of inevitability hung thick in the air.
At last, Neptune turned to his attendants. "Prepare everything Tiger requested," he said quietly. "We can't go with him, but we'll make sure he has every bit of support we can offer."
Two days later, the morning sun shimmered over the sea. Tiger stood on the deck of a ship surrounded by his closest comrades. The ocean breeze tousled their hair, carrying both salt and tension.
Tiger looked at the familiar faces around him men who had fought beside him, who would gladly die for him. His voice was calm but heavy. "Brothers, the road ahead is filled with danger. I don't want you to follow me into it."
Instantly, Jinbe stepped forward, his voice firm. "Boss Tiger, how can we let you go alone? Whatever comes, we'll face it with you!" The others shouted their agreement, unwilling to let him walk this path alone.
But Tiger shook his head. "Thank you, all of you. But this… this is something I have to do alone. When I return, I'll bring good news."
Before they could argue again, he turned away, climbing into one of the small boats prepared for him. The sails caught the wind, and slowly, the boat drifted away from Fishman Island carrying Fisher Tiger toward destiny.
Days turned into weeks. Half a month later, at dawn, he finally reached the Red Line the point where it met the Grand Line for the second time. The sea below was a deep, shifting blue; waves crashed violently against the massive cliffs.
He looked up. The Red Line towered into the sky like a blood-colored wall dividing the world. And atop it, hidden by clouds, lay the Celestial Dragons' sacred city Mary Geoise.
Determination blazed in Tiger's eyes. He hid his small boat among the rocks, slung a heavy sack of explosives across his back, and began searching for a path upward.
As he climbed, a rustling sound made him pause. From the shadows emerged several strange creatures small, pale-skinned beings with glowing green eyes. They surrounded him, chattering in an unfamiliar tongue, clearly warning him to stay away.
Tiger raised his hands, trying to show he meant no harm. But one of them lunged at him. He dodged swiftly and struck back with a restrained punch. The creature flew back, and the others howled in anger. More rushed forward, but Tiger didn't have time to fight. He seized an opening and leapt upward, gripping a jutting rock and climbing faster.
Below, the creatures could only glare as he ascended out of reach. Every muscle burned, every breath felt heavy, but the thought of his suffering people drove him on.
Then, a cheerful voice cut through the silence.
"Hey! Climbing a mountain? Mind if I join?"
Tiger's heart nearly stopped. He almost lost his grip and tumbled down. Looking to his side, he saw a man grinning at him a young human with a disarmingly handsome face.
"Who are you?" Tiger demanded, tense and ready to strike.
"Me? Hahaha! Just a passerby," the man said with a mischievous smile. Beneath a light disguise was Eli Winters his current face modeled after his twenty-year-old self from his past life.
Eli had been waiting here for days. He'd known Fisher Tiger's legendary rescue would happen around this time, but not the exact day. So he'd planned ahead, leaving items with special space markers in the hands of skilled bounty hunters who could deliver them to the Red Line. Once the right moment arrived, he teleported directly to one of those markers.
Since his arrival, he'd been using Observation Haki to monitor the area nonstop. Today, he'd finally spotted his target the first man bold enough to climb this impossible mountain.
Tiger's eyes narrowed. "How did you get here? What's your purpose?"
"Relax," Eli said with an easy grin. "I know what you're here for. Don't worry I won't interfere. Maybe I can even lend a hand."
Tiger stared at him in silence, searching for deceit. Finally, he said coldly, "I hope you mean that. What I'm doing is too important. If you expose me, I'll kill you myself."
Eli shrugged. "Fair enough."
They resumed climbing. Tiger struggled upward, each move deliberate and grueling, while Eli scaled the cliff like a man out for a casual stroll. He even paused now and then to admire the scenery or make light comments.
"Beautiful view, huh?" he said.
Tiger growled, "Can you shut up?"
Eli smiled innocently. "Nope."
Tiger's jaw tightened. Is this human insane? He was drenched in sweat, muscles trembling, and this man wouldn't stop talking.
"You seem a little out of shape, fishman," Eli teased.
"Say another word and I'll drag you down with me!" Tiger snapped.
"Hey, no need to be grumpy," Eli said, laughing. "If it helps, I can cover your retreat later."
Tiger paused, glancing at him warily. "You'd do that? You really that strong?"
"Of course," Eli said matter-of-factly. "Even an admiral wouldn't stand a chance against me."
Tiger snorted. "Sure, sure. And I suppose you've fought one?"
"Yeah," Eli said casually. "You know Aokiji? I didn't even go all out on him."
Tiger blinked, unimpressed. "You're definitely lying."
Eli sighed dramatically. "You fishmen never believe me…"
As they bickered and climbed, the clouds above began to thin. Far ahead, the gleaming city of Mary Geoise came into view a cruel paradise built on suffering.
And so, side by side, the determined fishman and the grinning wanderer continued their ascent toward the world's most forbidden land.
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