(send power stones please)
"You can't do this. You'll die."
"I can."
"No. You won't make it."
"Even if I don't—so what? I refuse to stay in this hell any longer."
Chenos tried to stop Fisher Tiger.
Not because he doubted his strength—but because Fisher Tiger was his only hope of ever leaving this place.
Yet Fisher Tiger's expression was resolute.
He had already made his decision.
Tesoro, watching the two argue, finally spoke up.
"Don't worry. I calculated it carefully. I tested the height with rope before—
from the cliff above down to this outlet, it's about 130 meters."
"With Brother Fisher's physique, he'll survive the fall. And below is the sea.
Once he reaches the water, he can escape. I'm certain of it."
Chenos snapped.
"Bullshit!"
"Do you have any idea how high Mary Geoise is?!
Ten thousand meters!"
"Even if Brother Fisher is a Fish-Man, falling from that height would kill anyone!"
Tesoro looked almost deranged as he spoke.
Smack!
Chenos slapped him hard across the face, snapping him back to reality.
"Brother Fisher—no. Not this way. We'll find another route."
Fisher Tiger smiled bitterly.
"There is no other route."
"This is the only place where we can gamble our lives for freedom."
"If I live, I escape this hell.
If I die… then at least I'm free."
"Chenos, I know you mean well. But don't try to stop me."
Chenos fell silent.
After a long moment, he let out a breath.
"…Take care, Brother Fisher."
Fisher Tiger nodded, then stepped forward and pulled Chenos into a firm embrace.
"You're my first human friend."
"If I survive… I will come back. I swear it."
"I'll return for you. For the Fish-Men. For everyone still trapped here."
"Please—tell them this for me."
"Live. And wait for me."
Chenos clenched his fists, then nodded heavily.
"I promise. While you're gone, I'll protect them."
Fisher Tiger smiled.
"Go. Don't let anyone see you."
The water level was already dropping. If they waited too long, the gate would close again. The risk would only grow.
Reluctantly, Chenos and Tesoro retreated, glancing back again and again.
Fisher Tiger stood alone now.
His expression hardened as he stared into the abyss beyond the outlet.
"…Let's see how deep you really are."
Moments later, the water circulation ended.
The metal grille slowly lifted.
The suction intensified as the current rushed outward.
Fisher Tiger laughed loudly.
"I WILL COME BACK!"
He dove headfirst into the torrent, vanishing into the darkness.
Back in the bathhouse—
Thud!
Chenos slammed a punch into Tesoro's face, knocking him to the ground.
"I understand wanting to escape—but desperation like that will get us all killed!"
Tesoro curled inward, tears streaming down his face.
"Do you know why I can't wait?"
"The woman I loved… she died."
"She was played to death by the Celestial Dragons."
"If I'd earned the ransom faster—she would still be alive…"
Chenos' anger drained away.
He knew Tesoro's story.
He had seen it before.
"…I get it," Chenos said quietly.
"I want revenge too."
"But if we rush, we die. And dead people don't get revenge."
Tesoro nodded silently.
After a moment, Chenos continued.
"From today on, you train. Stay alive. Stay ready."
"If Brother Fisher survives, he'll come back."
"At the latest—within one year."
"…One year?" Tesoro asked, confused.
Chenos didn't explain.
Because he remembered now.
Fisher Tiger would return to Fish-Man Island first.
He would tell the King and Queen his decision.
And one year later, he would return to Mary Geoise.
To burn it.
To free the slaves.
If Fisher Tiger lived—
Then in one year, Chenos would escape this hell.
They washed quickly and returned to the cages.
That night, Chenos planned.
Strength.
He needed more. Far more.
As Charlos' "pet fighter," battles were inevitable. And Celestial Dragons loved feeding slaves Devil Fruits just to watch chaos unfold.
Without strength, he would die.
Devil Fruit development.
His power was still too passive.
He couldn't rely on being beaten first.
The clue was already there—
absorbing the force of flowing water.
He needed a way to store rebound energy without being injured.
Physical conditioning.
Last time, he'd collapsed from exhaustion.
Power without stamina was meaningless.
And finally—
Seastone.
Even Sharkled, he needed to retain some combat ability.
Above all else—
Survive.
Just one year.
One year alive… and freedom would come.
Far below the Red Line—
A red-skinned Fish-Man floated on the sea's surface.
A shark lunged toward him—
Smack!
The Fish-Man sent it flying with a single slap.
He opened his eyes, looked around, and roared toward the sky.
Then—
He dove.
Deeper.
And deeper.
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