With a single strike, the two cannonballs slammed into the wall of the immigration gate like solid iron balls.
Cracks spread across the fortress wall, clearly visible to the naked eye. Seawater immediately began pouring in through the fractures.
Fish-Man Island still had an inner protective barrier, so the island itself was not yet in danger. But against such terrifying power, holding the line felt completely meaningless.
At that moment, King Neptune felt a surge of anger and helplessness unlike anything he had ever experienced.
If he refused, the entire Fish-Man Island might be destroyed.
But if he agreed, it would mean a sovereign nation bowing and kneeling before pirates.
In the end, King Neptune could only place his hope on one final warning.
"Wait... Fish-Man Island is a member nation of the World Government. As pirates, do you understand the consequences of attacking a World Government member nation..."
Before he could finish speaking, Barobar's voice roared through the sea.
Tears and mucus streamed down his face as he clenched his teeth and shouted furiously.
"Shut up... shut up, bastard...!"
"How dare you threaten me with the name of the World Government that killed Golden Lion boss..."
"Bastard... bastard... unforgivable... absolutely unforgivable!"
Seeing this scene, the surrounding pirates were even more moved.
"Barobar-sama, this is too touching! We will follow you forever!"
"Waaaah... for Boss Shiki!"
While everyone's attention was focused elsewhere, the corner of Barobar's mouth curled upward slightly on his darkened face.
"Then all of you fish-men can go die!"
Under the watchful eyes of King Neptune, the Neptune Kingdom army, and the merfolk and fish-men across Coral Bay witnessing the invasion...
Barobar grabbed cannonballs in both hands and hurled them toward Fish-Man Island like a raging storm.
"Is... is it over..."
At that moment, despair filled the faces of every fish-man.
But suddenly, an angry roar echoed across the sea and throughout Fish-Man Island.
"Don't you dare destroy Fish-Man Island!"
"Fish-Man Jujutsu: Mizugokoro · Kairyu Ipponzeoi!"
...
In the calm and brightly lit seabed, schools of fish that had been swimming leisurely suddenly sensed danger. Their tails flicked wildly as they fled the area.
The moment they left, a massive wave surged upward, twisting into a towering water vortex that shot straight toward the sky.
The huge current slammed directly into the incoming black cannonballs.
Boom... Boom... Boom...
Explosions erupted one after another outside Fish-Man Island, the blasts filling the water with air and foam that obscured everything.
"W... what just happened?"
"That sounded like Jinbe's voice..."
"Jinbe is here? That's great!"
"We're saved..."
"Where is Jinbe?"
As the people of Fish-Man Island searched everywhere for the source of the voice...
Five enormous sea beasts slowly rose from the seabed and appeared in everyone's sight. They stopped at the immigration gate, guarding the entrance.
Around those five giant sea beasts, countless warriors from Fish-Man Street appeared, each carrying different weapons.
There were nearly a thousand of them, packed densely together.
Standing at the front, atop the heads of the sea beasts, were Jinbe, Aladdin, Arlong, and Hachi.
As the foam gradually cleared, Jinbe looked at the many pitch-black warships ahead.
His eyes burned with anger unlike ever before. Holding his trident, he spoke without turning his head.
"Perhaps this is exactly why big brother Yemu and big brother Tiger formed the Sun Army."
"People of Fish-Man Street, it's time for us to protect our own country!"
The moment those words fell, the fish-men who had once been nothing but delinquents in Fish-Man Street felt, for the first time in their lives, that their existence had meaning.
They roared excitedly, their eyes filled with bloodthirst as they stared at the human pirates.
Arlong glanced back at the weak-looking Neptune Kingdom soldiers and King Neptune. A trace of disdain flashed in his eyes before he spoke with excitement.
"Even if we're fewer in number, this is the ocean. This is our world as fish-men! As long as we destroy the coating on their ships, victory will be ours!"
"Aladdin, Arlong, Hachi. Take your men and deal with the other pirates. Leave that guy named Barobar to me."
With that, Jinbe shot forward like an arrow through the seawater, charging straight toward the leading black warship.
In an instant, the Sun Army from Fish-Man Street clashed with the human pirates.
Inside Fish-Man Island.
Seeing this, the Neptune Kingdom soldiers who had been terrified finally snapped back to their senses.
"King Neptune, what should we do now? Those Fish-Man Street guys have already rushed out. Should we..."
King Neptune listened to his subordinate, his brows tightly furrowed as he gripped his trident.
"Leave some men here to guard the gate. Everyone else, follow me and charge out!"
"Oh!!!"
The soldiers of the Neptune Kingdom roared excitedly.
The battle to defend Fish-Man Island had officially begun.
...
On the deck of the massive black pirate ship.
Two large figures burst through the bubble coating surrounding the warship.
Jinbe and Arlong landed on the deck, instantly surrounded by pirates.
Jinbe seemed completely unconcerned. He simply frowned slightly and looked at Arlong.
"Didn't I tell you to go help Aladdin and the others?"
Arlong looked completely unconcerned, his eyes shining with bloodthirst.
"Don't be so strict, Jinbe-aniki. Aladdin and Hachi can handle those humans."
"And with Neptune's Kingdom army helping them, there won't be any problems."
"But here, letting you enter the enemy's base alone... I can't feel at ease about that."
Jinbe sighed deeply after hearing this, then fixed his gaze on the burly giant in front of him.
"Well, it can't be helped."
"Arlong, this time the two of us brothers will fight side by side."
"Yeah, Jinbe-aniki!"
The two stood shoulder to shoulder. Their fighting spirit surged as they faced the surrounding humans without fear.
Clap... clap... clap...
Barobar's applause echoed across the deck.
His face showed admiration as he looked directly at Jinbe.
"Oh, I didn't expect fish-men to have someone as outstanding as you."
"Fish-men, are you interested in joining my ship?"
"Tch."
Arlong clicked his tongue in disdain.
"As if I would..."
He had originally wanted to say that he would never become a subordinate of filthy humans.
But after thinking about his boss Tiger, and thinking about himself as well, he changed his words.
"A guy like you isn't qualified to order me around."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Barobar looked at Jinbe again.
"You were the one who blocked my attack earlier, right? That was quite impressive strength."
Jinbe clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with anger as he roared.
"Do you really think I would bow down to a human who harms my country?!"
Barobar raised an eyebrow, anger filling his face.
"What a filthy fish-man."
"You don't even know how to appreciate the kindness of the great Barobar-sama."
"In that case, let me show you the consequences of refusing me..."
...
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