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A colossal amount of air was sucked into Wadatsumi's lungs, and his body swelled like a titanic balloon. His frame, which had been a size smaller than Sanjuan Wolf's, now completely surpassed it, growing so gargantuan that he blotted out the sunlight cast by the Sunlight Tree Eve upon Ryugu Palace.
Even the normally unflappable Shiryu looked on with a hint of amazement. He stopped in his tracks, tilting his head back to gaze at this genuine freak of nature.
"Wadatsumi..." Vander Decken IX retreated rapidly. He crossed his arms and hurled a massive boulder, then stepped onto it as his ability sent it—and him—soaring into the high air. Using Wadatsumi as a shield and the rock as his vehicle, he prepared to make a high-speed escape. The massive presence had given him a sudden surge of confidence.
Inside Ryugu Palace, the impact of the earlier attack had left the structure on the verge of collapse. Neptune used his massive body as a shield against the falling debris, protecting Queen Otohime and Princess Shirahoshi while shouting a warning.
"That is a Giant Tiger Puffer Fish-man... an unprecedented giant even among our kind!"
Neptune knew of such rarities. However, Wadatsumi's mind was undeveloped—he was like a child, easily manipulated. His alliance with the Flying Pirates was likely the result of Decken's deception.
..............
"Hmph..."
Snapped back to reality by Decken's bizarre laughter, Shiryu let out a cold snort. His feet blurred as he used Soru, vanishing from his spot and reappearing instantly in the path of the flying boulder.
SHING!
A concentrated arc of sword-ki from the Seven-Star Sword slashed through the air, instantly pulverizing the boulder into gravel. In the same motion, Shiryu brought his foot down, kicking the panicked Vander Decken out of the sky and back to the palace floor.
"Heh..." Arthur, completely indifferent to the scuffle, looked up at Wadatsumi and laughed. "Shiryu, stop!"
Shiryu had a foot planted on Decken's trembling face, his expression cold as he prepared to deliver a killing thrust. At Arthur's command, the Seven-Star Sword halted abruptly, the tip hovering just a hair's breadth from Decken's nose.
"Captain? Is something wrong?"
"Don't you think this big fellow would make a perfect match for Sanjuan Wolf?" Arthur smiled. He had decided to find a companion for his resident giant.
Though Sanjuan Wolf commanded the Giant Warrior Pirates and possessed terrifying power, his sheer scale made him an outcast, few people could interact with him on his level. Wadatsumi was nearly the same size and possessed a similarly child-like intellect. They would speak the same language.
"Vander Decken... for a man of your 'vile' reputation, it would be a pity not to join the Thunder God Pirates!" Arthur remarked with a grin.
Currently, the Thunder God Pirates only had nine main divisions. With the annexation of Fish-Man Island, many Fish-men would surely seek to join. Decken and his Flying Pirates could serve as the core of a new Fish-man division under Arthur's banner.
"Thunder Emperor... I have no interest in working for others," Decken stammered from the floor, his voice thick with fear.
"No interest? Send him on his way," Arthur waved a dismissive hand, signaling Shiryu to finish the job.
"Wait! Wait! Don't do it!" Decken shrieked. "I... I mean, while I generally don't work for others, I would be honored to serve under the Thunder Emperor!"
In the face of death, his pride vanished instantly. Shiryu's murderous aura was so suffocating that he didn't dare hesitate for even a second. Seeing the conflict end and hearing that there was someone his size in the Thunder God Pirates, Wadatsumi began to dance with joy like a giant toddler.
..............
Word spread quickly through the palace guards: Fish-Man Island was being moved to the Thunder God Territory in the New World. The prospect of living on the surface and enjoying the sun they had dreamed of for generations meant there was virtually no opposition. Those who refused to join Arthur's umbrella had already departed with Jinbe, Arlong, or Hody Jones.
Neptune and Otohime had also calmed down, weighing the reality of their situation. With Shirahoshi's power as Poseidon awakened in front of witnesses, the World Government would inevitably intervene. Without the protection of the Thunder God Pirates, they wouldn't even be able to protect their daughter. Joining Arthur guaranteed them safety from both the Marines and slave traders.
The logic was undeniable: the benefits far outweighed the costs.
Even the legend of the "World's Strongest" Whitebeard hadn't been enough to stop pirates from harassing them. But moving the entire island into the heart of the Thunder Emperor's territory? That would end the threat of slavery forever.
..............
The abyss shook. 10,000 meters beneath the sea, Fish-Man Island began a slow, majestic ascent toward the New World, carried by the power of Arthur's Float-Float Fruit.
The crushing pressure of the deep sea made the movement gradual. Beside the island, the massive "Ship of Promise," Noah, drifted along with the currents. Super-colossal Sea Kings patrolled the perimeter, acting as a divine escort for the migrating civilization.
Two full days passed.
On the surface of the New World entrance...
Glug! Glug!
Massive bubbles surged from the depths, and the sea began to churn as if an undersea mountain were rising.
SPLASH—!
Waves shot toward the clouds before falling back into the ocean. With a POP, the protective bubble surrounding the island adjusted to the surface pressure. Fish-Man Island had risen from the lightless trench to the open air.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling across the endless blue sea. A gentle breeze carried the scent of salt and freedom.
"Is that... the sun??"
"Hahahaha! It's the sun!"
"We've reached the surface!!"
After forty-eight hours of breathless anticipation, the residents of the island burst into cheers. Many fell to their knees, weeping with joy at the sight of the legendary sunlight.
"This light... it is even more magnificent than the light from Sunlight Tree Eve!"
"Can we really stay here forever?"
"We can! The Thunder Emperor promised us!"
Fish-men and Merfolk alike tilted their heads back, basking in the warmth of the rays—a sensation that moved them to the very depths of their souls. In Gyoncorde Plaza, even the timid Princess Shirahoshi forgot her fear, her wide eyes reflecting the sparkling beauty of the surface world.
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