"What? Did you hear? We're moving to the surface!"
"Is it true?"
"Yes, the king made the announcement today."
"This is wonderful! We'll finally get to see the real sun!"
Discussions erupted everywhere. Hordy Jones, hiding in the darkness, felt a daze come over him. He had the unsettling feeling that events were spiraling out of his control.
"This can't continue! Zeo, we have to move up our plans!" Hordy clenched his fists tightly, his expression turning grave as he stepped back into the shadows. Behind him, Zeo and Daruma followed in silence.
Fueled by Hordy's agitation, a new sentiment began to spread across Fish-Man Island.
"King Neptune actually believes a human, betting all of our futures on a single, evil human."
In an instant, the more extremist fish-men grew furious. Wielding weapons, they rallied around Hordy and marched toward Ryugu Palace.
However, Ryuuto would see none of this.
At that moment, he and his crew were following King Neptune deeper into the Sea Forest. Mohmoo had also joined them. Neptune, Fukaboshi, and Shirahoshi, being of the Fish-Man race, could swim freely, while Hancock, World, and the others were encased in bubbles, propelled forward by Mohmoo. These bubbles, of course, were generated by Fish-Man Island's unique Bubble Coral. They formed in an instant.
As usual, Ryuuto had cloaked himself in a lightning shield, effortlessly floating alongside the group.
Neptune glanced curiously at Mohmoo, sensing an unusual and powerful aura from the sea cow.
"Captain Ryuuto is truly a man of mystery!" Neptune thought, his eyes shifting to Ryuuto, who was crackling with electrical energy.
"We're here!" Neptune announced softly.
As the group picked up speed and passed through a grove of coral, the colossal Noah appeared before them. Its wooden planks were splintered, its hull was covered in moss, and several massive anchors were embedded deep into its body, their thick iron chains swaying with the ocean currents. Every detail screamed of the great ark's decay.
Everyone stared in shock.
Before the island-sized vessel, they were as small as ants.
"This... This is enormous!" one of the scientists exclaimed in astonishment.
"As expected of a ship capable of relocating all the residents of Fish-Man Island!" Hancock remarked, her eyes scanning the Noah.
"Seeing the Noah again is still just as shocking. Normal people are so insignificant in its presence. It's hard to imagine how advanced the ancient civilization that built this must have been," Crocus murmured.
"Fuffuffuffuffu, how marvelous!" World let out a series of excited laughs as he gazed at the ship that seemed to defy reality.
"Captain, it looks like the Noah is damaged!" Nami said, her voice sinking as she watched various sea creatures swimming in and out of the holes in the ark's hull.
"Yes, the damage is severe," Neptune agreed with a slow nod. He truly couldn't imagine how this dilapidated ship could possibly fulfill its duty of moving Fish-Man Island.
"Princess Shirahoshi, it's your time to shine," Ryuuto said softly, turning his gaze to her.
"Me? I... What should I do?" Shirahoshi looked on blankly, her hands covering her mouth in confusion.
"Shirahoshi, be brave. Think about what you're protecting. Think about the ideals Queen Otohime gave her life for. Think about a future where all the residents of Fish-Man Island can live under the real sun!"
Seeing her reaction, Ryuuto understood the core of the problem. Shirahoshi possessed immense power but was too timid and fearful to use it. All he needed to do was encourage her, a task at which he excelled.
After hearing Ryuuto's words, Shirahoshi first looked at his earnest face, then turned to King Neptune, who gave her a reassuring nod.
"Shirahoshi, believe in yourself. You can do it!" Prince Fukaboshi added his own words of encouragement.
"Okay, I'll try!" Shirahoshi nodded firmly as everyone's eyes fell upon her. She slowly closed her eyes.
"Princess Shirahoshi, remember, you need the help of the Sea Kings," Ryuuto whispered in her ear.
"Mmm!" Shirahoshi replied silently in her heart and began to project her thoughts into the vast ocean.
"Lord World, do you think this will work?" Gairam whispered, leaning closer to his captain.
"Shut up!" World, who was quietly observing Shirahoshi, slapped him on the back of the head, silencing him.
"I wonder if she'll succeed," World thought, carefully scanning the surroundings.
Meanwhile, Ryuuto cautiously released wisps of lightning into the water, allowing him to detect the movements of any Sea Kings almost instantly.
In the deep, dark sea, only the roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve provided any light. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
"ROAR!"
After what felt like an eternity, a long, drawn-out roar echoed through Ryuuto's lightning network from far away.
"Hahahahahaha, it worked!" Ryuuto thought, a knowing smile spreading across his face as he sensed the sound drawing closer, joined by more and more roars.
"Moo..." Just then, Mohmoo let out a low bellow, his entire body becoming restless.
"What's wrong with Mohmoo?" Nami asked with concern.
"It's alright, leave it to me," Ryuuto said, appearing beside her in a flash. After reassuring her, he moved to Mohmoo's side.
Ryuuto knew Mohmoo's agitation was most likely caused by the imminent arrival of the Giant Sea Kings. It was a primal suppression rooted in their bloodline.
Hancock and Jean Bart also turned their attention to the distressed sea cow.
"In that case, it's time to give Mohmoo an upgrade," Ryuuto said softly, his consciousness sinking into his mind.
[Lineage Factor - Giant Sea King: 100,000 Reputation Points]
[Warning: This Lineage Factor is exceptionally unstable and has a high rate of rejection. Of the hundreds of thousands of test samples, none have succeeded!]
[Note: Perhaps all you lack is the right aptitude!]
"Found it! Exchange!" Ryuuto commanded in his mind. One hundred thousand Reputation Points were instantly deducted, leaving him with 390,000.
"Withdraw!" he mentally ordered again, and a syringe filled with a pale gold liquid materialized in his hand.
Holding the syringe, however, Ryuuto hesitated. "From the description, this Lineage Factor is something special. It must be referring to the 'royal aptitude' that Giant Sea Kings possess." After all, Giant Sea Kings had the ability to command other Sea Kings. They were terrifying beings that had lived for 5,000 years and grown to over 5,000 meters in length.
"Mohmoo, do you want to become stronger?" Ryuuto asked, holding the syringe before the sea cow. "This can make you powerful, but it could also kill you. The choice is yours."
Mohmoo could already feel the overwhelming pressure from the approaching Giant Sea Kings. It was like a hammer blow to his mind, his body instinctively recoiling in fear. But a deep part of him refused to yield. Another gene within him roared in defiance, screaming for more power, for the strength to stand beside Ryuuto in the next battle.
"ROAR!"
Mohmoo's defiant cry was all the answer Ryuuto needed.
He landed gently on Mohmoo's head and swiftly injected the pale gold Lineage Factor.
In that instant, a golden light coursed through Mohmoo's body.
A powerful aura erupted!
"Moo..."
With a cry of agony, Mohmoo thrashed his tail and vanished into the depths of the sea.
"Mohmoo, the rest is up to you," Ryuuto said with a sigh, watching him disappear. Just before, he had placed a yellow talisman between Mohmoo's teeth. If the Lineage Factor's transformation failed, the talisman would save his life.
Hancock, Nami, and the others watched Mohmoo's retreating form, offering their silent wishes for his success.
"Ryuuto, I did it!" Shirahoshi's eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him with joy.
"You did great, Princess Shirahoshi!" Ryuuto replied, genuinely happy for her bravery, even though he already knew the outcome.
"Oh, it was nothing. I just wanted to do my part," the princess said, blushing at his praise.
King Neptune looked at his daughter with a proud, contented smile.
ROAR! ROAR!
With several thunderous roars, a group of impossibly large sea beasts emerged from the abyss, appearing before them. Their 5,000-meter-long bodies blotted out the light from above, exuding the terrifying presence of primeval monsters.
"So... so huge!" Naichin and Sebastian cried out, feeling the immense pressure.
"So these are the Giant Sea Kings. Only creatures of this size could possibly tow the Noah!" King Neptune said, nodding in understanding.
"What fascinating creatures!" World marveled. On his shoulder, Byojack nodded in agreement.
"This is magnificent! Shirahoshi is amazing!" Nami and Vivi's eyes sparkled as they shouted in admiration.
Even Hancock, seeing such powerful beings for the first time, couldn't help but stare. Then, her gaze shifted to Ryuuto, filled with adoration. As expected, there was nothing he couldn't do.
"Roger, the era you were waiting for has finally arrived! Hahahahaha... One Piece!" Crocus suddenly let out a sound that was half laugh, half self-mockery.
"Shirahoshi!" Ryuuto called out, not wasting any time.
Understanding immediately, Shirahoshi conveyed her thoughts to the Giant Sea Kings.
ROAR!
What Sea King could refuse a request from the living vessel of Poseidon? The giants dipped their heads toward Shirahoshi and let out a series of deafening, thunderous roars before each swimming to one of the massive iron chains.
"We're counting on you," Shirahoshi whispered as she watched them take the chains in their mouths.
With a unified flick of their powerful tails, a massive ocean current surged.
CRACK...
The iron chains snapped taut with a deafening clang of metal. Then, as the Giant Sea Kings pulled in unison...
A great tremor ran through the seabed. The Noah slowly began to rise, breaking free from the coral reef below. Pulled by the Giant Sea Kings, it began to move steadily through the water.
"It's moving! It worked!" Gairam shouted, high-fiving Naichin in excitement.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!" World laughed heartily at the sight.
"It really worked!" Neptune and Fukaboshi exchanged thrilled glances.
"The rest is simple! Princess Shirahoshi, have them take the Noah straight for Fish-Man Island!" Ryuuto yelled, his voice filled with exhilaration.
"Okay, I'll do it!" Shirahoshi nodded. She followed behind the colossal ark, continuously directing the Sea Kings.
Neptune and Fukaboshi leaped aboard the Noah.
"Alright, Hancock, Nami, let's go!" Ryuuto announced, landing on the deck first. The others quickly followed.
Eight Giant Sea Kings swam slowly through the sea, yet the pressure they exuded was immense and very real.
Back on Fish-Man Island, Hordy Jones was leading his New Fish-Man Pirates and tens of thousands of fish-men he had incited toward Ryugu Palace. Beside him were Vander Decken IX and Wadatsumi. At this point, Wadatsumi had not yet been abandoned by Vander Decken; despite his simple-mindedness, his massive size meant he was incredibly powerful.
"Kill Neptune! Establish a new Fish-Man nation! We will restore the glory of the fish-men! We are the greatest race!" Hordy shouted as he led the charge, his words dripping with incitement.
"Halt! You shall not trespass in Ryugu Palace!"
As the massive crowd reached the palace gates, the guards immediately moved to block Hordy and Vander Decken.
Hordy's face darkened. He stopped, and a large ball of water instantly formed in his right hand.
"Gekisui!" he roared, hurling the water projectile forward. It slammed directly into the chests of the guards at the gate.
BANG!
A powerful force struck them, sending several guards flying.
"Who goes there?!"
Hearing the commotion, the second and third princes, Ryuboshi and Manboshi, rushed out with countless palace guards.
"Today is the day Ryugu Palace falls! Charge!" Seeing them, Hordy's eyes turned blood-red as he bellowed and lunged forward.
Behind him, thousands of fish-men brandished their weapons and clashed with the palace guard.
The air filled with the cries of battle.