Chapter 30: Noah's Descent—The Decision
On the highlands of Fishman Island, King Neptune had barely escaped execution only to find himself crushed beneath an even greater weight—the shadow of a ship so vast it blocked the artificial sun.
"How... how did THAT appear here?!"
His voice trembled. "That relic... that's from ages past!"
The ship descending upon them was Noah—the legendary ark, built in ancient times to carry the island's inhabitants to the surface. A vessel of myth, now a weapon of annihilation.
At Gyoncorde Plaza, the battle between the Straw Hats and the New Fish-Man Pirates ground to a halt. Every eye turned skyward.
"What IS that?!" Franky had just emerged from the Soldier Dock system, merged with General Franky, and now stared up at the impossible sight.
Luffy paused in his pursuit of Hody. "A giant... sinking ship."
Jinbe's blood ran cold. "NOAH! How did it get HERE?!"
His gaze snapped to Shirahoshi. "Unless..."
On Hody's throne, the would-be king recognized the architect of this chaos.
"Vander Decken."
That bastard.
"He planned to destroy the island all along. He BETRAYED me!"
Inside Noah's control room, Vander Decken IX laughed maniacally. His face bore the marks of Luffy's earlier beating—the rejection of his "beloved" Shirahoshi had driven him past sanity.
He grabbed a Den Den Mushi transmitter.
"Oh, my darling fiancée!"
"Princess Shirahoshi! I've loved you since you were a child! For TEN YEARS, my love has only grown!"
His voice echoed across the plaza. "The sea is vast, but a man who loves you as I do—I'M THE ONLY ONE!"
Jinbe shouted to the Straw Hats: "EVERYONE! Vander Decken's a Mark-Mark Fruit user! He threw Noah at Shirahoshi—like he threw those axes!"
Vander Decken's ravings continued:
"LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! WHY WON'T YOU ACCEPT MY LOVE?!"
"Then NOAH—this is my final declaration!"
"GIANT SHIP NOAH! My love—ACCEPT SHIRAHOSHI!"
"DESTROY FISHMAN ISLAND! DESTROY SHIRAHOSHI!"
"GYAHAHAHA! GYAHAHAHA!"
Noah's keel pierced Fishman Island's outer bubble. The anchor chain alone—swinging down—cleared an entire hill from Gyoncorde Plaza.
The watching residents fled in terror.
Koukorou, the sea giant still aboard Noah, lost his grip and plummeted into the plaza, carving a massive crater.
He staggered up, rubbing his head. "CAPTAIN DECKEN! I FELL! WHAT DO I DO?!"
Vander Decken's laugh didn't waver. "You? I can't save you now. You'll be buried with Fishman Island!"
Koukorou's face fell. "WHY, CAPTAIN?!"
Zoro eyed the tiny figure of Vander Decken on the distant ship. "Hey, Itachi. Could you fly up on that fire crow and take his head off?"
"No." Itachi decapitated two more murlocs as he spoke. "The ship's already here. Killing him won't stop its descent."
He grabbed a chunk of rubble and launched himself skyward on his fire crow, heading straight for Shirahoshi.
Jinbe saw him approach and RAN. "UCHIHA ITACHI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
He never reached them.
By the time Jinbe got close, Shirahoshi had stopped crying. She listened to Itachi, nodded firmly, and placed a bubble ring around herself—the kind that allowed flight.
She swam upward.
"PRINCESS SHIRAHOSHI! YOU CAN'T!" Jinbe's heart hammered.
"Enough, Jinbe." Itachi's voice cut like ice. "The only way to save this island is for the princess to lead the target away. Draw Noah outward."
"But she's the PRINCESS! It's too dangerous—"
"SHUT UP."
Jinbe froze. In all the time he'd watched Itachi, the man had been utterly calm. This sudden intensity shocked him silent.
"She is royalty. This is her duty. She understands that. Respect it."
Itachi flew toward Luffy.
Jinbe watched him go. After a long moment, he nodded slowly.
"...You're right."
Above, Hody grabbed Noah's descending chain and began climbing.
"Destroy the whole island? Not a bad idea."
Itachi found Luffy, spoke briefly. Luffy slammed his fists together.
"I'LL HANDLE IT!"
Nami, who'd emerged with Franky, shook her head. "Luffy can't—if that ship has seawater—"
"It should be fine." Itachi's voice was calm again. "The ship flies. The man's aboard. No seawater there."
He paused. "But if Luffy chases too far and ends up IN the sea... that's a problem. New plan: I'll go. Luffy, you clear the plaza."
He turned to mount his crow—and Luffy's hand clamped his shoulder.
"Tear-Stripe Guy."
Itachi looked back.
"Thanks for the idea. Really." Luffy grinned. "But I'm doing this."
"Luffy—"
"Trust me."
Itachi paused. Something stirred in his chest—a feeling he couldn't name. The same feeling he'd had watching this crew laugh together on the Sunny.
Nami pressed Bubble Coral into Luffy's hand. "If you're going, take this."
She smiled at Itachi. "Trust him. He's an idiot, but we always do."
Itachi nodded slowly. "Then the plan stands. Luffy, protect the princess. Stop the man on the ship. I'll stay and clear the plaza with the others."
Luffy leaped onto the fire crow.
"I can only take you to the chain," Itachi warned. "The crow disperses beyond my range."
"ENOUGH!"
Above, Vander Decken spotted Shirahoshi swimming away—trying to lead Noah from the island.
"What a kind, beautiful princess! Worthy of being MY wife!"
He drew a throwing knife. "TASTE MY LOVE!"
The blade flew—
CRACK.
Luffy's fist intercepted it mid-flight, sending it spinning into the plaza.
"LUFFY-KUN!" Shirahoshi's tears turned to hope.
"Cowardly Star! Keep swimming! I'll protect you from now on!"
The fire crow surged toward Noah's chain.
Below, Nami watched the sky. "Itachi... this is your first time working with Luffy, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"You didn't tell him you'd fly to Shirahoshi. He just... knew."
Itachi watched the distant figures—Luffy on his crow, racing toward the falling ark.
"Yes."
Nami smiled. "You two have chemistry."
Itachi said nothing. But something in his chest—that unfamiliar feeling—warmed.
(End of Chapter)
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