The massive Eclipse, like a black whale, glided smoothly through the thick translucent membrane surrounding Fish-Man Island, riding the powerful current.
With a soft pop, the crushing water pressure around the hull vanished. In its place: air that was slightly damp but rich with the scent of forest.
"Whoa! We're really in! The sea's completely blocked out!"
Chopper had his entire body pressed against the glass, staring outside in wonder. "How is there sunlight and clouds ten thousand meters under the ocean?"
"That's the Sunlight Tree Eve's doing."
Ace rose from his deck chair and pointed at the enormous glowing roots above them. "It channels sunlight down from the surface. Although it looks like we've given the locals quite a scare."
Directly below the Eclipse was the famous Mermaid Cove. The mermaid ladies who had been playing among the coral, their beautiful tails swaying, were now hiding behind the rocks in terror.
Because trailing behind the Eclipse was a monster so massive it blotted out the sky.
"New master, is this home?"
Wadatsumi dragged several Sea King corpses behind him. His enormous head poked through the cloud-like bubbles as he peered around curiously. Every movement he made created enormous wind pressure, sending schools of small fish fleeing below.
"Stop flailing around, big guy."
Ace stepped out onto the deck and called toward the rear. "Drop those Sea Kings. Go wait by the inlet."
"Oh, okay." Wadatsumi answered obediently and swam toward the waters at the island's edge.
Just as the Eclipse was preparing to dock, a squad of fish-man guards riding large seahorses and carrying spears rushed over urgently.
"Pirate ship ahead! Halt immediately!"
The guard captain's face was pale, his voice trembling. "Who are you? Why are you bringing Van der Decken's subordinate onto the island? And what was that tremor in the deep sea just now?"
The Eclipse settled slowly onto the water. The splash drenched the guards.
"I'm Portgas D. Ace."
Ace stood at the bow, looking at the guards who were bracing for battle. His tone was casual. "As for Van der Decken, he's gone to meet the sea god. That big guy back there is now our ship's porter."
"Th-the Outlier Ace?!"
The guard captain got a clear look at Ace's face. Then at Sabo standing beside him with the long staff. Then at Shark, three meters tall and built like a demon.
The spear in his hand nearly fell into the water.
A pirate worth one billion five hundred seventy million. The man who murdered Celestial Dragons.
Why would a monster of this caliber suddenly descend on Fish-Man Island?
"Relax. We're just here as tourists."
Sabo stepped forward, smiling as he adjusted his hat. "And to bring an old friend home for a visit. Right, Shark?"
Shark walked to the railing. He looked at the familiar scenery around him. Then at the guards.
"I'm Shark. Former member of the Sun Pirates." Shark's voice was steady, but it carried an undeniable weight. "Are King Neptune and Jinbe at Ryugu Palace?"
"Shark? The Quick-Hand Shark who followed Boss Jinbe back then?"
The guard captain froze. The hostility in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by thick confusion.
"If you're guests brought by Brother Shark, then please wait. I'll notify Ryugu Palace immediately." The guard captain signaled to his subordinates. Several soldiers on seahorses swam rapidly toward the palace high above the island.
"So this is Fish-Man Island. It's even more prosperous than I imagined."
Brook had changed into a crisp tailcoat. He leaned on his Seven-Star Sword and waved politely toward a few mermaid ladies peeking at them from the shore.
"Yohohoho. Mermaid ladies, might I have a look at your panties?"
"Ahhh! A skeleton!"
The mermaids shrieked and dove into the water, leaving only pairs of wide, curious eyes visible above the surface.
"Stop scaring people, bag of bones."
Enel snorted. His Thunder God Staff crackled with faint sparks. "Ace, where to next? Straight to the old man's palace?"
"Not yet."
Ace looked toward a hill on the island's southeast side. "Let's look around first. Carina, in the intel you gathered, there's a place called the Mermaid Cafe, right?"
"Mm. Just ahead at Coral Hill."
Carina flipped through her little notebook. "Supposedly the most popular spot on the island. The owner, Madam Shirley, is also a famous fortune teller. Oh, Captain, I want to plant a Resonance Bond on the big guy, and then scatter some Vibe-Coins around the island. Set up some underwater eyes and ears."
The macaw on her shoulder, Berries, squawked excitedly.
"Go ahead. Meet us at the cafe when you're done." Ace nodded.
"Yehahaha! This god is going to see how the sunlight down here actually works!" Enel's form flickered and vanished into a streak of lightning down the street.
"Bonney, order whatever you want. Jeno's paying." Sabo grinned and patted the mechanical spider's cockpit.
"Yes! I want those colorful desserts!" Bonney piloted her mech excitedly, chasing after Chopper toward the shopping district.
"The seafood ingredients here should be unique." Leona carried her two swords. A flicker of appetite crossed her slit pupils. "I'm going to check the market. See if I can find something new."
"This lord thinks there's gotta be sunken treasure hidden all over this island. Hehehe. I'm gonna sniff around for leads." Buggy rubbed his hands together with a shifty grin. His body split into several pieces and slipped away down an alley.
The group moved through the streets of Fish-Man Island in a loose procession.
Ace's reputation and the crew's presence made plenty of fish-men uneasy. But with Shark, a local veteran, leading the way, no major conflicts broke out.
Still, Shark's gaze kept drifting toward the island's lowest, darkest district.
Fish-Man District.
"Captain. The stench over there is strong," Shark said quietly.
"I know."
Ace kept walking without looking back. His tone was flat. "After coffee, we'll clean out that cesspool. For now, let's go meet a famous fortune teller."
Not far away, at Coral Hill.
Inside the Mermaid Cafe, Madam Shirley was elegantly smoking her long pipe, receiving the group that had just walked through the door.
"Welcome, Lord Outlier Ace. And it's been a long time, Shark."
Madam Shirley's deep eyes lingered on Ace for a moment. She kept her composure as best she could, but the fingers holding her pipe had gone faintly pale.
"I'll take a coffee. The most famous one you have." Ace pulled out a chair and sat down.
"One moment."
Madam Shirley turned to prepare the coffee. But in the instant she had met Ace's eyes, her fortune teller's instinct had been seized by something vast and unfathomably dark.
She found her gaze drifting toward the crystal ball resting in the corner of the counter.
Bzzz.
Inside the crystal ball, the clear image suddenly turned murky and chaotic.
Madam Shirley's pupils contracted sharply. She stared at the crystal ball, sweat sliding down her forehead.
In her vision, she saw no specific event. No specific enemy.
She only saw a pure darkness vast enough to consume everything.
And at the center of that boundless darkness, a crimson-gold divine flame burned quietly.
Beyond that, nothing.
The threads of fate, on this man, had been violently erased of all possibility by some overwhelming force.
"What's wrong, madam?"
Ace looked at Madam Shirley's pale face. A playful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "What did you see?"
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