"NO KIDDING YOU OVERDID IT!" Usopp shouted, goosebumps forming on his arms from the cold. "That attack was amazing, but what was that force?! You nearly tore us apart!"
Imai frowned, her tone steady. "We're under extreme water pressure. I had to use some of my strength to neutralize the threat. At least I stopped that monster from harming us."
"But look where that got us!"
"Calm down, Usopp," Franky interjected. "We can still find the others."
"How?"
"Even submerged almost seven thousand meters in total darkness, I always have a plan!" Franky replied with a confident grin. He flipped a switch, activating a powerful searchlight that cut through the murky depths.
Imai sighed and glanced at Usopp, her thoughts wandering. How does someone so terrified of everything end up on a pirate crew? But she dismissed the thought quickly. This crew was unlike any she'd encountered before—a chaotic yet remarkable mix of personalities.
"AHH! THAT'S A HUGE MONSTER!" Nami screamed, pointing at a shadowy figure in the water.
Imai followed her gaze and glared at the creature. Instantly, the enormous fish darted away, smaller fish scattering in its wake.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will harm us," Imai assured them, her voice calm but firm.
"Having someone as strong as the Four Emperors with us is reassuring," Robin said, smiling softly.
As the ship drifted deeper, a large shadow hovered above them. Franky directed the searchlight upward, revealing a massive jellyfish with bioluminescent tentacles. One of its tendrils brushed against Chopper, who froze in terror.
"SHING!"
Before anyone could react, Imai sheathed her blade. "Be careful. Its tentacles are most likely venomous."
"Eh?! Venomous?!" Chopper yelped, scrambling backward. The tentacle in front of him fell into neat, severed pieces as the jellyfish recoiled.
"T-thank you! You saved me!" Chopper stammered, his gratitude genuine.
"As I said, nothing will harm us while I'm here. I mean that literally," Imai replied.
The crew began to relax for the first time since their strongest members had been separated. Though Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were missing, Imai's overwhelming strength made her a pillar of reassurance.
Suddenly, the temperature around them began to rise, each second growing warmer. Imai's sharp eyes scanned the depths, quickly spotting the reason.
"We're directly above underwater volcanoes," she announced. "Can we escape this area quickly?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!" Franky said, flipping several switches. The Sunny blasted forward, cutting through volcanic heat and evading predatory creatures.
But just as they thought they were safe, an enormous fish appeared ahead, its maw wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Imai gripped her blade, ready to leap out of the bubble and strike the fish's mouth if necessary.
Before she could act, a towering figure punched the fish from behind, scolding it. "Ankoro! I told you not to eat ships! The captain will be furious!"
"Looks like I didn't need to intervene," Imai remarked, sheathing her blade. "Blood would've been everywhere."
"Oi! Don't say something so terrifying so casually!" Usopp shouted, trembling. "You're as bad as Nico!"
"Everyone, look! There's a ship approaching us," Robin pointed out, her tone curious but calm.
Imai turned to see the vessel Robin had spotted—a decrepit, battered pirate ship that looked more like a haunted relic than something seaworthy.
"N-no way! It's the Flying Dutchman!" Brook cried, his voice shaking.
"What's that ship's story?" Imai asked.
"It's said the captain cursed the gods, committing atrocities before throwing his crew into the sea. It's a ghost ship, doomed to sail forever! But how is it here, after hundreds of years?!" Brook exclaimed in horror.
"Take the ship's treasures, then sink it!" commanded a voice from the Dutchman.
"Yes, Captain Vander Decken!" replied the towering Wadatsumi, who raised his massive fist to strike the Sunny.
Before Wadatsumi could attack, a tentacle shot out of nowhere, pummeling him repeatedly.
"That's enough! Stop!" a familiar voice shouted.
The crew erupted in cheers as Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji appeared, riding atop Surume, the giant octopus.
"Luffy! Zoro! Sanji!"
While the others celebrated, Imai stepped aside, her patience wearing thin. She wanted to reach Fish-Man Island as quickly as possible. Why do disasters follow this crew wherever they go?
"Rayleigh," she muttered under her breath, "what the hell did you sign me up for?"
Her musing was interrupted as the ground began to tremble. The surrounding volcanoes erupted with steam and glowing red lava.
"Franky! Can you boost us out of here?!" Nami shouted.
"I already used all the air! We don't have enough to escape!" Franky replied.
"No need to worry!" Luffy exclaimed. "Surume will carry us out!"
At Luffy's command, the octopus latched onto the Sunny, speeding them out of the danger zone.
"Surume!" Imai yelled. "Move faster if you don't want to be cut again!"
The octopus, terrified, surged forward with newfound energy. Despite the rising heat and volcanic chaos, they narrowly escaped.
Just as relief set in, enormous rocks from the eruption began falling toward them.
"Those boulders will crush the ship!" Usopp screamed. "What do we do?!"
"I'll cut them," Imai said, extending her hand toward Zoro. "Give me your sword."
"Hah?! You already have one! Why do you need mine?!" Zoro snapped.
"Because I'm a Two-Sword Style user. If you want to live, give me a sword," Imai said curtly.
Grumbling, Zoro handed her a blade.
"Luffy! Be ready to pull me back the moment I finish!" Imai called.
"Got it!"
As she prepared to leap out, hands sprouted from her body, halting her.
"Why are you stopping her, Nico?!" Luffy demanded.
"We're eight thousand meters down! The water pressure will crush her!" Robin protested.
"Don't worry, Nico," Imai said with a calm smile. "Not even ten thousand meters would stop me from wielding my blade."
Robin hesitated, her chest tightening. Though they had only recently met, Imai's words and presence stirred something deep within her—a trust she couldn't explain.
"Fine," Robin relented, retracting her hands.
"I promise, Nico. I'll be fine. After all..." Imai smiled, stepping out into the abyss. "I'm the Empress of the Blade!"