The instant Imai jumped out of the bubble, an immense wave of pressure pressed down on her. A normal person attempting such a feat would have been crushed instantly. But Imai was far from ordinary.
She smiled, glancing down at the crew below. Their worried faces were clear even from this distance. Still, she needed to finish quickly; who knew how long Luffy's arms could endure the strain under such extreme pressure?
"Let's end this." Imai muttered, focusing on the incoming debris. Her grip tightened on her swords. "Sovereign's Quick Draw!"
A single purple arc of energy, crackling with streaks of lightning, cut through the water. It split the incoming rocks and mud cleanly, dispersing them harmlessly. With her task complete, Imai was pulled back into the safety of the bubble by Luffy's stretched arms.
Once inside, she dropped to her knees, coughing violently as water poured from her mouth. She hadn't realized how much had entered her body during her focused attack.
"I'll help you expel the water!" Nico said, stepping forward.
Imai raised a hand to stop her. "No need. I'm fine now," she managed between coughs. "I didn't realize... I was too focused."
"Well, you're fine now, and that's all that matters!" Luffy exclaimed. His grin widened. "That slash was so cool!"
"Yeah! It looked magical!" Usopp added, nodding excitedly.
"Tch. A single draw can do that much damage?" Zoro muttered skeptically. "Is that even possible?"
"Of course, Zoro." Imai smirked, wiping her mouth. "If you'd become my disciple, I could teach you a thing or two."
"Not a chance. I'll never become anyone's disciple again," Zoro shot back, crossing his arms.
"Suit yourself." Imai shrugged, turning to Nami. "Look outside. I think we've arrived."
Nami leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "You're right!"
They had descended to a depth of 10,000 meters, but instead of darkness, they were greeted by a dazzling sight. Towering coral pillars adorned with intricate patterns surrounded them. Schools of colorful fish swam gracefully through the vibrant scenery.
Ahead lay a massive bubble encasing a city, its shimmering surface dotted with marine creatures forming elegant patterns.
"No doubt about it." Nami grinned. "We've reached Fish-Man Island!"
"Wow! It's huge!"
"Look at that tree growing inside the bubble!"
"Are those clouds? How is that even possible?"
"Alright!" Imai interrupted, her voice cutting through the excitement. "Instead of standing around questioning everything, why don't we go see for ourselves?"
But before they could move, their ship was suddenly surrounded by sea monsters. On their backs rode fish-men, glaring down at the crew.
One of them, larger than the rest, smirked as he pointed at the Sunny. "You're the Straw Hats, aren't you? Heard a lot about you. Especially what you pulled two years ago, taking down Arlong and causing chaos with the Celestial Dragons. Looks like you've picked up a new member, too."
"I'm not a new member," Imai corrected curtly.
"Ah, then step aside," the fish-man sneered. "A pretty girl like you might come in handy later. Wouldn't want to waste you."
Imai's gaze darkened, her eyes locking onto him like a predator targeting prey. The air grew heavy, and her killing intent washed over the area like a suffocating tide.
The fish-men surrounding her took involuntary steps back, their faces pale with fear.
"Eh? What's wrong, Ojou-chan? Angry? Don't worry, we'll—"
His words cut off abruptly. He clutched his throat, choking as if invisible hands were strangling him.
"You'll die today," Imai said coldly, her voice like ice.
The fish-man's eyes widened in terror. A dark shadow loomed behind her, its glowing red eyes boring into his soul. In that instant, he felt utterly insignificant.
"I-It's a demon! You're a—"
Before he could finish, Imai disappeared in a blur of motion. A moment later, the fish-man's headless body hit the seafloor. His decapitated head followed, his expression frozen in fear.
The Sunny shot forward, propelled by Franky's Coup de Burst. The crew barely had time to react before the ship shook violently.
"We're losing air!" someone shouted as the bubble enclosing them began to collapse.
Imai felt Nico's hands grabbing hers as the world blurred around her. The last thing she saw was the shimmering light of the Fish-Man Island bubble before everything went dark.
Imai awoke to the sound of tiny voices and the sensation of rough rock beneath her.
"Ah! She's awake!"
"Woah! Her eyes are red! So cool!"
She sat up slowly, blinking as she looked around. She was surrounded by small beings resembling fish-children. Nico lay nearby, still unconscious. Imai glanced down at her hand, realizing it was still intertwined with Nico's. She quickly let go before anyone noticed.
"So…" Imai asked the little beings. "Where are we?"
"You're on a rock!" one of them piped up.
"I know that much," she replied dryly. "But where exactly?"
"Near Fish-Man Island! The town's just over there!"
Imai turned and saw it—a bustling town filled with fish-men and mermaids. The sight was both surreal and breathtaking.
Nico stirred behind her, coughing softly.
"Good morning, Nico," Imai said, offering her a hand. "Looks like we've been separated from the others."
Nico nodded as she stood. "Do you know where they are?"
"Not yet," Imai admitted. "But knowing them, they'll cause enough trouble for us to find them soon enough."
Nico laughed, a sound that sent a strange warmth through Imai. She shook it off, focusing on their surroundings.
"I see some fish-men heading up. I'm going to hitch a ride to the palace. What about you?"
"I think I'll explore the town," Nico said with a smile. "There's a lot of history here I'd like to uncover."
"Alright." Imai gave a curt nod before heading off.
Spotting a ride near the edge of the town, she approached the fish-man running it. When he hesitated, she handed over some stolen coins and stepped aboard.
"Take me up to the palace," she commanded.
"Are you sure? There's a banquet tonight, and uninvited guests—"
"Do you want me to cut off your tongue?" Imai interrupted, unsheathing her katana slightly.
The fish-man gulped and immediately began ascending.
"Here," he said nervously, handing her a piece of coral. "You'll need this to form a bubble around yourself if you're going outside."
Imai accepted it with a smirk. "Good choice. And don't worry—I'll decide about your tongue later."
The fish-man paled but said nothing as they ascended toward the glowing palace.