Bonus 18
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"Ahhhhhh-!!!"
"Princess Otohime got shot!"
"Who did it?!"
As blood spattered and Otohime fell to the ground, the bustling Gyoncorde Plaza erupted into chaos. Shouts echoed through the air.
"It's that human!"
Suddenly, a voice in the crowd exclaimed. The people around them were swiftly pushed away by an unseen force, creating a sudden gap in the crowd.
A man wrapped in bandages stood alone, holding a smoking long-barreled flintlock gun.
Clearly, the culprit was this human, who appeared somewhat embarrassed.
"Haha! You fishmen..."
The man seemed to have more to say, but two figures behind him, lying in wait for quite some time, leaped forward instantly. Their sharp fangs precisely sank into the man's aorta, and blood gushed out, splattering on the surroundings.
"This loathsome human is the one who took the life of Her Royal Highness!!"
Suddenly, he lifted his head, revealing a face streaked with bloodlines and pointed fangs dripping blood toward the ground. His eyes glowed red, and he seemed exhilarated.
Before the surrounding fishmen could react, various voices echoed from the crowd:
"Humans are indeed untrustworthy, and they must pay the price!"
"Drive the humans out of Fish-Men Island!"
"We aim to secure a prosperous future for Fish-Men Island! We cannot allow hateful humans to taint our home!"
"..."
Voices continued to pour in, and the fishmen, initially stunned by the rapid turn of events, were instantly overcome with fury. An unfamiliar rage ignited within them, and eyes filled with violence now glared at the humans in their midst.
"Kill them and avenge Princess Otohime!"
The enraged inhabitants of Fish-Men Island resembled frenzied bulls, assaulting the human pirates around them with sheer force.
The crowd suddenly erupted into excitement, creating a chaotic scene.
Even though the residents of Fish-Men Island hadn't shown much interest in Otohime's statements since the Tiger incident, it didn't imply that Otohime's standing in their hearts had plummeted. Quite the opposite, the residents of Fish-Men Island harbored a peculiar admiration for Princess Otohime and her travels.
In the square's corner, unnoticed by the crowd, a duty-bound soldier discreetly removed his armor and swiftly headed towards Ryugu Palace.
Meanwhile, Princess Otohime lay in a pool of blood, her expression frozen in shock. Neptune and Jinbei, standing beside her, were a mix of fear and anger, while Shirahoshi remained in a state of confusion.
A multitude of Kingdom troops formed a three-tiered cordon around the area, preventing anxious and concerned fishmen from rushing in to assess the situation.
"Cease this behavior and refrain from directing your anger towards others. Isn't it a display of cowardice and incompetence?"
Despite the tumultuous shouts and the constant stream of people, Otohime could deduce the situation in the square through the gaps in the crowd.
Even as her life ebbed away and blood continued to flow from her chest, she persisted in urging Neptune to restore order amid the chaotic scene.
Beside them, Atlas observed everything with a dispassionate gaze. His awareness enveloped the entire square from the moment he entered it.
Every move by the Fishman Street criminals and the escape of Hody Jones — all of it unfolded before his eyes.
Yet, he didn't immediately step forward to save the dying Otohime.
He was anticipating the awakening of that power.
As expected, the next moment —
Shirahoshi's initially narrowed pupils gradually expanded, and as if her mind had been struck hard, a heart-wrenching scream echoed throughout Fish-Men Island:
"Mother!"
An unseen power emanated in all directions along with the sound waves. In the dark depths of the sea, a multitude of giant Sea Kings responded to the call, their massive forms stirring the chilly water. A formidable aura manifested outside the protective bubble of Fish-Men Island.
Shirahoshi rushed towards the fallen Otohime, disregarding her own safety, and her young face was filled with panic.
The girl's distinctive cry pierced through the previously silent square.
"Sea Kings!!!"
The once noisy crowd craned their necks, staring in astonishment at the colossal Sea Kings looming over Fish-Men Island.
The island, originally sizable, now seemed like a mere toy in the palm of one's hand compared to these gigantic creatures.
What intensified the residents' fear even more was that there were over a dozen Sea Kings, each larger than the island itself!
"Shirahoshi, she..."
Otohime, clinging to life in a pool of blood, naturally observed this unfolding situation, and her beautiful eyes widened involuntarily.
This level of power brought to her mind a legend...
"Ah—!!! Where did these creatures come from?!!"
"The Fish-Men Island—is on the brink of destruction by these beings!!"
Suddenly, a fearful scream shattered the silence. The previously frozen crowd snapped back to reality, and chaos erupted, resembling ants on a hot pot.
Countless fishmen scattered in panic, desperately seeking shelter.
"Let me handle this."
At that moment, Atlas advanced steadily. His body ascended gracefully into the sky above Fish-Men Island, emanating a formidable aura.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted, and the surging energy radiated in all directions with unmatched dominance. The residual effects of this energy left both fishmen and humans in the crowd momentarily bewildered, their pupils slightly blurred by the overwhelming force.
The formidable force surged like a sharp blade, thrusting relentlessly towards the colossal Sea Kings outside the protective bubble!
Buzz—! ! !
It felt akin to a powerful invisible hammer striking the back of their heads. Despite the immense size of the Sea Kings, their bodies momentarily stiffened, and their eyes became unfocused.
After a while, the Sea Kings regained their composure and couldn't help but communicate.
[What happened? Was it that human with Conqueror's Haki?]
[Don't concern yourself with him; he's not the one we're awaiting. The primary concern now is whether our king is in danger.]
[Observing the scene, it appears the human is safeguarding our king.]
[O king! Grow swiftly; we'll always be here waiting for you.]
After a brief exchange, confirming Shirahoshi's safety, the dozen Sea Kings tacitly understood and departed from Fish-Men Island outside the protective bubble.
"As expected, when Sea Kings attain such a colossal size, a standard Conqueror's Haki release alone won't have a significant impact."
Atlas, having witnessed the entire event, muttered with a hint of dissatisfaction.
This Marine...
Witnessing this spectacle, all the fishmen gazed at the imposing Atlas in mid-air with sheer astonishment.
In their eyes, this man had managed to ward off the colossal Sea Kings and rescue Fish-Men Island from impending disaster merely by unleashing his aura.
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