Boom!
Outside Fish-Men Island...
Deep within the sea, a thunderous roar echoed. Though muffled by the seawater, the sound still caused the vast Fish-Men Island to tremble slightly.
In the Ryugu Palace, which rules over Fish-Men Island, King Neptune was deep in discussion with Queen Otohime and his ministers about the World Government's latest proposal.
Suddenly, the entire palace shook, sending ripples through the wine in their cups, spreading in waves. Neptune and the others were stunned by the sudden shock.
"What's going on? An earthquake?" one of the ministers asked.
"Or is it a volcanic eruption? What could be causing this?" another wondered.
The tremors continued, and young Shirahoshi burst into tears, frightened by the violent shaking. Queen Otohime hurried to her, gently comforting her.
Boom!
The sound of distant drums rumbled, sporadic and unsettling, as if some enormous creature was stirring the sea into a frenzy, its power so great that even Fish-Men Island itself was affected.
All over the island, mermen, mermaids, and fish-men were rushing into the streets, looking around in confusion and fear.
"What's happening?" one shouted.
"Was it an earthquake? Or maybe a seaquake triggered by a volcanic eruption?" another cried.
Just then, the alarmed guards of Fish-Men Island, riding on seahorses, rushed to the Ryugu Palace with urgent news.
"King Neptune, Queen Otohime! It's an emergency!" the lead guard shouted as he burst into the palace, gasping for breath.
Minister hurried over, supporting the out-of-breath guard.
"What happened? Speak quickly!" he demanded.
"Jinbe of the Sun Pirates is fighting someone!" the guard blurted out.
"What?!" Prince exclaimed. "Jinbe, fighting? With who?"
"Yes, my lord," the guard nodded frantically, "he's engaged in battle with a human!"
Otohime's eyes widened. "You mean Jinbe is fighting a human, at the bottom of the sea?" she asked in disbelief.
Shirahoshi, wiping away her tears, looked on with curiosity.
"Really?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Impossible!" Neptune said, frowning deeply.
Boom!
Another, even larger shockwave hit Fish-Men Island, shaking its outer shell violently.
"Father, let me go and see what's happening!" Fukaboshi pleaded.
Neptune nodded, giving his son the approval he needed. Without a moment's hesitation, Fukaboshi led a group of guards out of the Ryugu Palace, rushing toward the source of the disturbance.
"Neptune, the people need your reassurance right now," Otohime said softly, closing her eyes as she listened to the voices of the frightened citizens echoing in her mind.
Born with Observation Haki of the highest level, Otohime could feel the emotions and thoughts of others, even conveying her own intentions to them, influencing their hearts and minds. It was a gift that allowed her to resonate deeply with others, even altering their beliefs.
Although her frail health limited her physical strength, her empathy and the power of her Haki were unmatched, a force capable of unsettling even the World Government.
King Neptune knew well what his wife was capable of, and he quickly set off to the square to calm the worried citizens.
Meanwhile, Fukaboshi and the guards moved.
As they stepped out of the coating zone, Fukaboshi felt a surge of power hit like a tidal wave, almost knocking him back.
"What is this strength?!" Fukaboshi gasped, struggling to keep his balance.
Before his eyes, the water was swirling violently, turning cloudy. Powerful waves spread through the ocean, sending shockwaves rippling through the seabed and sky.
Amidst this turmoil, two figures clashed fiercely, their battle so intense that the sea itself seemed to roar in protest.
"Is that human really fighting Jinbe?" one of the Sun Pirates crew members muttered in disbelief.
"No... he's completely overwhelming him!"
"Damn it! Is this the guy who defeated Kaido of the Beasts? He's terrifying!" another said, trembling.
The crew watched in awe as Leno, not even using his sword yet, fought Jinbe with nothing but his raw physical power.
"No way," one whispered, "Leno hasn't even drawn his sword yet. He's just using his Haki and strength..."
In the world of One Piece, whether you're a pirate, Marine, or a member of the World Government, strength was the only thing that mattered. Justice, freedom, dreams, and ambition—all of it relied on power.
Leno, who recently took down Hody and his gang, had already earned the respect of Fish-Men Island. He was a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knew it.
"Jinbe, you're strong!" Leno grinned as he clashed with Jinbe in a surge of power, sending shockwaves that shook the ocean floor.
With a hint of a smile, Leno asked, "Are you interested in joining us?"
Jinbe, panting and bleeding, could barely keep up with Leno's relentless attacks. Leno's Armament Haki was sharp and precise, each blow slicing through Jinbei's defenses.
Even as he fought, Jinbe couldn't help but think of Wanokuni's "Emission" technique, though Leno's Haki seemed even more refined.
Jinbe realized that Leno was holding back—he hadn't even used his full strength or unleashed his Conqueror's Haki yet.
The battlefield was in ruins, but Leno seemed barely winded. Jinbe gathered his strength and met Leno's eyes.
"Join you?" Jinbei asked. "The Hunter Guild?"
Leno's grin widened. "How about it?" he asked again.
"And if I refuse?" Jinbei asked, his gaze unwavering.
Leno's smile remained, filled with the promise of another challenge yet to come.
Leno thought for a moment and then smiled, "Of course, it's fine!"
"I'm already one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to join the Hunter Guild now. Sorry!" Jinbe said, declining the offer.
"I see. That's a shame!" Leno shrugged, glancing sideways at the approaching World Government ship.
He muttered, "Well then, it's time to wrap things up."
"Huh?" Jinbe looked confused.
Suddenly, golden light flickered in Leno's eyes, and sparks of lightning crackled, illuminating the deep sea. A powerful golden aura surged from his body, spreading through the water like a tidal wave.
Buzz... buzz...
"What is this overwhelming pressure?" Jinbe planted his feet firmly, his expression twisted into a grimace. He gritted his teeth, feeling as though he was carrying an immense weight on his back, his whole body straining under the force. His breath came in ragged gasps as his spirit and will were crushed by the pressure.
In the distance, fish-men, the Sun Pirates, and even Fukaboshi felt the force as if they'd been struck on the back of their heads. They collapsed one after another, and even the people of the World Government ship dropped to the ground, their eyes rolling back.
Leno's arm glowed with the combined power of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, intertwining into a radiant purple-gold aura. It was a spectacle to behold, even in the crushing depths of the sea.
Danger! Alarms rang in Jinbe's mind.
"I can't just stand here and defend!"
He narrowed his eyes, gathering water into a dense sphere in his palm.
"Fish-Man Karate!"
The ocean pressure around them multiplied the power of his attack, creating a devastating force.
"Here it comes!" Jinbe's sharp eyes tracked Leno's movements. Even though Leno was not a fish-man, his ability to breathe underwater and move was impressive, although he still struggled against the sea's resistance.
The water sphere in Jinbe's hand exploded, launching a massive wave like a piercing spear that ripped through the ocean, its power strong enough to shake Fish-Men Island to its core.
But something was wrong. Despite the hit landing, Jinbe felt uneasy. He reached out with Armament Haki to brace himself, but a sudden blow wrapped in Haki smashed into his chest.
Jinbe's chest caved under the force of Leno's attack. He doubled over, coughing up blood that stained the water around him red.
And that was only the beginning.
A second shockwave erupted from Leno's fist, tearing through the seawater like shattered glass, sending Jinbe flying backward like a ragdoll. He crashed through a coral mound, coming to rest amidst the rubble, dazed and defeated.
"Defeated... Jinbe was defeated!?" gasped the onlookers from the World Government ship, eyes wide with disbelief.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Jinbe, was crushed by Leno in his own territory!"
"He's too strong!" whispered a voice from the trembling crew, those few who still stood after enduring Leno's Haki.
Leno turned his gaze to the frozen World Government ship. He activated his Rokushiki technique,
"Shigan: Extreme Ice," thrusting his finger forward with incredible speed. The water around it turned to ice, forming a solid barrier that spread out, freezing the entire ship.
The CPO members on board stared in horror as the ice encased their vessel, creeping into every crack. They had nowhere to run.
"He's really attacking a World Government ship!?" muttered one of the fish-men in disbelief, watching the impossible unfold.
With a single punch, Leno shattered the frozen ship into pieces, sending it sinking into the deep-sea trench. Gasps of shock echoed from all around as the pirates and murlocs looked on, their mouths agape.
"Crazy! This guy just destroyed a World Government ship!" someone shouted.
Leno carved a message into the ice with a flick of his finger, making sure it was visible to anyone watching:
"Pirate scum pretending to be agents of the World Government? Ridiculous!"
A murmur of confusion swept through the onlookers.
"Was it really pirates impersonating World Government agents?" they wondered. If that was true, then Leno had just done the World Government a favor.
Of course, Leno knew the truth. He was playing his own game, one that even the Five Elders would find hard to counter. He'd make them hesitate, even if it was only for a moment.
Just then, King Neptune of Fish-Men Island approached with his entourage.
"President of Hunter Guild, Leno, I am Neptune king of the Fish-Man Island. I'd be honored if you'd join us at the palace," he said, his voice filled with respect and caution.
The request was made at the suggestion of Queen Otohime, who had heard of Leno's potential and was deeply curious about the man who had dared to defy the World Government.
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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg