—Third Person POV—
The rusted chains hanging from the ceiling of Arlong Park's forgotten storage room clinked together, as salt-laden wind whistled through the cracks in the wooden walls. Gyaro pressed his back against the wood, webbed fingers wrapped around the hilt of his concealed sword.
The blade's weight felt heavier today—not from its physical mass, but from the burden of secrets it carried.
Six shadows moved to the room. The hammerhead fishman Okuba's distinctive silhouette was positioned near the entrance, his wide-set eyes scanning for any sign of a closing fishman.
The meeting place reeked of old seaweed and rust, but it was the only corner of the park where they could speak without their captain's ever-present surveillance.
"Are we finally going to do it?" Okuba's voice barely rose above a whisper, but the hunger in his tone cut through the stagnant air like a blade.
Gyaro's jaw tightened. "Yes." The single word carried the weight of revolution.
"We start making our move. Arlong..." He spat the name like spoiled fish. "Arlong is a lost cause."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Kurami shifted nervously, his gills fluttering with rapid breaths. Even Watabe, usually quick with nervous jokes, remained silent.
They all knew what those words meant—what they implied about their captain, their crew, their entire purpose in the East Blue.
Gyaro stepped into the center of their circle, his scarred body catching the sunlight that filtered through a crack in the ceiling.
"He has forgotten everything. The goal we came here for. Why we followed him in the first place. The horrors of the Grand Line." His voice grew harder with each word.
"He has become lax, his mind filled with nothing but bullying humans and toying with that girl—exactly like those Celestial Dragons we're supposed to despise."
The comparison hit like a physical blow. Several of the conspirators flinched, their faces twisting with recognition and disgust. The silence that followed pressed down on them like deep ocean water, heavy and suffocating.
Kecho, barely past his twentieth year, opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again. The words hung unspoken in the air: 'But he's our captain. But we swore loyalty.'
"It's not just us," Gyaro continued, reading the doubt in their faces.
"I know many others in the crew feel the same. We came here to build something greater—a settlement on the surface for our people, away from the cold depths where we've been forced to hide. A place where our children wouldn't have to hide in ocean trenches."
"Instead, we're playing petty tyrants in some backwater corner of the weakest sea."
Kurami found his voice at last. "We've collected enough resources for the settlement. More than enough." His webbed hands gestured emphatically.
"We found locations—perfect places that could serve as fortresses and the center of our empire. Natural harbors, defensible positions, fresh resources. Everything we need."
The excitement in his voice was infectious, spreading through the group like wildfire. Gyaro seized on it, his own passion igniting.
"The East Blue is perfect for us. The Marines never bother deploying anything stronger than a Rear Admiral here, and even the Rear Admirals are rare enough to count on one hand."
"If we moved swiftly, by the time the World Government paid us any real attention, it would be too late. We'd be established, fortified, ready to expand our influence across the entire sea."
"But we didn't move." The bitterness in Watabe's voice could have curdled milk. "Arlong keeps saying we need more money, but every one of us knows that's a lie."
Okuba nodded grimly. "The money we've collected could build a kingdom. We have the perfect location, with everything we would want. It even has Yarukiman Mangrove, something we thought was impossible outside the Grand Line before."
"Everything is ready for the next step, but our fearless captain..." He practically sneered the title. "Our fearless captain is satisfied ruling over some rural villages while bullying a handful of humans."
Gyaro's expression darkened. None of them held any love for humans—that much they shared with Arlong. Their hatred ran deep, carved into their souls by years of discrimination and violence. But what they were doing now, the way they were conducting themselves...
"We're acting like the very humans we despise," he said quietly. "Tarnishing Fisher Tiger's legacy with every day we waste in this pathetic charade. Is this something he would be proud of?"
The name struck them like lightning. Fisher Tiger—the hero who had climbed the Red Line with his bare hands, who had freed countless slaves from the World Nobles, who had shown them that fishmen could rise above their oppression through strength and courage, not petty cruelty.
Okuba's hammer-shaped head dropped toward his chest. He and Gyaro had served under Tiger personally, had seen the great fishman's vision of what their people could become. The memory of those days, when they had fought for something greater than themselves, made their current situation feel like betrayal.
The silence stretched until Kecho, his young voice cracking with confusion, asked, "Why hasn't Arlong-san moved? What's stopping him?"
Gyaro's lips curled into a snarl. "Because he's a coward."
The accusation hung in the air like a death sentence. To call the fishman captain a coward was to challenge everything he stood for, everything he claimed to be.
"You young ones weren't there," Gyaro continued, his voice taking on the cadence of a storyteller recounting a tragedy. "You didn't ride with the Sun Pirates when Tiger-san died. Arlong wanted revenge—wanted to kill every human on that blasted island. But when he tried..." Gyaro shook his head in disgust.
"He was humiliated. Defeated by a Vice Admiral and thrown into Impel Down like common trash."
Surume, the octopus fishman who had remained silent until now, his eight arms coiled nervously around his torso, finally spoke.
"He was only released because Jinbe became a government dog—a Warlord of the Sea. And even though Arlong acts tough now, every Sun Pirate who followed him to the East Blue knows the truth. He's terrified of the Marines."
"Not the pathetic ones you see in the East Blue, but the real Marines of the Grand Line!"
The revelation sent ripples of shock through the younger conspirators.
Their captain, the mighty Arlong, who terrorized entire islands, was afraid?
It recontextualized everything—his choice to remain in the East Blue, and never returning to the Fishmen Island for eight years, his reluctance to expand their operations, his obsession with small-scale intimidation rather than grand conquest.
"Speaking of which," Surume continued, his voice gaining strength, "I got news from one of the guys who returned from Fishman Island recently. There's someone named Hody Jones making noise in the Fishman District. Attracting followers, building his own movement."
Gyaro's eyes gleamed. "Then we'll put him down and take his followers for ourselves."
Kecho looked uncertain. "Would they follow us that easily? They don't know us, they know him."
A slow smile spread across Gyaro's face. Without a word, he reached for the sword at his waist. The weapon whispered as it left its sheath, and even in the dim light, its otherworldly nature was unmistakable.
The sword looked ancient, the strange-looking blade that looked like it was broken at the tip, the guard was encrusted with jewels that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and the entire weapon radiated an aura of power that made the hair on their necks stand on end.
"All we need," Gyaro said, raising the sword high.
"Is to awaken Poseidon."
"When we do, everyone in the Fishman District, no, everyone on Fishman Island, will follow us."
The conspirators stared at the weapon with expressions of awe and naked hunger. This was it—their ticket to the empire they'd dreamed of, the power that would make their vision reality.
Okuba's voice was barely a breath. "I still can't believe we found an ancient weapon, just like that. And in the hands of a human kid of all people."
Watabe's eyes never left the sword's jeweled guard. "It's the guidance of heaven itself. To retrieve this lost treasure of our people..."
"It was always rumored," Gyaro said, lowering the weapon but keeping it visible, "that the royal family of Ryugu Kingdom possessed an ancient weapon."
"But when the Golden Age of Piracy began and the island was raided continuously, when the royal family couldn't protect us until Whitebeard put the island under his protection, it became clear by then that the rumors were false."
His grip tightened on the hilt. "Turns out they weren't false—the weapon was just stolen from the royal family. Now that it's back in a fishman's hands, it's only right that we use it."
The mood in the room shifted as Gyaro's expression grew serious, his scarred features hardening with grim determination.
"But even with this, we still need Noah—the colossal ship. When I returned to the Fishman District a year and a half ago, I tried to use Poseidon's power to control the ship."
"But I was too weak then, and Noah had been stripped of all its movement gears and equipment. So, I failed."
The admission cost him, Gyaro's pride warring with practical necessity. But his training over the past months had changed him, all of that training with the sword and getting familiar with its power made him a different man.
"Now I've trained enough with the sword. If we can get the money to restore Noah's equipment—the rowing oars, the thousands of cannons—then the ancient weapon Poseidon will truly awaken."
His voice rose with growing excitement, infecting the others with his vision. "Even if the Marines use a Buster Call against us, even if they send their Admirals, they'll be crushed by the sheer difference in power."
"Imagine this, thousands of cannons firing at once, and the great mobility of an island-sized ship, no, an ancient weapon that can even move underwater." More confidence and ambition are being poured out with his words, the more he speaks.
"And with how much this sword has enhanced my Fishman Karate..." He flexed his free hand, feeling the supernatural connection with the water around him. "I'm confident I could take down an Admiral myself."
The conspirators nodded their approval, caught up in the intoxicating promise of absolute power. But Kurami's practical mind cut through the euphoria.
"We all have some savings, but would that be enough to weaponize Noah? Those oars alone would cost a fortune, and thousands of cannons..."
Gyaro's smile turned predatory. "Yes, it wouldn't be enough for even the oars. That's why we're going to steal some of Arlong's money secretly with this sword before we leave."
"I've already asked him for leave in advance. He won't suspect anything."
"Eh? Can you do something like that with this sword?" Kurami wondered in awe.
"Of course, didn't you try this sword before? All locks and doors are useless in front of this sword! With it, going into the vault secretly and taking some money would be a piece of cake!"
The plan crystallized in their minds like forming ice. They would take what they needed from their unsuspecting captain, use it to buy weapons on the black market, awaken Poseidon, gather an army from the Fishman District, and return to complete the conquest they should have begun years ago.
"I can contact Joker," Okuba offered, referring to the infamous black-market broker whose reach extended across all the seas. "He can get us the weapons. All we need is the money and manpower."
"Then it's settled," Gyaro said, sheathing the ancient sword. The weapon's otherworldly glow faded, but its presence continued to press against their consciousness like a promise of things to come. "But until we leave, we act normal. No suspicious behavior, no unusual activities. If Arlong suspects what we're planning..."
He didn't need to finish the threat. They all knew what their captain was capable of when his temper was roused.
The conspirators began to disperse, slipping away into the buildings of Arlong Park. But each carried with them the weight of their shared secret and the intoxicating promise of revolution.
Gyaro remained behind for a moment, his hand resting on the sword's hilt. Fisher Tiger's vision of fishman greatness would finally be realized—not through Arlong's petty tyranny, not through Otohime's overoptimistic pacifism, but through the ancient power that now fell into his hands.
The East Blue would tremble before them. The Marines would fall. And from the ashes of the old order, a new empire would rise—one worthy of their people's suffering and dreams.
As he finally slipped away into the light, Gyaro moved to where his captain is as they are preparing to go on a surprise patrol. And he, for now, has to play the role of a good subordinate.
—Hachiman POV—
Only half an hour had passed since Sanji disappeared into the only cabin of my small ship, to prepare some food. I leaned against the ship's railing while reading the Logbook, thinking it would take more time.
But that small time frame was apparently enough for the cook to prepare a small feast, with many dishes that everyone had ordered. The aroma wafting from the cabin was... actually impressive.
"Woaaaaah!"
"Amazing, Cook-aniki!"
"Just the aroma is wonderful!"
When Sanji emerged from the galley, balancing multiple plates with the grace of a professional waiter, everyone—Luffy, Yusako, Delgado, and I—were in awe at the suddenly small feast spread before us.
'You can't blame anyone for being in awe, okay? We're a bunch of idiots sailing around in a glorified dinghy, and this guy just produced restaurant-quality food from what amounts to a floating closet.'
What surprised me the most was that when I had asked him for anything with rice, he had prepared a curry rice along with many other dishes, all of it in just half an hour.
The steam rose from the perfectly seasoned dish, the rice grains distinct and fluffy, the curry sauce rich and aromatic.
'This is either genuine skill or some kind of Devil Fruit power. Though knowing my luck in this world, it's probably just another reminder that everyone here is inexplicably talented at something.'
I looked up at Sanji, genuinely curious. "How could you even make all of that in half an hour?"
Sanji's response was a smug grin as he lit another cigarette. "A real cook…would never reveal his secrets."
'Seriously?' I stared at him with the kind of deadpan expression I usually reserved for particularly obtuse Service Club requests. "That's a wizard thing, not a cook thing. And why the mystery anyway? It's just food."
'Though I suppose I should be grateful he's not asking me to reveal how I can materialize legendary swords from thin air. Glass houses and all that.'
Sanji's expression shifted to something I could only describe as disgustingly perverted as he sighed dramatically. "Unrefined men like you four won't understand the art of cooking. If only I could cook for the beautiful Nami-san instead of a bunch of rough men like you..."
'And there it is.' I wondered what kind of woman would allow a pervert like this guy within ten kilometers of her.
'Though considering that woman's track record with manipulating men, she'd probably have him wrapped around her finger within minutes. Actually, that's exactly what happened in the manga, isn't it?'
I knew he had such a gag in the original story, but seeing the real version of him like this was... actually more disturbing than I'd expected.
'Reading about cartoon perverts is one thing. Having to share meals with an actual walking harassment case is another entirely.'
As we started eating, we quickly realized that the pervert cook was really good at his craft.
'Damn him and his actual competence. It's so much easier to dismiss people when they're completely useless at everything.'
The curry was perfectly balanced—spicy enough to have depth without overwhelming the palate, the rice cooked to that ideal texture where each grain maintained its integrity.
This is the problem with people. Just when you think you have them figured out, they go and demonstrate actual skill. It's almost like humans are complex beings with multiple facets or something equally irritating.
While we were eating, Luffy looked up from his third plate of meat—because, of course, he's already on his third plate—and asked, "What kind of place did Nami go to anyway?"
It was then that Yusako suddenly straightened up, his eyes widening as if he'd just remembered something important. "Oh! That's what I wanted to say this whole time!"
He began talking with increasing agitation about how dangerous Arlong Park was, how it was the base of the Arlong pirates, and how scary strong Arlong himself was. "If you guys really knew what you were getting into, you'd hesitate to go there!"
'And there's the exposition dump I've been waiting for.' Yusako's voice took on that particular tone of someone trying very hard to sound impressive while simultaneously terrifying his audience. 'It's the same tone Zaimokuza uses when he's describing his light novel plots. All drama, no substance.'
Feeling apparently less excited about Yusako's exaggerated introduction, both Luffy and Sanji turned to me. "What's all this about?" Sanji asked, much to Yusako's visible dissatisfaction.
'Of course they're asking me. Because somehow, I've become the designated exposition fairy for this merry band of idiots.'
I put down my spoon slowly, buying myself a moment to organize my thoughts.
"Do you remember the Hawk-Eyed man from before?" I asked them.
Both of them nodded, though their expressions showed they were still puzzled about what his connection to all of this could possibly be.
'Right. Because making logical connections isn't exactly their strong suit.'
I sighed at how badly misinformed these guys were about the basic power structures of their own world.
"He is part of a pirate organization that follows the World Government, called the Warlords of the Sea."
Both Luffy and Sanji's eyes widened in shock. There it is. That moment when people realize they've been operating with incomplete information. It's almost endearing how genuinely surprised they look.
"A pirate working with the Marines?" Sanji asked, his cigarette nearly falling from his lips.
'They're mixing up the Marines with the World Government, but close enough for government work.' I didn't comment on the distinction—it wasn't worth derailing the conversation over semantics.
"It's an organization made up of seven strong pirates, created to counter the powerful pirates of this Great Pirate Era. The government basically lets them do whatever they want in return for being their subordinates."
It's actually a fascinating study in institutional compromise. The World Government is essentially legitimizing piracy to control piracy. There's probably a whole thesis to be written about the psychological and sociological implications, but I doubt my current audience would appreciate that level of analysis.
Luffy looked genuinely amazed. "WHAT?! There Are Seven Of These Guys In The Grand Line?"
Sanji, meanwhile, was putting the pieces together. "So, is this Arlong guy one of them? I mean, if he's openly making his base in a village..."
"Close," I replied, appreciating that at least one of them was capable of logical deduction. "The pardon of the Warlords extends to their subordinates as well. Arlong is a subordinate of one of the Warlords—Jinbe, the leader of the Fishman Pirates."
And now we get to the part where I have to explain an entire species to people who've apparently never encountered basic diversity in their own world.
Luffy's expression shifted to one of pure puzzlement. "I've never met a fishman before..."
Sanji's face immediately took on that perverted expression I was becoming unfortunately familiar with. "The famous Fishman Island! Home of the beautiful mermaids!"
'Of course that's what he focuses on.' What surprised me more was that Delgado, my usually level-headed employee, suddenly perked up with a similar expression of interest.
With the most deadpan expression I could muster, I said, "The Arlong pirates have no mermaids. They're just a bunch of muscley guys with aquatic features."
The effect was immediate and deeply satisfying.
Luffy, Sanji, and Delgado all deflated like punctured balloons, their interest evaporating instantly. There's something beautiful about watching people's fantasies get crushed by reality. It's like performance art.
Yusako, however, looked absolutely frustrated. "You guys are underestimating Arlong and his crew way too much!"
Poor thing. Trying so hard to be the voice of reason and caution, but his audience is more interested in fantasy mermaids than actual threats. It was almost tragic how desperately he wanted to be taken seriously.
"Fishmen are known to be ten times stronger than normal humans," Yusako continued, his voice rising with urgency. "And because they can live freely underwater, that power multiplies many times when they're in their element!"
He's not wrong, but he's presenting the information like a bad documentary narrator. No wonder they're not taking him seriously.
Yusako pressed on, clearly hoping to get some kind of reaction. "Arlong was a direct subordinate to Jinbe, one of the Warlords! In terms of individual strength alone, he should be stronger than Don Krieg!"
But Luffy and Sanji just continued eating without a care in the world, which made Yusako look like he was about to have an aneurysm.
This is exactly the kind of situation where someone needs to step in with actual, useful information instead of just dramatic proclamations.
"The biggest problem with fishmen isn't their strength. The world is full of strong people." I interjected with a calm voice.
Though admittedly, most of those strong people aren't ten times stronger than the baseline human. But strength alone isn't what makes fishmen particularly dangerous.
I pointed at Luffy, who looked up from his food with sauce around his mouth. "Just like how you got a rubber-like body because of a Devil Fruit, fishmen have special abilities that come from their bloodline. But unlike Devil Fruit users, they become actively stronger in water."
It's actually a fascinating contradiction. While Devil Fruit users become helpless in water, fishmen become more dangerous. There's definitely some kind of natural balance at work there.
'Though I doubt anyone here wants to hear my theories on supernatural ecosystem balance.'
Sanji looked genuinely interested now. "What kind of special abilities?"
'Finally, a direct question that lets me get to the actually important information.'
"They have many, most of them are not that useful, but some of them can be very deadly. However, they all have high water affinity, which they translate into a fearsome fighting style called Fishman Karate."
"It's a deadly art that's said to be able to destroy large buildings with a simple punch."
I pointed at Luffy again. "And at higher levels, Fishman Karate is said to be a strong counter to most Devil Fruit users."
Sanji and Luffy looked interested, but not shocked or scared. Typical. They hear about a martial art that can destroy buildings and counter Devil Fruit powers, and they're just 'interested.' Meanwhile, Yusako looks like he's about to pass out from terror.
Yusako, indeed, looked absolutely terrified. In stark contrast, Delgado remained completely calm, which only seemed to frustrate Yusako further.
"I can understand them being confident, but why are you so calm about this?" Yusako demanded, turning to Delgado.
Delgado shrugged with the kind of casual acceptance I'd come to expect from him. "I already knew that. And I usually don't participate in fights since I know I'm not strong enough."
There was something refreshing about Delgado's matter-of-fact acknowledgment of his limitations.
'Most people either overestimate their abilities or underestimate them to fish for compliments. Delgado just... knows what he is.'
I interrupted before Yusako could start another dramatic monologue.
"Fishmen have another noteworthy ability called Aquatic Communication. It allows them to communicate with various forms of aquatic life. Some even take it further and actually tame sea monsters."
'This is the part that should actually worry them. Superhuman strength is one thing—you can plan around that. But when your enemy can potentially command the local wildlife? That changes the entire tactical landscape.'
Everyone looked genuinely surprised at my words, and Luffy's eyes actually sparkled with amazement.
"Really? They can talk to sea monsters?"
'Of course, that's what captures his imagination. Not the strategic implications or the danger, but the simple wonder of inter-species communication. There's something almost childlike about the way he processes information.'
"It's not just talking to them, but actually taming them. I've heard that they even sell them to smugglers to use the tamed sea monsters as pulling animals, so they can navigate through dangerous regions. Apparently, they're faster and more reliable than conventional ships in certain waters." I said, continuing my explanation.
Sanji looked intrigued. "Pulling animals? Like water horses?"
"Something like that," I replied. "Though considerably larger and more dangerous than horses."
But as if the universe had decided to provide a practical demonstration of my point, something large appeared from the water in front of my ship.
'Oh, you have got to be kidding me.'
The thing was massive—easily as tall as a four-story building. Because normal-sized sea creatures would be too convenient for my life. But the strangest thing about it wasn't its size. While it was clearly a sea monster, it looked like...
'A cow. A giant, aquatic cow.'
Apparently, this world's approach to marine biology is "what if we took land animals and made them huge and wet?"
The creature's bovine features were unmistakable—the broad, flat nose, the large, docile eyes, the short, curved horns, and even the patches of green on its skin.
But all scaled up to building-size proportions and clearly adapted for aquatic life, it created a surreal image that probably would have been comical if it weren't currently looming over our ship.
'This is exactly the kind of absurd situation that defines my life in this world. I'm trying to have a serious tactical discussion about the dangers of fishman abilities, and the universe decides to illustrate my point by summoning a kaiju-sized sea cow.'
Everyone on the ship had frozen mid-bite, staring up at the massive creature. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves against our hull and the creature's deep, rumbling breathing.
Well, this certainly puts my explanation about aquatic communication into perspective. Though I have to wonder—is this thing here by coincidence, or did some fishman somewhere just prove my point about sea monster taming?
Luffy was the first to break the silence, his voice filled with wonder rather than fear. "Whoa! It's huge!"
'Facing down a building-sized sea monster, and his first reaction is enthusiasm. I'd be impressed by his lack of self-preservation instincts if I weren't currently sharing a boat with him.'
Sanji had gone very still, his cigarette burning forgotten between his lips. "That's... that's really big."
'Brilliant observation, Cook. Your grasp of scale is truly remarkable.'
Yusako looked like he was about to faint, while Delgado maintained his characteristic calm—though I noticed his hand had moved subtly toward one of the spare oars.
At least someone has the sense to prepare for the possibility that we might need to move quickly.
The sea cow—because that's apparently what we're calling it—continued to regard us with those enormous, surprisingly gentle eyes. It didn't seem immediately hostile, which was probably the only reason we weren't getting violent.
'Though "not immediately hostile" and "safe" are two very different things when dealing with something that could probably swallow our entire ship without much effort, so a fast move is required.'
I found myself caught between professional curiosity and practical concern. This is actually a fascinating example of the kind of aquatic life that fishmen might be able to communicate with. The tactical implications are staggering—imagine facing an enemy who could command creatures like this.
But more immediately pressing was the question of what this particular sea cow wanted with us.
'Knowing my luck, it's probably hungry. And knowing this world's approach to marine ecosystems, it probably considers small ships to be a dietary staple.'
The creature made a low moo sound like a real cow while sniffing toward our ship.
Sanji, predictably, was the first to try to interact with it. "Hey there, big guy! Are you hungry?"
'Don't. Feed. The kaiju cow. This should not need to be explained.'
But the creature's response was... unexpected. Instead of aggression or even curiosity about food, it seemed to perk up at Sanji's voice, its massive head tilting slightly in what could almost be interpreted as recognition.
'Or maybe it's just trying to figure out which one of us would make the best appetizer. Hard to read the emotional expressions of something whose eyes are larger than my entire body.'
The sea cow made another mooing sound, this one with a different tone—almost questioning. But then its massive mouth began to open, revealing rows of surprisingly sharp teeth for what I had assumed was an herbivore.
'Oh. Oh, that's not good.'
"IT'S TRYING TO EAT US!" Yusako screamed, stating the obvious with his usual flair for drama.
'And here I thought we were having a nice inter-species moment. Should have known better—everything in this world wants to either fight us or eat us. Sometimes both.'
What happened next was pure chaos.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" Luffy immediately stretched his arm back and launched it forward with an extended punch.
BANG!
His fist connected with the sea cow's face with a sound like thunder, the attack sending ripples across the creature's massive face.
"Collier Shoot!" Not to be outdone, Sanji leaped into the air with that ridiculous spinning kick technique of his.
WHOOSH!
CRACK!
His leg connected with the side of the sea cow's head in a blur of motion.
'Great. Now I'm in a fight with a building-sized sea cow. This is exactly how I wanted to spend my afternoon.'
I, too, drew my custom flintlock, expanded the Ether circle, and aimed in a very fast move.
'Hamon Bolt—Crush!'
BANG! BANG!
Two shots rang out in quick succession, each bullet finding its mark on the creature's thick hide.
BAAM! BAAM!
The bullets made the sound of a giant slug hammer upon contact, and the sea cow let out a pained MOOOOO! that was so loud it nearly knocked us off our feet.
But instead of becoming more aggressive, it suddenly looked... apologetic?
'Wait. Did we just discipline a kaiju cow into submission? That's either the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen, or exactly the kind of absurd logic this world operates on.'
Luffy, predictably, was the first to notice the change in the creature's demeanor. "Hey, I think it's sorry!"
Is everything just a potential friend to you? even giant sea monsters that just tried to eat us?
But then Luffy's expression shifted to that particular look he got when he had what he considered a brilliant idea.
'That face…it is the kind that usually precedes terrible decisions.'
"Hey, Hikigaya!" Luffy called out excitedly. "Didn't you say something about tamed sea monsters being used by smugglers?"
I did say that, didn't I? I specifically mentioned that some people use them as pulling animals to navigate dangerous regions. Why do I have the sinking feeling that I'm about to regret sharing that information?
"Y-Yeah," I replied cautiously. "Why?"
Luffy's grin was so wide it looked like it might split his face in half. "Let's use this guy to pull us to Arlong Park! It'll be way faster than sailing!"
'There it is. The terrible idea I saw coming from a mile away.'
I stared at him with the kind of expression usually reserved for people who suggest jumping off cliffs to test gravity. "That's... actually not the worst idea you've had."
'Which is saying something, considering your track record.'
"But these things aren't exactly known for their obedience to humans," I added, hoping to inject some sanity into the conversation.
"Come on!" Luffy was already moving toward the front of the ship, apparently planning to communicate with our new bovine companion. "Hey, big guy! Want to help us get to Arlong Park?"
'I can't believe I'm about to go along with this.'
The sea cow, still looking somewhat chastened from our earlier violence, made another Mooo sound—this one seeming almost... agreeable?
'Or maybe it's planning to drag us to the bottom of the ocean. Hard to tell with giant sea creatures.'
But somehow, through a combination of Luffy's bizarre charisma and the universal language of pointing in directions, we managed to communicate our destination to the creature.
It positioned itself in front of our ship, and we quickly rigged up some makeshift harnesses using rope from our supplies.
'This is going to end badly. I can feel it in my bones.'
And then we were off.
WHOOOOSH!
The sea cow took off like a rocket, pulling our small ship through the water at a speed that defied all reasonable expectations of maritime travel.
'Holy shit. We're actually doing this. We're being pulled through the ocean by a giant sea cow at what feels like highway speeds.'
The wind whipped through my cloak, and almost made my hat fly away as we skimmed across the waves, spray flying everywhere. Delgado was gripping the side of the ship with white knuckles, while Yusako looked like he was about to be sick.
"This is amazing!" Luffy shouted over the roar of displaced water, his arms stretched out to feel the wind.
'Of course, you think it's amazing. You probably think getting struck by lightning would be "fun" too.'
Sanji, meanwhile, was trying to secure the dishes from our interrupted meal, cursing creatively as plates slid around the deck.
We were making incredible time—what should have been hours of sailing was being compressed into minutes.
I have to admit, from a purely practical standpoint, this is remarkably efficient.
'Assuming we don't die horribly, of course.'
But then, as we approached what I assumed was Arlong Park based on the distinctive architecture visible in the distance,
Something went wrong.
The sea cow suddenly changed direction, veering sharply toward the beach instead of the docks!
"Hey! Hey! That's Not Where We Want To Go!" Luffy shouted, but the creature either couldn't hear him over the noise or had decided to ignore human navigation requests.
"DAMN! CUT THE ROPES QUICKLY!!"
"NO USE! WE ARE MOVING SO FAST!!!"
"GET A HOLD OF ANYTHING!!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
CRAAAAAAAAASSSSH!!!
We hit the beach at full speed, the impact launching our small ship—and everyone on it—high into the air above the island!
WHOOOOOOOOSH!!!!
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! MOMMY! MOMMY! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!"
"WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! THE BEAUTIFUL LADIES WILL NEVER TASTE MY COOKING! I'M SORRY NAMI-SAAAAAAN!!"
"WOOOOOOOO! THIS IS AWESOME! WE'RE FLYING! FLYING!!"
"KYAAAAAAAA! I'M TOO YOUNG AND HANDSOME TO DIE LIKE THIS! MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO STAY ON LAND!!"
"AAAHHHHHHHHHHH! I KNEW THIS WAS A BAAD IDEAAAAA! WHY DO I KEEP GOING ALONG WITH THESE STUPID PLAAAANS!!"
And like that, we made our fu*king dramatic entrance to the fishmen-infested island, that if we survive it!
…
A/N: Sorry for the delay, guys. Things got hectic Irl.
Anyway, Thank you all for reading!! Hope you enjoyed this one!
Feel free to leave a Comment guys! And Powerstones are much much welcomed!
Have a good day people!
You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.
https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt
There are +12 Chapters there.