Fishman District – Depths of Fishman Street
The most chaotic part of Fishman Island. Filthy, lawless, and packed with thousands of rowdy Fish-Men, all under the same flag—the New Fishman Pirates.
Right now, this lawless stronghold was the base of their growing rebellion.
"Hody Jones-Sama, another batch of Energy Steroids has been synthesized!"
"Dihahahaha…"
With a flick of his wrist, Hody Jones snatched the box from his subordinate. His red-tinged eyes gleamed in the dim light as he opened it, revealing rows of blood-red pills glowing faintly with unnatural energy.
Around him, Fish-Men from various tribes stared hungrily. Desire, madness, and greed burned in their eyes. But none dared step forward—Hody Jones' cruelty kept even the most frenzied addicts in check.
Gulp… gulp…
Under the suffocating silence, Hody Jones stuffed a handful of pills into his mouth without hesitation.
Almost instantly, a surge of power coursed through his body, and his frame swelled, skin glowing faintly red. His face twisted, features becoming even more monstrous.
"Line up for your dosage," he snarled. "Anyone who tries to cut in line… I'll break their hands."
The moment he finished speaking, the crowd broke into roars, shoving and clawing for position as discipline gave way to desperation.
The Energy Steroids, while providing short-term strength boosts, were dangerously addictive. Hody used them not just for power—but for control.
"Zeo," Hody barked, his voice gravelly. "Have the scouts returned?"
Leaning against a coral wall, Zeo sluggishly blinked, clearly intoxicated. "Not yet, Brother Hody."
"Tch, useless trash. How hard can it be to capture one woman?"
Fueled by drugs and rage, Hody's red eyes glowed darker with every second.
That's when a cold voice echoed from above.
"You don't have to wait on your men. I'll be sending you to meet them soon enough."
Every head in the base shot upward.
High above them stood a lone figure—Kaelen Tsukishiro. His cloak flapped in the ocean breeze as he stood, blade in hand, face cold and unreadable.
This time, he wasn't holding back.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Kill him!"
"Damn human, I'll tear you apart!"
Frenzied shouts erupted as dozens of Fish-Men bared their teeth, ready to pounce.
"Dihahahaha!" Hody Jones roared. "You've got guts, human. Coming to die on your own—fine, I'll be happy to oblige!"
But Kaelen moved first.
"Ittōryū… Ransō no Mai."
[One Sword Style – Random Dance.]
Kaelen's blade flashed.
In the next instant, ninety-nine slashes erupted from his sword, faster than the eye could follow.
Then silence.
BOOM.
A storm of purple sword energy rained down like divine judgment. The sky cracked as shockwaves tore through the battlefield.
Fish-Men were shredded apart before they could even scream. Limbs flew. Blood misted the air.
In seconds, most of the army lay dead—torn apart by Kaelen's ruthless precision.
Even Hody Jones, who'd attempted to shield himself by dragging a subordinate in front of him, was flung dozens of meters away. Deep X-shaped gashes tore across his chest, blood pouring out in torrents.
He gasped in pain, barely staying conscious.
"Arrrgghhh! Oga... Takesai!!"
Hody shot toward Kaelen, launching a sharp jet of water with both hands.
But Kaelen didn't move.
His blade split the water in two, carving the stream neatly around his body.
Then he vanished.
A single glint of violet steel traced the air.
Kaelen appeared behind Hody, already sheathing his sword.
"Too weak."
His voice was disappointed.
Hody's body trembled violently. His head turned slowly, eyes locking on Kaelen—and then, without another word, he collapsed.
Dead.
Slain in a single stroke.
The surviving Fish-Men froze. The effects of the Energy Steroids wore off in an instant, and panic consumed them.
"He killed Hody sama!"
"Run!"
"Monster! That human's a demon!"
Kaelen raised his right fist and slammed it down toward the earth.
BOOM.
The entire plaza quaked.
[Conqueror's Haki] erupted from him in full force, expanding like a tidal wave. The ground rippled, stone splitting apart in a deafening explosion.
Fish-Men screamed and scattered, fleeing in terror. Those too slow were flattened or thrown away like ragdolls.
Kaelen stood amidst the chaos, breathing steadily, unmoved.
Then, his gaze shifted toward the Ryugu Palace in the distance.
Far away, King Neptune stood solemnly beside Kaelen's shadow clone, bowing his head in thanks.
Not far from them, the body of Vander Decken IX was being carried off by royal guards.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"So this… was the prophecy," he muttered. "I thought it would be Hody's rebellion."
He looked around him. The battlefield was littered with fallen Fish-Men. Blood soaked the coral floor.
The scene perfectly matched Madame Shyarly's vision—the destruction caused by a human engulfing the island in darkness.
"…Hmph."
Kaelen exhaled deeply, eyes glowing with clarity now that the pieces had finally clicked into place.
---
Send Stones.