Magikarp not only holds grudges, but they also repay people's acts of kindness.
Take, for instance, the large Magikarp closely associated with Joy. Most Magikarps become irritable after evolving into Gyarados.
This particular Magikarp is different. Joy often took care of it and even fed it calcium tablets, so it etched Joy's face and scent into its mind. Even after evolving into a Gyarados, it remained gentle in front of Joy.
The two cuts given by Sanji didn't hurt at all. If it had been caught by Sanji, then Sanji would be its enemy by now. But since it was swept up by waves, the situation needed to be recalculated.
Without help, it would likely die here, so Sanji could grudgingly be considered its benefactor, as he sent it back to the sea.
After thinking it over slightly, Magikarp reluctantly classified Sanji as a good person and then swam toward the distant sea.
"What's the matter, old man? We can't eat it anyway, so what's the problem with letting it go back?"
"You understand nothing, forget it, no strength to argue with you..."
From the day they were swept onto this island, over seventy days have passed. During this long time, they haven't seen a single ship. Even if most humans here are physically stronger, they are now at the point of exhaustion.
People always have a deep impression of their first experience. The first crisis Zeff encountered when he first entered the Grand Line was brought about by Gyarados.
He had never seen Magikarp's evolution, but during his life in the East Sea, he occasionally encountered groups of both Gyarados and Magikarp living together.
He thought these two creatures had a symbiotic relationship, with Magikarp perhaps serving as the cleaner for Gyarados, while Gyarados protected them.
Afterward, Zeff spoke no more, continuing to sit dumbly by the rock, staring at the distant shoreline.
Sanji paid no attention to Zeff's nonsensical remarks; they had little energy to waste. The island returned to silence, with only the sound of waves crashing against rocks and the faint sound of breathing.
A few more days passed, and Zeff, having lost a foot and starved, was nearly in a coma. During this time, he talked to Sanji about things like searching for All Blue or the dream of opening a restaurant on The Sea.
But these are now mere illusions; no ship can still be seen on the sea surface.
This is the East Sea, not the Grand Line, where navigation must follow the log pose. Experienced captains have their own nautical charts, marked with unknown supply points and routes vital for survival at sea.
Through these secrets, they gain greater advantages while sailing. Additionally, the charts also mark dangerous sea areas.
In today's sea, the biggest change is that the Gyarados race has emerged, naturally classified as "dangerous creatures".
This island is already remote and barren, with no valuable resources, and is surrounded by Gyarados, which practically ensures that no ships will come.
For several consecutive days, the trouble Zeff mentioned did not arrive, and their only companions were solitude and despair. But at noon this day, a shadow suddenly appeared beneath the sea, as if something in groups was wandering through.
The shadow, like an arrow, steadily approached here.
"Old man, don't sleep, something's coming over here!"
"Is it a ship?"
"No... It's not... It's coming from underwater..."
"Then let it be, resign to fate."
Hearing it wasn't a ship, Zeff lost interest. Submarine technology had never been popularized, and this place was far beyond Shampodi Islands' influence, so something coming from underwater was likely not a good thing.
The shadow moved quickly, reaching the island within moments. A large splash of water suddenly rose, and then Sanji saw a female giant.
"Is it this human kid?"
The giant swimming in the sea was none other than Nereus. Ever since she was crowned king, she became not just the leader of a group, but the queen of all the Gyarados in The Sea.
She commanded even the Gyarados, so naturally, Magikarp were no exception. The Magikarp just now met Nereus while looking for its group.
It was originally searching for its clan. Magikarp typically live in groups, but unexpected factors like ocean currents, storms, Sea Kings, and Sea Beasts can separate them from their group.
Based on Magikarp's habits, they blend into the nearest group, becoming a new member. This Magikarp was lucky enough to encounter Nereus leading a pilgrimage.
It was a weak Magikarp, incapable of helping others, and could only seek assistance from its group. Magikarp groups vary in temper; some are gentle, some more irritable, and a leader might not help unrelated humans.
Nereus was different; she harbored thoughts of coexisting peacefully with humans from other places. Though her groups couldn't go ashore, and land wasn't her territory, she had her ideas, such as helping some people and then having them do certain things.
As long as they weren't enemies, she was quite friendly toward humans. Upon hearing Magikarp's account, she chose to pass by here.
"So... so huge..."
Staring at the female giant before him, Sanji seemed captivated, but soon a big fish was tossed up, followed by a burst of flames from Nereus' mouth, instantly cooking the fish.
Nereus then held a palmful of seawater with a single hand, with the Magikarp jumping up and down in her palm, waving its fins at Sanji.
"Human, you saved it, so in return, I will save you. Eat, and I will take you two to a safe place."
The fire-breathing giant in the sea, though beautiful, would still normally frighten people, but neither Sanji nor Zeff paid attention to this matter; their eyes were fixed on the food.
Nereus's grilled fish was terrible, charred on the outside, raw inside, scales and guts intact, with blood congealed inside.
It perfectly preserved the fish's fishy taste, unbearable for an ordinary person, but to Sanji and Zeff, it was the best fish they'd ever eaten.
Facing near starvation, they couldn't refuse anything edible.
Fortunately, their physiques were different here, or that meal might have finished them both; binge eating after prolonged hunger is dangerous.