The marine depths, with their hypnotic blue, stretched as far as the eye could see around the Thousand Sunny. The resin bubble sparkled under the reflections of the luminescent fish, while the ship glided through a capricious sea current. Inside, the Straw Hat crew was still vibrating with the excitement of their reunion, but a new tension hung in the air. Fish-Man Island, a shimmering coral silhouette in the distance, was approaching, bringing with it the mysteries of an underwater world ruled by an emperor.
Luffy, glued to the main porthole, pressed his nose against the glass, his eyes sparkling. "Wow! Look at those giant fish! They look like monsters!" he exclaimed, pointing at a school of creatures with iridescent scales dancing in the current. Behind him, Chopper, perched on Franky's shoulders, trembled, clutching his hat. "Th-They're not going to eat us, right?!" he whimpered, already imagining a colossal shark swallowing the Sunny.
Nami, leaning over her sea charts, frowned. "Luffy, stop marveling and help me monitor the currents! These waters are dangerous, and if we get swept away, we might miss Fish-Man Island!" She adjusted the Log Pose, her fingers nervously tapping on the table.
Sanji, busy preparing a snack in the kitchen, popped his head through the door, a charming smile on his lips. "Nami-swan, no need to stress! With me on board, everything will be fine. And we'll soon meet some mermaids, right?" His eyes turned into hearts, and he already pictured himself surrounded by aquatic beauties.
Robin, sitting on a couch with a book, smiled. "Fish-Men and mermaids are fascinating cultures. I can't wait to explore their archives... and maybe learn more about Gojo Satoru's influence here." Her remark reminded the crew of the previous night's conversation, and Usopp, polishing his slingshot, shuddered. "Gojo... That guy gives me the creeps. If he controls this island, I hope he's really as nice as Robin says!"
Brook, strumming a melancholic tune on his violin, tilted his skull. "Yohohoho! An emperor who protects an island, it reminds me of a certain Whitebeard. But tell me, Robin, do you think he has mermaids in his crew? I'd like to see their..." He stopped, realizing his mistake. "Oh, but I have no eyes to see! Yohohoho!"
Franky, laughing heartily, pounded his metallic chest. "SUPER! This Gojo guy seems like a fun dude. If he's cool with the locals, we won't have to rough him up, right, Luffy?"
Luffy, still glued to the porthole, shrugged. "If he's nice, great! But if he wants the One Piece, he'll have to beat me!" He burst into laughter, his contagious enthusiasm even making Nami smile, despite her annoyance.
But suddenly, the Sunny shook violently, throwing the crew to the floor. Alarms blared, and Nami dashed to the helm. "A sea current! Hold on tight, it's going to be rough!" she shouted. The ship was sucked into a whirlpool, the portholes revealing foamy waves and menacing shadows. Despite Franky's efforts to stabilize the Sunny, the resin bubble gave way under the pressure, and a wave of saltwater seeped inside.
"We're going to sink!" Usopp screamed, clinging to Chopper, who was already in tears. Luffy, far from panicking, laughed like a madman. "This is so cool! An underwater adventure!"
But before the crew could react, the current separated them. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper were ejected in a lifeboat, while the rest of the crew, aboard the damaged Sunny, drifted towards another part of Fish-Man Island.
***********
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper, soaked to the bone, washed up on a beach of multicolored coral, surrounded by shell structures and undulating marine plants. The inhabitants, fish-men with gleaming scales, approached with curiosity, some holding spears, others whispering among themselves. Luffy, shaking his wet hair, smiled broadly. "Hey! We're pirates! Is this Fish-Man Island?"
Before the situation could escalate, a familiar voice rang out. "Luffy! Chopper!" Camie, the green-haired mermaid, swam towards them, followed by Pappug, the talking starfish. "You're alive! Oh, I was so worried!" exclaimed Camie, her eyes shining with relief.
Chopper, still trembling, jumped into Camie's arms. "Camie! You're here! We thought we were going to drown!" Usopp, wiping sweat from his forehead, added, "Yeah, and it was Luffy's fault, as usual!"
Luffy, ignoring the remark, pointed to the horizon. "Hey, Camie, what's this place? And where are the others?" Camie explained that they were in the Coral District, a bustling quarter of Fish-Man Island. She guided them to a seashell tavern, where the locals welcomed them warmly, offering seafood and fizzy drinks.
Sitting around a table, Luffy devoured fried calamari while Camie recounted the latest events. "Since Whitebeard's death, Fish-Man Island has been in danger. Slave traders were coming back. But Gojo arrived!" Her eyes lit up. "He banned slavery, chased away the bandits, and now everyone loves him! His flag protects the island, and he sends his crew to watch over us."
Usopp, chewing a piece of fish, widened his eyes. "Wait, Gojo? THE Gojo who slaughtered the Celestial Dragons? He's... nice?"
Pappug nodded, adjusting his beret. "Yep! People here see him as a hero. He even built schools for the little fish-men. But Big Mom still sends her henchmen for the cakes, causing trouble."
Luffy, mouth full, smiled. "Cool! If he's protecting the island, he's a good guy!" But before he could continue, cries erupted outside. A group of armed fish-men, led by a colossal sharp-toothed brute, burst into the tavern. "Humans!" he roared. "You have no business here! And that traitor Gojo, that human dog, won't save you!"
Camie paled. "It's Hody Jones! The New Fish-Man Pirates! They hate Gojo and all humans!"
************
At Ryugu Palace
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew - Nami, Robin, Sanji, Zoro, Franky, and Brook - had reached Ryugu Palace, a majestic structure made of coral and pearls, floating at the heart of the island. Neptune, the king of Fish-Man Island, welcomed them with cautious hospitality, impressed by their reputation but concerned about their unexpected arrival.
Nami, ever the diplomat, gave a slight bow. "Thank you for receiving us, Your Majesty. We are looking for our friends, and we don't want to cause any trouble." Sanji, with heart-shaped eyes, marveled at the mermaid servants, murmuring, "A palace filled with aquatic beauties... I'm in paradise!"
Neptune, stroking his beard, sighed. "You arrive at a troubled time. Since Whitebeard's death, our island has been threatened by slave traders, although the island is under Gojo's protection."
Robin, intrigued, crossed her arms. "But some don't share this view, do they?" Her scrutinizing eyes fixed on Neptune.
He nodded gravely. "The New Fish-Man Pirates, led by Hody Jones, hate humans, including Gojo. They see him as an usurper, a human who stole Whitebeard's legacy. They sow terror, attacking our people to incite a revolt."
Zoro, leaning against a coral pillar, chuckled. "If they want to fight, let them come. We'll take care of them."
Franky, pounding his fist against his palm, added, "SUPER! We'll show them what the Straw Hats can do!"
Brook, admiring the palace's decorations, exclaimed, "Yohohoho! Such a place deserves a song! But tell me, Your Majesty, is this Gojo... truly a hero?"
Neptune gave a weary smile. "To us, yes. He funded schools, protected our children, and his crew watches over our shores. But Hody exploits the ancient hate against humans to divide the island. Your presence could complicate things."
Nami, nervous, whispered to Robin, "If Gojo is so nice, why do I have a bad feeling?"
Robin, her enigmatic smile still present, replied, "Because a man like Gojo doesn't do anything without reason. He protects this island..."
Before Neptune could respond, a guard burst in, out of breath. "Your Majesty! Hody Jones is attacking the Coral District! He has captured humans... pirates with straw hats!"
***********
Back in the Coral District, Luffy faced off against Hody Jones, his straw hat tilted over his eyes. Hody, a massive fish-man with bloodshot eyes, sneered, brandishing a serrated blade. "You think you can protect this island, human? Gojo may have fooled you, but I will cleanse this place of your filthy race!"
Luffy, fists clenched, smiled. "You don't get it. This island belongs to those who live here. Not to you, not to Gojo, not to me. And if you lay a finger on my friends, I'll crush you to a pulp!"
Usopp, hidden behind a rock with Chopper, murmured, "Luffy, you're crazy! This guy is huge!" Chopper, trembling, nodded. "Y-Yes, and he looks mean!"
Camie, pulling Pappug to safety, shouted, "Luffy, be careful! Hody is stronger than he seems!" But Luffy, undeterred, lunged forward, his fist charged with Haki ready to strike.
Hody dodged with surprising speed, his body fueled by energy steroids. "Pathetic!" he roared, unleashing a sharp water wave with his Merman Combat attack. Luffy, thrown against a coral wall, stood up laughing. "Not bad! But I've learned a thing or two in two years!"
The battle intensified, the inhabitants watching with a mix of fear and hope. Luffy, using Gear Second, unleashed a series of rapid blows, but Hody, supported by his henchmen, held his ground, his eyes shining with fanatical rage. "Gojo will die, and you with him, Straw Hat!"
As the duel reached its climax, cries rang out in the distance. Zoro, Sanji, and the rest of the crew emerged, their weapons at the ready. "Luffy!" Sanji shouted, pushing a henchman back with a fiery kick. "You don't get to have all the fun without us!"
Hody, seeing the crew reunited, sneered. "Perfect. I will crush you all and prove that humans are nothing compared to fish-men!"