Charles was still filming, eyes wide behind his camera. You could almost see the exact moment he understood something crucial:Our strength already lets us crush anyone in East Blue… yet we keep training at every opportunity.He glanced at the floating wreckage, at Nami wiping a bead of sweat as she holstered her staff, at Usopp, trembling with adrenaline and frustration from Kaya's capture, at Zoro, silently sheathing his blades with clenched teeth, still upset that he hadn't landed a hit on his opponent, and finally at Luffy, a serious look in his eyes—haunted by his failure to protect his crew.
Charles whispered to himself, but the Den Den Mushi caught every word:"…That's how they grow stronger. They… they use danger to become more powerful."
I stepped up to Nami, placing a hand on her shoulder."Nami, you handle the route to the mechanical island. I'll go ahead."
Before anyone could respond, I dove into the sea.The icy water hit my chest—and in a heartbeat, my hybrid form activated.My black scales thickened, my legs partially fused together, and the raw power of the mutant crocodile surged through my muscles.
Underwater, I accelerated like a living torpedo.Ariel's swimming had taught me grace—the Torpilotes' lessons had given me propulsion.My tail cut the water, leaving a deep wake; my split claws retracted for less resistance, and my jaw locked in beastly focus.
Above me, the Merry sped forward, her hull vibrating with worry, but unable to match my speed.
"JORDAN!!"Luffy's voice rumbled through the water like distant thunder."WAIT FOR US BEFORE STARTING A FIGHT!!!"
The closer I got to the coral mass, the more the ocean changed.The seabed turned metallic, unnaturally smooth, as if someone had polished the stone.Long mechanical shadows passed beneath me—salt-rusted gears, fragments of chains, steel plates overgrown with shells.
The Mechanical Island.I surfaced near the base of a gigantic coral pillar, panting lightly.Up close, it was even stranger: a spiral coral tube wide enough to fit two giants standing side by side, supporting a massive inverted saucer-like platform.
Tiny glowing lights—like metallic fireflies—ran across the coral's surface, as if living circuits pulsed inside it.
No one in sight.The scent of pink honey and burnt metal still hung in the air, carried by the wind.
I climbed out of the water, reverted to human form, then pushed off the wet coral and took flight.I could feel the lock embedded within the coral's structure, deep inside the spiral tube.
No time for trap-laden stairs—pointless.I flapped hard and shot straight to the top.
The Mechanical Island unfolded below me like an oversized, surreal world:a massive disk of land dotted with houses and windmills.Higher still, towering over everything, stood a castle—or rather, an extravagant fortress that looked like a cross between a war machine and a garish circus.
Bright-colored chimneys belched blue flames, massive gears turned slowly along the walls, and the most absurd detail of all:a full-sized ship was impaled at the top, as if it had fallen from the sky and just… stayed there.
I slowed and activated my Stealth skill, making my body vanish.I crept silently toward the summit.
And that's when I saw them.
Kaya and Koby stood in the center of the room, on a circular platform surrounded by banners with playing card patterns.They were flanked by Honey Queen, still panting, and Boo Jack, snorting heavily, his shoulders hunched like a bull ready to charge.
And in front of them…A colossus.
At least three meters tall, all muscle, his chest hairy like a bear's, and a face carved from stone.His heavy jaw bore two long tusks, like a wild boar.A crooked crown—just a spiked steel ring—rested on his head.
Bear King.
His voice boomed like a cannon blast:"What've you brought me, you two?"
Honey Queen nervously tried to fix her hair, but her fingers were trembling."Pirates from the Straw Hat crew, Bear King-sama… Thankfully, the seagull delivered the bounty notice in time. Otherwise... I might've pushed my luck and... we would've gone down with the rest of the fleet."
From my hidden position, I witnessed the exact moment that realization hit Bear King like a flaming brick.His eyes bulged, bloodshot and furious."WHAAAAT?!! YOU LOST MY FLEET?!"He grabbed Honey Queen by the throat with a massive hand, lifting her off the ground like a rag doll.This time, she didn't liquefy—too shocked, too frozen in fear.Her face turned pale pink, then nearly white as she choked under the pressure.
Even Boo Jack, usually unfazed, took a step back at the sight.
Then Koby's voice rang out—shaky but brave:"What's wrong with you?! Attacking your own allies? Aren't you ashamed?!"
Bear King slowly turned his head toward him.And struck.Not a slap.A titan's backhand.Koby flew across the floor, tumbling several meters before stopping near Kaya.The impact made the deck tremble.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, PIPSQUEAK!" Bear King roared.He stepped forward, his every movement shaking the platform."If you weren't valuable as a hostage to your pathetic crew, you'd already be dead for speaking to me like that."
He dropped Honey Queen, who collapsed to her knees, coughing violently, unable to meet his gaze.Boo Jack looked away embarrassed, but not enough to step in.Kaya tried to move between them, but Koby, still dazed, forced himself upright, once again shielding her with his body despite the pain.
That silent courage twisted something deep in my chest.
I had seen enough.For now, they weren't in immediate danger.
Without a sound, I slipped behind a metal protrusion and landed on a side balcony of the castle.There, hidden from view, I opened a portal of shadows.Black mist coiled around my arms like a living cloak, and I stepped through.
In a heartbeat, I was back at the base of the island.Now, I just had to wait for the rest of the crew.
I didn't have to wait long.
Meumeuh surged from the water with a mighty movement, creating a wave that lifted the Merry like a leaf on the ocean.But it was Merry the timid little girl with white hair—who made all the difference.
She quietly reached out her hand.The water began to shift.To vibrate.To warp beneath the ship, as if the entire sea became a liquid railway.
With her aquatic manipulation and Meumeuh's momentum, the Merry surged toward the Mechanical Island at an unnatural, almost surreal speed.Sea spray lashed our faces, the salty wind howled around us.
When they finally arrived, I stepped forward."Let's go. Who's staying with Merry?"
Nami raised her staff, already surrounded by a bluish aura."We'll stay. I can manage the distance and control the wind and lightning if needed."
Kuina cracked her neck softly."And if anyone tries to get close to the Merry… I'll handle them."The blade at her hip seemed to hum with anticipation.
"Perfect," said Luffy, stepping forward with clenched fists. "Jordan, let's move."
Before we left, I pulled a ribbon of shadow from my palm.It writhed in my hand like a serpent of night before settling into a simple black blindfold.I tossed it to Charles.
He understood immediately.He tied it around his eyes, shaking with curiosity… but smart enough not to peek into the darkness.
"Stay close to the others," I told him.
I opened a portal.The ground split like a canvas of living ink, swallowing all light. A gust of cold wind escaped it, followed by a deep rumble like a giant heartbeat.
One by one, the crew let themselves be drawn into the shadow.A second later, we were in Trump Castle.
Charles staggered, mouth agape, as he felt the cold metallic floor beneath his feet.I closed the portal and removed his blindfold.He opened his eyes, stunned that we were someplace completely different.
I quickly raised my hand, signaling silence.Everyone froze.
We were right behind the double doors—the ones I had scouted earlier in stealth.Voices, muffled but clear, echoed from the other side.
I crept forward and what we saw through a crack in the broken door chilled me to the core.
It was worse than before.
Koby was on the ground, on all fours, blood dripping from his lip.His cheek was still red from the earlier blow, but now… bruises, boot marks, new cuts covered his body.He was breathing heavily but still stood between Bear King and Kaya.
Kaya was trembling, despite the two bloodied men lying at her feet.Bear King spoke to her with a slimy, disgusting tone:"You're going to be my wife. It's a great honor for a little mouse like you."
"Never!" she shouted, attempting to slash him but her attack didn't even leave a mark on his body.
He stepped closer."It's useless. I ate the Kachi Kachi no Mi. My body is invincible."
Koby stood up again, still swaying, but full of determination.Bear King noticed him—and without thinking, smashed him down with another brutal kick."Stay down, kid! You're only useful for luring your crew in!"
Luffy's breath exploded behind me.He took a step forward, ready to punch through the wall bare-handed.
But a hand rose.A cold, hard look—like the one he had when he shot Clayton to save Kerchak.Like the one he had when he blew up Zachary from afar.The look of a killer.
"Please, Luffy."His voice was low, trembling with intensity."Let me handle him."
Luffy, surprised, stopped in his tracks.Even Zoro turned his head, sensing that something had changed in Usopp.
I said nothing.I could recognize the moment when a man decides he'll never back down again.
Usopp readied his bow.A white light—pure and sharp like a miniature sun—formed at the tip of his arrow.He took aim.Breathed.
And fired.
FWOOM!The magical arrow shot across the room in a blazing beam of light, slamming straight into Bear King's chest with monstrous force.The giant staggered back two meters, crashing into a metal pillar that vibrated from the impact.
Usopp stepped into the room, his bow still raised.But this time, his voice wasn't the one of the cowardly sniper.It was the voice of a hunter.A man protecting his family.
"You…"
He took a few steps forward.The shadows of the castle seemed to retreat before him.
"…I'm going to kill you."
And he fired again.A new volley—Not giving Bear King a chance to breathe.
(Author's note: The final fight will come later. I'm not saying next week—maybe tomorrow—but for now, I need to change my PC. It keeps crashing too much.)