[~5200 Words]
<<--⚡ ⚓ 💄 ⚓🍑⚓🍷⚓⚡ —>>
Not long after the news spread across the New World, Ace—who had been chasing Marshall D. Teach, the traitor known as Blackbeard—had no choice but to return to Whitebeard's side.
Teach, once a crewmate under the Second Division, had murdered the Fourth Division Commander, Thatch, over a single Devil Fruit. His betrayal shook the crew to its core.
To add insult to injury, the traitor had declared himself "Blackbeard," a name that spat in the face of the Whitebeard flag.
Among Whitebeard's sons, there was only one unbreakable rule—
"No killing your family."
And Teach had shattered it completely.
Ace's blood burned with fury. Against Whitebeard's warnings, he began his hunt. But as he set sail, one question haunted him:
In this chase between Ace and Teach… who will be the hunter, and who will become the prey?
Meanwhile, the loss of Namur gnawed at the old man's heart. He'd felt it the moment the Vivre Card burned away, but even the strongest man in the world couldn't turn back time.
He would have to ask Jinbe what truly happened—but in the depths of the ocean, the tides were already shifting.
Fish-Man Island — Coral Hill
The soft glow of coral lamps illuminated the manor's crystal walls. Outside, the ocean shimmered with bioluminescent light; inside, laughter echoed like music.
James and Shirahoshi had returned to Shyarly's private manor, greeted immediately by the warm chaos of Ishilly, Seira, Mero, and the other mermaids.
They swam around him playfully, their eyes full of admiration.
The scene was almost divine—a god returning to his celestial palace, surrounded by loyal consorts.
Their affection reminded him faintly of the Sky Islands, of the days when Nami, Robin, and Perona lounged beside him in the floating halls of his Divine Goddess Pavilion where his wives and concubines resided.
Amid the laughter and teasing, everyone gathered in the grand hall, eager for stories.
When they learned that Shyarly had once told James about mermaid history in the Mermaid Café, they begged her to continue.
Shyarly tried to resist their pleading eyes, but eventually sighed in defeat. "Fine… just this once."
As she began to speak, James reclined comfortably—resting on Shirahoshi's lap, listening with interest—while Shirahoshi herself stared wide-eyed, her innocence warring with disbelief.
The Secrets of the Sea
The mermaids listened closely as Shyarly explained the truths of their kind.
The mermaid race, she said, was biologically part of humanity—viviparous mammals capable of bearing children with humans.
At that, the mermaids in the room gasped softly, their eyes darting toward James—whose faint smirk only deepened their blushes.
Children born between humans and mermaids could be human boys, mermen, human girls, or mermaids—but never Fish-Men. Fish-Men, she clarified, were born only when Fish-Men intermarried with other species.
The discussion grew bolder. Soon, Shyarly was explaining the physical differences between mermaids and humans—their anatomy, their transformation after turning thirty, and even how their tails could revert to legs and back again.
Every word drew deeper shades of red on Shirahoshi's face.
In summary, Shyarly concluded:
"When a mermaid reaches thirty, her tail transforms into legs—but she can change back at will. Remember Kokoro from Water Seven? That old lady still knows how to swim like one of us."
James rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling with amusement. So theoretically…
A bold idea crept into his mind. Could humans transform into mermaids through genetic manipulation… or perhaps a Devil Fruit?
He caught himself and chuckled inwardly. "No, no, let's not get carried away. A god must maintain dignity."
His teasing smile, however, made Shirahoshi's blush deepen until she looked ready to faint.
Following his instructions, Shirahoshi was shown to a guest room where she'll be staying with Shyarly for the time being.
He turned to his Mermaid concubines, realizing that only three were present, as the others had left to handle some personal matters.
[R-18 Scene]
In Shyarly's lavish bedroom at the manor, Emperor James stood tall and imposing before his three mermaid concubines - Ishilly, Mero, and Seira.
Ishilly [PIC]
Mero [PIC]
Seira [PIC]
The lush decor of seashells and pearls surrounded them as soft sunlight filtered in from porthole windows above.
James' dark eyes gleamed with desire as he took in the sight of the beautiful women.
He reached out to caress Ishilly's cheek first, his calloused fingers grazing her freckled skin. "My naughty mermaid," he purred. "I can't wait to be inside you."
Ishilly bit her lip and leaned into his touch, her black curls bouncing.
James grabbed a fistful of them and yanked her head back as he captured her mouth in a deep, dominating kiss.
His other hand roughly squeezed her breast through her bikini top, fingers sinking into the soft flesh.
"Mmmm~!" Ishilly moaned into his mouth.
After thoroughly kissing her breathless, James released Ishilly and turned to Mero.
The shy mermaid trembled under his authoritative gaze but held still as he reached out to cup her face tenderly. "My lovely Mero," he murmured. "I'm going to make you sing for me all night."
Mero whimpered as James captured her lips in a searing kiss, his tongue delving into her mouth possessively.
He tugged the string of her top and pulled it down, freeing her large breasts.
His fingers immediately found her nipples, rolling and tugging on the sensitive buds until Mero was writhing against him with needy mewls.
Finally, James turned to Seira, his eyes dark with lust. "My graceful Seira," he growled. "I'm going to shatter that composure tonight."
Seira met his heated gaze brazenly, her cheeks flushed beneath her brown ponytail.
"Mmmm~"
She sighed in pleasure as James drew her in, their mouths colliding in a fervent kiss, his tongue delving deep into her mouth with insatiable desire
His hands roamed her curves before roughly palming her breasts and pinching her nipples.
Seira arched into him with a throaty moan, her earlier restraint melting under James' passionate onslaught.
He kissed each woman again and again until they were panting and mewling helplessly in his strong arms, their bikini tops askew.
The bedroom echoed with the erotic sounds of kissing and moaning as James dominated his mermaid concubines, teasing them with pleasure to stoke the flames of desire higher and higher...
Next James stood before his mermaid concubines, his dark eyes glinting with lust as he slowly removed his boxer briefs.
The girls gasped in surprise and awe as his massive cock sprang free, long and thick and already fully erect.
"Well ladies," James purred, stroking himself lazily. "It seems my little sea maidens are impressed." He smirked as Ishilly, Mero and Seira stared at his cock with wide eyes, cheeks flushed pink.
Ishilly licked her lips hungrily. "Oh James-san... you're so big," she breathed.
James chuckled darkly. "That's right, my naughty girl. And you're about to get reacquainted with him." He crooked a finger at them imperiously. "On your knees."
"Yes James-sama," the mermaids replied in unison, eagerly sinking to their knees before him.
Seira reached out first, wrapping her delicate fingers around his thick shaft and pumping slowly as she gazed up at him through her lashes.
"Mmmm... I've missed this," she purred, leaning forward to run her tongue along the underside from base to tip. James groaned, tangling a hand in her ponytail.
Meanwhile, Mero took his heavy balls into her small hands, rolling and massaging them as she pressed tender kisses along his inner thighs, occasionally flicking her tongue out to taste him.
Ishilly watched intently before moving to take one of James' balls into her hot mouth, suckling gently.
"Ahh fuck," he growled, hips bucking forward into their touch.
The three women continued lavishing attention on his cock and balls with lips and tongues and hands until James was rock hard and throbbing, leaking pre-cum steadily.
"Such good little cocksluts," he praised huskily, fisting all of their hair as they worked him over.
"You love having your mouths stuffed full of my fat cock, don't you? Mmmm~ I can feel how badly you need it."
Mero whimpered and nodded frantically, kissing the tip reverently before opening wide to take him into her tight throat.
Ishilly licked her lips as she watched their Emperor's cock disappear past Mero's stretched lips inch by delicious inch.
"Mmmph~... haaahh~..." Mero gagged and moaned around James' thick length as he hit the back of her throat.
Tears gathered in her eyes but she didn't pull off, determined to please him.
"Good girl," James praised breathlessly, holding her head steady as he slowly thrust into her hot mouth. "Take it all like a good little slut."
Seira and Ishilly watched with bated breath, rubbing their fin thighs together needily at the erotic sight of Mero deepthroating their Emperor so eagerly.
Finally James pulled out, allowing Mero to catch her breath.
"Your turn," he said, pushing Seira forward by her hair. She immediately took him into her mouth, moaning wantonly as she savored his musky taste and weight on her tongue.
Ishilly moved in next, slurping and sucking noisily as she bobbed on James' cock.
The three mermaids took turns giving their Emperor sloppy blowjobs, worshipping his thick cock with their lips and tongues until he was grunting and cursing, thrusting into their eager mouths.
Their own arousal built higher and higher, pussies dripping down their finned thighs.
"Fuck~... I'm close," James growled after several minutes of intense cock sucking.
He yanked the girls off his throbbing dick by their hair and stood them up before him. "Open your mouths."
Ishilly, Mero and Seira immediately complied, parting their glossy lips in anticipation as they gazed up at Emperor James with lust-hazed eyes.
"Ahhh... fuckyes!" James roared as his orgasm hit.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! SPURT! 💕
His cock exploded, sending thick ropes of hot cum splattering across the mermaids' faces and their large breasts. The girls squealed and moaned in delight as their Emperor marked them with his seed.
Sticky streams of hot jizz painted Ishilly's freckled cheeks and black curls. Mero's large breasts glistened with white cum streaks.
Seira licked a dollop off her upper lip before opening her mouth for more.
James groaned low in his throat as he pumped out the last spurts onto their waiting tongues. "Mmmm... that's it, swallow every drop like good little cumsluts," he panted.
The mermaids mewled happily and obediently swallowed down their Emperor's load with satisfied smirks.
James smirked back, swiping his cock head across their messy faces to share the creamy bounty.
After thoroughly covering his concubines' faces in cum, James moved towards Ishilly, Mero and Seira.
James' massive cock twitched once more, already rock hard and leaking precum. He stroked himself lazily as he drank in the sight of his beautiful women spread out before him like a feast for the taking.
"Mmmm... my sweet mermaids," James purred, joining them on the bed. "I'm going to fuck you so deep and hard you'll be feeling me for days."
Ishilly shivered with anticipation as their Emperor loomed over her first, his dark eyes glinting with lust.
She spread her thighs invitingly, revealing her dripping pussy. James groaned at the sight and rubbed the fat head of his cock through her slick folds.
"Oh fuck yes," Ishilly moaned wantonly. "I need your big cock inside me!"
James growled and thrust forward, spearing into her tight heat in one hard stroke. "AHHH! OH GODS!" Ishilly cried out, back arching off the bed at the sudden intrusion stretching her open so deliciously.
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
Mero and Seira watched with hooded eyes as their Emperor began to move, sawing his thick length in and out of their best friend's clinging pussy.
They reached over to caress James' sweat-slicked back, massaging his flexing muscles as he took Ishilly hard and fast.
"Mmmm~ that's it," Seira purred, leaning in to capture James' lips in a deep kiss. "Fuck her good with that big cock, James-sama."
Ishilly keened high in her throat, bucking her hips to meet each powerful thrust.
She could feel every thick inch of him dragging along her sensitive walls, stoking the flames of pleasure higher and higher.
"Yes yes yessss!" Ishilly wailed as James hammered into her relentlessly, his heavy balls slapping lewdly against her ass with each snap of his hips. "Harder! Fuck me harder!"
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
James obliged with a feral snarl, pistoning into her sopping cunt like a man possessed. The bed creaked and shook with the force of his thrusts as he pounded Ishilly into oblivion.
Mero reached over to pinch and roll their best friend's stiff nipples, making Ishilly cry out sharply around James' tongue plundering her mouth in another searing kiss.
"Cum for me," James commanded gutturally against Ishilly's lips. "I want to feel this greedy little pussy milking my cock."
Ishilly screamed as she obeyed, her slick walls clamping down on James' pistoning length like a vice.
💕 SQUIRT! 💕
Her orgasm crashed over her in intense waves of pleasure and she spasmed beneath him, soaking his thrusting cock with her release.
James groaned long and low as Ishilly's rippling pussy massaged his sensitive flesh. With a final hard snap of his hips, he buried himself to the hilt inside her fluttering depths and exploded.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
"FUCK! Take my cum you little slut!" James roared, painting Ishilly's clutching channel with thick spurts of his hot seed.
She moaned weakly as she felt him pulsing deep in her core, pumping her full of his potent essence until it was leaking out around his shaft.
Finally spent, James carefully pulled out and rolled to the side, gathering a panting Ishilly into his arms.
He captured her mouth in a tender kiss before turning his attention to Mero with a wicked smirk.
"Your turn, sweet thing," he purred, pulling the shy mermaid onto his lap so she was straddling him. "Ride my cock like a good girl."
Mero whimpered and nodded eagerly, reaching down to grip James' slick shaft and line it up with her entrance.
She sank down slowly, throwing her head back with a throaty moan as he stretched her open inch by delicious inch.
"Oh fuck... so big," she panted once he was fully seated inside her. "I love your huge cock, James-sama."
James chuckled darkly and grasped Mero's hips, guiding her to bounce on his thick length.
She rode him with sweet little gasps and breathy cries of pleasure, her pert breasts jiggling hypnotically.
"Mmmm you take me so well," James praised huskily, thumbing her clit as he thrust up into her tight heat. "Such a perfect little cocksleeve for your Emperor."
Ishilly watched with lidded eyes as Mero lost herself in the pleasure of being split open on their lover's massive cock.
She crawled over to join them, kissing along James' throat and down his chest.
The three lovers moved together in a sensual dance, all hands and mouths and slick skin sliding against each other.
"Haa!"
James panted harshly as Mero rode him harder and faster, her pussy gripping him like a silken fist.
"Ahh... I'm close!" she keened, grinding her clit against his pelvis desperately. "Don't stop!"
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
James snarled and slammed up into her, fucking Mero through her climax with deep, powerful thrusts until she was sobbing in ecstasy. His own orgasm followed swiftly and he flooded her spasming cunt with another heavy load.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
"Yessss fill me up!" Mero wailed as James pumped her full of his hot seed. "I want it all inside me!"
Finally spent, James collapsed back against the pillows, holding a trembling Mero close to his chest.
He captured Ishilly's lips in a searing kiss before turning to Seira with a heated look.
"Come here, my beautiful Seira," he purred. "Let me show you how well this cock fits that tight little pussy."
Seira shivered and crawled eagerly into James' waiting arms, parting her thighs for him with an inviting moan.
He rolled them over so she was pinned beneath his larger frame, rubbing the fat head of his semi-hard cock through her slick folds.
"Mmmm you're already dripping," James growled approvingly against Seira's lips before kissing her deeply. "So wet and ready to be stretched around my cock."
Seira wrapped her long fin legs around James' waist as he notched himself at her entrance, gasping into his mouth as he slowly pushed forward, spearing into her inch by delicious inch.
💕 THRUST! 💕
"Oh fuck yes," she breathed once he was fully seated inside her. "You feel amazing, James-sama."
James groaned and began to move, sawing his hard length in and out of Seira's tight heat.
She moaned wantonly and rolled her hips to meet each deep thrust, savoring the delicious drag of him along her sensitive walls.
"Mmmm... you take my cock so well," James praised breathlessly, punctuating his words with sharp snaps of his pelvis. "Such a perfect little pussy."
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
Ishilly and Mero watched through heavy-lidded eyes as their Emperor fucked Seira hard and fast, the obscene slap of skin on skin filling the room along with their friends' wanton cries of pleasure.
James pistoned into Seira relentlessly, his thick cock stretching her pussy open and hitting that perfect spot inside her with each deep thrust.
"Aaanh!~"
She screamed high in her throat and raked her nails down James' sweat-slicked back as he pounded into her mercilessly.
"Fuckyes! Just like that~!" Seira wailed as James hammered her g-spot over and over again. "Don't stop!~"
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
James snarled and redoubled his efforts, fucking Seira through one intense orgasm after another until she was a boneless heap of satisfied mermaid beneath him.
Finally with a roar, their Emperor buried himself to the hilt inside Seira's spasming pussy and exploded, painting her fluttering walls white with his thick seed.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
She moaned weakly as James pumped her full of his potent release, marking her womb with his hot cum.
Spent, James carefully pulled out and rolled to the side, gathering a trembling Seira into his arms along with Ishilly and Mero. The four lovers clung to each other, panting harshly as they basked in the afterglow.
James pressed tender kisses across their flushed faces, stroking their hair lovingly. "Mmmm... my beautiful concubines," he purred contentedly. "You pleased your Emperor very well today, but it's not over yet."
Ishilly, Mero and Seira all moaned softly at his praise, nuzzling into James' strong chest with satisfied smiles. Their combined juices leaked out of their thoroughly fucked pussies to stain the expensive silk sheets beneath them.
And so the three mermaids lay in their Emperor's embrace, bodies pleasantly sore and aching deliciously as they drifted off into a well-fucked stupor, James' potent seed plugging up their satisfied holes.
James smirked smugly at his work, knowing he had thoroughly claimed his women inside and out. His cock twitched with renewed interest as he eyed the three sexy bodies entwined around him.
Perhaps it was time for round two now...
As night fell over Fish-Man Island, Emperor James continued his passionate assault on Ishilly, Mero and Seira's willing bodies.
The four lovers moved together in a sensual dance of sweat-slicked skin and heated moans, the bed creaking rhythmically under their coupling.
James took each woman in turn, pounding into their tight pussies with deep, powerful strokes until they were sobbing in ecstasy and begging for more.
He filled them over and over again with his thick seed, marking their fertile wombs as his own.
"Ohfuckyes!~" Ishilly keened as James hammered into her from behind, his cock smacking lewdly against her ass. "Harder! Fuck me harder!"
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
James snarled ferally and complied, gripping her hips hard enough to bruise as he pistoned in and out of her clinging pussy with punishing force.
"Ahhhhhh!!!~~" Ishilly wailed as another intense orgasm crashed over her, her pussy clamping down on James' thrusting cock like a vise.
"Milk my fucking cock," their Emperor growled, slamming into her one last time before exploding deep inside her spasming depths. "Take every drop of my cum you little slut."
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
Ishilly could only moan weakly as she felt James flooding her womb with his potent seed, the thick cream leaking out around his shaft to drip down her thighs obscenely.
Panting harshly, James pulled out and rolled Ishilly over before moving on to Mero next.
"Anh~" The shy mermaid mewled as he flipped her onto her stomach and mounted her from behind like a beast rutting into heat.
"Fuck... so tight," James grunted, grinding his thick length in and out of Mero's slick pussy with deep, powerful thrusts that made the headboard slam against the wall. "This pussy was made for my cock."
"Ahh~!"
"Nnngh~"
"Mmh... ah~ ah~"
Mero could only sob brokenly as her husband James used her hard and fast, each rough snap of his hips driving her higher and higher towards another mind-bending climax.
"Yessss!" she wailed as James slammed into her one last time before erupting inside her. "Fill me up! Breed my pussy!"
💕 SPURT! SPURT! SPURT! 💕
James groaned long and low as he pumped Mero full of his hot cum, painting her womb with streak after streak of thick seed until it was gushing out around his shaft.
Finally spent, James carefully pulled out and gathered a trembling Mero into his arms. He pressed tender kisses across her freckled face before turning to Seira with a heated look.
James purred, crooking a finger at her, "I'm not done claiming this perfect pussy yet."
Seira shivered and crawled eagerly into James' waiting arms, parting her thighs invitingly as she straddled his lap.
She reached down to grasp his semi-hard cock, moaning softly as she rubbed the fat head through her slick folds.
"Mmmm you're still leaking," Seira purred approvingly, scooping up their combined juices with her fingers before bringing them to her lips for a taste. "So hot and thick."
💕 THRUST! 💕
James growled and bucked his hips, spearing into Seira's tight heat in one smooth stroke that made her cry out sharply.
"Oh fuck!" the mermaid panted as she began to roll her hips, grinding her clit against James' pelvis with each sensual undulation. "You feel amazing inside me, James-sama."
James groaned and captured Seira's breasts, tongues tangling sloppily on her nipples as he thrust up into her harder and faster.
💕PLAP! PLAP! PLAP!💕
The lewd slap of skin on skin filled the room along with their friends' wanton moans.
Ishilly watched through heavy-lidded eyes as her husband James fucked Seira mercilessly from below, his thick shaft sawing in and out of her clinging pussy with punishing force.
She reached over to pinch and roll Seira's stiff nipples, making the analytical mermaid keen high in her throat.
"Cum for me," James commanded gutturally against Seira's lips as he hammered into her g-spot dead on with each deep thrust as his hands squeezed her ass. "I want to feel this greedy little cunt milking my cock."
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
Seira screamed as she obeyed, her slick walls clamping down on James' pistoning length like a vice. Her orgasm crashed over her in intense waves of pleasure and she spasmed wildly above him.
"FUCK! Take my cum you filthy slut!" James roared, burying himself to the hilt inside Seira's fluttering depths before exploding.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! SPURT! 💕
He pumped her full of his thick seed with a long, low groan, painting her womb white until it was leaking out around his shaft.
Finally spent, James carefully pulled out and gathered a trembling Seira into his arms along with Ishilly and Mero. The four lovers clung to each other, panting harshly as they basked in the afterglow.
James pressed tender kisses across their flushed faces, stroking their hair lovingly as he murmured praise. "Rest now," he purred contentedly. "You pleased me very well today."
Ishilly, Mero and Seira all moaned softly at his words, nuzzling into James' strong chest with satisfied smiles. Their combined juices leaked out of their thoroughly fucked pussies to stain the expensive silk sheets beneath them.
As dawn approached, a very satisfied but utterly spent God Emperor James finally pulled out of Mero's dripping cunt one last time.
The shy mermaid whimpered at the loss and reached down to plug her aching hole with trembling fingers.
James smirked smugly at their work, his cock slick with all three of his concubines' juices as it bobbed heavily between his thighs.
He grasped his cock lazily and stroked from root to tip a few times before aiming at Ishilly's messy face.
"Open up," James commanded huskily. "I'm going to paint you as I Like."
Ishilly giggled breathlessly and parted her glossy lips invitingly, tongue lolling out wantonly as she gazed up at their Emperor through heavy-lidded eyes.
James grunted as his orgasm hit and aimed his spurting cock head directly at Ishilly's waiting mouth.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
Thick ropes of hot cum splattered across the mermaid's face, painting her cheeks and chin with streaks of white before landing on her extended tongue.
"Mmmm... yummy," Ishilly purred after swallowing down James' load, licking her lips clean.
Seira reached over to run a finger through the mess coating their friend's face before bringing it to her own mouth for a taste. She hummed in approval at the salty-sweet flavor.
"Me too!" Mero whined from the other side of James, sticking out her tongue expectantly as she cupped her large breasts.
💕 SPURT! SPURT! 💕
James chuckled darkly and turned towards the shy mermaid, pumping his shaft a few times before erupting all over her messy hair and heaving chest.
Mero mewled happily as their Emperor marked her with his seed once again.
💕 SPURT! 💕
Finally James aimed at Seira, groaning low in his throat as the last spurts of his release painted Mero's face and her long ponytail.
She smirked up at him smugly before leaning forward to lick a dollop off the tip of his cock.
"Mmmm~... delicious," Seira purred, swirling her tongue around the head to lap up every drop. "I could get used to this."
James groaned and carefully pulled away, his softening length slipping from between Seira's lips with a wet pop.
He gathered all three of his women into his strong arms as they settled in for a well-earned rest.
Mero cuddled against James' side, resting her head on his broad chest while Ishilly snuggled up to him on the other side, tangling their legs together beneath the sheets. Seira laid her head across James' thighs near his semi-hard cock with a contented sigh.
The four lovers drifted off into a deep and sated sleep, James' white hot cum plugging up their thoroughly used pussies while their combined juices cooled on the bed.
They slept soundly in Shyarly's opulent bedchambers, bodies entwined and hearts full of love for each other as the sun rose over Fish-Man Island...
[R-18 Scene]
The Next Morning
James awoke to a strange sensation—something soft brushing his face. He wrinkled his nose, then blinked his eyes open… only to find Mero's shimmering fish tail draped over him.
"Oh, you little imp," he muttered with a half-laugh. "Playing tricks so early in the morning?"
Around him, the mermaids giggled. They had all gathered while he slept, their laughter echoing through the manor.
Shirahoshi, it seems she had entered their room, was now sitting shyly nearby, watched him with downcast eyes and a faint smile, while Shyarly sipped her morning tea with calm amusement.
"James," Ishilly said in her mature, gentle tone, "it's almost time for King Neptune's gathering. You should get up and eat first."
James stretched and nodded. "Got it."
He leapt gracefully off the bed, landing with an effortless bounce on the coral floor—then jumped again, landing perfectly on the dining table, drawing a chorus of delighted gasps from the mermaids.
Before he could speak, they swarmed around him, offering pastries, fruit, and coral cakes.
Seira and Sora were quickest, claiming the seats beside him with proud, teasing smiles, while the others pretended to pout in mock jealousy.
The hall filled with laughter once again.
After breakfast, the mermaids dressed James in a white dragon robe embroidered with golden scales and delicate fish patterns.
Floating before Shirahoshi, he smiled and said softly, "Shirahoshi, stay here and play with your sisters. I'll be back soon."
Her face flushed pink. "Mm… Husband."
The word left her lips shyly, but the teasing glances from the other mermaids made her instantly regret it. She puffed her cheeks, wishing she could disappear beneath the covers.
James only chuckled, leaning forward to press a light kiss against her forehead.
"Don't worry about what others think," he said gently. "Confidence is the armor of the strong."
Shirahoshi's face turned even redder, and she flicked her tail nervously. "When will I ever be as calm as Husband…?" she whispered under her breath.
James turned to Shyarly, extending his hand gallantly. "Shall we, my Lady Prophet? It's time for you to reveal the fate of Fish-Man Island."
Shyarly hummed softly but allowed him to take her arm. Together, they stepped outside, where a golden magic carpet awaited.
As they soared through the water toward Gyoncorde Plaza, James expanded his Observation Haki, sweeping across the island in a single wave.
He immediately sensed Jinbe and the Sun Pirates below. They had not fled. In fact, they were waiting—ready for the gathering.
Good, he thought with satisfaction. He made the right choice.
But something caught his eye. Jinbe now carried a sword strapped to his back. Curious. Since when did he wield one of those?
Then the answer came through the whispers of his Haki—
[After a long night, Jinbe and the Sun Pirates had purged the radical factions stirring unrest across Fish-Man Island.]
James smiled faintly. So, the old shark still has some loyalty left in him.
He leaned back on the carpet, one hand resting lightly on Shyarly's shark tail as the two glided toward the plaza.
The touch reminded him of the warmth of the mermaids' affection—their laughter, their beauty, their devotion.
For James, even amidst politics and prophecy, there was something intoxicating about this cross-species bond… the kind of love that transcended form and size.
It was strange. It was forbidden.
And it was exhilarating for him.
<<--⚡ ⚓ 💄 ⚓🍑⚓🍷⚓⚡ —>>