Chapter 353: Recruiting Shirahoshi!
As bickering and banter continued, the crew soon arrived at Fishman Island.
It wasn't until Kun emerged from the deep that everyone truly realized his size.
When he surfaced—towering over coral towers and the vast coral dome—there was no mistaking it.
Kun was larger than the entire Fishman Island itself.
And with his arrival, came more than just shock.
A swarm of Sea Kings appeared—massive beasts of the deep, eyes burning with purpose.
They weren't here to attack, but to protect.
Their presence sent a clear message: the king is here.
Just as tension peaked and the Sea Kings began circling Kun, a gentle voice echoed through the sea.
"Everyone, stand down," the voice called out. "Master Ryuunosuke has returned."
It was Shirahoshi.
The Mermaid Princess—no, the Sea Goddess in waiting—now radiated a commanding aura.
Time had changed her.
She was no longer the trembling crybaby hiding in the palace. Her presence was regal, her beauty even more breathtaking, and her spirit—resolute.
"Alright, let's go meet her," Ryuunosuke said with a smile.
At his words, Kun opened his jaws and gently inserted his mouth through the island's protective bubble.
Because he was a sea creature, the barrier remained unbroken.
One by one, the crew stepped out into the glimmering light of Fishman Island.
"The Mermaid Princess?"
"You mean the one they say is the most beautiful in the entire world?!"
Sanji's brain went into overdrive, thoughts racing at light speed.
"Sanji, no!" Chopper cried. "Don't look at her!"
Chopper, ever the cautious doctor, was in full panic mode.
He knew the routine—Sanji always bled from the nose when he saw a beautiful woman.
But Shirahoshi? That level of beauty might actually kill him!
"Sanji, think of your dream—All Blue!" Chopper begged.
"If I can't see Princess Shirahoshi… then what's the point of dreams at all!?"
BANG!
Sanji spun around dramatically… and immediately turned to stone.
"Petrified!" Chopper screamed, circling him in despair.
Even though there was no Hodie Jones causing trouble this time, Sanji still couldn't escape fate.
---
Shirahoshi swam up, concerned. "Master Ryuunosuke, what happened to your friend? He looks hurt!"
Despite her growing strength, her heart remained kind.
Seeing someone fall like that—even a stranger—worried her.
Ryuunosuke waved it off. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. That sort of thing happens to him a lot."
After all, Sanji's physiology was unique. As a Germa prince, he was tougher than he looked.
"Lord Ryuunosuke," Shirahoshi asked, eyes wide with hope, "what brings you back to Fishman Island?"
She remembered his promise clearly—one day, he'd return.
One day, he'd invite her to set sail with him.
"I came to keep my word," Ryuunosuke replied. "Shirahoshi, would you come to sea with me?"
The moment he spoke, Shirahoshi's eyes lit up. For so long, she'd waited—trained with Sea Kings, hardened her resolve, and shed her fear.
She was no longer just a protected princess.
She was ready to follow him.
"I do!" she said with a brilliant smile. "I'll go!"
---
Ding!
Congratulations, host. Shirahoshi has joined your crew.
Gained: 50,000 Reputation Points.
Extracting abilities: Authority over Sea Kings—command and control activated.
Ding!
Recruitment complete: Kun. Extracting aura-based abilities…
Suddenly, an enormous wave of life force surged through Ryuunosuke's body.
It was so powerful, even the other crew members felt it—an overflowing energy that rippled across the Ship of Gods.
"Absorb it!" Ryuunosuke shouted. "Integrate it while you can!"
The life force flowed through the ship like a tidal wave. Even Sanji, still unconscious, shot upright like nothing happened.
The boost was monumental.
---
Elsewhere, in the New World...
Meliodas stood atop the prow of a ship, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Looks like Captain recruited another monster," he muttered, sensing the surge of power echoing in his veins.
His body, already a monster, had just been pushed even higher.
"Captain, this energy carries… something else," said Ban, holding out his palm as golden particles gathered in his hand.
"This... this is the power of rules—the very laws that govern this world."
Meliodas narrowed his eyes. "Can you analyze it?"
Ban shook his head. "It's suppressed. Maybe because we're not natives of this world. If we were back home, I could dissect this in a second."
A pause.
"…Captain," he added, voice grim, "have you ever thought our presence here might not be… coincidence?"
Meliodas gave a rare chuckle. "Even if it isn't, I'm not worried."
"Why?"
"Because our captain is more terrifying than whatever made this world."
---
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Grand Line…
Chrollo Lucilfer stood on a quiet hill, flipping through his book of stolen abilities.
"Captain, my Nen ability feels like it's breaking through," said Shizuku with a puzzled look. "I wasn't even trying…"
Her vacuum cleaner weapon hummed with more power than ever before—its shape subtly shifting.
She was a conjurer, and breakthroughs like this usually took months—if not years.
But this?
This was her second sudden evolution since arriving in this world.
"The captain must've done something again," Chrollo said, smiling. "Let everyone adapt to their power spikes. Then we resume the mission."
He looked up at the sky.
"This world is far more interesting than I thought."
---
Elsewhere again...
Yahiko and Jigokudo stood quietly, their bodies trembling—not from fear, but change.
Their cybernetic bodies were being transformed at the cellular level. Circuits and steel were giving way to organic tissue.
They were becoming fully human again.
Even their internal systems were being rewritten.
What kind of monstrous vitality had Ryuunosuke triggered…?
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