Fishman Island, inside the royal palace.
Queen Otohime stood in the grand hall with her two sons.
Neptune, with a gentle expression, looked at little Shirahoshi, teasing the sleeping child for a moment.
Between his brows, however, was a shadow of worry as he turned to Otohime:
"He really succeeded."
"But Fishman Island's situation... has become even more difficult."
"At this point, it's impossible for us to attend the Levely."
"Now... what should we do?"
Queen Otohime lowered her head as well:
"But that day, I truly couldn't stop him."
"I heard from the depths of his heart... a soul-rending..."
"...cry of anguish."
...
On Fishman Island, the fishmen and merfolk had gone completely wild.
Newspapers rained down across the streets, and everyone's face beamed with pride.
The "Hero" Fisher Tiger.
A fishman who dared challenge the Celestial Dragons—he was their pride.
Some who had once admired and followed Tiger—Jinbei, Arlong, Hachi, and others decisively left Fishman Island to follow Tiger.
...
Fishman Island, the back streets.
A still-young Hody Jones stood surrounded by his future companions.
Looking at the latest newspaper, he couldn't help but voice his admiration:
"So amazing, no wonder he used to be the boss of Fishman District."
"Even the Celestial Dragons are gnashing their teeth—and those are Celestial Dragons!"
A blue-striped fishman beside him said:
"He gave those infuriating humans a real beating."
"Arlong has always said humans are trash."
"They're just a lower species."
Another slightly chubby fishman said:
"Of course."
"The Sun Pirates are sailing across the seas right now, punishing those humans everywhere!"
"They're incredible!"
A flicker of madness shone in Hody Jones' eyes:
"Go for it, Sun Pirates!"
"One day, I too will—"
"Kill all the humans! Every last one!"
...
Grand Line, first half.
Aboard the Sun Pirates' ship.
On lookout, Hachi suddenly spotted a Marine warship speeding toward them.
He quickly threw down his telescope and ran into the cabin.
"Boss! Boss! Bad news!!"
"Marines!!! The Marines are chasing us!!!!"
"Tiger!!"
Inside the cabin, Arlong snapped impatiently:
"Shut up, Hachi."
"Quiet down."
Jinbei also said:
"Calm yourself a little."
At the head seat, Fisher Tiger frowned:
"Marines, are you certain?"
Hachi nodded furiously:
"I saw their flag—it's the Marines!"
Jinbei turned to Tiger:
"What do we do?"
Fisher Tiger snorted coldly.
Bang—
His powerful fist slammed the table.
"What a stupid question."
Everyone stood up...
...
Elsewhere, on the warship.
The G2 Branch Rear Admiral Karuda, commanding the assault, ordered cannon fire on the Sun Pirates.
"Take Tiger's head!"
Shoo-shoo-shoo—
Several cannons fired at once, but on the choppy seas, not a single shot landed.
On the Sun Pirates' ship, Arlong sneered:
"Not one hit, huh."
Then he leapt into the sea, followed by several fishmen, charging toward the warship.
...
On the Marine warship, multiple cannon salvos had no effect.
Panic rose in Karuda's heart. He was a Rear Admiral who had risen mostly through connections, and now had hoped to make merit to prove himself.
But things were spiraling beyond his control...
Boom!
"What!"
Karuda looked on in terror.
The sea erupted into a massive water column!
Several more shot up, and when they fell away, fishmen emerged from within.
Arlong sneered midair:
"Kill!!!"
With bodies ten times stronger than ordinary humans, fishmen were impossible for regular Marines to resist.
Even with the advantage of guns and cannons, the Marines collapsed into chaos.
Karuda forced down his panic and shouted:
"Damned fishmen, hand over those who were once slaves!"
"If you do, then your crimes will—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, the ship lurched violently.
A Marine burst up through the deck from below, shouting:
"Rear Admiral Karuda! They're attacking from beneath the ship!"
"The hull's been breached!!!"
Karuda was so terrified he lost his voice:
"What!"
Out in the endless sea, if the hull was pierced...
"Damn it!!!!"
...
Elsewhere.
A Marine officer drew his blade toward Jinbei:
"Hand over the slaves immediately."
"You've committed a grave crime!!"
"Mere fishmen, daring to resist humans!!!"
"You—!"
Boom—
A blur streaked across, and Jinbei's fist smashed the officer's head into the wall.
As he withdrew his arm, the officer slid down to the floor, motionless.
Closing his eyes tightly, Jinbei slowly opened them again, looking toward Fishman Island as he murmured:
"Those who traffic in slaves run free."
"Those who liberate slaves are branded criminals."
"And yet we are told to love humans?"
"Queen Otohime..."
...
Tiger was the last to board the warship.
But the pressure he radiated was unmatched.
Just by standing there, none dared approach him.
Expressionless, Tiger advanced on the Marines surrounding him.
Suddenly he threw a straight punch.
Boom—
Four Marines slammed together, smashed through the railing, and fell into the sea.
Tiger turned to the others.
With one grab, he lifted five soldiers at once, walked to the railing, and hurled them into the ocean.
Turning back, boom— another punch sent several Marines crashing into the wall.
Meanwhile, Karuda had the cannons re-aimed directly at Tiger.
"Fire! Fire!"
"Aim at him and fire!!!"
When Tiger turned his head toward him, Karuda swallowed hard.
"We already have the intel."
"It was you who sheltered those slaves..."
In an instant, Tiger appeared before them, his massive hand pressing down on the cannon.
With the screech of twisting metal, the barrel bent and shattered.
"You mean the former slaves?"
Thud—
One kick sent Karuda flying.
"Do you have proof they're among us?"
He strode over, lifted Karuda by the collar.
"Go check every person here."
"I hear every slave carries a brand—see if you can find one."
He dangled Karuda's arm over the railing, watching as the man screamed for mercy, begging for his life.
Something flickered across Tiger's mind—he flung Karuda back onto the deck.
"I'll spare your life."
"I'm not the same as humans."
Speaking calmly, he turned and shouted to the Sun Pirates:
"Brothers, grab anything valuable and the food, then back to the ship."
The fishmen pirates roared in unison:
"Oooh!!!"
Moments later, just as they were finishing and preparing to leave—
Boom—
Arlong kicked out a Marine soldier hiding in the cabin.
Clutching his jagged blade, he raised it high, sneering down at the terrified man.
"You are sentenced to death."
"Being human alone is already a grave sin."
At the bow, Tiger spun around sharply:
"Stop! Arlong!!"
But it was too late.
A slicing sound—
The head was severed, blood splattering across Arlong.
Only then did Arlong seem to hear Tiger's words. He turned, confused:
"Hm?"
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In Borsalino's office, smoke curled as he read the newspaper, listening to Strawberry's report:
"Vice Admiral Borsalino, Rear Admiral Karuda's warship from G2 Branch has been sunk."
Borsalino flipped a page of the paper:
"Oh~~?"
"Why did they pick a fight with them~"
"I told them only to report their location."
Strawberry replied:
"They say that as soon as they got within sight, they were instantly surrounded from the sea."
Borsalino set down the paper, folding his arms:
"Oh~~"
"As expected of masters of undersea combat~"
"What kind of fellows are they~"
Strawberry said:
"Seems they'd already been active as pirates near Fishman Island."
"Arlong's crew is among them, though being from the seafloor, their combat strength is hard to gauge."
Borsalino's eyes shifted, recalling:
"Arlong"
"I did hear of him once before~"
Strawberry continued:
"There's also a fishman with a build similar to Tiger's, though his name is unknown."
Borsalino exhaled a puff of smoke:
"Ah~"
"What a bother~"
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