After gaining the Voice of All Things ability, Silas indeed had the power to communicate with creatures.
But Silas understood clearly that with wild beasts like this, talking nicely was useless.
Beat it up first, then talk!
"I will go first!"
Dean the fish-man took the lead. Because of the lanternfish's headlight source, its main body was hidden in shadow.
Only after passing the light source would it be visible.
Behind the light source was a giant Sea King exceeding 3,000 meters.
Its appearance was similar to ordinary lanternfish.
But its nearly oval shape made it no less impressive than those 5,000-meter super-giant Sea Kings.
When Dean swam before the lanternfish, the lanternfish finally noticed what seemed like an ant-sized creature before it.
"Fish-Man Karate Secret Technique: Buraikan!"
Gathering a water sphere in his palm, then forcefully throwing it.
In the deep sea, every movement had to bear tremendous pressure. Despite this, Rocks and Newgate still saw white water flow shoot from Dean's hand like a cannonball.
Bang!
The water flow struck the lanternfish's head, creating a visible dent. The tremendous force made the lanternfish's massive body stagger, with visible water impact spreading in all directions.
So hard!
Though the attack was effective, Dean's face showed little joy.
Because his attack could penetrate walls dozens of meters thick on land, but hitting the lanternfish's head did not even break its scales.
Just dented them inward.
And Dean's action obviously angered the lanternfish.
That hurt!
Silas heard the lanternfish's voice.
Though not knowing why this tiny creature attacked it, the lanternfish clearly had no intention of tolerating its attacker.
Gurgle gurgle...
The lanternfish opened its massive maw, terrifying suction emanating from its mouth, about to swallow Dean in one bite.
But Dean was a fish-man!
Though inferior to ordinary great pirates on land, his role was not as a fighter but as a shipwright maintaining vessels.
Yet his bounty in the White Wolf Pirates was not low either.
"Shipwright" Dean.
Bounty: 90 million Belly, 500,000 higher than current Rocks!
Dean also demonstrated his veteran prowess.
Facing the lanternfish's terrifyingly suction-powered bite, Dean instantly swam hundreds of meters, reaching the lanternfish's back.
"Fish-Man Karate: Kirisame!"
Dean's body collided with scales on the lanternfish's back. This Haki-infused collision again dented the back scales.
But Dean's face also turned bright red.
Too hard!
"Rocks, Newgate, attack its belly!"
After Dean attracted the lanternfish's attention, Silas sent Rocks and Newgate out, since they were far less agile than Dean in water.
"Ripley, shrink the ship! Have Linlin carry us over from outside!"
The lanternfish's hardness somewhat exceeded Silas's expectations. But considering this lanternfish had lived unknown ages under Pure Gold's illumination, he was not surprised.
If this lanternfish lacked ability, it would have been eaten by other deep-sea predators long ago.
How could it remain active from 150 years ago until now?
"Alright!"
"Leave it to me!"
After Silas gave orders, Linlin first wrapped herself in bubble coating, leaving the ship's range. Then Ripley shrank the ship to palm-size for Linlin.
Then Linlin, her body inside the bubble film, could carry the ship toward the lanternfish.
"I can swim in water now but cannot touch it... so strange! I can still hear my voice without making bubbles?"
But Linlin immediately abandoned the Millennium Falcon to play with bubbles.
Seeing this, Silas's face darkened.
He had almost forgotten Linlin was essentially an eight-year-old girl.
"Linlin, bring us over first!"
Silas had to shout from the Millennium Falcon. "We need to go together to deal with that big fish!"
"Big fish sashimi?"
Only then did Linlin remember their real purpose.
"Big fish sashimi, here I come!"
Linlin kicked off like a torpedo toward the lanternfish, her speed matching Rocks and Newgate's.
Meanwhile, Rocks and Newgate had reached the lanternfish's belly.
Due to Dean, the lanternfish constantly moved, trying to eat the persistent parasite attacking it.
But always fell just short.
Its massive body's movements alone stirred tremendous water currents.
"Newgate, help me hold the bubble!"
Rocks approached Newgate, having him help stabilize his bubble film, then, like Dean, charged directly out of the protective coating.
Originally most skilled in speed-type Six Powers techniques, though leaving the bubble film subjected Rocks to enormous pressure, how could his trained body lose to mere water pressure?
"Shave!"
Instantly appearing at the lanternfish's belly, Rocks drew his sword, covering it with Armament Haki, and slashing toward the belly.
Clang!
The crisp metallic collision sound could be heard even by distant Silas and company.
"It is bleeding!"
Newgate exclaimed.
Unlike Dean merely denting the lanternfish's scales, blade attacks were sharper, perfect for confronting such large creatures.
But not deep enough!
Compared to the lanternfish's several-thousand-meter massive body, Rocks's slash was like pricking human skin with a needle.
Though wounded and bleeding, this blood loss was negligible.
After one strike, Rocks was forced back into the bubble film to breathe and replenish oxygen.
"Newgate, your turn!"
"Right!"
This time Rocks helped Newgate watch his bubble film while Newgate charged out, punching the lanternfish forcefully.
But with seawater interference, Newgate's attack obviously was not as strong as fish-man Dean's.
"Again!"
Neither Rocks nor Newgate became discouraged.
Facing such large enemies, with their current strength, they obviously could not defeat it instantly. They had to take it slow.
Seeing this, Silas immediately abandoned thoughts of acting personally.
"Linlin, go help too!"
"Okay!"
Placing the Millennium Falcon in a corner, Linlin, entirely hidden in bubble coating, made Superman-like flying motions.
"Justice attack!"
Seeing this, Silas's mouth twitched.
Though when telling Linlin stories, he had mentioned everything; they were pirates. Hardly anything about justice!
As the last to appear, Linlin fully displayed her terrifying constitution. After approaching the lanternfish, one punch made its entire body shudder.
That really hurt!
One punch achieved what Dean, Rocks, and Newgate's combined efforts had not. Remarkably effective.
"If she can injure this lanternfish through its scales, that would mean she has nearly mastered Armament Haki's internal destruction."
Ordinary training could not match combat effectiveness.
But Linlin's attack was not Armament Haki's internal destruction, just pure overwhelming force. She had infused that punch with Haki equivalent to Silas's full-power strike.
If Rocks tried this several times, his Haki would be exhausted.
Cannot even make a dent!
After leaving the bubble film over ten times, even Rocks began panting. Deep-sea combat intensity far exceeded land battles.
And until now, their damage to the lanternfish remained minimal.
Internal destruction?
Noticing the Millennium Falcon stopped nearby with Silas showing no intention of acting, Rocks immediately understood his plan.
That old geezer probably wanted to use this fish to train their Haki!
But it was not that easy!
Under continuous attacks, though the lanternfish had not suffered serious injuries, the relentless assault made it increasingly irritated.
Get lost!
Still only Silas could hear this voice, but this time, he noticed the lanternfish preparing to flee toward the Calm Belt.
Though pursuit was not impossible, continuing would greatly increase risks.
"Forget it; let us finish this!"
Having Rocks and Newgate deal with creatures countless times their size in the deep sea was too demanding.
This lanternfish was much larger than the octopus and bald sea monster the future Straw Hat Pirates' main crew encountered in the deep sea.
Just in size, it rivaled Fish-Man Island's legendary Noah's Ark.
"Hey, submit to me!"
Silas also wrapped himself in bubble coating, leaving the ship.
But unlike Rocks, if he left the bubble film's range, he would instantly lose strength.
This was the sea's curse on Devil Fruit users!
However, Silas was not an ordinary user who would become completely powerless upon touching water. Even if he fell into water, he could persist for several seconds, enough time to use his abilities for self-rescue.
Who are you?
Noticing Silas and sensing he could hear its voice, the lanternfish turned its head.
"Remember my name!"
Silas's bubble film approached the lanternfish at extreme speed.
Tiny as an ant, he stared directly at the lanternfish.
"I am called Silas... White Wolf Silas... and from now on, I will be your master!"
The moment Silas's words fell, his bubble film touched the lanternfish's forehead scales while his hand reached through the film, pressing against the scales.
The mythical Zoan's special power spread through these deep waters.
No!
The lanternfish wanted to struggle, but Silas gave it no chance.
"Freeze!"
In less than ten seconds, a giant lanternfish ice sculpture appeared on the seabed.
Battle over!