Princess Shirahoshi

"Things are bad! Hoshi, Left Minister, hurry and arrange for the people of Fish-Man Island to evacuate!"

Seeing Vander Decken lying on the ground at death's door, Neptune knew that there was no way to undo this. He could only hurriedly order his eldest son and subordinates to evacuate the civilians.

"Right! Shirahoshi!"

Neptune and Jinbe no longer had time to concern themselves with why Cifer had killed Vander Decken. They only wanted to get everyone away from Fish-Man Island as quickly as possible.

At that moment, Neptune did not even care that Shirahoshi was still asleep. He was about to force open the doors to the Hard Shell Tower when Cifer easily pulled him back.

"Cifer-kun! What are you doing?!"

Water droplets had already begun to seep from Jinbe's palms as he stared fiercely at Cifer.

"You're making too much of this. Since I killed him, naturally I have a way to deal with Noah." Cifer released Neptune's hand.

"What?! You have a way to handle that enormous Noah?!"

Now King Neptune was the one grabbing Cifer's hand. "Please, Mr. Cifer! No matter what, you must help Fish-Man Island!"

Fish-Man Island was their homeland, after all. With so little time, many residents would be unable to evacuate no matter what they did. Neptune could only place his hopes on Cifer now.

Cifer shook off Neptune's hand. His aura steadily rose, and everyone present felt as if they had been shrouded by endless darkness. This was the form of death represented by Ulquiorra Cifer—nothingness!

"Seal it! Black Winged Great Demon!"

Although Cifer had deliberately restrained his Spiritual Pressure after releasing his Resurrección this time, and it had not turned into spiritual rain, the terrifying aura around him still frightened Neptune and the others into taking several steps back.

"Impossible to contend with!"

Jinbe had now fully seen the gulf-like difference in strength between the two of them. At the same time, he relaxed. Beings of this level always kept their word.

"What an eyesore!"

Since Vander Decken was completely dead, Noah had already descended to a height visible to the naked eye. Parts of Fish-Man Island were already covered in shadow.

Crying, fear, and chaos filled all of Fish-Man Island. Even though the fish-man army repeatedly tried to maintain order, it was useless. Before death, every facet of humanity emerged.

Meanwhile, the Mermaid Cafe remained as tranquil as ever. The only difference was that there were no customers.

"Fish-Man Island's future has not been cut off, and we will not die here." Madame Shyarly still held her pipe in her mouth as she calmly looked at the trembling Camie and the others.

Elsewhere, Cifer walked over to Vander Decken's corpse, grabbed his leg, and hurled him upward with all his strength toward Noah. Then Cifer extended a finger, and dark power instantly gathered at his fingertip.

"Cero Oscuras!"

A profound black flash struck Vander Decken's corpse, then pierced through the sky and sped toward Noah.

"Boom!"

An explosion that resounded through the heavens erupted, and the entire Fish-Man Island trembled from the aftershock.

"Look! Noah actually..." Someone who had been scrambling through the streets with other merfolk and fish-men in the chaos to flee Fish-Man Island pointed at the sky, disbelief filling his voice. "It was blasted apart!"

Everyone raised their heads to witness the shocking sight. Noah, as large as half of Fish-Man Island, had been blasted with an unimaginably huge hole through its center. It was no longer falling, instead seeming to be driven by some force as it flew off to the side.

"Unbelievable! He destroyed that Noah with just one attack..."

For Jinbe, a Shichibukai and frequent guest of the Whitebeard Pirates, the shock of this sight was beyond question. Precisely because he had seen so much, he understood what such power represented!

One of the Four Emperors!

The only person in his mind who possessed such power was that man—Edward Newgate!

After firing that Cero Oscuras, Cifer released his Resurrección state. Although his first-stage Resurrección was not much of a burden on him, that form still felt strange. His human form was more comfortable.

"Ahhh! So scary, Father Emperor!"

While everyone was still marveling at Cifer's strength, crying came from inside the Hard Shell Tower.

Neptune's heart tightened. He hurriedly pushed open the doors and rushed inside. "What's wrong, Shirahoshi?"

Shirahoshi, who was rubbing her eyes with both hands as she cried, immediately threw herself into Neptune's arms when she saw him.

"That was so scary, Father Emperor! The sound was so loud, and the ground shook so badly! Did that person throw something over again?"

Only then did Neptune realize that the commotion from Cifer destroying Noah had been so great that Shirahoshi thought Vander Decken had come again.

"Don't be afraid, Shirahoshi. You won't have to live in the Hard Shell Tower anymore. That person will never throw things at you again!"

Neptune gently stroked Shirahoshi's head and comforted her.

"Really?!"

The sudden joy pulled Shirahoshi free from her fear. She had stayed in the Hard Shell Tower for several years, constantly wondering when she would regain her freedom. Now, that day had finally come.

"Shirahoshi, let me introduce you. This is the one who dealt with Vander Decken IX..." Just as Neptune wanted to introduce Cifer, Fish-Man Island's great benefactor, to Shirahoshi, Cifer waved a hand to stop him and then walked toward Princess Shirahoshi step by step.

Compared to Princess Shirahoshi, Cifer was merely a somewhat tall human, but the introverted Shirahoshi still hid behind Neptune when she saw him walking toward her.

Cifer stopped in front of Neptune and looked at Shirahoshi, who only dared to peek at him with less than half her head exposed: flowing pink hair, watery blue eyes, a lovely face, a full bust, and a pink fish tail in alternating shades.

He was utterly stunned. What a gigantic... little girl! Such a pure and adorable little mermaid—if he wanted to stop others from bullying her in the future, it seemed he could only protect her himself!

Cifer introduced himself with great solemnity. "My name is Ulquiorra Cifer. I am a man who sails freely across the seas. Here and now, I sincerely invite Princess Shirahoshi to become my companion and travel the world with me!"

"Ahhh!!!"

Shirahoshi had not yet reacted, but Neptune, Jinbe, and the others nearly had their eyes pop out. So this was what Cifer had been waiting for!

"I refuse!" Neptune no longer cared how powerful Cifer was. "Shirahoshi is only fourteen this year. How could I let her run around everywhere with you?!"

Cifer ignored Neptune and stared straight at Shirahoshi.

Perhaps sensing Cifer's gaze, Shirahoshi shrank back. But when she remembered that Lord Cifer had dealt with Vander Decken and restored her freedom, she immediately peeked back out. "Um... Lord Cifer, can I really go up to the surface too? Could you give me a little more time...?"

For Shirahoshi, seeing the surface was one of her lifelong wishes. She also wanted to do her part to fulfill her late mother's final wish.

"Of course!" Seeing that Shirahoshi did not reject him, Cifer finally breathed a sigh of relief. His second recruitment attempt was, for now, half successful. "Neptune is right, though. You're still too young, so you should stay by his side for now."

After hearing Cifer's words, Neptune and the others finally relaxed. It seemed their precious little girl was safe after all.

"Give me some more time!" Cifer raised one finger. "Within a year, I will find a way to let you, Shirahoshi, walk normally on land as well. With your body, it would be inconvenient otherwise!"

Shirahoshi's cheeks flushed red. Her voice was soft yet resolute. "Mm, please, Lord Cifer. I'll definitely wait for the day Lord Cifer takes me to the surface!"