The water ahead would become too shallow. The Sea Kings could no longer move through such shallows, so they had no way to deliver Noah directly to the island.
They could only stop while the water was still deep enough. The Sea Kings would go no farther, and Noah would remain on the seabed in this area.
For the remaining short distance, the fish-men and merfolk would have to swim over themselves.
Fortunately, both fish-men and merfolk were exceptionally skilled swimmers.
To them, this distance was no different from taking a stroll—perhaps even easier.
But that did not mean Noah would simply remain here unused.
The island ahead was a completely uninhabited one. Other than its lush forests, there was nothing on it.
Fish-Man Island's five million residents could not possibly begin new lives there the moment they arrived.
If nothing else, they did not even have anywhere to live.
So until the island had been developed to a certain extent, Noah would remain their people's primary residence.
That did not prevent them from first taking a proper tour of the island and truly experiencing the sunlight and sea breeze above the surface.
Before that, however, the protective measures they had decided on needed to be put in place.
Bright first dispatched his subordinates to scatter the signal jammers Doctor Vegapunk had created across the surrounding seabed, cutting off Den Den Mushi communications.
Then Princess Shirahoshi would command the Sea Kings to blockade the surrounding waters, forbidding anyone without permission from entering or leaving.
Only after all preparations were complete did it become time for true freedom of movement.
Bright floated above Noah, watching his people emerge from the ark one after another below him.
Every face wore an exuberant smile. The sorrow of being forced to leave Fish-Man Island