The Terrifying Power of the Ancient Weapon, Poseidon

"Damn it!"

Hody's expression immediately turned ugly. Although he had overdosed on Energy Steroids and lost his mind, attacking anything in his path regardless of friend or foe, he still retained a sliver of instinct. He knew that someone like Moonlight was absolutely not to be provoked! Even if he took a hundred times his current dosage, he would still be no match for the man before him!

"I haven't lost yet! I will not lose!"

Moonlight stood before him, while Luffy and the others were behind him. The New Fish-Man Pirates were finished, but Hody refused to accept his fate. Gritting his teeth, he locked his gaze on Shirahoshi and rushed toward her at top speed.

Not only that, Vander Decken IX struggled back to his feet. Hody had torn off one of his arms, and the intense pain had restored his senses. When he saw Shirahoshi, he refused to give up. He picked up an axe again and hurled it at her.

"Shirahoshi, you're mine! Die with me!"

Vander Decken IX roared!

His obsession with Shirahoshi had already turned into hatred!

"Hm?"

Their attacks were swift and vicious, immediately targeting the most important person. They knew that as long as they captured Shirahoshi, the Mermaid Princess, there was still a chance to turn things around.

Moonlight frowned slightly and was about to intervene, but seeing that Luffy and the others were beside Shirahoshi, he relaxed a little. Yet Luffy did not stop them. Instead, he allowed the two to attack Shirahoshi and did something that left everyone dumbfounded. "Cowardlyhoshi, how long are you going to keep hiding behind other people?"

He actually wanted Shirahoshi to face this crisis herself!

Shirahoshi was enormous and a Mermaid Princess, yet she was timid by nature. Though that was related to her childhood experiences, it clearly would not do. Shirahoshi needed to grow, and she could only rely on herself! But how could she handle the current situation? "She is Poseidon. On the sea, no one can be her opponent."

Moonlight somewhat understood Luffy's reasoning, but was this not too risky?

Of course, he was the only one thinking that way. Seeing Hody and Vander Decken IX attack Shirahoshi, Fukaboshi and the others who had been rescued, along with Shyarly, the Fish-Man Island residents, Jinbe, and the rest, hurried to save her.

The Straw Hat Crew was also ready to act at any moment.

But Moonlight's sudden appearance had first drawn everyone's attention. Then Vander Decken IX, already severely injured, had suddenly launched an attack. Added to Hody's now terrifying strength, everyone was a step too late.

Just as the two were about to strike Shirahoshi, she instinctively released a special energy in the face of death.

A Sea King as large as Noah suddenly poked its head out, and Hody and Vander Decken IX's attacks landed directly on its head.

Like eggs striking a rock, the two were instantly sent flying. They crashed to the ground, unconscious.

They had actually been knocked out by sheer force! Then the Sea King turned its head toward Shirahoshi, becoming incomparably gentle and quiet, as though it were paying homage to its king! Shirahoshi cautiously looked at the Sea King, seemingly trying to communicate with it. In the end, the exchange appeared to go smoothly, and joy gradually appeared on Shirahoshi's face!

A Mermaid Princess and a terrifying Sea King were actually having a pleasant conversation! "A Sea King!"

"It's huge!"

"Princess!"

This sudden scene left everyone utterly stunned! Fukaboshi and the others were shocked beyond words, especially because the Sea King's sheer oppressive presence rendered them unable to move.

Luffy, Jinbe, and the others all sucked in cold breaths! Jinbe was somewhat better off, since he had seen this once many years ago. But Luffy and the others were utterly shaken. It was their first time seeing such an enormous Sea King! The appearance of such a colossal creature was immensely shocking. Shirahoshi could actually communicate with it? Was this Shirahoshi's power?

"Has it appeared again?"

King Neptune, some of the older people, Shyarly, and the others trembled as they watched. When Otohime had still been alive, they had witnessed this terrifying sight. Seeing it again now, they could not help but feel both awed and emotional.

Poseidon, the Sovereign of the Sea! The wielder of the most terrifying power upon the ocean!

"The ancient weapon Poseidon truly is terrifying!"

Moonlight could not help sighing.

A Sea King of this scale was as shocking as a Millennium Dragon. If Shirahoshi could summon such an existence, who in this world could stand against her?

Robin was equally stunned. As someone who studied history, she was more shaken than anyone else!

This power was like something from myth! Yet even so, a hundred years ago, it still could not defeat the World Government. The Celestial Dragons ruled the world, proving that it was no exaggeration to call them gods! It was simply that over those hundred years, many people had forgotten that history! Finally, after communicating for a while, Shirahoshi dismissed the Sea King, and calm returned to the plaza.

Yet no one could forget that terrifying sight. Everyone looked toward Shirahoshi.

Although Shirahoshi still seemed somewhat timid, no one dared underestimate her anymore! Except Luffy, of course. Looking at Shirahoshi, he still called her Cowardlyhoshi, and Shirahoshi was still Shirahoshi. Even with such terrifying power, her personality had not changed, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Neptune and the others also relaxed. They had feared that Shirahoshi would be unable to control such terrifying power, but it seemed they had worried for nothing.

A person's nature was the hardest thing to change!

After that came the cleanup.

The New Fish-Man Pirates led by Hody had ultimately ended in failure, and prison awaited them.

Following the principle of severely punishing the ringleaders while dealing leniently with the rest, Neptune treated the other fish-men differently from Hody and the main officers of the New Fish-Man Pirates. The New Fish-Man Pirates immediately fell apart on the spot.

As the king of Fish-Man Island, Neptune clearly possessed extraordinary prestige.

Many of them had merely been incited by Hody and acted rashly in a moment of heated emotion.

In the end, the matter was perfectly resolved. Luffy and the others received special thanks, and everyone on Fish-Man Island regarded them as heroes who had saved the island. They sent them treasure and lavish feasts, while Luffy and the others happily immersed themselves in Fish-Man Island's unique delights.

Shyarly smashed her magic crystal ball and never told fortunes again, devoting herself to running her café.

Hody had been right about one thing. Placing one's future in prophecy was foolish.

Half the reason the New Fish-Man Pirates had been able to incite so many people in such a short time was because of Shyarly's prophecy.

Ryugu Palace was filled with celebration. Jinbe and the others chatted cheerfully, but when Jinbe spoke of the current situation in the New World, worry flashed across his face.

After Fish-Man Island, Luffy and the others would be heading to the New World, but the New World was no longer the same as before.

With Whitebeard's death and Blackbeard's powerful rise, the new Four Emperors had been born. The enemies standing in Luffy and the others' path would now be even more terrifying.

Moreover, the Marines had also undergone a reshuffle.

Sengoku had retired. Akainu and Aokiji had fought over the position of Fleet Admiral, and after Akainu won, he became Fleet Admiral.

Aokiji left the Marines.

Of the Marines' three Admirals, aside from Kizaru, Fujitora and Ryokugyu had newly joined them, along with several Vice Admirals with Admiral-level strength.

The Marines were filled with talent and powerful figures. Combined with Akainu's philosophy of carrying Absolute Justice through to the end, Luffy and the others faced countless difficulties.

For Luffy to become the Pirate King would be incomparably difficult.

Even after two years of growth, the Straw Hat Crew was still far from strong enough. Even with Moonlight among them, their enemies were simply too powerful!

Hearing this, everyone felt a heavy weight settle in their hearts.

But at that moment, a strange change occurred among the New Fish-Man Pirates officers in prison.

Every one of them suddenly aged by several decades. Hody in particular now had a head full of white hair, his body little more than skin stretched over bones and covered in dense wrinkles. He was incredibly frail, just one step away from death.

"This is the aftereffect of the Energy Steroids!"

Chopper analyzed the situation and reached a conclusion! Energy Steroids could indeed grant their users overwhelmingly powerful strength, but that strength came at the cost of draining their life force.

There was no such thing as reaching the heavens in a single step, nor was there anything gained without effort.

The New Fish-Man Pirates were now truly finished.

Everyone sighed, and Luffy and the others prepared to leave.

The New World might be full of dangers, but they would never fear them.

So what if they were the Four Emperors? They would crush them one by one!

The group set off, but another major incident occurred.

During the days of celebration, young female fish-men had continually vanished from the island. In the end, even Shirahoshi fell victim.

"Hahahaha! Mermaid Princess, if I capture you all, I'll make a fortune!"

Somewhere on Fish-Man Island, Caribou used the power of the Swamp-Swamp Fruit, transforming himself into a swamp and swallowing everything as he prepared to leave.

After the Straw Hat Crew had been scattered by the current, he too had gone missing. He had thought he would die, since Devil Fruit users lost all their powers once they encountered water.

Yet he had survived the disaster, escaped with his life, and successfully made it to Fish-Man Island.

With his abilities, he naturally ran wild.

Facing the fish-men of Fish-Man Island, he naturally intended to make a profit.

Now that he had captured Shirahoshi, he was preparing to leave.

But the moment he turned around, he saw Luffy and the others standing before him.

This was Fish-Man Island's territory, after all. No matter how strong his ability was, he was ultimately still a Devil Fruit user.

"Hey, hey, hey! I haven't done anything!"

The instant Caribou saw Luffy and the others, his expression changed, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

But Luffy was in no mood to listen. He immediately started beating him up, leaving Caribou in a miserable state. In the end, Sanji sent him flying with a kick, rescuing Shirahoshi and the many fish-men.

However, this left behind a huge problem.

Without Whitebeard's protection, Fish-Man Island had become a land of conflict once more.

This time, Caribou had come here to abduct fish-men. Next time, it could be some human fleet or powerful pirate crew!

Pirates were as numerous as hairs on an ox across these seas!

Finally, at Neptune's request, they left the Straw Hat Crew's Pirate Flag on Fish-Man Island. From then on, Fish-Man Island would be under the Straw Hat Crew's protection.

But Jinbe had concerns.

After everything was over, Luffy had invited him aboard, but he had refused.

Because he was not free.

He was a member of the Four Emperors' Big Mom Pirates!