Several days later, in the southern waters, the sky was high and the clouds thin, but the sea breeze already carried winter's bitter chill. A patrol detachment of the East Blue Fleet led by Gan Ning unexpectedly encountered a Saint Poplar Kingdom patrol fleet of three large warships at the edges of the exclusive economic zones both sides claimed.
At the bow of the Saint Poplar flagship, the Panshi, stood a giant nearly three meters tall, his knotted muscles like rock. He was the fleet commander, Commodore Pablo, known as the Tidebreaker. Holding a tin megaphone, he bellowed in a cracked, grating voice full of arrogance and provocation, "Hua Country vessels ahead, listen up! These are the sacred territorial waters of the Saint Poplar Kingdom! Turn around and get lost, or my cannons won't spare anyone!"
Gan Ning had quietly activated his hybrid form. Pale blue water vapor wreathed him, his pupils had become cold vertical slits, and faint patterns of scales emerged beneath his skin. Exuding the oppressive presence of a deep-sea overlord, he stood on the Jinfan's ram, picked his ear, and grinned, baring gleaming white teeth. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly over the waves into every enemy's ears. "Where did this stray dog come from, barking on my turf? This sea belongs to Gan! Tuck your tails between your legs and get lost if you know what's good for you. You might still get to keep your corpses intact."
Pablo flew into a rage. "You're asking to die! Open fire! Sink them!"
Flashes erupted from the Saint Poplar warships' broadside guns, and several cannonballs screamed through the air! Yet Gan Ning did not even order his fleet to evade. He snorted coldly and lightly stamped his right foot on the deck. Kyogre's authority