The human pirates, battered and terrified, finally threw open the main gates. The courtyard flooded with Hody and Vander Decken's men, armed and seething with a vicious, frenzied energy. Hody stormed in with a murderous gleam in his eyes, taking in the Straw Hat crew before sneering at Neptune.
"So, you couldn't protect your own palace?" Hody spat, striding forward with his eyes on the king. "Weak humans and human-lovers like you have no place here. We're the future of Fishman Island!"
Neptune straightened his shoulders, gripping his trident tightly. "Fishman Island was built on peace, Hody! Your hatred will only destroy us all," he said, voice calm but strained.
Hody let out a harsh laugh. "Keep your peace. It's dead now."
Coby made a quick gesture to the crew, signaling them to ease up as Hody's gang began surrounding them. As Hody's men forced Neptune to his knees, the king looked around the courtyard. All his men were subdued, including Straw Hat Pirates, and Shirahoshi was away. This was terrible.
Hody's voice broke through. "Now that we have everyone's attention," he sneered, "I'll show Fishman Island just how powerful we are. First, we take down the Straw Hats. Then, I'll deal with anyone else who gets in the way."
As Vander Decken fell to the ground, Luffy stood over him, fists clenched and ready for more if he so much as moved. After a quick glance to make sure Shirahoshi was safe, he spotted Jinbe approaching.
"Jinbe!" Luffy shouted, grinning. It had been two years since he'd last seen him at Marineford.
Jinbe inclined his head, his face solemn. "Luffy. I'm glad you're safe. I've been waiting to see you again."
Luffy stretched his arms overhead, laughing. "Yeah, it's been a while! So what's going on here? Why's everyone so mad?"
Jinbe sighed, explaining the growing tension on Fishman Island. He described Hody Jones's malicious plans, his hatred for humans, and his plan to destroy the image of humans in Fishman Island. Luffy listened, his grin fading as Jinbe spoke. As the story ended, his face twisted with frustration.
Just then, a loud hum filled the air, catching Luffy and Jinbe's attention. All around Fishman Island, giant screens flashed to life, and Hody Jones's face filled each one. His cold, cruel eyes stared down at the citizens of Fishman Island, and his voice rang out over the speakers, dripping with malice.
"Citizens of Fishman Island," Hody began, his voice calm but with a dark edge. "Our kingdom has been ruled by weakness for too long. King Neptune's love for humans is a disease. But worry not... I'm here to cleanse this island, burn it down, and rebuild it as a kingdom of strength."
In the palace courtyard, Coby and the Straw Hat crew exchanged glances. The guards around them looked horrified as Hody's words echoed across the island.
"Fishman Island will rise again," Hody continued, his face twisted in a fanatical grin. "And when it does, humans will tremble at the power of Fishmen! We'll take what's ours, and the weak will fall before us."
Neptune struggled against his captors, fury blazing in his eyes. "You'll destroy us all, Hody! The people will never follow you!"
Hody smirked at the king's outburst. "You don't get it, Neptune. This island is mine now, and so is your throne." He lifted his trident, pointing it toward Neptune. "And if anyone stands in my way, they'll die."
Under the blazing lights of the square, King Neptune, Coby, Zoro, Sanji, and the rest of the crew were marched forward, wrists bound as the jeering crowd surrounded them. The New Fishman Pirates kept the citizens corralled around the island, forcing anyone in range to spit on or stomp over a massive portrait of Queen Otohime laid out on the ground.
"Pathetic!" Hody shouted from atop a high podium, a twisted grin plastered across his face as he watched Fishman citizens hesitantly step over the beloved queen's image. Some shook with anger, others looked down, and a few openly wept, but Hody's men shoved them along, forcing them to disrespect the queen's memory.
Neptune glared, his bound fists trembling. "Otohime gave her life for peace! And you… you'd spit on everything she stood for!"
Hody laughed, waving Neptune's words away. "Peace is weakness. Just like you, just like the Straw Hats." He sneered at the crew, his men cheering him on as he paced in front of them. "So tell me, humans. Ready to die for a dream that means nothing?"
Coby smirked, glancing at Zoro and Sanji beside him. "This guy really loves his speeches, huh?"
"Talk's cheap," Zoro muttered, his voice low but deadly. "Soon as we get free, he'll regret every word."
A small commotion at the back of the crowd made Coby lift his head. Through the gathered Fishman citizens, a trio of figures forced their way through. It was Luffy, with Shirahoshi next to him, and Jinbe right at their side. Luffy's face was set in a tight scowl.
As Luffy arrived, Hody jeered, "You showed up just in time to see the end, Straw Hat! I've got one hundred thousand of my New Fishman Pirates surrounding this square. You and this kingdom? Done for."
Luffy just stared at him, unimpressed, a lazy grin forming. "One hundred thousand, huh? Guess I'll get a little workout, then."
The crowd of Fishman citizens murmured, glancing between Luffy and Hody, unsure of who to fear more. Hody's laugh rang out, full of spite as he gestured at the chained Straw Hats and King Neptune. "Think you can save them? I'll make an example of every human lover here!"
Jinbe, standing beside Luffy, kept his gaze steady on Hody. "You've poisoned the dreams of Fishman Island, Hody. This is nothing more than a mockery of what Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime wanted."
Hody sneered, lifting his trident in the air. "Spare me your lectures, Jinbe. This island belongs to us now!" He turned to his men, raising his voice. "Crush anyone who gets in our way! Humans, Fishmen who side with them—all are traitors!"
Hody's men advanced, spears and swords gleaming in the dim light as they closed in on the Straw Hats, grins splitting their faces in anticipation. The crowd held its breath, eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination, waiting for blood to spill.
Coby chuckled, catching the attention of everyone nearby as his wrists, supposedly bound by seastone cuffs, shifted slightly—then disconnected entirely from his arms. The chains dropped to the ground with a heavy clink, and he flexed his wrists as if stretching after a long day's work.
Hody's sneer turned into shock. "Impossible! How can you use a Devil Fruit ability with seastone?!"
Coby ignored him and turned to Robin, creating a wax key in his hand—courtesy of Mr. 3's copied powers. He handed her a couple of duplicates with a quick smirk. "Free the others, yeah?" He stole a quick kiss, making her roll her eyes but take the key, clearly amused.
While Robin was at work, Coby strolled over to Luffy, who was stretching his wrists with an eager grin. "So, Captain," Coby said, a playful glint in his eye, "how about I take fifty thousand, and you handle the other half?"
Luffy's grin stretched wider. "Sounds good to me!"
The effect was immediate. Hody's men froze, terror flashing in their eyes before, one by one, they dropped, their weapons clattering against the ground as their bodies slumped lifelessly to the floor. Waves of pirates fell, and within moments, half the Fishman forces were sprawled unconscious in the dirt, lifeless expressions frozen on their faces. The rest staggered, looking around in horror as the two Straw Hats stood at the center, barely even breaking a sweat.
"What… What the hell are these humans?!" one of Hody's top lieutenants stammered, eyes darting between the fallen bodies and the unshaken Straw Hats.
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