Hody clenched his jaw and crammed a handful of pills into his mouth. His muscles bulged grotesquely, veins pulsing as his body absorbed the drug's power. The water around him churned as he powered up, his eyes locking onto Luffy with a vicious gleam.
Underwater, Luffy's usual strength waned slightly, though he hardly cared. In a flash, he kicked off the water using Geppo, launching himself forward in Gear Second. He closed the gap, but Hody darted to the side, slipping just out of range and circling around with surprising speed.
Hody lashed out with his dorsal fin, which now had a sharp blade strapped to it, catching Luffy's arm and leaving a fresh gash. Luffy grunted, blood swirling into the water, but he brushed it off and countered with Jet Shigan, stabbing forward with pinpoint precision. Hody blocked with his arm, teeth bared, before twisting around to snap his jaws toward Luffy's shoulder. Luffy spun away, but not before Hody's fangs grazed him, leaving another cut.
Hody sneered. "I'll tear you apart bit by bit!" He lunged forward, using the murky water as cover as he swung his blade-tipped fin again. Luffy blocked with Tekkai, bracing against the hit, but he could feel the impact deep in his bones.
Ignoring the pain, he powered forward, using Soru to close the distance, and slammed his fist into Hody's jaw, the Armament Haki adding extra force. Hody's head snapped back, but he twisted, regaining his stance and barreling toward Luffy with renewed aggression. They traded blows in the water, each strike tearing through the currents around them.
At a critical moment, Hody bit down hard, his teeth digging into Luffy's side, drawing blood. Luffy grimaced, punching Hody in the gut to break free, but he could feel himself weakening. His body was losing blood fast; Jinbe's assistance would be necessary later. For now, he focused on finishing this fight.
With a burst of speed, Luffy moved behind Hody and attacked again with a powerful combination of Shigan strikes, puncturing Hody's back. Hody staggered, blood clouding the water around them as he turned, panting.
Luffy shifted into Gear Second again, his body steaming as he geared up for a finishing move. "You're done," he muttered, thrusting a Haki-infused punch into Hody's gut with crushing force. Hody's eyes went wide as he was sent hurtling back, slamming into the rocks, his body crumpling under the impact. He lay there, gasping, unable to move.
With Hody defeated, Luffy turned his gaze up toward Noah, the massive ship looming dangerously close to Fishman Island. Shirahoshi's frantic attempt to lure the ship away hadn't fully worked; Noah was still moving closer to the island, its shadow casting a dark pall over the waters.
"No way am I letting that thing hit the island!" Luffy snarled. He kicked off the ground, launching himself upward through the water. His arm shot out, swelling as he entered Gear Third, Haki coating his massive fist as he aimed for the ship.
"Elephant Gatling Gun!"
He unleashed a rapid barrage of massive punches against Noah's hull, each strike landing with enough force to splinter wood and shake the entire ship. The structure groaned under the assault, and pieces of Noah began to crack and break off, drifting into the water below.
As he pummeled the ship, Shirahoshi's voice cut through the chaos. "Luffy-sama! Please… don't destroy Noah!"
Luffy glanced down, momentarily pausing as he saw the tears in her eyes. "Why not?! This thing's gonna crush the whole island!"
Shirahoshi's voice broke through Luffy's battle frenzy, her words desperate and strained. "Luffy-sama! Noah is the hope of the Fishmen!" Her voice cracked, and she wailed, the sound tearing through the water. The next moment, a dark shadow loomed behind her, expanding in every direction.
With a heavy rumble, massive shapes emerged from the deep. Dozens of enormous Sea Kings appeared, their colossal forms surrounded Noah, their eyes locking onto the ship. Luffy's massive fist paused mid-air as he looked back at her.
Each Sea King seized part of the ancient ship, their combined strength pulling Noah back from Fishman Island with ease. Luffy floated there, wide-eyed, watching as the Sea Kings effortlessly moved the massive vessel away.
The Sea Kings let out a series of low, rumbling sounds that reverberated through the ocean. It was a deep, powerful noise that carried a sense of calm and control. Shirahoshi clasped her hands together, her expression one of relief and gratitude as she looked at Luffy.
"Thank you, Luffy-sama," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with gratitude.
Luffy grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "Guess you didn't need me to save the island after all, huh?"
With Luffy's final punch pulled back, the Sea Kings had already seized control of Noah, hauling the enormous ship away from Fishman Island. Shirahoshi gazed in awe at the towering creatures as they maneuvered the vessel. Her lips parted in disbelief, and before she knew it, a deep, rumbling voice filled her ears, echoing from the Sea Kings themselves.
"We heard your call," one of the Sea Kings spoke, its ancient tone carrying over the currents.
Shirahoshi blinked, stunned by the sound of their voices, then clutched her hands to her chest. "Y-You're here because of… me?"
"Indeed," another Sea King answered, its eyes wise and watchful.
Nearby, Luffy frowned, his eyes darting between the Sea Kings and Shirahoshi. "Oi, who's talking right now?" he asked, clearly hearing the deep tones resonating through the water.
The Sea Kings shifted, surprised by Luffy's question. "He hears us," one murmured. "It is just as it was all those years ago."
Shirahoshi's gaze shot to Luffy, who looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. "Luffy-sama, you can hear them too?" she asked, astonished.
Before Luffy could respond to Shirahoshi, he swayed in the water, blood seeping from his wounds. His eyes fluttered, then he passed out cold. Shirahoshi gasped, reaching out quickly to catch him in her hands, cradling his small frame carefully.
Without a second's delay, she turned, her tail propelling her back toward Fishman Island with all the speed she could muster. In moments, she landed gently in the square where the Straw Hats and Fishman citizens waited, panic sparking through the crowd as they saw Luffy's blood-stained form.
Chopper was already scrambling to reach Luffy. "He's lost way too much blood!" he yelled, examining the injuries. "If we don't get him a transfusion, he won't make it. Luffy's blood type is F—does anyone here have it?"
Coby shared the same blood type, F, as Luffy, but he stayed silent. Jinbe stepped forward. "I'm F-type," he said firmly, kneeling beside Luffy without another word.
Chopper let out a sigh of relief, motioning for Jinbe to join him as he quickly set up the transfusion. The crowd around them murmured in awe, and even the Straw Hats watched in silence. Chopper connected the transfusion tubes, guiding Jinbe's arm carefully to Luffy's.
As Jinbe's blood began flowing into Luffy's arm, Luffy, who'd been as pale as a ghost moments before, started regaining some color. Jinbe's face was calm as he watched his blood sustain Luffy's life. For the Fishman citizens watching, the sight of a Fishman giving blood to a human was powerful, shattering years of prejudice in one moment.
When the transfusion finished, Chopper checked Luffy's pulse, nodding with a slight smile. "He's stable now," he said, breathing out in relief.
Eyes still closed, Luffy grinned. "Jinbe."
Jinbe leaned closer, surprised. "Are you awake?"
Luffy turned onto his back, looking up at Jinbe with his usual grin. "Join my crew!"
--
Read up to 100 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/pinkisjustice
Tell me what you think!