The remnants of the Roger Pirates—or strictly speaking, a few of the original crew's remnants, plus two second-generation members—infiltrated the deep sea together.
They were certainly not aboard the Red Force or the Perfume Yasha.
Both ships were indeed remarkable. The Red Force, crafted by a famous artisan, could sail across the Six Seas as easily as walking on land, no weaker than the Roger Pirates' Oro Jackson of yesteryear.
The Perfume Yasha, carried by two gigantic sea snakes, was even more impressive. A new-energy pirate ship capable of freely traversing the Calm Belt spoke for itself in terms of value.
However, neither ship could navigate the deep sea because they were not coated.
Coating a ship was quite time-consuming, and they certainly did not have the time to slowly apply a coating now.
Fortunately, the old man Rayleigh had already prepared a coated vessel. The group switched to this ship and headed toward Fish-Man Island, located in the deep sea.
The light transmitted from the sea surface rapidly diminished as the ship descended. Soon, the surroundings became pitch black. Only a single lamp on the ship's deck emitted a faint glow, providing a hint of light in the dark deep sea.
"So, Mr. Rayleigh,"
Straw Hat Shanks sat on the ship's rail, black and red lightning crackling around him, causing a sea beast in the dark waters nearby to flee in panic.
The man seemed unaware of this, asking with a solemn expression, "I heard you say before that Fish-Man Island has been sealed off?"
"Sealed off?"
Colon, the young half-Fish-Man, son of Gaban, who was not yet twenty years old, turned back with a bewildered look. "Uncle Rayleigh, what does that mean?"
Rayleigh sat cross-legged on the deck, leaning against the mast, his sword laid across his knees. Holding a metal flask, he slowly unscrewed the cap, took a light sip, and said,
"This is no secret in the Sabaody Archipelago. Initially, no one noticed anything amiss, until one day, news suddenly came from the island's smuggling companies that their ships had gone missing."
"Whether traveling from the New World to the Paradise or from the Paradise to the New World, the ships on both routes disappeared without a trace."
"It was only then that people realized it had been a long time since a ship arrived from the New World."
"Is it Sea Kings?"
Benn Beckman, the First Mate of the Red Hair Pirates, spoke slowly.
Rayleigh nodded deeply. "One pirate crew, although they failed to reach the New World successfully, had a Fish-Man on board, and he managed to escape back to the Sabaody Archipelago."
The Dark King paused, then said gravely, "He said that countless Sea Kings were massing in the deep sea, attacking their ship without hesitation upon sighting it. In the deep sea outside the Great Sea Trench, they encountered the wreckage of many vessels."
"Eh!!"
Buggy the Red-Nosed, a high-ranking officer of the Red Hair Pirates, instantly screamed in alarm. "Isn't that incredibly dangerous?"
Even with all of them combined, it would be impossible to fight a large number of Sea Kings in the deep sea, right?
"Buggy, you kid,"
Rayleigh looked up, giving his disappointing disciple a helpless glance. "Are you still so timid after all these years? I don't recall teaching you to be such a man."
"What a disagreeable man."
Hancock, the First Mate of the Kuja Pirates, tilted her head back and looked down her nose at the anxious Buggy. "Your inside is as ugly and repulsive as your outside!"
"Hey!"
Buggy instantly flew into a rage, sporting a shark-like expression. "Hancock, who are you calling red-nosed, you vile woman! Don't think I'll forgive you just because you're drop-dead gorgeous and make my heart pound!!"
"Enough, Buggy,"
Shanks rubbed the bridge of his nose with a hint of exasperation. "Mr. Gaban's fate is unknown, we must go."
Buggy immediately quieted down.
The man's expression kept changing.
Yes, Mr. Gaban!
"Children,"
Rayleigh stood up, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his disciples.
Shanks, Buggy, Robin, Hancock—the children had all grown up and were now capable of fighting alongside him.
"Prepare for battle."
Everyone's expressions had already changed slightly.
"They're coming fast."
Shanks looked back as well, gazing down and out from the ship's rail.
Below, in the pitch-black deep sea, though eyes couldn't see, Observation Haki could clearly sense several colossal presences rapidly cutting through the water and rising.
"Bring it on!!"
Colon flipped to his feet, wielding two battle axes, and roared. "No one is going to stop me!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Robin was brief and concise. The long snake that had been wrapped around her body instantly tensed and was grasped in her hand, transforming into a longbow.
"...Robin,"
Noticing her action, Shanks sighed softly. "Haven't you made your decision yet?"
"I apologize, Shanks,"
Robin shook her head. "I just..."
"No need to apologize, Robin,"
Shanks relaxed his brow in the blink of an eye, a relaxed smile returning to his face. "Everyone in the world is free. What you choose to do is your own business. No one can force you."
It's just that, if that's the case, Robin is completely unsuitable for that Devil Fruit.
In that moment of hesitation, her fate was already sealed.
However, now was not the time to discuss this matter.
In the deep sea below, gigantic creatures had already surfaced one after another.
"I haven't fought in so many years, my body must be rusty. I wonder if I can still hold up!"
Rayleigh spoke with a hint of a smile, casually tossing pieces of coral to the others.
"You all know how to use them, right?"
Everyone skillfully took a coral piece and smeared it on themselves. Their bodies were instantly covered with a layer of air bubbles.
Normal humans cannot fight in the deep sea, so they need to be coated with a layer of air bubbles, just like coating a ship.
"I'll go first!"
Colon had already leaped up, passing directly through the air bubble and into the deep sea.
The advantage of the half-Fish-Man was demonstrated vividly in this moment. Even this deep sea was no hindrance to him.
The youth shot downward through the water like an arrow released from a bow.
The next moment, a painful roar echoed from the deep sea.
In the pitch-black deep sea, the head of a massive monster was split open with a deep wound. Blood already stained this area of the sea.
"Let's go, too!"
Figures followed closely behind Colon, jumping off the ship.
Rayleigh and Shanks swung their swords simultaneously.
For top-tier powerhouses like them, even the deep sea could not hide their edge.
A magnificent slash instantly tore through the deep sea, instantly severing two colossal creatures.
Robin and Hancock also simultaneously pulled back their longbows. Arrows wrapped in powerful Haki immediately pierced the seawater.
The two small arrows contained truly explosive power. When they struck two Sea Kings, it was like the roar of heavy artillery, instantly blasting two huge holes in the beasts.
In just a few seconds, all the attacking Sea Kings had been eliminated.
However, it was somewhat unfortunate that no one here possessed the ability to hear the Voice of All Things, so they could not hear the words of the Sea Kings.
Of course, even if they could hear them, it wouldn't matter much. Apart from Roa and Shirahoshi, perhaps only Imu could understand the language of the Sea Kings.
After defeating this batch of obstructing Sea Kings, the ship carrying the group continued its descent. Fortunately, they did not encounter any obstacles along the way.
They descended along the Red Line, finally arriving before the massive Submarine Great Sea Trench.
At this point, they were quite close to Fish-Man Island.
"Something's not right,"
However, Rayleigh's expression grew serious. "According to the Fish-Man who escaped back, a large number of Sea Kings were gathered near the Great Sea Trench."
Yet, the area before them was empty.
"But regardless, having come this far, we can't retreat now, can we?"
Shanks pushed his hat brim with a finger, saying with a laugh.
"You're right,"
Rayleigh nodded. "Let's go, keep moving forward."
Since they had come, there was no reason to retreat.
And so, the ship sailed into the enormous, abyss-like Great Sea Trench.
Everyone's nerves were taut; they knew it wouldn't be this simple.
Then, about half an hour later.
The breath of everyone on the deck suddenly caught.
"Is this really not a joke?"
Cold sweat beaded on Robin's forehead. "This scale?"
"Is this the power of the Sea King?"
Shanks couldn't help but force a smile. "The Ancient Weapon lives up to its name!"
In the depths of the Great Sea Trench ahead, Sea Kings were rapidly approaching, one after another.
And that was not all. In the rear, where the group had come from, although far fewer than in the front, a large number of Sea Kings were also converging.
"They're even employing military tactics now."
Rayleigh shook his head with a touch of helplessness. "It seems we've been lured deep into their encirclement."
"It's more than just an encirclement!!"
Buggy's legs were shaking. "This number is ridiculously excessive!"
The Sea Kings surrounding them from the front and rear combined probably numbered in the thousands!
The gigantic trench was practically blocked!
Moreover, more Sea Kings were continuously enveloping them from the direction of Fish-Man Island ahead!
How many Sea Kings are gathered around Fish-Man Island?
They only have one ship!!
They could not understand the Sea Kings' words, so they naturally didn't know the dying wishes of the Sea Kings they had just killed.
"Powerful humans have arrived; expel them with all your might."
Sea Kings possessed intelligence not inferior to that of humans. Thus, to protect their King from the Demon King's harm, they were truly giving their all.
The Sea Kings patrolling around Fish-Man Island had mobilized almost entirely, and the Sea Kings in the vicinity of the Great Sea Trench were also summoned.
"At this number—"
Even the proud Hancock was grave now. "We probably can't get through!"
Everyone on this ship was a master, but the current numbers were too exaggerated.
All the Sea Kings needed was to rush them all at once to crush their ship into mere fragments.
Even the turbulent currents caused by the Sea Kings' collective movement would be enough to make the ship lose control and smash itself against the rock walls.
They could easily kill every single Sea King, but they couldn't instantly kill all of them.
"Try this!"
Shanks gripped the beloved sword at his waist.
Black and red lightning instantly crackled. The rampant aura vibrated the seawater in the deep sea, forming wave after wave of surging undercurrents that swept toward the Sea Kings.
Conqueror's Haki is tied only to one's individual strength and will. Shanks happened to be an exceptionally powerful monster with an astonishing will.
His Conqueror's Haki was among the strongest in the entire sea.
Even a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral-level master would likely struggle to remain composed in the face of his Haki.
But.
The Sea Kings remained unperturbed, still rapidly approaching.
They were acting for their true King; how could the mere aura of a human make them retreat?
"We're finished!"
Buggy screamed, clutching his head. "What do we do now!!"
"Yes, what should we do?"
Shanks also had sweat beading on his forehead now.
Although they had prepared to deal with a large number of Sea Kings, this quantity was too excessive!
If they were on the surface, they certainly wouldn't be afraid, but they were in the deep sea! If they exerted too much force, let alone the air bubbles covering their bodies, even the ship's coating might shatter!
At that point, the deep-sea pressure wouldn't care if they were an Emperor of the Sea or a legend of the ocean!
Everyone realized one thing.
They couldn't get through. They couldn't reach Fish-Man Island.
Could the only choice be to retreat?
However, at that very moment.
"I'll go!"
The young Colon stepped forward, his eyes filled with firm resolve.
"Colon?"
Rayleigh suddenly looked at his friend's son.
"I must go back! My Mom and Dad are in Fish-Man Island; I have to go back!"
Colon said, "I inherited my mother's Fish-Man bloodline; the deep sea cannot trap me!"
"So everyone, please help me distract the Sea Kings! I'll take the opportunity to infiltrate Fish-Man Island!"
"Are you serious, Colon!"
Robin looked at the younger brother she wasn't very familiar with. "We don't know how many more Sea Kings there are ahead!"
"It doesn't matter,"
Colon grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth. "The Merfolk are the fastest swimmers in the sea, and I am even faster than the Merfolk!!"
"Big Brother Shanks, Sister Robin, Uncle Rayleigh,"
Saying this, he bowed solemnly to the group. "I'm counting on you all! I must return!"
The group looked at each other, their minds made up.
Rayleigh sighed and said, "Family truly is different!"
"In that case, go, Colon!"
Shanks encouraged him. "Leave this place to us; you just go ahead!"
"Captain! Go without worry!"
His companions also called out. "We will definitely survive and see you again!"
"Mhm!"
Colon was overjoyed and nodded emphatically.
"Colon, take this,"
Rayleigh tossed a Transponder Snail to Colon. "Keep in touch at all times."
Although, even if something happened to Colon, they wouldn't be able to provide aid, it was better than not knowing anything at all.
And so, the operation began.
The young half-Fish-Man leaped into the deep sea, descending toward the bottom of the Great Sea Trench at an astonishing speed.
At the same time.
"Come on, you monsters!!"
The group on the ship's deck simultaneously released powerful Conqueror's Haki, attracting the attention of the Sea Kings.
Shanks, Rayleigh, Robin, and Hancock even re-entered the deep sea, continuously attacking the Sea Kings.
"Roar!"
The Sea Kings were instantly enraged and accelerated their convergence toward the group.
"Hahaha! Retreat, retreat! Don't actually get surrounded!"
Rayleigh laughed heartily. "Keep the attacks coming! Lure all the Sea Kings over!"
This made him recall the days of dashing across the seas.
They were pursued and ambushed by the Rocks Pirates several times, and it was much the same scene.
The large ship immediately turned, returning in the direction they came from.
The group also turned their attacks toward the Sea Kings converging from the rear, where the numbers were significantly smaller.
Behind them, the enraged Sea Kings fiercely gave chase.
At the bottom of the Great Sea Trench, Colon accelerated forward without looking back, heading straight for Fish-Man Island.
The youth clenched his jaw.
Everyone was risking their lives to distract the Sea Kings for him. He absolutely could not disappoint them!
Dad, Mom, Fish-Man Island, I'm coming home!
Almost simultaneously.
North Blue.
A massive floating island streaked across the sky above a certain area.
"Hmm, North Blue. It's been so many years since I last came here."
On the edge of the floating city, Roa looked down at the vast, boundless sea below, sighing with emotion.
It brings back memories. The first step of my, Roa's, rise began in the North Blue.
It turns out coming straight for Judge after leaving the Land of Endless War was a brilliant idea!
"Heh heh, Boss, this time, we'll completely take over this sea area, right!"
Behind Roa, the usually busy Judge had even abandoned his experiments to rush over, his face flushed with excitement.
North Blue—that was the long-cherished wish of the Vinsmoke Family!
"Probably."
Roa smiled, then glanced back. "So, Morgans, how is the investigation into Dragon going?"
"Hee hee hee,"
The other person behind Roa, Chief Papparazzi Morgans, cackled strangely. "Although it has no impact on our operation, it went smoothly! They've certainly found out what they wanted to know!"
"Perhaps they've already successfully transmitted the news to the World Government."
"Is that so."
Roa chuckled. "Well, they've worked hard. At least they feel a sense of participation."
And that was all it was—a mere sense of participation. Just as Morgans said, it had no impact on their operation.
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