Chapter 413 - 252

Chapter 252: Heading to Fish-Man Island!!The shallow waters of the Sabaody Archipelagosparkled as the thousand sunny lay quietly moored in the bubble-filled waters.Luffy stomped onto the bow, his rubber arms stretching out, almost touching the soap bubbles drifting in mid-air."Aha! Next, we're heading to Fish-Man Island!!"His shout startled a flock of sea birds."Hey, Franky!"Luffy turned his head, his grin stretching from ear to ear."The diving system should be ready by now, right?!""Of course it is—!!"Franky leaped out from the workshop hatch, his iron arms clanging together in the sunlight as he struck his signature SUPER pose."Behold, the ultimate masterpiece that took this genius three months to complete!!"He pressed down hard on the green button in the center of the console.Vroom!!A low hum emanated from deep beneath the ship, like the long moan of a waking whale.The armor plates on both sides of the hull slowly slid open, revealing precisely arranged flow-guiding fins. Immediately after, a pale blue light membrane spread out from the keel, like armor condensed from seawater, gently yet firmly enveloping the entire ship.The surface of the light membrane flowed with an iridescent luster, with occasional snake-like patterns of electricity flashing across it."This is the [Franky Super Barrier]!!"He spread his arms wide as if embracing this great creation."The sunny's diving and defense system can withstand the terrifying water pressure tens of thousands of meters deep!!""To be honest, even you might not be able to break through it, Luffy!!""Oh—?!"Luffy drew out his words, his rubber legs already compressing and charging power on the deck, his eyes fixed on the rippling barrier."It looks super awesome! Why don't I try—""Try your head!!"Nami's angry shout exploded like a clap of thunder.She had appeared behind Luffy at some unknown moment, her fist slamming hard onto that rubber head.—Bang!The dull thud echoed inside the barrier with a peculiar vibrato.Luffy lunged forward, his face squashing into a comical flat shape against the light membrane, while a bright red bump swelled up on his head at a visible speed."Are you trying to wreck the ship before we've even submerged?!"Nami grabbed him by the collar and shook him, her anger making her long orange hair practically stand on end."We're going ten thousand meters into the deep sea! If anything happens to the barrier, we'll all be turned into compressed biscuits!! Idiot!!"Sanji's cigarette fell to the floor."Nami-san looks so charming even when she's angry..."Robin chuckled while holding her teacup. "But it really is a beautiful barrier."Her gaze swept over the distorted, swaying shadows of the sea outside the light membrane. "It's like being encased in a giant blue gem.""Ow ow ow ow—"Luffy rolled around on the deck clutching his head, then bounced up the next second, pressing his entire face against the inner side of the barrier."But this is really amazing! Let's set off! To Fish-Man Island!!"Beyond the blue barrier, the coastline of Sabaody Archipelago gradually blurred.The thousand sunny was like a meteor falling into the deep blue, carrying a ship full of noisy dreams as it sank toward that legendary sea where the sun cannot reach.——————Ten thousand meters beneath the Holy Land Mary Geoise lies a deep sea that is an absolute domain, untouched by sunlight, law, and the eyes of most humans.Fish-Man Island floats within this eternal gloom. It is not only the underwater gateway to the New World but also the home of the Fishmen and Merfolk, gilded with a dreamlike halo of being an 'underwater paradise' by countless legends.At this moment, a pirate ship gently enveloped by a pale blue spherical light membrane was cutting through the ink-thick seawater, sailing steadily toward that legendary land.The thousand sunny was like a falling star, tracing a quiet trajectory in the silent deep sea."The surroundings... it's really dark enough to make one's skin crawl."As the sunny continued to descend with the ocean currents, light was stripped away inch by inch from outside the ship.All that remained was the faint glow from the ship's own facilities and the blue luster flowing through the barrier, barely illuminating a small circle of the eerie waters nearby.The temperature seemed to be sucked away with the depth, and a cold fear of the endless deep sea, rooted in biological instinct, quietly crept up everyone's spines.Suddenly, shadows writhed.Outlines so massive they defied common sense, like moving mountain ranges, slid silently past the sunny.Deep red pupils lit up in the darkness, as large as houses, coldly scanning this 'glowing little snack'.Then came a second, a third... countless giant Sea Kings, some covered in armor-like scales, others waving tentacles strong enough to crush islands, forming the most primitive and suffocating scenery of the deep sea."Eek—!! So, so big! This is terrifying!!"Usopp and Chopper huddled together tightly, the sound of their teeth chattering clearly audible."No, no way... we're surrounded!!"Although Nami tried to maintain her composure, her knuckles holding the clima-tact had already turned white."Quick, think of a way to escape!!"Even Brook was so scared his soul was about to leave his body."If we get bumped or swallowed in one gulp, we'll all be holding a concert at the bottom of the sea, yo-ho-ho-ho—!""So noisy! Shut up, stop yelling!"An impatient low growl came from Zoro in the lookout tower; he hadn't even fully opened his eyes."Any more noise and I'll throw you out to feed the fish.""What's the panic?"Sanji's steady voice drifted from the kitchen. He was unhurriedly processing a giant sea fish with exquisite knife skills."If some blind fool actually bumps into us... heh, won't the ingredients for tonight's 'Deep Sea Monster Sashimi Set' have delivered themselves?""Everyone, look calmly."Yamato's clear voice rang out with a hint of amusement.She was sitting on the gunwale at some point, her legs dangling outside the barrier, looking up at the swimming giant shadows. Her fair face was illuminated by the blue water light like Moonlight."They... don't seem to be approaching, but are actually avoiding us?""—Eh?!"Prompted by her, everyone hurriedly focused their observation.Sure enough, those fearsome deep-sea overlords, though seemingly within reach, were actually maintaining a subtle distance.Their massive bodies would always perfectly bypass the sunny's path. In those giant pupils that occasionally glanced over, there seemed to be a trace of... inexplicable wariness or scrutiny?"It's true! They really are avoiding us!"Chopper clung to the barrier, his eyes wide with wonder."What's going on? Does Franky's barrier have a function to repel Sea Kings?"Nami looked toward the shipwright who was checking the barrier."Hahahahaha!"Luffy's loud laughter broke the tense and confused atmosphere. He slapped his knees hard, as if he had realized something incredible."Interesting! So interesting! These big guys have much better 'vision' than those pirates blocking the way in the first half of the Grand Line!"———————The ship moved silently through the deep sea, as if pulled by some gentle force, slowly pulling back the curtain of eternal night.At first, it was just a glimmer, as faint as a sigh from the seabed.Then, the outline gradually became clear.It was a dream rising from the abyss."That is..."Someone on the deck took a soft breath.Everyone stopped what they were doing and leaned over the gunwale.The dark seawater flowing outside the barrier now served as the velvet backdrop for that spectacle.Layers of transparent bubble membranes enveloped the entire island, like a secret realm sleeping inside a double-layered crystal ball.Between the bubble membranes, the air layer flowed with strange light, actually reflecting a'sky'?Clouds drifted and the light was soft, completely unlike what the deep sea should look like.As the sunny slowly rose, more details were revealed.In the center of the island, a giant tree pierced the 'horizon', its trunk entwined with glowing vines, its canopy disappearing into the glow of the upper bubble membrane, as if supporting the dome of the entire underwater world.Coral thickets were like a sea of flowers in full bloom, and buildings wound along the mountain slopes, adorned with pearls and shells.Rainbow bridges were visible everywhere, connecting streets with water spheres floating in the air... the homes where the Merfolk played.The sunlight, filtered by the seawater and refracted through the bubble membranes, cast mottled and kaleidoscopic shadows. Schools of fish moved like colorful ribbons, and occasionally the elegant figure of a mermaid would glide past, leaving a shallow water trail."So this is Fish-Man Island..."Nami forgot about drawing her sea charts, her voice carrying a dreamlike trance."It's more incredible... than anything described in any Navigator's log."Yamato's palm lightly pressed against the barrier; the cold sensation assured her this was no illusion.The darkness of Onigashima, the frozen twenty years, her father's obsessive dreams... at this moment, all were washed clean by this vibrant deep-sea paradise before her."It's truly magnificent."She said softly, her eyes reflecting the flowing iridescence."To think such a place exists across the sea... I'm so glad I could board this ship.""Hahaha! Of course!"Luffy suddenly threw an arm around her shoulder, his rubber arm swaying as he grinned widely."That dump Onigashima was so gloomy, it's nothing compared to how fun it is here!"He pointed toward the distant island's outline."The whole point is to adventure everywhere and see sights like this! What's the difference between shrinking in the same sea your whole life and soaking in a barrel of salted fish!"Everyone: "..."Nami couldn't help but facepalm. "He's clearly just a rubber idiot who causes trouble everywhere..."Usopp whispered a retort: "You make it sound like you went to sea for 'romantic adventure,' but it's really just for meat and treasure, isn't it...""Hey! What's with those expressions?!"Luffy puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction, then as if suddenly remembering something, he puffed out his chest proudly."Oh right! I forgot to mention... on Fish-Man Island, our flag is flying!"He grinned, showing his signature bright smile."That place is our territory!!"The deck fell into a brief silence.The next second, a wave of retorts almost overturned the barrier."So Fish-Man Island is our territory now!?!?""You clearly didn't even know how many entrances Fish-Man Island had before this!""Don't just call someone else's country your own backyard, you idiot Captain!""..."Beyond the barrier, the outline of Fish-Man Islanddrew closer and closer.Bubble Gondolas traced arcs in the air, and one could faintly hear music and the songs of mermaids carried by the wind.Toward the harbor, figures seemed to be gathering already... as if waiting for their arrival.The paradise ten thousand meters deep was right before their eyes.