BlackStar_BH:
Just so you know, I've finally defeated the cursed writer's block that slowed me down during this arc, and the arc is already fully completed on Patreon and Ko-fi.
I've already started writing the next arc, and the chapters are coming out at a record speed! We're also incredibly close to a huge milestone… only 18 chapters left before this novel reaches Chapter 1000!
Can you believe it? 1000 chapters… That's insane.
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Chapter's Events:
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"I think it's time someone hauled you delusional fools back to reality!!!"
"Watch and despair!! The head of Neptune, the former king of this country, is about to fly!!"
At that moment, Hody Jones had Neptune's head pinned in one hand and was preparing to crush it with the other.
"AAAGHHHHH!!!"
"Your Majesty!!!" The citizens watching were horrified by the sight.
"Father!!!" Fukaboshi screamed in despair.
"Luffy-sama!!!"
"Please, protect my father!!!" Shirahoshi cried out for help as tears streamed down her face.
"RRUOO… OOH?!!" The shark Megalo suddenly began acting strangely, as if about to vomit something out.
"Megalo…?!!"
"Ehh?!!"
"The shameful Ryugu Kingdom… is dead!!!" Hody wasn't paying attention to what was happening around him; his focus was entirely on killing the king.
"NGUOHHH!!!" But before he could strike, he was kicked away with tremendous force—sent flying.
The one who delivered the kick was none other than Straw Hat Luffy.
At last, Monkey D. Luffy appeared.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
On the shores of Baterilla, the Roger Pirates were enjoying reading the new chapters at that very moment.
"Hmm, so he was hiding inside that shark all along… How fascinating. As expected from Luffy, always unpredictable."
Rayleigh smiled, sipping his sake as he commented on the manga scene.
"That's what happens when you talk too much and move slower than your own words. Kahahaha! Look at his face when Luffy kicked him!"
Gaban laughed mockingly at Hody Jones.
"Well, nothing could be done, hahaha! He thought he only caught the Mermaid Princess and Jimbei, but turns out he was lucky enough to net the future pirate king too."
Shanks laughed as well, clearly pleased by the dramatic twist in the story.
"What an entrance… The Mermaid Princess will probably fall for him after that… Lucky bastard!"
Buggy grumbled jealously. Unfortunately, it seemed his counterpart had been completely left behind in the race against Luffy—even after becoming a Shichibukai by sheer luck.
"It looks like this arc has reached its final act."
Seeing Luffy's appearance, the crew's reunion in the plaza, and their success in saving the royal family from execution, the Pirate King's crew could sense the end of the battle drawing near.
…
"There's still the crisis with Noah's ship caused by Vander Decken…"
Inside the Art Store in Baterilla, Rouge pointed out the pressing issue.
Rouge worked as the chief goddess here in Baterilla, and Roger accompanied her as they cared for Ace and Sabo.
"You're right, my dear… but I can already imagine a better resolution for everything that's happening," Roger replied with a gentle smile.
"Well then, let's see what happens." Rouge smiled back.
…
The Moby Dick was sailing toward the New World, leaving the South Blue behind, after Whitebeard had satisfied his curiosity by seeing that Ace was born healthy.
While crossing the Calm Belt, the Moby Dick was unusually quiet since no one was on deck—though the ship itself was used to this strange calm.
The Whitebeard Pirates were all gathered in the art store located in the rear cabin.
Why were they so relaxed even though they were currently in the most dangerous sea known as the Nest of Sea Kings?
Well, since the art store was built into the ship, it had been equipped with one of the strongest defensive features: a Territory Protection Barrier, which automatically activated whenever the ship was threatened.
Because of that, the crew felt completely safe—immersed in manga while the ship floated calmly within the Sea Kings' nest.
"Gurarara! Looks like Hody Jones finally hit the steel wall. Hasn't that fool been arrogant for long enough?"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, watching Hody Jones get kicked by Luffy.
He had originally intended to protect Fishman Island if things played out as in the manga—but since the manga no longer reflected reality, that plan was forgotten. After all, Fishman Island was now under the protection of the Sky Sword.
"That bastard killed Queen Otohime. He deserves to die a thousand times."
Marco felt sorrow for the gentle queen of the Fishmen, so kind that she had changed even the nature of a Celestial Dragon!
Marco hadn't yet witnessed that Celestial Dragon's great transformation.
"The Fishmen seem overjoyed at Luffy's arrival. Aren't they worried about Madame Shyarly's prophecy?"
Jozu remarked, scratching his head.
"Jimbei's in a tough spot… To think he'd fall for such a simple trap. I guess he wanted to handle everything himself without relying on the Straw Hats."
Vista nodded in understanding. Jimbei held great respect among the Whitebeard Pirates—after all, in the manga, he had once been part of their ranks when Whitebeard took Fishman Island under his protection.
…
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"It's the Straw Hats!!!"
"They're all here!!!" The Fishmen were shocked to see the entire crew assembled face-to-face with Hody Jones's pirates.
"Hey, Straw Hat Luffy!!"
Luffy looked up, noticing the people calling to him.
"Are you really here to destroy the whole island?" One spectator shouted.
"Why did you take over the palace?!" another added.
"Have you really been kidnapping mermaids?!" another asked.
"Just tell us one thing!!! Are you enemies of Fishman Island?! Or are you our allies?!" another demanded.
"Enemies or allies…? How about…" Luffy paused at the last question, unsure how to answer the rest.
"…You decide that for yourselves?!!" The crew gathered, ready for battle.
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On Fishman Island, readers' eyes gleamed with excitement as countless smiles appeared at once.
Goosebumps spread across their bodies from pure thrill.
"Looks like Hody and his crew's end is near…" Tiger smiled as he said this.
"As expected, that guy could never stick to a plan." Jimbei smiled wryly.
"Nyuuu~ But if Luffy hadn't intervened at that exact moment, the king's head would've exploded in Hody's grip."
Hatchan's words were loud enough for Neptune's sharp hearing to catch them.
…
Neptune wiped the sweat from his forehead as he watched his counterpart being saved from certain death.
"My God… I never thought I'd see the day I looked this pathetic, Jamon!"
"Thankfully, those fools waited until the Straw Hats arrived on the island to carry out their plan, or they might have succeeded in their coup already."
"The efforts of Otohime and my children would've been wasted because of a useless man like me… sigh."
King Neptune felt the same helplessness as his counterpart in the manga. The entire time, he was perfectly synchronized with him—watching himself, feeling his weakness and despair… from the moment his wife died to the moment he almost met death at her killer's hands.
"This feeling of powerlessness… It's unbearable."
Neptune clenched his teeth.
"I need to become stronger."
That thought took deep root in his mind.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 959: Contributions of a True Friend.
Chapter 960: Luffy's Haki Sweeps the Plaza!
Chapter 961: The Battle Begins!
Chapter 962: The Legendary Kraken Enjoys the Manga!
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