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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King Neptune felt overwhelming rage while reading the events of the following chapter, far greater than what he felt when his counterpart was bullied by Hody Jones and his gang before being saved by the Straw Hat Crew.
"This ship must not move under any circumstances before the promised day! Everything will be lost if Noah is damaged!"
Those weren't merely the reactions of a reader; he was so deeply immersed in the story that he felt as if he were truly living it. Such was the magical effect of the One Piece manga on those whose real counterparts existed within its pages.
"Are you worried about the ship… or about Shirahoshi!?"
Otohime asked casually from across him.
Neptune froze where he stood, especially when he saw the next scene. Shirahoshi stood beneath the massive ship, which was pressing down upon the island's bubble. As she sensed the ship targeting her, she vanished off the ground.
Her simple intention became perfectly clear at that moment.
"Shirahoshi…" Neptune's chest tightened at the thought of his daughter being harmed.
Otohime relaxed when she saw the sorrowful expression on his face. There was no trace of regret in her eyes for leaving the destiny of her children to Neptune to have them with another woman.
At that moment, Otohime smiled softly and said.
"Don't worry… Luffy won't let her get hurt."
…
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Chapter's Events:
— — — — — — — — — — — —
{"You'll just have to join the rest of Fishman Island… in sacrificing your life…"}
{"…on the occasion of Shirahoshi's demise!!"} Vander Decken's voice carried a tone of malice as he shattered Wadatsumi's hope.
"No way!!" exclaimed Wadatsumi.
"Princess Shirahoshi, you say…?! Don't tell me…"
"…Just like all those letters and axes… You've actually thrown this ship straight at her!!"
Jimbei was horrified at the thought. The idea that this deranged man would actually hurl the giant ship to strike at the princess had never occurred to him that such a thing was even possible!
"It's no use!!! The bubble won't hold out any longer!!" Suddenly, he realized the bubble surrounding the island might burst at any moment.
"Hey, where did Princess Shirahoshi go?! She's vanished!!!"
"What?! Princess!!"
"What's thaaat?!! Shirahoshi vanished?!!" Vander Decken grew anxious at the sudden disappearance of the princess.
"I have not vanished. I am right here!!!" Shirahoshi's voice came from nearby, shocking Vander Decken.
The princess spread her arms wide, as though she wanted to embrace the enormous ship.
"Princess Shirahoshi!!!"
"Princess!!!"
"When did she…!!!" The Fishman Pirates shouted, fully understanding the situation they were in.
"Mermaid Princess!!" cried Brook.
"Shirahoshi!! What are you doing up there!?" yelled Nami in worry.
"That ship is hurtling straight towards the princess…!!!" declared Jimbei.
"Oh, no… I should never have let her out of my sight!!!" he added in frustration.
"Ahhhhhh!!! My beloved Shirahoshi!!!" shouted Vander Decken in manic passion.
"Your 'target' is my life alone, is it not!!!"
"I cannot allow you to endanger the lives of the people of the Ryugu Kingdom!"
"Where my… where my life alone will suffice!!!"
"I am over here!!!" In a dramatic scene, Shirahoshi chose to sacrifice herself just to spare the rest of the kingdom.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
A deep silence swept through both the Art Store and the entire Ryugu Kingdom at that moment.
No Fishman reader could utter a single comment or reaction, whether mermaid, merman, or fishman; all that united them was silence and tearful eyes.
Like mother, like daughter, both shared the same spirit of sacrifice. And it seemed that the Mermaid Princess possessed even greater courage and selflessness than anyone had imagined.
Throughout the arc so far, readers had uncovered countless truths and gone through a whirlwind of emotions, sadness, joy, anger, depression, and gratitude, but the feeling of protection… that was new. When Princess Shirahoshi faced Vander Decken and told him to kill her but spare the kingdom, every reader felt ashamed.
This princess had been targeted by that scoundrel for ten years, unable to move freely outside her iron room. Since childhood, she had never known true freedom. She couldn't even visit her mother's grave.
Yet despite all that, she bore no hatred toward anyone. She remained pure as a flower, unable even to despise the one who had caused her such pain. And now, she offered her life as a compromise to end everything.
"Do we even deserve such a sacrifice from the princess?"
That was the question shared among every fishman and mermaid in that moment.
Neptune's face overflowed with tears as he gazed at this daughter, no, this treasure. Shirahoshi wasn't just his child; she was a national treasure that must be protected. And now, because of his own weakness, he couldn't even bear to see himself standing against the enemies who wanted to take her life.
"What the hell is wrong with you!? How dare you call yourself a king!?"
A furious aura erupted from Neptune; he looked like an enraged Sea God. Something long suppressed had finally awakened. Something that had been shackled for years, now freed, awakened by pure rage.
Neptune wasn't angry at anyone else—not Vander Decken, not Hody Jones, not even Saint Mjosgard. He was furious at himself! Furious at his weakness.
And at that moment, the shackle that had bound his talent since birth finally broke.
The Conqueror's Haki burst out like a thunderous explosion, but before it could affect anyone, it was subdued by the Art Store's law, erasing the latent force immediately.
Still, the disturbance didn't go unnoticed. The first to sense it was Otohime, who stared in disbelief at Neptune.
Jimbei, Arlong, and Fisher Tiger all looked at him in shock, while the goddesses of the store, Suzan and Meriem among them, were equally stunned. Fortunately, none of the readers were affected, and no one lost consciousness.
"That was Conqueror's Haki… Congratulations, Your Majesty. You have become a true king."
Otohime stood and bowed humbly, smiling. That bow was her acknowledgment of Neptune's qualifications, a true king of their race. A king who could now protect his island and his people, no longer needing any external power.
"Otohime… thank you. But I am still weak. I don't want to see my children sacrificing themselves in the future."
"That's why… I will join the Hunters' Guild."
"I will train. I will become stronger. Under the guidance of the Great Powers, I'll forge myself into an unbreakable fortress."
At that moment, King Neptune gained a true ambition;
The Ambition of the Great Powers!
…
"Oh, what a surprise."
As Rob was returning from the Central Prison, he sensed an unusual reaction from one of his Art Stores. After a quick check, he got the details. Forced suppression had been activated in the Fishman Island store after someone released a hidden power… that person being King Neptune, who had accidentally unleashed Conqueror's Haki.
With a bit of thought, Rob pieced it all together.
'From what I know of the story, I can't recall any fishman in history ever awakening Conqueror's Haki. Well, maybe Poseidon in the past was an exception, and Shirahoshi might awaken it later, but Neptune!?'
Honestly, Rob was completely stunned by this unexpected turn of events.
The fact that King Neptune awakened Conqueror's Haki simply from intense emotion while reading manga…
"This is completely unbelievable!" Rob was shocked.
Who would have thought that his manga could awaken Conqueror's Haki itself!?
This wasn't some random ability; this was a power possessed only by a select few among the world's strongest!
And now, Neptune had joined their ranks.
Under Rob's future training… he might one day become an overwhelming force.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 966: Fisher Tiger's Speech.
Chapter 967: I know you didn't do it, but I hate you.
Chapter 968: A Ship From the Past That Must Remain for the Future.
Chapter 969: Hatred for the Sake of Hatred!
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