But Jinbe considered it repeatedly and decided to stay and wait.
However, he refused the invitation to rest within the Endgame's territory. The host wasn't home, and for someone like him, bearing the sin, to enter recklessly would be too disrespectful.
"Looks like it's another wasted day waiting."
Jinbe sighed, stood up, and stretched his muscles.
Just as he was about to continue meditating, he suddenly sensed something amiss, furrowing his brows, and turning toward the southern sea——
Whirr~
A peculiar figure was leisurely flying over the blue sea.
It was a tall man with green hair, a massive yellow flower spinning rapidly atop his head like a propeller, carrying him across the sea.
Hmm?
The green-haired man quickly noticed Jinbe on the reef, and altered his flight path directly toward him.
"Hey, blue fatty over there."
The man stopped a few meters away from Jinbe, floating at the sea, eyeing him with interest, "Hmm, a Fishman? That's rare in our South Sea. What, are you from the Endgame?"
"No."
Jinbe shook his head slightly, squinting at the newcomer: "I'm just waiting for someone here, where are you heading?"
"Not from the Endgame?"
Aramaki grinned, revealing his white teeth, "Then it seems I don't need to kill you, go play elsewhere."
He said, glancing at the distant island, clicking his tongue:
"So few ships, seems they've really emptied the nest, having the Navy's intelligence sure is convenient... Hehehe, always better to take out his home base first, when he returns, the look on his face amidst the wreckage will be interesting."
"Wait!"
Jinbe's gaze sharpened, he stood abruptly, shouting in a deep voice, "Are you planning to harm the Endgame?"
Upon hearing this, Aramaki slowly turned his head, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "What, blue fatty, you want to meddle?"
"I am Jinbe, though not a member of Endgame, Shano has done a favor for Fishman Island."
Jinbe assumed the karate stance, fiercely shouting: "If you're here for revenge, then there's no way I can sit idly by."
"Jinbe... That name sounds a bit familiar."
Aramaki picked his ear, seemed puzzled but quickly flicked away the earwax with disinterest, grinning viciously:
"Still can't recall, but it doesn't matter, I spared you, yet you want to die, let's start with you to warm up!"
Even a lowly species stomped by humans, truly self-unaware!
Whoosh!
As he spoke, Aramaki's right hand transformed into a thick vine, shooting toward Jinbe like a giant snake!
"Fishman Karate: Karakusagawara Seiken!"
Jinbe lowered his stance instantly, his fists enveloped in a surging airflow, striking fiercely!
At the moment of collision, the sea exploded into a splash dozens of meters high, Aramaki's vine contended for a moment before it shattered inch by inch.
"Hmm? Interesting."
Aramaki took half a step back, his eyebrows raised slightly, "Seems you're not just an ordinary small fry."
"But, that's all there is to it!"
He sneered and opened his arms, countless thick, thorny vines grew wildly from his body, attacking from all directions, dizzyingly fast.
"Fishman Karate: Shizurase!"
Jinbe's eyes were sharp and his hands quick, his palms glowing blue, he struck the sea fiercely, raising a giant wave as a barrier.
However, the vines' power was clearly a level above before, many pierced through the water curtain, stabbing several blood holes in his shoulders and legs, with the largest vine smashing heavily against his chest.
Jinbe groaned, was struck high into the air, falling into the sea, splashing grandly.
Blood mist spread in the sea.
But merely a moment later...
Crash!
Jinbe burst through the waves, stood straight, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked gravely at the opponent.
This guy, really strong!
He's seen the world too much, just a few moves were enough to judge, the opponent's power was among the highest tier in this vast ocean!
No wonder alone he dared to seek vengeance in the Endgame's territory!
But...
"No matter what, I won't let you pass!"
Jinbe angrily shouted, "Betting on the honor of the sun, to enter the Galaxy Sea Region, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
Their power indeed far exceeded his own!
This point is beyond doubt.
But, as a Fishman, possessing the title of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, known for naval battle prowess—
On this arena called the sea, he need not be so fearful, for he has the confidence and courage to hold the opponent back!
"Fishman, how amusing."
Aramaki seemed somewhat impatient, "It seems your recovery ability has accelerated in the sea, what a nuisance, I'll have to show some real skill then..."
"Deep Forest Emergence!"
In the next instant.
Jinbe suddenly felt the light overhead dim.
Instinctively, he looked up, and his expression changed drastically.
Countless vines were weaving into a giant net covering the sky, pressing down on the sea surface, and instead of withering upon contact, they squeezed out the seawater, occupying space, and crazily proliferated.
In the blink of an eye.
The sea area of several miles around was all transformed into a primordial forest!
Aramaki himself was rapidly expanding, his skin becoming wood-like, showing bark-like texture, and in a blink of an eye, transformed into a towering ancient tree tens of meters high!
"This..."
Cold sweat trickled down Jinbe's face. The opponent had already developed the Logia-type fruit power to the point of awakening, not even seawater could stop its expansion!
In this way, his only advantage was completely lost!
"Haha, do you see?"
The towering ancient tree, that Aramaki had become, let out a deep laugh, with its tree trunk splitting into a menacing mouth:
"Fishman, the sea you wish to rely on is now my forest!"
Boom!
Countless vines strangled like giant pythons, Jinbe gritted his teeth and met them, using hand strikes imbued with Armament Haki to attack fiercely, but only broke a few stray vines.
More vines wrapped around his limbs, sharp wooden thorns pierced into his muscles, blood dripping profusely.
"Fishman Karate: Secret Technique: Buraikan!"
Jinbe shouted explosively, all his Haki bursting out with full force at this moment, shattering the bindings, while his right fist clenched tightly, striking fiercely at Aramaki's main body.
Boom!
A massive shock wave exploded, blowing a large hole in Aramaki's trunk, wood chips flying everywhere, but instantly, new branches frantically grew from the wound, repairing it in the blink of an eye.
"Useless, useless, useless! Fishman!"
The human face on the giant tree disappeared, but Aramaki's carefree laughter came from all directions, the entire forest trembled slightly in resonance:
"In this domain I have created, I am a god, an undying body! Without the sea, how long can you last?"
Jinbe kneeled on one knee, clutching his chest and gasping heavily, blood constantly gushing from the wounds.
He raised his head with difficulty, glancing around, discovering even his head was entirely covered by the forest, as if he was in a giant green cage.
It's difficult to escape now...
Watching the giant tree pressing closer overhead.
Is this the end?
And at this critical moment—
BOOM!!!
A gigantic meteorite burning with raging flames suddenly descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the top of the forest like the hammer of heaven.
Countless trees and vines twisted and broke under the horrific pressure, igniting into a sea of fire.
"Fire? Meteorite?"
Aramaki's furious voice came from the trunk, the giant face reappearing, "Who? Who is it?"
"What are you looking at? Isn't it me right above your head?"
Both Jinbe and Aramaki looked up.
In the high sky, a figure was slowly descending, his purple bathrobe fluttering in the wind, the blind man holding a staff blade, wearing clogs, standing between the two.
And behind him, followed an orange-haired girl whose hands burned with flames, giggling.
The attack that burned the forest seemed to be a combo by the two...
"Mr. Issho!"
Surprise flashed in Jinbe's eyes, the second-ranked force of the Endgame, didn't follow the party?
"I've been in seclusion these past days for practice, sorry for not being present to greet you."
Fujitora landed steadily beside Jinbe, with a hint of apology, slightly bowed:
"Mr. Jinbe, truly you've been through much, but thanks to you for holding this person at bay so the battle doesn't affect the people within the territory. Now we'll take over from here, alongside Miss Nami."