Chapter 271: A Long, Enchanting Night in the Deep Sea! Entwined Light and Shadows and the Sleepless Coral
Provoked by Victor's magnetic and heavily suggestive voice.
Nami, who had been sitting carelessly on his lap, stiffened suddenly. Her cheeks flushed red to the tips of her ears, and even her fair neck was stained with a tempting crimson.
In truth, having accompanied each other through so many storms, the three of them had long since developed the tacit understanding of an old married couple.
Yet, faced with such a blatant and unabashed suggestion, this usually shrewd little cat burglar still couldn't help but feel an uncontrollable shyness.
Her slender, pink fist struck Victor's solid chest symbolically, accompanied by a mosquito-quiet, coquettish mumble: "Idiot... what kind of nonsense are you spouting..."
Compared to Nami's bashfulness, which was half-refusal and half-welcome, Robin's reaction appeared more mature and charming.
Not only did she not retreat, she even straightened her body slightly, extended her fair, slender fingers, and gently stroked the man's chin, her fingertips lightly tapping Victor's lips.
Ripples of light danced in the depths of her profound, beautiful eyes, like a bottomless pool of autumn water.
Robin chuckled, her breath like orchids: "Since Vice Captain has said so..." "If I were to refuse at this moment, it would seem too unappreciative of the mood."
Hearing such an indulgent and seductive reply, the corners of Victor's mouth slowly curled upward.
He stood up effortlessly, spread his strong arms, and the three of them strode away from the interlacing lights of the plaza, heading straight toward the most high-end and bustling hotel district of Coral Hill.
Before long, the three arrived in front of a magnificent building carved from a single, massive piece of glowing giant clam.
Under the astonished and incredulous gaze of the Fishman lady at the front desk, Victor didn't even frown, simply tossing out a large stack of Berries and domineeringly booking the most luxurious top-floor panoramic suite of their "Deep Sea Pearl Hotel."
As the heavy, ornate coral door of the Deep Sea Pearl Hotel's top-floor suite was closed, all the noise and clamor of the bustling commercial street were ruthlessly blocked outside.
Inside the spacious and luxurious room, the floor was covered with a soft, thick, pure white velvet carpet that felt like walking on clouds.
The air was filled with a faint scent of sea cedar aromatherapy, quiet and soothing, instantly smoothing away any restlessness in one's heart.
In this absolutely private space where only they existed, Victor casually took off his black jacket, which was stained with a bit of dust from the journey, and threw it carelessly onto the leather sofa nearby.
As his shirt came off, he revealed a solid, well-proportioned chest filled with astonishing explosive power.
However, upon those sculptural, perfect muscle lines were densely covered with shocking beast claw marks and scars of varying depths.
These were the cruel medals he had earned on that isolated island of despair, having brushed shoulders with death several times in order to subdue the Nine-Tailed and fuse the powers of Yin and Yang.
On the other side, Robin had already changed into a silky, form-fitting deep purple nightgown.
Upon turning around and seeing this scene, her usually composed brows instantly furrowed tightly, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes.
She walked with light steps to the room's bar, took out crystal-clear glasses, and poured three glasses of rich, deep-sea specialty red wine.
Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling crystal window that occupied an entire wall of the room lay the endless, deep-sea azure. Several massive, glowing jellyfish were slowly swimming by. The faint blue light they emitted shone through the window, refracting mesmerizing and dreamlike light and shadows onto their faces and the swaying wine glasses in their hands.
The three of them sat comfortably in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Robin set down her wine glass, extended her fair, cool fingers, and gently stroked the faint, interlacing scars on Victor's chest.
She was a smart woman and didn't ask too many questions about the dangers and life-or-death battles he had endured during his year of solitary cultivation. She simply gazed at him quietly, her eyes filled with tenderness and heartache.
As if trying to use the insignificant warmth of her fingertips to smooth away the cruel battles of the past, bit by bit.
Nami, like a lazy little kitten, curled up tightly in Victor's broad embrace. Her hands wrapped firmly around Victor's neck, pressing her cheek against the crook of his neck.
Recalling the scars she had just seen, Nami's eyes reddened slightly, tears welling up. She whispered into Victor's ear, her voice tinged with a nasal tone yet absolute in its insistence: "You are ours..." "In the future, you are absolutely not allowed to come back with these kinds of injuries, do you hear me?"
Faced with such unreserved affection and attachment from his two soulmates, Victor's eyes were filled with an inseparable, water-like tenderness. He didn't use any superfluous words to answer. Instead, he bowed his head slightly, and against the backdrop of the dreamlike deep-sea blue light, he tenderly and preciously kissed Nami's lips, swallowing all her worries whole.
Afterward, he turned and cupped Robin's stunningly beautiful face, giving this intellectual and elegant archaeologist a deeply lingering kiss.
In front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, the crystal wine glasses that had been held in their hands were somehow casually placed on the carpet. The blood-red wine in the glasses rippled in fine, concentric circles against the transparent glass walls, caused by a certain rhythmic vibration coming from the floor of the room.
On the pure white carpet, Victor's black jacket, Robin's silky deep-purple long dress, and Nami's tropical-style sexy outfit were piled together without order. The temperature in the air climbed steadily. These tangled clothes seemed to silently hint at the frantic and intoxicated state of their owners at this moment.
The room was very quiet, so quiet that one could only hear the dull sound of deep-sea currents surging outside the window. Yet, within this continuous sound of water, there were faintly mixed a few sweet, bone-melting moans, rapid and warm breaths, and the subtle friction of skin against skin.
A ray of bright moonlight, having penetrated ten thousand meters of seawater, carried the rippling texture of the water as it gently spilled onto the edge of the large waterbed. In this darkness filled with enchantment and blur, a large, well-defined hand reached out from under the messy sheets. Immediately afterward, a fair, slender hand exuding mature charm, and a petite, soft hand with rounded nails, simultaneously covered it in a tacit understanding. Their fingers interlaced tightly in this dim blue light, unwilling to ever part again.
It is unknown how much time passed, but the ripples of the wine in the glasses on the carpet became exceptionally intense, as if a violent storm of the deep sea had arrived. After a long time, the storm gradually subsided, and the water returned to calm.
The endless deep sea finally welcomed the faint light of a new day, with schools of glowing fish swimming leisurely past the floor-to-ceiling window. They were silent, like a group of loyal guards keeping watch over this ultimate romance of a long-awaited reunion.
Inside the room, the large, soft bed was in shambles. Nami, like a satisfied kitten, lay unguardedly on Victor's solid chest. Her orange hair was scattered everywhere, a satisfied and sweet smile still hanging on the corners of her mouth, her breathing steady.
Robin leaned against the crook of Victor's other arm, her beautiful, jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall onto the white, fluffy pillow. After this night of intimacy and release, the exhaustion and loneliness that had accumulated in her brows for months were replaced by peace and languor, her sleeping face appearing incomparably quiet and beautiful.
Victor, completely drained, leaned against the headboard and lit a cigar from the nightstand. He tried to take a deep breath... "Cough, cough, cough..."
Victor frowned and couldn't stop coughing lightly. This movement caused Robin to open her dazed eyes. Seeing this, she frowned, snatched the cigar from Victor's hand, and casually stubbed it out in the ashtray nearby.
"Cough, cough, I just wanted to try it, sorry for waking you, Robin."
"Ara, it seems my Vice Captain still has some energy left~" "Then let's experience something else with me."Chapter 272: Invitation from Ryugu Palace! Dawn's Tenderness, the Iron Man in a Maid Outfit
Inside the penthouse suite of the Deep Sea Pearl Hotel.
The morning light pierced through ten thousand meters of deep seawater, carrying a dreamy azure hue, and gently spilled onto the large, messy bed.
Victor leaned lazily against the headboard, sleeping soundly after a night of lingering intimacy and novel experiences with Robin.
Nami was also lying securely on his sturdy chest, breathing softly and evenly, fast asleep.
Robin was the first to wake from her slumber.
She forced herself to sit up from the soft bedding, despite the soreness that made her bones feel like they were falling apart.
Looking at the pile of clothes scattered on the floor, she shook her head helplessly and stepped off the bed with her fair, slender legs bare.
She tidied up the three sets of clothes, then draped the deep purple silky bathrobe over her graceful figure.
Hearing the movement, Victor opened his deep eyes.
He watched Robin's back, which looked particularly charming in the soft light, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he beckoned to her with a finger.
Robin turned around and shot an annoyed glare at this insatiable man.
How could this guy have such terrifying stamina?
Yet, her eyes, clear as autumn water, were filled with an inseparable tenderness.
She walked back to the bedside with elegant steps, leaned down slightly, and leaned in, preparing to plant a gentle good morning kiss on Victor's lips.
However, Victor had no intention of letting her off so easily.
The moment their lips touched, Victor suddenly reached out with strong arms, wrapped them around Robin's slender waist, and pulled her tightly toward him.
He turned passive into active, domineeringly extending the light kiss into a passionate, deep one.
But this was tough on Miss Navigator, who was still fast asleep.
Squeezed between the two, Nami not only felt the sudden tightness of the space, but the falling dark hair kept brushing against her delicate cheeks.
Woken up completely by the movement and Robin's hair, Nami rubbed her sleepy eyes in a daze.
When she saw the incredibly intimate scene before her, the remaining sleepiness in her mind vanished instantly, and she immediately pouted her red lips in dissatisfaction.
"Mmph... You two, actually doing this behind my back!"
Nami, refusing to be outdone, propped herself up, reached out with her fair, tender arms, and hooked them around Victor's neck.
She forced herself forward and demanded an equally long, deep kiss from Victor.
Only when they were both breathless did she let go with satisfaction, humming a little tune as she got up and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
The morning sunlight spilled into the room, and the atmosphere between the three was warm, natural, and filled with enviable sweetness.
An hour later, the three of them were dressed and ready to leave the hotel to meet up with their companions.
Just as Victor's hand was about to touch the doorknob.
His powerful Observation Haki shifted slightly, keenly sensing that the corridor just a wall away was densely packed with fully armed Neptune Army soldiers.
Victor sighed helplessly and pulled the door open.
However, to Victor's surprise, the Neptune Army general leading the team outside did not raise his trident in hostility as before.
Instead, the moment the tall general saw Victor, he immediately held out a beautifully crafted invitation with both hands and handed it over respectfully:
"Lord Crimson Lotus! Apologies for disturbing you and... your two ladies!"
"We are acting under the supreme decree of King Neptune, to thank you for saving Miss Camie on Sabaody Archipelago all those years ago."
"His Majesty the King sincerely invites you and your companions to attend the grandest state banquet at Ryugu Palace!"
"The other members of the Straw Hat Pirates, your companions, will also be heading there!"
"A banquet?"
Hearing this word, Nami, who had just finished dressing, immediately poked her little head out from behind Victor's broad back, her big eyes sparkling with interest.
...
The scene shifted to the Mermaid Cafe.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the cafe was bizarre to the extreme.
Because Franky, that guy, had volunteered to use his proud repair skills to fix Lady Shyarly's shattered crystal ball.
Not only did he fail to fix it, but he accidentally made the internal structure of the crystal ball even worse.
To apologize to the furious Lady Shyarly.
This massive, heavy-metal-modified steel hunk was now forced into an oversized black and white maid outfit that was about to burst from his terrifying muscles.
Franky wore a girly white lace headband, and his legs were clad in fishnet stockings that were painful to look at.
While serving tea and water to the surrounding guests, he didn't forget to stop every now and then.
He would put his arms together and strike his signature "SUPER" pose.
This horrifying and eye-stinging scene left all the mermaid guests in the cafe stunned.
But unexpectedly, business at the Fishman cafe was even more booming than before...
Clay sat on the bar counter, looking speechlessly at this unsightly scene, and covered his eyes with his wings.
And "Lassoo" was lying very obediently at Lady Shyarly's feet, leisurely chewing on a bone he had found somewhere.
Just then, a team of solemn Neptune Army soldiers pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing the fully armed soldiers, Franky's eyes sharpened, and he immediately ripped off the tight maid apron with a loud tear, preparing to fight.
Unexpectedly, the lead soldier did not attack but loudly recited the highest-level sincere invitation from Ryugu Palace.
After hearing the soldier's words, Franky was stunned for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh.
He struck that incredibly flamboyant pose again and shouted:
"SUPER—!"
...
Meanwhile, on the intricate coral streets on the other side.
Luffy was dragging Usopp, Chopper, and Brook, dashing wildly through the streets and alleys.
To escape the soldiers chasing them, they panicked and dashed headlong into a dim dead end.
The retreat was blocked, and behind them was the dense King's Guard.
Facing this desperate situation, the cowardly duo of Usopp and Chopper instantly collapsed, hugging each other and crying, raising their hands in surrender without hesitation.
But Luffy grinned, radiating battle intent, ready to break through by force.
Just as the conflict was about to erupt, the leading soldier captain waved his hand to stop his subordinates, sweating profusely, and shouted with all his might:
"Please wait! Straw Hat Luffy!"
"We are not here to capture you!"
"King Neptune has prepared the largest barbecue banquet in the entire Fish-Man Island at Ryugu Palace."
"There will be an unlimited supply of various top-tier Sea Kings barbecue, please do us the honor of attending!"
"Also, your other companions have also been invited!"
Hearing the four words "largest barbecue" that radiated endless magic.
Luffy's attack, which was ready to be unleashed, stopped instantly.
Then, his black eyes turned into two huge, sparkling meat steaks, and drool hung three feet long like a waterfall.
"Banquet! Meat! I'm coming—!!!" Luffy jumped three feet high with excitement.
The three people behind him stared with wide eyes.
They said in unison: "Stupid Luffy! What if it's a trap!!"
...
At a dead end on the edge of Fish-Man Island.
Zoro, who was completely lost, was looking irritably at the identical coral reefs around him.
Facing the Neptune Army closing in, he snorted coldly, gripped the hilt of his wado ichimonji with one hand, and prepared to draw his sword and cut down these guys.
Just as tensions were high, a giant whale, "Hoe," suddenly descended from the sky.
King Neptune, with his burly physique, had actually come out in person.
He sat on the back of the giant whale, looking at the murderous Marimo swordsman below, and smiled as he tossed out his trump card:
"This swordsman, it took quite some effort to find you."
"The wine cellar of Ryugu Palace stores peerless fine wine that has been treasured in the deep sea for hundreds of years."
"Also, your companions are already waiting for you at the plaza."
The four words "peerless fine wine" were like an unstoppable slash, instantly dissolving all of Zoro's fighting spirit.
He silently pushed the half-drawn blade back into the scabbard, a satisfied arc curling at the corner of his mouth.
...
Meanwhile, at a mermaid bathhouse in Mermaid Cove.
A team of Neptune Army finally found the currently extremely weak Sanji.
Looking at this pale human, the leading soldier sighed helplessly and shouted:
"Black Leg Sanji, please come with us."
"To thank you all, Ryugu Palace has arranged countless beautiful, gentle, and considerate mermaid palace maids, who are waiting to entertain you honorable guests..."
Before the soldier's words had fully landed.
Sanji, who had just been weak and collapsed on the ground, was like someone injected with the most potent stimulant, instantly launching himself from the beach.
Two huge, violently beating red hearts shot from his eyes, and pink boiling steam began to erupt wildly from his whole body.
He abandoned any thought of running or struggling, straightened his suit, stroked his chest with one hand, and bowed deeply in an incomparably elegant gentlemanly posture:
"Since it is the affectionate call of the beautiful mermaid ladies."
"Then as a qualified knight, I would be honored to accept!"
...
Under the highest-level escort of the Neptune Army, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had been causing trouble all over Fish-Man Island in several groups, finally reunited at the central plaza of Coral Hill.
King Neptune, riding the giant whale, nodded and greeted everyone with a smile, expressing his most sincere welcome.
Subsequently, the entire Straw Hat Pirates boarded the luxurious bubble car specially prepared by the royal family.
Under the surprised gaze of countless Fish-Man Island commoners, this long procession soared into the air.
They slowly ascended toward the symbol of royalty at the highest point of Fish-Man Island — "Ryugu Palace."Chapter 273: Dreamy Ryugu Palace! Dislocated Plot
The bubble-train passed through a deep-sea passage formed by massive, colorful coral reefs.
The Straw Hat Pirates officially entered the brilliant, golden Ryugu Palace, perfectly encased in an incredibly huge semicircular bubble.
This was undoubtedly an architectural miracle in the deep sea.
Although they were 10,000 meters under the sea, the incredible "Sunlight Tree Eve" perfectly conducted the sunlight from the surface down to this place.
The sunlight pierced through the clear seawater and refracted onto Ryugu Palace. The entire massive palace complex shimmered with iridescent light, like a dreamlike fairyland that only appears in myths and legends.
"Wow—! So spectacular! It's practically sparkling!"
Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper were currently pressed against the transparent window of the bubble-train, shouting and pointing at the magnificent scenery outside, their eyes nearly popping out.
The bubble-train landed steadily.
As soon as the group stepped into the vast and magnificent palace hall, they were greeted by two rows of beautiful mermaid palace maids dressed in gorgeous attire.
They swayed their brilliant fishtails, wearing sweet smiles.
In unison, they bowed their slender waists to welcome these distinguished guests who had come from afar.
Sanji, who had barely managed to maintain his sanity on the way here, saw this spectacle and, without any suspense, had giant pink heart-shaped lights explode from his eyes once again.
From the depths of his already fragile nasal cavity, a stream of scalding nosebleed, like a volcano about to erupt, began to surge uncontrollably.
To prevent this idiotic perverted cook from dying of excessive blood loss in this sacred Ryugu Palace hall and becoming an indelible disgrace to the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro and Franky were quick to act.
The two of them pulled out a thick iron chain from who knows where, and in a flash, tightly bound Sanji into a motionless dumpling.
Chopper even jumped up and stuffed two large, thick wads of hemostatic cotton into his steaming nostrils.
This comical scene immediately caused the mermaid maids on both sides to cover their mouths with silk handkerchiefs, letting out bursts of pleasant, giggling laughter.
Passing through the hall, King Neptune set up a grand state banquet of the highest standard for the Straw Hat Pirates in the main palace hall.
The wide, luxurious long table was filled with delicacies unique to the deep sea:
Glowing deep-sea premium caviar,
Giant Sea King hind leg meat roasted to a golden crisp,
And all kinds of unheard-of exotic seafood, overflowing with appetizing aromas.
Zoro wasn't very interested in the exquisite food. He boldly picked up an entire barrel of peerless fine wine that Ryugu Palace had cherished for hundreds of years and tilted his head back to drink deeply.
The clear and mellow liquor flowed down his throat. He wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth, praising it incessantly and exclaiming how satisfying it was.
Luffy, on the other hand, sat in the center C-position of the banquet without hesitation.
His hands almost turned into afterimages that were invisible to the naked eye, frantically stuffing tons of meat and food in front of him into his mouth.
With his astonishing eating speed, his stomach also rapidly swelled into a round, large ball at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Just as everyone was drinking happily and exchanging toasts, Luffy's extraordinary nose suddenly twitched vigorously in the air.
He seemed to have caught some unusual information.
In the air mixed with the aroma of wine and seafood, he actually smelled a wonderful scent that was a hundred times more fragrant and rich than the top-tier food in the hall!
Taking advantage of everyone's attention being on King Neptune and no one noticing him, Luffy quietly put down the half-gnawed bone in his hand.
He muttered an excuse about going to the restroom and slipped out of the main hall like a slippery loach.
Following that soul-stirring aroma, Luffy sneaked off in the direction of the "Royal Kitchen" of Ryugu Palace.
Halfway through the banquet, King Neptune, sitting in the main seat, put down the giant wine glass in his hand.
Looking at the energetic Straw Hat Pirates below, a deep look of sorrow appeared on his broad face that had previously worn a smile.
He sighed helplessly and began to tell them in a low voice about the enormous predicament currently facing the Fish-Man Island royal family.
Besides Hody Jones from Fish-Man District, who had extreme thoughts and was always causing trouble in the dark, trying to incite hatred, what made this old king feel the most headache, anger, and deep powerlessness was the ability user who ate the "Target-Target Fruit" — "Vander Decken IX".
In order to forcibly obtain the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, that psychologically twisted Decken had been using the power of his Devil Fruit for ten long years to throw various lethal weapons at the "Hard-Shell Tower" where Shirahoshi lived.
Whether it was sharp swords or heavy boulders, once locked onto by him, they would track the target endlessly.
This kind of crazy harassment and assassination forced the poor Princess Shirahoshi to not dare step out of her room for ten whole years.
His daughter could only hide in that high tower made of hard metal all day long.
Hearing this heinous and perverted behavior, the justice-filled Petty Thief Cat Nami immediately raised her eyebrows in anger.
She was just about to slam the table, stand up, and curse that scumbag who bullied girls.
Just then, the highest-level alarm suddenly sounded over Ryugu Palace without any warning.
A Neptune Army general rushed into the main hall with a panicked expression and knelt on one knee:
"Oh no! Your Majesty! That madman Decken has launched another attack!"
"This time... this time he threw a rusty battle axe even bigger than the castle, and it's flying straight toward the Hard-Shell Tower!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was shocked.
Everyone immediately put down their wine glasses, rushed out of the main hall without hesitation, and looked up at the deep-sea sky in the distance.
They saw that in the clear seawater above Ryugu Palace, a massive giant axe, carrying a terrifying whistling sound of breaking the air, was smashing fiercely toward the lonely high tower deep inside Ryugu Palace.
The volume of the giant axe was like a small mountain, and the mottled rust on it revealed a thick aura of death.
If it fell, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The surrounding Neptune Army soldiers were ashen-faced, knowing they were powerless to stop a destructive attack of this level.
King Neptune was even more furious, his eyes splitting; he roared and grabbed the golden trident in his hand, preparing to rush up to fight for his life to protect his beloved daughter, regardless of everything.
At this critical moment, Victor, who knew the original plot, did not choose to help immediately.
He turned his head and looked around in the panicked crowd, his handsome brows slightly furrowed.
Wait, something is wrong. Where did that kid Luffy go? I remember this is the classic scene from the original work where he accidentally breaks into the Hard-Shell Tower and saves the damsel in distress, right?
After looking around carefully, Victor finally confirmed a speechless fact. Luffy had really disappeared.
Watching the deadly giant axe about to strike from the sky, Victor put down his wine glass and let out a sigh.
With a soft "Swish!" sound.
Under the shocked and astonished gazes of King Neptune, countless Neptune Army soldiers, and the Straw Hat Pirates, Victor's figure disappeared into thin air, as if he had completely melted into the air.
Meanwhile, inside the pitch-black Hard-Shell Tower, Princess Shirahoshi, who was huge but timid as a mouse, clearly heard the terrifying whistling sound getting closer and closer outside.
The shadow of ten long years instantly swallowed her.
She was so scared that tears gushed out like a bursting flood. She held the huge plush pillow tightly with both hands, trying to shrink her mountain-sized body as much as possible into the deepest corner of the room, her whole body shivering uncontrollably.
"Help... Father... Someone save me..."
As if hearing her call,
The space in mid-air inside the tower, which had been calm, suddenly twisted.
Victor appeared out of thin air and hovered steadily in mid-air.
Facing the behemoth smashing down with violent kinetic energy, Victor's expression was as calm as water.
He raised his head slightly, and in his right eye socket, that pale purple Rinnegan filled with circles of mysterious ripples suddenly erupted with a circle of blinding, dazzling light.
An overwhelming and terrifying repulsive force erupted outwards from him as the center.
"Boom—Crack!"
Accompanied by a deafening, earth-shattering collision sound.
That heavy giant axe, capable of shattering sturdy city walls, struck this invisible repulsive force and, like hitting an indestructible wall of sighs, instantly halted all its momentum in mid-air.
Immediately after, under the ruthless crushing of absolute power, the surface of the giant axe became covered with dense cracks.
Then it crumbled inch by inch, turning into fine iron filings filling the sky, like a black metallic rainstorm, scattering into the seawater outside the Hard-Shell Tower.
A deadly crisis was thus instantly and lightly resolved.
Victor slowly retracted the hand that had released the repulsive force and turned around in mid-air.
The dim light inside the Hard-Shell Tower gradually brightened, dispelling the darkness in the corner.Chapter 274: The Giant Baby of the Hard-Shell Tower! Princess Shirahoshi
Inside the Hard-Shell Tower, Princess Shirahoshi was still clutching the plush pillow that seemed like a small mountain to an ordinary person.
She kept her eyes tightly shut, her massive, delicate body trembling violently like a leaf in the late autumn wind.
However, time ticked by second by second.
No earth-shattering explosion of a giant axe smashing through the wall reached her ears, nor did she feel any impact.
Instead, a gentle and soothing voice rang out in the room: "It is alright, Princess Shirahoshi. You do not need to be afraid anymore."
Hearing this completely unfamiliar voice, Shirahoshi stopped trembling.
She cautiously opened her beautiful eyes, which were as clear as giant water lanterns and filled with glistening tears.
At the same time, Victor, who was hovering in mid-air, was looking at her quietly with a gentle, smiling curve on his lips.
On the surface, Victor appeared calm and composed, but deep down, he was mentally exclaiming wildly: "…Isn't this too big?!"
"Seeing it in person, this size is even more exaggerated than it looked in the original work!"
Victor's figure slowly descended in mid-air, landing silently on the edge of the incredibly huge bed in front of Shirahoshi.
He did not hide his gaze at all, unabashedly looking up and down at Shirahoshi's impossibly massive body.
This was not out of any profane thoughts.
He was purely filled with uncontrollable amazement and curiosity toward this unique life form that completely broke the common understanding of human biology.
Looking at that magnificent, long fish tail covered in pink scales, Victor even felt an urge in his heart, unable to resist wanting to reach out and touch the real texture of those scales.
Watching the giant mermaid before him, who was dozens of times larger than himself yet crying pitifully from the shock, Victor suddenly felt that this "giant coward" with such extreme contrast actually had a very strange sense of cuteness.
Shirahoshi looked at the black-clad human who had suddenly appeared and was walking towards her, the fear in her heart that had not yet fully subsided surging up again.
She subconsciously took a deep breath and opened her mouth, wanting to wail loudly to vent her inner panic and unease.
Victor was quick-witted and took action first.
He tilted his head slightly, extended a long index finger, and gently placed it against his lips, making a "shh" gesture: "Although I would be happy to be your listener, if you cry out loud now, the guards of Ryugu Palace will rush in immediately.
"By then, things will become troublesome."
Watching Shirahoshi force herself to hold back the wail that was about to burst out, with tears swirling in her eyes, she revealed a pitiful and delicate expression, paired with her massive yet incredibly fragile body.
Deep in Victor's heart, an inexplicable tenderness suddenly emerged without warning.
This feeling was quite strange… It was as if he were facing a giant child who, despite being huge in size, had not yet grown up mentally.
This also made him soften his tone unconsciously.
The smile full of affinity on Victor's face silently smoothed over the fragile psychological defense in Shirahoshi's heart.
Although she was still sobbing intermittently, the original fear in her eyes as she looked at Victor had dissipated for the most part, replaced by a sense of confusion and a hint of imperceptible curiosity.
"Who… who are you… why did you save me just now…" Shirahoshi's voice was soft, timid, and carried a thick nasal tone.
To further soothe this frightened princess, Victor took a step forward.
He reached out his right hand and gently patted the back of Shirahoshi's hand, which was much larger than his entire body.
"Don't be afraid, I am a friend of your father, and your father sent me here to help you solve your troubles." Victor told a white lie without blushing or skipping a beat.
"Father!" Hearing this word that brought the most sense of security, Shirahoshi's hanging heart finally settled back into her chest.
She patted her ample chest with her huge palm and let out a long sigh of relief.
"So that is it, thank you very much for saving me."
After confirming that the other party was not a bad person, because she had not had contact with any strangers other than her family for ten years, and it was rare for someone to come here to talk to her, the floodgates of Shirahoshi's long-suppressed words opened up like a bursting dam.
Victor sat smiling on the edge of the huge bed, listening quietly to Shirahoshi's intermittent recounting.
She poured out her helplessness and fear from being imprisoned in darkness for ten years; she poured out her lingering hatred for the madman named Vander Decken.
And, that deep longing and yearning for the vast outside world and the "Sea Forest," the resting place of her mother, buried deep in her heart.
Unknowingly, the atmosphere inside the tower became peaceful.
After listening to Shirahoshi's story, Victor slowly stood up.
He raised his head and looked deeply at the heavy door that had been damaged by the aftermath of the giant axe earlier.
"Since the door is already broken, the cage that traps you will no longer exist from now on."
Victor turned his head and looked into Shirahoshi's eyes, which were full of anticipation.
"You want to see the outside world, right? Let's go, I will take you."
Hearing this incredible proposal, a light of disbelief and surprise instantly burst forth in Shirahoshi's eyes.
Just as Victor was preparing to use his ability to take Shirahoshi away from this cage, "Roar—!" A huge grayish-white figure suddenly rushed out from a dark corner of the room.
That was Shirahoshi's pet shark that she had raised since she was little—"Megalo."
As an animal, Megalo possessed an acute intuition far beyond that of humans.
It vaguely sensed that this seemingly gentle man in black before it harbored a terrifying sense of oppression capable of destroying everything.
Out of instinct to protect its master, it mistakenly thought that Victor wanted to harm Shirahoshi and, without hesitation, opened its huge mouth filled with sharp teeth, intending to bite Victor.
Facing Megalo's fierce attack, Victor only glanced sideways slightly.
In his left eye socket, that scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan slowly emerged, with three black tomoe slowly rotating in the pupil.
"Have a good sleep, you loyal little guy."
Accompanied by Victor's low murmur, a gentle mental wave instantly and accurately struck the mid-air Megalo.
Megalo, which had just been fierce and menacing, immediately lost focus in its eyes and became hazy.
Its massive body seemed to have all its strength drained in an instant, and it collapsed powerlessly onto the soft big bed.
What was comical was that this beast even had a look of peaceful satisfaction on its face, falling into a sweet dream just like that without any defense, letting out a slight snoring sound.
Watching Victor subdue the ferocious Megalo so lightly, Shirahoshi couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hands, letting out an exclamation full of disbelief.
This smiling big brother is really amazing!
Victor turned his head and looked at the eyes full of worship and amazement in Shirahoshi's huge eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved into a gentle arc again.
Awesome!
He did not delay any longer, pressed his hands together gently in front of his chest, then turned to face Shirahoshi, palms upward, and made a lifting gesture.
In an instant, a vast and boundless gravitational force quickly formed throughout the entire Hard-Shell Tower.
This invisible force was like a pair of gentle giant hands, steadily lifting Shirahoshi's mountain-like, massive, and heavy body into the air.
Shirahoshi let out a soft exclamation, feeling this wonderful experience of weightlessness, her eyes full of novelty.
Victor moved, flying out first through the dilapidated door of the Hard-Shell Tower.
He passed through the seawater and hovered steadily in the deep blue deep sea above Ryugu Palace.
He turned his head, facing the shimmering light from above, and made a "please" gesture to Shirahoshi, who was still exclaiming in the tower: "Come, Princess Shirahoshi…"
"Go and see the world you have dreamed ofChapter 275: Skywalk in the Deep Sea! The Jealous Navigator and Fireworks Filling the Sky
Under the lift of Victor's majestic force field,
Princess Shirahoshi slowly floated out of that battered Hard-Shell Tower.
For ten years, over three thousand six hundred days and nights, this was the first time Shirahoshi was bathed unobstructed in the warm light shed by "Sunlight Tree Eve."
She widened her beautiful eyes, clear as water, greedily looking at the colorful giant coral reefs and the schools of fish swimming leisurely around her.
Everything in the outside world was so vivid to her.
Shirahoshi was so excited that she covered her mouth with her giant hands, her eyes sparkling with a dreamlike, crystalline light.
Even her breathing became cautious, for fear that a single breath would blow away this beautiful dream.
Victor, like a light black feather, leisurely floated by Shirahoshi's side.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at Shirahoshi's appearance as a "giant cub" who was surprised by everything but didn't dare to speak loudly, and the smile at the corner of his mouth grew deeper.
Victor patiently controlled his Chakra, finely adjusting the gravitational field around Shirahoshi.
Allowing this massive mermaid princess to move as easily and gracefully in mid-air as if she were swimming in the seawater.
Meanwhile, the scene shifted to the dim waters on the outskirts of Ryugu Palace.
Vander Decken IX, hiding in the shadows, suddenly realized that the giant axe he had just thrown had lost the tracking sensation of the Mato Mato no Mi.
This unprecedented situation made him immediately realize that something had gone terribly wrong at the Hard-Shell Tower.
"My Shirahoshi!
"Who dares to touch my Shirahoshi!"
To intimidate Shirahoshi and force her to submit, Decken's ugly face twisted completely.
He frantically activated the power of the Mato Mato no Mi, his hands waving as if having a seizure.
He took all the swords, spears, halberds, and heavy iron balls from his giant pirate ship,
and even the giant thorny coral reefs and the rusty iron anchors of massive shipwrecks on the seabed, and threw them frantically towards Shirahoshi's direction, following the fruit's lock-on.
Above Ryugu Palace, the originally clear seawater suddenly darkened.
Hundreds of lethal cold weapons and heavy obstacles, pulled by the fruit's power, converged into a dark cloud of steel.
Accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of tearing through seawater, this murderous steel rain poured down like doomsday upon Shirahoshi, who was walking in mid-air.
Feeling the lethal threat from above, Shirahoshi looked up and was immediately pale with fright.
She let out a scream of despair and instinctively wanted to close her eyes.
However, just as Shirahoshi was trembling with fear, a black afterimage flashed before her eyes.
Victor didn't panic at all, instantly teleporting right in front of Shirahoshi.
He tilted his head slightly and looked at the trembling Shirahoshi behind him with a smile:
"Have courage, Princess Shirahoshi."
Just as he finished speaking, facing the overwhelming rain of weapons,
in Victor's right eye socket, the ripples of that pale purple Rinnegan suddenly whirled, and an invisible force capable of shaking heaven and earth instantly awakened.
"Boom boom boom—!!!"
A miraculous scene played out in mid-air.
All the weapons, anchors, and boulders that entered the hundred-meter range around Victor once again hit an insurmountable wall of repulsive force.
Under the terrifying repulsive force of Shinra Tensei, those hard swords and boulders couldn't advance an inch further, instantly shattering in mid-air.
The intense friction and collision of energy even generated incredible heat.
Those iron shavings and rubble ignited instantly, turning into golden sparks that filled the sky.
This dark cloud of steel was crushed right before Shirahoshi's eyes into a magnificent display of fireworks.
Shirahoshi was completely stunned.
She lowered the hands covering her eyes, her previous fear and despair vanishing at this moment.
In her beautiful eyes, which were like giant water lanterns, the falling golden sparks and Victor's back were clearly reflected.
An unprecedented sense of security and admiration grew wildly in her heart, nearly overflowing from her eyes.
Meanwhile, a clamor of footsteps came from the ground below.
King Neptune, leading a large group of the Neptune Army, along with the newly joined Nami, Robin, Zoro, and others, finally arrived hurriedly beneath the Hard-Shell Tower.
Hearing the commotion above, Nami looked up immediately.
With her excellent vision as a navigator, she immediately caught sight of Victor floating in mid-air.
And then, she saw the female figure beside Victor, who possessed an exquisite face and was looking at him with full admiration.
The Cat Burglar's jar of jealousy was instantly overturned.
Gritting her teeth and clenching her pink fists, she cursed under her breath in annoyance:
"That bastard Victor!
"He was only gone for a short while, and he's already out flirting again!
"And this time it's actually a beautiful mermaid!"
However, when Nami saw the full picture clearly,
when she saw Shirahoshi's exaggerated size, comparable to a small mountain,
and Victor floating beside her, looking like a tiny black dot in comparison,
Nami's rising jealousy was instantly halted by this absurd visual impact.
Her mouth began to twitch uncontrollably, and she pointed into the air, shouting speechlessly:
"...This is just too big!"
"What a huge mermaid! Isn't this size difference a bit too ridiculous?"
Watching Nami's changing expression, Robin, standing nearby, couldn't help but cover her lips with her hand and let out a pleasant chuckle.
As the most mature woman on the ship, Robin's eyes, which saw through everything, naturally understood the situation.
And King Neptune, standing at the very front, was so shocked that his jaw dropped to the floor.
"My precious daughter... actually flew out of the Hard-Shell Tower?!
"And she didn't cry when facing Decken's attack?!"
At this moment, in the air above,
for the first time in this cruel world, Princess Shirahoshi felt an unprecedented sense of absolute security.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the smiling Victor beside her.
The cowardice faded from her eyes, replaced by a deep sense of reliance.
She hesitated for a moment, poking her two giant index fingers together, and made a request in a small, timid voice:
"My lord..."
"Could, could you take Shirahoshi to see the 'Sea Forest'?"
"Shirahoshi hasn't left the tower for ten years. Shirahoshi wants to visit her mother's grave.
"But... there are so many bad people outside. If Shirahoshi is alone, she'll be very scared..."
Hearing this pitiful plea, Victor looked down and gazed quietly at Shirahoshi.
Just when Shirahoshi thought this gentle big brother would surely agree, Victor did not nod as she had expected.
He still maintained that smiling expression, but his tone held an unquestionable firmness:
"I refuse."
"Eh?" Shirahoshi was stunned, a flash of bewilderment in her giant eyes as she stared blankly at Victor.
"If you want to go, don't rely on the protection of others."
"Use your own tail and swim there yourself."
"Use your own eyes to take a good look at where your mother rests, and look at this real world."
Shirahoshi froze in mid-air.
She looked into Victor's smiling eyes that seemed to see through her soul, and instantly understood his meaning.
The physical cage, I have already shattered for you.
But what truly traps you is the cage in your heart.
The courage to take this step and face the world must come from within yourself; no one can do it for you.
After a brief moment of bewilderment, Shirahoshi's eyes welled up again.
She bit her red lips hard, and tears poured out again like pearls from a broken string.
But this time, her tears were no longer from fear or weakness, but from realization and the emotion of being truly respected and expected of.
Shirahoshi took a deep breath and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, a hint of royal tenacity appearing in her gaze for the first time.
She gave Victor a firm nod, revealing a smile brighter than sunshine:
"Thank you! I understand!"
"...Could you please tell me your name?"
Victor smiled with satisfaction.
"Victor."
"Vice Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Crimson Lotus Victor."
Princess Shirahoshi's massive and beautiful body bowed respectfully in mid-air, responding with the most sincere voice:
"Yes! Lord Victor!"