One Piece: A Warlord's Path

10,000 meters beneath the sea, at the floor of the oceanic trench, a majestic island emerged from the dark abyss. Surrounded by a massive semi-spherical bubble membrane, the island shimmered like a dream.

"Unbelievable... There's light down here?"

"It's beautiful! A sky… even clouds? It's like a miracle!"

"An island at ten thousand meters deep… And what's that giant tree?"

"That has to be the legendary Fish-Man Island… It's breathtaking!"

Voices of awe filled the air as the crew stared up at the glowing island in the distance, marveling at the wonders of nature's craftsmanship.

Despite its location in the darkest depths of the ocean, the island was bathed in soft, ambient light. This light came not from the surface, but from the colossal tree growing nearby, Sunlight Tree Eve, casting a gentle white glow that lit the surrounding waters like daylight.

"Fish-Man Island… Jinbe… the Sea Kings…"

Aeridar stood at the ship's edge, palm resting lightly on the railing, eyes fixed on the distant island overhead. A strange light flickered deep within his gaze.

Located 10,000 meters below the Red Line, Fish-Man Island was the homeland of the Fish-Men and Merfolk.

It served as the final checkpoint before entering the New World, earning it the title of the "Undersea Paradise"—a fantasy realm that few outsiders ever witnessed firsthand.

Thanks to the Sunlight Tree Eve, which transmitted sunlight from the surface down to the depths, the island enjoyed a day-and-night cycle despite its location on the ocean floor. Locals often referred to this phenomenon as "a blessing from the sun."

Historically, Fish-Men and Merfolk were labeled as little more than sea creatures by humans, subjected to widespread discrimination.

Only two hundred years ago did relations begin to change, when the Ryugu Kingdom joined the World Government and was granted the right to attend the Reverie.

The Fish-Men and Merfolk were visually distinct. Fish-Men were typically more rugged in appearance, but possessed superhuman physical strength, over ten times that of a normal human.

Merfolk, in contrast, were gentle by nature, refrained from eating meat or fish, and the women were famously beautiful. At around age thirty, their tails would split into legs, prompting many to leave for the surface and even marry human men.

Yet, even then, prejudice remained. In many places, discrimination only worsened, exacerbated by the Celestial Dragons and the thriving slave trade that treated Fish-Men and Merfolk as prime merchandise.

After the Great Pirate Era began, the island became a frequent stop for Marines and pirates alike, many of whom abducted the locals, especially young female Merfolk, who fetched exorbitant prices on the human black market.

It wasn't until Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, one of the Four Emperors, declared Fish-Man Island his territory and raised his flag above it that the raids began to cease. Under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection, even the World Government tread lightly.

"Set course. Find me the harbor," Aeridar commanded, snatching up the Den Den Mushi and issuing his orders loud and clear.

Unlike Luffy, Aeridar had no intention of barging in through the outer membrane. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, with a former bounty of 300 million berries, he knew full well the political weight he carried. The Ryugu Kingdom wouldn't dare provoke him without cause.

Even with Jinbe present and the island still under Whitebeard's flag, a conflict on Fish-Man Island would be disastrous.

If the Chris Pirates, nearly a thousand strong and boasting elite combat power, were to go to war, Fish-Man Island would fall first. Neither Jinbe nor Neptune's royal army could prevent that. And the Ryugu Kingdom couldn't afford such devastation.

Before long, the Chris Pirates closed in on Fish-Man Island and located its proper entry point—a large metal ring, nearly fifty meters in diameter, embedded in the protective bubble. Beyond it lay a long, cylindrical passage that led straight inside.

With eight pirate ships, including the flagship Chris, the fleet moved in formation toward the gate.

The moment the harbor sentries saw the approaching vessels, their eyes widened in alarm, instantly recognizing the flag fluttering from the mainmast.

"Th-That's... that's the Chris Pirates!"

"A big-name crew like them has come to Fish-Man Island?"

"Quick! Report to Ryugu Palace!"

"We need to alert Boss Jinbe too, they're Warlords of the Sea!"

Panic spread like wildfire among the guards stationed at Fish-Man Island's harbor. Those with weaker nerves were already screaming, running around in chaos.

The harbor, shaped like a semi-circle, stood as a bustling port of call. Atop the tallest tower flew the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates, still fluttering defiantly. Across from the harbor, a passageway led deeper, likely to another docking area.

Ships of all kinds were docked in the port: merchant vessels, pirate ships, even Marine warships and vessels bearing the emblem of the World Government.

Though this island had long been under Whitebeard's protection, the Ryugu Kingdom was still technically a member of the World Government. The presence of Marines and officials wasn't particularly surprising.

"Your Majesty! A major threat at the harbor—the pirate fleet of Chris T. Aeridar, the Golden Ring, has arrived!"

One of the harbor guards, visibly shaking, stared out at the fleet anchored in the bay. His hands trembled as he activated a Den Den Mushi, his voice laced with fear.

Inside Ryugu Palace

Atop a lavish throne in the grand hall sat a towering figure, a merman more physically imposing than most of his kind.

Crown perched on his head, he had thick, wild orange-red hair and beard, arms emblazoned with tattoos that blazed like fire, and a chest covered in dense body hair.

Beside the throne leaned an intricately crafted golden trident.

He was the royal sovereign of Fish-Man Island, the coelacanth merman, King Neptune, bearer of the title Great Knight of the Sea.

"Your Majesty! Bad news! A notorious pirate has entered Fish-Man Island!"

A commotion broke out at the entrance as a frantic, elderly catfish merman burst into the room. Dressed in formal court attire, he wore a top hat, a monocle over his left eye, and clutched a cane fashioned from polished bull horn in his right hand.

"Hoh hoh hoh hoh! Calm yourself, Left Minister. What's got you so worked up?" Neptune chuckled lightly.

"The harbor... word from the harbor! The pirate fleet of Golden Ring, Chris T. Aeridar, has arrived!" gasped the Left Minister, panting as he relayed the news.

"Nani?!" Neptune's eyes bulged, nearly leaping from their sockets. "You mean that Chris T. Aeridar, the one who's a Warlord of the Sea?!"

"Yes! Yes! And not just one ship, seven or eight vessels, at least! Easily close to a thousand crew members!" the Left Minister bobbed his head rapidly, like a woodpecker pecking at a tree.

Neptune's expression turned grave, then resolute.

"So... that man is making his move into the New World." He rose to his feet and raised his trident high.

"Send word to Jinbe. Prepare a banquet in the palace. Summon the Neptune Army. I shall welcome that man myself."

With a thunderous command, he issued several royal orders in quick succession.

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