The reactions of the people on Fish-Man Island mirrored those aboard the Six Paths Of Samsara. All the Marine soldiers stared in shock at the vast, semi-circular crater that had suddenly appeared where Chiga had vanished.
Even Kalifa, who had some understanding of Chiga's power, was so stunned by the sight that her glasses slid down her nose.
Under the force of the Super Shinra Tensei unleashed by Chiga, the surrounding seawater was blasted away, creating a massive downward current into the depths of the crater. The warship itself began to drift toward the seafloor.
At the crater's center, Fish-Man Island—once encased in a protective bubble 10,000 meters beneath the surface—was now exposed to sunlight.
In the next instant, Chiga's body transformed into a bolt of lightning. He reappeared on the deck of the Six Paths of Samsara, ignoring the stunned expressions all around him. Anticipating their reactions, he calmly extended a hand and made a grasping motion in the air.
The entire warship floated up, hovering directly above Fish-Man Island. Then, with a casual release of his hand, it slowly descended toward the island below.
On Fish-Man Island...
King Neptune and Jinbe looked up, dumbfounded, as the warship gently lowered itself toward their land.
Over the years, Fish-Man Island had hosted many foreign ships—but never one that arrived in such a dramatic fashion.
For Jinbe, this display of power further deepened his understanding of Chiga's abilities. His respect for the man reached new heights.
The warship touched down as gently as a falling feather. As it landed, the seawater overhead slowly began to close, as if following an unseen command.
Marine soldiers filed out in organized ranks, forming a human corridor through the street. Not one of them glanced at the mermaids or fish-men, who were usually exotic curiosities. Instead, their eyes were locked on the warship's exit, filled with unshakable admiration.
The atmosphere compelled the residents of Fish-Man Island to hold their breath, instinctively following the soldiers' gaze.
Then, under the watchful eyes of all, a tall figure in a "Justice" coat stepped forward—it was Chiga.
Kalifa and Ain followed closely behind. As they disembarked, the two women quickly spotted King Neptune, whose towering form stood out in the crowd.
Chiga scanned the scene. As he expected, Princess Shirahoshi was not among those present.
According to the anime, she was hiding in the Hard-Shell Tower, trying to evade attacks from the Mark-Mark Fruit user, Vander Decken IX.
Upon recognizing Chiga, Neptune and his entourage understood immediately—this was no ordinary guest. This was Marine Admiral, Purple Kirin.
Before Neptune could speak, Jinbe stepped forward, his blue-furred frame filled with excitement.
"Admiral Purple Kirin! Thank you so much for coming to Fish-Man Island. We've been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Jinbe's demeanor was deeply respectful. In his eyes, Chiga's presence could only bring great benefits to the island.
Chiga smiled at him. "Jinbe, isn't this reception a bit too formal?"
"Not at all!" Jinbe replied earnestly. "Everyone's been looking forward to seeing you."
Chiga remained silent, his gaze drifting over the mermaids and fish-men gathered to greet him. Under the scrutiny of his Rinnegan, many instinctively lowered their heads.
A few, however, stubbornly held their ground. Their eyes betrayed both fear and disdain.
Chiga recognized them at once—a group of fish-men led by a much younger version of Hody Jones, the future captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates. His henchmen were also present, though Chiga couldn't recall their names—not that their strength warranted it.
Noting their defiant stares, Chiga snorted.
A wave of Conqueror's Haki surged out, slamming into Hody Jones and his group with crushing force.
They dropped to their knees instantly. Cracks spiderwebbed through the ground beneath them, blood seeping from their legs.
Though fish-men were physically superior to humans, the bleeding alone was alarming.
But Chiga didn't stop.
The pressure mounted. Soon, Hody and his men were sprawled on the ground in a spread-eagle position, their bodies pinned in place and trembling. The scene was pathetic.
The nearby citizens quickly backed away. These radicals were already feared and unpopular, so no one rushed to check on them.
Jinbe and Neptune exchanged uneasy glances. They immediately stepped forward and apologized, offering no defense for Hody's group.
Chiga wasn't being unreasonable. He simply hated their attitude—and their foolish courage to glare at him as if they stood a chance.
Had this been anywhere else, he might've crushed them outright.
For now, he showed restraint, sparing their lives. Still, the pressure had left them unconscious, broken, and in need of rescue.
Chiga knew they'd retreat to Fish-Man District—an area rife with anti-human sentiment. That, in fact, was one of the reasons he had come. If Hody returned quietly, all was well. But if he stirred up trouble, Chiga would seize the opportunity to eliminate the radicals in one sweep.
With that thought, he waved to Neptune and Jinbe, signaling that he wasn't angry.
Then, his eyes moved to the three princes standing behind Neptune.
Sharkstar, Ryuboshi, and Fukaboshi.
Unlike their sister Shirahoshi, these brothers looked nothing like her. Chiga figured they resembled their father, Neptune, while Shirahoshi must've taken after their mother, Queen Otohime.
The princes were young, and under Chiga's gaze, they squirmed nervously, wondering if they had somehow offended this fearsome guest.
What they didn't realize was that Chiga's only thought at the moment was how completely different their character designs were from their sister's.
Refocusing, Chiga recalled the true reason for his visit—the ancient weapon Poseidon.
He turned to Neptune.
"Besides these three princes, I've heard His Majesty also has a young daughter. Why isn't she here?"