The Ryugu Palace throne room was less of a building and more of an underwater marvel. It was constructed from living coral, massive shimmering pearls, and glittering gold that caught the light from every angle. The high dome above was illuminated by the soft glow of countless luminous pearls embedded in the walls, aided by schools of glowing jellyfish that swam nearby. These natural lights made the entire hall as bright as day, filling the air with the unique freshness and solemnity of the deep sea.
King Neptune, a massive merman and a Tier 3 power, sat upon a giant shell throne. He wore a crown and gripped a golden trident, exuding an imposing aura of authority. Beside him, Queen Otohime stood with her delicate frame held ramrod straight. She wore an exquisite court gown, her hands clasped in front of her, while her face showed a painful mix of deep worry and steadfast hope.
Below the throne, the left and right ministers stood alongside the royal guards. They were all solemn and tense, making the atmosphere so heavy it felt like water could be wrung from the very air.
When Takuro entered the hall, accompanied by Fisher Tiger, Jinbe, Nico Robin, and Gion, every eye in the room locked onto them. Takuro's modern, aggressive style was completely out of place in the ancient oceanic palace. His nonchalant expression was a sharp contrast to the life-or-death seriousness of the royal court.
"Welcome to Ryugu Palace, Mr. Takuro, a guest from afar," Neptune's voice boomed, breaking the silence with the dignity of a king. "Thank you for the warning you sent through Tiger. We are now aware of what caused that massive deep-sea tremor."
Takuro didn't care for the formal greeting. He waved his hand dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the ornate dome and the vigilant guards before finally settling on Queen Otohime.
"Let's skip the pleasantries," Takuro said bluntly. "I don't have much time to waste. Let's get straight to business."
His rude attitude made the ministers bristle with displeasure, but Neptune silenced them with a single sharp look. Queen Otohime took a deep breath and stepped forward. Her voice was ethereal and infectious, sounding as if it had a magical power to calm even the most violent hearts.
"Mr. Takuro, Tiger has described your... extraordinary power to us," she began softly. "We on Fish-Man Island have long yearned for peaceful coexistence with humans. We long for our people to finally bask in the true sunlight of the surface."
She gently raised her hand, holding a thick stack of signed papers. Her eyes gleamed with the fire of a pure idealist.
"These are the signatures we've collected from our people who wish to relocate to the surface and live as friends with humans," she explained. "We believe that through hard work and sincere communication, we can one day resolve centuries of hatred. We can create a new future for the Fish-Man race! We hope to take our wishes to the entire world through the World Conference..."
Her speech was filled with so much sincerity that it moved several of the royal guards. However, Takuro's only reaction was a loud, mocking scoff.
"Heh... Hahahahaha!" He laughed so hard his shoulders shook, acting as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. His laughter echoed harshly against the coral walls, shattering the hopeful atmosphere Otohime had tried to create.
"A new future? You think you'll get that with these scraps of paper?" Takuro stopped laughing, his crimson eyes suddenly filled with icy scorn. He pointed a finger at the signatures in her hand. "Your Majesty, have you been down in this deep sea so long that your brain has been soaked in salt water?"
"You!" King Neptune roared, his face changing color as he gripped his trident tighter. Otohime's face went pale, and her body swayed as if she might faint.
"Peaceful coexistence? Moving into the sunlight?" Takuro began to walk toward them, step by step, as an invisible pressure started to leak from his body. He ignored the guards who tensed up around him. His gaze was like a knife, staring directly into the Queen's eyes. "What do you think you are? Guests? In the eyes of those Celestial Dragons, even if you move to the surface, you're just moving from an underwater fish tank to one on land!"
He leaned in closer, his voice dripping with venom. "They will still treat you like rare pets or beautiful slaves! Your little petition is just a bunch of slaves begging their masters for a bigger, prettier cage! You are naive and foolish!"
His words were sharp, like poisoned daggers piercing into Otohime's most sacred beliefs.
"No... it isn't like that..." she stammered, stumbling backward with a trembling voice. "Trust and understanding... that is the only way..."
"The only way for you to die quietly?" Takuro interrupted her brutally. "Listen to me. The only rule in this world is the law of the jungle! Peace isn't something you beg for; it's something you fight for! Dignity is built on the bones of your enemies! If you rely on the pity of others, the Fish-Man race will always be at the bottom—just fish on someone else's chopping block!"
He suddenly spread his arms wide, and a chilling aura began to pour out of him uncontrollably.
"What I can give you is fear!" Takuro shouted. "I will give you the power to make everyone who dares to look at this island tremble at the mention of my name! When I flatten Mary Geoise and drag those 'Creators' down from the heavens to crush them, only then will the world learn how to speak to my possessions!"
"Possessions?!" King Neptune could no longer hold back his rage. His massive tail slammed against the base of the throne with a thunderous boom. He stood up, pointing his trident directly at Takuro's chest. "Arrogant fool! Fish-Man Island is our home! It will never be anyone's possession! We refuse to cooperate with you! Leave Ryugu Palace immediately!"
With the King's command, the royal guards jumped into action. They raised their spears and took their Fish-Man Karate stances, all aimed at Takuro. Jinbe's face went pale as he stepped in front of Neptune, looking at Takuro with pure nerves. Fisher Tiger simply closed his eyes in pain; the disaster he feared most was happening. Robin frowned and crossed her arms, while Gion's hand moved to the hilt of her sword.
Facing a room full of armed warriors, Takuro didn't look nervous at all. Instead, he broke into a wild, excited smile.
"Leave? You think you nobodies can make me leave?"
The moment he said the word "nobodies," everything changed. Without any warning, a tyrannical and terrifying pressure erupted from Takuro like an invisible tsunami.
Boom!
It wasn't just a sound; it was the wail of space itself. Substantial arcs of dark red lightning—a sign of immense Conqueror's Haki or Ki—danced through the air.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Like wheat being cut down by a scythe, the people in the room began to fall. Inside the throne room, only Neptune, Otohime, and the strongest fighters like Jinbe and Tiger remained standing, and even they were struggling. Hundreds of elite royal guards instantly rolled their eyes, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed in heaps, completely unconscious.
Glass goblets shattered into dust. Coral ornaments were ripped from the walls. Even the sturdy coral dome above emitted a sickening "creak" as cracks spread across it like a spiderweb. The entire palace shook as if hit by an earthquake.
King Neptune leaned heavily on his trident just to stay upright, his face full of horror. Queen Otohime was crushed by the pressure; she collapsed to the floor, tears falling silently. Her ideal world had just been shattered by pure, violent intimidation.
Takuro stood in the center of the chaos, surrounded by an invisible force field. Dark red lightning flickered around his hair. His crimson eyes swept over the few people still awake. His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like the whisper of death in their souls.
"Now, choose again," Takuro said coldly. "Submit, and join me."
He looked at the ashen-faced Neptune with a cruel smile. "Or, I will just replace this King with someone who is more sensible."
Absolute silence filled the broken throne room. The only sounds were the occasional twitch of a guard and the faint cracking of the coral ceiling. The fate of Fish-Man Island was now balanced on a knife's edge.
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