Chapter 16: Fish-Man
How dare he say that?
Saint Ekwena stared fixedly at Alvin Vergil's smiling face.
How could he say that?!
From the moment he was born, Saint Ekwena had inherited the sacred bloodline of the Celestial Dragons. His "sense of superiority" was fundamentally different from that of common folk.
Compared to other Celestial Dragons, Saint Ekwena was actually somewhat… lenient toward the untouchables around him. He didn't casually kill slaves. When in a good mood, he'd even buy out an entire slave market and free them all. It happened from time to time.
Did that make Saint Ekwena a good person?
Not quite.
Everything Saint Ekwena did stemmed from his unparalleled sense of superiority. What he possessed, others could not. Therefore, he derived pleasure from it, for he always stood on a higher plane.
But today…
But today!
Saint Ekwena stared at the man in the arena.
Alvin Vergil.
That should be the name on the entry form, right? As a Celestial Dragon, he'd actually remembered this man's name. Wasn't that worthy of tearful gratitude? Of kneeling and weeping?
Yet not only had Alvin Vergil failed to show gratitude, he'd actually laughed and questioned him!
In an instant, Saint Ekwena's so-called "superiority" was crushed beneath Vergil's feet.
Especially Vergil's final words:
"I could probably get all those things you mentioned on my own, right now."
Instantly, Saint Ekwena's rage ignited. His face darkened. He snarled, "Kill him! Kill him… Wait!"
"Hm?"
The two CP agents poised to move halted, awaiting further orders.
"I want him to regret it. I want him to know he was wrong!"
Vergil's words echoed in Saint Ekwena's mind. 'Didn't he say he could destroy this arena without my permission? I'll prove him wrong!'
"Someone! Fetch my precious Fish-Man!"
"…"
"Yes."
One of the suited agents nodded and left.
Soon, the host who'd fled for his life was dragged back and shoved into the commentary booth.
Trembling, the host forced himself to continue. "Ah… th-that! Due to unforeseen circumstances, t-today's schedule has been slightly adjusted. P-please remain patient!"
Remain patient?!
The nobles who'd been halfway to fleeing almost cursed aloud. Look at what's happening! The tiger's carcass still lay in the stands, blood flowing down the steps like a macabre waterfall. The reek of blood, coupled with the "monster" in the arena…
And they were supposed to go back and watch? Might as well just kill them now!
But then the host added, "This… this match is now sponsored by Lord Saint Ekwena!"
Everyone: "…"
After a moment's thought, they returned to their seats.
Better to risk death than offend a Celestial Dragon. Besides, with a Celestial Dragon presiding, surely things would be under control… right?
Soon, the audience was reseated.
Alvin Vergil and Saint Ekwena still stood, locking eyes.
Saint Ekwena grew angrier. He couldn't detect the slightest awe or delight in Vergil's eyes.
People always tried to please Saint Ekwena. When he showed the slightest kindness, they'd worship him, their eyes filled with the secret joy of having survived a disaster. He relished manipulating others' emotions. Even "hatred," "fear," and "rage" were emotions he could provoke—a testament to his absolute superiority.
But the look in Alvin Vergil's eyes was one Saint Ekwena had rarely seen.
Indifference?
Saint Ekwena couldn't grasp it. Even other Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise, even the rare "Holy Knights," never looked at him like that.
The way Vergil looked at him was the way one looked at a completely ordinary person.
That look infuriated Saint Ekwena utterly.
"I want to see you die today!" he shrieked. "Where is the Fish-Man? My Fish-Man! Bring him out now!"
As he spoke, the gate on the opposite side of the arena ground open once more.
A burly figure emerged, dragging a dozen heavy chains, each step thunderous.
He had crimson skin, was extraordinarily tall and muscular, with long, curly hair and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
Most crucially—he was a Fish-Man.
Vergil's eyes narrowed, then curved into crescents. A delighted smile spread across his face.
The newcomer was none other than the future [Fish-Man Hero]—Fisher Tiger.
Fisher Tiger.
An adventurer from the Fish-Man tribe, accidentally captured by slavers and enslaved. In the near future, he would break free, reclaim his liberty, and then trigger the world-shaking "Incident on Mary Geoise," liberating countless slaves.
Future figures like the "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock and the "Golden Emperor" Gild Tesoro would regain their freedom because of this event.
Fisher Tiger was worthy of the title [Fish-Man Hero].
Rewind to the present.
At this moment, Tiger was in the desperate plight of slavery, biding his time for escape.
"Humans…" Tiger murmured.
Years of imprisonment had shown him humanity's darkest facets in Mary Geoise, filling his heart with rage.
Saint Ekwena didn't care. He was thrilled. The fury in Tiger's heart was of his own making—another facet of his superiority.
So, from the stands, Saint Ekwena proclaimed loudly, "Hey, Fish-Man! Want your freedom back? I'll give you the chance!"
"What?" Tiger's eyes widened, bloodshot veins spreading across his pupils.
Saint Ekwena pressed his advantage. "See that human before you? Kill him, and I'll grant you your freedom!"
"Tch… bastard…" Tiger had no desire to obey Saint Ekwena's orders.
But what the Celestial Dragon said might be true. This was part of his twisted amusement, and he might actually follow through. Besides, what Tiger faced now was merely a "human."
After only a moment's hesitation, Tiger tore the chains from his body with both arms and stepped forward.
THUMP!
A sudden stomp. Tiger's fist shot toward Vergil's face.
"Human! Fall!"
BOOM!
The punch connected squarely with Vergil's face. But Vergil's expression barely shifted. Only his pupils changed, morphing into segmented patterns.
Chīguǐ Form.
"Aha!"
Vergil laughed excitedly, letting Tiger's fist grind against his cheek, savoring the Fish-Man's strange power—twenty times that of an ordinary human. He found it all utterly fascinating.
"This is my first time seeing the Fish-Man tribe…"
He felt the force of the punch for a moment.
"I'm fine. Try harder!"
Vergil's voice grew rough, distorted. He growled,
"Use everything you've got. Again!"
He wanted to test another one of his ideas…
(End of Chapter)
🤗If you enjoyed this chapter, please add it to your collection and
keep supporting the story 💖✨
Bonus Chapter on 50 Power Stones ❤️