Approach to the Lion's Maw
The Black Tides' main shipyard wasn't on any official map. Locals called it The Lion's Maw, a crescent-shaped cove where cliffs jutted out like fangs into the sea. Inside, a sprawling complex of drydocks, scaffolding, and half-finished warships clustered around a central command tower.
From the crow's nest of Heaven's Embrace, Carrot peered through a spyglass. "I count… thirty-two ships? No, wait, that one's a floating tavern. Thirty-one ships."
Bell-mère lit her cigarette. "Perfect. Plenty to smash."
The Plan (Sort Of)
In the war room, Vegito traced the bay on a map. "We go in, we break everything, we leave. Simple."
Robin arched an eyebrow. "Define 'break.'"
Vegito grinned. "Anything that floats? Sink it. Anything that doesn't float? Make it float… and then sink it."
Nami crossed her arms. "And what's the actual plan?"
"That is the plan."
The Entrance
The first sight the Black Tides lookouts had was Heaven's Embrace skimming the waves at impossible speed, wings half-unfolded, runes glowing like molten gold. Then the ship rose — actually rose — into the air.
On the cliffs above the shipyard, guards started shouting. "IT'S THE DRAGON-SHIP! SOUND THE—"
Their alarm was cut off as Heaven's Embrace dropped straight into the middle of the bay, sending a wave so massive it knocked three docked warships onto their sides.
Chaos Ignites
Cannons roared from the docks. Black Tides gunboats swarmed like hornets, trying to encircle Vegito's ship.
Bell-mère took the helm with a cigarette dangling from her lips. "Hold onto something!"
The Embrace shot forward like a battering ram, smashing through a frigate so hard it split in two. Kuina and Tashigi stood on the bow, slicing incoming cannonballs out of the air in perfect sync — still competing to see who could cut more.
"Seven!" Kuina called."Eight!" Tashigi shot back with a grin.
Boarding Action
A massive Black Tides flagship, The Widow's Fang, tried to ram them head-on. Vegito vanished from the deck, reappearing midair above the enemy ship.
"Wrong move," he said, before dropping down hard enough to punch through the deck and out the bottom hull.
The Fang sank in less than thirty seconds. Vegito emerged from the water, walking up onto the air as if it were solid, shaking his hair like a dog. "One down!"
Carrot's Mayhem
Meanwhile, Carrot, Wanda, and Tristan had stolen one of the docked schooners.
"What's the plan?" Wanda asked as they hoisted sails.
Carrot grinned, revealing sharp Mink teeth. "Crash it!"
They drove the stolen ship straight into a half-finished galleon, leaping clear at the last second as the two vessels exploded into splinters. From the deck of the Embrace, Bell-mère just sighed. "They're having too much fun."
The Command Tower
Robin and Lysandra infiltrated the shipyard's central tower while the rest of the crew kept the enemy distracted. Inside, they found maps of Black Tides' smuggling routes, lists of Government contacts, and — most importantly — a ledger of bribes paid to various officials.
Lysandra whistled. "This could topple half their friends in the underworld."
Robin smirked. "It will, once Vegito leaks it in just the right way."
The Final Blow
With the shipyard in flames, the remaining Black Tides ships clustered at the far end of the bay, desperate to form a defensive wall.
Vegito landed back on the Embrace. "Bell-mère, line us up."
She smirked and spun the wheel. "Lined."
Vegito stepped to the bow, hands glowing. "Let's finish this in style."
A blinding wave of God Ki exploded outward, lifting the enemy ships into the air like toys. For a single, absurd moment, thirty vessels hovered above the bay — then Vegito clapped his hands, and every one of them smashed back into the water in a synchronized BOOM.
The bay was now a graveyard of shattered hulls.
Aftermath
The crew stood on deck, watching the wreckage burn.
Nami counted silently. "That's… what, their entire fleet?"
Robin nodded. "And their shipyard."
Vegito dusted his hands. "Guess they'll be swimming for a while."
Comedic Close
Back inside the ship, the crew celebrated with whatever food and drink survived the chaos.
Carrot tried to balance an entire barrel of ale on her head.Hancock attempted to claim Vegito's lap — only for Bell-mère to shove her off with a grin.Kuina and Tashigi were still arguing about their cannonball count.
Meanwhile, in the Alliance kingdoms, the queens from Chapter 38 — Amara, Serenya, and Liora — each paused in their royal duties, one hand on their bellies. The signs were getting harder to hide… and whispers in the court had begun.
[World State Updated]
Black Tides: Shipyard destroyed, fleet annihilated.
World Government: Loss of a key smuggling ally; suspicion of Vegito's larger influence growing.
Foreshadowing: Alliance queens' pregnancies nearing public reveal.
Next Destination: A sudden summons from an old friend in the Alliance leads the crew into a political trap — and the next major clash with the World Government.