"—Hummm—"
In the crushing silence of the deep sea, a low, bone-rattling vibration suddenly echoed, like the growl of some colossal steel beast waking from a long slumber.
A massive submarine sailed through the abyss.
Its dark hull was a perfect void, seeming to swallow the faint light of the deep ocean and blending seamlessly with the darkness.
This steel leviathan moved with the cold, majestic grace of a silent ruler.
Sharp-edged wings extended from its sides like the claws of a predator, and the faint blue glow from its rear thrusters pulsed with an icy, mechanical rhythm.
The only break in its dark form was a massive glass observation window at the front, which glowed faintly from the lights within, resembling the single, baleful eye of a monster.
Even the giant, formidable Sea Kings of the deep were drawn to its presence, their massive forms lingering in the distance, but none of them dared to get close.
They could sense a terrifying aura coming from the vessel, an oppressive force that sent a primal fear through them.
After exchanging nervous glances, the leviathans of the deep silently turned and fled.
As the Nautilus drew closer, its deep, resonant hum reached the waters around Fish-Man Island.
The powerful sound instantly brought the bustling underwater nation to a standstill.
On the vibrant coral streets, fish-men and merfolk paused, their eyes turning towards the source of the noise.
"What is that sound?" a fish-man asked, his eyes wide with shock.
"No idea…" a mermaid floating beside him replied, her gaze fixed on the impossibly large shadow moving through the distant water.
"Could it be… a new type of Sea King?"
"Impossible!" an old fish-man shipwright shook his head, his eyes glued to the approaching giant.
"Sea Kings don't make sounds like that! That's the sound of… an engine."
More and more residents gathered, their murmurs growing into a worried buzz.
"What is that thing doing here?"
"Is it an enemy?"
"Quick, someone tell the king! That thing is not normal!"
.....
High above, in the grand hall of the Ryugu Palace, the lively banquet fell silent as the deep hum washed over them.
King Neptune put down his wine glass, his brow furrowed.
"That noise… that's no ordinary ship."
Jinbei stood up, his expression tense as he stared at the massive silhouette that was now becoming visible through the palace windows.
"What in the world is that…?"
At that moment, the Nautilus finally broke through the murky currents, revealing its full, breathtaking form to the people of Fish-Man Island.
The enormous metal hull, reflecting the faint deep-sea light, looked like an unstoppable steel monster gliding majestically towards their home.
"My god! What the hell is that?!" a fish-man on the street yelled, his voice cracking.
"You've got to be kidding me! Is that a ship?!"
"How can a ship that big even sail this deep?!" a shipwright cried out, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and professional disbelief.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Some screamed and swam for cover, others stood frozen in place, while a few younger fish-men stared with wide, sparkling eyes.
"That ship… is so cool!" one of them shouted, his voice brimming with excitement.
Inside the palace, the reaction was just as stunned.
"Is that a submarine?" Neptune's voice echoed through the hall, his gaze a complex mix of awe, curiosity, and unease.
"Who in the world is piloting that monster?"
He'd seen submarines before, but they were tiny compared to this… this steel behemoth.
"Neptune…"
A calm voice came from the other side of the hall.
It was Whitebeard.
His sharp eyes were piercing through the water, looking straight through the Nautilus's massive observation window.
Inside, he could see a familiar figure standing casually on the command platform, arms crossed, with Kuzan and Smoker flanking him.
As if sensing his gaze, the figure raised a hand and gave a slight, casual wave.
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's thunderous laugh suddenly boomed out.
"It's Mike! That kid…" He waved back before turning to the stunned king and Warlord behind him.
"He's here!"
"WHAT?!" Neptune and Jinbei exclaimed at the exact same time, their jaws dropping.
"That monster… is being piloted by Mike?" Neptune muttered, as if he needed to hear the words out loud to believe them.
Jinbei was silent for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
'A Marine Captain with a super-submarine like that… his strength must be far beyond anything we could have imagined. The old man was right…'
"Captain Mike…" Jinbei murmured to himself, a new, subtle respect in his eyes.
"He might truly be… Fish-Man Island's ultimate ally!"
Neptune gave a slow, thoughtful nod, his skepticism finally washing away.
"Let's go," Whitebeard said, his voice firm.
"Let's go meet this Marine captain in person. Seeing for ourselves is better than relying on hearsay."
The Nautilus docked with an impossibly graceful maneuver, its massive hull coming to a silent, steady halt at the pier.
"—Clank—"
With a low metallic hiss, the hatch began to open.
The massive crowd of merfolk and fish-men on the pier held their breath, their eyes glued to the opening.
'Who could it be? What kind of person could command such a steel monstrosity?'
The moment the hatch was fully open, a tall, upright figure stepped out.
His stride was steady and powerful, his crisp Marine uniform accentuating his heroic aura.
His handsome face held a cool, nonchalant expression as his deep eyes scanned the surroundings.
He brought a cigar to his lips and blew out a perfect smoke ring, the white mist dissipating slowly in the sea breeze, adding a casual air to the tense silence.
He paused, taking in the scene.
"Oh my god!" a mermaid's scream suddenly shattered the quiet.
Instantly, the crowd erupted.
"That Marine is so handsome!"
"How can anyone be that cool?!"
The young mermaid ladies, in particular, began waving their arms excitedly, their eyes burning with admiration as they stared at Mike.
Some of the bolder ones completely lost their composure.
"Human hottie, look over here!!"
"My birthday's tomorrow! I'm turning 30!"
"That means I'll have legs! Let's go play~!"
"This lady loves a man in uniform, especially the black and white kind~!"
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