As Hody Jones gave the order, all the Fishn around him rushed toward the newly arrived Aether. Their movents were fierce, driven by hatred and blind conviction.
Before they could even reach him, a surge of Conqueror's Haki spread outward like a violent tide.
In an instant, nearly all the Fishn collapsed.
Their eyes rolled back, their bodies went limp, and they fell unconscious one after another. Only four officers of the New Fish-Man Pirates remained standing, their bodies trembling as they struggled to resist the overwhelming pressure.
Hody Jones stared in disbelief.
"What kind of power is this? How could it defeat the noble Fishn?"
Aether did not bother responding. In his eyes, Hody was nothing more than a delusional extremist with no understanding of the world.
His figure disappeared.
In the next mont, he appeared behind them.
Aether drew Ace in a smooth motion and swung once. The blade cut cleanly through the air, and the four officers were instantly decapitated.
Only Hody Jones remained.
"Now it's just you, Great White Shark."
Aether's gaze fell on him, cold and rciless.
Fear crept into Hody's heart, but his pride forced him forward. With a roar, he charged.
"Damned human, I won't let you off!"
Aether raised a hand and grabbed his head mid-charge. Without slowing down, he slamd Hody into the ground.
The impact shattered the floor, forming a deep crater.
Hody's body twitched once before going completely still.
Aether looked down at him, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"It's who won't let you off, making such a ss of my territory."
Lifting the unconscious Hody, Aether leaped toward the battlefield.
By now, the fighting had escalated beyond control. Pirates and Fishn clashed everywhere, and if nothing changed, the Fishn would be completely wiped out.
His arrival barely drew attention at first. The sounds of shouting and killing continued without pause.
Then, another wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
It swept across the entire battlefield like a storm.
The fighting stopped instantly.
One by one, people collapsed. Bodies hit the ground in succession as thousands lost consciousness at the sa ti. The overwhelming scene left the few who remained standing in shock.
"This is Conqueror's Haki… how can it be this powerful?"
Only a handful of individuals remained conscious. Among them were the three princes of Fish-Man Island, whom Aether had deliberately spared, and several officers of the Big Mom Pirates who endured through sheer strength.
Aether's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Can everyone settle down now?"
No one answered.
Under such pressure, no one dared to speak first.
Katakuri stared at Aether, his body stiffening.
Why was he here?
This developnt was completely outside the plan. With conflicts rising among the Four Emperors, soone like Aether appearing on Fish-Man Island made no sense.
Amande's expression also changed. She recognized the weight behind this presence, a man who stood at the very peak of the sea.
Even Pekoms, usually fearless, remained silent.
Aether glanced at them briefly.
"Katakuri, Amande, so you're here. No wonder Marco didn't see you on the front lines. Since you've co, don't think about leaving freely. You understand that much, right?"
Katakuri's grip tightened around his trident. Cold sweat ford along his fingers.
Even facing such overwhelming pressure, he did not intend to give up. If necessary, he would fight to create an opening for his sisters.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, another presence appeared.
A relaxed, blonde, middle-aged man stepped forward.
Rayleigh.
With both Aether and Rayleigh present, any thought of escape vanished completely.
Aether's attention shifted to the girl in Katakuri's arms.
"Let him send her back for treatnt."
Pekoms opened his mouth instinctively, wanting to protest, but quickly stopped himself. He knew better than to speak recklessly in this situation.
At that mont, a weak voice drew Aether's attention.
Neptune.
The king dragged his wounded body forward, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
"Aether… Rayleigh… why are you here?"
Aether t his gaze.
"Neptune, I'll ask you directly. I intend to take over the protection of this territory. Are you willing to raise my flag over Fish-Man Island? Under my protection, even the Four Emperors will not touch this place."
Neptune hesitated.
He had already offended the Big Mom Pirates. Other options were unreliable or too distant. There were not many paths left for Fish-Man Island.
After a brief silence, he made his decision.
"Aether, I am willing. From today onward, Fish-Man Island will be under your protection. I hope you will treat it well."
The two reached out and shook hands.
The agreent was sealed.
"You have my word."
Aether's voice carried quiet certainty.
Fish-Man Island held imnse value, not just strategically, but in terms of its natural resources. Unlike others, he had no intention of exploiting it carelessly.
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