Fishmand Island

The Thousand Sunny descended into the ocean's depths, and Fishman Island was finally in sight. Nestled 10,000 meters below sea level in a massive double-layered bubble, the island was a gateway to the New World, an underwater paradise filled with stunning coral, enormous sea creatures, and sprawling mermaid cities. It was known for its half-water, half-air environment, allowing mermaids and fishermen to live harmoniously. For Blake, the sight was nothing short of spectacular—its beauty laced with an unmistakable tension that troubled the crew.

The towering Ryugu Palace loomed over the city, resting atop a massive coral reef, but even from a distance, Blake could sense something off. His instincts kicked in as they neared the entrance, where several monstrous Sea Beasts and a pirate from the New Fishman Pirates awaited them.

As the Thousand Sunny drifted closer to Fishman Island, towering sea beasts emerged from the murky depths. Each creature was massive, their dark shadows looming over the Sunny, even larger than the Kraken that had once been their ally. They were a bit like Mohmoo, a mix of a land animal and a fishtail. An elephant, giraffe, polar bear, zebra, and others were in the mix. The sight of these beasts was enough to make the Kraken flee, leaving the crew without their monstrous companion. The beasts blocked their path, thrashing in the water, while Among them stood several imposing fishmen led by a fishman pirate with a cruel grin. He spewed propaganda, declaring that humans must submit to their rule, boasting that fishmen were the superior species. Blake noticed Nami flinch at the mention of a certain Arlong, but he focused on the present threat.

Blake was observing the scene. His sharp gaze quickly assessed the situation. There was something off about this group of fishmen. Their posture and aggressive demeanor weren't in line with the peaceful nature of the island that lay behind them. These weren't ordinary inhabitants of Fishman Island but pirates—members of the New Fishman Pirates. Blake scanned the distant island and let his gaze wander here and there, noticing the absence of similarly threatening figures. His eyes then locked onto the massive Noah, the enormous ark-like ship anchored ominously nearby. A larger group of armed fishmen gathered there, preparing for something bigger—perhaps a coup d'état. More disturbingly, Blake spotted humans imprisoned in cells with air bubbles, their faces pale and desperate.

His senses flared, and his Future Sight kicked in. He saw Franky engage the Coup de Burst, propelling the Sunny through the water straight past the beasts. It was a reckless maneuver, one Blake would have avoided, as intimidating the sea beasts would have been a far simpler solution. Blake prepared to act, intending to use his Gaze Intimidation to clear the way, but the roaring of the creatures and the engine at the end of their ship drowned out any communication, and Franky activated the burst.

The Sunny shot forward, speeding through the water with tremendous force. Blake hovered in the air, letting the ship make its way toward the sea, which was part of the island's bubble. He took the two prisoners with him in case things went awry. Vander Decken—still unconscious from their previous encounter—and the barrel containing Caribou. He could only watch as the ship rocketed into the bubble surrounding the island. But something went wrong. When they left the Thousand Sunny's bubble safety, the pressure at these depths became too much for the barrel containing Caribou. The barrel cracked open, releasing a burst of blood, tools, and various treasures Caribou had hoarded.

Blake grimaced as the mess unfolded in front of him.

"Guess I should have thought that through," he thought, swiftly gathering the loot into his system inventory before anyone could notice. The pressure at this depth was no joke. Even he felt a little discomfort, but he quickly shook it off. He regularly strengthened his body with ki, making it far more robust. This pressure was nothing to him.

With no time to lose, he grabbed the weakened and non-moving Vander Decken by the collar and ascended further, his body glowing faintly as he flew through the water. Maintaining his breath, he turned his attention back to the towering sea beasts blocking their path. His eyes gleamed with power as he activated his Gaze Intimidation, projecting an overwhelming sense of fear toward the creatures. One by one, the beasts let out deep, guttural roars before scattering in every direction, their massive forms disappearing into the depths of the sea.

The New Fishman Pirates froze, their eyes wide with fear. All except one—a katana-wielding octopus—flinched but remained standing, his eyes locked on Blake with a mix of awe and wariness. The other pirates stood motionless, paralyzed by Blake's display of dominance. Satisfied that the threat had been neutralized for now, Blake glanced at the octopus before turning his attention to the island.

Without wasting another moment, Blake grabbed Vander Decken by his collar and took off, flying toward the gigantic gate that served as the official entrance to Fishman Island. The gate was an imposing structure, towering over the surrounding area with a massive tunnel designed to bring ships into the bubble. The tunnel was like a grand canal, allowing vessels to pass from the sea into the island's interior without disturbing the delicate balance of air and water. But Blake had no need for such formalities.

Instead, he bypassed the tunnel entirely, flying over the water and into the upper part of the island's bubble, which housed its air-filled environment. As he soared above, Blake took in the full view of Fishman Island—the sprawling coral city, the towering Ryugu Palace in the distance, and the calm waters beneath him. It was a beautiful place, but tension simmered beneath the surface.

He scanned the island with his Ki Sense, quickly locating his crewmates. Mermaids had rescued Luffy, Sanji, and the others, while Franky had already gathered the rest of the crew. They were safe for now.

Satisfied, Blake turned his attention to the port he had spotted earlier. He made his way there quietly, flying low to avoid attracting attention. As he neared the large port, his senses suddenly caught something—an immense life force, far stronger than anyone else he had sensed so far amid the island population. Focusing his eyes on the distant figure, Blake's vision sharpened. It was Jinbei, his old friend.

Without hesitation, Blake flew toward Jinbei, eager to regroup with him and begin piecing together the situation on the island.