"You're slowing down, dart-brow," Zoro taunted, a smirk on his face as he eyed another wave of Fishmen approaching.
Sanji rolled his eyes, flicking his cigarette. "Keep yapping, moss-head. I'm just warming up."
Without another word, they launched themselves back into the fight, each one determined to outdo the other. Nami, meanwhile, was keeping her distance, her Clima-Tact crackling with electricity as she sent bolts flying into the ranks of Hody's men, zapping them into unconsciousness.
Robin was nearby, using Soru to dodge any incoming attacks while countering with quick Shigan strikes, each attack sending Hody's lackeys sprawling. Brook zipped around, using Geppo to jump from one opponent to another, landing light yet precise Shigan strikes that took down his targets with eerie efficiency.
In the chaos, Usopp was laying traps, setting up Pop Greens around the battlefield. With a shout, he triggered them, and vines exploded out of the ground, wrapping around the legs of several Fishman pirates, holding them in place as Chopper, in Heavy Point, barreled through them with Tekkai, smashing them aside.
"Usopp! Keep those traps coming!" Chopper shouted, leaping onto another group with a grin.
Usopp nodded, reloading his slingshot and firing more seeds into the crowd. "On it! And they're not getting through us!"
With each passing minute, more and more Fishmen were collapsing, unable to withstand the sheer onslaught. Franky's attacks ripped through the battlefield, taking down enemies in groups, while the rest of the crew held nothing back. Hody's forces were dwindling, and the terror in their eyes was obvious.
At last, Hody pulled himself up, panting as he staggered toward Luffy, rage contorting his face. He roared, lunging at Luffy with a punch loaded with Armament Haki, only for Luffy to dodge effortlessly, using Geppo to position himself above Hody's head. With a grin, Luffy raised his fist, twisting his body into Gear Second before slamming down with a Haki-coated Shigan that punched Hody into the ground, leaving him embedded in the stone.
Hody staggered, fury blazing in his eyes, and popped another mouthful of pills. His muscles bulged grotesquely, veins pulsing as the added strength kicked in. He stood tall, ignoring the gasps from his men, who were already beginning to realize they were outmatched.
Just as the battle was reaching its peak, a massive shadow appeared at the edge of Fishman Island's bubble. The crew, along with the surrounding Fishman citizens, stared in shock as the enormous ship, Noah, drifted ominously closer. The sight of the ancient vessel rattled everyone to the core.
"What the hell is that doing here?" Franky muttered, fists tightening as he took in the scale of Noah looming in the distance.
King Neptune's face turned pale. "Noah… If that ship falls on Fishman Island…"
Up above, Hody snarled as he spotted Vander Decken limping on the ship's deck. After their arrangement to storm the palace, Decken had finally turned his sights on destroying the island itself, hurt and angered by Shirahoshi's outright rejection.
"Damn you, Hody!" Decken spat, his voice filled with rage. "You dare betray me? No one humiliates me and lives!"
Hody clenched his fists, his rage boiling over as he watched his plans start to crumble. Vander Decken might be a backstabber, but his crazed obsession with Shirahoshi was a perfect distraction. He'd use it to his advantage.
On the other side of the battlefield, Shirahoshi's eyes widened in horror as she watched Noah approaching. She'd been told about the legendary ship, about its importance to Fishman Island, but now it was crashing toward her home under Decken's insane orders. She knew the only way to keep Fishman Island safe was to draw Noah away.
She glanced at Luffy, her eyes pleading. "Luffy-sama, if I swim far enough, Noah will follow me. I-I think I can lure it away."
Luffy called out, "Wait, Weakahoshi!" but Shirahoshi was already swimming away, her massive tail propelling her quickly through the water. Vander Decken's Noah followed her, the enormous ship tearing through the sea, its shadow darkening Fishman Island below.
Hody snarled, realizing her plan. "No, you don't!" He shot off in pursuit of Shirahoshi, his eyes gleaming with a twisted hunger. She was his hostage, his key to controlling the kingdom, and he wasn't letting her get away. He surged through the water, razor-sharp teeth bared as he closed the distance.
But Luffy wasn't about to let Hody get his hands on her. "Get back here!" he yelled, blowing a coral to cover himself with a bubble, he blasted forward in Gear Second with Soru, his movements a blur as he cut through the water. With Geppo, he bounced off the water's surface to keep up with the underwater chase, his Haki flaring as he pushed forward, keeping his eyes locked on Hody.
The other Straw Hats fought off the remaining Fishman Pirates, the battlefield slowly emptying as enemy after enemy fell. Zoro wiped his blade clean. "Luffy's handling Hody. Let's wrap this up here."
Nami swung her Clima-Tact, electricity sparking as she sent a bolt toward a group of Hody's henchmen, sending them sprawling. "Agreed. The sooner we're done here, the better."
"On it!" Usopp shouted, releasing a final round of Pop Greens that sprouted into massive vines, entangling the last few Fishmen who tried to flee. Chopper, in Heavy Point, knocked two into each other with a single swing. Brook, dashing around with Soru, finished off any stragglers with quick, precise Shigan strikes.
Meanwhile, Luffy closed in on Hody. The Fishman leader snarled, thrashing through the water with maddened eyes as he neared Shirahoshi. "You're not escaping me, princess! You're my weapon to rule Fishman Island!"
Just as he reached out, Luffy shot forward with Rankyaku, sending a cutting air blade directly toward Hody's extended arm. It sliced through the water, forcing Hody to pull back. Enraged, Hody rounded on Luffy, blood swirling around his arm where the attack had grazed him.
"You just don't know when to quit, Straw Hat!" Hody growled, throwing a punch with a strength that cracked the water around him. Luffy sidestepped with Soru, appearing at Hody's side and slamming his fist into the Fishman's ribs, the force of his Armament Haki sending Hody barreling back.
The impact rattled Hody, but he clenched his jaw, popping more of his steroid pills to regain his strength. His muscles bulged grotesquely, and his eyes burned with renewed fury. He lunged at Luffy with another punch.
Meanwhile, Shirahoshi, glancing back, saw Luffy fighting off Hody and tears filled her eyes. "Luffy-sama… thank you," she whispered, swimming further away from the island to draw Noah even farther off course.
Back at Fishman Island, the remaining New Fishman Pirates tried to rally, but with their leader engaged and most of their forces decimated, they were barely holding on. Zoro plowed through the last of them, his swords flashing in controlled, brutal strokes, while Sanji's flaming kicks sent the stragglers reeling.
The battlefield was nearly clear, the citizens of Fishman Island watching in stunned silence. Nami and Robin had regrouped, making sure none of Hody's forces remained near the palace.
Up above, Luffy and Hody were still engaged in their deadly duel, Hody throwing punch after punch in a wild frenzy, fueled by desperation and steroids. Luffy ducked and weaved, dodging each strike with ease, his Observation Haki helping him anticipate Hody's every move.
As Hody lunged again, Luffy countered with Shigan, stabbing his fingers into Hody's arm and releasing a burst of compressed air that sent him spiraling backward. Before Hody could recover, Luffy followed up with a brutal kick, using Geppo to launch himself forward and smash his foot into Hody's chest. The Fishman leader gasped, the wind knocked out of him, as he drifted backward, struggling to regain control.
But Hody wasn't finished yet. His gaze fixed on Shirahoshi, who was still swimming away, and he pushed past Luffy, determined to reach her. Luffy's face darkened as he shot after Hody, using Soru to close the gap instantly.
"You're done, Hody," Luffy said, his voice hard. With his fists cloaked in Haki, he launched a rapid-fire series of Shigan attacks, each strike hitting Hody with bone-crushing force. Hody staggered, blood swirling in the water around him, his movements slowing as his body gave out.
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