Fishman in One Piece

Chapter 16: Defeat Hager and Return to Fish-Man Island

"It hurts. "

Brett, transformed into a dragon, murmured.

A laceration marred the right side of his mouth.

The scales had been severed, the muscles were torn, and blood gushed from the injuries.

A flying slash had emerged from the flames, inflicting a wound on his face.

At this moment, although his dragon scales could easily withstand bullets and cannon fire, they were somewhat vulnerable to the swordsman's airborne slashes imbued with armament haki.

Nonetheless, this injury was insignificant compared to the harm he had inflicted upon them.

Below, the vast warship had entirely collapsed, leaving only debris that survived the explosion and flames, now adrift on the water.

Marines, scorched by the flames, were scattered across the vicinity.

Some fortunate survivors were now crying out in agony.

The scene resembled a hellish landscape.

Is this what fighting truly entails?

Brett let out a thunderous roar, which reverberated like wild thunder, as bolts of lightning cascaded from the sky to the sea like rainfall.

Lightning flashed across the surface of the water, and the marines, who had barely survived, was once again struck by thunder.

"You disgusting fish man! "

Hager remained alive.

Despite enduring Brett's relentless lightning strikes and fiery breath, he was still standing thanks to his Haki providing defense.

However, Rear Admiral Hager was severely injured. His entire body was charred black, not due to his armament haki, but as if he had been subjected to roasting.

Haki can be shaped into formidable armor, yet such armor cannot entirely prevent the effects of thunder and flames; moreover, the prior fiery breath had ignited the warship's ammunition depot, resulting in a substantial explosion.

Rear Admiral Hager, whose original appearance was utterly unrecognizable, crouched on a piece of wreckage, gazing upward at the blazing red dragon in the sky.

"I understand it now. In the past, Vegapunk intended to replicate Kaido's powers, but ultimately he created a flawed fruit. Everyone was misled by him! "

Hager unsteadily regained his footing.

Brett began to amass lightning, as brilliant electricity coursed along the surface of his fiery red form.

The ability derived from the giant electric eel was activated, allowing him to generate and store electricity.

Although still underdeveloped, it could still serve some functions.

"That fruit is a success! "

Hager gripped the sword tightly, asserting, "He provided you with the fruit! So you conspired together! "

"What are you planning? "

Brett had no intention of engaging in empty chatter. He opened his jaws wide once more, as flames and thunder converged within his mouth simultaneously.

"Breath of Thunder and Fire! "

Thunder and flames intertwined, and the beams of silver-white and fiery-red light advanced mercilessly towards Hager, reminiscent of a meteorite descending to Earth.

BOOOM—!

The instant the thunder and flames detonated over the ocean, vaporized water filled the air, and flashes of electricity illuminated the surroundings.

Enormous waves propagated outward.

"Um? "

As Brett hovered in the sky, he sensed that something was amiss.

The recent strike had met no resistance whatsoever.

Could it be assumed that Hager was completely devoid of the strength to resist?

Such a notion was unlikely.

Brett didn't consider himself over powered, he couldn't kill a Rear Admiral in an instant.

'Is he attempting to flee?'

Brett's lips curled into a sneer, dismissing the possibility of allowing such an opportunity.

The explosion generated massive waves, resulting in severely turbulent currents beneath the ocean's surface.

However, this turbulent flow now aided Hager.

His body was swept away by the current, swiftly transporting him away from the battlefield.

Even as the thunder surged through the seawater, causing him discomfort, and the heated seawater nearly evaporated around him, he persevered.

"I want to live! ! "

Hager was enveloped in armament haki, gritting his teeth to withstand the strain.

Engaging in combat with Brett was tantamount to suicide. The abilities of Brett resembled a natural disaster, making close proximity impossible.

Fleeing was his sole option.

He resolved to inform his superiors about the connection between Brett and Vegapunk. 'It was imperative that both Vegapunk and that despicable fishman face the consequences!'

He endeavored to maintain his breath.

Then.

Puff—

A loud noise erupted.

Nearby, a colossal object crashed into the sea, creating a cascade of bubbles. Hager, who instinctively turned his head toward the sound, felt his pupils constrict.

"Are you attempting to evade an fishmen in the ocean? "

The fiery red dragon submerged into the depths, its elongated body moving effortlessly through the water, as Hager registered Brett's mocking voice.

'Impossible!'

Hager instinctively wanted to scream, only to realize he was submerged, leading to seawater flooding into his mouth.

In a surge of panic, he began to drown.

"You selected the most disadvantageous location for a decisive confrontation. "

Brett seized the current with both claws before proclaiming, "Fishman Jiu-Jitsu - Sea Current Over Shoulder Throw! "

With a swift motion of his claws, he flung a surge of ocean water toward Hager.

Simultaneously, he exhaled forcefully.

Flame!

Beneath the ocean's surface, Brett unleashed golden flames.

The flames merged with the turbulent water currents, transforming into a fiery dragon that engulfed Hager completely in an instant.

Hager, propelled by the current, was instantly engulfed in flames.

"…"

He exerted considerable effort to resist, yet the flames had fully invaded his mouth, nostrils, ears, and even extended into his intestines and stomach along with the seawater, ultimately transforming him into a fiery beacon.

With agonizing hands, he grasped his throat, clawing at it as if attempting to remove the flames from within.

However, there was nothing he could do.

His vision gradually faded, and his strength was swiftly diminishing.

'I refuse to yield to that fucking Fishman!'

Brett advanced cautiously, concerned that Hager might still execute a lethal attack.

As he drew nearer, the flames engulfing Hager and the surrounding seawater began to extinguish slowly.

Hager had entirely turned to ash.

Indeed, he was dead.

To his end, he never understood how he had been located. He also couldn't fathom how Brett, a devil fruit user could navigate the depths of the sea, like it was nothing. He couldn't even understand why flames could burn in seawater.

Brett exhaled in relief.

Undoubtedly, this marine is the most formidable opponent he has encountered, second only to Kizaru.

Nonetheless, he achieved victory with a significant advantage.

'Although it was somewhat challenging, even without an understanding of Haki, I cannot be classified as weak in this ocean, right?'

The abilities he acquired over a week ago have proven to be immensely beneficial.

Hager's location in the tumultuous waters was determined due to the sensing capability derived from the Death Squid, akin to the ability to detect electromagnetic waves. Even if visibility was impaired, Brett could perceive the presence of life around him, which in a way, resembles the concept of observation Haki.

Although the range of detection remains limited, it is just sufficient.

The ability to submerge in water stems from Brett's scales now being covered with a delicate membranous layer, intricately linked to the scales, which aids in insulating his body from the seawater.

As long as a part of his body came into contact with the seawater, it would not result in a loss of strength for Brett.

The reason flames can ignite in seawater is attributed to the capability provided by the devil ray. This species, which existed approximately 20 million years ago, is capable of secreting a flammable substance within its body.

This substance can significantly elevate the temperature of the flame and additionally contains oxygen. Therefore, as long as its oxygen supply remains, the flame can continue to burn brightly even in the depths of the sea.

However, the quantity of this fuel produced currently is minimal, barely sustaining a fire, and will not burn for an extended period.

Overall, this capability experiment was successful.

Brett ascended into the sky and finally experienced a sense of relief upon verifying that no personnel from the Marines were alive.

"It is time to return. "

Brett pivoted, leapt into the ocean, and navigated in a specific direction.

It is time to make his way back to Fishman Island.

However, there exists another challenge; he is unsure of the route.

Nonetheless, it is inconsequential, as the fishmen possess the ability to navigate the sea.

Brett scoured the waters for a while before spotting a pod of whales gliding effortlessly through the ocean.

He promptly reverted to his human form and propelled himself through the water with remarkable speed.

"Friends! Are you aware of the location of Fish-Man Island? It is an underwater realm inhabited by numerous beings like myself. "

The whales ceased their movement, and one of the largest emitted a powerful roar.

"You mentioned that you are uncertain, yet you can guide me to fish that I may recognize? Thanks!. In exchange, I'll you in gathering barnacles. "

Brett smiled and swam to the front of the large whale, taking a seat.

Returning to the ocean would be a delightful experience.

Beneath the shadowy waters lies a paradise for fish people and mermaids, where friends abound.

Fishman and mermaids, as children of the sea, possess the capacity to communicate with fish.

Naturally, this does not extend to Sea Kings, which remains an exclusive privilege of Poseidon.