As the battle unfolded, Kieran and Baby Five faced formidable opponents in Wadatsumi and Vander Decken. With his Shade-Shade Fruit powers, Kieran transformed into an intangible shadow, evading Vander Decken's attacks with ease. Meanwhile, Baby Five showcased her explosive weaponry skills, engaging Wadatsumi in a fierce confrontation.
Kieran focused on defense, utilizing his shadowy form to tank Decken's blows. Each strike passed harmlessly through his intangible body, frustrating the fish-man pirate. Unbeknownst to Decken, Kieran's shadows concealed an arsenal of weapons ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
With a swift motion, Kieran called forth a pair of knives from his shadowy storage, engaging Decken in a deadly dance. His knife skills were honed to perfection, and his armament haki enhanced each strike with lethal precision. The clash of blades filled the air as Kieran's speed and agility countered Decken's raw strength.
Decken, fueled by his fish-man physiology, unleashed powerful strikes, each blow carrying immense force. The sheer strength of his attacks would have overwhelmed a regular opponent, but Kieran's shadowy form allowed him to dissipate the impact, his body becoming like smoke before reforming unharmed.
While Kieran dueled with Decken, Baby Five faced the colossal Wadatsumi. Her explosive arsenal wreaked havoc on the giant's defenses, causing him to stumble back with each well-placed explosion. She darted around, using her agility to dodge Wadatsumi's massive fists, retaliating with explosive projectiles and well-timed strikes.
Wadatsumi, however, possessed incredible resilience, shaking off the blasts and retaliating with his brute strength. Baby Five's acrobatic movements were put to the test as she narrowly avoided the giant's powerful punches, her reflexes pushed to the limit.
As the battle raged on, Kieran and Baby Five's coordinated efforts began to pay off. Kieran's precision and strategic thinking allowed him to gain the upper hand against Vander Decken, his knives finding their mark and disarming the fish-man pirate's attacks.
Baby Five, too, utilized her resourcefulness and explosive prowess to wear down Wadatsumi. She aimed for his weak spots, targeting joints and vulnerable areas, chipping away at his endurance. The giant's movements grew sluggish, his blows losing their ferocity as the battle continued.
Sensing an opportunity, Kieran and Baby Five moved in tandem, their attacks synchronizing with deadly efficiency. Kieran unleashed a barrage of knives, distracting Decken and forcing him to evade each strike. In that moment, Baby Five seized her chance.
She unleashed a series of explosive projectiles, creating a web of devastation that ensnared Wadatsumi. The giant roared in frustration as the explosions disoriented him, leaving him vulnerable. With a final explosive blast, Wadatsumi crashed to the ground.
With Wadatsumi out of the equation, Kieran turned his full attention to Vander Decken. He moved with incredible grace and precision, his knives finding their mark with deadly accuracy. Each strike chipped away at Decken's endurance, leaving him gasping for breath.
In a final display of skill, Kieran lunged forward, his blade aimed at Decken's heart. But the fish-man pirate, fueled by desperation, managed to summon his last reserves of strength, parrying Kieran's attack and countering with a powerful strike of his own.
The clash reverberated through the air, both combatants locked in a fierce struggle. It was a battle of wills, determination, and skill. But Vander Decken, realizing he was outmatched and on the verge of defeat, made a split-second decision after witnessing Wadatsumi's struggles as the latter tried and failed to get up. He knew that fleeing was his only option for survival.
Activating his Devil Fruit power, Vander Decken quickly threw a large rock toward the Ryugu Kingdom. The rock soared through the air, guided by his ability to mark a target, and Vander Decken leaped onto it, using it as a makeshift platform to escape.
Kieran, caught off guard by Decken's sudden maneuver, watched in frustration fish-man pirate flew away as he opened fire, joined by Baby Five. He quickly weighed his options, assessing the situation. Pursuing Decken would only lead to a fruitless chase, and he couldn't afford to let Wadatsumi recover and regroup.
Turning his attention to Baby Five, Kieran called out to her, "Baby Five, let him go! We need to regroup and ensure our victory here!"
Baby Five nodded, understanding the urgency in Kieran's voice. She ceased her attacks on Wadatsumi and joined Kieran's side as the giant Fishman finally rose to his feet. The two warriors shared a brief moment of silent communication, their eyes locked in determination.
With renewed vigor, Kieran and Baby Five launched a relentless assault on Wadatsumi. Their coordinated attacks pushed the giant further into a defensive position, overwhelming him with a barrage of blades and explosions.
Kieran utilized his Shade-Shade Fruit powers to his advantage, constantly shifting between tangible and intangible forms, making it difficult for Wadatsumi to land a solid blow as he scaled the giant fishman's body. He summoned weapons from his shadowy storage, raining down a storm of blades and bullets upon the giant.
On the other hand, Baby Five unleashed her explosive arsenal with precision and skill. She targeted Wadatsumi's limbs with explosive projectiles, causing him to stumble and lose balance. Her strategic placement of explosives weakened the giant's movements, gradually wearing him down.
As the battle reached its climax, Kieran and Baby Five combined their powers, executing a devastating finishing move. Kieran materialized into a shadowy cloak around Baby Five to protect her from Wadatsumi's final blow.
Baby Five unleashed a massive explosion, engulfing Wadatsumi in a fiery inferno as he tried to attack, only to be blocked by Kieran's shadows. The force of the blast sent the giant crashing to the ground, defeated and unable to continue the fight.
As the dust settled, Kieran and Baby Five approached the fallen Wadatsumi, their expressions filled with exhaustion and relief. Wadatsumi lay motionless on the ground, defeated and incapacitated.
Kieran glanced at Baby Five, and they exchanged a knowing look. The question of what to do with Wadatsumi lingered in the air. It was a decision they had to make, and it wasn't easy,
"Should we... finish him off?" Baby Five asked tentatively, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. She had seen the devastation Wadatsumi had caused and the danger he posed. But she didn't sense any killing intent from the giant Fishman.
Kieran paused, considering the situation carefully. "No," he finally replied, his voice firm. "Antagonizing the fishmen here might not be a good idea. We don't know Cedric's intentions, and we don't want to escalate the conflict further. Let's leave him be for now."
Baby Five nodded, understanding the reasoning behind Kieran's decision. They couldn't risk creating unnecessary enemies, especially when their primary objective was to find Cedric and uncover his plans.
"We'll keep moving," Kieran said, his gaze shifting towards the center of the Fishman district. "Follow the flames..." He concluded with a chuckle as he watched yet another fire pillar rise in the distance.
...
The Fish-Man Island quaked with anticipation as Hody Jones, the ambitious and vengeful leader, gathered his crew near the colossal Noah, the ship that towered above them. Zeo, Daruma, Ikaros Much, Hyouzou, and the hundreds of newly recruited fishman pirates stood in a formation, their eyes burning with a shared hatred for humans.
Hody surveyed his crew, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Dosun's absence. He cleared his throat, his voice commanding the attention of those present. "I've gathered all of you here today to discuss our plan," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
A hushed silence fell over the assembly, broken only by the distant sounds of crashing waves. Hody's gaze shifted, searching the faces before him. "Where is Dosun?" he demanded, his voice tinged with impatience.
Hyouzou, the blue-ringed octopus merman known for his poisonous prowess, stepped forward. "Dosun went to deal with a human who dared to enter the Fishman district," he revealed, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Vander Decken destroyed their ship, and this human managed to survive."
Hody's brows furrowed, a storm brewing behind his eyes. The unexpected turn of events threatened to disrupt their carefully laid plans. "A human in our territory," he muttered, his voice thick with disdain. "Dosun should have notified me immediately. We cannot let any intruder roam freely."
Zeo, the Japanese wobbegong fish-man with his distinctive appearance, spoke up with a hint of concern. "Hody, if Vander Decken has caused such chaos among the humans, their attention may shift elsewhere. It could be an opportunity for us to strike."
Hody's features hardened, his resolve unyielding. "Indeed, this may be an advantageous situation for us. We must exploit their vulnerability and bring them to their knees," he proclaimed, his voice laced with arrogance.
Daruma, the cookie-cutter shark fish-man, interjected with a note of caution. "But we must proceed with caution, Hody. Humans have proven to be resourceful and cunning. We cannot underestimate them."
Hody's scoffed as he absorbed his crew's words. "There is no need for caution, Daruma. We, Fishmen, are superior to humans. Our goal remains unchanged—to enslave these hateful human pirates who have oppressed us for far too long and use them to win the war," he declared, his voice resonating with disdain.
"Now.... someone go and get Dosun..." Hody Hones instructed as he looked at his subordinates. "We need everyone present to--" He added, pausing halfway through his sentence as a figure jumped into their midst.
"That won't be necessary..." The figure, a tall human man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, stated with a faint smile. "He won't be joining you..." He added, chuckling as he slowly transformed, growing in size and sprouting golden-red fur.
"You'll have to do with me..."