INIIDF-Chapter 308 Man Vs Fish Man Part 1

Jinbe left the Sun Pirates' ship alone, weighed down by his thoughts.

They had just passed a small island, intending to restock supplies and take a short break. However, the moment they docked, their ship's flag became a source of trouble. The sight of a pirate emblem alone was enough to stir hostility among the island's residents.

That much was expected— any pirate worth their salt knew they'd never be welcomed with open arms in a lawful town.

As a former soldier of the Ryugu Kingdom's royal army, Jinbe understood the line between criminals and ordinary folk. But this time, it wasn't just fear of pirates at play.

The moment the townspeople realized that the entire crew disembarking from the Sun Pirates' ship were Fish-Men, their wariness twisted into something worse— something uglier. It wasn't just hostility toward pirates anymore… but deep-seated hatred for "outsiders."

And it wasn't just anger; it was contempt.

Their eyes didn't see warriors or sailors. They saw creatures— just fish who happened to walk on land.

Jinbe had witnessed this gaze countless times before. The Fish-Men race had endured it for centuries. And yet… no matter how many times it happened, it still cut deep.

He knew the rest of the crew felt it too, though each reacted differently.

Because… Arlong's reaction was the fiercest. Rage burned in his eyes, and his closest comrades— Crow, Chou, and Hatchan— stood by him, their tempers flaring. Before anyone could stop them, they struck out at the townsfolk who had gathered to challenge them.

Even the ship's doctor, Aladdin— usually the voice of reason— held his tongue.

Only Fisher Tiger remained composed, stepping in to restrain Arlong before the situation turned bloody.

A Fish-Man's strength was ten times that of a human's. If they fought recklessly, someone would die.

So, they gathered what little supplies they could and set sail without looking back.

Jinbe had always respected Fisher Tiger, so he, too, learned to rein in his emotions. But the resentment in his chest, the overwhelming urge to plant his fist into one of those hateful human faces, refused to fade.

After they were back at sea, he made an excuse to hunt a sea beast for dinner and dove into the ocean, hoping the water would wash away his frustration.

Yet as he swam, he noticed something strange. The fish around him were scattered in a frenzy, darting away in every direction.

A powerful sea beast must have appeared— good. That would save him the trouble of searching for prey.

Not that Jinbe ever saw an issue with Fish-Men hunting sea creatures. It was only humans who seemed to find it ironic, questioning why they would eat what they called their "own kind."

Own kind?

Jinbe never bothered answering.

We Fish-Men are also human.

If anything, you humans should be considered our kind…

Shaking off the intrusive thought, Jinbe sent out a special sound wave, a technique Fish-Men used to communicate with the sea's inhabitants. He asked the frightened fish what had startled them so badly.

Some of the scattered fish hesitated before swimming back, responding with rapid pulses of sound.

Jinbe listened carefully, his eyes narrowing in surprise.

It wasn't just a sea beast.

The fish's frantic chatter revealed something far more astonishing— someone was fighting a Sea King.

And it was happening in the Calm Belt.

The Calm Belt?

The waters of the Calm Belt served as the nesting ground for Sea Kings, home to monstrous creatures beyond imagination.

Yet someone had dared to swim in these treacherous depths— no, more than that, they were locked in combat with a Sea King! Was this warrior a fellow Fish-Man?

Jinbe pondered the question, curiosity sparking in his heart. If so, where had this Fish-Man come from?

With a resolute nod, he bid farewell to the fish accompanying him and propelled himself forward, cutting through the ocean like a cannonball toward the Calm Belt.

As he neared the dreaded waters, he noticed something unusual. The fish in the surrounding area became more dispersed, and their sizes grew increasingly massive.

Whoever this fighter was, they were still holding their own against the Sea King. That alone spoke volumes about their strength.

Jinbe's interest deepened. How skilled was this warrior in Fish-Man Karate? A sudden desire ignited within him— he wanted to test their mettle firsthand.

More than that, a thought took root in his mind: could this unknown warrior be recruited into Big Brother Tiger's Sun Pirates?

The world needed more Fish-Men willing to fight for their freedom. Only by uniting could they force humanity to recognize their existence!

With renewed purpose, Jinbe swam against the current, diving deeper into the Calm Belt. His powerful strokes propelled him forward for hundreds of meters before a sound caught his attention. A mournful cry echoed through the water, followed by rhythmic, thunderous impacts—

'Bang… Bang…'

Fists striking flesh.

Jinbe felt the subtle tremors ripple through the ocean, his senses finely attuned to the underwater battlefield. The force behind those blows was astonishing— far greater than he had anticipated!

This had to be a Fish-Man warrior. Who else could exhibit such raw power beneath the waves?

Fish-Men were naturally ten times stronger than humans, and in the water, their strength was unparalleled. However, once on land, their power waned, and the longer they stayed away from the sea, the weaker they became.

That was precisely why Arlong, that arrogant fool, always boasted that Fish-Men were superior to humans. Jinbe never fully agreed with that sentiment, but he couldn't deny the biological advantage.

Still, this mysterious warrior had truly mastered the art of underwater combat, demonstrating the very pinnacle of their race's potential.

Unlike humans, who struggled against the ocean's resistance and suffered from their inability to breathe underwater, Fish-Men thrived in these depths. Here, the sea was not an obstacle but an ally. Their bodies were built for the currents, their movements unimpeded.

And the fighter before him was proving it in real time.

At last, Jinbe laid eyes on the battle— a colossal Sea King recoiling from the relentless assault of a single figure.

Excitement coursed through Jinbe. As a greeting, he executed a Fish-Man Karate technique, launching a powerful jet of water toward the warrior.

Of course, he aimed to miss— just a way to announce his presence. But to his surprise, the figure didn't flinch.

It was as if he had sensed the attack before it even arrived. He didn't dodge, didn't react at all. The water shot past his face, just barely grazing him.

Was he truly that confident that the attack would miss?

Jinbe was taken aback. This person's judgment was extraordinary.

The wounded Sea King took the opportunity to flee, letting out a final pitiful cry before vanishing into the abyss. But the warrior made no move to pursue. Instead, he muttered something under his breath before kicking off the water, and launching himself straight at Jinbe.

Jinbe barely had time to brace himself. He raised his arms in defense just as the stranger's fist collided with him. 'Bang!'

The impact was immense. This strength… it was the real deal— powerful enough to fight Sea Kings head-on.

(To Be Continued…)

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