INIIDF-Chapter 309 Let's Finish Our Spar

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The pitch-black specter trailed behind the two figures locked in battle across the sea, accompanied by a sky-colored Den Den Mushi.

Seated at the gate of a fortified city, her dark hair tousled by the wind, Robin watched through the Den Den Mushi's eyes and murmured in surprise, "Was that figure just now a Fish-Man?"

B.I.B. responded, "Yes! He's a member of the Sun Pirates, the crew founded by Fisher Tiger..."

Fisher Tiger?

Robin immediately recalled the name from a major headline she had read months ago— the legendary Fish-Man who climbed the Red Line and set fire to Holy Land Mariejois, freeing countless slaves in the process.

"I see," Robin mused. "If he can keep up with Liam for this long, he must be formidable."

A pirate bold enough to wage war against the Celestial Dragons was unlikely to be the kind of ruthless cutthroat so common in the Grand Line. His crew members were probably no different. 

Robin glanced at the massive, shadowy Stand beside her. Since B.I.B. wasn't moving to assist its main body, it was clear Liam was holding his own just fine against the Fish-Man below.

To go toe-to-toe with a Fish-Man in the ocean... The sea breeze brushed against her face, and Robin smiled. Liam had truly become a force to be reckoned with. If she ever crossed paths with that red-haired man again, he might just be in for a shock.

Whether or not Red-Haired Shanks would be surprised was uncertain, but Jinbe was undoubtedly stunned.

How could this be?

He had never even met this human before. Even if there had been a misunderstanding, he had already backed off— so why was this man still chasing him down?

"Who the hell are you? Do you know me?" Jinbe swam in a wide arc before surfacing, his deep voice booming. "Or do you just have a problem with Fish-Men?"

To his surprise, the human looked equally astonished.

"You don't recognize me?"

Standing on the water, Liam's body rose in segments— his torso emerging first like an iron pillar, followed by his long, powerful legs, until only the soles of his feet remained in contact with the surface. He stepped lightly, his footing as steady as if he were walking on solid ground.

The sheer level of control was breathtaking.

Jinbe, a seasoned warrior of the sea, was momentarily at a loss.

Is he actually standing on the water? What in the world...

He recalled the moment he burst from the waves, expecting to lose his pursuer, only to find Liam gliding through the air as if the sky itself were his domain. Now, watching him move so effortlessly atop the waves, Jinbe's shock deepened.

Who is this man?

Looking at him more closely, there was something familiar about his face.

"I thought I was pretty famous!" Liam sighed, seeming genuinely disappointed. "If you don't even recognize me, why were you fighting me?"

Jinbe was dumbfounded.

'You're the one who attacked me!'

'A human so ferocious that even I— a Fish-Man— couldn't shake him off in my own territory... and you have the audacity to ask 'me' why I was fighting? I should be the one asking that!'

Holding back his frustration, Jinbe steadied himself, keeping half his body above the water as he spoke evenly. "I heard the fish scattering in fear, saying someone was battling a—"

"I thought you recognized me and wanted to spar!" Liam interrupted, casually pacing atop the waves, lost in his own thoughts.

"Let me finish!" Jinbe's patience wore thin. 'What kind of lunatic was this? If you weren't going to listen, why even ask?'

"In the future, if you don't recognize someone, don't just start fighting them." Liam's voice took on a lecturing tone. "That's not a very polite thing to do, is it?"

Jinbe's jaw nearly dropped.

"At least give me time to explain! You're the one who attacked without warning!"

He couldn't take it anymore.

What 'is' wrong with this man?

However, looking at the man's carefree demeanor, Jinbe found it… oddly not unpleasant.

At the very least, it was better than dealing with those who looked down on Fish-Men.

Clearing his throat, Jinbe steadied himself. Now that they had surfaced, with the sun shining brightly above, he finally got a clear look at the man's face. His frown deepened as he tried to recall— "You're… Jo… Jo…"

"Does it really matter who I am? Come on, let's finish our spar!"

Liam let out a hearty laugh and stomped down with force. The sea beneath his feet collapsed into a swirling vortex, spiraling downward like a whirlpool.

"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?!"

Jinbe barely had time to retort before Liam launched himself forward, skimming across the water's surface with remarkable speed.

"Fish-Man Karate? Let me show you my Human Jeet Kune Do!"

Their fists collided with a thunderous crash, sending shockwaves rippling across the sea.

Jinbe narrowed his eyes. "Human Jeet Kune Do? That's an odd name… I've never heard of such a technique!"

"Well, now you have." Liam grinned.

Their gazes locked, and Jinbe could feel the intensity of Liam's fighting spirit. He swam back a short distance, cupping his palm as seawater spiraled into his grasp. His voice grew serious.

"Brace yourself— this is Fish-Man Karate! Water Shot!"

With a powerful thrust, he launched the condensed water like a cannonball, sending it hurtling toward Liam.

Jinbe watched in surprise— why wasn't he dodging?

The next moment, the attack struck, sending a splash of water into the air. Yet, Liam stood firm, a slight red mark appearing on his skin.

Liam brushed a hand over the spot and chuckled. "Not bad! That actually stung a little!"

"Now, let's see how you handle this— Crescent Moon Slash!"

Liam leaped high into the air, his long leg slicing through the sunlight. But the arc wasn't just an illusion— it was real. A razor-sharp air slash spun like a crescent moon, cutting straight toward Jinbe.

Danger!

Jinbe knew better than to take it head-on. He swerved through the water, dodging just in time. Behind him, a deafening crash rang out as the attack struck the sea, carving a ten-meter-long gash into the water's surface. It took several seconds for the ocean to fill the void.

Did he just kick out a flying slash like a swordsman?

Jinbe raised his arm, preparing to counter, but before he could react, a foot pressed down on his wrist— Liam was already right in front of him.

"Jeet Kune Do is all about 'interception,'" Liam said with a smirk before stomping down and sending Jinbe plunging into the depths.

Gū lūgū lū…

Jinbe tumbled through the water, the pressure weighing on him. Yet his mind wasn't on the impact— it was on Liam's words. "Intercepting," was it?

He swam in a rapid arc before surging back toward the surface.

"Fish-Man Karate— Three Thousand Tile Punch!"

A massive shockwave erupted from the ocean, the sheer force of it making the sea swell and crash violently.

For several seconds, the sky echoed with deep, rumbling booms, like distant thunder rolling across the waves.

To any onlookers, it would have seemed like two sea monsters were waging war beneath the surface.

An old fisherman lowered his telescope, his weathered hands trembling as he muttered in disbelief.

"So this… this is the true strength of Fish-Men? We actually tried to fight something like that…"

The small town on the nearby island had been lucky— if the Fish-Men had truly wanted to, they could have wiped them out.

Swallowing hard, the old man thought of the stubborn fools in town who still spoke nonsense about setting traps along the coast, saying, "If those Fish-Men dare show up again, we'll catch 'em and make soup out of 'em!"

Fools. If they saw what was happening out there right now, they'd never have such foolish thoughts again.

"What's with all that noise? What kind of sea beast is Big Brother Jinbe fighting out here?"

Not far from the island, a ship bearing a bright red sun on its sails drifted steadily across the waves.

(End of Chapter)