Chapter 186

Chapter 186:

Tiger stared at Carl for a long time, finally confirming—Carl really didn't have gills!

Carl grew impatient, waiting for Tiger to show him the way, but Tiger just stood there, lost in thought.

Ignoring him, Carl's lips moved slightly, releasing an invisible pulse that spread outward in all directions.

As a Fishman, Tiger was highly sensitive to the sea's changes. Though it only lasted a moment, he distinctly felt the water temperature rise.

Just as Tiger opened his mouth to tell Carl where Fishman Island was, Carl had already picked up the signal from his ultra-large ultrasonic wave.

Without waiting, Carl kicked off, adjusting the bow of the speedboat before diving deeper into the ocean.

Tiger had to grip both sides of the boat tightly, stunned by Carl's accuracy—he was navigating as if he'd made this journey many times before.

The 10,000-meter descent posed no challenge for Carl. Before long, Fishman Island, wrapped in its protective bubble film, appeared in view.

The island's bubble system was ingeniously designed, preventing unauthorized ships from sneaking in. If an uncoated vessel attempted to breach the outer layer, the coating would be absorbed, dooming the ship and its crew.

But Carl didn't plan on taking a detour. He didn't even have a coating to begin with—Fishman Island's defenses were useless against him.

He accelerated, aiming straight for the bubble membrane.

However, just as he was about to pass through, Carl abruptly halted. Something was approaching.

He sensed it before he saw it—a gathering of massive sea creatures closing in from all directions.

Carl narrowed his eyes, hovering just above the island's barrier. Tiger, noticing the sudden stop, looked puzzled.

"Carl, why did you stop—?"

Before he could finish, Tiger's expression shifted. He wasn't the only one. Below them, the residents of Fishman Island gazed upward in astonishment.

Carl's small speedboat alone wasn't enough to draw their attention. What truly made them freeze in shock was the arrival of several enormous Sea Kings—each over 500 meters long, their crimson eyes locked onto Carl.

To Carl, these creatures were nothing more than ants.

But Tiger, and the Fishmen watching from below, didn't share the same perspective.

A group of Sea Kings appearing together was an extreme rarity, even in the deep sea. Their presence sent waves of unease through the island's population.

Their open jaws and predatory postures made their hostility clear.

Tiger quickly moved to react, pressing his hands against the surrounding water, readying himself for battle.

But Carl simply scoffed.

A dark tornado erupted from behind him, spreading like an ominous veil.

The charging Sea Kings froze. Their crimson eyes flickered, then cleared—as if something had forcefully expelled their aggression.

Then, something even more shocking happened.

A human-like fear appeared in their gaze.

Under the horrified stares of all who watched, the Sea Kings tried to flee.

But they were too slow.

The swirling darkness spread too fast, pulling them into its gravitational grasp. The immense pressure distorted the water around them, their massive bodies helpless against the unseen force.

Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the darkness withdrew back into Carl's body. The sudden shift left a vacuum in the surrounding water, causing the speedboat to plummet.

Carl, one hand in his pocket, let himself fall. The speedboat shattered through Fishman Island's bubble membrane like a knife through paper.

As they neared the crowd below, Carl's broad black wings unfolded, scattering dark feathers into the water.

With a flicker of movement, he stored the speedboat within the Dark Bible, grabbed Tiger with one hand, and descended slowly before the gathered mermaids and Fishmen.

The crowd stood in stunned silence.

They weren't just looking at Carl. They were witnessing something beyond human.

Tiger, no less stunned, took in the scene up close. Seeing Carl's dark wings unfurled, his presence dominating the ocean itself, Tiger could hardly believe this man was human.

Carl landed, his wings casting an immense shadow over the square. The crowd instinctively parted, making way for him.

The moment his feet touched the ground, the wings dissolved, retreating into his body like flowing darkness.

Carl smiled warmly and said,

"Hello."

No one responded.

The only sound was the nervous, shallow breathing of the crowd.

Then—

"Clear the way!"

A group of uniformed Fishmen and Mermen pushed through the stunned masses.

A blue-skinned, round-faced Fishman in the lead locked eyes with Tiger, his expression shifting from confusion to shock.

"Tiger!"

Tiger's eyes widened. "Jinbe?"

Jinbe and his group quickly approached.

Among them, a seahorse mermaid with a serious expression studied Carl closely.

Normally, an unauthorized human entering Fishman Island would be detained immediately.

But after witnessing Carl's display of power, the Right Minister understood—this was no ordinary man.

In fact, he doubted anyone on Fishman Island could match him.

The Right Minister took a deep breath, then spoke,

"Hello, I am the Right Minister of Ryugu Palace. May I ask who you are?"

Carl smiled. "My name is Carl. I'm here to travel."

Just… travel?

The Right Minister hesitated, clearly unprepared for such a simple response.

Jinbe, meanwhile, turned back to Tiger with a grin.

"You've grown strong, Jinbe!" Tiger said, clasping Jinbe's shoulder. "When did you become a guardian of Ryugu Palace?"

Jinbe scratched his head proudly. "Tiger, I couldn't just stay here forever. After you left, I passed the assessment and now I'm a guardian!"