Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

"Impossible!" Van der Deiken's eyes were filled with disbelief; he hadn't expected Bai Yu to be so powerful.

Then Vander Decken saw Uchiha Shiraha's Sharingan, and everything went black before his eyes. Countless terrifying images flashed through his mind. He seemed to see himself being devoured by Shirahoshi's Sea King power and torn apart by countless Sea Kings. He also seemed to see himself being defeated by Shiraha and Artoria and suffering endless torment. His heart was filled with fear and despair.

Chapter 162 The Dust Settles

"No...no!" Van der Deiken let out a shrill scream, clutching his head and struggling frantically, his eyes becoming unfocused. Then, Van der Deiken suddenly raised his head, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes.

"Hahaha... You want to kill me? Not so easy!"

Van der Deiken roared and slammed his hands onto the sea.

"Target-Target Fruit - Ultimate Throw! The target is the underwater volcano beneath your feet!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire deep sea trembled violently, the ground beneath their feet began to crack, and a scorching heat gushed out from the cracks. Fiery red magma flowed out along the cracks, instantly heating the surrounding seawater and causing a large number of bubbles to rise.

Immediately afterwards, a huge underwater volcano slowly rose up, billowing black smoke from its crater, with fiery red lava constantly churning inside, as if it were about to erupt at any moment.

With all his might, Vanderdeken used the massive underwater volcano as a target and hurled it fiercely at Bai Yu and Artoria.

The massive volcano, carrying devastating power, crashed down on the two of them. Wherever it passed, the sea boiled, the reefs melted, and even the surrounding undercurrents were thrown into chaos. An atmosphere of despair enveloped the entire sea area.

"Not good!" Artoria's expression changed drastically. She could feel the terrifying power contained in this underwater volcano. If it hit, the entire Fishman Island could be swallowed by lava and turned into ruins.

Bai Yu's expression finally showed a slight change. He looked at the underwater volcano that was crushing towards him. To stop it, he had to use even greater power to completely destroy it.

"Artoria, unleash your full power!"

Bai Yu shouted at Artoria, and at the same time, a powerful burst of chakra erupted from his body, and his scarlet Sharingan transformed into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Susanoo!"

With a loud shout from Bai Yu, a surge of immense chakra erupted from his body, condensing into a massive black phantom behind him. The phantom wielded a huge longsword, its face contorted in a ferocious expression, radiating a chilling aura—it was the second stage of Susanoo.

As soon as Susanoo appeared, it raised its long sword and slashed fiercely at the underwater volcano. Black sword energy roared out, carrying great power as it slashed towards the volcano.

Without the slightest hesitation, Artoria closed her eyes, gripped the holy sword tightly with both hands, and silently chanted an incantation. The golden light surrounding her grew even more dazzling, the radiance of the holy sword almost illuminating the entire deep sea. She exuded a sacred and majestic aura, as if a goddess had descended, concentrating all her power into the holy sword.

"Excalibur!"

A clear and majestic shout erupted from Artoria's mouth. She suddenly opened her eyes, her golden pupils flashing with dazzling light. She raised the holy sword high in her hand and then slashed down fiercely.

A massive golden sword aura erupted from the holy sword, like a golden dragon, carrying earth-shattering power, and rushed towards the underwater volcano.

The black and golden sword energies met in mid-air and instantly merged into a larger and more dazzling sword energy, which, with unparalleled power, crashed violently into the underwater volcano.

"BOOM—!!!" A deafening roar shook the entire deep sea, and a huge shockwave spread outwards, completely destroying the surrounding reefs and undercurrents.

The underwater volcano was struck by the powerful sword energy and instantly exploded, sending fiery red lava flying everywhere like a meteor shower. It landed in the seawater with a hissing sound and billowed up large amounts of steam. Vander Decken, having forcibly activated the Target-Target Fruit's power and been struck by the shockwave of the sword energy, was instantly torn to shreds, turning into countless fragments that dissipated into the seawater, completely losing his life. His ambition and greed vanished with the explosion.

The power of the sword energy gradually dissipated, and the deep sea returned to calm, leaving only the wrecked reefs and slowly dissipating steam.

The phantom of Susanoo gradually faded away, Bai Yu withdrew his chakra, and his Mangekyou Sharingan returned to normal. As for the energy expenditure, to be honest, Bai Yu felt as if there was none...

Artoria also sheathed her holy sword, the golden light gradually fading. She looked at Bai Yu and smiled gently: "Bai Yu, Vander Decken has been eliminated, and the threat to Fishman Island has finally been completely removed."

Bai Yu nodded slightly, looking towards Fishman Island: "Yes, the threat has been eliminated. Next, it depends on whether Queen Otohime and King Neptune can lead their fellow Fishman Islanders out of the deep sea and realize their dream of peace. As for what happens next, it's up to them. But to be honest, this bubble is quite magical. My Susanoo can actually appear outside the bubble."

The two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and with a flash, sped off towards Fishman Island. Meanwhile, in Fishman Island's plaza, the people were still buzzing with discussion, their faces filled with lingering fear and relief. After all, they had seen the massive underwater volcano heading towards Fishman Island.

When they saw Shiraha and Artoria, who had saved Fishman Island, return safely, joyful smiles instantly appeared on their faces, and they cheered.

King Neptune and Queen Otohime rushed to greet the two upon their return, their eyes filled with eagerness and anticipation: "Mr. Shiraha, Miss Artoria, how is she? Vander Decken..."

"Do not worry."

Artoria smiled and nodded, her tone relaxed: "Vander Decken has been completely eliminated by us. He can no longer threaten Princess Shirahoshi, nor can he disrupt the peace of Fishman Island."

"That's great! That's really great!"

King Neptune was moved to tears and bowed deeply to Bai Yu and Artoria once again: "Thank you, thank you for saving Fishman Island and Bai Xing. You are the benefactors of Fishman Island. From now on, Fishman Island will always be your way out."

Queen Otohime's eyes also reddened as she bowed deeply to the two of them, her voice filled with gratitude: "Shiroha-kun, Miss Artoria, thank you. You have given us hope for peace again. I will lead my people and move forward firmly. One day, we will emerge from the deep sea, stand in the sunlight, and achieve true peace and freedom."

Princess Shirahoshi also stepped out from behind King Neptune, bowed slightly to Bai Yu and Artoria, and gave a shy and grateful smile: "Thank you everyone, I... I..."

Looking at the scene before him, Bai Yu finally showed a faint smile. He gently raised his hand, signaling everyone to stand up: "The future of Fishman Island ultimately depends on your own efforts. All I can do is help you clear these obstacles, and that will be for a reward. Please treat us to a feast!"

"Hahaha! The reward is actually a grand meal, a banquet? What's a grand meal!" King Neptune straightened up, slapped his chest with his thick hand, making the coral ornaments on his chest rattle gently, and his smile was more dazzling than the fluorescent shells of the deep sea.

"Don't even mention a grand meal. Even if you stay on Fishman Island for a year or two, I guarantee that you will have a variety of new dishes every day, and I will bring you all the delicacies of the deep sea!"

Queen Otohime quickly smiled and agreed, her eyes full of tenderness: "Yes, Mr. Shiraha, Miss Artoria, and all our friends who have come from afar, please come with us to the Dragon Palace for a banquet. We have prepared the freshest deep-sea ingredients, which are the most distinctive delicacies of Fishman Island. We are sure you will not be disappointed."

Princess Shirahoshi nodded gently, tugged at King Neptune's sleeve, and whispered, "Father, I...I had the chefs make seaweed mousse. It's delicious. Everyone must try it."

Bai Yu smiled and nodded, and the people behind him also showed expectant expressions.

Connor's eyes lit up, his little tail wagging unconsciously. He moved closer to Bai Yu and whispered, "Bai Yu, Bai Yu, is there anything delicious underwater? I want something sweet and soft!"

Nico Robin's eyes also flashed with curiosity: "Deep-sea ingredients are completely different from those on land. I'm sure there will be many novel discoveries."

Bai Yu and his entourage followed King Neptune and Queen Otohime toward the Dragon Palace.

The Dragon Palace Banquet Hall on Fishman Island was far more magnificent than imagined. The pillars inside were all carved from rare deep-sea glass, gleaming with a soft, ethereal blue light. The walls were inlaid with countless colorful fluorescent shells, illuminating the entire hall. The floor was covered with soft velvet carpets, which felt soft and comfortable underfoot.

At this moment, a huge round stone table has been placed in the center of the Dragon Palace. The stone table is made of black jade, which is rare in the deep sea. It is smooth as a mirror. Around it are more than a dozen exquisite and beautiful chairs carved from coral.

The stone table was already laden with all sorts of delicacies, a dazzling array that was hard to look away from. Each dish exuded the unique flavor of the deep sea, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.

King Neptune warmly invited everyone to take their seats, while he pulled Shiraha to sit next to him in the main seat. Queen Otohime and Princess Shirahoshi sat on the other side, and the others also found seats. As soon as Connor sat down, he couldn't wait to peek out and stare at the food on the table with shining eyes.

"Come, my benefactors, first try our Fishman Island's signature dish—Deep-Sea Glass Abalone!"

King Neptune picked up a huge seashell, which opened to reveal a translucent white abalone with a faint, glassy sheen. Its flesh was thick and plump, and it was drizzled with a sauce made from deep-sea pearl sauce, instantly filling the air with its aroma.

"These glass abalone can only be found in coral reefs more than 10,000 meters below the surface of the deep sea. Each one takes more than ten years to grow. The meat is tender and bouncy, and melts in your mouth. Dipped in our special pearl sauce, the taste is absolutely amazing!"

With that, King Neptune picked up a specially made seashell spoon and gave everyone a piece of glass abalone.

Connor eagerly scooped up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, his eyes widening instantly, his little face full of surprise: "Wow! Delicious! Soft, sweet, and with a faint seafood flavor, it's even better than any honey cake I've ever had!"

Upon hearing Connor's evaluation, Matsumoto Rangiku scooped up a piece to taste, her brows relaxed, and a satisfied look appeared in her eyes: "Not bad, not bad. The meat is tender, and the sauce is also very special. It doesn't have the fishy smell of ordinary seafood, but instead has a hint of sweetness. It would definitely be a perfect match for wine."

As she spoke, she picked up a bottle of deep-sea fruit wine from the table, poured herself a glass, and the wine was light blue with fine bubbles. It was sweet and refreshing, with a mild kick that was just right to cut through the richness of the wine.

Retsu Unohana savored the glass abalone, her smile growing even gentler: "The texture is delicate, the flavor is rich, and the pearl sauce has a very special taste, with a hint of warmth, which should be good for your health."

Artoria picked up a piece, took a small bite, and a look of amazement flashed in her eyes: "Very good, more delicious than any seafood I've ever eaten. Simple cooking, yet it preserves the freshness of the ingredients to the greatest extent. Excellent."

"I'm glad everyone likes it."

Seeing everyone's comments, King Neptune laughed heartily, picked up another dish, and proudly introduced it.

"This dish is called fluorescent seaweed roll. It uses fluorescent seaweed unique to Fishman Island, wrapped around deep-sea tuna crab meat, and then dipped in a sauce made with sea urchin roe. When you take a bite, it's crisp and tender, and it even emits a faint glow. It's both beautiful and delicious."

Everyone picked up a seaweed roll to taste. Sure enough, the first sensation was the crispness of the seaweed, followed by the freshness of the tuna and crab meat. The sea urchin roe sauce was savory and rich, creating a complex and layered flavor. Moreover, when you bit into it, a faint fluorescent light would appear in your mouth, which was quite magical. Connor's face was covered in sauce, and his little mouth was bulging.

King Neptune, watching everyone enjoy the meal, grew increasingly excited, spouting jokes and witty remarks one after another, and even praising his daughter, Shirahoshi, incessantly.

Princess Shirahoshi blushed instantly upon hearing her father's words, lowered her head shyly, and gently tugged at Queen Otohime's sleeve. Queen Otohime smiled and ruffled her hair, her eyes full of affection.

To be honest, Queen Otohime and Neptune are really good parents. At least they have raised their children very successfully. They all love each other and help each other.

Matsumoto Rangiku chuckled and joked, "The king seems quite happy. It looks like life on Fishman Island is quite pleasant."

"That's natural!"

Neptune took a sip of fruit wine and said in a hearty tone, "Life is nothing more than eating and drinking well, being happy. No matter how many troubles we have, a good meal can solve them. If not, then two meals will do! Although we Fishman Island live in the deep sea, we also have our own happiness. Before, we had the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, and now we have Lord Bai Yu's help. I am really lucky."

Bai Yu nodded slightly, looking at Neptune with a hint of approval in his voice: "King Neptune is quite insightful. Sometimes, simple happiness is more precious than anything else."

"Haha! Mr. Bai Yu, you flatter me!"

King Neptune laughed again, picked up a dish made with deep-sea lobster from the table, and continued his introduction.

"This 'Flaming Lobster' is made with lobsters from near an underwater volcano. The meat is firm and has a naturally sizzling aroma. It doesn't need many seasonings; it's incredibly delicious when grilled. Everyone, please enjoy!!"

Chapter 163 Heading to Dressrosa

"Speaking of passion, I'm reminded of something from the past!"

King Neptune then changed the subject and began telling old stories.

“Once upon a time, a human navigator came to Fishman Island. He was terrified when he saw how tall we fishmen were. But after taking a bite of our Crystal Abalone, he burst into tears, saying he had never tasted anything so delicious. He insisted on staying on Fishman Island to become a chef. In the end, we persuaded him to go back. After all, being a chef on Fishman Island is not an easy job, and how could his great dream stop on Fishman Island?”

Bai Yu raised his glass to King Neptune and said in a gentle tone, "King Neptune, thank you for your hospitality. We enjoyed the meal very much."

"Not at all!" King Neptune quickly raised his wine glass and clinked it with Bai Yu's: "It is my honor to make all of you benefactors enjoy your meal. You may come to Fishman Island anytime in the future, and I will personally accompany you to eat all the delicacies of the deep sea and chat about all the interesting things about Fishman Island!"

Queen Otohime looked at everyone gathered together with joy and gratitude in her eyes. She picked up the glass of juice on the table and said to everyone, "Everyone, thank you for saving Fishman Island and our home. Thank you for being with us and enjoying the delicious food of Fishman Island. I believe that with your blessings, Fishman Island will soon be able to leave the deep sea and realize our dream of peace and freedom. I propose that we raise our glasses together to peace, to friendship, and to today's joyous gathering. Cheers!"

"cheers!"

Everyone raised their wine glasses and juices, clinking them gently together. The crisp sound of the glasses clinking echoed in the Dragon Palace Hall, mingled with laughter, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

King Neptune, looking at everything before him, smiled with satisfaction and exclaimed, "Cheers! May our friendship last forever, may the future of Fishman Island be ever brighter, and may all our benefactors enjoy eternal peace and happiness, and savor all the world's delicacies!"

The banquet continued, the food on the table was constantly being replenished, King Neptune's jokes and witty remarks continued, laughter rose and fell, and a warm atmosphere enveloped the entire Dragon Palace.

The deep blue light of the ocean illuminated the smiles on everyone's faces. The delicious aroma of food and the anticipation for the future all coalesced into the most beautiful scene at this moment.

Connor leaned on Bai Yu's shoulder, gradually getting sleepy. His little mouth was still moving slightly, as if he was still savoring the taste of the food.

Neptune looked at everyone, took another sip of fruit wine, and said with a bold and emotional tone, "To be honest, I used to worry about the future of Fishman Island, about whether we would ever be able to leave the deep sea, and about Shirahoshi being harmed. But today, seeing all of you benefactors and seeing your smiles, I suddenly don't worry anymore. Life is like the delicacies of the deep sea; as long as you manage it with your heart and protect it with your heart, you will definitely be able to taste the sweetest flavor. As long as we don't give up, the dream of peace will surely be realized!"

The banquet lasted until late at night, with the food on the table still plentiful. As night deepened, the guests gradually dispersed. Neptune had specially arranged comfortable rooms for Bai Yu and his party to rest well. Before leaving, he reminded them, "Everyone, tomorrow morning, I will take you to try the breakfast on Fishman Island. I guarantee it will be a different kind of deliciousness!"

After the banquet ended, the warm afterglow of the Dragon Palace lingered in the tranquility of the deep sea.

Under Neptune's arrangement, Bai Yu and his group went to the Dragon Palace guest rooms to rest.

Connor curled up in the soft coral bedding, a faint smile still on his lips, probably still savoring the delicious aroma of the abalone in his dreams.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the servants of the Dragon Palace delivered breakfast to the guest room. The crystal-clear deep-sea pearl porridge steamed with wisps of heat, accompanied by fried monkfish chunks, chilled sea grapes, and a uniquely prepared cuttlefish sushi. Every dish was exquisite and delicious, living up to King Neptune's promise.

Neptune also personally accompanied everyone to dinner, and then talked on and on about the interesting stories of Fishman Island: the experience of Queen Otohime traveling alone to human islands to advocate for peace between fishmen and humans when she was young; the adventure of Princess Shirahoshi accidentally touching the territory of the Sea Kings when she was a child and being gently protected by them; and how the artisans of Fishman Island spent hundreds of years developing a coating technology that could withstand the pressure of the deep sea.

Queen Otohime sat to the side, occasionally adding a few words. Connor, while munching on a piece of monkfish, asked questions with his round eyes, which made everyone laugh frequently. The initially slightly awkward distance gradually became intimate and close in their daily interactions.

In the days that followed, Bai Yu and his group fully integrated into life on Fishman Island.

Bai Yu often accompanied King Neptune to the market on Fishman Island, where they saw all sorts of deep-sea specialties displayed on the rows of stalls.

Pearls shimmering with iridescent light, seaweed that strengthens the body, delicious deep-sea fish, and coral ornaments handcrafted by fishermen—each item is imbued with the unique charm of the deep sea.