I Am Honkai

Fish-Man Island.

Located 10,000 meters under the sea at the base of the Red Line, directly beneath Mary Geoise, the island serves as the home of the Fish-Man and Merfolk races. Often referred to as the Underwater Paradise, it is regarded as a fantastical haven for its stunning beauty and vibrant aquatic life.

For the most part, Fish-Man Island remained untouched by human powers. Even the Navy and the World Government's CP divisions rarely intervened unless absolutely necessary.

However, after Gol D. Roger initiated the Great Pirate Era, the island became a target for pirates and slavers. Fish-Men and Merfolk, especially young female mermaids, became prized commodities in human trafficking rings, fetching exorbitant prices at underground auctions.

The chaos only subsided when Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate, one of the Four Emperors, declared Fish-Man Island under his protection. For years, his name deterred most would-be invaders.

After Whitebeard's death, Big Mom assumed the role of protector. While her name also kept larger threats at bay, minor skirmishes and attempts to abduct Merfolk persisted.

Daily life on Fish-Man Island saw a constant flow of human pirate ships, particularly in the outlying district of Fish-Man Street. Their occupants often shouted drunken threats about entering the New World, becoming great pirates, or taking mermaids as trophies.

Over time, the Fish-Man Island residents grew accustomed to the nuisances. They no longer resented these disturbances but saw them as an inevitable part of coexisting with the surface world.

That said, a day without a pirate ship docking at the island would be far stranger—prompting suspicions that humanity was plotting something big.

But recently, there had been a conspicuous absence of visitors.

The last batch of fleeing pirates, battered and scarred, had shouted frantically about a global war, a sea ablaze with fire, and rebel forces clashing with the World Government.

Though these claims were dismissed as exaggerated rumors, they planted seeds of unease throughout Fish-Man Island. The tension reached the Royal Palace of the Ryugu Kingdom, cloaking its halls in an oppressive sense of foreboding.

Soon enough, the residents' worst fears were realized.

Under Alyssa's orders, a contingent of Astartes from the Black Templars (3rd Legion) and Blood Angels (9th Legion), alongside her personal Sisters of Battle, descended upon Fish-Man Island.

Wherever their chainswords roared and boltguns thundered, resistance crumbled. Whether they faced the Ryugu Kingdom's royal guards or the militant extremists of Fish-Man Street's New Fish-Man Pirates, the result was the same—any sign of hostility, perceived or real, was met with annihilation.

One by one, the townships across Fish-Man Street were leveled. Desperate screams echoed across battlefields littered with the dismembered corpses of Fish-Men, their lifeblood tainting the water red.

The Astartes showed no mercy—not out of malice, but as a response to the local pirates' staggering arrogance.

Despite seeing the massive Imperial fleet descend, the New Fish-Man Pirates stubbornly refused to recognize the gulf between their primitive spears and tridents and the Empire's superior technology. They charged into battle, shouting delusions of Fish-Man supremacy, vowing to overthrow human kingdoms and enslave humanity.

To declare such things against a xenophobic, human-dominant empire—a theocratic military regime of absolute authoritarianism united under a Divine Empress (God-Emperor)—was utter lunacy.

This was no ordinary army; even the Empire's more temperate chapters, like the Black Templars and Blood Angels, were driven into a blood-soaked frenzy, unleashing a merciless massacre at such blasphemy.

If it had been the Punishers (2nd Legion) or the World Eaters (12th Legion) deployed instead, the result would have been total extermination. The Fish-Men might have found themselves vaporized by Heresy-Class Incendiary Warheads.

"So, this is Fish-Man Island?"

Standing inside the docking bay of an Imperial destroyer, Nico Robin gazed through the armored lattice of the viewport. As the vessel plunged deeper—approaching 10,000 meters below the sea's surface—a radiant light grew brighter in her field of view.

The island itself came into focus—a vast, double-layered protective bubble membrane encasing the entirety of Fish-Man Island.

Surrounding the bubble was an armada of iron-grey war machines, colossal in scale. These behemoths dwarfed the island itself, their sheer size casting Fish-Man Island into shadow.

Further beyond, the ocean floor was strewn with the mangled corpses of Sea Kings, their massive bodies ripped apart by orbital pulse cannons. The blood pooling from their shredded remains turned the surrounding water into a crimson abyss, evoking a nightmarish undersea hellscape.

"Sea Kings over 1,000 meters long... Why are so many clustered around Fish-Man Island?" Robin murmured, her brow furrowing. "There's nothing in the ancient texts indicating that this is a gathering point for them."

Bang, bang!

"Time to go. Don't keep Lady Alyssa waiting," a purple-armored Astartes officer said, his deep voice resonating through the corridor as he turned to face Robin.

With a jolt, Robin snapped out of her thoughts. Following close behind, she trailed the massive soldier obediently. Escape was a futile fantasy—the Imperial warships were swarming with soldiers, and the crushing depths outside would ensure a quick death.

Navigating through the labyrinthine corridors and climbing aboard a small landing craft, Robin soon found herself leaving the destroyer.

As the hatch opened, her senses were overwhelmed by the dazzling colors and sprawling structures of Fish-Man Island.

For a moment, Robin marveled at its beauty before the sound of gunfire and explosions shattered the serene illusion.

Looking down, she saw the grim aftermath of battle—Sisters of Battle and Astartes moved in synchronized formation, their weapons gleaming as they corralled Merfolk prisoners. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and ash, mingled with the haunting cries of those who had surrendered.

"So, this is war..." Robin whispered to herself, her voice heavy with melancholy.

"Is this the scholar who can read historical texts?"

"Hmm. Take her over to Lady Alyssa," a red-armored Astartes instructed curtly.

"Understood," replied the purple-armored soldier accompanying Robin. He turned to her and added, "Move."

"Yes..."

Keeping her head low, Robin followed her escort through the heart of the island. The architecture grew increasingly alien—homes and halls made of coral, shells, and barnacle-encrusted materials. At the center loomed the Ryugu Palace, a castle-like structure built from massive shells, coral reefs, and vine-like materials.

As they approached the palace gates, Robin's Observation Haki flared. The immense concentration of powerful individuals confirmed her suspicions—she was nearing the heart of the Imperial operation.

"You Fish-Men are so ugly. No strength to speak of, yet your arrogance knows no bounds."

A voice rang out—a young girl's, bright and bell-like, yet dripping with disdain.

"ES Pills... That's what these are called, right? Sacrificing your lifespan to gain temporary strength—what a pathetic display."

Robin entered the central chamber, where Alyssa, clad in shimmering grey armor, toyed idly with a capsule in her delicate hands.

Her azure eyes sparkled with mischief, and a radiant halo of violet-blue lightning encircled her head. Around her, luminous orbs of crackling electricity floated, their sharp chirps echoing like a thousand birds in unison.

"You vile humans! The Fish-Men will rule this world someday... Ahahahaha!"

The crazed scream came from a shark-like Fish-Man, his body mangled and pale from blood loss. His serrated teeth gnashed as he spat a mouthful of bloody saliva, cursing humanity even in the face of annihilation.

"Outrageous! Such insolence!"

The Astartes officer standing guard was incensed, and without hesitation, launched into a brutal assault on Hody Jones, the captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates.

The attack was utterly merciless, aiming to slowly torture him to death

The scene became grotesquely cruel as Hody's sharp teeth were forcibly wrenched out, his dorsal fin ripped away, and his limbs twisted and broken beyond recognition.

Not far away, the colossal 12-meter-tall mermaid princess Shirahoshi, sprawled atop her soft cushion, burst into uncontrollable sobs.

"Wuuuu! Wuuuuuu! This is terrible!"

"Shirahoshi, it's okay, don't cry. Everything will be fine. Just don't look if it's too much for you," her brothers and a red-shirted pet shark tried their best to console her.

Raising her hand, Alyssa motioned for the Astartes to stop. She pointed a finger at the battered Hody Jones.

"He's not worth the effort."

Crack!

A thick bolt of lightning struck Hody, illuminating Alyssa's soft features. The thunderclap highlighted her youthful face, its gentle contours lending her an ethereal beauty."

Ah, she's growing up—starting to look like the Empress, Levi mused while standing off to the side, tea cup in hand. A fatherly smile appeared on his face—after all, who in the Empire didn't adore Alyssa, the picture of adorableness?

But then, a terrifying thought struck him:

What if Alyssa became like Selene someday?

The smile on Levi's face vanished instantly, his heart skipping a beat. No, please, no.

He still wanted a few more peaceful days to enjoy his tea.

"Your Highness, please, do not stoop to his level," pleaded King Neptune, the ruler of Fish-Man Island. His massive body, over 12 meters tall, lay prostrate on the ground, his fishtail curled beneath him as his forehead pressed firmly into the earth. His tone carried an unmistakable sob, filled with desperation.

As a coelacanth merman, Neptune had a humanoid upper body and a powerful fish-like tail. His long orange beard and woolly hair gave him an imposing appearance.

"Sire..."

Beside him, the elderly Left Minister, wearing a purple hat and leaning on a cane, sighed helplessly. He wanted to ask Neptune not to degrade himself, but what dignity did prisoners have?

ZAP!

When the lightning dissipated, Hody Jones was no more—his hulking shark-like body reduced to a shrunken mass of charred remains. He had been electrocuted to death, leaving behind nothing but ash.

Dusting off her hands, Alyssa deactivated the crackling electricity that had danced around her.

"Neptune, was it? Relax. The Queen... uh, I mean, Her Majesty... once told me something: 'In a large forest, you'll always find a few rotten trees.'" Alyssa tilted her head thoughtfully, as if recalling a memory.

"Hmm... I think I heard Sebas report something similar before. Each year, the number of criminals he judges in various conquered worlds far exceeds your numbers here..."

This offhand remark sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

"Mermaids are beautiful," Alyssa continued, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "I would never harm them. After all, they'll make perfect gifts for the Empress. But as for Fish-Men..."

She trailed off, her tone dripping with disdain.

Thud!

Before she could finish the word "punishment," a burly, blue-skinned whale shark Fish-Man collapsed to his knees before her.

"Huh? Who are you?" Alyssa asked, her expression shifting to mild curiosity.

"I am Jinbe, Your Highness," the whale shark Fish-Man replied in a deep, steady voice. His imposing frame and solemn expression exuded an air of dignity and fortitude.

"As a leader among the Fish-Men, I cannot absolve myself of the crimes committed by my kind. I failed to guide them, and that is my sin. If it pleases you, I humbly offer myself to bear the punishment on their behalf. Whatever the sentence, I will endure it."

Jinbe's words were carefully crafted, each one chosen with precision. He did not beg for Alyssa's mercy for the entire Fish-Man race—he knew that was impossible. Instead, he humbly aligned himself with her earlier sentiment: "In a large forest, there are always rotten trees."

By presenting himself as a sacrificial leader, Jinbe aimed to shoulder the punishment and spare others.

He had no illusions about Hody Jones' idiocy. Though Jinbe wasn't entirely sure what atrocities or provocations the New Fish-Man Pirates had committed, the burning wrath of the Imperial soldiers left no doubt in his mind—it was something catastrophic.

Sacrificing a few to save the majority was all Jinbe could hope to achieve.

As for the mermaids being offered as gifts, Jinbe could do nothing. At least they would live. Exile was preferable to extinction.

"Father... Jinbe..."

Shirahoshi, having stopped crying, mustered her courage and approached Alyssa hesitantly. Clutching her hands nervously to her chest, her voice trembled as she pleaded:

"Y-Your Highness, please... s-spare my father and Jinbe. They're good people..."

"Oh?" Alyssa crossed her arms, mimicking Selene's regal posture. "I'm surprised you're brave enough to speak up, you little crybaby..."

"Wuuuu! Wuuuuuuu!"

Shirahoshi broke down in tears again, sobbing louder than ever.

"Crying again? Really?"

Alyssa rubbed her temples in annoyance, her patience worn thin. Ever since pulling Shirahoshi out of Ryugu Palace, she had heard nothing but endless wailing.

Still, she couldn't bring herself to scold the pitiful princess. Flying up to Shirahoshi's shoulder, Alyssa patted her lightly.

"Alright, alright. I'll promise to spare them—but only if you agree to accompany me to the Imperial Capital to meet the Empress."

"R-Really? I-I'll go..." Shirahoshi sniffled, nodding timidly.

"Yay! It's settled, then!" Alyssa cheered.

Such a large, beautiful mermaid—surely the Empress would be delighted with this gift!

Alyssa's imagination ran wild as she pictured Selene smiling warmly at her, patting her head in approval.

A booming voice interrupted her daydream:

"Lady Alyssa, the scholar capable of deciphering historical texts has arrived!"

"Huh? Oh, where are they? Bring them here quickly!" Alyssa called back.

"Have them translate the Red Poneglyph first. Let's see if it mentions any treasures. After that, we'll head back to the capital!"

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