Underwater, the situation was dire. Genzo and Nojiko had reached Luffy's side, but the Straw Hat captain was already fading fast, his Devil Fruit weakness leaving him helpless without oxygen in the water.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Genzo swung his hammer with all his might, but the buoyancy of the sea weakened each strike. The stone anchoring Luffy refused to break.
'What do we do? At this rate, he'll drown!' Nojiko's thought and trembled with panic. Then, an idea struck her.
Grabbing Luffy's head, she pulled upward with all her strength. His rubber body stretched, his neck elongating until his face breached the surface.
Cough!
Luffy gasped as his head emerged on land.
"This should keep him alive, for now," Nojiko muttered, relief washing over her.
Beneath the waves, Genzo continued his futile assault on the stone, his oxygen dwindling. Fortunately, the fishmen had been subdued, buying them time.
"You always lose focus when battling me!" Kuroobi sneered, his patience wearing thin. "Fine. Let me show you the true power of Fish-Man Karate!"
He lunged forward, muscles coiling. "Hundred-Tile Right Fist!"
Sanji barely dodged, his mind racing. Kuroobi's mocking laughter grated on his nerves.
"Pathetic! You cling to chivalry, yet it won't save your captain. He's already dead!"
Sanji's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm. 'I need to end this fast and help Luffy.'
Meanwhile, in the forest, Lucas grinned as Hatchan thrashed through the undergrowth, bellowing threats.
"Come out and fight, coward!"
Catching his breath atop a branch, Lucas formed a hand seal. "Clone Technique!"
An identical copy materialized beside him.
'Good enough as a decoy.'
The clone leapt down, drawing Hatchan away with a furious roar. Lucas exhaled, turning his attention to Paradise.
'No more waiting. Luffy comes first.'
In the heart of the battle, Zoro panted heavily, his blades locked against Arlong's massive frame.
'Damn it. This guy won't stay down.'
Arlong grinned, blood trickling from shallow cuts. "You're strong, pirate hunter. But not strong enough to overcome a fishman!"
Zoro's grip tightened. "Keep talking, fishface. I'll cut those words out of your throat."
His gaze flickered toward the water. 'Luffy...'
Arlong noticed and laughed. "That straw-hat fool? He's already drowned! No human lasts that long underwater!"
Just then, Lucas arrived at the water's edge. Arlong's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You?! Where's Hatchan?"
Lucas didn't answer, instead stepping onto the water's surface as if it were solid ground.
Gasps erupted from the battlefield.
"How?!" Kuroobi sputtered.
Ignoring them, Lucas scanned the depths. 'There!'
He plunged in, then immediately flailed in panic.
'Oh crap! I can't swim!'
His body sank like a rock, oxygen dwindling fast.
'System! Help!'
[Ding! Professional diving gear available for 100 emotional points.]
"Just take it!"
A sleek blue wetsuit and oxygen tank materialized around him. But he still sank helplessly.
[Swimming skills also available.]
"Buy it!"
[10,000 points deducted. Master Swimmer card acquired—Max level achieved.]
Lucas wanted to scream at the system's robbery, but his body suddenly moved with fluid precision. In seconds, he reached Luffy's side, startling both the trapped captain and Genzo.
Lucas gripped the massive stone anchoring Luffy, and strained.
'...It won't move?!'
Genzo's hope faltered. 'Just another weakling.'
Then.
BOOM!
.....