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Rin saw the highly poisonous Sea King-class serpent charge forward, and with a sudden Soru-like flash to the side, he evaded it, grabbed the serpent's severed tail with both hands, and with a force that could rival a Vice Admiral's, began swinging it around with tremendous might. Even though this serpent wasn't as large as the massive Sea Kings found in the Calm Belt, it was still incredibly heavy and being underwater didn't make it any easier. But Rin, empowered by his training and strength enhanced by Haki, hurled the creature effortlessly. With a final whirl, he slammed it down hard into the seabed.
"BOOM!"
The serpent's body cratered the ocean floor, sending a cloud of debris and bubbles upward. A massive pit was left behind from the impact.
"Take this! Go to hell!" Rin roared. He activated his Pika Pika no Mi powers, and several concentrated beams of light gathered around him, condensing into luminous flames—light-based fire constructs, born from the awakening of his Logia abilities. The burning spears of light shot toward the serpent, set to incinerate it even in the depths of the ocean where normal flames would fail.
"Stop!"
A giant silhouette swept in front of the serpent, intercepting the flames before they struck. It was Princess Shirahoshi, the Mermaid Princess and Poseidon—the ancient weapon who could command Sea Kings.
"Not good!" Rin's expression shifted. Realizing the danger, he immediately redirected the flames. With a wave of his arm, the beams arced and diverted away, shooting past Princess Shirahoshi and dissipating into harmless glimmers as they broke the water's surface, catching the sunlight above.
"Princess Shirahoshi, please move aside! I have to finish off this Sea King!" Rin's voice was intense, edged with the fury of vengeance. Just moments ago, he'd been ready to eliminate the threat but Shirahoshi had suddenly put herself between them. Had he reacted a second slower, she could've been burned instead of the serpent.
"You can't harm it!" Princess Shirahoshi declared firmly, her large blue eyes filled with concern as she glanced at the wounded serpent behind her.
"Why not?! That beast poisoned your sister—Artoria is dying!" Rin's voice cracked with emotion. His fists trembled. He needed justice no, revenge.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you~." Shirahoshi turned and gently caressed the serpent's scales. Next to the creature, her size seemed small, but her presence had a calming power. The serpent slithered in place, lowering its head and flicking its black tongue out submissively.
"Princess, step back this thing could bite you too." Rin stepped forward, hand ready to push Shirahoshi aside so he could finish the job.
"Hissss..."
The serpent let out a long hiss, almost as if communicating. Rin could see the fear, pain, and pleading in its glowing yellow eyes.
"I understand now!" Shirahoshi said softly, once again standing between Rin and the creature with her arms outstretched.
"You still won't let me kill it?" Rin demanded. "Why? Give me a real reason, Shirahoshi!"
"Because... she can still save Sister Artoria." Shirahoshi looked straight at Rin. "Just now, I communicated with her—she told me there's an antidote to the venom from her own body. Her saliva contains healing enzymes that neutralize the toxin. If we apply it to Artoria's wound where the fang pierced her, the poison can be cured immediately."
"...Are you serious?" Rin's rage began to cool. His eyes widened. He had planned to kill the serpent and then search for a cure but the antidote was already here. He clenched his fists. "Damn it—I was too reckless..."
"Yes. So please don't scare her anymore. If she dies of fear, there will be no antidote, and then I won't take responsibility!" Shirahoshi pouted slightly, turning to the serpent.
The serpent, now understanding, slowly rose from the pit, then opened its mouth and let several viscous strands of thick, blackish saliva drip out. They collected into a soft puddle in Shirahoshi's open palms.
"Ugh! That's disgusting!" she whined. As a royal raised in luxury under King Neptune's protection, she had never touched anything so revolting. But still she didn't flinch. She knew that even a small hesitation could let the saliva dissolve into seawater, costing precious time in saving Artoria.
With her palms cupped and careful not to let a single drop spill, Princess Shirahoshi rushed toward Artoria and Anilu. She reached into the Marine-issued hydrostatic gel that Anilu had applied to the wound and gently smeared the serpent's saliva across the jagged gash.
"Ow—!" Artoria winced in pain. Shirahoshi's strength was awkward and clumsy due to her large fingers, and the contact stung badly. But she endured it.
Slowly, the black venom oozing from the wound began to dissolve. The gel turned red, mingling with natural blood. The blackness faded and color returned to Artoria's face. Her breath evened out, her muscles relaxed.
"Captain! The sea frog's awake and it's headed this way!"
Casa ran in with a warning. He had stayed behind to guard the large sea frog Rin had defeated earlier. But now, the frog was back on its feet and charging toward them.
"Boo! Boo! Boo!"
The sea frog hopped across the terrain, its massive form flattening coral hills and leaving giant craters in its wake. Each landing sent tremors through the seabed, like underwater earthquakes.
And behind it, a massive sea turtle swam slowly but purposefully—its eyes locked onto a target.
"This..." Rin narrowed his eyes. He already had a guess about what was happening. But he said nothing. He stood quietly, watching the two beasts approach.
"I just spoke to them," Princess Shirahoshi said gently, her voice echoing with a faint divine resonance the sound of Poseidon's command. "They heard my cries earlier. They thought I was in danger that's why they came rushing over. But now I'm fine. So please, go back."
She turned to face the three Sea Kings: the serpent, the frog, and the turtle. In their presence, she looked like a tiny doll compared to their colossal forms but they listened. Each of them paused in silence, staring at her with great, glowing eyes.
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