Fish-Man Island was moving upwards.
A distance of ten thousand meters was nothing to the giant sea kings, merely a matter of time.
But when pulling a massive, incredibly heavy island, it was no small feat.
Nearly a hundred giant sea kings, with a giant turtle pushing from below, and other sea kings biting or coiling around thick iron chains, were pulling the ensnared Fish-Man Island upwards.
It wouldn't be fast, but it would take roughly an hour.
The merfolk and fish-men of Fish-Man Island were filled with anticipation at the sight of the world above the sea.
Once upon a time, their ancestors had lived on land.
But so many things had happened since then that the fish-men and merfolk of Fish-Man Island had been forced to live ten thousand meters beneath the seabed.
Living under an artificial sun, in the surrounding dark ocean.
Thus, when Neptune and Queen Otohime announced that Fish-Man Island would be relocated to the East Blue to live on land, most rejoiced.
Now, seeing Fish-Man Island gradually moving away from the seabed, pulled by the giant sea kings, their hearts were filled with indescribable excitement.
On the sea, Benedict was awaiting the appearance of the giant island.
Beside him was Yasso.
While it wasn't an issue for giant sea kings to drag Fish-Man Island across the sea, crossing the Red Line to reach the East Blue was made much more convenient by Yasso's Iso Iso no Mi.
The seawater was flowing, and the currents were clearly in chaos.
They didn't wait long.
A giant sea king was the first to break the surface.
Then another, and another. In moments, a hundred giant sea kings had surfaced, occupying most of the sea area.
Beneath the surface, hundreds more giant sea kings escorted them, remaining submerged.
As the hundred or so giant sea kings surfaced and slowly moved forward for a distance, the massive Fish-Man Island also emerged.
With the appearance of Fish-Man Island, the merfolk and fish-men on board, almost all sitting in bubble-like structures, found their positions and looked out at the outside world.
Looking at the sunlight, breathing the air of the sea, these fish-men, glancing around, were greedily savoring the experience.
Benedict glanced at the fish-men, then approached Neptune and said with a smile, "Are you ready?"
"Thank you for your trouble, Marshal Benedict," Neptune, despite having been to the surface many times, was still overjoyed at the sight of the outside world.
Benedict smiled and then looked at Yasso.
"Let's do it."
Yasso nodded and immediately flew to the edge of Fish-Man Island, touching the soil, and activated his ability.
Boom!
Fish-Man Island shook, and the next moment, it floated up.
The fish-men of Fish-Man Island, watching the island leave the sea and continue to float upwards, could see further distances and more scenery, and the fish-men cheered.
"Let's go!"
Benedict said, and then flew off first.
The giant sea kings needed a passage to enter the East Blue.
There was a passage beneath the seabed leading to the East Blue for the giant sea kings.
But it would take time to find.
Furthermore, if they encountered giant sea kings who were territorial, these sea kings would inevitably engage in combat.
Therefore, the best method was to create a massive opening in the Red Line, allowing the sea kings to pass through.
This method was not difficult for Benedict at all.
Thus, Benedict arrived at the Red Line first.
This was where the Grand Line and the East Blue intersected.
The massive Red Line directly separated the East Blue from the Grand Line.
"Sanzen Rendo!"
"Sanzen Rendo!"
Benedict took a look at the continent spanning thousands of meters before him.
He struck directly.
Roars echoed continuously.
A crater a kilometer in diameter was blasted open.
For each crater, Benedict bestowed three "Sanzen Rendo."
A sea route, spanning thousands of meters and a kilometer deep into the seabed, was thus carved open by Benedict.
As Benedict carved open the sea route, the life forms living nearby, and even on the Red Line, felt the ground tremble.
When the giant sea kings arrived at this sea route, feeling the lingering aura and looking at the vast path, they were immensely awestruck.
Benedict's strength once again made them clearly realize that he was someone who could easily rewrite destinies.
And some of the older sea kings, recalling the words of the previous Sea God Poseidon, fell into deep thought.
Was the prophecy flawed?
Their king was still an infant, requiring decades, even a century, to mature.
However, the current strength of the Genbu Navy and their battle with the World Government would soon be decided.
If the future world were as righteous and benevolent as the current Genbu Navy, could their king still change the world?
These thoughts echoed in their minds, but they could not find a definitive answer.
The only thing they knew was that Shirahoshi was their king.
They needed to protect their king.
The relocation and appearance of Fish-Man Island had spread across the seas.
It also made more and more people aware that Fish-Man Island would be relocated to the East Blue and live on the surface.
Not only that, but the Genbu Navy also issued a statement.
Unless the fish-men or merfolk of Fish-Man Island committed any crimes outside, they were not to be captured, beaten without cause, or trafficked. Upon discovery, offenders would face a five-year sentence in Azkaban at minimum, or be directly executed at worst.
This was Benedict's protection for Fish-Man Island.
It was also protection for the fish-men and merfolk races, especially the fish-men, who were most targeted by traffickers, making them one of the key protected groups.
As for whether Fish-Man Island would be opened to the outside world, that was up to King Neptune's decision.
Benedict would not interfere.
Mary Geoise.
While on the verge of great war, Benedict still attended to Fish-Man Island's relocation. Upon receiving the news, the Five Elders reacted with coldness and disdain.
Fish-Man Island meant nothing to them.
If not for its lack of threat and its location ten thousand meters beneath the sea, it would have long ago become a playground for certain individuals.
"The Genbu Navy has advanced fully. According to reports from informants across various regions, many of our strongholds are also being swiftly cleared."
"As the Genbu Navy announced, they will land on the Red Line in a few days and encircle us."
...
"The Army has completed the deployment of several defensive lines."
"Those hidden technological weapons have also been deployed on these lines and will be unveiled in this battle."
...
"The destruction of Future Nation resulted in significant troop losses, which is regrettable."
"Fortunately, most of the Seraphim research bases were well-hidden, so we still have two legions available."
"Gathering three hundred thousand troops is our limit."
...
"Has there been any response from Noxus Holy?"