170 Fishman Island: A series of bizarre events (1/2)

Above, it felt like every moment was spent wrestling with the hearty and dangerous waves. Down here though, an entirely different scene played out. The silence was oppressive all around, yet somehow still feeling comforting. Even the devil fruit users on board, did not feel as alienated with the coral depths as they had thought.

The bubble around the ship waved serenely as we moved along, a small wave of sea floor current carrying us forward amidst a small stream of moving sand.

We were making progress, and though the towering structure that was the Red Line did frighten us somewhat, the tiny hole at its centre brought those that had been slightly sceptical of the plan the last bit of closure that they would need.

The cave itself was deep, a faint light gleaming from its interior. That was the reason that could still exist in such an inhospitable environment as this one. It was the light from the Sunlight Tree Eve, sister trees with the rather well known Adam that any sea faring soldier would kill to have making their vessel.

The soft light caressed softly against us, illuminating the surface of the soapy bubble around.

”Captain...” Terrick gulped, as he looked forward, glaring down at the gap between the base of the ship and that of the cave with a look of mortification.

”Quite!” I murmured to him, indicating with as much force as I could how precarious conversation was in a time where oxygen was as restrictive as it was.

He acquiesced shortly with a nod before indicating to the stuff that he had just seen. He wanted me to see whatever he had.

Sorren looked over his shoulder curiously, yelping softly as he scurried back.

Now, the situation caught my attention. With a quick faint step, I moved to the edge of deck, leaning over with a small smile on my face.

Instantly, a look of pure wonder and terror appeared on my face. If it was anybody else, I was sure I would have laughed at the bizarre amalgam of emotions that appeared on my face.

The cave floor jutted outward with small spikes, each one looking like something that had been forcefully erected over natural construction.

Around each of these spikes lay a tiny depression, and though it took a little squinting, I was barely able to make out the faint gleam of scales that coiled around these jutting rocks.

It was a sea king, and not just one either, it was a whole minor colony. Most of the creatures basked in the darkness. Their gaping maws opened and closed at random times as they snorted out a collection of bubbles from their noses.

Most of them were asleep with the few at the periphery of the cave entrance sometimes leaving and coming back in. Quickly it became apparent to us that this colony was comprised of mostly juvenile creatures.

They were not young enough to be a safe member of the colonies in the calm belt but were too fragile to hunt alone in the open seas, so they came here hoping, I was sure, to catch pirate ships off guard whenever they crossed this precipice.