Wapol's Ambition!

A pair of shiny eyes broke the sea's surface while a young man in his twenties went ashore, the evening sun gently warmed him up after the long journey. Aslan surveilled his surroundings before delving deeper into Long Ring Long Island.

"Besides the watchtower they even have a few people patrolling underwater, checking any disturbance before it even gets close to the island..."

Aslan thought back to the small fleet of warships he saw on the way, they were disguised as merchant ships but he could see through their ruse. What confused him was how despite being full of weapons they were manned to the bare minimum as he couldn't sense any more than ten people on each ship.

"Are they planning an invasion? However a few warships aren't enough to take over an island..."

With a wave of his sleeve, Aslan dried up himself while hundreds of water bullets shattered the ground.

However, He couldn't help but sigh when he noticed only one ship was berthed, the Black Drum Kingdom's flag waving high in the sky.

"Fishman Karate is more handy than I thought... It seems like everyone has come here swimming!"

Aslan sighed in relief, if he had really sailed here by ship they would have all escaped away before he could get anything out of the journey. It wasn't long before he made it to the gathering.

Standing in the midst of the enemy, Aslan pulled on his cloak as he moved to the front rows. He didn't stand out, many breakouts wore disguises out of caution, however he applied a layer of hiding runes to keep himself as low-key as possible.

“Here you are!”

With a wolfish grin, Aslan gazed at his unaware prey. Wapol was leaning on his sedan, leisurely talking to someone over a white transponder snail.

Aslan barely concealed his greed, the fool didn’t even try disguising himself as he appeared before them in his royal robes.

On Wapol’s side, the Black Drum Kingdom’s Queen was shovelling a few shotguns in her husband’s iron maws. Aslan wondered whether her black loungette had become so due to all the gunpowder dirtying her.

“He even brought his wife, how much trust does he have in that Royal Butler...”

Aslan checked the situation once again, his spiritual energy had already covered the whole island. Their fate was already in his hands.

“I could kill them all but there is no point in that. I need a reliance, underlings and wealth, the seas are vast and without reliable sla... Ehm, followers, I won’t be able to accomplish much in this timeskip.”

Sengoku’s mission was the perfect information source, if he let this opportunity slip he wouldn’t live up to his name as Soul Rune Sect’s Guardian Elder!

Unaware of Aslan’s plots, Wapol turned off the transponder snail while munching on his last shotgun. The King’s burps turned everyone to silence as the sound of cannon fire reverberated in the sky.

Throwing them a disdainful glance, Wapol took out an emblem before letting his wife bring it to everyone’s attention. Her loud announcement snapped everyone to attention.

“Here is the Queen’s edict!!”

Aslan carefully scrutinised the fishmens’ reaction, if before he could sense some doubts lingering in their minds now all he could see was awe, veneration almost but mixed with a tinge of terror.

*THUD*

Aslan couldn’t conceal his shock, right in front of him hundreds of dangerous convicts dropped to their knees as they acknowledged the token’s authority.

Wapol’s eyes constricted when he noticed someone dared question the emblem’s authenticity. His wrathful eyes dug at Aslan’s cloak trying to peer through his disguise.

Barely suppressing his fury, Wapol gave his orders to the fishman battalion kneeling in front of him. He would have the rebel killed by his own kin!

"We are to set out by morning for the traitorous Sakura Kingdom! We will take back our throne as the rightful rulers of tha...?!"

However before anyone could react, Wapol’s eyes glazed over while time seemed to come to a standstill. Aslan’s spiritual cultivation had finally displayed

“This is getting out of hand... However he isn't joking, I doubt Dalton could handle so many fishmen charging at once.”

By themselves they couldn't do much, but as an elite group they could charge through the enemy lines provided they had enough equipment. Connecting the dots, Aslan knew why those warships he saw on the way were poorly manned. The invading force was all here, ready for deployment.

Aslan walked over to the Black Drum Kingdom’s Queen, just like everyone else she seemed to have frozen up, her glazed eyes unable to perceive Aslan's existence. Walking up close to her, he carefully watched her face while trying to recall the volume covers' content on Black Drum and Wapol's adventures.

“She isn’t referring to herself. If she had that kind of power she wouldn’t need that token, could it be THAT Queen?”

With a point of his finger, Aslan had one of the fishmen walk out of the kneeling crowd, the same glazed look shadowing his eyes.

The mechanical walk was the only sign betraying his mesmerised state.

“Who is this Queen you revere so much?”

In a couple of seconds, Aslan had his answer but he still marvelled at how deep seated their fear was towards the token. Even under Aslan’s control, the terror still showed in his answer.

“I.. It’s... Queen Oto... Otohime.”

Aslan half expected it, but he still couldn’t hide his shock.

“She should be dead... Well, I should be on Earth right now too. If I hadn’t felt him die at Marineford, I would be doubting whether Ace is really dead now.“

Aslan checked the token a few times, even asking Wapol and his wife for confirmation but he still got the same result. Otohime.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. In fact it might be good for my plans.”

If he could find a way to Fishman Island early on, he could lay some groundwork for the Strawhats’ arrival and build valuable connections.

Aslan stroked his chin as he thought about the possibilities.

“Regardless, Luffy and his crew are the only ones who have a shot at defeating Blackbeard. That Sea Goddess never mentioned me having to personally do the kill...”

Pondering his chances, Aslan drove away these whims as he focused back on the present. He had a pretty fat ship in front of him, and it was time to finally get his own reliance.

“Sengoku is great but it’s ultimately his faction, I can’t rely on him all the time or it would cause dissatisfaction while also disappointing him.“

Aslan needed his own thing, resources that could be mobilised freely as long as he called and Wapol was the perfect candidate.

*Zack*

Aslan cut his wrist, the blood flew into the air while morphing into a pentacle. The formation’s corners spun into a bloody wheel as it flew faster and faster.

“Now that I think about it, the Sect Master should know I’m alive since all my servants there aren't dead.”

Aslan could feel their shackles were still there in his mind sea, and they were his only hope for returning home.

With a wave of his sleeves, Aslan drove away his wandering thoughts while pouring more blood into the seal.

Hundreds of bloody runes shone with the glow of dusk, with each rotation they would grow denser while Aslan completed the ritual.

“Now I just need to brand him.”

Get the king and you get the kingdom. With Wapol as his loyal servant he could deploy not just the Black Drum Kingdom’s resources but also the military power of the fishman battalion behind them.

“Kneel.”

Wapol’s body moved on it own but the glazed look in the King’s eyes disappeared this time!

“What is happen...“

It was time for the pledge.

“Shut up. I am Aslan. You are to become my loyal servant.“

Aslan's words had an edge to them, majesty, that couldn’t be challenged nor disputed. Wapol’s eyes clouded over, the pentacle shone brighter as it burrowed into the King’s ears.

“NO!! quickly, ki... I am Aslan’s loyal servant.”

Aslan smiled while the bloody seal broke into five scarlet snakes. Now the ritual couldn’t be stopped.

The first snake hissed while burrowing in Wapol’s eyes.

“We shall share our vi... Vision.”

Shortly after his vow, Wapol shuddered while a purple rune broke out of the King’s head and turned into smoke bit by bit. A pensive look appeared on Aslan’s face while he drew out his hand.

Suddenly the purple rune stabilised while the smoke gathered into a circle. Aslan punched the air several times before a purple mirror materialised.

“Found ya!”

Aslan poured his spiritual energy into the mirror while looking for the culprit.

“Your technique may be coarse and a bit different but I can still recognise its origin!”

After pouring more than half of his spiritual energy Aslan stopped since inputting any more would disrupt either his domain or the ritual.

However it wasn’t for naught, soon he was face to face with his target!

“WHO?!?”

A middle-aged man, in a suit, round glasses and what once had been well-groomed hair, Aslan felt a bit sorry for ruining the man’s evening, his rather disheveled appearance betrayed his current shock.

Watching the luxurious room adorned with gold and precious gems, Aslan clicked his tongue, the bastard was actually living like royalty!

The backlash from his own spiritual mark was still ongoing, purple smoke was clashing deep in the middle-aged man's mind sea while his eyes and ears where drenched in blood, his bloodshot eyes were on the verge of bursting through his glasses.

However any attempts at suppressing the damage failed remarkably with Aslan’s spiritual projection.

“Who... Who are you? How did you trace me...!?”

Before he could complete his words, his mind sea was shocked by another round of destruction as the smoke turned into deadly purple sabres. His own cultivation was eating his soul!!

“A pity we have to meet like this, but the Sea Goddess was clear. Once we cross paths we Champions can only fight...“

Aslan had the high ground now and no trace of warmth could be heard in his voice as punishment was delivered. Thanks to the Goddess’ blessing he was aware of his enemy’s true identity.

“I’ll let it go this once since we are from the same sect, but if I ever know you have used this lousy technique your death will be the price for blemishing Soul Rune Sect’s reputation...”

The middle-aged man yelled in a mix of shock and fury. A few guards rushed in and through the middle-aged man’s eyes Aslan knew they were Fishmen Island’s Royal Guards.

“Royal Butler, we heard your screams, is everything al...”

However before they could end their words, the room filled with violet mist, the middle-aged man’s eyes were filled with horror as he ran for the window.

*BOOOM*

The Royal Palace’s upper floors exploded to smithereens, a violet mushroom cloud rising over the building, while a dark meteor shot into the ground leaving a large smoking pit in the capital’s main square.

Aslan’s parting gift to the so called Royal Butler left him on death’s door!!

...

Getting back on Long Ring Long Island stage, Aslan resumed the trial. It was his first clash with another God’s champion, luckily he came out on top!

Aslan drove the purple rune’s remains in his hand, but before it could enter his mind sea it actually vaporised!!

“Hmm, seems like you are actually wise...”

The Royal Butler actually severed the whole cultivation technique! For the price of losing all his servants he destroyed Aslan’s whim on the spot.

"With such extensive damage to his mind sea, I doubt he will ever be able to cultivate this technique again."

Aslan watched Wapol with a hint of pity, it seems like destiny for Black Drum’s King to fall in his hands.

“So you were already under that Butler's control... Heh, now I know him but he doesn’t know who I am. Serves him right for using an abridged version of our technique!”

Opening his eyes, Aslan resumed the ritual once again. It was just their first clash, there was no reason to hurry about things and the task at hand was way more important than any Royal Butler.

With a flick of his sleeves, the second and the third snakes coiled together before charging at Wapol's glabella.

“No thought shall be hidden from you.”

The fourth snake shone like a rainbow before splitting into seven smaller snakes. Five delved into his right hand while the other two hid within Aslan’s wrist.

“Our life and belongings are in your hands.”

The fifth snake burst into bloody mist before the runes branded themselves on Wapol’s left chest.

“Betrayal shall not find place in our hearts”

Aslan grinned at his new asset.

Wapol clouded eyes got clearer and clearer but unlike before there were two bloody snakes swimming deep within the King’s pupils.

“Let’s see if it still works.”

Aslan closed his eyes while sensing the condition of his new servant. His spiritual energy dove through the new bloody shackle, it was stable enough to handle a small fraction for now.

“Full descent is impossible, but I didn’t expect much out of a side character...”

Suddenly, Aslan found his awareness had switched places, now he was observing a lean mean covered in a cloak.

The man’s face was shrouded in darkness, but due to the ritual it had moved enough for the eyes to peer through the shadows. Even while closed, he could still see what charmed Jannah!

“At least that whatever Goddess didn’t choose a hobo for my incarnation, we look pretty similar in fact!”

Wapol’s voice broke the silence, while Aslan couldn’t help but let out a metallic chuckle.

“It’s as fun as I remember, hopefully I won’t have to use it anytime soon...”

Aslan left some instructions in Wapol’s mind, while sifting through the King’s memories. Thanks to his multitasking ability it didn’t take him long before Aslan switched back to his body.

Among the King’s memories, one stood out to Aslan the most.

It was deep in the knight, and Wapol was woken up by the sound of footsteps just by his bedside.

The King’s carpet had turned a few shades darker due to the intruders’ clothes being drenched, but he knew it was on purpose.

Water was a fishman’s deadliest weapon.

A great white-shark fishman towered over him, Wapol almost shitted himself on the spot but the spear on his belly constrained any bowel movements. The King didn't notice a purple rune sliding into his body.

Luckily for Wapol, they weren’t after his head but his pockets. He just needed to cooperate and everything would go just fine, in fact they would help him get his vengeance on Dalton and those hateful traitors!

Seeing off his unexpected guests, Wapol returned to his chambers. He only relaxed when he made the whole Royal Palace waterproof.

...

“It’s indeed Hody Jones...”

With a sigh, Aslan released his spiritual domain over the area.

“It seems like this whole ordeal has strengthened my soul a bit, back on Earth, such a large domain would drain me much more than this...”

Letting go of his doubts, Aslan put on his mask. It was time to build his secret identity!