On the shore of Amazon Lily, two massive marine warships stood anchored, their dark shadows looming over the coastline.
Elder Nyon, still breathless from running, had rushed down after finishing her call. She hoped she had arrived in ti, before Hancock's pride led the island into disaster. Looking up at the man standing on the deck, arms crossed and face unreadable, she forced herself to bow deeply.
"My deepest apologies, Admiral Akainu," she said, her voice trembling. "The Empress suddenly felt unwell. Could you perhaps entrust the Warlord appointnt papers to ? I will deliver them to her on your behalf."
Her head remained low, showing the utmost respect.
Sakazuki glanced down at her from the deck. "Is that so? Funny… because to , your Empress looks full of energy."
The words had barely left his mouth when a haughty female voice cut through the air.
"Slave Arrow!"
Countless pink arrows burst from the forest, blotting out the sky as they rained down toward the warships.
Nyon's heart sank at the sound of Hancock's voice. 'Damn it… she gathered them this quickly?'
From the forest, Hancock appeared, her sisters and warriors rushing with her, bows drawn and eyes burning with devotion.
Standing beside Sakazuki, Carlo unsheathed Oto. Blue energy surged across the blade.
"One-Sword Style: Storm Rain."
He swung. A crescent of sword energy spiraled upward, splitting again and again until it beca a storm of countless smaller blades. They clashed with the incoming pink arrows.
Carlo's eyes widened in surprise. "This ability… even sword energy can be turned to stone?"
Sure enough, his slashes that t the pink arrows crumbled into stone midair, breaking apart as they fell.
Sakazuki spoke with his usual indifference, "So this is what you call 'unwell.'"
Nyon's forehead dampened with cold sweat. From behind her, Hancock strode forward, flanked by her warriors. The Kuja Pirates lined up on both sides of her path.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of her heels rang sharp against the stone as she stopped right behind Nyon. Hancock's face was ice cold as she looked down.
With a sudden motion, she kicked the old woman hard, sending her crashing into the sea. "Fool. Who gave you the right to decide for ? Don't forget, I am the ruler of Amazon Lily."
The surrounding warriors' eyes turned pink with heart-shaped pupils. "Even angry, Snake Princess-sama is so beautiful!"
Their adoration echoed in unison.
Sakazuki raised a brow and glanced at Carlo. "Is this… sothing that actually exists in reality?"
Carlo scratched his head awkwardly. Behind him, even the soldiers leaned against the rails, eyes glowing with the sa pink hearts. "Seems like… it is."
Down on the shore, Hancock lifted her chin toward the ships. "Insolent n. The mont you stepped into this land forbidden to your kind, you were guilty of death. Hand over the Warlord appointnt, and I may be rciful enough to let your filthy hearts, clouded by desire, turn into stone instead."
She struck her signature disdainful pose, tilting her head back in arrogance. Her warriors cried out as one.
"Snake Princess-sama!"
On the decks of the warships, soldiers mirrored the cry.
"Snake Princess-sama!"
Sakazuki's expression didn't change, though Caro covered his face with his hand, unable to watch.
Hancock held the pose for several long seconds, but no response ca. Her expression twisted with anger as she said, "You dare ignore ? Then killing you should be no problem. No matter what I do, I will always be forgiven. Because I am simply too beautiful!"
She brushed her bangs aside, striking a coy pose.
"Snake Princess-sama!" her people scread again, overwheld by admiration.
Basking in their voices, she turned her hands toward Sakazuki.
"Love-Love Beam!"
A giant pink heart shot forward, crashing through him. Yet nothing happened. Hancock froze in shock. "Impossible! How can soone resist my charm? How can there be no reaction at all?"
The Kujas were just as stunned. The Snake Princess's allure, which no man or woman had resisted before, had failed.
Boom!
Sakazuki's right arm suddenly turned into seething magma, smoke pouring upward. His voice was icy. "Because you are not strong enough. And because you're a fool. Did no one teach you that the strong deserve respect? Idiot."
His eyes swept over the Kuja warriors on the shore.
"Hellhound."
Whoosh!
His magma arm shot forward, stretching across the sand. It slamd into Hancock's position, the ground exploding in a fiery blast.
She barely managed to dodge, her pupils shrinking as she shouted, "Mov—!"
Boom!
The molten strike detonated, erupting into a sea of magma. Except for Nyon, who clung weakly to the shore, half her body in water, every warrior was swallowed in fire. The harbor beca a hellscape, glowing red with bubbling lava.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
From within the molten sea, the three sisters burst out, their bodies scorched and bleeding. All other Kuja pirates had already turned to ash within seconds.
Before they could catch their breath, a cloud of black smoke enveloped them. Sakazuki appeared through it, his hand snapping around Hancock's throat. He lifted her with ease and leapt back toward the warship stacked with stone soldiers.
"Big sister!" her sisters cried in panic.
They transford, their bodies twisting into giant snake forms.
"Snake Hair Possession: Eight-Headed Snake!"
"Snake Hair Possession: Salamander!"
Sandersonia's green hair twisted into eight massive serpents, lunging to bite. Marigold's orange hair ignited, forming two blazing pythons that coiled and struck.
Carlo raised Oto, blue energy rippling.
"One-Sword Style: Supre Azure Dragon."
A dragon of sword energy shot forth, tearing through the air at incredible speed. It pierced both sisters in an instant, shattering their serpentine forms. Their bodies crashed back to the ground, unable to rise.
Sakazuki landed on the deck with Hancock still in his grip. He tossed her down near the stone statues.
"Undo the petrification."
The indifferent, dismissive tone hit Hancock harder than any blow. His words dragged her back to harsh reality, dredging up bitter mories she wanted to forget.
In just a mont, her entire crew had been annihilated, her pride shattered. She scrambled in her mind for a way out.
Her eyes drifted to the statues of the petrified marines. Cornered by death itself, she dropped the mask of arrogance and returned to her true self.
"They were turned to stone because of my beauty," she said. "Even if I die, and you find another who inherits my ability, they will never return to normal."
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to say?"
Hancock struggled to her feet, trembling. "If you leave this island now, I swear I will restore them. I admit this was my mistake. I will join the Warlords of the Sea unconditionally. I will compensate you however you wish. Just leave now."
Sakazuki's reply was cold. "I'm not negotiating. Undo the petrification."
Hancock inhaled sharply. "Impossible. Unless you—"
Bang!
Sakazuki's finger pointed, and in the distance, Marigold's head exploded. Blood and flesh splattered across the ground.
"Mari!"
The cry tore from Hancock's throat, echoed by Sandersonia and Nyon.
Sakazuki's emotionless voice followed. "Can't do it? Then forget it."
His finger shifted toward Sandersonia, who was still writhing in pain…
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