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The Thunder God Pirates' flag was unlike any other pirate crew's. It didn't feature a terrifying skull.
Instead, it depicted a colossal hand reaching out to obscure the sky, its fingers curled into a claw, grasping a ball of lightning that radiated an aura of destruction!
"Rockwell left the North Blue to enter the New World? And he's joined the Thunder Emperor's command?"
The Donquixote Family, also originating from the North Blue, naturally recognized Rockwell. As a broker in the Underworld, Doflamingo had even collaborated with Rockwell's slave trade business in the past.
"Ignore him!" Doflamingo thought for a moment and decided to turn a blind eye!
He wanted absolutely nothing to do with anyone or anything related to the Thunder Emperor. No one willingly faced a monster like that.
"The Warlord title is secure. We return to Dressrosa immediately and expand our business to the entire world!"
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"Seize all the treasure!"
The proud Hancock personally ordered the destruction of the Celestial Dragons' ships. Her sensitive heart had finally begun to confront its own shadow.
"Yes, Snake Princess!"
"All this treasure belongs to the Kuja Pirates now!"
One by one, the beautiful warrior maidens carried gold and treasure from the Heavenly Tribute transport ships. On the port, all the Marines had been turned to stone.
Hancock haughtily ascended to the throne on her deck, casting a faint glance at the distant flamingo ship of the Donquixote Family.
"Fleeing out of fear? What a cowardly and disgusting man! Is there truly no man in this world who can compare to Lord Arthur?"
She mocked him for a moment and was about to withdraw her gaze when, suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a large ship capable of holding hundreds of people disappearing over the horizon.
Flying from its mast was the symbol that haunted her dreams!
"Lord Arthur's mark?" Hancock stood up abruptly, pointing into the distance. "Set sail! Chase after them! Hurry!!"
"Oh! Yes, Snake Princess!"
Though momentarily stunned by Hancock's sudden shout, the Kuja maidens reacted immediately, steering the ship while commanding the two giant serpents to drag the vessel forward!
Cutting through the waves, the pirate ship moved faster than any Navy warship. In less than half an hour, they caught up to the Rockwell Pirates!
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"Captain, the Kuja Pirates are catching up from behind! They're too fast; we can't shake them!" a crew member reported, panting as he ran over.
"What do those women want?"
"If they catch us, will it disturb Lord Arthur's work..."
"Captain, what should we do?"
Everyone looked to Rockwell for his decision. On the entire ship, only he could speak directly to the Thunder Emperor.
"Since we can't avoid them..." Rockwell's gaze was grim as he spoke without hesitation. "We have no choice but to fight!"
"Remember, do not let the battle take place on our ship!"
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On the Kuja Pirate Ship.
"Elder Sister!" Sandersonia stood beside Hancock with her arms crossed, flicking her tongue as she asked, "Why does that ship bear Lord Arthur's mark?"
"Shouldn't the Thunder God Pirates be in the New World? I've never heard of Lord Arthur having forces in the first half of the Grand Line!" Marigold was equally confused.
"Hmph, unforgivable!!" Hancock gritted her teeth, looking consumed by rage.
"Those filthy men must be using that Lord's banner to swindle and bluff their way through the Grand Line. It is a capital offense, unforgivable!"
From killing the Celestial Dragon on the Sabaody Archipelago to the three full months of tutelage, the three sisters had long since considered themselves members of the Thunder God Pirates in their hearts.
They returned to Amazon Lily to become the new Empress solely so that one day they could be of help to Arthur.
Driven by the two giant serpents, the pirate ship drew closer and closer to the Rockwell Pirates. The gap closed to less than a kilometer; they would collide in the blink of an eye.
As the distance between the two ships shrank, every warrior of the Kuja Pirates, led by the three Gorgon Sisters, burned with fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, the Rockwell Pirates were prepared to fight to the death to prevent anyone from boarding and disturbing the Thunder Emperor.
Battle was imminent...
"Snake Princess, prepare to board!!"
"No need. Those lowly men are eager to seek their own deaths!!" Hancock waved her hand to stop them. Standing atop one of the patterned serpents, she looked down with contempt as iron chains were thrown over from the Rockwell Pirates' ship.
Having escaped from Mary Geoise early and received three months of personal instruction from Arthur—one of the sea's apex powers—combined with nearly four years of honing her skills on Amazon Lily, her strength was leagues above what it once was.
Doflamingo's earlier assessment was spot on. If Hancock joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea, aside from being unmatched against Hawkeye Mihawk, she could likely defeat the other six, including Crocodile, Gecko Moria, Gild Tesoro, Jinbe, Mad Treasure, and Doflamingo himself.
When one encounters a mentor during the period of fastest personal growth, their strength is bound to explode.
Clatter—
Dozens of iron chains were flung fiercely from the Rockwell ship, hooking onto the railings of the Kuja ship and linking the two vessels together.
Rockwell took the lead, charging across the chains with over a hundred men behind him.
"Ready! Fire!!" Sandersonia commanded the warriors.
Dozens of women on the deck drew their snake-shaped longbows, imbuing them with powerful Armament Haki.
Neither side had any intention of negotiating. One side wanted a quick battle to prevent the Thunder Emperor from being disturbed. The other believed that flying Arthur's flag was an insult to him, fueling their already unreasonable nature.
Without a single word of exchange, war began!
"You dare initiate the attack? Reckless fools... Let your impure hearts, tempted by me, harden your bodies!"
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Hancock looked down her nose at them, refusing to meet their gaze. Her hands quickly formed a heart shape, and a beam of pink, heart-shaped light fell directly upon Rockwell...
Anyone attracted to the Empress's beauty who was hit by this beam would be instantly turned to stone by the shock of the Mero Mero Mellow.
But against those with no lust for beauty in their hearts, this move was useless!
"Hah, women!"
Rockwell, with his scruffy, middle-aged face, sneered. His arm instantly transformed into a red-hot iron block. Under the dual amplification of his fruit and Haki, his iron fist swept mercilessly toward Hancock.
He was a man cut from the same cloth as Shiliew. From the moment he first met Arthur thirteen years ago, he had resolved to follow him. That resolve hadn't wavered once, and the firmness of his heart rendered him completely immune to so-called beauty.
"Hmm? Not attracted by my charm?" Hancock was slightly surprised. She had never met a man who could ignore her allure. However, in an instant, her expression was replaced by disdain.
"Did the fear of death overshadow my charm?"
With a look of scorn, she raised her long, fair leg and kicked the incoming iron fist.
BANG!!
A dull collision echoed out. A terrifying shockwave from their clash swept outward instantly, blowing away over a dozen of Rockwell's men like leaves in a gale.
Just then...
"Enough. Stop!"
Arthur's voice, weary yet tinged with excitement, drifted clearly from the Rockwell ship over to the Kuja ship.
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