Sabaody Route – Amazon Lily
Unlike the usual peaceful calm, the atmosphere on Amazon Lily today was tense. The air was heavy with the scent of gunpowder, thick and suffocating.
Every one of the Kuja warriors was battle-ready, as if war could erupt at any moment.
A thick mass of dark clouds loomed overhead, casting an ominous shadow over the sea surrounding the island.
Oppression.
Rage.
Standing at the bow of her ship, Boa Hancock's beautiful face was a mask of frost. Her sharp gaze was filled with fury.
"World!"
She stared coldly at the towering man standing aboard the enemy pirate ship ahead. Her voice rang out, filled with anger:
"Hand over Sandersonia!"
"Lulululu! A pirate choosing to become a lackey of the World Government? Then let your head announce my return to the world!"
Atop the deck of the Great Byrnndi World stood tall and wild-eyed, his expression twisted with madness as he roared back.
"If you want her back, then come take her yourself! Lulululu…"
"Despicable…"
Hancock clenched her fists, gritting her teeth in fury. Without hesitation, she launched herself from her ship.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With explosive speed, Hancock rocketed through the sky. Her figure blurred into an afterimage, crossing a hundred meters in a breath and landing gracefully aboard Wald's ship.
"You brute, the Empress has arrived. Where is Sandersonia?"
She stood tall and proud like a queen descending from the heavens, her cold gaze looking down on her enemies.
"She's right here. If you've got the guts, come save her!"
World sneered. Behind him, a large woman hung suspended by chains, hoisted in the air.
It was none other than Hancock's sister, Sandersonia.
"Sister! Don't worry about me!" Sandersonia cried out, struggling helplessly, but her bindings held tight.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'll get you out of here."
Anger flared in Hancock's eyes, though she also felt a trace of relief.
At least she was still alive.
It had all happened so fast. No one expected World to suddenly appear near Amazon Lily's waters and capture Sandersonia during a routine patrol.
Unfortunately for him, he had encountered Hancock herself preparing to set sail.
World's true goal was always Hancock.
He wanted to use the life of the Pirate Empress, one of the Seven Warlords, to make a grand announcement to the World Government:
The World Destroyer has returned.
Byrnndi World, user of the More More Fruit, had once terrified the seas. Thirty years ago, the World Government launched a full-scale operation to apprehend him.
He had been imprisoned on the sixth level of Impel Down, but during the chaos caused by Luffy's prison break and Blackbeard's raid, he escaped.
The Moa Moa no Mi granted Wald the ability to increase the size and power of anything he touched—including himself.
But his ambition had grown with his strength.
He even dared dream of building a super-cannon powerful enough to obliterate Mary Geoise, the sacred land of the Celestial Dragons.
A madman's dream—but terrifyingly real.
After decades in the dark, World had returned to the light filled with rage, dead set on vengeance against the World Government.
His first target?
The Warlords. And Hancock, the most isolated among them, was the easiest to find.
---
Swoosh!
Just as Hancock prepared to fight, a sharp whistle split the air behind her.
A sneak attack.
She reacted instantly, shifting her body sideways, narrowly dodging the strike.
Boom!
The deck exploded where the attack landed, leaving behind a deep crater.
It had been a stream of pressurized water, moving at incredible speed. If it had struck her directly, the damage would have been immense.
Hancock's expression darkened. She scanned the surroundings, but saw no trace of the attacker.
Whoever it was, they were an expert in stealth and timing.
Failing their first strike, the enemy had already vanished into hiding, waiting for another opportunity.
That made them especially dangerous.
With such a threat lurking, Hancock couldn't afford to be careless.
Click. Click.
Her high heels tapped against the deck as she moved, her face increasingly grim. She had no patience for this game of cat and mouse.
But with no way to locate the cabin entrance, she realized: she would have to defeat this ambusher first.
Swoosh!
Another attack came.
A water arrow flew from the sea's surface, targeting her back.
"Hmph."
Without even turning around, Hancock lashed out with a swift kick, her long leg slicing through the air like a blade.
The water arrow shattered on impact.
But it didn't end there. The sea around her suddenly roared as dozens more streams of water surged toward her.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless water blasts closed in from every direction. Within a ten-meter radius, there was no space left to dodge.
"Perfume Femur!"
Hancock leapt high into the air. Spinning gracefully, she unleashed a powerful 360-degree kick, knocking down every incoming stream.
She landed with perfect balance, her poise unwavering.
"Coward. You think you can harm a royal with tricks like that?"
The hidden enemy finally spoke, perhaps angered by her condescension.
"Oya Takesai!"
A shrill voice echoed from the sea, and moments later, a massive stream of water shaped like a monstrous beast surged toward her.
Hancock's gaze sharpened. She wasn't taking this one lightly.
"Slave Arrow!"
Activating the power of the Love-Love Fruit, she fired a volley of pink arrows.
In a flash, they struck the watery beast, petrifying it mid-air before it shattered against the deck.
Clearly, Hancock's power was overwhelming.
She didn't stop there.
The enemy's voice had exposed his position.
With pinpoint accuracy, she unleashed a storm of arrows into the sea, each one streaking downward like pink lightning.
Forced to defend himself, the attacker was finally revealed.
He was a giant fish-man hybrid, blind but massive, wearing dark sunglasses. Though blind, his instincts were honed.
His name was Sebastian, one of World's key subordinates.
His strength was considerable. But compared to Hancock, he was no match.
The battle didn't last long. Hancock defeated him head-on with elegance and power.
At that moment, a glowing spatial portal opened before her.
Without hesitation, she stepped through.
Above, World watched it all unfold with an expressionless face, unmoved.
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