The Rayquaza creaked gently as ocean swells rocked the ship, while above them Kaido's massive form surveyed Rusukaina Island. Below deck, in a quiet cabin where afternoon sunlight filtered through salt-stained windows, Kai quietly brought Princess Mansherry to meet those who needed her most.
There, the three Boa sisters had already been waiting, their usual composure replaced by barely contained anxiety.
"K-Kai-sama..." Hancock's voice carried a tremor she couldn't quite suppress. Those eyes, usually blazing with imperial pride, now swirled with uncertain hope and fear. "Can it really be done?"
Although she yearned every waking moment to erase the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon that branded her with endless humiliation, now that her dream was within reach, waves of disbelief crashed over her. The possibility felt too fragile, too precious to be real.
She was terrified this was just another cruel dream.
"Don't worry. Mansherry will heal you." Kai's voice carried the steady certainty of bedrock, unshakeable and true.
The little princess in his palm nodded with fierce determination, her tiny face set with purpose that seemed too large for her delicate features.
"I... I trust you." Hancock took a shuddering breath, steeling herself.
She turned around with the gravity of someone facing their deepest fear, her fingers trembling as she undid the buttons of her qipao. Her waterfall of black hair was swept forward like a curtain, revealing for the first time that shameful brand that had never been shown to any outsider.
It was a claw-shaped pattern formed by a central circle and four triangles, burned into her skin with cruel precision.
The Hoof of the Soaring Dragon. A nightmare that lived in the hearts of countless Celestial Dragon slaves, a symbol that reduced human beings to property.
Hancock closed her eyes and lay on the soft bedding, her body taut as a bowstring with nervousness and anticipation as she awaited fate's judgment.
"Please take care of it." Kai's voice was gentle as morning rain as he addressed Mansherry.
"Yes! Leave it to me!" Mansherry's small face grew serious as she nodded with solemn resolve.
Kai had already explained that she wasn't just removing a brand but healing a soul that had been torn and wounded for years.
The little princess leaped lightly onto Hancock's snow-white back, her tiny feet making no sound on the silk-smooth skin. She took a deep breath, and crystal tears like the purest pearls began to roll down from her large, compassionate eyes.
Drip. Drip.
The teardrops containing miraculous healing power fell onto the hated brand. The moment they made contact, that symbol of humiliation and blood-soaked memories began to rapidly fade and dissolve like ice and snow scattered by warm sunlight until it vanished completely into nothingness.
On the smooth expanse of skin, not even a shadow remained.
"Sister, it... it worked!" Marigold was the first to react, her voice breaking with emotion. She pressed both hands to her mouth as tears of joy burst forth like a dam breaking.
Hancock suddenly pushed herself up and rushed to the nearby vanity mirror, her movements desperate and disbelieving.
In the reflection, that back, which had once been branded with endless pain, was now clean and pristine, unmarked and perfect as freshly fallen snow.
"Really..." Her voice was barely a whisper.
"It's really gone!"
Hancock murmured to herself, her fingertips trembling like autumn leaves as she carefully traced that patch of reborn skin. The flesh was warm and whole, bearing no memory of its torment.
Enormous joy crashed through all her defenses like a tsunami of relief and freedom.
Years of accumulated humiliation, pain, and bone-deep fear all transformed into scalding tears that rushed down her face like a bursting flood.
"Thank you, Kai-sama, thank you..." Hancock could no longer contain the storm of emotions. She whirled around and threw herself into Kai's embrace without reservation, burying her tear-stained face deep in his chest as sobs wracked her entire body.
She had been reborn. The chains that had bound her soul for so many years had finally, truly, been broken.
More than ten minutes passed before Sandersonia and Marigold also had their marks removed by the little princess's miraculous tears. The three sisters embraced tightly in a circle of shared joy and liberation, weeping tears that tasted of freedom.
The legend of the three Gorgon sisters of Amazon Lily had come to its end, replaced by something far more beautiful and true.
When Kai and the others emerged from the cabin with the completely renewed Boa sisters, sunlight seemed to shine more brightly on their faces. Above them, Kaido had completed his survey of Rusukaina Island.
In the sky, Kaido's massive form revealed his Azure Dragon shape once more, scales gleaming like polished armor in the afternoon light.
Flame clouds began to gather.
Numerous flame-red clouds, like burning embers, responding to Kaido's will, quickly wrapped and enveloped the entire island of Rusukaina in an otherworldly embrace.
Rumble rumble...
The next instant, the entire island let out a deep, massive groan that seemed to come from the earth's very bones. The sound was primal and ancient, like the world itself was shifting.
The ground shook violently beneath their feet, and the seawater around the island churned as if stirred by some invisible titan's hand, surging outward in concentric waves that caught the light like liquid gold.
"The... the island moved!" Sandersonia pointed skyward with a shaking finger, her voice filled with awe and terror. "Is this really something humans can do?"
Kai watched the spectacle with calm appreciation. This was nothing compared to what he'd seen before. The strongest mover in this world was Golden Lion with his Float-Float Fruit, who could manipulate not just islands but entire seas.
He carefully returned Mansherry and Leo to Kaido's massive dragon head, where they settled between the great horns like tiny passengers on a living mountain.
"Come back early, kid. The New World isn't very peaceful these days."
Kaido's huge dragon eyes fixed on Kai, his voice rumbling like distant thunder across storm clouds.
"I know." Kai nodded, then added with a knowing smile, "Don't forget to look for the Dango-Dango Fruit. It should be near Amigasa Village."
The more intelligent beasts on Rusukaina Island were in the minority after all. Most were violent giants acting purely on instinct and bloodlust.
Taming them one by one would be time-consuming and inefficient when there was a Devil Fruit perfectly suited for the task.
"Hmph! I don't know where you get all this strange information, kid!" Kaido glanced at him with something between suspicion and admiration, then said no more. He twisted his serpentine body and flew away with the entire island toward the horizon, becoming a distant speck against the clouds.
Soon, both dragon and island disappeared into the vast blue sky.
Buru buru buru buru.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Kai's arms began to ring with urgent persistence.
The moment Kai answered, the creature's face morphed to mimic red sunglasses and an arrogant smile that could only belong to one man.
"My good friend, are you interested in attending the grand opening ceremony of the world's largest entertainment city?"
Doflamingo's voice carried its usual blend of cynicism and charm, cutting straight to the point with predatory efficiency.
So they were ready already? Kai chuckled softly. "Since Joker himself is personally inviting me, I naturally won't be absent."
"Fufufufufu..." Having secured Kai's agreement, Doflamingo's laughter became even more pleased, like a spider satisfied with its web. "Then it's settled! Looking forward to our meeting in a week. I guarantee you, it will absolutely be heaven on earth."
The Den Den Mushi clicked off with finality.
"K-Kai-sama, Are you... are you leaving already?!" Hancock's voice cracked like breaking glass as the words hit her.
She froze in place as if struck by lightning, all color draining from her beautiful face until only stark paleness remained.
"Of course." Kai shrugged with casual certainty. "I've achieved my purpose on Amazon Lily. It's time to set sail for new horizons."
"Kai-sama, could you... could you stay here?" Hancock's voice became small and desperate as she raised her head. A strange flush colored her cheeks while her hands nervously clutched the hem of her qipao, twisting the silk fabric until her knuckles went white.
"I knew it!" Violet crossed her arms and snorted with obvious displeasure, her sharp gaze sweeping back and forth between Hancock and Kai like a judge weighing evidence.
Reiju and Kozuki Hiyori exchanged knowing glances and smiled with helpless resignation. Kai-sama's charm seemed almost supernaturally effective.
Yamato's delicate eyebrows furrowed like storm clouds gathering. She stepped forward and grabbed Kai's arm possessively, declaring with the fierce loyalty of a devoted companion, "What are you talking about! Kai is going to travel the world with me! How could he possibly stay trapped on this small island forever!"
"Wow! Are they going to fight?!" Bonney's eyes immediately lit up with bloodthirsty excitement as she pumped her small fists in the air, practically vibrating with anticipation for violence.
"Bonney, be more ladylike..." Kuma sighed deeply, rubbing his temples with the weariness of a parent whose child had discovered warfare.
Since being cured, this child's violent instincts seemed to have awakened with a vengeance, always eager for conflict and chaos.
He was such a gentle soul. Could it be that the Beast Pirates' atmosphere was corrupting his innocent daughter?
"Boring." Ace propped his chin on one hand and yawned with theatrical disinterest. "Women are too troublesome and complicated."
To him, rather than waste precious time chatting with emotional females, he'd rather run ten laps around the deck or practice his combat techniques.
Zoro nodded in deep, masculine agreement, his eyes closed in meditation as he held his swords with reverent care.
But Sanji wore an expression of envy so intense it bordered on physical pain. "Truly worthy of Kai-aniki, so easily capturing the heart of the world's most beautiful woman!"
"Hm?!" The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
"Who did you say is the world's most beautiful woman?!" Reiju, Kozuki Hiyori, and Violet's eyebrows shot up like warning flags as three sets of murderous eyes focused on the loose-tongued cook.
Sanji's neck seemed to shrink into his shoulders as cold sweat poured down his face in rivulets. On this ship filled with dangerous women, he was genuinely the lowest in the hierarchy.
"Ha! Need you even ask?! He's obviously talking about me!" Hancock seemed to have a switch flipped, instantly returning to that supremely arrogant attitude that looked down on the entire world.
She suddenly tilted her head back in a pose of absolute superiority, her right index finger pointing downward with incomparable confidence and imperial disdain.
"You plain, vulgar women aren't worthy of Kai-sama at all!" Hancock cupped her devastatingly beautiful face with both hands, her gaze sweeping over Yamato and the others with undisguised superiority blazing in her eyes.
"The only one in this world worthy of such a magnificent man as Kai-sama is me alone!" As she spoke, she seemed to fall into some wonderful romantic fantasy, the blush on her peerless face deepening as steam practically rose from her head.
In this instant, she had already planned their wedding, chosen names for their future children, and designed the royal nursery.
"Damn it!" Reiju, Kozuki Hiyori, and Violet, who had originally shown some diplomatic tolerance for Hancock joining their complicated dynamic, were instantly ignited by this declaration of total war.
As fellow beauties who had never lacked for admirers, they absolutely refused to acknowledge any inherent inferiority to this arrogant empress.
Kai's mouth twitched as he recognized Hancock's devastating talent for creating chaos. In mere moments, she had managed to offend the very women most likely to accept her presence.
Seeing the situation about to explode into an all-out battlefield, Kai decisively intervened. Leading a harem required the wisdom to manage conflict, not hide from it when trouble arose.
Besides, he had no desire to end up like certain fictional characters whose romantic complications destroyed everything they held dear.
"Hancock, honestly speaking, I'm very happy to receive your favor." Kai's eyes held sincere warmth and appreciation. "But I can't possibly stay here and abandon my dreams."
"My journey is this vast, boundless sea! My goal is to stand at the pinnacle of this world and conquer everything beneath these endless skies!"
"Con... conquer the world?!" Hancock's beautiful eyes widened until they seemed to fill her entire face, her speech becoming stuttered with shock and awe. "Then... then the Celestial Dragons?"
"Will naturally be overthrown and crushed beneath my heel!" Kai answered without hesitation, his voice carrying the absolute certainty of destiny itself.
"Eh?!!!" The explosive sound echoed across the deck.
"Just... just said it so plainly?!" The three Boa sisters were so shocked their eyes nearly popped from their skulls.
Those were the Celestial Dragons who had ruled the world with iron fists for eight hundred years! The untouchable gods who controlled nations and lives with casual cruelty!
Truly worthy of the man I've chosen, Hancock thought with fierce pride.
She felt a surge of molten determination rush through her veins, so intense that her entire body took on an alluring pink glow of excitement and devotion.
The decision crystallized in her mind with perfect clarity.
"I want to go to sea with Kai-sama!" Hancock clenched her fists and announced with the fervor of a religious convert finding salvation.
"Eh?" Sandersonia and Marigold snapped out of their shock and instantly rushed over, embracing Hancock from both sides like human shackles.
"Sister, you can't be impulsive! Amazon Lily still needs your leadership! The people of Amazon Lily can't survive without your guidance!"
If Gloriosa were present at this moment, she would have experienced a powerful sense of déjà vu. When she had decided to leave the Kuja Pirates to pursue her own burning love years ago, Shakky had given her the exact same desperate advice.
But the result would be identical to that distant day. No force in heaven or earth could stop a Kuja woman's heart once it burned with the fire of true love and her determination to move forward regardless of consequence or cost.
"Let go of me! No one can stop destiny!" Hancock's expression instantly darkened as dangerous energy crackled around her like contained lightning.
If not for the fact that those restraining her were her beloved sisters, she would have attacked without mercy or hesitation.
"Alright, Hancock." Kai grasped her arm with firm gentleness, his touch immediately calming the storm brewing within her. "Settle down and listen to me carefully. Amazon Lily still needs you now. Your people need their Empress to remain and guide them through the dangerous times ahead."
He paused, his tone becoming weighted with strategic importance. "Moreover, I need you to continue serving in your Warlord position."
Hancock was, after all, a Warlord personally invited by the Navy's highest command. If she suddenly announced her allegiance to the Beast Pirates, it would be tantamount to publicly humiliating the World Government before the entire world.
Such an insult would inevitably trigger violent retaliation from the Navy's full might.
More terrifyingly, the Five Elders, who were already growing concerned about the Beast Pirates exceeding normal specifications, might decide to take decisive action to prevent the rise of a second Rocks Pirates.
Kai's mind raced through even deeper strategic implications. Adding this new force centered around the Rayquaza, the Beast Pirates clearly exceeded the normal power structure of a typical Yonko crew.
Kuma and Yamato possessed at least All-Star-level strength as their baseline. As time passed and their abilities grew, they would be positioned as formidable vice-emperors.
More significantly, once Yamato mastered advanced Haki techniques like Conqueror's coating and achieved fruit awakening, she would touch the threshold of true Yonko-level power.
In the future, Zoro, Sanji, and Ace would also reach at least the level of powerful vice-emperors.
Even little Bonney could develop special combat power with the right training and development.
With his prophetic knowledge, he possessed an almost unfair advantage in collecting and nurturing talent that ordinary leaders could never match.
Kai was even considering whether to temporarily distance himself from the Beast Pirates at an appropriate moment to reduce the World Government's mounting paranoia.
But those were concerns for another day.
"Needed... I'm needed by Kai-sama!!!" Hancock covered her heart as if struck by Cupid's most powerful arrow, her beautiful blue eyes instantly flooding with tsunami waves of happiness and euphoric purpose.
Kai's mouth twitched slightly. Hancock had obviously filtered his words through the lens of romance, hearing only the keywords that fed her growing obsession.
"In that case..." Hancock took a deep, steadying breath and clenched her fists as if making a sacred oath that would bind her soul. "I will continue serving as a Warlord for Kai-sama's sake and his glorious cause!"
At this moment, in the theater of her romantic imagination, she had already cast herself as Kai's most important undercover agent within the Navy's ranks.
This sense of noble sacrifice and secret mission for love made her entire being radiate an almost mystical brilliance, as if she had found her true calling at last.
The sun began to set over Amazon Lily, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson that seemed to bless this new alliance forged in the crucible of healed wounds and awakened hearts.