Hancock felt no pain at all—only warmth spreading across her back.
This warmth was something she had never experienced before.
Soon, the Phoenix Nirvana pattern took its place on Hancock's back.
"Now, this looks much better."
These words struck the softest part of Hancock's heart like a warm current.The tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled over, trickling down her cheeks at this moment.
Hancock's small frame threw itself into Roya's embrace.
"Th-thank you, thank you for saving us! Ever since we were captured near Amazon Lily, no one has been this kind to us."
Gently patting Hancock's back, Roya played the role of a big brother, speaking softly, "There, there. Now let me create new marks for your two younger sisters."
As he said this, Roya looked at the two girls behind Hancock and added, "I heard you're from Amazon Lily. How about I draw you both a Nine Snakes pattern? What do you think?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Soon, Roya had covered the Celestial Dragons' hoof marks on the two girls with Nine Snakes patterns.
"Thank you. My name is Boa Hancock—just call me Hancock."
"I'm Boa Sandersonia."
"And I'm Boa Marygold."
Roya looked at the slightly bashful Hancock before him, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
"Roya."
Hearing his name, Hancock felt the blush on her face deepen.
"Sister, are you sick?"
"Why is your face so red?"
Hearing her sisters' words, Hancock snapped out of her shyness and immediately said, "We must escape right now, or we'll lose our chance!"
As she spoke, Hancock looked at Roya.
Roya responded calmly, "I'll take you away."
"Yes!"
The girls nodded.
Though their time together had been brief, Hancock and the others already trusted Roya completely.
Especially Hancock—her eyes were now filled with nothing but Roya's image.
Emerging from the basement, Roya asked Fisher Tiger, "Feeling better?"
"Much better."
Fisher Tiger climbed to his feet. As a fish-man, his wounds had already stopped bleeding in this short time.
"Then let's leave Mary Geoise."
With that, Roya took the lead.
Hancock and her sisters followed, with Fisher Tiger bringing up the rear to protect them from any mishaps.
As they drew closer to the sea, the light in Hancock's eyes grew brighter.
The vast ocean before them represented freedom—the place they had longed for most.
"This is wonderful! We're almost free!"
Just as Hancock finished speaking, a beam of light appeared before them, accompanied by an extremely mocking voice: "Escape? Not possible~"
As the light faded, a tall, slender man with black curly hair, dressed in a yellow-and-white striped suit, sporting a beard and sunglasses, stood before them.
Fisher Tiger stared in disbelief at the man before him. "A... a Marine Vice Admiral! K-Kizaru!!!"
As one of the Marine's three legendary monsters, Fisher Tiger had heard of Kizaru's reputation.
Seeing Kizaru appear before them, he felt utterly engulfed in despair.
Kizaru looked down at Roya and the others from above, his exaggerated facial expressions and slow speech adding to his mocking tone."How terrifying~ I never expected Fisher Tiger and this mysterious person to know each other. But after defeating you, my salary should get a nice raise~"
The words were arrogant!
But Kizaru had the strength to back it up!
As a user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru possessed extreme mobility and devastating penetrating attacks. These two traits alone far surpassed other Logia-type Devil Fruits.
It could be said this was already one of the top-tier Logia abilities!
Kizaru then turned to Roya and asked, "Ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
As his words faded, Kizaru's body transformed into streaks of yellow light as he charged toward Roya.
Light Speed Kick!
So fast it was invisible to the naked eye!
Yet Roya didn't even bat an eye.
Six glowing fragments appeared before Roya, instantly capturing Kizaru's form and trapping him within.
Only then did Roya calmly utter, "Six Rod Light Restraint."
The entire sequence was effortless, smooth as flowing water, executed with utter ease.
Trapped within the Six Rod Light Restraint, Kizaru stared in disbelief at his predicament.
"This can't be!"
Not only did Kizaru refuse to believe he'd been so easily immobilized by Roya, but even Fisher Tiger stood frozen in shock.
"O-One move… He only used one move to block Kizaru's attack!"
Fisher Tiger was so stunned he could barely speak.
He never imagined that Kizaru, who had been so arrogantly boasting about using them to get a raise, would be subdued by Roya in a single move!
Hancock gently tugged at Roya's cloak, her dewy eyes filled with nothing but his figure.
She couldn't help but think—Roya was truly amazing!
"Hope the Marines will reimburse your medical bills."
As Roya spoke, he flipped his sword's hilt, gripping Flowing Blade Like Raging Fire properly, and murmured toward Kizaru's head, "Sōmyō."
BOOM!
Flames erupted!
A tornado-like wall of fire engulfed Kizaru completely!
The scorching heat relentlessly burned his body.
Kizaru tried to evade, attempting to shift into his elemental form, but trapped within the Six Rod Light Restraint, he couldn't move a muscle.
"Let's go."
After sheathing Flowing Blade Like Raging Fire, Roya led the group away from Holy Land Mary Geoise with effortless grace.
Roya commandeered a Marine warship and steered it toward the horizon.
On the deck, Roya let the sea breeze billow through his cloak.
With one hand resting on Hancock's silken hair, he asked her, "Do you hate this place?"
Hancock nodded emphatically. To her, this place held nothing but pain and deep-seated loathing.
"In that case, let me send them a little gift."
Roya slowly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Hancock glanced around in confusion, noticing no immediate changes.
Suddenly, Fisher Tiger pointed at the sky, his pupils trembling with shock. "T-The sky! Look above!"
At his words, everyone turned their gazes upward—only to see…