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Three years ago, with Arthur's help, she had killed a Celestial Dragon with her own hands, freeing herself from the lingering shadow in her heart. However, psychological trauma of that magnitude could never heal perfectly.
Seeing the nightmarish "Hoof of the Celestial Dragon" on the Heavenly Tribute transport ships, Hancock still felt a surge of panic. Her voice became unconsciously hysterical, and the hand gripping the railing turned white, veins bulging from the excessive force.
"Destroy those two ships that disgust me!"
"Fire!!"
The orange-haired, stout Boa Marigold naturally knew where her elder sister's fear stemmed from. She immediately took charge and launched the attack.
One by one, the bikini-clad warrior maidens of Amazon Lily unslung their longbows, drew arrows, and fired in perfect unison.
Shockingly, every woman on this ship knew how to use Armament Haki!
In the first half of the Grand Line, Haki users were rare enough to be counted on one hand. The ultimate gathering place for Haki masters was the dreamland of all pirates—the New World!
To suddenly encounter an entire ship of Haki users in the first half, and all of them women at that, was naturally astonishing.
Arrows wrapped in Armament Haki formed a sky-covering rain that shot toward the Heavenly Tribute transport ships.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion erupted. Under a single volley, the terrifying power—unheard of in the first half of the Grand Line—blasted the treasure-laden transport ships apart, sinking them on the spot.
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"Hmm? Is that the Navy and... the recently famous Kuja Pirates, made up entirely of women?" Rockwell raised his telescope, spotting the battle erupting ahead on their route.
An all-female pirate crew led by the world's most beautiful woman—intelligence on such a group had long since spread across the world.
Rockwell frowned, shifting his telescope. "A flamingo? Is Joker involved too?"
Every prominent pirate who set sail had their own signature ship. A pink flamingo could only mean Donquixote Doflamingo!
"Captain, should we detour?" the helmsman shouted. The entire crew looked to Rockwell, awaiting his decision.
They didn't fear war; in fact, they were eager to start a battle to make a name for themselves and announce to the world that the Rockwell Pirates had joined the Thunder God Pirates.
However, continuing forward without giving way might be interpreted as an intention to intervene in the battle. Moreover, Lord Arthur in the bottom hold had issued strict orders not to be disturbed.
"Change course. Lord Arthur's orders are above all else!" Rockwell lowered the telescope, his expression serious.
Under his command, the massive ship began to steer toward the left magnetic path, skirting the edge of the three-way conflict between the Kuja Pirates, the Donquixote Family, and the Navy.
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The Heavenly Tribute transport ships sank under a single volley. The memory of that sky-covering arrow rain would be hard to forget.
"Do you know what you are doing, Boa Hancock?!" Vice Admiral Momonga watched helplessly as the ships disappeared beneath the waves, his fury skyrocketing.
The World Nobles had already been making a fuss because the Heavenly Tribute had been hijacked earlier; Fleet Admiral Sengoku had been scolded severely.
"Silence! Seeing the filthy mark of the Celestial Dragons fills me with such rage that I can hear nothing! How dare an insolent man call me by my name directly? It is an unforgivable sin!" Hancock gritted her teeth. Being addressed by her name felt like an unprecedented insult.
"No matter what great error I commit, the whole world will forgive me... because I am simply too beautiful~" Hancock's furious expression instantly changed as she cupped her beautiful face, sinking into narcissism.
"Snake Princess!!"
"Aaaaaahhhhh!"
The warrior women of Amazon Lily, who were usually tougher and braver than men, cheered around Hancock with lovestruck expressions.
"D... Damn it! I can't muster any fighting spirit at all!" Cold sweat poured down Vice Admiral Momonga's forehead.
The 16 Vice Admirals of Navy Headquarters were elites who stood out among countless Marines. Their willpower and combat ability were terrifying. Yet today, in front of the Pirate Empress, he couldn't summon even the slightest desire to attack.
Shing!!
He ruthlessly slashed his own hand with a knife. The intense pain stimulated his brain, forcing him to calm down through external means.
"The Heavenly Tribute must not be lost..." Momonga took a deep breath, expelling all distracting thoughts from his mind. He had to stop the Kuja Pirates' continued assault.
As for the Marines who were uselessly trapped in infatuation like trash fish, he ignored them entirely.
He couldn't blame them for their weak will; Hancock's charm was simply too overpowering.
"Enough!!"
With a roar, Momonga kicked off the air with Moonwalk (Geppo), slashing out a cross-shaped flying slash.
"Perfume Femur!"
A long, slender leg extended from the high slit of her red floral cheongsam, kicking directly at the descending slash.
The flying slash shattered in mid-air. Hancock's momentum didn't slow as she turned into a bolt of lightning...
Clang!!
Metal clashed against iron. Her beautiful leg, coated in Armament Haki, collided with the longsword. The petrifying power spread from her leg, turning Momonga's sword to stone before shattering it completely.
Unable to focus his mind, Momonga couldn't bring out even a tenth of his strength. Under the overwhelming force, he was kicked out of the sky and into the sea by Hancock.
"Snake Princess!!"
"Ah~ She's so beautiful even in battle!!"
Faced with this irresistible charm, the members of the Kuja Pirates screamed, clutching their faces with hearts in their eyes as they watched the Empress land gracefully on one of her serpents.
"Hmph!"
Hancock placed one hand on her hip and used the other to brush her black hair behind her ear, revealing her gold snake-shaped earrings. Her tall, moving figure stood proud, her head held high in utter disdain.
On the other side of the port, on the Donquixote Family's flamingo ship that was about to depart.
"Fuffuffuffuffu, that woman's unreasonableness is no different from those monsters in the New World!" Doflamingo withdrew his gaze, a hint of wariness in his eyes.
After the struggle for hegemony among the "Four Emperors and One Sovereign" cleared out a large batch of pirates, new little monsters were already starting to emerge.
This Pirate Empress's Armament Haki combined with her Devil Fruit ability allowed her to shatter the sword of Momonga—one of the strongest Vice Admirals—with a single kick. That proved her Haki was a cut above his own!
Moreover, his own dormant Conqueror's Haki was stirring, indicating that this woman also possessed the disposition of a king.
"Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!" Doflamingo muttered her name twice, then turned to leave without hesitation.
He had secured the final Warlord seat anyway. Whoever robbed or sank the Heavenly Tribute transport ships was none of his concern.
"Young Master! We spotted an old acquaintance on the left route... Should we go say hello?"
"Old acquaintance?" Doflamingo took the telescope handed to him by a family member and looked into the distance.
"Hmm? That's the biggest slave trader in the North Blue, Rockwell? Wait... the mark on his flag is... the Thunder Emperor??"
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