As the barrage of shells came flying toward her, a cold glint flashed through Kaguya's golden eyes. She raised her arm, and a red-black longsword appeared in her hand. With a casual swing, a streak of black light tore through the air, transforming into a rainbow-like arc that shot through the sky.
"Excalibur."
Boom boom boom!
Accompanied by deafening explosions, the shells struck by the black sword light instantly detonated, reduced to dust under the immense power.
Flames scattered, and thick smoke billowed.
The residual force of the black sword light didn't dissipate. It turned into a sky-piercing pillar of light and continued toward the warship carrying Kizaru.
"How scary," Kizaru said nonchalantly.
But when the enormous black sword light came crashing down with unstoppable might, his pupils shrank abruptly. He could no longer utter any sarcastic remarks.
Such terrifying power.
The aura it emitted was so fearsome it was almost suffocating.
Kizaru's gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, he raised his leg, photons gathering around his calf. Then he kicked out violently—a dazzling beam of light shot forth, meeting the oncoming black pillar.
"Light-Speed Kick."
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out as black and white light collided, unleashing a blinding radiance.
Fierce winds howled, and massive waves surged.
The violent clash stirred up a monstrous tempest, turning the sky dark and the earth grim.
Hancock's beautiful eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected that this seemingly delicate girl possessed such overwhelming power. The terrifying aura, like an abyss, made even her, a wielder of Conqueror's Haki, shudder with fear.
When the blinding white light faded, everything returned to calm. The winds died down, the clouds cleared—it was as if nothing had happened.
Kizaru involuntarily took a few steps back before managing to steady himself. His legs felt numb. Looking up, his expression grew grave.
He had almost failed to block her attack.
If he hadn't pushed himself to the limit at the last second, he might have been sent flying—and their warship would've been sunk by now.
Who exactly was she? Why did she suddenly appear?
At that moment, Kaguya lightly tapped her toe and gently landed from the sky, touching down on the Kuja Pirates' ship.
As soon as she landed, a group of crew members surrounded her, pointing various weapons at her.
But in the midst of this heavy encirclement, Kaguya remained unfazed. She didn't even glance at them, completely ignoring their presence as she walked forward.
"Stand down," Hancock commanded in a low voice, striding over. "All of you, leave."
"But..."
The crew members hesitated. But seeing the unquestionable look in their leader's eyes, they could only retreat.
"Got anything to eat?" Kaguya extended her pale hand and asked succinctly.
Everyone on the ship was stunned, a bit confused. What did she mean by that?
Even Hancock couldn't figure out what the girl was trying to do.
"Sister, this person is acting really suspicious," her sister, Boa Marigold, whispered. "It might be a trap."
Kaguya glanced at her from the corner of her eye and said, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
That cold glance was like being stared at by a ferocious beast. Marigold immediately felt as if she'd fallen into an icy abyss.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Both sides stood in a standoff, weapons drawn. The crew looked nervous, palms sweaty, and fine beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.
Hancock frowned and said, "Do as she says."
"Yes, ma'am."
The crew members, relieved, hurried off to the kitchen and brought out the lunch that had been prepared earlier. It consisted of exquisite little snacks, giving off a mouthwatering aroma.
Kaguya took the food, but after a single bite, she frowned and spat it out. "Got any meat?"
The crew were dumbfounded. Was there really someone this shameless? Getting free food wasn't enough—she still dared to be picky.
Hancock waved her hand and said, "Bring out the roast meat."
"Fried potatoes would be even better."
"Make a plate of fries too."
"Yes, ma'am."
The crew exchanged glances, watching the girl happily munching on beef and fries, her face full of bliss. They couldn't reconcile this cheerful image with the cool, imposing warrior from moments ago. The contrast was too stark.
"Hancock, I didn't expect you to have such a helper. No wonder you're acting so bold," Kizaru said lazily, having returned to his usual nonchalant demeanor. "Quite impressive."
Hancock snorted, lifted her chin, and said proudly, "What I do is none of the Navy's concern."
"So you're willing to bring disaster upon your country and people?" Kizaru leaned lazily against the railing, glancing at her. "The Navy isn't as weak as you might think."
Hancock's beautiful eyes sparkled as she gave a faint, enchanting smile, stunningly beautiful like a blooming flower.
For a moment, all the sailors on the Navy ship were entranced, gazing at her in a daze.
"No matter what I do, I'll be forgiven—because I'm just too beautiful," Boa Hancock declared, her posture proud and lofty. Her captivating eyes looked down at them. "Even you are no exception. Who are you to criticize me? Hmph."
Her light snort displayed her arrogance without restraint.
As for the Navy? She didn't regard them as anything worth worrying about.
Yet, despite her dismissive tone, the Navy soldiers became even more lovestruck, breaking into cheers.
"Hancock! Hancock!"
"Perfect woman!"
"Forgiven! Forgiven!"
"To think someone could use the Love-Love Fruit to such a level—it's terrifying," Kizaru commented lazily, glancing at her. "But since you've refused, I can't let you off so easily."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kizaru's body suddenly vanished from the deck—
He reappeared instantly behind her.
Hancock's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, her long, slender leg lashed out in a spinning kick.
"Perfume Kick!"
Thud! A muffled sound rang out.
Kizaru casually blocked the strike with his leg and said mockingly, "So fierce."
Hancock snorted and kicked again. Bang! Her leg struck Kizaru's once more. Using the recoil, she leapt high into the air, pressed a pale finger to her pink lips, and blew out a red heart, pulling on it with her fingers.
"Slave Arrow!"
Countless pink arrows rained down from above.
"How scary."
Seeing the rain of arrows rushing toward him, Kizaru leapt high into the air. In a flash of light, his body transformed into a dazzling photon form, and countless light bullets were fired instantly.
Boom boom boom!
A continuous rumble echoed as the light bullets fiercely collided with the arrows, erupting into bursts of brilliant fire in mid-air. Firelight blazed, and thick smoke billowed.
But just then, Hancock sensed something was wrong. The number of Kizaru's light bullets far exceeded her expectations. They blanketed the sky like a torrential downpour. Her Slave Arrows were actually struggling to hold them back.
As expected of one of the Navy's top three combat powers.
Hancock gritted her teeth and continued to resist. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.
But there were simply too many light bullets. Her arrows could no longer keep up.
Finally, countless light bullets pierced through the layers of defense and rained down like a storm toward the Kuja Pirates' ship below.
No!
Hancock's pupils contracted. She turned her head in panic—those on the Kuja ship wouldn't be able to withstand such an attack.
Just as the light bullets were about to slam into the ship, a black sword light suddenly flashed forth. Wreathed in pitch-black lightning, the sword energy shot through the sky in an instant. It not only swept away the light bullets but also cleared out Hancock's arrows.
The blue sky returned to calm.
"Hmm?"
Kizaru widened his eyes in surprise. He was a bit taken aback—the opponent had so easily neutralized his Yasakani no Magatama.
Below, Kaguya acted as though nothing had happened. She continued eating roast meat, as if she hadn't been the one who launched the attack.
The crew, still shaken from their brush with death, glanced at Kaguya with newfound respect.
They hadn't expected such a small-looking girl to possess such overwhelming strength.
No wonder she's with Lady Hancock.
Hancock let out a sigh of relief. When she turned back to Kizaru, her beautiful eyes were burning with fury. "Despicable! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" she shouted, lunging forward and unleashing a spinning kick with her long legs.
Bang!
Kizaru blocked the strike effortlessly.
"So fierce. As expected of the Pirate Empress," Kizaru said lazily. "But… aren't you worried about the people on your island?"
The people on her island?
A sudden sense of dread filled Hancock's heart. She quickly turned her head toward Amazon Lily in the distance, and her pupils shrank sharply.
Above the island, fireclouds had appeared. Scorching red fireballs, like meteors, were falling upon the island, bursting into blazing explosions. The deafening roars could be heard even from afar. In the blink of an eye, Amazon Lily was engulfed in a sea of flames.
"Despicable!" Hancock said through gritted teeth.
"That wasn't me, you know. Don't blame me for something I didn't do," a familiar voice suddenly whispered in Hancock's ear.
Her face changed dramatically—at some point, Kizaru had appeared behind her.
No!
In her moment of distraction, Kizaru had seized the opportunity.
Hancock tried to turn and block—but it was already too late.
Bang! A muffled sound echoed.
Hancock was sent flying like a meteor, crashing down hard onto the deck with a loud boom.
"Cough cough."
Propping herself up from the ground, Hancock coughed violently, blood seeping through her fingers as she covered her mouth.
"Lady Hancock!"
The crew immediately rushed over, calling out in alarm and standing protectively in front of her, glaring furiously at Kizaru.
"Bastard! What did you do to Lady Hancock?!"
"Damn it!"
"Protect Lady Hancock!"
Hancock stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and said coldly, "Stand down."
"But, Lady Hancock—"
"I told you to stand down. Are you disobeying my orders?" Her voice turned icy.
The crew had no choice but to retreat, though their eyes remained locked in angry glares at Kizaru.
"Very wise," Kizaru smacked his lips. "I was planning to wipe you all out."
Hancock's exquisite face grew grim. As expected of one of the Navy's strongest, his power was beyond anything she had imagined.
It was no surprise. After all, this wasn't the Hancock from years later. She had only recently escaped from Mary Geoise, and despite her talent, there was no way she could rival Kizaru in such a short time.
Just then, a thunderous roar came from the distance. Everyone turned their heads in shock.
In the sky, a blazing cloud had appeared. Countless fireballs were plummeting like meteors. More shocking still, a massive fireball—almost half the size of Amazon Lily—was descending. If it landed, everyone on the island would be annihilated.
Beads of sweat formed on Hancock's forehead.
At that moment, Kaguya suddenly stood up and walked to the ship's rail. In a soft voice, she said, "Since I'm full, I guess it's time to move a little." With a light tap of her feet, she launched into the air.
Raising her hand, the Sword of Promised Victory appeared in her grip. Her eyes sharpened, and a surge of immense power burst from the black and red blade. As it shimmered, an overwhelming aura radiated outward.
Hancock and Kizaru both froze.
Just as everyone was wondering what she was doing, a blinding red-black light erupted from the blade, shooting skyward like a towering pillar. The beam was even larger than a warship.
The clouds in the sky were torn apart, forming a massive vortex. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed—a storm of silver snakes raged in the heavens.
What is this?
Everyone was stunned by the terrifying aura. None of them had ever witnessed such overwhelming force. The pressure was so intense it was hard to breathe. Not even Conqueror's Haki could compare. Many collapsed from the sheer intensity.
Finally, Kaguya swung her arm. The massive sword light, brimming with deadly energy, tore through the air and roared forward.
"Excalibur."
Boom!
A thunderous explosion shook the skies. A streak of ink-black light blazed across the horizon. It was as if heaven and earth had been split apart. The clouds vanished, the sea parted, forming a colossal chasm. The fiery clouds in the sky were shredded into pieces.
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