Swish…
On the massive fortress-like ship, endless shadows surged.
The World Pirates, just freed from petrification by Hancock, were immediately swallowed up by the shadows.
"Tsk tsk, the battle ended so easily... Hancock, your strength is getting stronger and stronger!"
Luke remarked as he arrived on the ship. He glanced at the petrified figure of Byrnndi World and let out a light chuckle.
"I'm still far behind you, Luke." Hancock didn't act arrogantly.
In terms of sheer power, she was confident she wasn't weaker than Byrnndi World. However, defeating him so effortlessly wouldn't have been possible without the broken ability of the Love-Love Fruit.
"Well, you never know. If I let my guard down, I might end up petrified, too."
Luke laughed. "After all, a hopeless womanizer like me could never escape your charm."
He wasn't joking.
Hancock now was nothing like she was two years ago. Even without her Devil Fruit abilities, she had firmly stepped into the ranks of monsters.
With her unparalleled beauty and the near-unbeatable power of the Love-Love Fruit, she could dominate opponents regardless of gender or age. Very few dared to face her head-on.
Of course, Luke, having honed his Observation Haki to an extreme level, had developed powerful instincts. He could instantly detect even the slightest hostility, sometimes even seeing glimpses of the future.
In the blink of an eye, he could switch places with his shadow clone and launch a deadly counterattack.
Whoosh!
A pitch-shadow spear tore through the petrified statue, piercing Byrnndi World's heart.
"Ugh…!"
The moment Hancock lifted her petrification, Byrnndi World, now back in his flesh-and-blood form, barely had time to react before overwhelming pain struck. He coughed up blood, his eyes locked onto Luke standing beside Hancock.
"Black Prison… Obask Luke!?"
He never thought that Obask Luke, one of the four emperors in the New World, was actually with this woman.
Isn't it said that the Seven Warlords are all lackeys of the World Government?
"I'm sorry, World... This is the road to death you choose yourself. I will accept the More-More Fruit without hesitation."
Luke looked at him and smiled, then the moment he clenched his right hand, the shadow spear embedded in Byrnndi World's body pulsed and split apart in an instant.
Barbed spikes, like the branches of a tree, spread and tore through his organs from within, completely severing his lifeline.
"Agh…"
Byrnndi World's eyes widened in unwillingness. He glared at Luke, wishing he could tear him to pieces. But his consciousness was swallowed by endless darkness at this moment.
"Luke-sama…"
At Luke's feet, a bloated shadow emerged from the darkness.
"Retrieve the More-More Fruit."
"Yes!"
In an instant, Shadow Wapol emerged from the shadow and swallowed Byrnndi World's bloodied corpse.
Soon, the corpse was vomited out, and Luke had a strange fruit in his hand.
"Is this the More-More Fruit?"
Hancock was a little surprised.
It was not strange for Luke's men to be able to take away the devil's fruit ability of others.
Because she has seen it many times.
As early as two years ago, after learning that Luke had a way to take away the devil fruit user's ability, she considered her future. She knew she wouldn't stay in Amazon Lily forever and would eventually follow this man.
When she led the Kuja Pirates to go on an expedition, she often hunted some Devil Fruit users with the help of the intelligence provided by Shakky, an intelligence dealer who lived in seclusion in the Sabaody Archipelago.
She also asked Luke for help depriving those guys of their devil fruit abilities and trained many strong Devil Fruit users in the Amazon Lily.
The current Kuja Pirates are at least several times stronger than before.
"I have to say that the More-More Fruit is indeed a very good devil fruit..."
Luke played with the fruit and showed a playful smile: "I am looking forward to whether it can shine next!"
"You already have someone in mind?" Hancock tilted her head in curiosity.
Luke had high standards. A Devil Fruit of this caliber wouldn't be given to just anyone; it would go to someone with monstrous potential. But as far as she knew, most of the promising members of the Netherworld Pirates were already Devil Fruit users.
"No, I have an even better candidate in mind."
Luke's smile deepened. He wasn't planning to hand it over so casually.
With the Fallen Angel project nearing completion, a bold idea had taken root in his mind.
If he combined the Lineage factors of Garp with the More-More Fruit… What kind of monster would he create?
He was genuinely excited to find out.
A young Monkey D. Garp, with a body impervious to blades and bullets, monstrous strength, and the Lunarian tribe's ability… and then, on top of that, the More-More Fruit…
Even if it couldn't surpass the original Garp right away, it would undoubtedly rival Byrnndi World.
Given enough time… It might even surpass him.
"Is that so? Then congratulations."
Hancock smiled playfully, tilting her head slightly. She had no intention of prying further. "This ship is in good condition. Your Kuja Pirates can keep it."
After having Hancock undo the petrification on the World Pirates' shipwright, Gairam, Luke extracted the Cube-Cube Fruit from him.
He studied the ship, an extravagant, fortress-like ship built from a small island. Thanks to Hancock's swift victory, it had suffered minimal damage and remained mostly intact.
"The times have changed. The Calm Belt is no longer the natural barrier it once was. Ships lined with Sea Prism Stone can now pass through freely, meaning Amazon Lily is more vulnerable than before."
"Besides, this ship has submersion capabilities. Its massive size makes it harder for large Sea Kings to attack. If anything were to happen in the future, it could serve as an extra safeguard."
With that, he tossed the Cube-Cube Fruit to Sandersonia, who stood beside Hancock.
A ship this large would be best maintained and modified using the Cube-Cube Fruit's ability.
It was an impressive ship; aside from the ugly figurehead of Byrnndi World at the bow, everything else was quite satisfactory. With a few modifications, it would be perfect.
If Amazon Lily ever faced an unavoidable disaster, this ship could be their way out.