Though Hancock's words were sharp, the cold sweat on her temples betrayed her nerves.
She was facing one of the strongest beings on the seas.
While she was confident she could reach his level—or even surpass it—in the future...
Right now?
This was undoubtedly the greatest crisis she had ever faced.
If she were alone, Hancock was sure she could escape.
But in her hands was Weevil, half-dead and only capable of babbling "Aba aba..." like an idiot.
That complicated things.
And behind Kaido loomed an overwhelming allied fleet...
Her lips twitched as she began gathering strength in her body, preparing for a desperate last stand.
"So, you've chosen not to hand Weevil over" Kaido observed Hancock's stance and nodded.
"Just as I expected. A prodigy like you wouldn't compromise."
"No, I do compromise sometimes—but only for my beloved father." Hancock grinned, her disguise long since shed during her frantic escape.
The face hailed as the "Most Beautiful in the World" was now fully exposed.
"But for you? Sorry, Kaido. Whether you're a gorilla or a dragon... you're just not my type."
After speaking, she hurled Weevil violently into the distant sky.
Barely alive, Weevil could only let out a weak "Ooooh" as he flew away.
Meanwhile, Hancock used the momentum of her spin to unleash the power she had been gathering.
"Snake Leg Impact!"
It was the same technique like Garp, the same Conqueror's Haki Coating.
But this time, Hancock didn't opt for a wide-ranging shockwave. Instead, she focused the impact into a single concentrated point.
Kaido's eyes widened abruptly.
From such a distance earlier, he hadn't fully sensed it.
But now…
No mistake! The unmistakable presence of Conqueror's Haki!
Instantly, excitement surged within him.
Without hesitation, he extended his dragon claw.
An overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
With the same Conqueror's Haki Coating, he blocked Hancock's fierce strike.
In an instant, the collision of their Haki sent black lightning crackling wildly through the air.
However…
Hancock was still young.
Whether in raw strength or mastery of Conqueror's Haki, she couldn't yet match Kaido's level.
Though the sky was still torn apart, anyone could see…
Hancock was at a disadvantage.
Blackbeard and the others watched the battle from their ship, gazing up at the clash in the sky.
A confrontation of Conqueror's Haki was a rare spectacle, even for them.
Under the force of this exchange, Hancock, unable to withstand Kaido's power, coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.
But just before being blasted away, Hancock formed a heart shape with her hands, aiming it at Kaido.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
This was the true killing move she had hidden behind her Conqueror's Haki Coating.
Kaido might have been a man of terrifying willpower, but he was also a creature of insatiable desires—a true conqueror could never be free from lust.
Even if he wasn't fully affected, he would inevitably feel attraction toward her.
In an instant, Kaido's entire dragon body began to petrify…
Meanwhile, Hancock used the force of being sent flying to kick off the air with Moon Walk, darting swiftly toward Weevil, who had been thrown far away.
As she fled, she laughed loudly:
"Ohohohoh! Kaido! This is the escape route I planned all along!"
"As for this mouthful of blood… I'll make sure to pay you back for it personally someday!"
With those words, Hancock had already caught Weevil in the distance and continued fleeing toward Wano Country.
In that fleeting moment, Hancock's battle intelligence had been on full display—her goal had always been escape, not a futile last stand.
"N-next time… can you warn me first?" Weevil gasped weakly, clutching the eternal crystal pendant on his nose.
"I felt like I was already seeing the gates of heaven."
"That was just an illusion," Hancock replied, wiping the blood from her lips.
The crimson streak against her face created a strangely beautiful sight.
"Besides, even if I could explain it to you in an instant, would you understand?"
"…Good point."
The conversation between the two hostages continued, but from far behind them came the rumble of wind and thunder.
Hancock glanced back, her smile fading.
She hadn't expected her Mero Mero Mellow to hold Kaido for long… but this was too fast!
Still, the distance was more than enough.
By the time Kaido could even think of chasing her, she'd already be deep into Wano's territory.
Without another thought, she kept fleeing at full speed.
As for Kaido…He was genuinely getting angry.
These beings who were clearly weaker than him had actually managed to toy with him in that brief moment.
He couldn't accept it.
Soaring into the air, he continued the pursuit.
Hancock and Weevil had truly gotten under his skin.
The fleet behind him remained unaffected.
Under Blackbeard's command, they seemed to ignore the aerial chase entirely, pressing forward to complete their mission.
But...
Kaido's speed far outstripped the fleet.
As the distance between the fleet and Kaido widened...
Something stirred above the clouds.
A mass of Island Cloud, carrying sandstorms and smoke, drifted ominously toward Kaido's allied fleet.
And just when no one was paying attention—countless lightning bolts as thick as barrels rained down across the entire sea.
Mixed within were blades forged from Iron Clouds...
Truly, knives falling from the sky.
The smoke and sandstorms completely obscured the path ahead.
At this point, even the dumbest person could tell this was the work of Devil Fruit Users.
Blackbeard naturally recognized it.
But what left him momentarily bewildered was...
Why had four Logia-type Devil Fruit Users suddenly appeared?
And it wasn't just Blackbeard who was stunned—even the solitary Redfield and hardened warriors like Bullet were baffled.
In their era, no Logia powerhouses had emerged, so their knowledge was limited.
"Apologies... but this area is now one-way traffic."
A husky, mature woman's voice descended from above.
Crocodile, with two hurricane-like "wings" behind her, revealed her true form amidst the swirling sand.
"Feels like you're plagiarizing someone else's line..."
"Whoever says it first owns the line."
Beside him, Stella and Smoker materialized in human form.
"Yaaawn... So, can you pirates entertain me a little?"
Lightning flashed as the Thunder God Enel descended upon the mortal realm.
And not far away...
The unflagged Seraphim Ship carried all members of the SWORD Forces—except the four Logia users.
"Hey, are we seriously charging an entire fleet with just one ship? Even for us, this is insane!"
Shu wiped sweat from his brow as he eyed the massive fleet in the distance.
Jack merely snorted in response.
"What kind of people do you think we are?"
"Bring the ship closer!"
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