No matter how much Elder Gloriosa tried to persuade her, Boa Hancock still ended up being 'stolen away' by Souta Kiryuu.
Under Hancock's orders, Sandersonia and Marigold forcibly restrained Gloriosa, helplessly watching as their sister leapt onto Souta's dragon back. Hancock didn't even take her beloved pet snake, Salome, leaving the pink-patterned battle serpent sulking in grievance.
Excited, Hancock clung tightly to Souta's dragon neck as he carried her up into the sky.
Seeing them fly farther and farther away, Gloriosa stomped her feet in desperation. In the end, all she could do was order Amazon Lily to enter a state of martial law to prevent outsiders from discovering the truth—that their Pirate Empress was no longer on the island.
High above the Calm Belt, Hancock sat on the dragon's head, gazing over the vast sea. Feeling the warmth of Souta's body beneath her, even the slave-brand shadow haunting her heart began to fade. This man filled her with an overwhelming sense of safety.
"Souta-sama, will we always be together?" Hancock's face flushed as she asked. She never imagined she could truly stand side by side with him without worrying about her homeland's safety.
"We will. Hancock… would you marry me?" Souta didn't hesitate—he offered her everything she dreamed of, steering her away from unnecessary doubts.
"I do, I do! Souta-sama, I'm willing!" Hancock cried out, trembling with excitement as she pressed herself to his mane, her heart nearly bursting from her chest. Her pupils even shifted into pink heart shapes. She couldn't believe marriage came so soon—after just one day of knowing him. But it was exactly what she wanted.
"Then I'll bring you back and introduce you to my crew," Souta said with a soft laugh.
Hancock nearly fainted from joy. She hugged him tightly, her face glowing with happiness. "I'll do whatever Souta-sama arranges!" She drifted into another bridal fantasy—herself in a white gown, Souta waiting for her at the altar, their lips meeting in a blissful kiss.
Her soft, teasing closeness stirred Souta's fire. This alluring woman was irresistible, her touch endlessly tempting. His speed increased as he soared toward Skypiea, mind wavering. Should he find an island and claim her before returning? After all, going to Wano could wait a day or two…
Watching the white clouds drift past, a reckless thought crossed his mind.
"Hancock, I love you!" Souta confessed passionately, violet flame-clouds surging around him, forming a floating island beneath them.
"Souta-sama… I love you too," Hancock whispered, her face burning, heart racing wildly as though anticipating what was to come.
Souta hurled her gently into the air, shifting back into his human form in an instant. The two of them landed together upon the violet flame-clouds.
Kaido's Azure Dragon form once lifted an entire island with its flame-clouds. For Souta, sustaining two people was effortless.
"Souta-sama, this is…" Hancock gasped, her breath quickening, eyes shimmering like spring water as she met his intense gaze. Her body softened uncontrollably.
"I want to treasure this time with you, Hancock," Souta said, pulling her into his arms. Her supple warmth pressed against him, clearer than ever.
"Souta-sama~" Hancock's beautiful eyes rippled as she tilted her head up at him, hugging his waist tightly.
"Hancock~" He couldn't resist any longer. He kissed her deeply. Hancock responded just as fervently to this domineering man.
Her qipao slid away, and the two of them tumbled onto the cloud bed of violet flames. High in the sky, a lone purple cloud drifted slowly, trembling in rhythm, punctuated now and then by Hancock's breathless cries…
Three days later, Souta returned to Skypiea with Boa Hancock by his side, both wearing satisfied smiles. When they walked hand-in-hand onto the divine island of Upper Yard, every member of the Souta Pirates stared in stunned disbelief.
Even seasoned veterans like Nico Robin, Bartholomew Kuma, Gecko Moria, and Capone Bege—who had all seen the darkest corners of the world—were shaken. The sight of the Pirate Empress nestled against Souta was something none could have imagined.
Had Souta really won over the world's most beautiful woman in just a few days? Impossible… and yet, there she was.
Bonney pouted. "Hmph, what's so great about being the world's most beautiful woman? When I grow up, I'll be prettier than Boa Hancock!"
"Lord Souta…" Baby 5 bit her sleeve, eyes shimmering with tears. She feared that the man she adored would abandon her now that Hancock stood at his side.
"Heheheh~ Who would've thought the Pirate Empress—who never once gave men the time of day—would show such a girlish side?" Moria chuckled weirdly. He recalled the Warlords' past meetings, when Hancock's haughty glare was fixed above them all.
And now, here she was, nestled in Souta's embrace. The irony was staggering.
"Truly enviable," Bege muttered through his cigar. After all, this woman wasn't just beautiful—she was the Pirate Empress herself.
"Fufufu~ Another Warlord of the Sea joins us!" Lafitte laughed. Their captain's abilities were astonishing—he had conquered the only female Warlord, no less. With Donquixote Doflamingo next on their list, the Warlords system would crumble. Only Mihawk and Jinbei would remain, and Jinbei was practically an ally of Whitebeard already.
"Hmph, just a woman," Enel scoffed. Yet even he acknowledged her strength. The Empress wielded all three types of Haki, far surpassing Moria's worth. He clenched his fists—he would need to grow stronger. He would never allow her to threaten his position as Souta's third-in-command. His ambition went beyond that—he aimed to surpass Kuma and ascend as the true God of Thunder.
"Bwahaha! Allow me to introduce a new officer of the Souta Pirates… and my woman," Souta declared, proudly holding Hancock's hand.
For Souta's sake, Hancock set aside her pride and offered a reserved greeting to the crew.
At Souta's command, a grand banquet began. He comforted Baby 5, Perona, and even spent more time conversing with Nico Robin. After all, keeping one close, cultivating two, and developing three, four, five, six… was simply the natural law of flags waving proudly in the wind.