Sandersonia wiped the blood from the corner of her lip, eyes narrowed.
"So he hasn't mastered it yet."
Marigold steadied herself beside her.
"The Haoshoku burst was uncontrolled. That makes this easier for us."
Luffy stood in the center of the cracked arena floor, chest rising and falling.
He could feel it.
They were strong.
Really strong.
He clenched his fists. "…Then I won't hold back."
The air shifted.
"I'm going all out!"
Steam suddenly began rising from his body.
His skin flushed red.
His heartbeat echoed like a drum.
"Gear… Second."
The Kuja warriors gasped.
"Steam?!"
"What is happening to him?!"
Sandersonia hissed, her hair writhing.
The strands transformed into living snakes, fangs bared.
They shot forward in a storm of venomous strikes.
Luffy vanished.
He reappeared mid-dodge, weaving through the snapping snake-hair effortlessly.
"So fast!"
In a blur, he stretched his arm around Sandersonia's neck.
"Gotcha!"
He yanked hard and slammed her to the ground.
BOOM.
Marigold roared and lunged with her massive spear.
It thrust downward—
Luffy sidestepped at blinding speed.
"Gomu Gomu no… Bazooka!"
Both palms slammed into her torso.
CRACK.
The spear shattered.
Marigold flew backward—
—and was blasted clean out of the arena.
The Kuja stared in disbelief.
"He handled the princesses… like that?!"
"Without Haki?!"
Hancock's eyes darkened. "…What are you two playing at?"
Sandersonia and Marigold climbed back into the arena, breathing heavily.
"We will finish this immediately, Sister."
Marigold ignited herself in roaring flames.
Sandersonia's snake-hair returned, snapping viciously.
They circled Luffy from both sides.
The crowd whispered in fear.
"It's their ultimate move…"
"He won't survive this."
They lunged simultaneously.
Luffy leapt upward.
"Gomu Gomu no… GATLING!"
A barrage of punches exploded outward, smashing through the snake-hair, forcing both sisters back.
Then—
He twisted midair.
His legs stretched wide—
—and he split-kicked both sisters in their underbellies.
Their upper halves collided violently.
BOOM.
Marigold's flames spread—
Sandersonia caught fire.
They struggled to separate—
But realized their tails were tied together.
Luffy had bound them during the clash.
Sandersonia lost balance and fell backward toward the spike pit.
She barely caught the edge.
The crowd gasped.
"He'll finish her!"
Luffy jumped onto her back.
Sandersonia squeezed her eyes shut—
"I don't want to kill you," Luffy said.
She froze.
She yelled, "Marigold! Attack him!"
Marigold hesitated.
"…I can't."
"What?!"
"He's protecting you."
The crowd leaned forward.
Marigold's voice trembled.
"Your clothes burned off."
Silence.
The Kuja gasped.
"Lady Sandersonia's back—!"
"If that man sees it—!"
"The Gorgon's Curse will be exposed!"
"Anyone who sees it will turn to stone!"
Sandersonia's eyes widened.
"…My back?!"
Luffy kept his body positioned, shielding her from the crowd.
"You said earlier you'd rather die than let people see your secret."
He glanced back calmly.
"So don't move."
Up above—
Hancock's eyes widened.
"…!"
"The battle is over!" she shouted. "Everyone leave the arena at once!"
The Kuja panicked and scrambled away.
Sandersonia stared at Luffy in disbelief.
"I was trying to kill you moments ago… Why protect me?"
Luffy shrugged slightly.
"What you don't want people to see has nothing to do with our fight."
Up in the stands, Hancock covered her mouth.
Her fingers trembled.
Why…?
Both sisters returned to human form.
They looked toward Hancock.
"What are your orders, Sister?"
Luffy scratched his head.
"So… you wanna keep fighting?"
Hancock turned away slightly.
"…No."
Her voice was softer.
"That is enough."
Luffy nodded casually.
"Okay."
He ran to check the statues.
"Good. They're not broken."
He looked up.
"Hey! Can you turn them back to normal now?"
All three sisters froze.
"…What did he just say?" Hancock whispered.
"You can undo it, right?" Luffy asked. "They only tried to protect me. They didn't do anything wrong."
Hancock inhaled slowly. "It is true… I can reverse the petrification."
She looked down at him.
"However."
"You mentioned you need a ship to leave."
"Yeah! My crew's waiting for me!"
"I see."
She lifted her chin.
"I will grant you only one of two choices."
The arena fell silent again.
"Either I restore these women to normal."
"Or I allow you to leave this island."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Choose one."
"Throw away the other forever."
Gloriosa slammed her cane down from the stands. "Snake Princess! You would go that far?!"
Sandersonia and Marigold smirked faintly.
Hancock thought to herself—
Show me.
Show me the true nature of a man.
Choose yourself.
Choose survival.
I won't be deceived!
Luffy suddenly dropped to his knees.
He bowed deeply.
His forehead pressed to the stone floor.
"Really? Thank you!"
The sisters stared in shock.
"So they can be saved, right?"
"Thank you so much!"
Not even a second of hesitation.
Hancock's eyes trembled.
As Luffy bowed, something slipped from his shorts.
A small cross-shaped pendant clinked softly onto the arena floor.
Gloriosa's eyes narrowed.
"…Not a single moment of doubt."
She stared at Luffy.
"A man with such powerful Haki… bowing for others…"
Marigold whispered, "Sister…?"
Hancock slowly descended into the arena.
Without another word—
"Mero Mero Mellow."
The beam struck the statues.
Cracks spread.
Marguerite, Sweatpea, and Aphelandra returned to flesh.
They gasped for air.
"Empress?!"
"We will not fail you again!"
They hurried away once dismissed.
Hancock turned slightly.
"Bring him to the palace."
As the sisters escorted Luffy out—
Gloriosa stepped forward quietly.
Her cane tapped against something metallic.
She bent down.
Picked it up.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"…This pendant…"
Her voice trembled.
"Why does this boy have your pendant, Ada?"
—————————
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was far calmer than the chaos of the arena.
Luffy sat cross-legged on the polished floor beside Sandersonia and Marigold.
Both sisters looked at him with unusual sincerity.
"Straw Hat… thank you," Sandersonia said quietly.
"For protecting our secret," Marigold added.
Luffy tilted his head. "Oh. That? It's no big deal."
Sandersonia smirked slightly. "Don't be shy. You can ask our sister anything now."
Marigold nodded. "Yes. Anything at all."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "…Anything?"
The sisters leaned closer.
Luffy grinned. "Like food?"
For a moment they stared at him.
Then both sisters burst into laughter.
"Of course that's what you'd ask!"
"You really are strange!"
Before they could continue, Hancock's voice echoed from the inner chamber.
"Straw Hat. Come here."
Luffy stood and walked into the room.
Inside the chamber—
Hancock was reclining on her enormous bed.
She wasn't wearing a top.
Luffy blinked. "…Why are you naked?"
Hancock paused. "…Your reactions are always so different."
She turned around slowly and brushed her long hair aside.
A dark brand was burned into her back.
The Celestial Dragon hoof mark.
"Do you recognize it?" Hancock asked quietly.
Luffy leaned closer.
"Yeah… kinda."
He scratched his head.
"It looks like Hatchan's mark."
The sisters blinked.
"Hatchan?" Marigold muttered.
"Yeah," Luffy continued casually. "But his is a sun and it's on his forehead."
He squinted.
"…Oh. Guess I got it wrong."
"I'm sorry."
Silence filled the room.
Then the door slid open.
Gloriosa walked in with her cane.
"Snake princess," the old woman said firmly, "explain it to him."
Hancock frowned. "What?"
"He won't judge you."
She pointed at Luffy.
"If I'm not mistaken… you are the pirate Monkey D. Luffy, correct?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah! That's me."
He blinked. "How'd you know who I was?"
Gloriosa unfolded a newspaper. "You've caused quite an uproar."
She showed the headline.
Sabaody Archipelago Incident
"Just the other day," she continued, "this man attacked a Celestial Dragon."
The sisters froze.
"What?!"
Gloriosa nodded.
"That is an act only someone who does not fear the wrath of gods would commit."
Hancock stared at Luffy in disbelief.
Gloriosa continued.
"And after that… he somehow escaped an Admiral."
The sisters gasped.
"An Admiral?!"
"And then," Gloriosa added, "this same boy arrived in our island only two days later."
She tapped her cane.
"There are many things I do not understand."
Marigold looked at Luffy suspiciously.
"…What exactly are you?"
Luffy waved his hands.
"I'm telling you! I got sent flying by that bear guy!"
"I don't even know where this place is!"
He crossed his arms.
"And I don't regret punching that Celestial Dragon either."
He clenched his fist.
"Do you know what he did to my friend?"
Hancock's eyes widened.
"…Then you truly stood against the Celestial Dragons?"
Luffy nodded without hesitation.
Hancock's lips trembled. "So… fools like you still exist in this world…"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Slowly, she began speaking.
She told him everything.
How she and her sisters had been kidnapped as children.
How they were enslaved in Mariejois.
How they were branded.
How they were forced to live as slaves of the Celestial Dragons.
And how they escaped.
"…We were saved," Hancock whispered.
"By the Nyx Pirates."
Luffy blinked.
"…The Nyx Pirates again, huh?"
Gloriosa noticed that immediately.
Hancock trembled slightly.
"Now you know."
She turned away.
"Are you going to look down on me… because I was once a slave?"
Luffy stared at her.
"Huh?"
He walked closer.
Then—
he placed his hand directly on the brand on her back.
Hancock froze.
"What are you talking about?" Luffy said.
"I already told you. I hate those Celestial Dragons."
His hand rested on the scar.
"Marks like this shouldn't exist."
He looked at her seriously.
"All lives should be cherished."
Hancock's eyes widened.
"You shouldn't live in the past.Try looking toward the future."
Silence.
Then Hancock's face turned bright red.
She suddenly laughed.
"I like you!"
The sisters blinked.
"You said you had somewhere else to go, didn't you?" Hancock said.
"All right!"
"Where do you want to go?"
"I'll give you a ride."
Luffy's eyes exploded with excitement.
"For real?!"
"You're really gonna give me a ride?!"
Hancock smiled.
"Do not worry."
"I would never lie."
Luffy pumped his fist.
"That's great!"
"As long as it sails!"
Hancock nodded.
"Departure will be tomorrow."
"The Kuja Pirates will escort you to Sabaody Archipelago."
Sandersonia and Marigold nearly fell over.
"Our pirate ship?!"
Luffy scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry to be a pain!"
Hancock turned away slightly.
"Rest well."
"Prepare for tomorrow."
Luffy stretched happily.
"I can't wait to get off this island tomorrow!"
"I really wanna see everybody soon!"
Hancock glanced back at him.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then—
Gloriosa suddenly spoke. "Before you leave…"
Everyone stopped.
She raised her hand.
"Monkey D. Luffy."
"Is this yours?"
In her palm was the cross pendant.
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Oh! That's my pendant!"
"Thanks!"
He reached for it—
—but Gloriosa pulled her hand back.
Luffy frowned. "Hey! What's the big deal?"
Gloriosa's voice became serious. "…How do you have this pendant?"
Sandersonia rolled her eyes. "Just give it back, Nyon-ba."
Marigold nodded. "It's just a necklace."
Hancock crossed her arms. "What is this about?"
Gloriosa's eyes were sharp. "This is extremely important."
She pointed the pendant at Luffy.
"Now tell me."
"Where did you get this?"
Luffy answered casually. "My grandpa said my mom left it for me when I was a baby."
Gloriosa froze. "…Your mother?"
Her hands trembled.
"…Impossible."
"Tell me."
"Is your mother a pirate?"
"What does she look like?"
Luffy scratched his cheek.
"Yeah, Grandpa said she was a pirate."
"But I've never seen her."
"So I don't know what she looks like."
Gloriosa's eyes widened in shock.
"…Then that means—"
She turned toward Hancock. "Snake Princess!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
"How could you?!"
"You almost killed the son of your savior!"
Hancock blinked.
"…What are you talking about, old woman?"
"What does that have to do with Luffy?"
Gloriosa raised the pendant.
"This necklace belonged to my old friend."
"Nyx D. Ada."
The sisters gasped.
Sandersonia stared. "…Are you saying… Luffy is her son?!"
Marigold shouted. "WHAT?!"
Hancock shook her head. "That's impossible."
Gloriosa looked back at Luffy.
"Your mother was a pirate."
"She gave you this necklace."
Luffy nodded.
"Yeah. That's what Grandpa said."
Gloriosa lifted the pendant.
"The only pirate who ever wore this…"
"…was Ada."
She spoke slowly.
"This necklace was given to her by Rocks."
She pointed at Luffy.
"You possessing it means only one thing."
"You are her son."
Luffy blinked blankly.
"…Eh?"
"I dunno."
"I've never even seen her."
But behind him—
Sandersonia, Marigold, and Hancock all stood frozen in shock.
The room stayed silent after Gloriosa's revelation.
Sandersonia and Marigold were still staring at Luffy like they had just seen a ghost.
Luffy scratched the back of his head.
"…You know," he said casually, "someone actually said something like that before."
Gloriosa's eyes narrowed. "Someone else?"
"Yeah," Luffy replied. "Back in Sabaody Archipelago."
Gloriosa leaned forward suddenly. "…Who?"
Luffy snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! It was Shakky!"
Gloriosa froze. "Shakky?!"
Sandersonia and Marigold shouted at the same time. "You know Shakky?!"
Luffy blinked at their reaction.
"Yeah!"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Oh! Now I remember!"
"She said she used to be a Kuja Pirate."
Luffy pointed at Gloriosa.
"And she said there was a pink-haired woman with her too!"
Gloriosa sighed slowly.
"…So you know Shakky as well."
She tapped her cane lightly.
"My name is Gloriosa."
Luffy tilted his head. "Eh?"
He squinted at her face.
"…Wait."
"You're the pink-haired woman in the picture?!"
Gloriosa smirked.
"Yes."
"That was me when I was young."
Then her expression turned serious again.
"But tell me… what exactly did Shakky say to you?"
Luffy shrugged.
"Well…"
"She said I looked like Ada when she was young."
The room went silent again.
Hancock's eyes trembled slightly.
"…Then…"
She stepped closer.
"Are you truly Lady Ada's son?"
Luffy scratched his cheek.
"I don't know myself."
Hancock lowered her head.
"We… are sorry."
Sandersonia and Marigold also bowed.
"We didn't know," Sandersonia said quietly.
"We owe Lady Ada a debt we could never repay," Marigold added.
"She saved us."
Sandersonia clenched her fists.
"And to think… we almost killed you."
Luffy waved his hands immediately.
"Hey, hey! Stop that!"
The sisters looked up.
"I don't want to be treated differently," Luffy said firmly.
"That stuff already happened."
"It's all in the past."
He grinned widely.
"We're friends now, right?"
The sisters stared at him for a moment.
Then Sandersonia laughed softly.
"…You really are a strange man, Luffy."
Marigold nodded. "I agree."
Hancock looked at him quietly.
Then she smiled warmly.
"Whatever you wish…"
"…we will do it."
Luffy's eyes sparkled instantly.
"Really?!"
He leaned forward.
"…Can I have food?"
For a moment everyone was silent.
Then Hancock burst into laughter.
"Of course!"
She clapped her hands. "Bring food!"
Then she looked back at Luffy with a gentle smile.
"Eat well."
"And rest."
"Tomorrow… we sail."
———————-