"Arrogant fool!"
Seeing that Red still dared to send out two faceless lackeys to humiliate her even after learning her name, a flush of crimson instantly surfaced beneath the icy expression on Boa Hancock's beautiful face.
"Your ignorance has succeeded in angering me!"
"In that case, I'll let you witness it for yourselves…"
"Even among the Seven Warlords of the Sea—there are differences!!!"
Boom!!!
Hancock's gaze sharpened.
In an instant, a domineering aura surged out from her body like a roaring tidal wave, violently stirring the once-calm Calm Belt waters into chaos.
"That's Conqueror's Haki?!"
Seeing this, Robin and Nami—who had been pulled out by Red—couldn't help but show looks of surprise.
After all, this was the first time they had ever seen a woman with the potential for Conqueror's Haki.
And such overwhelming Conqueror's Haki at that!
The two women, their faces hidden beneath cloaks, gave a slight nod.
In the next moment, Robin stepped forward first, her feet pressing against the air as she used Moonwalk.
"Glitzy Glow—!"
A vast surge of Psychic Power burst forth.
Her cloak of free-flowing wings billowed as a mysterious aura erupted from Robin's body, crashing straight into Hancock's Conqueror's Haki!
The collision of the two auras instantly caused black-purple lightning to explode through the air.
"That is…"
"Conqueror's Haki potential—just like Lady Hancock?!"
The Kuja warriors aboard the Perfume Yuda cried out in disbelief, shock flooding their faces.
Boom!!!
Another violent explosion rang out, the sea heaving as waves spread outward in all directions.
Hancock and Robin simultaneously withdrew their auras, their eyes flashing as they locked onto one another.
Although Robin's overall strength was far inferior to Hancock's, the special effects of her Pokémon moves allowed her to forcibly match Hancock evenly in this clash of presence.
And this sight completely erased the last traces of contempt from Hancock's eyes.
"That kind of Conqueror's Haki…"
"You are definitely not Moria's subordinates!"
"Who are you people?!"
Hancock lifted her chin and demanded.
But Robin, hovering in the sky, merely smiled faintly, clearly having no intention of answering.
Instead, Nami flew over atop her Clima-Tact and said with a grin:
"Didn't our captain already say it?"
"As long as you can defeat us, you'll learn everything."
"So let us see just how powerful you truly are, the one known as the 'Pirate Empress'!"
Crackle!
Nami extended her palm, and a brilliant arc of energy shot skyward like an arrow, piercing into the clouds above.
In an instant, the surrounding air became heavy with moisture.
Just as the Kuja pirates were wondering what Nami was doing, a single raindrop suddenly fell, landing on the deck of the Perfume Yuda.
Then—
Crash! Crash!
Rain poured down in torrents!
In just a few seconds, the entire sea was swallowed by a curtain of rain!
"This is… the power to control the weather?!"
Behind Hancock, Sandersonia and Marigold's pupils shrank violently.
Conqueror's Haki comparable to their elder sister's… the ability to freely alter the weather… and that mysterious man who still hadn't made a move…
These three were definitely not ordinary!
"Sister… maybe we should—" Sandersonia stepped forward, bowing slightly as she tried to urge caution.
But Hancock, long accustomed to arrogance under the influence of the Love-Love Fruit, could not tolerate such provocation.
"Trick-playing fools!"
Before her sisters could stop her, she leapt forward, landing atop the massive serpent head at the front of the ship.
Clank!
The chains binding the serpent to the ship snapped loose.
Freed from its restraints, the sea serpent surged through the water with astonishing agility.
Its speed was so fast it leapt completely outside Nami's Observation Haki range!
"What?!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two lightning-fast afterimages struck—before Nami could react, a peerlessly beautiful figure was already right in front of her.
"Perfume Femur!!!"
No fancy effects.
A long, flawless leg lashed out—smooth and pale, yet carrying a force no ordinary person could withstand—slamming straight toward Nami!
In that moment, Hancock's kick felt like it carried the entirety of midsummer with it!
"Watch out, Na—!"
Even though Robin's Observation Haki had detected Hancock's movement thanks to Psychic Power enhancement, it was already too late to warn Nami.
Realizing this, Robin didn't hesitate—she crossed her arms before her chest.
Petals scattered, drifting through the air.
"Cien Fleur: Wing!"
Countless arms burst forth from behind Nami, instantly forming a soft pink pair of wings that folded inward, tightly wrapping around her body.
The next moment, Hancock's kick slammed directly into Robin's phantom wings.
The terrifying strength forced a painful grunt from Robin.
But this was no longer the past!
With her current strength, she wouldn't be defeated by a casual strike, nor lose control of her Devil Fruit.
Wrapped in the wings, Nami was sent flying like a rubber ball toward the distant sea.
Splash—
Robin swiftly dismissed her ability, freeing Nami.
Seizing the moment, Nami activated Fly, using the Pokémon move to shed the remaining momentum.
"As expected of the Pirate Empress…"
She muttered with lingering fear, having narrowly avoided a direct hit.
At that moment, Red's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Don't let your guard down!"
"Don't be fooled just because Hancock is a woman like you—what she excels at most is close-quarters combat!"
"Especially those long legs of hers—be careful, both of you!"
Having been enjoying the spectacle, Red quickly stepped in when he noticed Nami's carelessness.
"I got it!"
After personally experiencing Hancock's power, Nami's expression turned serious.
Having followed Luffy through one grand battle after another, she finally realized just how far she still was from being a true powerhouse.
"I really have gotten sloppy lately…"
Nami gripped her Clima-Tact, feeling the continuous surge of lightning flowing through it as she whispered softly.
As Usopp and Franky's craftsmanship improved, her Clima-Tact had undergone constant upgrades—powerful enough to handle many strong opponents on its own.
But nearly being taken out by Hancock had made her painfully aware of her shortcomings.
Still…
Those weaknesses would be addressed in future training—not now!
Crackle!!!
Before Hancock could launch another pursuit, Nami shot skyward.
The next instant, endless lightning surged from her body into the dark clouds above.
BOOOOM—!!!
A deafening roar echoed through the heavens as blinding lightning illuminated the entire sea.
"What… what kind of power is this?!"
Hancock's sisters stared upward in shock.
Exchanging a glance, they realized they couldn't leave Hancock to face such powerful and mysterious enemies alone.
In the next second, both transformed into giant serpent forms—one spewing roaring flames toward Robin in the sky, the other launching herself off a serpent's head toward Nami.
Step—!
Meanwhile, Hancock descended once more, landing atop the serpent and immediately charging toward Robin.
"Perfume Femur!"
"Empty-Handed Force-Dispelling Butterfly Flower · Myriad Blossoms!"
Fragrance and petals blossomed together in the air, only to be shrouded by lightning-charged rain.
Hancock unleashed another devastating kick toward Robin.
But suddenly, countless delicate hands emerged around her leg, rapidly forming layers of petals.
"That ability again!"
Hancock's eyes narrowed.
Air resistance slowed her whip-like leg, and by the time she reached Robin, her attack had weakened significantly.
With a light Moonwalk, Robin dodged the strike.
"Damn trickster!"
Hancock cursed through clenched teeth.
Unable to fly, she had no choice but to fall back onto the serpent.
And then—
A familiar scream rang out behind her.
"AAAAH—!!!"
Hancock spun around, her expression changing instantly.
A pillar-thick bolt of lightning, guided by Nami, pierced straight through Sandersonia's massive serpent body.
Blinding lightning lit up the sea—
And etched the panicked faces of the Kuja Pirates into memory.
They couldn't understand…
How someone who had nearly been crippled by Lady Hancock moments ago could unleash such terrifying power!
At that moment—
Rindou aboard the Perfume Yuda suddenly seemed to recall something.
Amid shock and fear, she sprinted into the cabin.
The lightning came swiftly—and ended just as fast.
Charred black, Sandersonia reverted from serpent to human form mid-fall, collapsing onto the soft crest of the sea serpent.
Nami—who had nearly been defeated in one blow—had likewise taken down a top Kuja officer with a single strike.
In an instant, the tides of battle turned!
"Lady Hancock—!!! Lady Marigold—!!!"
Rindou's panicked shout rang across the deck, drawing Hancock and Marigold's attention.
She flung open a newspaper, holding two bounty posters aloft.
"Something's wrong, Lady Hancock!!!"
"They're not ordinary opponents!"
"That woman under the cloak—that weapon—there's no mistake!!!"
"They're members of the Straw Hat Pirates who've been shaking the seas recently!"
"Elemental Witch Nami—bounty: 200,000,000 Beli!"
"And if I'm not mistaken…"
"The other one is also a Straw Hat Pirate—"
"'Devil Child' Nico Robin!!!"
"Bountied at 79,000,000 Beli at age eight, now classified as extremely dangerous—current bounty: 300,000,000 Beli!!!"
(End of Chapter)