"Perfume Femur..."
In an instant, Hancock, who had been kneeling on the ground moments ago, erupted with sudden force. She leapt into the air and brought her leg down heavily onto Saint Bass's corpse. The body instantly turned to stone and shattered into pieces.
As if that alone was not enough, she moved again without hesitation. Another strike of Perfume Femur crushed Saint Gre's corpse as well. She stood there breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling, as though she was releasing every ounce of pain and humiliation she had endured as a slave.
Marco watched, slightly surprised. He had not expected Hancock to lash out like this, even against lifeless bodies.
After a moment, Hancock turned and walked toward him. The hesitation in her eyes was gone, replaced by the pride and arrogance of the Pirate Empress.
"It seems you've recovered," Marco said.
Hancock gave a soft snort, her expression turning slightly tsundere, though her eyes carried clear gratitude.
"No matter what, this concubine must thank you. You saved this concubine. If not for you, this concubine might never have escaped that hell in this lifetime."
For Hancock, the last person who had saved her from the Celestial Dragons was Fisher Tiger. She never had the chance to thank him before his death, and back then, he had freed countless slaves, not just her alone.
But this time was different.
Marco had saved only her, even if it had not been his original intention.
"You're welcome," Marco replied with a faint smile. Then he continued, "I'm heading to the Sabaody Archipelago next. Do you want to come with me?"
Hancock did not hesitate.
"This concubine has nowhere else to go. If I return to Amazon Lily, I will only bring disaster upon them."
Marco nodded. "Then let's go."
Hancock's cheeks flushed slightly as she stepped closer. Without wasting time, Marco wrapped an arm around her slender waist and took to the sky, heading toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
Held in his arms, Hancock's face remained faintly red.
The memories of Luffy surfaced in her mind, but instead of warmth, there was only disappointment. Until his death, he had never sent anyone to rescue her.
Looking back, she realized that during the time she spent with him, she had always been the one chasing after him. He had never once said he liked her. He had rejected her confessions, even her proposals.
It was nothing more than unrequited love.
Now, the man holding her was different.
Luffy had struck a Celestial Dragon, but ultimately paid the price for it.
Marco, however, had gone further. He had killed Celestial Dragons, and not just anywhere, but in Mary Geoise itself. He had appeared like a savior and brought her out of hell.
Back when she was still a slave, she had imagined a hero countless times, someone who would descend and save her.
She once believed that person would be Luffy.
But it was not.
Now, the man before her had taken that place in her heart. Without realizing it, her arms tightened around Marco.
"Marco..." Hancock's voice softened, almost pleading, as she looked up at him.
Marco glanced down calmly. "What is it?"
Her usual pride had completely faded. She looked vulnerable, almost afraid.
"This concubine has nowhere left to go. Please, do not abandon this concubine. I will do anything you ask."
Marco paused for a brief moment, slightly caught off guard by her sudden change.
This woman truly shifted quickly. Moments ago, she was consumed by rage, then she stood proud as an empress, and now she looked like someone terrified of being left behind.
He quickly steadied himself and gently patted her back.
"Don't worry. I will protect you."
Hearing those words, Hancock's eyes trembled.
Protection.
As the Pirate Empress, she had never needed such a thing, or at least, she had forced herself to believe that. But deep down, it was something she had always longed for.
She held him tighter, burying her face in his chest to hide the tears forming in her eyes.
Since childhood, no one had ever truly protected her. That was why she had chosen to become strong, to stand above others, to never be vulnerable again.
Yet even as the ruler of Amazon Lily, she had been powerless before the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
Only this man had defied them and brought her freedom.
Compared to him, Luffy no longer held a place in her heart.
At the time, Luffy's defiance had seemed heroic. But in the end, he had paid for it, and not alone. Others had suffered because of it as well.
Now, with her mind clear, she could see everything for what it truly was.
Her past feelings had faded.
In their place was someone new.
But a new worry surfaced.
Would Marco accept her?
He stood at the peak of the world, far beyond her in both power and status. And she, despite everything, was still a former slave.
The thought made her feel a trace of inferiority.
She had lost everything. She could not return to Amazon Lily. Her sisters were gone. Even her identity as empress felt hollow now.
And Marco knew the truth about her past.
Would he look down on her?
Her thoughts spiraled, fear creeping back into her heart.
If he abandoned her, then in this vast world, she would have nowhere left to belong.
Her body trembled slightly at the thought, her grip on him tightening unconsciously as they continued toward the Sabaody Archipelago.