The gap between Luffy and Gorum was like a chasm. In speed, strength, and the sheer intensity of their Haki, the difference was overwhelming. Gear Second, Gear Third—none of it mattered to Figarland Gorum. Even Luffy's newly developed Gear Fourth couldn't touch him. As his trump card failed, Luffy felt despair swallow him.
When Gear Fourth faded, Luffy crashed to the ground, his body spent and trembling. Gorum stepped down on his chest, pinning him in place. He lowered his long sword until the cold blade rested against Luffy's neck and said icily, "Straw Hat, it seems you are not Joy Boy reborn. But it doesn't matter; now, I will kill you immediately."
"Luffy…" Hancock, watching from afar, went rigid. Her beautiful face twisted with panic and fury. "What exactly do you intend to do to my beloved…?"
"Sister, be careful…!" Marigold cried.
In the next instant, two Marine vice admirals slashed out, releasing twin blades of flying sword energy that crashed into Hancock's back. She spat blood as the force sent her staggering forward, her cloak and clothes shredded. An X-shaped wound of raw, bleeding flesh burned across her back.
"This is…"
The pupils of the two vice admirals shrank. Compared to the bloody 'X,' what stunned them even more was the mark beneath it: a branded symbol—the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon. It left no room for doubt. The Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, famed across the seas as the "World's Most Beautiful Woman," truly had once been a slave to the Celestial Dragons.
"Sister…" Sandersonia called out, her voice thick with worry.
By now, countless Marines and Kuja warriors had also seen the brand on Hancock's exposed back.
"That's the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon…"
"So the Pirate Empress really was a Celestial Dragon slave!"
"This is unbelievable…"
The Marines couldn't hold back their shock.
They had heard Saint Gorum claim earlier that the Pirate Empress was likely a former Celestial Dragon slave, but there had been no proof. Now, with the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon clearly visible on her back, the truth was undeniable: Boa Hancock had indeed once been a slave of the Celestial Dragons.
Hancock's hand flew to her back on instinct, but the earlier blow had already shredded her cloak, leaving the skin beneath completely exposed. Even if she tried to pull the torn fabric over the Hoof of the celestial dragon carved into her flesh, it would be pointless.
"Snake Princess…"
The warriors of Amazon Lily stared, stunned. In that instant, all the long‑held questions in their hearts were answered. Why did their Snake Princess always insist everyone leave when she bathed? Why had she claimed that, at the end of an adventure, she and her sisters had defeated the monster Gorgon in the sea, only to be cursed—petrifying eyes etched onto their backs that would turn anyone who saw them to stone?
So it had all been a lie. A story to hide the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon on her back.
The Kuja warriors' gazes shifted. Shock, pity, and disbelief tangled together as they looked upon their Empress. They had never imagined that the mighty Snake Princess, the proud Pirate Empress, had once been a slave of the Celestial Dragons.
Hancock's eyes swept over the warriors of Amazon Lily, then the gathered Marines. In that moment, she realized her greatest secret had been laid bare before everyone. A familiar fear crawled back into her chest, tightening her expression.
Even if she survived this battle, she could no longer remain Empress of Amazon Lily—at least, that was what she believed. How could the proud Pirate Empress, revealed to be a former slave of the Celestial Dragons, ever again face the people of Amazon Lily and the warriors of the Kuja Pirates?
Could someone who had once worn a slave's brand truly still be worthy of commanding the Kuja Pirates and ruling as the Empress of Amazon Lily?
At that moment, Luffy's face flashed through her mind. Her gaze snapped to the distant Gorosei, who had already raised his long sword high and was driving it mercilessly toward Luffy's throat.
"Luffy…" Hancock's pupils shrank sharply as she watched the blade pierce his neck. Blood dribbled from the corner of Luffy's mouth; his jaw hung open, but he couldn't even muster a scream.
As she saw the man she loved struck down before her eyes, tears spilled uncontrollably down Hancock's cheeks. The agony tearing through her heart was far worse than any pain in her body.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"
With a blur of motion, a Marine vice admiral drew his blade and slashed in one smooth strike. Sandersonia went down at once, crashing to the ground.
"Sister…" Marigold stared, frozen in shock.
"How dare you turn your back on me…" The vice admiral she was fighting snarled, seizing the opening as her attention wavered. His sword flashed.
As Marigold turned, the slash carved straight across her throat. A thin red line appeared—then, with a choked sound, blood erupted from the wound like a fountain. She clutched her neck, stumbled, and fell heavily to the ground.
"Sandersonia… Marigold…" Hancock watched both sisters cut down before her eyes. Tears streamed down her face, no longer controllable. These were the sisters who had grown up with her since childhood. The rage burning in her eyes finally broke free. She hurled herself toward the Marines, roaring, "Even if I die, I will kill you all!"
Elsewhere, the Gorum wrenched his sword back out of Straw Hat Luffy's throat. He watched as the last breath left Luffy's body, then said coldly, "Hmph, so you really aren't Joy Boy. Just a worthless pirate. To raise your hand against the creator of this world… you don't even qualify to be a slave."
Confirming Luffy's death, the Gorum spared him no further glance and turned his back, walking toward Hancock.
By now, several marine vice admirals had already surrounded her. Encircled on all sides, Hancock only fought more wildly, striking at them with desperate fury.
Suddenly, a Marine Rear Admiral hurled a chain. It snapped around Boa Hancock's smooth ankle, coiling tight. In the next instant, her strength drained away. Her pupils shrank in shock. "Sea–Stone…"
Seizing the moment, the surrounding Vice Admirals rushed in together and pinned Hancock to the ground.
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