Chapter 15 – The Snake Empress
Year 1527 ASC
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
On the rooftop of Onigashima, Kaido stood in his human form, towering like a war god. His massive kanabo rested on his shoulder as he looked down at the three teenagers lying on the shattered rooftop.
"Wororororo! Done already?" he laughed.
Below him lay Ragnar, Yamato, and Hayori, their bodies covered in blood, bruises, and injuries.
Ragnar was now fourteen years old.
Years of brutal training had sharpened his body into a weapon. Yet even now, Kaido's special training left him battered and broken.
Beside him, Yamato was panting heavily, blood dripping from her forehead. Nearby, Hayori was in even worse condition.
Ragnar and Yamato possessed Mythical Zoans and Oni bloodlines. Their vitality was monstrous.
Hayori had neither.
Yet she continued standing beside them.
"Tsk... not yet."
Ragnar pushed himself up again.
Green energy erupted around his body.
Boom!
The rooftop cracked beneath his feet as he vanished.
"Extreme Speed!"
He became a green blur, shooting straight toward Kaido.
Kaido smirked and swung his kanabo downward.
BOOM!
Ragnar's fist collided with the weapon.
The impact blasted apart the rooftop beneath them.
At the same moment, Yamato appeared from the side.
Her kanabo smashed toward Kaido.
Another deafening shockwave exploded across Onigashima.
Using the distraction, Ragnar leaped backward.
Taking a deep breath, he shot into the sky.
His body transformed.
Azure scales appeared.
His body stretched.
Soon, a colossal Rayquaza flew high above Onigashima.
The clouds began twisting violently.
Wind howled.
"Dragon Twister!"
A massive tornado descended from the heavens toward the rooftop.
Kaido laughed.
"Wororororo! You still need more work, kid!"
His body transformed into a gigantic Azure Dragon over a thousand meters long.
Opening his mouth, Kaido roared,
"Wind Blade!"
Massive green wind blades erupted from his mouth.
Each slash possessed enough power to split mountains.
The blades tore through the tornado and scattered it across the sky.
But Ragnar wasn't finished.
He roared.
His entire body became covered in blue energy.
Then he dove downward.
"Dragon Rush!"
Like a living meteor, Ragnar crashed toward Kaido.
Kaido's eyes narrowed.
"Bolo Breath!"
A massive blast of fire erupted from his mouth.
Yet Ragnar tore through the attack and slammed directly into Kaido.
BOOOOM!
The impact shook the entire island.
Kaido's drunken expression vanished.
His eyes widened.
Just then—
Yamato appeared above his head.
She grinned.
"Raimei Hakkai!"
Her kanabo slammed into Kaido's skull.
CRACK!
Kaido felt his vision blur.
"Damn, that hurt—"
Before he could finish speaking, Ragnar appeared directly in front of him.
Golden energy gathered inside his mouth.
"Hyper Beam!"
A point-blank beam erupted.
Kaido's Observation Haki screamed in warning as his Future Sight showed him the outcome.
He instantly shrank back into his human form.
The beam narrowly missed him and blasted through a distant mountain.
The mountain disappeared.
"Wororororo!"
Kaido wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
"That genuinely would've hurt."
"Ice Beam!"
Yamato fired a freezing blast.
Kaido vanished.
The white beam missed him by inches.
At the same moment, Hayori attacked.
Her sword flashed.
Kaido raised his kanabo and blocked.
"Silver Fang: Frost Bite!"
Yamato charged again.
Frost energy and Armament Haki covered Takeru.
Kaido dodged.
Even then, the attack grazed his cape and instantly froze it solid.
"Divine Swiftness: Glacier Fang!"
Yamato launched another attack.
Meanwhile—
"Blooming Flower: Petal Dance!"
Hayori's blade moved gracefully.
Illusions of blooming flowers appeared around her.
At the same time, Ragnar attacked from above.
"Dragon Pulse!"
A beam of draconic energy descended from the sky.
Kaido grinned.
Advanced Armament Haki coated his kanabo.
"Raimei Hakkai!"
---
Inside Onigashima, King sighed.
"Lord Kaido really should learn to hold back."
Another explosion shook the island.
"At this rate, Onigashima won't survive their education classes."
Moments later, four bursts of Conqueror's Haki erupted across the island.
The sky itself trembled.
On the rooftop, Ragnar, Yamato, and Hayori fought Kaido with everything they had.
Though they had only mastered all three forms of Haki at a basic level, their talent was monstrous.
After all—
Ragnar and Yamato were only fourteen.
Hayori was thirteen.
---
Far away, on Amazon Lily—
A beautiful woman walked toward the center of the arena.
Boa Hancock.
Now seventeen years old.
The image she presented was breathtaking.
Long black hair flowed behind her like silk.
A faint purple aura surrounded her.
Golden earrings swung gently with each step.
Her graceful figure radiated confidence and authority.
The most striking feature was the living snakes woven into her appearance.
Dark serpent-like hair moved around her as if alive.
A beautiful snake mark rested upon her body, giving her an almost divine appearance.
Rather than making her frightening, it only enhanced her beauty.
She looked less like a human woman and more like a goddess descended from myth.
Today was the day she would become Empress.
She had defeated the strongest Kuja warriors.
Even the current Empress admitted defeat and personally recommended Hancock as her successor.
The entire island had gathered.
The moment Hancock appeared—
The crowd erupted.
"Snake Empress!"
"Kyaaaa!"
"She's too beautiful!"
"Snake Empress is the best!"
Cheers echoed throughout Amazon Lily.
Marigold and Sandersonia watched from nearby.
Both tried to remain calm.
Neither succeeded.
The pride in their eyes was impossible to hide.
"Big Sister really did it," Sandersonia said.
Marigold nodded.
"She became the youngest Empress in Kuja history."
"And it won't be long before she becomes the strongest."
On the stage, Hancock flicked her hair.
A giant serpent coiled behind her.
Its body formed a throne.
With perfect elegance, Hancock sat upon it.
The crowd nearly fainted.
Even Sandersonia and Marigold had hearts in their eyes.
Hancock crossed her legs.
Her gaze swept across the island.
"I, Boa Hancock, am the Empress of Amazon Lily from this day onward."
The island exploded in celebration.
Then Gloriosa stepped forward.
She cleared her throat.
"Ahem."
Everyone turned toward her, already irritated.
"From now on, Hancock will be both Empress and Captain of the Kuja Pirates."
"With those titles comes responsibility, such as—"
BAM!
A kick sent Gloriosa flying.
The old woman disappeared into the distance.
Hancock lowered her leg.
"This Empress will do whatever she wants."
She brushed back her hair.
"Why, you ask?"
A charming smile appeared.
"Because I am beautiful."
The crowd erupted.
"KYAAAAAA!"
"Snake Empress!"
"She's perfect!"
Toritoma's mouth twitched.
Did I really make the right choice?
Meanwhile, the Kuja worshipped Hancock even harder.
Soon, Hancock returned toward the palace.
Behind her, Sandersonia and Marigold carried Gloriosa.
All the way back, Gloriosa complained while Toritoma silently listened.
---
Elsewhere on the sea—
A small boat drifted across the waves.
A red-haired young man sat calmly with a sword at his waist.
Shanks grinned.
"Now then."
"Time to find some crewmates."
---
In Mary Geoise, the Five Elders were furious.
Saturn slammed his cane against the floor.
"How dare that brat abandon the opportunity to become a Holy Knight and run away to become a lowly pirate!"
Nusjuro gripped his sword.
"That impudent brat."
"The possibility that he was the traitor who left the armory open is also extremely high."
Warcury frowned.
"I suggest inducting Harald as a Holy Knight in his place."
The others fell into thought.
Mars raised his hand.
"Agreed."
Soon, Peter and the others followed.
After a brief discussion, Harald was officially selected to replace Shanks.
---
Back on Amazon Lily—
Night had fallen.
Hancock sat alone in her room.
Moonlight illuminated her face.
Her hand rested upon a snake-shaped bracelet.
A memory surfaced.
A certain white-haired boy grinning shamelessly.
"You are mine and mine alone."
"Remember my name, Hancock."
"The next time we meet, let's get married."
Hancock's face instantly turned red as she remembered that pervert kissing her.
"Stupid."
She covered her face.
"What am I even thinking?"
That idiot hadn't even said goodbye properly.
Remembering that made her pout.
Yet despite her annoyance—
She smiled.
A small smile.
One she didn't even notice herself.
Far away on Onigashima, Ragnar suddenly sneezed.
"Huh?"
Yamato blinked.
"You sick?"
"No."
Ragnar rubbed his nose.
"Feels like someone is talking about me."
Yamato rolled her eyes.
"Probably because you're annoying."
Ragnar looked offended.
"That's impossible."
Hayori immediately smacked him.
"Very possible."
The three continued arguing as medics treated their wounds and plates of food kept arriving.
[Note - Hancock and Ragnars image in auxiliary chapter. 😍💘💖]