In the first half of the Grand Line, nestled near the edge of the South Blue's Calm Belt, lies a secluded island adjacent to Amazon Lily, the legendary nation of women. Since the conclusion of the war at Marineford, Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy had dedicated themselves to intense training here for nearly two months.
Their mentor, "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh, had stayed with them for the first month to provide a foundation in the basics of Haki. Rayleigh chose to depart once the groundwork was laid, leaving the brothers to refine their skills through experience. Both Ace and Luffy proved to be exceptionally gifted pupils, reaching a level of Tier 2: Grand Line Notables within that short timeframe. In just thirty days, both had successfully awakened Armament Haki and had even begun the arduous process of learning to consciously trigger their Haoshoku Haki.
Ace, in particular, displayed the terrifying potential of one who inherited the bloodline of the Pirate King. He had managed to grasp the concept of Armament Haki in a mere five days. Now, their journey focused on the physical conditioning required to withstand the strain of higher-level Haki, as only a powerful body can unleash the true strength of a World-Class Power.
As night fell, the brothers sat by a crackling bonfire on the shore. They feasted on a massive spread of gourmet food sent over by the warriors of Amazon Lily, their laughter echoing like it had during their childhood on Mt. Colubo. Listening to Luffy's cheerful rambling between massive bites of meat, Ace looked up at the star-studded sky and let out a soft sigh.
"If only Sabo were here with us," Ace said quietly. "It would be perfect."
Luffy paused his eating, a rare moment of stillness crossing his face as he followed Ace's gaze to the stars. "Sabo is watching us, Ace. I know he is."
Ace blinked, surprised by the sudden weight in his younger brother's voice. He broke into a warm smile. "You know, Luffy, sometimes you seem like a complete idiot, but other times you say things that are actually pretty deep." He looked back at the sky, his expression softening. "I bet the old man is watching us, too."
Ace stood up, shaking off the melancholy and clenching his fists. "Alright, are you full yet? If you are, let's see if you can actually hit me this time!"
"Oh! You're on!" Luffy shouted, his excitement instantly returning.
Before they could square off, a massive explosion rocked the atmosphere. The shockwave startled them both, and they whipped their heads toward the source of the noise. Thick columns of black smoke and angry orange flames were billowing into the night sky from the neighboring island.
"That's..." Ace started, his eyes widening.
"That's the direction of Amazon Lily!" Luffy yelled, his face contorting with worry. "Hancock!"
Without a second thought, Luffy bolted toward the shoreline. Ace was right behind him. "Idiot! You can't run across the ocean! Grab onto me!" Ace shouted. He partially transformed into his elemental state, his legs erupting into a geyser of fire. Grabbing Luffy, he rocketed into the air, a human flare streaking across the dark sea toward the burning island.
In the Empress's bedchamber on Amazon Lily, the blast had rudely awakened Boa Hancock from a pleasant dream. Her face was flushed with lingering affection, but in an instant, her expression hardened into the cold, commanding mask of a ruler.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
"Snake Princess! We are under attack!" Elder Nyon burst into the room, followed closely by Hancock's sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold.
Hancock's irritation vanished, replaced by a grim solemnity. "Who dares strike at Nine Snake?"
"We... we don't know yet," Nyon admitted frantically.
Seeing that her inner circle lacked answers, Hancock grabbed her crimson dress and leapt through the window. With the agility of a master combatant, she scaled the highest peak of the island in moments. From her vantage point, she looked down at the devastation. A massive section of the city had been reduced to a smoking crater. The wails of her people rose through the heat, fueling her rage.
As she scanned the horizon for the culprit, she spotted a single cannonball whistling through the air, aimed directly at the heart of the village. Enraged, the Empress launched herself toward the projectile to intercept it.
However, as she drew near, the impossible happened. The cannonball suddenly expanded, growing larger and more massive by the second until it was the size of a mountain.
"What?!" Hancock gasped.
She finally understood the source of the previous explosions, but she was already in the path of the giant projectile. With no time to utilize her Devil Fruit powers to petrify the object, she braced herself, using her own body and Haki to shield her home from the impact.
The collision resulted in a deafening "Boom!" Bright flames consumed the sky as the force of the blast leveled several buildings below. Hancock was swallowed by the inferno.
"Sister!" Sandersonia and Marigold screamed. They raced toward the site of the impact as the Empress fell from the sky, her clothes scorched and smoke trailing from her form. She hit the ground with a heavy thud, appearing unconscious.
Her sisters reached her just in time to pull her from the rubble. Seeing Hancock bleeding from the mouth and covered in burns, their hearts sank.
"Sister, speak to us!"
"Empress!"
Hancock groaned, the voices of her sisters and the surrounding Kuja warriors pulling her back to consciousness. Despite the searing pain, she forced herself to stand, leaning on her sisters for support. "I am fine," she gritted out. "Do not worry about me."
She turned her sharp gaze to Elder Nyon. "That power... what was that?"
Nyon's face was pale. "It fits the description of the target the Marines asked the Warlords to eliminate recently. The 'World Destroyer,' Byrndy World. I never imagined he would be bold enough to seek you out personally. Hancock, his More-More Fruit is said to possess power capable of destroying the world."
"I see," Hancock said, her voice dripping with ice. "Elder Nyon, oversee the relief efforts. Sandersonia, Marigold, Salome—follow me."
A massive python slithered down from the rocks, bowing before her. Hancock mounted Salome without hesitation, and the group rushed toward the shore.
"Sister, you're badly hurt," Sandersonia whispered, but Hancock didn't look back.
"Do not underestimate me. These wounds are a small price for my pride."
Her sisters exchanged worried glances. Against a legendary threat like World, they weren't sure if willpower would be enough. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from above.
"Hancock!"
They looked up to see Ace descending like a meteor, flames trailing behind him as he carried a very frantic Luffy.
"Luffy!" Hancock's cold demeanor shattered instantly, replaced by a look of pure, starry-eyed infatuation.
With the brothers' arrival, the group reached the coast. A ship as massive as an island sat anchored just offshore. But as they prepared to board, three figures dropped from the sky, blocking their path. Behind them, a burly man landed with a heavy thud, a withered, ancient voice cackling from his shoulder.
"Well, well," the old voice rasped. "I didn't expect to find Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy hiding out here. The World Government would pay a fortune for your heads..."
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