"Gigantic Tree: Red Dragon Cannon!"
A pair of hands grew from the ground, eventually forming giant hands that clasped together in a strange pose, as if forming a hand seal.
Haki condensed and released from the fingertips, and a powerful force directly blasted away the mountain opposite.
Robin, with her fair complexion and elegant attire, crossed her hands, panting heavily, her legs trembling like a stumbling fawn.
Two years had passed since she began training in Nicuss.
She turned her head to look at Nero, who had a subtle expression.
"Hmm, the power is decent, but your Haki reserves are too low, aren't they? A one-shot, do-or-die technique? If the enemy is fine, then you're in trouble."
Nero gripped her dragon horns. It was acceptable, but the stamina was too poor. If it wasn't acceptable, the power was better than she expected.
"Are you learning from Hathaway? Why are all of you like this?"
Robin didn't speak, watching Nero nervously. Two years had passed, and if she didn't pass, Nero wouldn't let her go.
If she couldn't pass today's test, she would have to wait until next month.
"I'll consider you barely passed. The amount of Haki is closely related to your physique. You can slowly refine it yourself later."
After much hesitation, Nero reluctantly passed Robin. All the necessary techniques had been taught.
Robin had wasted too much time on physical issues and had now missed the optimal golden period, so she could only train slowly on her own.
This level was a bit lacking for fighting alone in the New World, but even under the Four Emperors, she could at least be a cadre.
If Robin hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit, Nero would have found her a Mythical Zoan, and after a few days of intensive training with Teacher Kaidou, she would be a Four Emperors-level fighter for sure.
Hearing that she had finally passed the test, Robin let out a huge sigh of relief inwardly, while maintaining an elegant and intellectual smile on her face.
"Then, Big Sister Nero, after training, shall we go for a bath together? I've learned a new massage technique."
"Let's go then. I hope you don't disappoint me. I also need your help with a small matter."
"Just give the orders, Big Sister."
...At the Sabaody Archipelago, in Shakky's Rip-off Bar, a special guest arrived today.
Nero pushed the door open. The bar was empty, with only Shakky smoking behind the counter.
"Oh, Nero! I didn't expect you to come in person?" Shakky greeted Nero with some surprise.
Since Nicuss underwent extensive renovations, Nero rarely went out. It was said that Her Majesty the Empress now considered everywhere outside to be a desolate backwater.
"Hmm, I'm dropping someone off and came to take a look. Get me a cup of coffee." Nero sat unceremoniously opposite Shakky, her long dragon tail resting on the floor.
"Nico Robin? You really like that child, don't you?" Shakky pushed the coffee towards Nero and said with emotion.
"I suppose so. Where's Rayleigh?" Nero took a sip of coffee. Milk and honey with a bit of coffee... delicious!
"Who knows? Probably off somewhere scamming for drinking money." Shakky extinguished her cigarette butt and waved her hand to disperse the smoke.
"Is that so? You two have been together for so long, when are you finally getting married?"
"Actually, we're fine as we are now, just living together. Even if we got married, I don't think anything would change."
Shakky shrugged. At her age, she had no taboos about such topics.
"That Rayleigh fellow is really quite wishy-washy about these matters..."
Nero's tail slowly wagged: "Forget it, it's your own business, I won't meddle."
Shakky poured herself a drink, smiled at the remark, and changed the subject: "It seems to be getting noisy outside."
"It's just those energetic brats," Nero said dismissively, with half-lidded eyes, though her tail wagged with much greater amplitude.
Shakky naturally noticed this and outwardly smiled in agreement, but inwardly she grumbled.
'You're so easy to read, Nero.'
"If the Straw Hat Pirates go to the New World, they'll have to face the Four Emperors directly this time."
"A bunch of old, weak, and sick people, perfect as stepping stones." Nero curled her lip in disdain.
With Linlin aging and Whitebeard dead, she increasingly looked down on the so-called Four Emperors. Old things would sooner or later become stepping stones for new people.
Not to mention that this time, not only was a Child of Destiny coming, but also... "To call the Four Emperors 'old, weak, and sick'—you're the only one in the world, Nero." Shakky gave a helpless, bitter smile.
The whole world knew this Empress was the strongest in the world, but only true top-tier powerhouses knew that Nero's strength was unconquerable, even if all the Four Emperors combined.
Even the World Government, which had ruled the seas for eight hundred years, had to yield before this power.
"sword of promised victory!!"
Very close by, a majestic yet childish voice sounded from outside the door.
Shakky's eyes suddenly widened: "Is that... Artoria?"
"I sent her and Robin out to see the world. She's about at the age of rebellion and wants to go out and play for a bit."
Nero proudly lifted her head: "I'm very lenient, unlike Holio and the others, who absolutely refused to let me go out and play back then."
"..."
Shakky subconsciously pulled out a cigarette and lit it: "But I remember Artoria and Mordred are only nine years old, aren't they?"
"They'll be ten in a few months. Lia wants to understand the sea, and Momo wants to get stronger."
"Even at ten, that's a bit too young, isn't it?" Shakky complained, thinking Nero spoiled her two daughters too much.
"I made good arrangements. Lia is with Robin, and I sent Momo to Kaido. I heard Kaido has a daughter; they should get along well."
Nero raised a finger and said proudly, feeling proud of her flawless arrangements.
"And Momo seems to really like Kaido's fashion style, the wild kind..."
Nero's words had the attitude of enrolling her children in a cram school, which gave Shakky a headache.
The two princesses of Nicuss sailing out like this would surely cause a huge stir very soon... At the Sabaody Archipelago, just as Luffy knocked out a Pacifista and escaped from Sentomaru, he happened to meet Sanji.
As the two were heading towards the sunny, a man blocked their path.
"How scary, Straw Hat Pirates." A man in a yellow striped suit and brown sunglasses, with a lewd face, stood with his hands in his pockets. It was Admiral Borsalino, Kizaru.
"Admiral!" x2
Luffy and Sanji were somewhat incredulous. Was the Marineford's highest fighting force so idle?
"I just happened to be passing by and didn't expect you all to gather again. However, your journey ends here!"
Borsalino smiled faintly, intending to put Luffy and the others through some rigorous training.
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