Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the skies. Two figures trailing smoke were sent flying like broken rag dolls, crashing hard onto the deck with a heavy thud.
They were none other than Akainu and Kizaru.
But their current state was miserable—clothes torn and disheveled, their bodies charred black like charcoal, with streaks of blood and the stench of burning flesh clinging to them. If someone hadn't witnessed the scene, they might have thought the two had just crawled out of a mine collapse.
This defeat was well deserved. After all, Kaguya had used Mana Release—one of Black Saber's high-level skills. It greatly amplifies physical capabilities using magical energy, allowing the user to break through their limits and massively boost attack power, defense, and movement speed.
Cough cough.
Akainu coughed violently, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to his feet. Kizaru also staggered up nearby. Though their injuries were serious, they hadn't sustained fatal wounds.
As expected of two of the Navy's top-tier forces, their durability and endurance were beyond normal comprehension. Even after suffering such a devastating attack, they were still alive. Perhaps only cockroaches could compare.
"Wow... with power like that, she's seriously dangerous. I almost died," Kizaru said leisurely, wiping his cracked glasses.
"Damn mutt straying on the edges of society," Akainu growled, eyes bloodshot, fists clenched tightly in fury. "I'll kill you all."
Brrrr brrrr brrrr...
Just as Akainu was about to lash out again, the distinctive ringing of a Den Den Mushi sounded, freezing him mid-motion. He reached into his coat and pulled out a transponder snail, his eyes narrowing.
What's this?
Even Kizaru's expression briefly shifted with curiosity.
Akainu's face darkened, then lightened again as conflicting thoughts crossed his mind. He looked up and growled, "You got lucky this time. Boa Hancock, I hope you don't live to regret your foolish decision."
With that, he threw off his half-torn justice cape and, without hesitation, leapt from the Kuja Pirates' ship. With a few agile steps, he returned to the Navy warship, and Kizaru followed shortly after.
Given Akainu's temperament, it made no sense for him to back down after such a humiliating defeat. Something urgent must have come up to force their retreat.
As the Navy warships slowly receded into the distance, Hancock fell deep into thought.
Regardless, the departure of the two admirals meant that Amazon Lily was temporarily safe.
Seeing the warships leave, the women of the Kuja Pirates erupted into cheers, their joy uncontainable. Only those who've tasted despair could truly understand how sweet survival feels.
Their eyes turned to Kaguya with deep gratitude. If not for her defeat of the two admirals, they would have been in serious trouble.
Hancock stepped forward from the crowd and approached Kaguya, a smile playing at her lips. But just as she was about to speak, Kaguya suddenly swayed and collapsed backward.
Startled, Hancock quickly reached out and caught her by the shoulders.
Could it be—had she been injured during the battle with the admirals?
But when Hancock looked down and saw Kaguya curled up in her arms, fast asleep, she was stunned.
Kaguya slept deeply, and it wasn't until late afternoon that she finally stirred, groggy and dazed.
This was because Black Saber possessed an overpowered magical core, requiring and consuming an enormous amount of mana. Since Kaguya had used a transformation card and taken on Black Saber's body, she no longer had her original chakra reserves or previous abilities—unless she actively canceled the transformation and returned to her true form.
Black Saber's burst potential was immense, with near-overflowing damage output. But in exchange, the mana consumption increased exponentially—especially after using Mana Release. The food she'd eaten earlier wasn't nearly enough to support such massive consumption.
So fainting from exhaustion made perfect sense.
From a more mundane perspective, she had simply passed out from hunger—not exactly shocking.
"You're awake?"
A voice, low and smooth with a magnetic tone, suddenly rang out.
Kaguya turned her head and saw a stunningly beautiful and alluring woman. Her eyes were especially clear, and the curves of her waist were as graceful and flexible as a snake.
Looking around the room, Kaguya asked, "Where... am I?"
The room was spacious, decorated in warm tones. Embroidered curtains and elegant drapes gave it a refined feel. The large bed was covered with a soft goose-down quilt and filled the space with a faint, soothing fragrance—perhaps perfume, though it didn't quite smell like it.
When Kaguya realized what scent it was, her mind immediately cleared.
"This is my private chamber," Hancock said with a smile as she walked over. "No one will disturb you. Rest assured, you're safe here."
"No need. If there's nothing else, I need to go," Kaguya replied. She had more important things to do and couldn't afford to stay.
She pulled off the blanket and was about to get out of bed when she suddenly froze.
Looking down, she realized she wasn't wearing anything at all. Her slender figure was fully exposed, her smooth, fair skin glowing with a soft, moonlit sheen.
"Your previous clothes were dirty, so I asked the servants to have them cleaned," Hancock said, as if sensing Kaguya's thoughts. She reached for a stack of neatly folded clothes nearby. "Here are some fresh clothes. I hope they fit."
Although Kaguya wasn't thrilled about it, there didn't seem to be any better option.
However, the moment she put on the outfit, her face darkened.
It was local attire—not ugly, per se. In fact, it had a unique exotic charm.
The deep V-neck design, trimmed with embroidery, was intended to enhance and emphasize the chest, highlighting a woman's mature allure. In a pirate world filled with buxom figures, this was perfectly normal.
The problem was that, after transforming into Black Saber, Kaguya had become part of the underrepresented flat-chested demographic. Her modest figure clearly couldn't fill out the intended proportions.
And so... well, this was awkward.
This kind of outfit clearly couldn't be worn out in public—it would be laughable. Kaguya had no desire to become the center of attention, especially for a reason like that.
Thankfully, the clothes didn't take long to dry, especially with the help of Invisible Air. By evening, Kaguya had managed to change back into her own clothes.
Sometimes, ill-fitting sizes were truly a hassle. Kaguya suddenly understood why things like padded bras existed.
Truly... how tragic.
Although the room was elegant and peaceful, staying indoors for too long became stifling. But just as Kaguya stepped outside, she was instantly surrounded by a group of excited girls.
"She's the one who defeated the attacking Navy? That's amazing!"
"She looks so petite—I can't believe she's that powerful!"
"Strong and beautiful... I'm so jealous. I wish I could be like her one day."
"But wait, isn't her chest kind of small?"
"Yeah, a lot smaller, actually."
"Could she be..."
"Be what?"
"A legendary man!"
"Ah!"
All the girls' eyes lit up like stars, sparkling as they stared at Kaguya, practically itching to reach out and poke her.
Kaguya's delicate face turned pitch black like the bottom of a pot. She admitted that Saber's chest wasn't big—but it was still within the range of a normal human being! Not everyone had to be a D-cup.
In contrast, the busty women populating the world of pirates were the true anomalies!
"What are you all doing? Don't crowd the guest. Have you forgotten your basic manners?"
With a cool, magnetic voice, a tall and stunning woman strode over.
"Lady Hancock!"
The gathered girls quickly stepped back, looking embarrassed. After all, this woman had saved them. Staring and surrounding her like that was inappropriate.
Still, she was just so cool. They couldn't help but want to touch her—what would it feel like to pinch her cheeks?
Hancock walked up to Kaguya with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble."
It had to be said—Hancock's figure was extraordinarily tall, especially her long legs, which made up most of her height. Standing at 191 cm, Kaguya had to tilt her head to look up at her.
Saber's body was only 154 cm tall. It made her look downright petite, barely reaching below Hancock's chest. Even being held by her wouldn't reach the so-called "face-washable" embrace level—it really was a bit sad.
"It's nothing," Kaguya shook her head. "I just wanted to take a walk."
"Is that so?" Hancock's eyes lit up. "Then let me join you. I know this place well."
The surrounding girls were shocked. No one had ever seen Lady Hancock personally offer to accompany someone before.
"That's not necessary," Kaguya replied. "I'd prefer to go alone."
The truth was, the walk was just an excuse. She wanted to get familiar with Black Saber's body. She'd assumed the transformation would come with complete mastery—but it wasn't that simple.
Turns out, nothing was.
Just like in her fight against Akainu and Kizaru. Sure, she'd won. But she'd been left completely drained. That shouldn't have happened. She knew her full strength—enough to raze the entire surface of a planet. And now she was exhausted from taking on just two admirals?
What a joke. A straight-up nerf.
She couldn't shake the feeling: the system had tricked her. "Transformation," it said—but all she got was a downgrade.
Honestly, if this was a novel, she wouldn't be surprised if no one was still reading by this chapter. A power-up that's actually a power-down? Who writes that?
...
She actually rejected Lady Hancock's invitation?
The onlookers widened their eyes in shock.
"I see," Hancock said, a bit disappointed, but quickly brightened again. With a gentle smile, she added, "Then I'll be waiting for you. I've prepared a banquet in your honor. Please return soon."
Banquet?
Kaguya paused mid-step, turned around, and asked, "What banquet?"
"A celebration for your victorious return," Hancock replied with a smile. "There will be many exquisite dishes, salads, cakes, fruits... and I even had a large portion of your favorite honey-glazed roast prepared."
"Eat the roast first, then go for a walk."
What do people love most?
Power? Wealth? Love?
No. To Kaguya, this plate of honey-glazed roast was more enticing than anything else.
Perhaps due to the immense mana consumption, her appetite had returned to its former state—particularly craving high-calorie foods. She even enjoyed the greasy roasted meats she once disliked.
Oddly enough, she no longer had much interest in refined desserts like she used to.
Kaguya devoured her meal unabashedly while Hancock rested her cheek in her palm, watching her with a faint smile, as though watching someone eat was more enjoyable than eating herself.
Meanwhile, the women of Amazon Lily glanced over frequently, whispering among themselves.
"Hey, did you notice?"
"Notice what?"
"Lady Hancock seems especially attentive to our benefactor."
"Yeah, I've never seen her show that kind of expression before."
"Could it be that Lady Hancock has... feelings for her?"
"No way. Lady Hancock is the perfect woman. She'd never fall for someone so easily."
"Still, she's not treating her like just a friend..."
Just then, Hancock gently picked up a napkin and wiped a crumb from Kaguya's face. The girls froze, as if they had witnessed something incredible.
The girl who spoke earlier nearly dropped her jaw. "Maybe... she really does."
As night fell, the stars dimmed under the moonlight, and a cool breeze drifted through the mountain ridges, rustling the lush forest leaves. Occasional birdcalls added to the peaceful ambiance.
Kaguya stood alone in a forest clearing, gripping the black-and-red Sword of Promised Victory. Her eyes were closed, completely immersed in calm.
Suddenly, her clear eyes snapped open with a gleam of focus. An immense aura erupted from her body like a roaring wind, sweeping outward in rings like a tornado. Birds scattered from the forest canopy in fright.
Far away, in the palace bath, Hancock's pupils shrank. She stood up from the water, her flawless, fair skin glistening as droplets splashed around her.
Conqueror's Haki.
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