Robin was momentarily stunned. The instant she saw Hikaru, she thought he was a CP0 agent sent after her. But to her surprise, he had come for something entirely different—her beauty.
Her mind raced, quickly formulating a plan.
[I'll let him deal with the Marines first. If that doesn't work, I'll find a way to make him clash with Crocodile.]
A charming smile graced her lips as she gazed at him.
"Alright~ But as you can see, I'm currently being chased by the Marines. How about we handle them first, and then we can discuss our little business~?"
Hikaru saw right through her scheme—every word of her inner thoughts was laid bare before him.
However, he wasn't in a hurry. Taking care of the Marines first was a reasonable course of action, and besides, Robin had already fallen into the palm of his hand.
With his vast Observation Haki, there was no way she could escape him.
"Stay right here and don't move. I'll be back soon."
Electricity crackled around Hikaru's body as arcs of lightning shot out, breaking apart and evaporating the incoming waves that threatened Robin's boat.
Seeing the sly smile on her face, he smirked in return. Extending his right hand, he spread his fingers wide, and bolts of lightning intertwined to form a massive cage around her.
"3 Billion Volt: Thunder Cage!"
Robin's expression faltered slightly as she eyed the shimmering bolts of electricity encasing her.
"Is this how you intend to court me?" she asked with a playful pout. "If you don't trust me, why even bother pursuing me~?"
Hikaru chuckled.
"Trust? Heh~"
He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.
"My resolve is absolute, Robin. No one can stop me from having you. When you truly become my woman, I will naturally give you all the trust you desire."
Before Robin could reply, lightning flashed—Hikaru vanished from sight and reappeared on the deck of the Marine warship.
Standing tall, he looked down at the gathered officers. His eyes locked onto a particular figure.
"Hina-Hina, I've heard quite a bit about you and your so-called 'justice.'"
The Marines, still recovering from the chaos, turned their weapons toward him, their expressions tense.
"Thunder Pillar? Lightning?" Hina narrowed her eyes. "You call yourself a god? Hina is surprised—you're the wielder of a Logia-type Thunder Fruit!"
Her interest wasn't in his words, but rather in the sheer power he had just displayed.
"Hina has never seen a bounty on your head," she continued. "If you're not a pirate, why attack the Marines? Are you trying to protect Nico Robin, a wanted criminal?"
Hikaru smirked. "You can think of it that way."
Then, his smirk widened as he added, "Not only that, Hina—I plan to take you as well. You'll be one of my women."
A wave of outrage swept through the Marine ranks.
"WHAT?!"
"Damn you! You won't lay a finger on Colonel Hina!"
"We will protect her with our lives!"
"If you want her, you'll have to get through us first!"
Their eyes burned with fury, their hatred for Hikaru reaching its peak. If looks could kill, he would have died a hundred times over.
Hina, on the other hand, was taken aback for a brief moment. A mix of anger and disbelief flashed across her face, but she quickly masked it with a teasing smile.
"Hina is very happy that you admire her," she said, crossing her arms. "But Hina is also very displeased with your attitude!"
Her gaze sharpened as she continued, "However… if you're truly that interested in me, why not prove your worth? Join the Marines. If you serve under Hina, then perhaps you'll earn a chance to pursue me."
Hikaru scoffed.
"Did you not hear me clearly?" He leaned in slightly, his electric aura intensifying. "I said, I will take you—not that I'm asking for permission."
The sheer confidence in his voice sent a chill down the spines of the surrounding Marines.
He stared at Hina's elegant figure, his golden eyes filled with undisguised possession.
"This isn't a negotiation. If you agree, things will go smoothly. If you refuse… well, I'll sink this entire warship to the bottom of the ocean."
The air grew heavy with tension.
Hikaru raised his fingers, lightning crackling dangerously at his fingertips.
"I'm sure my beautiful and intelligent Goddess Hina will make the right choice… won't she?"
The electric currents dancing around him sent shivers down the spines of every Marine present.
Hina, taken aback by his absolute confidence, glanced back at her men. Their faces were twisted in anger and determination, but deep inside, she knew the situation was completely out of their hands.
She was trapped.
Hikaru had placed her on a high pedestal, first praising her unwavering sense of justice, only to follow it up with a ruthless threat.
But as much as she loathed his methods, she could not ignore his words.
As their leader, she had a duty—not just to justice, not just to the common people, but to the sailors who had followed her through countless battles on the Grand Line.
She could never stand by and watch them die.
Hina clenched her fists, her red lips trembling as she forced herself to make the unbearable choice. Just as she was about to surrender, a desperate voice interrupted her.
"Colonel Hina, please don't do it! We would rather die than let you sacrifice yourself for us!"
Her eyes shot open, searching for the speaker, ready to rebuke him for his recklessness—but she was too late.
Hikaru's voice was cold.
"Hmph! Chatterboxes like you don't get to speak. Go to hell."
"3 Billion Volt: Thunderbird!"
With a flick of his hand, a massive bird composed of pure lightning took shape, letting out an ear-piercing screech before slamming into the defiant Marine.
Electricity crackled violently.
The sailor's body convulsed as he was instantly charred into blackened remains, collapsing lifelessly onto the deck.
"No!"
Hina threw out her iron bars in a desperate attempt to intervene, but she was a step too late. Her teeth clenched, fists trembling as her rage burned through her veins.
Her furious gaze locked onto Hikaru, her eyes filled with nothing but hatred.
But he ignored her.
"I'm not playing games here, Hina." His voice remained calm, yet utterly indifferent. "My time is limited—I have no patience for Marines who refuse to listen."
"1 Billion Volt: Thunder Chain!"
At his command, the Thunderbird disintegrated into countless arcs of lightning, which twisted and shot across the deck, linking every single Marine—except for Hina.
A chorus of screams filled the air as electricity coursed through their bodies. Their forms jerked violently before they all collapsed unconscious, their bodies bound together by crackling lightning chains.
Hina's heart pounded. She forced herself to turn away, unable to stomach the sight of her subordinates in such agony.
"You… You killed them all?!"
Her voice trembled with rage, her nails digging into her palms. If she had even the slightest chance of landing a hit on him, she would have thrown herself at him without hesitation.
But Hikaru merely waved off her concern.
"Relax. They're not dead, only unconscious." His golden eyes gleamed with confidence.
"Killing them wouldn't serve me any purpose."
"Keeping them alive, on the other hand? That ensures your cooperation."
He tilted his head slightly, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.
"I'd rather have you willing than broken, Hina."
His gaze bore into hers, sharp and unyielding.
"So, make your choice."
Then, his next words sent a chill down her spine.
"You wouldn't want to end up like Admiral Zephyr, would you?"
Hina's breath hitched.
At that moment, a memory flashed painfully in her mind—
The horrifying day when her teacher, Zephyr, lost everything.
A few years ago, the training ship he led was massacred by Edward Weevil. Almost all of his beloved students had been slaughtered, leaving only Ain and Binz alive. Even Zephyr himself had lost his right arm in the attack.
That day had left irreparable scars on his heart.
Hina exhaled shakily, her resolve breaking.
She couldn't let her subordinates share that fate.
With a deep, pained sigh, she lifted her head. Her face was set with grim determination.
"I accept."
Her voice was steady.
"I will become your divine consort."
But her sharp eyes locked onto his, her tone filled with warning.
"However, you are not to harm my subordinates any further, and you will not destroy this ship."
"If you do, you may as well have killed them already."
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