The combination of powerful footwork and the Love-Love Fruit's ability erupted in a dazzling display. Even though she was in defensive mode, S-Snake still couldn't withstand it—Hancock's Perfume Femur sent her flying backward. As she crashed into the ground, her abdomen began to petrify at an alarming rate.
By the time S-Snake managed to stabilize herself, the petrification had already spread to her shoulders, making it difficult for her to use her hands to dispel the effect of the Love-Love Fruit.
She had no choice but to channel her Armament Haki to its fullest. The distinct red-black lightning of Haki flickered across her body as she resisted the creeping petrification.
However, completely purging the effect with Haki would take time. The demonic power within Perfume Femur wasn't something an ordinary attack could compare to.
...
With a blur, Hancock appeared in front of S-Snake, looking down at her with a calm expression.
S-Snake gritted her teeth and endured for a while, but eventually, she let out a sigh and admitted,
"I lost."
A faint smile appeared on Hancock's lips. She bent down and ran her hand over S-Snake's body, dispelling the petrification.
S-Snake wasn't petty about it. She whispered a soft thank you to Hancock.
Hancock smiled slightly and elegantly crouched down beside her, saying,
"You're strong, but you're still too young and lack combat experience."
S-Snake frowned. "But you've been here all this time… You're not really participating in battles either, are you?"
Hancock was about to respond when the doors of the training hall suddenly swung open. The women turned their heads and saw Carl and Lucia standing at the entrance.
Lucia looked at S-Snake in the arena and said,
"That's because Hancock and the others fight among themselves every day."
As she spoke, she and Carl walked over to Hancock and S-Snake.
Hancock lowered her head slightly in greeting.
"Young Master, you've returned."
Carl smiled, raising an arm slightly. Hancock immediately understood, moving gracefully into his embrace.
S-Snake happily called out, "Lord Carl!" But her face soon darkened, a hint of dejection settling over her features.
Noticing this, Carl extended his other hand toward S-Snake. The small black wings on her back flapped slightly before she leaped into his arms.
She curled up slightly and murmured,
"Lord Carl… I lost."
Carl wrapped one arm around Hancock's slender waist while his other held S-Snake. He lowered his head with a chuckle.
"So what if you lost? We're all family here. There's no need to feel bad about it. S-Snake, you're acting like a child. Hancock's probably feeling guilty for bullying you."
Hancock chuckled softly in Carl's arms, while S-Snake's face flushed red. She muttered,
"I'm not a child..."
Though she was barely over a year old, her mind was nothing like that of a child.
She was in a situation similar to Stussy back in the day. From the moment she was born, she possessed a fully developed mind.
It was just that she was only now beginning to experience the outside world, leading her to occasionally show a naive and immature side.
At that moment, Monet and the other women also gathered around. Carl turned to S-Robin and asked with a smile,
"S-Robin, would you like to spar with Robin?"
Before he even finished speaking, S-Robin and Robin simultaneously shook their heads, responding in unison,
"No."
Their perfectly synchronized reaction made the others burst into laughter.
S-Robin blinked her large eyes and said,
"I'm not particularly interested in fighting, but if it's your wish, Lord Carl, then I will fight."
Robin followed up immediately,
"Young Master, I don't think I can beat S-Robin."
She openly admitted that she wasn't as strong as S-Robin. Unlike Hancock, she didn't possess a natural talent for combat. Against a Seraphim with powerful abilities, she knew she stood no chance.
Carl had only asked in passing, so since neither of them was interested, he didn't insist.
S-Robin tilted her head and looked at Lucia.
"You must be Lucia, right?"
S-Snake also looked up at Lucia, her starry eyes filled with curiosity. During Carl's absence, Monet and the others had already told her and S-Robin about Lucia's status here.
Since Carl had acknowledged S-Snake and S-Robin as "his people," Lucia naturally wouldn't treat them as outsiders. She gave them a warm smile and specifically addressed S-Snake.
"S-Snake, if you want to gain more combat experience, you can come to me in the future."
All Seraphim were born combat prodigies. Even among them, S-Snake's talent placed her among the elites. Unlike S-Robin, who lacked a desire to fight, S-Snake had a strong competitive spirit. Lucia naturally valued such a promising warrior.
S-Snake nodded obediently. Though this was her first time meeting Lucia, she instinctively restrained her usual arrogance in the presence of someone with such a strong presence.
She knew that whether in Carl's heart or in raw power, she wasn't on the same level as Lucia. Someone like that was worthy of her respect.
...
As the evening approached, Monet reminded them,
"Young Master, it's almost dinner time."
Carl nodded.
"Have the servants prepare the meal. We'll all eat together."
After dinner, S-Snake and S-Robin were assigned to Hancock and Robin's quarters. Each maid's room was spacious enough, and housing two child-sized Seraphim wasn't an issue at all.
The next morning, news arrived from the Marines below—an airship had suddenly appeared in the sky.
Upon hearing this, Carl initially thought it was Doflamingo. He and Lucia headed to the edge of Mary Geoise and looked up. Sure enough, a massive ship was floating in the sky.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed the emblem marked with "SSG"—the insignia of the Marine Science Unit.
Carl immediately realized that one of the Seraphim, Yasha, had copied Doflamingo's Float-Float Fruit. This so-called airship had to be his doing.
With that thought, Carl spread his wings, flapped them powerfully, and soared toward the massive ship. Lucia followed closely behind.
The moment they set foot on the deck, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ohhh~ What a bunch of little monsters!"
The slow, drawling voice paired with that distinctive catchphrase left no doubt—this was none other than Admiral Borsalino.
Standing on the deck, Borsalino had one hand in his pocket while the other stroked his chin as he observed the five Seraphim before him.
As Carl stepped aboard and took in the scene, he let out a chuckle. Borsalino snapped out of his thoughts and turned to face Carl, while the five Seraphim...
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+170 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg