"That must be the place..."
Marigold frowned as she surveyed the devastated terrain ahead. "The sheer destructive power is astonishing..."
Not only were there craters everywhere, but even centuries-old trees had been shattered—clear evidence of the intense battle between the two.
But... did that man truly possess such strength?
Could he really have fought her sister to this extent?
With these doubts in mind, Marigold signaled the Guardian Warriors and swiftly advanced toward the forest.
Just then, another thunderous explosion echoed from the distance.
"BOOM!!"
Several towering trees were violently uprooted in the aftermath.
Seeing this, Marigold immediately understood.
"Over there!"
"Move!"
Hancock, who had just smashed through several trees, steadied herself against a broken trunk as she stood up.
Her expression darkened as she glared at Meiser, the monster she simply couldn't kill.
She had tried every method to attack him, even obliterating him multiple times, yet... she still couldn't put him down for good.
Each time, he would resurrect and reappear beside her.
As if... he were truly invincible!!
"Is he really unkillable?"
If this man truly couldn't be killed... then today, she might very well meet her end here.
No—worse!
If she fell in battle, her country wouldn't fare any better!
After all... this bastard was a man!
Wiping the blood from her lips, Hancock's gaze sharpened once more.
No matter what, she couldn't allow him to destroy her nation!!
"Good look in your eyes," Meiser remarked with a nod. "Seems you haven't lost your fighting spirit yet."
Perfect. This meant he could continue honing his abilities.
Glancing at his pale golden Susanoo, a faint smile flickered in Meiser's eyes.
After this prolonged battle, his control over Susanoo had grown increasingly refined.
Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he advanced to the next stage.
"Tch... how arrogant."
"I'm merely stating facts," Meiser replied.
Without giving her another chance to speak, he lunged forward, swinging his massive skeletal palm down at Hancock with ruthless force!
Hancock's expression shifted as she swiftly retreated, putting distance between them.
The next instant—
"BOOM!!"
The colossal skeletal arm slammed into the ground, carving out another massive crater.
"Hah... you're getting stronger by the minute."
Hancock scowled at the destruction.
This bastard really was using her as a whetstone!!
But no matter what, she couldn't afford to lose.
Because... she had a reason she couldn't yield!
Her eyes turned icy. "This queen refuses to believe she can't shatter you!"
Armament Haki surged around her long legs once more as she prepared to unleash Grand - Perfume Femur and obliterate his skeletal defense.
"Then come and try!" Meiser grinned.
At that moment, the two heard some sounds coming from the distance.
"Serpent Princess!!"
"Serpent Princess, we've come to support you!!"
"Big sister, I'm here!" Marigold shouted.
Hearing the distant voices, Hancock's expression immediately changed.
She could guarantee her own survival against this man, but... the others couldn't.
Thinking this, Hancock immediately turned to look behind her while shouting, "Marigold, don't come any closer!"
"Huh?!"
Hearing her sister's voice, Marigold froze in place.
Not letting them approach?
This was... why?
They had come specifically to support their sister, yet... she wouldn't let them join the battle?
However, out of trust for her sister, Marigold chose not to advance further and signaled the warriors to stay put.
"But, the Serpent Princess she—"
"If big sister says so, then everything will be fine," Marigold said. "Don't worry."
"Alright..."
Seeing this, the others could only obediently remain where they were.
Sigh...
Marigold let out a sigh, casting a worried gaze forward.
She could sense something was off about her sister... Was it because the opponent was too strong?
"Not going to let your subordinates help you?" Meiser crossed his arms, looking at Hancock. "Maybe with numbers, you could take me down?"
After speaking, Meiser suddenly paused because he noticed the pattern revealed on her back.
What the hell is that on her back...?
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock turned back to face him and said, "Hmph, I'm not stupid."
Against an enemy who couldn't be killed, numbers meant nothing.
Rather than letting her warriors come to their deaths, she would stay here alone and try to finish him off!
Just then, Hancock sensed something amiss—what was that look in his eyes...?
Before she could speak, Meiser asked, "What's that hoof-like mark on your back?"
"Crack!"
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock stiffened as if struck by lightning.
"Hmm?"
Meiser looked at Hancock in confusion. Why did she seem so devastated, her body even trembling?
Ignoring him, Hancock shakily reached a hand to touch her back and immediately realized the problem.
The clothing that should have covered the mark had somehow torn, perfectly exposing the slave brand.
This discovery sent Hancock's heart plummeting to the depths.
"Damn it, when did my clothes tear?"
Why hadn't she noticed at all?
It's over... Her greatest secret had been seen by this man. This was... absolutely terrible!
"What's wrong with you?"
Meiser stared at Hancock, puzzled by her sudden change.
So what if he saw the mark on her back? What was the big deal?
Could it be... that this thing has some special meaning? Meiser wondered silently.
Just as Meiser was puzzled, Hancock suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with killing intent as she glared at him.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
Meiser: ???
Meiser looked at Hancock in surprise—this time, the killing intent she unleashed was far purer than before.
Just because he saw that mark on her back?
"I did see it, but what is that thing?" Meiser asked, confused.
Hancock didn't answer the question. Instead, she slightly bent her posture while infusing Haki into her legs.
Then, she said, "Since you've seen it... then... please die!!"
However, before Hancock could act, a rustling sound came from the side, as if... someone was approaching.
This discovery immediately changed Hancock's expression.
"Don't come any closer!" she shouted.
Unfortunately, her words had no effect—instead, the rustling in the bushes grew louder.
Hancock fell silent for a moment before her eyes sharpened.
"BOOM!!"
An overwhelmingly terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted, indiscriminately assaulting everything around.
"Hmm..."
Sensing this aura, Meiser's eyes flickered with surprise. "This... could this be Conqueror's Haki?"
At this moment, Meiser recalled Rayleigh's explanation of Conqueror's Haki.
Indeed, he could feel the pressure impacting his consciousness—though it couldn't shake his mind.
"Interesting."
Unlike Meiser, Marigold and the others suffered greatly upon sensing Hancock's Conqueror's Haki.
A large group of warriors who had arrived here lost consciousness under the assault of this Haki.
Even Marigold herself broke out in cold sweat.
"Con... Conqueror's Haki...?"
If she wasn't mistaken, this was her elder sister's Conqueror's Haki.
Why was the elder sister releasing it now?
Struck by this overwhelming pressure, Marigold's heart filled with deep concern.
After a moment of thought, she shouted, "Elder sister! What's happening over there?"
As she spoke, she began moving forward.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Huh?"
"Marigold... my... my back... the clothes are torn..."
The moment these words were spoken, Marigold's expression instantly darkened.
She knew all too well what this meant.
"If our secret is exposed, the consequences..."
At this thought, terrifying killing intent surged in Marigold's eyes.
"Mira, stay here with the others and don't move!" Marigold turned to the few warriors still conscious and ordered, "Do not advance, understand?!"
"Is it... because of the Serpent Princess's cursed mark?"
"Yes!"
Marigold nodded. "You all stay here. I'll go check the situation."
Once she received their confirmation, Marigold turned and ran into the distance.
Meanwhile, Hancock withdrew her Haki at this moment.
"It was just a wild boar."
Meiser walked over to the bushes and pulled out a wild boar. "No need to be so worked up."
With those words, Meiser tossed the unconscious wild boar in front of Hancock.
"Thud!"
Seeing the unconscious boar, Hancock let out a sigh of relief.
"As long as it's not a person..."
This way, she wouldn't have to kill it.
Taking a deep breath, Hancock fixed her gaze on Meiser, ready to fight to the death!
"I can see the resolve in your eyes."
"Exactly!" Hancock said coldly. "Even if it means mutual destruction, I will kill you!!"
The mark of slavery on her back must never be exposed. Otherwise... not only her, but even her sisters would die!
"I'm here, Sister."
Marigold, in her King Cobra form, slithered over at incredible speed.
When she saw the situation behind Hancock, her expression darkened immediately.
What a terrible predicament...
Then, she turned to Meiser and said, "So this is the man."
But when she got a clear look at Meiser, she froze.
What was that pale golden skeletal structure around his body?
Some kind of special Devil Fruit Ability?
No matter what it was, this man had to die today!
"Right." Hancock no longer had the time to scold Marigold for disobeying her orders—she had to kill him now.
"Man, you deserve to die!"
"Wait, I just saw the mark on her back. Is that really worth getting so worked up over?"
"Or does it hold some special meaning?"
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock and Marigold frowned simultaneously.
This outsider... didn't know what it meant?
Good. That meant they didn't have to worry about him shouting about the mark to Mira and the others.
Exchanging a glance, the two women charged at Meiser without hesitation.
But before they could reach him, Meiser spoke again. "If you're really concerned about that mark, I can help remove it."
"Of course, it'll come at a price—"
"Thud!"
Before he could finish, Marigold suddenly stopped mid-charge and faceplanted onto the ground.
Due to momentum, she even slid forward a short distance.
The sight made Meiser pause in surprise.
Hancock halted as well, narrowing her eyes at him.
After a moment, she asked, "You're certain you can remove the mark?"
Even if he might be lying... even the faintest hope was something she couldn't ignore.
After all... this was the weight crushing them all.
"Sister, don't believe him!" Marigold suddenly scrambled up, trembling as she gripped her weapon. "He's definitely lying!"
Hancock remained silent, staring intently at Meiser as if waiting for his answer.
"I have no interest in deceiving you."
After a pause, Meiser continued, "Honestly, I could just use this to threaten you into agreeing to my demands, couldn't I?"
The moment those words left his mouth, both women's expressions darkened.
Relying on his immortal ability, he could easily escape from here and return to the village to expose my secret...
Hancock murmured in her heart.
If he really did that, she truly had no way to stop him.
After all... she couldn't kill him.
Perhaps sensing Hancock's thoughts, Meiser continued, "I won't do that, don't worry."
"As long as you agree to my request, I'll help remove the mark on your back."
"Let's consider it a trade, alright?"
As he spoke, Meiser deactivated his Susanoo and walked step by step toward the two.
Judging by Hancock's reaction, the chances of this deal succeeding were quite high. Meiser thought to himself.
If she agreed, there would be no need to continue fighting.
"Sister, we—"
"Can you really do it?" Hancock interrupted Marigold, saying, "If you're lying to me, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth and kill you!"
If this mark could be removed, she and her sisters would finally be free.
"Don't worry, I won't deceive you," Meiser said, stopping a short distance away and crossing his arms as he looked at Hancock. "I'm a Medical Ninja. Removing this is nothing difficult for me."
Hancock fell silent for a moment before replying, "Fine. State your terms."
"Sister?!"
"Marigold... we have no choice..." Hancock said. "He... can't be killed..."
Those words left Marigold utterly speechless.
Can't be killed?
Does that mean even Sister can't kill this man?
If that's true, then they truly had no other option.
Either make a deal with him... or be forced into one.
They... had no choice.
"Don't make it sound like I'm taking advantage of you," Meiser said irritably. "I'm not asking you to do anything strange."
Unfortunately, Marigold didn't believe him.
After all... her sister was the most beautiful woman in the world!
"State your terms," Hancock repeated.
"My demands are simple," Meiser said. "First, undo Granny Nyon's petrification and don't hold her accountable for sheltering us!"
"Huh?"
Marigold was stunned. That was his condition?
Hancock also paused before nodding. "Fine, understood."
"And the rest?"
"Second, give me an Eternal Log Pose to Marine Headquarters," Meiser said.
Hancock froze.
That... was it?
Did this man really... have no interest in her at all?
She had expected some outrageous demand, but... this was it?
Seeing Hancock's silence, Meiser frowned. "As one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, don't you have a Log Pose to Marine Headquarters?"
Had Granny Nyon misjudged?
That would be awkward. Without it, he and Luffy wouldn't be able to go to Marine Headquarters to rescue their friends.
After a long silence, Hancock finally nodded. "I do."
As members of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, they possessed an Eternal Log Pose to the Marine Headquarters.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to respond to the summons for war.
"That's good..." Meiser sighed in relief.
Having it meant they could go to the Marine Headquarters to rescue someone.
With that thought, Meiser walked over to Hancock, took off his coat, and tossed it to her. "Let's go get you treated and complete our deal," he said.
Then, with his hands behind his head, Meiser strolled leisurely ahead, leaving his back completely exposed to the two women.
Hancock fell silent for a moment, glancing at the coat in her hands.
"Sister?" Marigold asked.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Shaking her head, Hancock put on Meiser's coat and followed him with Marigold in tow.
If he could truly help them remove their marks... then he would be their savior.
The thought left Hancock with mixed emotions.
She could only hope the removal would go smoothly...
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