One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

"Portgas D. Ace, the Flame Emperor?!" Gloriosa was drenched in cold sweat, staring at Hancock in disbelief.

Flame Emperor? Could it be true that Hancock had fallen in love with the man who single-handedly caused the Flame Emperor Incident, shaking the entire world?

"The Flame Emperor?!" Sandersonia and Marigold both gasped in shock, their hands covering their cheeks.

After the Flame Emperor Incident, that name came to symbolize the greatest strength in the seas. 

Despite her cold and ruthless demeanor, Hancock was, in truth, a gentle soul. Though she would often throw out ElderNyon, the very one who led their sisters back to Amazon Lily and helped her ascend as the Pirate Empress, her actions had always been motivated by a desire to protect those she loved.

The Calm Belt, once a natural barrier that shielded Amazon Lily, was no longer an impenetrable defense due to the development of Marine warships equipped with Seastone. This left the base of the Kuja Pirates vulnerable, exposing it to the threat of Marine ships.

To protect Amazon Lily, Hancock—despite her hatred for the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—accepted the invitation to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Her aim was to secure the privileges that would prevent her homeland from being conquered by the Marines.

But now, even the colossal force of Marine Headquarters, one of the three major powers of the world, had been soundly defeated by the same man who Hancock had fallen for—Flame Emperor. 

This was the man who publicly executed the Celestial Dragons, the world's untouchable nobles, and the very people who haunted Hancock's darkest nightmares. Even one of the Five Elders, the highest-ranking authority in the world, had his head smashed by this man in front of the entire world.

The Flame Emperor had become a legend, a true overlord of the sea—more powerful than even the Four Emperors.

The mere mention of his name sent waves of fear and awe across the seas.

Sandersonia and Marigold had always thought they would do anything to help cure their beloved sister's illness, no matter who she loved. They were prepared to cross the entire sea to bring that person to her. But this time, it was the Flame Emperor…

How could they even hope to bring a man of such immense power—the very man who stood atop the world—to their sister? This was a man whose mere presence could cause the seas to tremble.

"Granny Nyon," Marigold said anxiously, her orange hair trembling as she spoke, "isn't there another way besides bringing the Flame Emperor here? How could we possibly bring someone like him to meet our sister?"

The thought of summoning such a man seemed impossible. A single stomp of his foot could cause a tsunami that would engulf the entire sea.

Hancock, meanwhile, clutched her heart, her breaths shallow and labored. "I... I... it hurts so much..." she gasped.

Gloriosa's face tightened as she watched Hancock struggle with her pain.

Although Hancock was known for being cold to outsiders, Gloriosa knew her better than anyone. Hancock was, without a doubt, one of the most competent rulers Amazon Lily had ever seen. Her people loved her not just for her unrivaled beauty but also for the sacrifices she had made as a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

She had done more for Amazon Lily than any previous empress. She was a gentle and remarkable woman.

Gloriosa gritted her teeth, her heart heavy with resolve. "Go find any trace of the Entei Pirates. I'm going to see the Flame Emperor."

"What?!" Sandersonia was stunned. "Granny Nyon, you're going to meet the Flame Emperor? How... how can you...?"

Meeting the man who now ruled the sea was no simple task. It was like approaching one of the Four Emperors—if a pirate dared to step into their territory without permission, it would be seen as a provocation. The Four Emperors' forces would immediately retaliate, obliterating any intruders.

And the Flame Emperor was now even above the Four Emperors.

Approaching him uninvited would undoubtedly be seen as a challenge. Even his subordinates were powerful enough to plunge Amazon Lily into utter ruin.

"I've lived long enough to know many things," Gloriosa said, determination in her eyes. "I'll trade that knowledge for a chance to meet the Flame Emperor. I can't just sit back and watch Hancock die."

"I... I can't believe it," Sandersonia whispered, her voice shaking. "You're really going to try to meet him?"

Hancock, still gasping for breath, looked up, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes.

Just then, the door to the cabin burst open. Rindo, the sniper of the Kuja Pirates, rushed in, her face pale with fear.

"What's wrong, Rindo? Can't you see our sister is unwell? Speak later," Sandersonia said sharply.

"But—there's a pirate ship heading straight for us!" Rindo exclaimed in a panic.

"A pirate ship? Why are you panicking?" Marigold snapped, frowning. "We're the Kuja Pirates, and our sister is the Pirate Empress, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! What kind of pirate would dare to challenge us?"

Ever since their elder sister became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Kuja Pirates had always been the ones doing the robbing. Other pirates feared them, never daring to confront them.

How could they ever be afraid of other pirates?

"Well, I can't be mistaken about that pirate flag…"

Rindo, a woman who usually smoked cigarettes while casually wielding a rocket launcher, feared nothing. Yet now, a look of horror and dread had taken over her face. Her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"What does the flag look like?" Gloriosa asked urgently, startled by Rindo's reaction.

For Rindo to be this terrified just by seeing a pirate flag…

"The skull is surrounded by flames," Rindo whispered, her pupils wide with fear. "There's no mistake—it's the Entei Pirates' flag!"

Rindo's voice trembled with shock, and the entire crew of the Kuja Pirates gasped.

"The Entei Pirates?!"

Everyone, including Sandersonia and Marigold, exclaimed in disbelief. Even Hancock, clutching her chest, slowly opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze clouded with confusion.

"Why? Why would the Entei Pirates come after us?!" Sandersonia trembled, her whole body breaking out in a cold sweat.

They had indeed planned to visit the Flame Emperor for the sake of their elder sister. But that was supposed to be on their terms, when they would ask to meet him. Now, the Entei Pirates were approaching them for unknown reasons. How could they not panic?

"No matter the reason, we must go and see him. This might be our best chance to meet the Flame Emperor."

Gloriosa's voice remained calm. "During the Flame Emperor Incident, even Rayleigh took action on Flame Emperor's behalf. With Rayleigh's influence, things may not go as badly as we fear."

Rayleigh, Shakky, and Gloriosa had once been together when they led the Hancock sisters back to Amazon Lily. She believed that with Rayleigh's name, the Entei Pirates wouldn't hold any ill will toward them.

Gloriosa, however, was unaware that Rayleigh had recently joined Flame Emperor's fleet. Because of the isolation in the Calm Belt, where communication was scarce, news of Rayleigh's involvement with the Entei Pirates hadn't reached her yet.

"Then let's go greet him quickly," Sandersonia urged. "It's the Flame Emperor! But… my sister's condition…"

Before Marigold could finish her sentence, Hancock stood up, her face flushed with a strange redness, and the blanket fell to the floor.

"Sister?!" Sandersonia gasped in shock.

"Snake-hime?!" The other Kuja Pirates looked at her in disbelief.

"I want to see him." Hancock's delicate face lifted, her misty eyes brimming with longing.

---

Meanwhile, aboard another ship…

"Ace, the Kuja Pirates are just ahead. Don't be alarmed later," Rayleigh said, pointing to the Perfume Yuda in the distance with a strange look on his face. "Hancock should be fine... but lovesickness can be fatal."

Rayleigh glanced at Shakky beside him, both sharing a look of helplessness. Shakky had experienced this firsthand—it was love that had driven her to leave her Kingdom.

They knew well that once someone falls in love, separation from that person could trigger a deadly lovesickness. If left untreated, it could prove fatal.

So when Ace expressed his desire to visit Amazon Lily to share Haki training methods with the women warriors there, Rayleigh had immediately volunteered to guide him.

On their journey, they had encountered traces of the Kuja Pirates, which Ace was able to detect thanks to his vastly improved Observation Haki, a skill sharpened by Nami's mastery of the Thunder Fruit. It was then that Rayleigh suggested they meet Hancock directly on her ship.

As the former captain of the Kuja Pirates, Shakky knew that the crew would only sail if their captain was present. So Hancock was surely aboard the Perfume Yuda. The sooner they met her, the less she would suffer from lovesickness.

"Alarm?" Ace chuckled at Rayleigh's comment as the girls on the Merry exchanged puzzled looks.

Though Ace had first caught Hancock's attention during the Flame Emperor Incident, it wasn't until he revealed his powerful and imposing form in battle that Hancock truly fell for him. If Ace added his mastery of haki to the mix, Hancock's lovesickness might be soothed—but that wasn't his primary concern.

Ace raised an eyebrow, glancing at the women on the ship: Nami, Kaya, Robin, Vivi, Tashigi, Raki, Conis, Perona. All of them had grown stronger by training in their own way, and Ace was confident that they could contribute greatly to his crew.

Amazon Lily was a country made up entirely of women, and every adult warrior there could wield Haki. For Ace, it was an incredible force waiting to be tapped.

Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged another glance, smiling wearily. Even for someone as strong as Rayleigh, Ace was still somewhat of a mystery.

Ace still had no idea that Hancock had fallen completely in love with him—and that she was now suffering from lovesickness because of him.

During the incident, Ace had certainly noticed Boa Hancock, the most beautiful woman in the world, but he hadn't realized how deeply she had become captivated by him.

Of course, Hancock had been on Ace's mind as a potential future ally, someone he might incorporate into the Entei Pirates.

"Ahem, Nami, Kaya, Robin, Vivi, Tashigi, Laki, Conis, Perona," Rayleigh said, clearing his throat. "For a while, you'll need to give this old uncle respect."

He glanced at the girls on the Going Merry, realizing that with so many nieces, calling them all by name was quite the task.

Ace really was something else!

Ace and the girls looked at each other, their expressions growing increasingly perplexed.