"One Piece: Sign-In at the Start to Get Ryūjin Jakka"

Using the power of the Rooster Talisman, Roya floated silently downward without making a sound.

Finally, when he reached the basement, the space suddenly opened up before him.

The underground chamber was fairly large, illuminated by flickering candlelight. Dozens of slender iron pillars stood like a forest of prison cages.

Inside one of the cages was a young girl, relentlessly pounding her small fists against the chains binding two prisoners. Her hands were already covered in blood, but her eyes burned with unwavering determination.

"Sister, please... just escape!"

"As long as you can get away, we'll be happy!"

"Yeah, Big Sister! Being your little sister is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to us!"

"Don't worry about us—just run!"

Hearing these words from her sisters, the older girl clenched her fists even tighter.

"I will never give up on you! Even if it costs me my life, I will save you! I swear it's in the name of Boa Hancock!"

One of Amazon Lily's traditions: when someone swears upon their own name, it must be fulfilled—otherwise, they will face the island's curse.

Whether that curse is real or not, Roya didn't know, but it confirmed the identity of the three sisters before him.

He let out a light, deliberate cough. The sudden sound echoed through the basement, startling the sisters.

Hancock spun around instantly, assuming a fighting stance, warily eyeing Roya.

However, it was clear she had never trained in combat—her pose looked rather awkward and even comical.

"Who are you?!"

She stared nervously at the cloaked man in front of her, a powerful sense of danger gripping her heart.

Roya didn't respond. He simply walked slowly toward them.

Each of his steps echoed through the basement like a heavy drumbeat on Boa Hancock's heartstrings.

Cold sweat unknowingly formed on her brow. Hancock frowned slightly, warning him, "Don't come any closer. If you do, I won't hold back!"

But her words held no real threat to Roya. In fact, he found them somewhat endearing.

When he stopped in front of Hancock, he looked down at her from above.

The two sisters still bound in chains grew increasingly anxious, shouting toward Hancock, "Sister, run! Don't worry about us!"

"You just have to get away!"

"We don't need your help! Just escape!"

"If someone's going to suffer, let it be us!"

As the three sisters poured their hearts out, Roya suddenly released his aura—an oppressive, terrifying pressure, like Conqueror's Haki. Even a small portion of it silenced the two sisters instantly.

Hancock was shaken to the core: What kind of overwhelming presence is this?!

Then, Roya's calm voice reached their ears. "You know, the Holy Land Mariejois is in chaos right now. Why didn't you use the chance to escape? Even if it meant abandoning your sisters—wasn't your own survival enough?"

This was the harsh truth Roya had witnessed firsthand along the way.

If not for Fisher Tiger's willingness to risk his life to protect others, Roya wouldn't have stepped in to save them either.

It was a rare case of goodness being repaid with goodness.

Hancock frowned, and said with resolve, "Because they're my sisters. We were captured together, and if we're going to escape, we'll do it together. I will never leave them behind in hell!"

So, in your eyes, this place is a kind of hell…

Roya's eyes were hidden under the shadow of his cloak, making it impossible for Hancock to read his expression.

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Then, Roya slowly drew Ryujin Jakka, and the soft sound of the blade rang through the prison.

Hancock's eyes widened. "What are you doing?! I won't let you hurt my sisters!"

But she was too slow. Roya didn't even glance at her as he slashed down with his sword—without hesitation.

"NO!!!"

Hancock's scream echoed through the basement.

But all that was heard was a loud clink. The sea prism stone chains were sliced cleanly in two by Roya's strike.

Hancock froze, stunned by what she saw. Tears welled up in her eyes.

She had been terrified just now. She thought Roya was going to—

But fortunately, he had only severed the sea prism stone chains.

The moment her sisters were freed, they rushed to her side.

By now, the sisters had let down much of their guard.

At that moment, Roya slowly knelt down and, using an irresistible force, lifted Hancock's clothes from behind.

"W-What are you doing?!"

Hancock's voice trembled, panic taking over her.

Because on her back… was something she utterly despised.

From beneath his cloak, Roya's eyes flashed with grim emotion. His hatred for the Celestial Dragons grew stronger.

He gently touched the scar on Hancock's back and said softly, "It must have hurt."

His voice was so gentle, it warmed Hancock's heart like a soft current.

"It doesn't hurt anymore… d-don't look at it."

With her back to Roya, Hancock clenched her little fists, her heart in turmoil.

That symbol on her back—was the thing she hated most in the world.

If she could, she would have buried that secret forever.

But now, it had been revealed to Roya. How could she not feel ashamed?

"Do you want a different symbol?"

"…What?"

For a moment, Hancock couldn't understand what Roya meant.

"That mark doesn't suit you at all. It's too ugly. Let me replace it with something better. What kind of symbol would you like? Don't worry—it won't hurt."

Hancock blinked in surprise. Her heart raced like a startled fawn.

For the first time, she felt that this man… was incredibly gentle.

"I-I don't know…"

"In that case," Roya said, "I'll cover it with a phoenix. It's one of the emblems of my homeland—a symbol of power, pride, and purity. And it also represents rebirth from the ashes."

Hearing those words, Hancock nodded firmly. If she could, she wanted a new image to swallow up the one she hated so deeply.

Ryujin Jakka breathed flames, and under Roya's precise control, a phoenix-shaped emblem took form in the air—glowing brilliantly.

With the temperature perfectly maintained, the phoenix slowly "devoured" the hoof-shaped mark of the Celestial Dragons and was replaced with a beautiful symbol, custom-made by Roya for Hancock.

Seeing this transformation, Hancock's sisters instinctively gasped in awe.

"So… so beautiful."