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

Hancock didn't feel a trace of pain. Instead, she felt a comforting warmth spreading across her back.

It was a warmth she had never experienced before.

Soon, the phoenix rebirth emblem appeared on Hancock's back.

"That looks much better."

Those simple words struck straight into Hancock's heart.

The tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled over.

Then, her small figure threw itself into Roya's arms.

"Th-Thank you… thank you for saving us! Ever since we were captured near Amazon Lily, no one's ever treated us so kindly."

Gently patting Hancock on the back, Roya took on the role of a big brother and said warmly, "Alright, now I'll give your two sisters new marks too."

He turned to the other two girls. "Since you're from Amazon Lily, how about a pair of serpents?"

"Mm!" They nodded eagerly.

In moments, the hated Celestial Dragon brand was replaced with twin coiling serpents—elegant, fierce, and free.

"Thank you…" The older of the two sisters bowed slightly. I'm Boa Sandersonia."

"I'm Boa Marigold." the younger added.

Hancock, still flushed, finally managed to speak. "M-My name is Boa Hancock. You can… call me Hancock."

Seeing the bashful Hancock in front of him, Roya's lips curled slightly.

"Roya."

Hearing Roya's name made Hancock's cheeks flush even redder.

"Sis, are you sick?" Marigold blinked. 

"Why's your face so red?"

"W-We need to leave NOW!" Hancock snapped back to reality, desperate to hide her embarrassment. "Before it's too late!"

She looked toward Roya.

Roya responded calmly, "I'll take you out of here."

"Okay!"

The girls nodded without hesitation.

Even though they had only known him for a short time, Hancock and the others already trusted Roya deeply.

Especially Hancock—at this moment, her eyes were entirely filled with his figure.

As they exited the basement, Roya turned to Fisher Tiger and asked, "Feeling better?"

"Much better."

Fisher Tiger stood up. As a fish-man, his body had already stopped bleeding in such a short time.

"Then let's leave Mariejois."

With that, Roya took the lead.

Behind him followed Hancock and her sisters, with Fisher Tiger taking up the rear to protect them from any danger.

The closer they got to the sea, the brighter Hancock's eyes became.

Because the sea represented freedom—the vast blue world they had always yearned for.

"This is great! We're almost free!"

Just as Hancock's voice fell, a beam of light appeared in front of them—followed by a lazy, mocking voice:

"Escape?~ I don't think so~"

A lazy, mocking voice cut through the air.

Light.

Blinding, golden light coalesced before them, solidifying into a tall, lanky man with curly black hair and sunglasses. His yellow-striped suit was as garish as his grin.

Fisher Tiger's eyes widened in disbelief. "V-Vice Admiral… K-Kizaru!!!"

Kizaru—one of the Navy's three monsters. Fisher Tiger had definitely heard of him.

Seeing him appear in person filled Fisher Tiger with despair.

From high above, Kizaru looked down at them and spoke in his drawling, mocking tone:

"Oh dear~ I didn't expect Fisher Tiger to be acquainted with this mysterious fellow. But once I defeat you all, I suppose I'll be getting a nice raise~"

He sounded arrogant.

But he had the power to back it up.

As a user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru had immense mobility and devastating piercing attacks. These abilities alone made him far more dangerous than most Logia users.

It was no exaggeration to say his Devil Fruit was among the strongest of all Logia.

Kizaru then turned to Roya and said:

"Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"

With that, his body turned into golden light and shot straight at Roya.

Light-Speed Kick!

Too fast for the naked eye to follow.

But Roya didn't even flinch.

Before Kizaru reached him, six glowing rods formed in the air and pinned him in place—completely immobilizing him.

Only then did Roya speak slowly:

"Six Rod Light Prison."

The entire exchange had been smooth and effortless.

Kizaru, now trapped, stared in disbelief.

"How… how is this possible?!"

Even he couldn't believe that he had been captured so easily.

Fisher Tiger was frozen in place.

"O-One move… He only used one move to block Kizaru's attack!"

He was so stunned he could barely speak.

Just moments ago, Kizaru had been arrogantly talking about raises and capturing them—and now, Roya had shut him down with a single technique.

Hancock gently tugged on Roya's cloak, her clear eyes sparkling.

She thought—Roya is amazing!

"Hope the Navy covers your medical bills."

As Roya said this, he gripped his sword Ryujin Jakka, held it to Kizaru's head, and whispered:

"Torch."

Boom!

Flames exploded!

A swirling wall of fire engulfed Kizaru entirely.

The intense heat began to burn his body rapidly.

Kizaru attempted to dodge, trying to transform into light, but the Six Rod Light Prison kept him locked in place. He couldn't move.

"Let's go."

Roya calmly sheathed Ryujin Jakka, then led the others away from the Holy Land of Mariejois.

He found a warship and started piloting it into the distance.

Standing on the deck, Roya let the sea breeze whip through his cloak.

He gently patted Hancock's hair and asked her,

"Do you hate this place?"

Hancock nodded fiercely. Every memory here was poison.

"Then let's send them a parting gift."

He raised a hand—

Snap.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then Fisher Tiger gasped, pointing skyward. "L-Look! Up there!"

The others followed his gaze—

And saw it.

A meteor. No, something worse.

A colossal sphere of flame, blazing like a miniature sun, hurtling toward the holy land.

Mary Mariejois's "gift" had arrived.