One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

'Creak~'

The door to Hancock's bedroom in the Kuja City Palace swung open.

"Sister!"

Sandersonia and Marigold rushed forward, eyes wide with concern, as they saw Hancock stepping out with Nami and Nojiko, trailing behind Ace. Their voices trembled with anxiety, the powerful release of Conqueror's Haki still fresh in their minds.

Although Rayleigh and Shakky had reassured them not to worry, the sudden outburst of such an intense Haki from one of their sisters unsettled Sandersonia and Marigold. After all, they shared the same haunting memories as Hancock.

"You were worried, weren't you?" Hancock said softly, looking at her sisters. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, her beautiful eyes forming crescent moons as she radiated warmth.

"Sister...?" Sandersonia and Marigold gasped, covering their mouths in disbelief. 

That smile—it hadn't graced her face since their days as children, long before they had ventured out to sea with the Kuja Pirates, before they had been captured by human traffickers. Even after escaping the horrors of the Holy Land and returning to Amazon Lily with the help of Rayleigh, Shakky, and Gloriosa, Hancock had never smiled like this again.

As Empress of Amazon Lily, Hancock had always worn a mask of cold detachment, pretending to be a tyrant to protect her sisters. To the outside world, she appeared ruthless, keeping everyone at arm's length. In private, she would often retreat into solitude, unwilling to show any sign of weakness. 

Sandersonia and Marigold knew their sister well—beneath her icy exterior was a heart far softer than anyone could imagine. She had spent her life shielding them, hiding her vulnerabilities so they would never have to witness her pain.

They, in turn, wanted to protect her.

Both sisters had undergone grueling, self-inflicted training to become stronger, knowing full well they could never match Hancock's strength. But the price of that strength had been high. Their once-beautiful bodies were now deformed, forever altered by their harsh training methods.

But as long as it brought their sister peace of mind, Sandersonia and Marigold believed it was worth it.

Even so, their efforts seemed futile at times. Hancock still wore her cold mask, keeping her true feelings hidden behind a façade of strength.

But now...

As they gazed at the gentle, radiant smile on Hancock's face, both Sandersonia and Marigold felt their eyes fill with tears. Their sister had finally removed the mask she'd worn for so long. It felt as though they had returned to a time long past—to the days when their sister was both strong and gentle, and her laughter was a common sound.

"You've worked so hard, Sandersonia, Marigold," Hancock whispered, stepping forward to gently stroke their scarred, yet beloved faces with her delicate hands.

In the land of the Kuja, beauty was not defined by appearance but by strength. Yet, for matters of the heart, beauty still held sway. The two sisters had sacrificed much for the sake of strength, enduring training so harsh it warped their bodies, making it nearly impossible for them to ever find suitable lovers.

Their training was nothing short of brutal. Using the unique properties of their Snake-Snake Fruits, they had forced their bodies to undergo radical transformations. The pain had been unimaginable—only the two of them knew the full extent of the suffering they had endured.

Hancock's eyes filled with tenderness as she caressed her sisters, fully understanding the torment they had gone through.

"It wasn't hard for us, Sister," Sandersonia and Marigold replied in unison, sensing Hancock's emotions. They exchanged a glance, hastily wiping away their tears before smiling brightly at their older sister.

The three of them laughed together—a carefree, joyful sound that echoed through the palace, reminiscent of their childhood, before they had ever set foot on a pirate ship.

Gloriosa, watching from the side, felt her own eyes mist over as she observed the three sisters. Seeing them laugh so freely stirred emotions she hadn't felt in years.

In order for Hancock to ascend to the throne of Amazon Lily, Gloriosa had distanced herself, moving to a remote corner of the island. Hancock had often treated her rudely, even going so far as to throw her out of the palace on several occasions.

But she knew why. Hancock's coldness was a protective measure—she wanted to safeguard her sisters, her people, and even herself. Despite her harsh behavior, Hancock still cared deeply about Gloriosa's opinion.

Watching Hancock smile so freely now, Gloriosa could no longer contain her emotions. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she thought about how far the girl she regarded as her granddaughter had come.

Hancock had found someone worthy of her—Ace, the Entei. It was more than Gloriosa could have hoped for.

As she turned her gaze toward Ace, who was quietly observing Hancock with an expression of pure adoration, Gloriosa's heart swelled with emotion.

Having lived for so many years, once the empress of Amazon Lily and a member of the notorious Rocks Pirates, Gloriosa understood immediately. Hancock's ability to completely free herself from the shackles of her past, removing the cold, tyrant mask she had worn for so long, was all because of one man.

And it wasn't just love that had made this possible.

This man had helped her overcome the deep psychological scars from her childhood, memories of being a slave in the Holy Land, Mariejois.

It was likely that Ace had used his abilities to erase the painful reminders of Hancock's past.

Gloriosa wiped her tears, her gaze softening as she looked at Hancock, who stood beside Ace, her smile radiant. Although the "Hoof of the Soaring Dragon" mark couldn't be removed by ordinary means—since even removing the entire piece of scarred skin would result in its reappearance—the situation was different with the Flame Emperor. 

Possessing the most formidable Devil Fruit powers in history, Ace could undoubtedly remove it.

With that burden lifted, Hancock had finally found the freedom to live a new life.

Gloriosa's smile grew as she watched Hancock, who was now laughing without restraint, her face lit with joy.

"What's wrong, Nyon Ba?" Hancock asked, noticing Gloriosa's teary eyes and the smile she wore. 

Gloriosa said nothing, returning Hancock's smile with one of her own, filled with happiness. No words were necessary between family—sometimes, a simple smile said it all.

"Nami, you've awakened Conqueror's Haki!" Vivi, Kaya, and the others gathered around Nami, their voices filled with awe as they showered her with praise. They had already heard the news from Nojiko.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh and Fujitora waited outside the palace hall. Although Rayleigh was like a father to Hancock, no man was permitted to enter the palace of Amazon Lily's empress. 

Ace, however, was a special case. Hancock had already given her heart to him, and with Ace destined to be the king of Amazon Lily, he could move freely within the palace.

"Not only have you awakened Conqueror's Haki, but you've also mastered Conqueror's Haki—Entanglement, haven't you?" Shakky's eyes gleamed with admiration as she looked at her.

With the power of the Goro Goro no Mi, the Thunder Fruit—arguably the most destructive of all Devil Fruits—Nami's potential is limitless. Shakky gazed at her with joy in her eyes. At this moment, Nami stood not only as a member of the Entei Pirate Crew and Zero Division, but she also held the potential to grow into a figure as powerful as Ace, a man feared for his overwhelming destructive might.

Shakky, naturally, couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

"Conqueror's Haki—amazing, Nami! Congratulations."

Kaya, with her angelic face glowing with excitement, clung to Nami's arm, thrilled by her friend's achievement. Kind-hearted and well-liked by all the girls, Kaya shared a special bond with Nami. When Kaya had lost her parents and was overcome by grief, it was Ace and Nami who had appeared before her. Nami had been her first friend, and together with Ace, they helped her through that dark time.

Since then, Kaya had trained hard alongside Nami and witnessed firsthand her determination to grow stronger. While Nami lacked Kaya's ability to heal herself, she made up for it with relentless effort, pushing her body to its very limits in every session. Nami's goal was always clear: to become powerful enough to help Ace.

Now, with her mastery of Conqueror's Haki, Nami was finally on the path to achieving that dream.

Kaya, as her closest friend, couldn't have been happier for her.

Those without the inherent will to be kings must rely on their unyielding efforts to grow stronger.

Ace, observing the spirited girls, smiled slightly and said,

"Then, starting from tomorrow, I will teach you well."

"Yeah!" The girls, including Nami, who had just unlocked her Conqueror's Haki, raised their hands in excitement.

With renewed determination, they all understood the need to train harder.

Hancock, sharing a special bond with Nami, smiled and raised her hand along with the others.

The Entei Pirates' fleet, along with Ace's unique special training, had officially begun.