One Piece: sign-in to Ryujin Jakka

Roman silently floated downward using the power of the Rooster Talisman.

Not even a sound could be heard.

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

The underground chamber was quite large. Candlelight flickered gently in the gloom. Dozens of slender iron pillars stood tall, forming rows of prison cells.

Inside one of those cells, a young girl was fiercely pounding her tiny fists against the chains that bound two others.

Her fists were already covered in blood. But her eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

"Big Sister, please! You have to escape!"

"If you can get out, that's enough for us. That's all we need!"

"Yeah, Sister! Becoming your little sisters is the greatest blessing of our lives!"

"Don't worry about us anymore! Just run!"

Hearing her younger sisters say this, the older girl clenched her tiny fists even tighter.

"I will never abandon you! Even if it costs me my life, I'll save you!"

"I swear in the name of Boa Hancock!"

That was one of the traditions of Amazon Lily—if you swore by your name, you had to see it through.

Failure to do so... and you'd be cursed by the island. Whether that curse was real or not, Roman didn't know. But he now had confirmation of who these three girls were.

He let out a soft, deliberate cough.

The sudden sound echoed through the basement. The three sisters jumped in shock.

Boa Hancock spun around and took a defensive stance, eyes locked on Roman with deep caution. But her stance, clearly untrained, looked awkward and almost comical.

"Who are you?!" Hancock demanded

Her heart pounded wildly. Her instincts screamed at her.

'Dangerous. This man... is very dangerous.'

Roman didn't answer.

He simply stepped forward, slow and steady.

Each footstep echoed through the basement, pounding directly into Hancock's chest like a war drum.

Unknowingly, cold sweat trickled down her brow.

Her voice was tense.

"Don't come any closer! Or I won't be polite!"

But her threat had no effect.

To Roman, it was almost endearing. He stopped right in front of her.

Looking down, the two chained sisters panicked and shouted:

"Sister! Run! Leave us behind!"

"You have to escape! That's all that matters!"

"We don't need your help! Please, just get out of here!"

"Let him take it out the punishment on us!"

As they pleaded, a wave of oppressive force suddenly erupted from Roman's body.

It was akin to... Conqueror's Haki.

Even just a trace of it silenced the younger sisters instantly.

Hancock's heart trembled.

"What kind of pressure is this…? So terrifying!"

Then, Roman finally spoke.

His voice floated in the air, steady and chilling.

"You must be aware of how chaotic things are in Mary Geoise right now."

"Why didn't you take the chance to escape?"

"Even if it meant abandoning your sisters... as long as you survived, wouldn't that have been enough?"

This was the reality Roman had seen all along his journey here.

Cruelty, selfishness.

Had it not been for Fisher Tiger risking his life to protect him, Roman wouldn't have come to save anyone either.

But a good deed... had been repaid indeed.

Hancock furrowed her brows and replied with unwavering resolve.

"Because they are my sisters."

"We were captured together. If we escape, we escape together."

"I will never leave them behind in this hell."

"Never."

'Hell, huh…'

Roman's eyes, hidden beneath his cloak, gave nothing away.

The air thickened.

Then, he slowly drew Ryūjin Jakka. The sharp hum of steel echoed in the prison.

Hancock's pupils shrank.

"What are you doing?! I won't let you hurt them!"

But she moved too slowly.

From the beginning, Roman didn't even glance at her.

He swung. Decisively.

"NOOOOO!!"

Her scream tore through the basement.

But—

CLANG!

The seastone chains were sliced clean into pieces.

Hancock froze, staring blankly at the scene before her.

Tears welled in her eyes.

"He... he didn't attack us...?"

"He cut the chains..."

Her sisters, now freed, rushed to her side. Their caution fading slightly.

Then, Roman crouched.

Before Hancock could react, he gently lifted her shirt.

"Y-You! What are you doing?!"

Her voice trembled.

Panic surged through her heart.

Because she knew what was on her back.

Roman, still cloaked, narrowed his eyes. His hatred for the Celestial Dragons only grew deeper.

He gently traced the scar on her back and whispered:

"It must've hurt…"

His voice was soft. So soft that it warmed Hancock's heart. Like a gentle breeze brushing over her wounds.

"It doesn't hurt anymore... D-Don't look…"

She turned away, fists clenched, trying to hide her feelings inside.

That mark on her back… was the one thing she despised more than anything in the world. If possible, she would have hidden it forever. But now, that shameful secret was exposed to her savior.

"Want to change it?"

"…What?"

She was caught off guard and didn't understand what he meant.

"That mark doesn't suit you. It's ugly."

"Let me give you something new. It won't hurt. I promise."

She froze. Her heart raced, like a deer frozen in the face of oncoming headlights. 

For the first time—

She thought this man was... gentle.

"I... I don't know what to choose..."

"Then I'll choose for you."

"A phoenix. One of the totems of my homeland."

"It represents power, pride, and purity."

"And... rebirth, rebirth from its ashes."

Hancock's eyes sparkled.

She nodded firmly.

If possible, she would gladly erase that mark forever.

Flames burst from Ryūjin Jakka.

Under Roman's control, a phoenix took shape in the air—burning and beautiful.

As he adjusted the temperature, the phoenix slowly descended.

It "devoured" the Celestial Dragon's hoof mark.

Replacing it with a symbol uniquely made... for Boa Hancock.

Her younger sisters gasped in awe.

"It's... It's beautiful..."