Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 288: Captain of the Heaven Pirates

______

Hancock stared coldly at the figures in front of her.

Charlotte Amande stood with her chin slightly raised, wearing a blue dress with vertical stripes and a large, elegant hat. A cigarette dangled from the corner of her mouth, her eyes icy and condescending.

"You can't run away," Amande declared.

Beside her was Charlotte Yuen, tall and slender, dressed in a striped shirt and trousers. He unsheathed his long sword slowly, his movements deliberate and menacing.

"Today, everyone in the Burning Heaven Pirates will die."

The other members of the BIGMOM Pirates advanced, forming a tight encirclement around Alice.

Alice's eyes burned with defiance as she took a step forward. "Then come and try!"

Her body began to shimmer as it was enveloped in a layer of black metallic substance—the Burning Heaven Suit activating.

"So, this is the Burning Heaven Suit," Yuen said coldly, his gaze sharp. "Let's see if it's as powerful as they claim."

In a flash, Yuen surged forward, his long sword slicing through the air, aimed directly at Alice's neck.

"Snort!"

Alice showed no fear. Instead of retreating, she charged forward, her fist clad in Armament Haki and reinforced by the Burning Heaven Suit.

Amande moved forward as well, her long blade drawn with deliberate grace. She swung it with overwhelming force.

"Slow Ballad!"

A moment later, there was a deafening boom.

Alice was hurled back, slamming into a tree. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and a massive gash marred the front of her Burning Heaven Suit. Yet, as the suit's self-repair mechanisms kicked in, the damage began to heal slowly.

"It seems the Burning Heaven Suit isn't as invincible as the legends claim," Yuen sneered, towering over Alice with a look of disdain.

Alice wiped the blood from her mouth, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

'These cadres of the BIGMOM Pirates are indeed strong. One-on-one, none of them could defeat me. But with so many against me, it's like fighting a tide with bare hands.'

Her thoughts flickered to Robin.

' I wonder how Robin is doing.'

She and Hancock had stayed behind to buy time for the main force to retreat. If these were the only opponents, she wouldn't mind fighting them. But with the looming threat of the Pirate Emperor Big Mom arriving at any moment, retreat was their only option.

Yuen seemed to sense her thoughts. "Are you worried about Nico Robin? Unfortunately, she won't escape. We anticipated your moves and stationed someone to intercept them."

Alice's eyes darkened, but she remained composed.

Escape was never going to be easy, but Robin's side isn't weak either.

Amande exhaled a puff of smoke, her voice cold and commanding. "Stop wasting time. Kill her."

Alice's eyes narrowed, a crackling sound filling the air.

Crackling!

Before anyone could react, a streak of blue lightning shot down from the sky, landing directly in front of Amande. The lightning condensed, transforming into a girl with black hair and crimson eyes.

Amande's expression shifted to shock.

"What's going on? Who is this? A member of the Burning Yuen Pirates? Why have I never heard of her before?"

Akame didn't give her a chance to speak. Without hesitation, Murasame was unsheathed, its blade crackling with light blue lightning.

"Bury you."

The words were cold and decisive.

The sword slashed across Amande's chest, lightning surging through the wound.

Pshhh!

Blood sprayed into the air as the lightning exploded within her, overwhelming her body. Amande's eyes rolled back as she collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

"What just happened?"

Yuen and the other members of the BIGMOM Pirates froze, their faces pale with disbelief.

Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over them. A four-winged dragon hovered above, its colossal tail swinging down like a hammer from the heavens.

"Not good!" Yuen shouted.

He swung his sword upward, Armament Haki coating the blade in preparation for the devastating impact.

Bang!

The domineering aura dissipated as Charlotte Yuen's long sword flew from him grasp. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent hurtling through the air.

A girl in a black dress, with short black hair and a long sword in hand, walked out slowly. Following closely behind her was a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

"Sister, Aoki said we should try to spare their lives," Kurome reminded.

Akame, her voice calm and measured, replied, "I know. That's why Murasame didn't strike directly. I covered the blade with a layer of lightning."

"That's possible?" Kurome asked, lifting her Yatsufusa sword and examining it with curiosity.

The remaining members of the BIGMOM Pirates were paralyzed with confusion and fear.

Two girls had suddenly appeared, and in moments, two of their commanders had been taken down.

"What do we do? Should we avenge Lady Amande and Yuen?" one pirate whispered nervously.

"Of course!" a towering, three-meter-tall muscular pirate bellowed. "If we run now, we'll be punished for sure when we return!"

Despite his bold words, as soon as he finished speaking, he turned tail and bolted without hesitation. His eyes darted to the side, noticing that the spot where another pirate had stood moments ago was now empty. The sight of a rapidly retreating figure made him curse internally.

"Sneaky coward!"

A flash of blue light caught his eye. In the next moment, his fleeing companion fell to the ground with a dull thud.

The muscular pirate's entire body shuddered. He pumped his legs harder, desperate to escape.

Suddenly, a girl with short black hair appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

Startled at first, he then sighed in relief.

"Luckily, it's not the one with red eyes. This one must be weaker, right?"

But before he could finish his thought, an electrifying blue arc danced in her eyes.

The next instant, searing pain erupted from his chest, and his consciousness plunged into an abyss of darkness.

Kurome lowered her Yatsufusa sword, a pleased expression on her face.

"So it really works. And the blade has become even sharper. The Thunder Fruit is truly incredible!"

At that moment, another pirate charged from behind, his long sword raised high, a crazed look in his eyes.

Kurome seemed completely unaware, still inspecting her blade.

"Success!"

The pirate grinned ferociously, stabbing his sword toward her unguarded back.

Just then, the sky darkened, and a massive claw descended from above, slamming the attacker into the ground with bone-crushing force.

"Hmm? Is everything taken care of already?" Kurome asked, turning around to find all the enemies defeated. Satisfied, she sheathed her Yatsufusa sword.

Behind her, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, four-winged dragon, and super pterosaur vanished one by one.

"Is that it?"

Alice was still processing what had just happened.

Moments ago, the situation had seemed dire. Then, out of nowhere, two girls appeared and effortlessly neutralized every threat.

Kurome's gaze shifted briefly to Alice's chest, her expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Are you Alice?"

"Yes, I am," Alice replied, a flicker of hope lighting her eyes. "Thank you so much for your help. May I ask who you are?"

Kurome answered simply, "Aoki sent us."

Alice's body trembled.

She had heard the name "Aoki" earlier but hadn't dared to believe it. Now, her suspicions were confirmed.

"Aoki's back? Where is he now?" she asked urgently.

"You'll see him soon," Kurome replied.

Alice suddenly remembered her companions and her expression turned serious. "We still have two crew members in danger. Can you—"

"Don't worry," Akame interrupted her. "Someone's already handling it."

---

At the same time, Robin and the other members of the Burning Heaven Pirates stood tense, their gazes fixed on the scene ahead.

Snowflakes flew in the air, bringing a biting chill as the grass beneath turned to ice and snow.

Across the frozen field stood countless ice sculptures, each frozen in different poses, their faces reflecting fear or confusion.

Among them stood a striking woman with long, flowing white hair, cold, piercing eyes, and sharp, beautiful features. Her very presence exuded a commanding frost that seemed to dominate the atmosphere.

Robin's mind was racing.

Moments ago, they had been intercepted by the relentless pursuers of the BIGMOM Pirates, and a battle seemed inevitable.

Then, out of nowhere, this woman appeared, wielding an overwhelming power. With just a wave of her hand, she froze the entire enemy force in place, instantly resolving the crisis.

Despite her terrifying display of strength, she had refrained from harming any members of the Burning Heaven Pirates. Her actions made it clear she wasn't an enemy.

As the snowflakes gradually stopped falling, Esdeath began to move forward. Each deliberate step made the air seem colder, more oppressive.

The Burning Heaven Pirates tensed, unsure of her intentions.

Robin stepped forward cautiously. "Excuse me, who are you?"

Esdeath's sharp gaze swept over the group, her voice crisp and cutting. "Your spirit is decent, but your discipline is terrible! Your formations are laughable—unfit for either escaping or attacking!"

The crew exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion growing.

- Who is this woman?

She had saved them only to criticize their performance.

Robin's expression shifted slightly as a thought struck her. "Do you know Aoki?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Esdeath's icy demeanor. "Are you Nico Robin?"

Robin nodded. "Yes, I am."

Esdeath's gaze softened just a fraction. "You're clever. No wonder he trusts you so much."

Robin's eyes brightened. "So, Aoki has really returned?"

Esdeath nodded. "Yes. Be patient. You'll see him soon."

---

"Aromatic Feet!"

Hancock's powerful kick shot forward, her leg glowing with petrifying energy as it barreled toward her enemy.

Perospero quickly conjured a syrup wall in front of him, hoping to block the attack.

Boom!

The wall solidified, petrified, and shattered under the immense force of Hancock's strike.

A dark shadow surged forward, closing in on Perospero, who instinctively moved back.

Before Hancock could capitalize on the moment, Smoothie darted in from the side, positioning herself between Hancock and Perospero.

At the same time, Tamago, having entered his "Count Chicken" state, lunged from behind, his speed and agility vastly enhanced.

Hancock leaped into the air, her movements graceful and deliberate as she flipped out of the encirclement.

She had no intention of engaging recklessly or trading injury for injury.

Perospero, clearly shaken, muttered, "I warned you. We shouldn't have rushed this! She's far too dangerous!"

"Watch your defense!" Smoothie shouted suddenly.

In Perospero's line of sight, a barrage of pink, heart-shaped arrows materialized. Alarmed, he hastily summoned more syrup, creating thick barriers to protect himself and the others.

---

High above the battlefield, Aoki observed the unfolding chaos with a calm, discerning gaze.

"Four against one," he murmured, his eyes scanning the combatants below.

The participants were all familiar to him.

Perospero and Smoothie stood out in particular. As Big Mom's eldest son, Perospero wasn't just a capable fighter—he was a cunning strategist. Smoothie, though still young, was already exhibiting strength that marked her as a future sweet General.

Aoki's lips curled into a faint smirk. "When you gang up on someone, do you ever stop to think their family might be watching?"

He stretched out his palm, and the invisible power of the space-time field activated. His body began to expand, surrounded by a halo of white flame-like clouds. Bolts of lightning crackled and danced between his fingers.

The five combatants below felt an unsettling presence and instinctively glanced upward, but saw nothing.

---

Aoki's figure suddenly flashed onto the battlefield, appearing beside Smoothie, Perospero, Oven, and Tamago simultaneously.

Each figure was real—an advanced manifestation of his "Devour" technique. By manipulating the power of time, Aoki had achieved the ability to exist in multiple moments at once.

The four enemies quickly regained their senses, their expressions shifting to panic. What terrified them even more was the realization that the space around them seemed to solidify, rendering them completely immobile.

Phew!

Lightning crackled as Aoki's palm, charged with concentrated energy, pierced through the hearts of the four enemies. The compressed lightning erupted violently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Massive bolts of electricity coursed through their bodies, fracturing the ground beneath them and illuminating the sky with a brilliant blue hue.

As the blue lightning dissipated, only four charred corpses remained on the ground—or rather, three.

Smoothie, clinging to the last remnants of her vitality, weakly lifted her head. Her voice was faint and disjointed.

"Who… who are you? Why… why are you an enemy of the BIGMOM Pirates?"

"You have remarkable vitality," Aoki remarked, gazing at her. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "You can call me the captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates."

The captain of the Burning Heaven Pirates?

Smoothie's fading consciousness registered the words. Her wide eyes reflected disbelief—there really was another captain. Her gaze slowly dulled, and then the light in her eyes extinguished completely.

Aoki retracted his power, returning to his human form, and turned to Hancock.

After four years apart, Hancock had shed all traces of childishness. Her figure and demeanor were now identical to the Pirate Empress he remembered.

Though her arrogance had softened, she still carried a commanding, queen-like aura, a natural combination of pride and authority.

"Aoki?" Hancock murmured in disbelief.

Aoki smiled warmly. "I'm back."

Hancock's eyes sparkled with surprise, but her joy quickly faded. She bit her lip and lowered her head slightly.

"I'm sorry… the Burning Heaven Pirates almost perished under my leadership," she said quietly.

Aoki shook his head. "The most important thing is that you're safe."

Hancock's spirits lifted slightly, though a shadow of guilt still lingered.

"Besides," Aoki added, "didn't you hold on until I returned?"

A genuine smile spread across Hancock's face. "I didn't think you'd come back at this moment."

Aoki waved his hand lightly. "Come on, let's go meet the others."

Hancock trotted to catch up, falling into step beside him.

As they walked, Aoki noticed something peculiar. At 1.87 or 1.88 meters tall, he was typically taller than most. But Hancock, standing over 1.9 meters and wearing high heels, was noticeably taller than him now.

Of course, his true form as a three-meter-tall dragon-man allowed him to adjust his height at will, but he saw no point in doing so.

---

Moments later, everyone had gathered.

On the left stood Hancock, Robin, and Alice. On the right were Esdeath, Akame, and Kurome.

Aoki's gaze swept over the group, and a faint sigh escaped him.

"Looks like we're a little heavy on girls and light on boys," he muttered.

It couldn't be helped. Most of the strong people he had encountered thus far happened to be women.

Still, this imbalance was limited to the upper ranks. Including the rest of the crew, the Burning Heaven Pirates had far more male members overall.

"Tell me the details," Aoki said, turning to the group.

Robin stepped forward. "I'll explain."

She recounted the series of events calmly and methodically.

The overall course of the conflict between the Burning Heaven Pirates and the BIGMOM Pirates was largely as Aoki had heard from Beckman.

However, there was one critical difference.

Hancock hadn't killed the envoy of the BIGMOM Pirates simply because of a rejected marriage proposal.

The envoy had attempted to forcibly kidnap Robin after the rejection, enraging Hancock and the rest of the crew. This act of aggression had sparked the chain of events that led to the current situation.