Darkness slowly faded.
Pain lingered in every part of his body as consciousness returned.
Monkey D. Luffy's eyes snapped open.
"…Huh?"
Above him stretched a clear blue sky, unfamiliar and endless. The sound of waves echoed nearby, mixed with the rustling of trees swaying in the wind.
Luffy slowly sat up, rubbing his head.
"Where… am I?"
Memories flooded back instantly.
Sabaody.
Kuma.
His crew disappearing one by one.
Zoro… Sanji… Nami… everyone…
His expression fell.
Silence surrounded him as the weight of reality settled in.
"…I was too weak."
His fists tightened against the grass.
"I couldn't protect anyone…"
For a moment, he lowered his head, teeth clenched, trying to hold himself together.
But then he inhaled deeply and stood up.
"We promised… three days."
His eyes hardened with determination.
"We meet back at Sabaody in three days."
He slapped his cheeks lightly. "Alright! I just gotta get back there!"
———————
As Luffy wandered deeper into the island, he noticed something strange.
The houses looked unfamiliar — elegant structures built with curved designs and natural materials. Symbols decorated the walls, and nearby stood a large heart-shaped stone monument carved with intricate patterns.
"Huh… weird place," Luffy muttered.
Suddenly—
FWIP!
An arrow landed directly in front of him.
"Freeze!"
Luffy turned.
Standing atop a nearby structure was a blonde woman holding a bow, her posture firm and cautious. She wore warrior attire unlike anything Luffy had seen before.
"I've never seen you on this island," she said sharply. "Who are you?"
Luffy grinned immediately. "The name's Monkey D. Luffy! Who are you?"
The woman blinked at his casual tone.
"…I am Marguerite. A Kuja warrior."
"Kuja?" Luffy tilted his head. "That sounds familiar… I think I've heard that before."
Marguerite kept her arrow ready, still wary.
"This island forbids men. How did you get here?"
But Luffy suddenly lost interest mid-conversation.
"Anyway, bye!"
"H-Hey, wait—!"
Before she could finish—
Luffy stretched his arms forward.
"Gomu Gomu no—!"
His body launched into the air, slingshotting himself toward the next group of buildings.
Marguerite stared in shock. "He stretched…?!"
She immediately gave chase. "Wait! You can't just run around here!"
——————
High above the island stood a grand palace overlooking the sea.
Luffy flew uncontrollably through the air.
"WOOOOAH—!"
CRASH!
He smashed straight through an open structure and plunged into a large indoor pool with a massive splash.
Water erupted everywhere.
Luffy surfaced, coughing.
"Bleh! Salt water?!"
Steam lingered softly in the air.
Then—
A calm but dangerous voice echoed behind him.
"…You."
Luffy turned.
Standing in the water nearby was a tall woman with long dark hair cascading down her back, her presence overwhelming even in silence.
She slowly looked over her shoulder, eyes cold and piercing. "You saw… my back?"
Luffy blinked, completely confused. "Huh? Yeah?"
The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
A terrifying silence fell over the palace bath.
And for the first time since arriving on the island…
Luffy unknowingly stepped into the domain of the Pirate Empress.
Suddenly—
The doors burst open.
"Sister! What happened? We heard a loud crash!"
Two towering women rushed in.
One with flowing green hair — Sandersonia.
The other with orange hair — Marigold.
They froze.
Their eyes landed on Luffy.
Sandersonia squinted. "…Am I seeing things? Or is that a man?"
Marigold's eyes widened in disbelief. "What is a man doing on our island?!"
The air grew even heavier.
The dark-haired woman calmly stepped out of the bath.
Marigold hurried forward and draped a luxurious coat over her shoulders.
"Shroud yourself, Sister, from his leering gaze!"
Luffy flailed his arms. "Ah— no! I wasn't leering!"
The woman's expression darkened. "…My secret is out."
Sandersonia and Marigold gasped.
"He saw your back?!"
Marigold's voice trembled. "Then… we must not let him leave this castle alive."
Luffy blinked again. "Why not? What's the big deal? I just saw her back."
He tilted his head. "But you know… it's kinda weird. I swear I've seen that mark somewhere before…"
The woman's eyes sharpened instantly.
"What you saw… is a secret we would die to protect."
Her voice dropped, deadly calm. "Or rather… one we would kill to protect."
Luffy scratched his cheek. "Secret? That thing? Why is that a secret? Who are you anyway?"
She stepped forward, chin lifted regally.
"Take those questions to the grave with you."
She formed a heart shape with her hands.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
A beam of pink light shot toward Luffy.
Luffy panicked.
"Wait! It's the slow slow beam! Nooo! It's gonna make me sloooow—"
The light hit him.
Silence.
Luffy blinked. "…Hmmm?"
He looked down at himself. "I feel fine."
Hancock's eyes widened. "…Again. Mero Mero Mellow!"
Another beam struck him directly.
Nothing happened.
Luffy tilted his head. "Is that supposed to do something?"
Hancock stared in disbelief. "Why won't you turn to stone?!"
Her voice rose in frustration. "Don't tell me… you felt no excitement after seeing me in the bath?!"
Her eyes flashed with pride. "I am without flaw!"
Marigold gasped dramatically. "That is beyond the realm of possibility! Your beauty can entrance almost any creature!"
Sandersonia narrowed her eyes at Luffy.
"His fear of death must be overwhelming. The impure urges within him are suppressed. He is a pitiful coward!"
Luffy frowned. "You guys keep talking about dying!"
He pointed toward the window.
"So bye! I was just looking for someone important to talk to!"
Without hesitation, he leapt toward the open window.
Marigold shrieked. "From this height?!"
Hancock's eyes sharpened. "I won't let you escape."
She extended her arm. "Mero Mero Arrow!"
A barrage of pink arrows shot through the air, striking Luffy mid-fall.
His body stiffened.
"WOOOAAAH—!"
He plummeted toward the ground below.
BOOM!
Dust exploded upward from the impact.
Hancock stepped forward, gaze cold and commanding.
"Capture that man."
Her voice echoed across the palace grounds.
"He is a dangerous intruder."
—————————-
Luffy was dragged in chains into the center of a massive arena carved from stone.
Thousands of Kuja warriors filled the stands, their sharp eyes locked onto the lone man standing below.
At the highest platform sat the Pirate Empress, flanked by her two sisters.
Sandersonia leaned forward. "Explain yourself, man."
Marigold's gaze was cold. "How did you arrive on this island?"
Luffy struggled against the chains. "I told you! I didn't come here on purpose!"
The crowd murmured angrily.
"One of the Warlords sent me flying here!" Luffy shouted. "The bear guy! Kuma!"
The name caused a ripple among the warriors.
"A Warlord…?"
Hancock's expression did not change.
"And why," she asked calmly, "would Bartholomew Kuma send you here?"
"I don't know!" Luffy snapped. "He just smacked me and I flew for days!"
He tugged at his chains. "Just give me a boat and I'll leave! I've gotta get back to my crew!"
The crowd booed loudly.
Hancock's eyes were icy. "You expect me to believe such absurd lies?"
Before Luffy could argue—
"Please wait!"
Marguerite suddenly rushed forward from the stands, pushing past the other warriors before dropping to one knee in the center of the arena.
"Empress! It was my fault!"
A wave of shocked murmurs spread instantly.
"Marguerite?!"
Hancock's cold gaze shifted downward.
"Explain."
Marguerite kept her head bowed low.
"I was the one who encountered him first. I failed to eliminate him immediately."
Her fists tightened against the stone floor.
"He did not know our laws. He was confused. Everything that happened… is because of my poor judgment."
Luffy blinked in surprise. "Huh? It's not your fault—"
"Silence!" several warriors barked at him.
Before Hancock could respond, two more Kuja warriors hurried down into the arena.
Sweatpea fell beside Marguerite. "Empress! Please spare Marguerite!"
Aphelandra knelt on the other side. "She was only doing her duty!"
Hancock's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what duty was that?"
Sweatpea swallowed. "She reported the man's presence immediately."
Aphelandra nodded firmly. "Yes. Marguerite acted responsibly. If punishment must be given… it should fall upon us as well for failing to properly support her."
Marguerite turned her head slightly. "No! This has nothing to do with you two!"
Sweatpea shook her head stubbornly. "We will not let you take the blame alone."
Aphelandra added, "We did not even meet the man. But if our comrade is to be punished, then we share that burden."
The arena fell silent at their loyalty.
Luffy stared at them, confused and frustrated. "Why are you guys kneeling for something I did?!"
Marguerite raised her voice slightly, still bowing. "He is not malicious, Empress! He asked only for a boat to leave!"
Hancock's expression remained unreadable.
"A man set foot upon this sacred island."
Her voice echoed across the arena.
"And you aided his survival."
Marguerite pressed her forehead to the ground.
"Then punish me."
Sweatpea and Aphelandra lowered themselves completely as well.
"We stand with her."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Then Hancock stepped forward gracefully.
"If you insist…"
Luffy's eyes widened.
"Hey— wait!"
Her long hair flowed behind her as she descended gracefully into the arena.
Each step echoed with authority.
She stopped before the three kneeling warriors.
"You allowed a man to enter my palace."
Her voice was calm.
"You aided him."
Marguerite clenched her fists.
"Yes."
Hancock lifted her chin slightly. "Then you shall be punished."
She extended her hand.
"Mero Mero Mellow."
The beam struck them instantly.
In seconds—
Marguerite, Sweatpea, and Aphelandra turned into lifeless stone statues.
The arena gasped.
Luffy's eyes widened.
"HEY!!"
He pulled against his chains violently.
"Why'd you do that?!"
Hancock turned away. "They were punished according to the law."
She looked to the gates. "Release Bacura."
The massive doors creaked open.
A gigantic black panther emerged, muscles rippling, fangs gleaming.
The ground trembled as it growled.
Luffy glared. "You're gonna make that thing fight me?"
The chains were removed.
The panther lunged.
"RAAAWR!"
Luffy stepped forward.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
He didn't even finish the name.
As Bacura leapt—
Luffy threw a single punch.
CRACK.
The impact exploded through the arena.
Bacura's teeth shattered as the massive beast flew backward, slamming into the arena wall unconscious.
Silence.
The Boa sisters' eyes widened.
"He… defeated Bacura?!" Marigold gasped.
"With one punch?!" Sandersonia added.
The Kuja warriors murmured in shock.
"He didn't use Haki…"
"That was pure strength!"
"He broke Bacura's teeth!"
Luffy stood there, fists clenched, steam rising faintly from his body.
He glared up at Hancock.
"Why are you all just sitting there?!"
His voice echoed across the arena.
"She turned your friends into stone just for helping me!"
The warriors hesitated.
One spoke up.
"We… feel sorry for them."
"But they broke the law."
"It was their fault."
Luffy's eyes burned with anger.
Hancock lifted her chin arrogantly.
"I will be forgiven."
She placed a hand lightly against her cheek.
"Because I am beautiful."
The crowd erupted in admiration.
"Lady Hancock is divine!"
"She can do no wrong!"
Hancock looked down at Luffy.
"You too… will forgive me, won't you?"
Luffy stared at her.
Then bluntly said—
"Your face is annoying."
The entire arena froze.
Sandersonia's jaw dropped.
Marigold gasped.
The Kuja warriors screamed in outrage.
Hancock staggered back slightly, eyes wide in disbelief.
"…What?"
Her voice trembled.
For the first time in years—
Someone had rejected her beauty.
Her mind reeled.
Why?
Why is he unaffected?
Why does he not look at me the same way?
Her expression twisted.
"Execute him immediately!"
The crowd roared.
"Death to the man!"
"Kill him!"
Luffy stood in the center of the arena, surrounded by screaming warriors.
Unbowed.
Unapologetic.
And completely unaware of the storm he had just ignited in the heart of the Pirate Empress.
Hancock's patience snapped.
"Sandersonia. Marigold."
Her voice was sharp as a blade.
"Bring me his head."
The crowd roared in approval.
Luffy blinked. "Huh? You two are gonna fight me now?"
He tilted his head curiously. "Are you Devil Fruit users or something?"
The Kuja warriors gasped at his ignorance.
"They wield the Gorgon's Curse!"
"Our princesses possess divine power!"
Sandersonia smirked, her body beginning to shift.
Scales shimmered as her lower half transformed into a massive serpent tail.
Marigold followed, her body enlarging as she took on her monstrous snake form.
The arena trembled at their presence.
The crowd chanted loudly.
"Gorgon! Gorgon! Gorgon!"
Luffy scratched his cheek. "Isn't that just a Devil Fruit?"
The chanting faltered slightly.
Before the fight began, Luffy suddenly rushed toward the three stone statues.
"H-hey! What are you doing?!" a warrior shouted.
Luffy carefully lifted Marguerite, Sweatpea, and Aphelandra's petrified forms and carried them to the edge of the arena.
"If they fall or crack, they'll break, right?"
He gently set them down behind a pillar.
"There. Now they won't get smashed by accident."
The sisters narrowed their eyes.
Even Hancock noticed.
Then—
The battle began.
Sandersonia lunged first, her massive tail whipping toward Luffy.
Marigold followed with crushing force.
Luffy leapt back.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
His fist shot forward—
But Sandersonia twisted aside effortlessly.
Marigold's hardened arm slammed into Luffy's side.
BOOM.
Luffy skidded across the arena floor.
"Whoa!"
He stood back up, rubbing his cheek.
"Your hits are way harder!"
Another strike came, coated in black armor.
"And how are you dodging me so fast?!"
Sandersonia hissed proudly.
"That is Observation Haki."
Marigold added,
"And this is Armament."
Her arm darkened again before striking.
Luffy's eyes widened slightly.
"It's just like that lightning guy…"
The memory of Enel flashed briefly in his mind.
Up above, Hancock watched with cold amusement. "So… you are still clinging to that fragile life of yours."
Luffy glared at her mid-fight. "Shut up, you dumb lady!"
The entire arena froze.
Hancock's eye twitched. "…What did you say?"
Her pride shattered once again.
"Finish this immediately!" she ordered furiously.
Marigold suddenly coiled her massive tail around Luffy's body, constricting him tightly.
CRACK.
"Gah—!"
Sandersonia slithered toward the statues.
"If his spirit lies in protecting them…"
She lifted her arm high above Marguerite's stone form.
"…then we shall destroy what he values."
Luffy's eyes widened in panic.
"WAIT!"
He struggled violently against Marigold's grip.
"Don't destroy it!"
Sandersonia smirked.
"Beg all you like."
Her arm began to swing down—
"I TOLD YOU TO STOP!!!"
BOOOOM.
A violent wave of crimson energy exploded outward from Luffy.
The air cracked.
The ground trembled.
The Kuja warriors in the stands dropped instantly, one by one, collapsing unconscious.
Marigold's eyes widened in shock.
"What—?!"
Sandersonia staggered back.
"That power…!"
Even Marigold released Luffy involuntarily.
The arena fell into eerie silence.
Only a handful remained standing.
Sandersonia stared at him.
"He possesses the same power as… Sister."
Marigold swallowed.
"Haoshoku Haki…"
Up above, Hancock bit her nails, eyes narrowed.
"…So he has that power too."
Her gaze sharpened, something shifting within her.
In the audience, an elderly woman with pink hair leaned forward with interest.
She had remained conscious.
Her wrinkled face stretched into a knowing expression.
"Monkey D. Luffy…"
She tapped her cane lightly.
"How did a pirate like you manage to arrive here… from Sabaody?"
The wind swirled across the silent arena.
And for the first time—
The Kuja began to see the man before them not as prey…
But as something far more dangerous.