[send power stones please]
A very short old woman came sprinting over.
She had white, wavy hair, a bright red flower tucked near her left temple, and leaned on a serpent-shaped staff with a coiled snake wrapped around it. Despite her small stature, her speed was astonishing as she rushed straight toward Hancock and her sisters.
The moment the three girls saw her, their eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Granny Nyon…!"
The old woman—known to them as Granny Nyon—leapt around the sisters anxiously, poking and prodding, inspecting them from head to toe to make sure they weren't injured.
After confirming they were unharmed, she finally let out a long breath of relief.
But the instant she turned her head and saw Chenos, her expression darkened.
"You stinking man!"
"Did you kidnap our children?!"
"I—"
She didn't wait for him to explain.
Granny Nyon raised her staff and swung it straight at Chenos.
Chenos instinctively raised his arm to block—
But the serpent on the staff suddenly moved.
The coiled snake compressed like a spring, then snapped forward at terrifying speed.
Before Chenos could even react, it bit down on his wrist.
Fortunately, Chenos was already accustomed to keeping his Devil Fruit ability active at all times. The fangs pierced his skin—but caused no real damage.
"Granny Nyon! Chenos isn't a bad person!"
"He protected us the whole time!"
But Granny Nyon moved even faster.
Before Hancock could finish speaking, the old woman's foot slammed into Chenos's chest, sending him flying.
Chenos flipped midair, landed steadily, and rubbed his chest with a stunned expression.
…That hurt.
That was Armament Haki.
Even at her age, this woman's strength was terrifying.
Like all Devil Fruits, Chenos's ability was not absolute. Armament Haki could still bypass it.
Against normal attacks, he could absorb nearly 100% of the damage.
Against Haki-coated attacks, however, he could only absorb about one-tenth.
A brutal lesson he had learned the hard way—when he had nearly been beaten to death by a Haki-using slave in the past.
That was also the moment he truly understood:
Devil Fruits were not omnipotent.
Which was why he had trained Haki and the Six Powers so relentlessly.
Granny Nyon…
Former Empress of Amazon Lily.
Old, tiny, and yet absurdly strong.
If Chenos fought her seriously, he estimated the result would be—a draw at best.
That realization made him even more cautious of the world.
If someone with so little presence in the original story was already this strong…
Then what kind of monsters were the Yonko, who ruled entire seas?
Just then, a sultry, amused voice drifted over.
"Oh my~ how lively things are today."
Chenos's head snapped toward the sound.
His Observation Haki hadn't detected anyone approaching at all.
But when he saw who it was, he relaxed.
Silvers Rayleigh and Shakky.
The Dark King—former right hand of the Pirate King—and his wife.
With people like them, that level of presence was only natural.
Shakky strolled up to Chenos, took a slow drag of her cigarette, then gently exhaled smoke near his ear.
"Rayleigh, this kid reminds me of you when you were young."
"So sharp. So dangerous."
Rayleigh glanced at Chenos and snorted.
"I was gentle when I was young."
"Not like this brat—he's overflowing with killing intent."
Shakky chuckled.
"And how exactly do you think the title Dark King was earned?"
"You didn't get it by being gentle."
Chenos stepped forward, stood before Rayleigh, and bowed deeply.
"Dark King Rayleigh, please accept me as your disciple."
"I want to kill the Celestial Dragons."
"I refuse."
No hesitation.
"…Eh? Why?"
Rayleigh smiled calmly.
"You're already strong."
"You understand Observation and Armament Haki."
"Your Devil Fruit can only be developed by yourself."
"What you lack now is only real combat experience."
"That can't be taught—it has to be earned."
"So I have nothing to teach you."
"…I see."
Chenos wasn't disappointed.
Even Luffy hadn't been taught much by Rayleigh—only guidance, not secrets. Advanced Haki techniques like Ryuo weren't even taught to him.
If that was Luffy's treatment, then this was more than fair.
Rayleigh looked at Chenos seriously.
"Many people want the Celestial Dragons dead."
"Few ever succeed."
"I hope I live long enough to see you do it."
"Keep going, kid."
Meanwhile, Hancock finished explaining everything to Granny Nyon.
The old woman's hostility faded, replaced by aching sorrow as she looked at the three girls.
"So young… and already dragged through hell…"
Her voice trembled.
"Come."
"Granny will take you home."
She turned and shouted impatiently,
"Rayleigh! Bring the ship over already!"
"I'm taking my children home!"
Rayleigh sighed but complied, heading off to prepare the ship.
When the ship arrived, Granny Nyon and the three sisters boarded—
Only to realize Chenos and Tesoro were still standing on the shore, waving.
"Chenos… you're not coming with us?"
Chenos shook his head.
"Go home first, Hancock."
"I still need to help Tesoro grow stronger."
"Train well on Amazon Lily."
"When I gather my crew…"
"I'll come get you."
Hancock understood.
Right now, following him would only make her a burden.
But separation still hurt.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Suddenly—
She ran forward and hugged Chenos tightly, ignoring everyone watching.
"I'll become strong too!"
"You have to come get me!"
Her voice shook as she buried her face against his chest.
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