Deep within the jungle of Amazon Lily, where the lush trees reached up to the sky, three young sisters walked together.
The eldest sister, a girl with long, straight black hair, led the group confidently. Her large blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
With a mischievous smile, she turned to her younger sisters. "See? I told you there was nothing to be afraid of," she declared smugly. "Last time I went on a trip with Grandma, we saw a giant black snake. It was so big that I could have caught it, but Grandma wouldn't let me."
The second sister, the shyest of the group, nervously bit her lip. Her long, wavy orange hair framed a face full of worry.
Her brown eyes constantly scanned the surroundings. "But sister," she protested in a trembling voice, "you know we shouldn't be here. What if we get caught? I'm telling Grandma."
The eldest sister rolled her eyes at the threat. "Don't be a spoilsport. Besides, who's going to believe you? Everyone knows you're the most scared."
The third sister, with her light green wavy hair hanging loose, let out a mocking giggle. Her green eyes gleamed with mischief as she adjusted her blue blouse.
"Yeah, you're so scared you'd probably be frightened by your own shadow," she teased, provoking more laughter from the sisters.
The second girl frowned, visibly upset by the taunts. "It's not funny. If we get caught, we'll be in big trouble."
As the sisters argued, just as one was about to speak, a voice called out from behind.
"Hancock! There you are! I'm so glad I found you all." A female voice rang out, causing the black-haired girl to whip her head around.
Hancock's eyes widened, this time in panic. "Great, we've been caught. Quick, let's run in different directions! It'll be harder to catch us if we split up."
With that, she bolted towards the sea. The two younger sisters exchanged glances, nodded, and ran off in different directions.
…
Hancock ran desperately through the dense vegetation.
Her heart pounded as she dodged low-hanging branches and leaped over twisted roots.
Behind her, the determined Kuja warrior struggled against the vines that seemed to try and trap her.
"I've got you now, little troublemaker!" the warrior shouted. She knew that if she caught Hancock, the other two sisters wouldn't be far behind.
Hancock caught sight of a clearing ahead. With a final burst of energy, she lunged toward the light, suddenly emerging onto a beach of white sand.
The change in scenery caught her by surprise. The roar of the jungle gave way to the gentle murmur of the waves. The sun shone brightly over the sea, casting diamond-like glimmers on the water's surface.
For a moment, Hancock stood still, captivated by the beauty of the landscape.
"It's... beautiful," she murmured, momentarily forgetting she was running for her life.
But her distraction was brief. A shiver ran down her spine, and her body began to tremble inexplicably. Something was wrong. Her heartbeat, already racing from the chase, intensified even more.
Behind her, the Kuja warrior finally emerged from the jungle, panting but with a triumphant smile on her face. "Aha! There's nowhere left to…"
Her words were abruptly cut off. The warrior's expression shifted from satisfaction to horror in an instant. "Hancock! Watch out!"
The warning shout made Hancock whip around toward the sea. What she saw made her blood run cold.
Emerging from the depths, a colossal monster rose among the waves.
It was a creature from a nightmare, an eastern dragon of titanic proportions. It stood at least 50 meters tall, its serpentine body covered in black scales that seemed to absorb the sunlight, creating a void in the bright day.
The waves crashed upwards, cascading down from its massive form.
Hancock's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. Her legs trembled, unable to support her or allow her to flee.
Fear seized every fiber of her being, clouding her mind and stealing her breath.
When the monster fixed its eyes on her, Hancock felt as though the entire world disappeared. Those eyes, black as the deepest abyss with a supernatural violet gleam, seemed to pierce into her soul, stripping her of all hope and courage.
"Y-You...H-Hello..." Hancock stammered, the words tumbling out senselessly, a reflexive response as her mind struggled to process what she was seeing.
"ROOOOOAAARRR!!" The monster roared, shaking the earth and sea alike.
A wave of air, as powerful as a hurricane, struck Hancock, flinging her ten meters back as if she were a mere toy.
The impact was both physical and psychological, shattering any remnants of coherence in her mind.
As she flew through the air, Hancock saw her short life flash before her eyes. Absolute terror consumed her, and before she hit the ground, her eyes rolled back, and foam began to spill from her mouth.
The world darkened around her as she fell into unconsciousness.
The Kuja warrior snapped out of her initial shock and screamed. "Be careful!!" though she knew it was too late for Hancock.
With fluid movements, she drew her bow and an arrow. Her hands, though trembling slightly, moved quickly.
She focused all her strength and spirit into the arrow, infusing it with Armament Haki. The arrowhead glowed with an intense black hue.
"Damn it!" she muttered through gritted teeth, aiming for the monster's eye.
With a cry that echoed across the beach, she released the arrow. It shot out like a black meteor.
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