Quick Fight

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The Kuja's ship docked smoothly at the Upper Yard.

"Marigold, Sandersonia, you two stay and guard the ship," Hancock instructed as she prepared to disembark.

Marigold, clearly upset, quickly interjected, "Wait, sister! Aren't you going to take me and Sandersonia with you?"

She, too, was eager to search for the legendary gold. Waiting on the ship felt vastly different from being in the midst of the action.

"Nothing can happen to the ship," Hancock replied sternly. "There's a so-called god and his priests on this island. Not to mention that masked figure we encountered earlier in the White Sea. They could come to attack. If you stay here, I'll be more at ease."

Hearing Hancock's reasoning, Marigold puffed out her chest with determination. "Don't worry, sister! I won't let anyone lay a hand on our ship."

Kitaro, watching the exchange with a calm expression, smiled slightly. "Let's go. Those priests are already waiting for us."

"Have you already discovered their location?" Hancock asked, intrigued.

"Indeed. My perception range is quite wide," Kitaro replied.

"This far?" Hancock raised an eyebrow, but she knew that some people's Observation Haki could extend far and wide. For example, the Sniper Rindo could cover an immense distance with pinpoint accuracy. Still, she didn't know just how far Kitaro's perception stretched.

"Now that you've located them, let's go," Hancock declared.

The group set off toward the forest. They hadn't traveled long before Rindo, sensing movement, spoke up, "Someone's coming."

Kitaro just smile as he already knew.

As soon as the words left Rindo's mouth—

Swish!

A large number of figures suddenly appeared from the trees and the ground, surrounding them from all sides.

"Women?!" A voice rang out from above. Perched high on one of the trees, Shura, the Sky Knight, looked down with disgust. "I didn't expect so many women. That guy Enel didn't say anything about the intruders being women. I have no interest in fighting women."

"Hahaha!!" The soldiers under Shura's command, divine warriors with goat-like features, erupted in bizarre laughter.

Their captain, Yama, stepped forward. "It doesn't matter if they're men or women. Anyone who comes here is an enemy. Besides, there are three men among them," he said, eyeing Kitaro, Itachi, and Shisui.

Hancock stepped forward, her posture regal and commanding. "Tell me, where is the gold?"

Immediately, the divine warriors and priests were captivated. 

"What a breathtaking sight!" one of the soldiers whispered, completely entranced by Hancock's beauty.

"How can someone be so beautiful?"

"The gold is over at the ruins!" another soldier blurted out, unable to control himself under Hancock's allure.

"Good," Hancock said coolly, "thank you for the information. As a token for our first meeting, here's a gift."

With her signature elegance, Hancock formed a heart-shaped gesture with her hands, casting her Mero Mero Mellow attack.

Boom!

In an instant, the priests and divine soldiers, all struck by the love rays, were turned into stone statues. Their once mocking and eager faces were now frozen in eternal admiration.

Itachi and Shisui, observing the scene from the sidelines, were left stunned. Both of them, skilled warriors and experienced shinobi, found the speed and ease of the situation unbelievable.

When Hancock and Kitaro had fought earlier, Itachi and Shisui had thought Hancock was strong, but not overwhelmingly so. Now, they saw how wrong they were.

Kitaro, noting their astonishment, patted both on the shoulder. "See? This is the power of the Pirate Empress. This is why even the World Government dares not provoke her lightly. Now you understand."

Itachi and Shisui nodded in silent agreement, their respect for Hancock growing. What they had witnessed was not just an ordinary attack; it was a testament to her fearsome abilities. The sheer number of opponents—all skilled warriors—were turned to stone in the blink of an eye.

Hancock, satisfied with her handiwork, retracted her arm with a graceful flourish. "Shall we continue?" she said, her confidence fully restored. Her beauty had bested these men with ease, though her inability to affect a certain individual still lingered in the back of her mind.

"Let's go," Kitaro nodded, and the group set off towards the ruins.

---

Hidden Cloud Village

Back in the hidden village of the Shandians, Aisa let out a startled scream, her face pale with horror.

Aisa was born with the ability to use Observation Haki, known in Skypiea as "Mantra", which gave her a sixth sense of the world around her. She can sense when people die or fall unconscious as well as the feelings of others. She was able to tell where Enel was, despite him traveling at lightning speed.

"What's wrong, Aisa ?!" Raki rushed to her side, concerned.

"Th-they're gone... The sounds… they've all disappeared…"

"Disappeared?" Wyper frowned deeply. "You mean the sea people are done for as well?"

He had hoped the pirates from blue sea could at least take down a few priests, making their own fight easier. But if their voices had disappeared so quickly, it seemed he couldn't rely on them after all.

"No... No! It's not the sea people… It's the priests and divine soldiers. Their voices vanished. And it happened all at once!" Aisa's voice was trembling as she tried to explain.

"What?!" All the Shandians present exchanged shocked glances.

"Are you sure?" Raki asked, her voice wavering.

Aisa shook her head vigorously. "I'm sure! Those sea people met the priests and divine soldiers, and in a moment, their voices just… vanished. The sea people are already moving toward the ruins."

The Shandians stood in stunned silence, struggling to comprehend the enormity of what had happened.

Wyper, ever the opportunist, allowed a smile to creep across his face. "This… this is our chance! I never thought those sea people could be so strong. They'll definitely clash with Enel. No matter who wins, we'll be ready to strike! If both sides destroy each other, it'll finally be time for us to reclaim our homeland!"

His eyes glistened with hope. After years of waiting, the dream of retaking their land from Enel's tyranny finally seemed within reach. If the sea pirates and Enel wiped each other out, it would be the perfect opportunity for the Shandians to strike.

"Wait!" Aisa interjected, her voice strained. "Not this time… I have a terrible feeling about this."

"What?" Wyper turned to her, frowning. "We're Shandians! We've never been afraid of danger, not even from Enel. What could be more dangerous than him?"

"No…" Aisa's voice dropped to a whisper, her body trembling. "It's not Enel… It's one of the sea people. There's someone among them who feels… more terrifying than Enel. Just sensing them from a distance made my body tremble. I'm sure… I'm sure he knows I'm here!"

 "It's like he can see me"

"I'm afraid of him"

...