Chapter 14: Embers of Chaos

As ripples of the Saint Rosward massacre and the Admirals' defeat spread across the seas, a tempest of chaos engulfed the world. The name "King of the World" echoed through the lands, carried on the lips of those who bore witness to the cataclysmic events.

Amidst the turmoil, Arthur found himself contemplative, the weight of a millennium of slumber etched into his bones. He sought solace in the soothing embrace of a hot bath, a respite from the rigors of his awakening. With a gentle summons, he beckoned Hancock to his side, a request veiled in the vulnerability of a King in need.

Hancock, draped in nothing but a towel, approached with a cautious hesitance. Her eyes met Arthur's, his smile a beacon of assurance. In his presence, she found the strength to yield to his command, to offer her hands in service.

As she worked her skilled touch over his weary form, a subtle tension lingered in the air. Hancock shielded her back, a veil of secrecy in her ministrations. Arthur, ever perceptive, sensed her reservation. With a tenderness that belied his regal stature, he extended an invitation - a shared moment of respite within the sanctum of the bath.

In the warm embrace of the water, surrounded by tendrils of fragrant steam, the air between them seemed to shift. Arthur, his gaze unwavering, sought to unravel the mystery that had veiled Hancock's movements. With a delicate inquiry, he asked why she concealed her back, a question that hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken truths.

Hancock hesitated, her heart laid bare before her King. Denial danced on the precipice of her lips, but as she met Arthur's eyes, a swell of emotion overtook her. She acquiesced, turning to reveal the mark etched into her skin - the legacy of the Saint Rosward name, a mark she feared might distance her from the King.

What followed was a revelation, an affirmation of love that transcended the scars of the past. Arthur's embrace encircled her, a testament to the bond that now bound them. His words, tender and resolute, washed over her like a balm, dispelling her fears.

"Hancock, you are my wife," he declared, the words a vow that resonated through the steam-filled chamber. "Do not be afraid, for this mark is but a testament to the strength that resides within you. Together, we shall ascend to the pinnacle of this world, side by side as King and Queen."

In that sacred moment, amidst the warmth and the fragrant embrace of the bath, their souls entwined. The embers of chaos that had engulfed the world seemed to flicker and fade, replaced by the quiet assurance of a shared destiny. Together, they would forge a legacy that would echo through the annals of time.

Listening to Arthur's reassurance, Hancock's emotions overcame her. She turned to him, her embrace fierce and trembling, tears flowing freely. In that moment, they were not King and Queen, but two souls bound by a shared vulnerability.

Arthur, with a smile that spoke volumes, returned her embrace. His hand, gentle against her silken hair, provided a steady anchor in the storm of emotions. As her tears subsided, he extended his hand towards the mark that bore the weight of her past.

A curious transformation unfolded. Dark tendrils coalesced around Arthur's hand, swirling with an almost otherworldly energy. With a touch as delicate as a whisper, the mark yielded, dissolving into the ether. Hancock watched in astonishment, the mark's absence a testament to the power that Arthur wielded.

In the wake of this miraculous transformation, Hancock's gaze met Arthur's, a silent exchange that spoke volumes. He was not merely a King; he was her confidant, her protector, and above all, her husband. With newfound fervor, she held him close, sealing their shared revelation with a tender kiss.

Once the bath had concluded, Arthur turned his attention to Hancock's sisters. With a solemn determination, he extended his power to them, liberating them from the weight of their family's legacy. Gratitude flowed from the sisters, their eyes shining with newfound hope.

With matters attended to, Arthur turned to Hancock, his thoughts on the future. He broached the topic of Devil Fruits, recognizing their significance in awakening his other generals. Hancock, ever resourceful, suggested seeking the counsel of her esteemed friend, Dark King Silvers Rayleigh from Sabaody Archipelago. Arthur nodded in agreement, acknowledging the wisdom of her counsel.

Suddenly, the fabric of space itself seemed to ripple, giving birth to an unexpected arrival. From the rift emerged Lucius, his presence a palpable force that seemed to alter the very air around them.

// PS:- Now to current time, All above talk was between lucius fight and bounty release as due to Lucius feats and the prophecy about king of world he got bounty very fast.

As Lucius emerged from the rift in space, he lowered himself in a respectful bow before King Arthur. As Arthur inquired about the events that had transpired, a curious transformation overtook Lucius. His eyes, once vivid, shifted to a striking and eerie white, reminiscent of the eyes of a blind individual. Yet, these newly transformed eyes held an inexplicable quality – they seemed to possess the capabilities of a projector.

In a surreal display, Lucius's eyes became a canvas, projecting the events that had befallen him with a vivid clarity that left no room for doubt. It was as though the very essence of his experience was being laid bare for all to witness.

King Arthur regarded this phenomenon with a mixture of intrigue and satisfaction. It was a tangible testament to the extraordinary power that Lucius harbored within him. With a nod of approval, he bid Lucius to take respite, recognizing the significance of the task that awaited them.

The time had come to awaken the second general, an endeavor that would shape the course of their journey in profound ways. With Lucius granted the reprieve he had earned, the stage was set for the next pivotal step in their quest to unite the world under the banner of the King of the World.