Conqueror's Haki?

"This must be it..."

Looking at the horribly destroyed ground ahead, Marguerite frowned and said, "The destructive power is truly astonishing..."

Not only were there huge craters everywhere, but many of the centuries-old trees had also been broken, clearly indicating that the battle between the two was extremely fierce.

But... does that man really have that kind of strength?

How could someone fight their sister to this extent?

Filled with doubt, Marguerite called to the Guardian Warriors and quickly headed towards the forest ahead.

Just then, another rumbling sound came from afar.

"Boom!!"

As the roaring sound rang out, several towering trees were snapped in two!

Upon seeing this, Marguerite immediately understood.

"It's right there!"

"Walk!"

"Call..."

Hancock had just smashed several large trees, stood up, leaning on a piece of broken wood beside her.

'monster...'

Hancock's expression was extremely grim as she watched the ever-present threat of killing Xi Yan.

She tried various methods to attack him, managing to kill him several times, but in the end... she still couldn't kill the man.

Each time, the other person would resurrect and reappear beside her.

It's like... being truly invincible!!

'Is there really no way to kill him?'

If this man truly cannot be killed, then... she might be doomed here today...

No, that's not right!

If she had died in battle, her country might not have fared much better!

After all... this guy is a man!

Thinking of this, Hancock wiped her mouth, her eyes sharpening once more.

No matter what, she wouldn't allow the other side to destroy her country!!

"Not bad eye." Xi Yan nodded and said, "It seems you haven't lost your fighting spirit."

Great, this way you can continue to hone your skills.

A smile appeared in Xi Yan's eyes as he glanced at his pale golden Susanoo.

Through this period of battle, he has become increasingly skilled at controlling Susanoo.

Perhaps it won't be long before we can advance to the next stage.

"Tch... that's pretty arrogant."

"I'm just stating a fact," Xi Yan said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xi Yan rushed towards Hancock and slapped her without giving her a chance to speak!

The enormous skeletal hand slammed mercilessly into Hancock's body!

Hancock's expression changed, and she immediately retreated, creating distance between herself and the enemy.

The next moment...

"Boom!!"

The giant skeletal arm slammed into the ground, creating a large crater.

"Heh, your strength is really getting stronger and stronger..."

Looking at the large crater in the ground, Hancock felt extremely annoyed.

That bastard really used her as a whetstone!!

But no matter what, she can't lose!

Because... she has a reason not to lose!

Thinking of this, Hancock's eyes turned cold, and she said, "I refuse to believe I can't kick you to death!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Armament Haki wrapped around her long legs again, intending to use her Great Fragrant Foot to shatter the opponent's skull defense once more.

"Then let's give it a try!" Xi Yan grinned.

Just then, the two heard some sounds coming from afar.

"Snake Princess!!"

"Snake Princess, we've come to your aid!!"

"My Older Sister Lord, I'm here!" Marguerite called out.

Hearing the sound coming from afar, Hancock's expression immediately changed.

She could guarantee she wouldn't be killed by the man in front of her, but... no one else could either.

Thinking of this, Hancock immediately turned around and shouted, "Marguerite, don't come any closer!"

"Huh?!"

Upon hearing her older sister's voice, Marguerite froze on the spot.

Why won't they let them pass?

Why is that?

They came specifically to support their sister, but... their sister won't let them join the fight?

However, trusting her sister, Marguerite chose not to advance further and told the warriors to stay there.

"But, Snake Princess, she..."

"Since Older Sister Lord 've said so, then everything will be alright," Marguerite said. "Don't worry."

"All right..."

Seeing this, the others could only obediently stay where they were.

'Why...'

Marguerite sighed and looked ahead with a worried expression.

She could sense that something was wrong with her older sister... Was it because the opponent was too strong?

"Aren't you going to send your men to help you?" Xi Yan crossed his arms and looked at Hancock, saying, "Maybe outnumbered, they can take me down?"

After he finished speaking, Xi Yan suddenly paused for a moment because he noticed the pattern showing behind the other person.

'What's that thing behind this guy?'

After hearing Xi Yan's words, Hancock turned back to look at him and said, "Hmph, I'm not stupid."

When facing an enemy that is impossible to kill, numbers are meaningless.

Rather than sending our soldiers to their deaths, it's better to let her stay here and try to take down the enemy!

Just then, Hancock sensed something was off. What did that guy's gaze mean?

Before Hancock could speak, Xi Yan asked, "What's that hoof-like pattern on your back?"

"Click!"

Upon hearing Xi Yan's words, Hancock was struck dumb, frozen in place as if by lightning.

"Um?"

Xi Yan looked at Hancock with a puzzled expression. Why did this guy seem to have suffered a major blow, and his body was even trembling?

Hancock ignored Xi Yan and instead reached out shakily to touch her back, immediately realizing something was wrong.

The clothes that were supposed to cover the marks had somehow been torn open, revealing the slave marks.

This discovery immediately plunged Hancock's heart into despair.

'Damn it, when did my clothes get torn?'

Why didn't she notice anything?

Oh no... This man saw my biggest secret. This is really... absolutely terrible!

"What's wrong with you?"

Xi Yan looked at Hancock with a puzzled expression, wondering why this guy had suddenly changed like this.

So what's wrong with seeing the pattern on her back?

'Could it be... that this thing has some special meaning?' Xi Yan murmured to himself.

Just as Xi Yan was wondering, Hancock suddenly raised her head and looked at Xi Yan with a murderous gaze.

"You saw it, right?"

Xi Yan:???

Xi Yan looked at Hancock in surprise. This time, the killing intent that the other party unleashed was... much purer than before.

Just because I saw that mark on her back?

"I saw it, but what is that thing?" Xi Yan asked, puzzled.

Hancock did not answer the question, but instead bowed slightly, while wrapping her legs in Haki.

Then she said, "Now that you've seen it, then... go die!!"

However, before Hancock could make a move, she heard a rustling sound from the side, as if... someone was walking towards her.

This discovery immediately changed Hancock's expression.

"Don't come any closer!" Hancock shouted.

Unfortunately, Hancock's words had no effect; instead, they only amplified the sounds from the bushes.

Hancock paused for a moment, then her eyes narrowed.

"Boom!!"

An incredibly terrifying Conqueror's Haki burst forth, indiscriminately bombarding everything around it.

"Buzz~"

Sensing this aura, Xi Yan looked surprised and said, "This... could it be Conqueror's Haki?"

At this moment, Xi Yan recalled Rayleigh's explanation of Conqueror's Haki.

At this moment, he could indeed feel that aura impacting his consciousness, but it was unable to shake his will.

'interesting.'

Unlike Xi Yan, Marguerite and her group suffered immediately after sensing Hancock's Conqueror's Haki.

A large number of soldiers who came here were knocked unconscious by this Haki aura.

Marguerite herself broke out in a cold sweat.

"Conqueror's Haki..."

If I'm not mistaken, this must be my Older Sister Lord's Conqueror's Haki.

Why is my Older Sister Lord unleashing Conqueror's Haki?

Overwhelmed by this aura, Marguerite was immediately filled with worry.

After thinking for a moment, she called out, "Older Sister Lord, what happened on your end?"

As she spoke, she began to move forward.

"Don't come any closer!!"

"Huh?"

"Marguerite, my... clothes are torn on the back..."

Upon hearing this, Marguerite's expression immediately changed.

She knew all too well what that meant.

'If our secret is exposed, the consequences...'

Thinking of this, an incredibly terrifying killing intent immediately appeared in Marguerite's eyes.

"Mira, you all stay here and don't move!" Marguerite turned to look at the few remaining warriors who were still somewhat conscious and said, "Under no circumstances should we advance, understand?!"

"Is it because of... the curse behind Snake Princess?"

"Right!"

Marguerite nodded and said, "You stay here, I'll go check on the situation."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Marguerite turned and ran away into the distance.

Meanwhile, Hancock, on the other hand, put away her Haki at this moment.

"It's just a wild boar."

Xi Yan, who had walked into the bushes and pulled a wild boar out, said, "There's no need to get so worked up."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xi Yan threw the unconscious wild boar in front of Hancock.

"Bump!"

Hancock breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the boar lose consciousness.

'It's good that it's not human...'

That way, she wouldn't have to kill him.

After taking a deep breath, Hancock fixed her gaze on Xi Yan, intending to kill him at all costs!

I saw resolve in your eyes.

"That's right!" Hancock said coldly, "Even if it means mutual destruction, I will kill you!!"

The fact that she bears the mark of a slave must never be revealed, otherwise... not only will she die, but her sister will also die!

"I'm here, Older Sister Lord."

Marguerite, transformed into King Cobra, slithered over at an incredible speed.

When she saw what was behind Hancock, her face immediately darkened.

'This is a terrible situation...'

Then, she looked at Xi Yan and said, "This must be the man."

When she saw Xi Yan's appearance clearly, she was stunned for a moment.

'What is that pale golden skull on the other person?'

Is it a special Devil Fruit ability?

Forget it, whatever it is, this guy is going to die today!

"That's right..."

At this point, Hancock couldn't care less about Marguerite not listening to her; she had to kill this guy now!

"Man, you deserve to die!"

"No, I just saw the mark on her back, is it really necessary to get so worked up?"

"Or does this thing have some special meaning?"

Hearing Xi Yan's words, Hancock and Marguerite both frowned.

'This man from the outside world... doesn't he know anything about this?'

That's good, that way we won't have to worry about them yelling and telling Mira and the others about the mark.

Thinking of this, the two women exchanged a glance, and then quickly rushed towards Xi Yan.

However, before they could even get close to Xi Yan, they heard Xi Yan say, "If you really care about that thing, I can help you remove the mark."

"Of course, an exchange is necessary..."

"Squeak..."

"Bump!"

Before Xi Yan could finish speaking, he noticed that Marguerite had stopped charging forward and then collapsed to the ground.

And due to inertia, the person slid forward a short distance.

This scene stunned Xi Yan for a moment.

Hancock stopped and looked at Xi Yan with a frown.

After a moment, she asked, "Are you sure you can remove the mark for me?"

Even though the other party might be lying to her, Hancock didn't want to give up even the slightest hope.

After all... this is a huge mountain weighing on them!

"Older Sister Lord, don't trust this guy!" Marguerite suddenly scrambled to her feet, trembling as she gripped her weapon, and said, "He's definitely lying to us!"

Hancock didn't speak, but stared intently at Xi Yan, as if waiting for an answer.

"I have no interest in lying to you."

After saying that, Xi Yan paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, I could use this to threaten you and make you agree to my demands, couldn't I?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions on their faces immediately changed.

'With his immortality, he could easily escape from here, return to the village, and tell everyone about me...' Hancock murmured to herself.

If the other party really did that, she really wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

After all... she couldn't kill him.

Perhaps sensing Hancock's thoughts, Xi Yan continued, "I won't do that, don't worry."

"If you agree to my request, I will remove the mark from your back."

"How about we make a deal?"

As he spoke, Xi Yan released Susanoo and walked towards the two of them step by step.

'Judging from Hancock's reaction, the chances of this deal going through are quite high,' Xi Yan thought to himself.

If the other party agrees, there is no need to continue fighting.

"Older Sister Lord, we..."

"Can you really do that?" Hancock interrupted Marguerite, saying, "If you're lying to me, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth and kill you!"

If this could be removed, she and her sisters would be free.

"Don't worry, I won't lie to you." Xi Yan stopped a short distance away from the two, crossed his arms, and looked at Hancock, saying, "I'm a Medical Ninja, removing this thing isn't difficult for me."

Hancock paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, state your request."

"Elder sister?!"

"Marguerite, we have no choice..." Hancock said, "He...can't be killed..."

Upon hearing this, Marguerite was immediately rendered speechless.

Unkillable?

In other words, even my Older Sister Lord can't kill this man?

If that's really the case, then they truly have no other choice.

You either choose to make a deal with the other party, or... you're threatened into making a deal.

They... had no choice.

"Don't act like I'd take advantage of you in a vulnerable situation," Xi Yan said irritably. "I'm not asking you to do anything strange."

Unfortunately, Marguerite did not believe Xi Yan's words.

After all... her sister is the most beautiful woman in the world!

"State your request," Hancock repeated.

"My demands are simple," Xi Yan said. "First, remove Grandma Za's petrification, and don't hold her accountable for taking us in!"

"Huh?"

Marguerite was taken aback. Was that really the request?

Hancock paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

"Anything else?"

"Second, give me Permanent Log Pointer at Navy Headquarters," Xi Yan said.

Hancock was stunned by these words.

It's... such a simple request?

Could it be that this man... really has absolutely no interest in her?

She thought the other party would make some unreasonable demands, but... that's all?

Seeing that Hancock remained silent, Xi Yan frowned and said, "As one of the Shichibukai, don't you have Log Pointer for going to Navy Headquarters?"

Could it be that my Grandma Za misjudged the situation?

That would be awkward; without this, he and Luffy wouldn't be able to go to Navy Headquarters to rescue them.

After a moment of silence, Hancock finally nodded and said, "Yes."

As members of the Shichibukai, they have Permanent Log Pointer from the Navy Headquarters.

Otherwise, there would be no way to answer the call to participate in the war.

"That's good..." Xi Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

That's good. If we have it, we can go to Navy Headquarters to rescue them.

Thinking of this, Xi Yan walked to Hancock's side, took off his coat and tossed it to her, saying, "Let's go, let's treat you and complete our deal."

Then, Xi Yan, with his hands behind his head, leisurely walked forward, exposing his back to the two of them without any precautions.

Hancock paused for a moment upon seeing this, then glanced at the coat in her hand.

"Elder sister?"

"It's alright, let's go."

Hancock shook her head, put on Xi Yan's coat, and chased after them with Marguerite.

If the other party can really help them remove the marks... then they would be their benefactor.

Thinking about this, Hancock felt rather conflicted.

Hopefully, the mark can be removed successfully...