House's Death, Ochoku's Desperate Gamble

"Damn it! Let me go!"

House roared in pain and struggled with all his might, but his legs might as well have been gripped by the hands of a full-grown member of the Ancient Giant Tribe. He could not move them at all.

The difference in their raw strength was simply too great. Hancock had always been physically powerful, and the gains from Lineage Factor Optimization had amplified that strength to a terrifying degree.

Under the force of Busoshoku Haki's Internal Destruction, the bones in House's legs cracked in rapid succession. Blood sprayed from his pores, staining his lower legs red.

"Flying Swallow Phoenix Kick!"

Hancock's long legs swept through the air in graceful, deadly arcs. She kicked in a blur, sending white shock waves rippling outward. Her Busoshoku Haki-coated heels rained down on House, who could no longer fight back.

The Love-Love Fruit's petrifying power took hold of his unprotected body without delay. Starting where her kicks landed, it spread rapidly until he had become a lifelike stone statue.

Is this how it ends? Damn it... Captain, you have to get away!

Before his consciousness vanished completely, unwillingness and worry flashed through House's eyes. Even then, he was thinking of Ochoku's safety.

Hancock released him and hovered in the air with Geppo, watching expressionlessly as the statue fell toward the ground.

Just before it struck, fine threads of blood seeped out from within the stone and streamed into the sky like red rivulets.

One especially crimson drop fell from above like a descending ruby and landed precisely in Hancock's slightly parted mouth.

A surge of Life Energy burst through her body, flowing into every limb like a warm current. The ugly wounds left by her earlier battle smoothed over, and her broken bones and torn tendons sprang back to