Amazon Lily, Execution Platform Arena.
The once deafening cheers had turned into stunned silence.
“Rubber Rubber — Jet Rocket!”
Accompanied by a lively roar, Luffy’s body steamed with Gear 2.
A red afterimage tore through the air.
With a loud bang, two massive python figures were sent flying and smashed heavily into the spectator stands’ railings.
It was Sandersonia and Marigold, who had activated their Snake-Snake Fruit powers.
On the high platform.
Boa Hancock shot up from her throne, disbelief flashing in her beautiful eyes.
“How is that possible… That man actually defeated the power of the Gorgon’s Gaze?”
She instinctively looked toward Zane coiled beside her, seeking comfort.
However, she found that Zane wasn’t angry.
Instead, his golden vertical pupils were watching Luffy below with great interest.
“Hiss— (Not bad, Straw Hat kid.)”
Zane nodded approvingly in his mind.
As a transmigrator, he knew Luffy’s potential well.
That combat instinct, that unstoppable drive for his friends — he truly had the qualifications to become the “Pirate King.”
“Instead of pushing him to the opposite side, it’s better to recruit him as a subordinate… or an ally.”
Zane was already scheming.
Luffy was this world’s “Child of Destiny.” Following him would not only let him mooch off countless major events (free feasts), but also secure the strongest possible backer for Amazon Lily in the future.
At that moment, the battlefield changed abruptly.
Because the fight was too intense and Luffy’s attacks carried high heat, the clothes on Sandersonia’s back were burned away, revealing large patches of skin.
It looked like the “Hoof of the Celestial Dragon” brand mark they had always hidden with their long hair — their greatest curse — was about to be exposed to all the citizens.
“Stop!
Don’t look!!” Sandersonia let out a desperate scream, tears streaming down her face.
If the mark was exposed, their fabricated lie would collapse.
The humiliation of once being slaves would have nowhere to hide.
Luffy reacted extremely quickly.
He instinctively realized it was a secret they were willing to die to protect.
“Don’t move!
I’ll block it for you!”
Luffy shouted and was about to charge forward to shield them with his body.
But a black lightning bolt was faster!
“Hiss— (Hero saving the beauty is the Vice Captain’s job.
You brat, stay aside.)”
[Skill Activated: Mimicry · Partial Enhancement — Dark-Gold Canopy!]
BOOM!!!
A massive black shadow shot from the throne like a black dragon descending from the sky.
It crossed dozens of meters and landed directly in the center of the execution platform.
Zane didn’t fully transform, but he extended and widened his body, turning into a massive black steel wall that stood firmly behind Sandersonia, completely blocking everyone’s view!
At the same time, his tail swept lightly, stopping Luffy who was about to rush over.
“ROAR!!!”
[Conqueror’s Haki Pressure (Pseudo) + Lord’s Intimidation!]
Zane raised his head high and let out a deafening roar toward the citizens trying to peek.
The terrifying killing intent swept across the arena, scaring everyone into kneeling and trembling.
“Anyone who dares look — I’ll gouge out their eyes!”
Although the citizens couldn’t understand snake language, the soul-deep terror made them instinctively lower their heads.
Sandersonia stared blankly at the black serpent body shielding her back.
The cool scales gave off a reassuring presence, blocking all the wind, rain, and shame for her.
“Lord… Lord Night…” Sandersonia was moved to tears.
Luffy, who had been blocked outside, was stunned for a moment before showing a look of realization.
“Wow!
Big black snake!
You’re so fast!”
Luffy looked at the solid black defensive wall and didn’t get upset about being robbed of the spotlight.
Instead, he grinned and gave Zane a thumbs up.
“You noticed they didn’t want people seeing their backs too?
Awesome!
Thanks for helping them!”
Zane turned his head.
His golden vertical pupils looked at the brightly smiling boy.
This kid really had a broad heart.
“Hiss— (You’re not bad either, Straw Hat Captain.
You really meant it when you tried to rush over to help them, right?)”
Zane nodded at Luffy.
His gaze lost some of its coldness and gained recognition.
Although he couldn’t understand snake language, Luffy’s beast-like intuition instantly let him understand Zane’s meaning.
“Hehe!
Because that’s their secret!
Even if we’re enemies, we shouldn’t casually look at other people’s secrets!” Luffy said as if it were obvious.
On the high platform, Hancock watched this scene, her heart shaken beyond words.
She saw Night’s protection and Luffy’s kindness.
“Night… he acknowledges this man?”
Hancock murmured.
If it was someone Night acknowledged, then perhaps… she should re-evaluate this man.
…
Half an hour later, in the Audience Hall of the Nine Snakes Royal Palace.
The atmosphere was still solemn, but the killing intent from before had vanished.
Hancock sat high behind the curtains.
Zane had returned to her side and, like a true king, rested his head on her soft, thick thighs, enjoying the Empress’s gentle stroking.
Luffy stood in the center of the hall.
Though covered in injuries, his eyes remained clear.
“Why did you break into this place?” Hancock’s voice was still arrogant, but it no longer carried that unquestionable killing intent.
“I’m going to save Ace!
I need to borrow a ship!” Luffy declared loudly.
“Save Ace?” Hancock frowned.
“Just you?
Do you know what Impel Down is?”
“No matter where it is, I’m going!” Luffy clenched his fist.
“Even if a Celestial Dragon stands in my way, I’ll punch him flying!”
At the words “Celestial Dragon,” Hancock and her two sisters trembled violently.
That was their lifelong nightmare.
“You… do you even know what you’re saying?” Hancock’s voice trembled.
“You dare raise your hand against a Celestial Dragon?”
“Yeah, I already punched one,” Luffy said matter-of-factly, as if it were a trivial matter.
“Because he was bullying my friend Hatchan.
Whether he’s a god or whatever, bullying my friends is not allowed!”
The entire hall fell silent.
Hancock stared at Luffy in shock.
In this world, there was actually a fool brave enough to swing his fist at a “god”?
This courage… this madness of risking everything for friends…
It was a little like Night?
She subconsciously looked down at Zane.
Zane had raised his head.
His golden vertical pupils were full of appreciation.
“Hiss— (Well done.)”
Zane straightened his upper body and looked at Luffy.
For the first time in public, he gave a clear signal of approval.
Sandersonia translated from the side, her voice trembling with respect:
“Lord Night says… well done.
Trash like that should be punched.”
“Lord Night also says… if he had been there, he would have swallowed that Celestial Dragon whole.”
Luffy’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Really?!
Big black snake, you hate Celestial Dragons too?
Awesome!
We’re comrades!”
“Hiss— (Sort of, I guess.)” The corner of Zane’s mouth (snake mouth) curved slightly upward.
Hancock watched the interaction between the man and serpent.
The ice in her heart finally melted completely.
Since even Night approved of him, and since he was a brave man who dared to rebel against the Celestial Dragons…
Then this man was qualified to become a friend of the Kuja.
At that moment, a short figure jumped out from behind a pillar — it was Elder Nyon.
She looked at Hancock’s flushed face and rapid breathing, then at Luffy, and her expression said “as expected.”
“Previous Empress… previous previous Empress… they all died from this disease.”
Elder Nyon took a deep breath and pointed at Hancock, her voice trembling: “Snake Princess!
You… you’ve fallen in love with this man?!”
The moment those words left her mouth, the entire hall erupted.
Luffy looked completely confused.
“Huh?
In love with me?
I’m going to become the Pirate King, I’m not getting married!”
“Shut up, old hag!”
Hancock shot to her feet.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple, but she didn’t look at Luffy.
Instead, she turned and hugged Zane tightly, as if afraid of any misunderstanding.
“Who… who would fall in love with such a reckless monkey?!”
Hancock loudly denied it, but then her eyes became incredibly gentle and determined.
She pressed her face against Zane’s cool scales and proudly declared:
“In this world, the only one who can move my heart is Night — the powerful and perfect one who has always protected me!”