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Although it was an unlikely expectation, some still hoped that the reappearance of Charlotte Linlin would shift the tides of the battle rather than surrendering outright.
However, under the watchful gaze of all present, no towering figure like Linlin's emerged from the scene.
Instead, moments later, following a thunderous and furious proclamation, Boa Hancock—the woman once heralded as the most beautiful ace of Wanokuni- descended gracefully from the airship, her high heels clicking against its deck.
Her appearance was nothing short of flawless. Her beauty, combined with an aura of authority, captivated all who beheld her, be they men, women, or children.
Hearts skipped beats across the battlefield, not only due to her breathtaking presence but also because of her terrifying strength, demonstrated previously in her clash against Kaido.
At this very moment, as though heralding the rise of a new queen, countless drifting souls seemed to gravitate toward Hancock as if drawn to her magnificence.
"Could it be...?" someone murmured.
"She infiltrated the fleet where her mother was held captive," another speculated. "And it's been some time since then..."
The thought stirred waves of unease among those witnessing the spectacle, especially as memories of Alex's deeds mingled with this unfolding event.
"You dare to defy Shogun Alex's command! You're nothing more than a pack of monkeys!" Hancock's voice rang out, filled with indignation as her rage grew, radiating waves of uncontrollable Conqueror's Haki that whipped the air into a swirling gale.
The Kuja warriors, her devoted followers, cried out in admiration, their faces alight with awe as they beheld Hancock's commanding form.
With her opponents thoroughly locked in place by her mastery of Conqueror's Haki, Hancock delicately tapped her pink lips with her right index finger. From that single gesture, she conjured a heart-shaped projectile radiating a powerful aura, reminiscent of her former Devil Fruit ability.
Alex's eyebrows rose in mild surprise.
Even though he knew Hancock's battle style would inevitably differ from Charlotte Linlin's after inheriting the Soul-Soul Fruit, he hadn't anticipated that she would adapt techniques strikingly similar to her original powers.
With fluid movements, Hancock mimed drawing a bowstring, her right hand grasping at the heart conjured in her left. In an instant, she unleashed a flurry of arrows infused with her Soul-Soul Fruit's power.
The arrows, guided by her Observation Haki, homed in on their intended targets with eerie precision.
For those with sufficient Haki to sense the danger, the incoming projectiles were suffocatingly menacing, though not particularly swift. King, relying on his Armament Haki, barely managed to parry them with his weapon.
But the less fortunate—those unable to muster Haki or evade the tracking arrows—were struck head-on.
The moment the arrows made contact, their victims' eyes rolled back, and they collapsed, their bodies convulsing briefly before falling into an eerie stillness. Wisps of shimmering essence—their very souls—emerged from their forms and flowed toward Hancock like moths to a flame.
Compared to Linlin's "Soul Pocus," this ability bore a distinct refinement.
Perospero gasped in horror. "That's Mama's Soul Pocus!"
Katakuri and the other Charlotte siblings, unable to deny the resemblance, stared in shock.
"Does this mean… Mama's dead?"
"Her Soul-Soul Fruit… it's been stolen by Hancock!"
The realization sent waves of disbelief through the crowd, rippling all the way to the onlookers in the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Headquarters! Headquarters! We have a major update! We confirm that Wanokuni possesses the ability to steal Devil Fruits! Charlotte Linlin has been confirmed dead in battle, and her Devil Fruit power has been claimed by Boa Hancock!"
Under the collective gaze of an astounded world, Hancock gathered the souls she had harvested into her hand. Compressing the energy into a glowing mass, she pointed her index finger forward, shaping her hand into a pistol gesture.
The aura of Conqueror's Haki enveloped the concentrated soul energy. Flames ignited from the projectile as it built in intensity, aimed directly at King.
With a single shot, the burning energy tore through the air with a deafening sound.
With a speed surpassing even her arrows, the soul-infused bullet, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, pierced through King's defenses in an instant, shattering his parry and obliterating his resistance.
The attack combined the destructive force of emitted Armament Haki, the burning penetration of the Soul-Soul Fruit, and the unyielding might of Hancock's own spirit.
King's Lunarian armor—reinforced with Armament Haki—crumbled under the impact. The blackened defense splintered apart, unable to withstand the assault.
The bullet drove directly into King's body, but no spray of blood followed the attack.
What emerged instead was far more terrifying—a thick, white mist of souls, pouring from King's massive frame like smoke from a wildfire.
The sight was harrowing. King's very soul had ignited, the natural flames of his Lunarian heritage now fueling the inferno within him.
The blaze coalesced into a fiery shape reminiscent of Prometheus. Under Hancock's control, the soul-fire took form and plummeted toward the battlefield below.
With a deafening explosion, an overwhelming wave of scorching heat erupted, spreading suffocatingly across the area.
King, now a soulless husk, was consumed entirely by the flames born from his own essence. His body crumbled, reduced to ash and darkened waves that scattered into the air.
Alongside him, the soul that had created the skyfire dissipated, vanishing into the ether.
Witnessing this display, the surrounding crowd could not suppress their terror. Their gazes turned upward to Hancock, who stood unscathed, radiating dominance like an empress ascending her throne.
There was fear in their eyes, but also reverence.
Hancock's unparalleled strength, coupled with the power she had inherited from Charlotte Linlin, left them awestruck.
As they trembled, Hancock casually brushed her fingers through her flowing black hair, her perfect face illuminated by the remnants of the flames. Even in such an overwhelming moment, her beauty seemed to defy the horrors she had unleashed.
Then, her voice rang out, loud and commanding, filled with both pride and warning:
"Shogun Alex has decreed—convert, or perish! Who here wants to end up like that fool?!"
Her words, delivered with absolute confidence, sent a shiver through the crowd.
The tide of battle shifted dramatically in response to Hancock's overwhelming presence.
Among the ranks of the Beasts Pirates and the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates, even some of the most hardened combatants couldn't resist her charm. Eyes glazed over, their expressions softened, and hearts began to flutter.
"She's so beautiful!"
"I can't resist… she really is the most gorgeous woman in the world!"
"We surrender! We'll follow you!"
The onlookers' cries of submission echoed through the battlefield.
Katakuri, observing the unfolding chaos, frowned deeply. His mastery of Observation Haki allowed him to foresee the inevitable.
This wasn't like the fear of death Linlin once instilled. This was entirely different—a mesmerizing force that tore through hearts and minds, reducing all who opposed her to helpless admirers.
In a moment, Hancock released an aura so powerful it felt like a physical shockwave.
Those whose eyes had turned to hearts—entranced by her beauty—suddenly found their souls drawn outward, escaping their bodies as if ripped away by sheer desire.
One by one, countless individuals collapsed, their eyes rolling back as their lifeless forms fell to the ground.