Mary and Sonya attacked Luffy as if playing, not thinking he was very powerful.
Luffy's expression was stern, Haki wrapped around his fist, and he punched out with immense force, precisely striking Mary's vital point.
Mary was shocked; it never expected Luffy to be able to use Haki. Its enormous body now became a hindrance, and it couldn't dodge in time, taking the full impact.
Mary immediately let out a painful shriek, its deafening sound instantly echoing throughout the entire Colosseum.
"Second Gear!" Luffy roared, and as soon as his voice fell, his figure appeared like lightning before Sonya.
Before Sonya could react, Luffy delivered a flying kick, striking Sonya hard.
Sonya was like a kite with a broken string, kicked directly off the arena, then tumbling down the stairs until she landed heavily on the lowest level.
Hancock's expression was a bit grim.
"What... what exactly are you playing at?"
"Sister-sama..." Sonya was somewhat frightened, as if very afraid of Hancock's anger.
Hancock frowned deeply, "You haven't forgotten what... this man did, have you?"
Mary hurriedly got up.
"Right... I'm so sorry, Sister-sama... We'll take care of him right away."
The two quickly returned to the arena, releasing their Devil Fruit forms.
Sonya's hair instantly transformed into eight large snakes.
Flames erupted all over Mary's body, and the two looked at Luffy with solemn expressions.
Luffy yawned, completely unconcerned... The development of their Devil Fruit abilities was truly terrible. He simply grabbed the tails of the two and tied them into a bow, then kicked each of them down.
A satisfied Luffy laughed happily up at the sky. Finally, there were snakes he could tie into knots. He had wanted to do this for a long time... after all, Orochimaru stopped letting him play once he grew up.
Indeed, just as Ace said, the older they get, the less cute they become.
Caught off guard, Mary and Sonya couldn't control their massive bodies and collided. The flames on Mary's body burned Sonya, who shrieked in pain... "So hot... so hot..."
Mary, afraid of hurting Sonya, quickly pushed her away. Mary fell backward but couldn't break free because her tail was entangled.
Seeing the sword ditch behind Sonya, Mary urgently shouted at her.
"Sister Sonya... that's a sword ditch!! Quickly grab onto the audience seats!"
The flames on Sonya's body burned off her clothes, and the pattern on her back was about to be revealed.
Luffy saw this scene... and suddenly pounced, extinguishing the flames with his body and covering the pattern on Sonya's back.
Luffy's breathing was a bit ragged from the pain.
"Don't move... Even if you want to kill me... I don't want to kill you at all."
Sonya, not understanding, was somewhat resentful, "You bastard, don't be so self-important!" She called out to the arena above.
"Mary! Now's your chance! Quickly finish off this man! What are you doing, Mary?!"
Mary silently watched Luffy, her pupils trembling slightly.
"No... Sister Sonya... because we are currently being protected by this man..."
"Look, Lady Sonya's clothes are burned off, and her back is about to be exposed," a female warrior in the audience suddenly noticed something.
"If that man leaves, the Gorgon's eyes will be revealed."
"Oh no... everyone will turn to stone like this."
Sonya suddenly reacted, "You covered my back..."
Luffy looked at Sonya, "Didn't you say that even if you died, you wouldn't want anyone to see your back...? So... don't move."
Hancock clenched her fists, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stood up.
"The martial arts tournament is over! Before the Gorgon's eyes are revealed! Everyone leave this area!"
Watching the crowd leave, Hancock recalled being captured and enslaved over 20 years ago... She slumped onto the python's seat, covering her eyes, silently weeping.
Finally, Hancock decided to spare Luffy, but Luffy could only choose one of two options: save the three of them or leave on his ship.
Luffy knelt down without hesitation, offering thanks, giving up his hope of leaving, and choosing to save the three petrified Marguerites.
Hancock was deeply moved... and spared the three who had saved Luffy.
Back in the city, Hancock took off her top, allowing Luffy to see the mark again.
"You said you've seen this mark, right?" Hancock tied up her hair, revealing the "Celestial Dragon's Hoof Mark" tattooed on her bare back.
Luffy thought hard for a moment.
"Indeed, it's a bit different from what I know. I have a Fishman friend named Hachi, and he has a similar mark on his forehead. I must have been mistaken; I don't recognize this symbol of yours."
Elder Nyon suddenly appeared, "If he doesn't recognize it? Just tell him.
Be honest, Hime. That man has a broad mind; you must have seen it with your own eyes.
It's okay, feel free to tell him everything."
Elder Nyon nodded at Hancock, then walked towards Luffy.
"You're a pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, am I wrong...?"
Luffy blinked, "Yeah... how do you know me...?"
Elder Nyon unfolded a newspaper.
"You've turned the world upside down, and you still act like you don't care... Look at this newspaper. A few days ago, this man beat a Celestial Dragon in the Sabaody Archipelago, committing a heinous crime."
The three sisters' pupils widened in shock, "Beat... a Celestial Dragon...?"
Luffy puffed out his cheeks, "Speaking of that Celestial Dragon, I don't regret it one bit... He actually ambushed my friend, that bastard, and even injured my brother... I haven't even made Orochimaru bleed..."
Hancock looked at Luffy, her eyes welling up with tears... "Then... is it true that you hit a Celestial Dragon?"
Luffy nodded without hesitation, "Mm."
"That mark is the Celestial Dragon's mark... it's branded onto people who are raised by the World Nobles... a lifelong, indelible proof of 'inferior humans.' We three sisters were once slaves to the World Nobles." Hancock's expression was pained as she clenched her arms, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Luffy listened to the story of Hancock and her sisters, and the connection between the Fishman Pirate Crew and this mark. Seeing the three of them lost in painful past memories, and Sonya screaming in agony, he was suddenly at a loss.
"Enough... don't say anymore... don't force yourselves... it's okay not to say it."
Hancock couldn't help but burst into tears.
"If you hadn't covered Sonya's back, we wouldn't be able to stay on this island.
We don't want anyone to know about our past. Even if we have to deceive the entire country, we won't show a single flaw... and we don't want to be dominated by anyone again... We're truly afraid to open our hearts to others... so afraid we can't control ourselves."
Elder Nyon was very happy to see Hancock opening her heart, playfully bickering with her, and Hancock tsundere-ly turned away (￣^￣).
Then her voice became a bit nervous, her body trembling continuously, "Will you look down on us for once being slaves?"
Luffy sighed.
"Huh? What are you saying...? I already told you... I hate Celestial Dragons!"
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