"I can't take it anymore! This has to stop!" Sonia finally cried out, unable to bear it any longer. "If this keeps going, Sister really is going to die!"
CLAP!
Lady Hediya snapped her fan shut and shot Sonia a sharp, displeased glance. "Saint Epthelm, control your slave!"
If it had been her slave speaking out like that, she would have shot them dead without a second thought.
But since Sonia belonged to another Celestial Dragon, no matter how small the risk, she wouldn't dare execute her — not when it meant offending a fellow noble.
Grimm glanced sideways at Sonia. He was just an ordinary‑looking man with stubble, yet for some reason, his gaze carried an indescribable pressure. Instinctively, Sonia fell silent and spoke no more.
Of course Grimm knew Hancock had reached her absolute limit. That was exactly what he wanted. And naturally, he had ways to ensure she survived.
"I bet 1 billion Berries on the next match!"
From two tables away, another Celestial Dragon raised his voice, a cunning glint in his eyes.
He too had noticed: the little maid in the arena was finished. She wouldn't last another round.
Originally, he'd planned to call out 2 billion, but thought better of it — it would be too provocative. So he settled for "1 billion."
Celestial Dragons might act fearlessly outside, but here among their own kind, everyone still measured the consequences of their actions.
Hancock's black hair — once held back by two golden bands near her shoulders — was now loose and tangled, falling messily over her face.
Dressed in white, she looked eerily like the vengeful spirit from a ghost story.
Just then, her new opponent stepped forward: a tall man with green hair cut straight down the middle, a collar around his neck, and murder in his eyes.
The moment before entering the arena, he glared fiercely down at the nobles. "I hate you… all of you Celestial Dragons!"
"Just an ordinary human… they really do look down on us, don't they?"
Grimm studied the man. Around twenty‑five, slightly taller than average, but nothing special otherwise. A regular human — not even a Devil Fruit user!
Clearly, the noble betting against him had seen Hancock's exhaustion and sent out whoever was handy, confident of an easy win.
The fight began. The green‑haired man showed no mercy, even against a frail girl. He lashed out with a heavy kick. Hancock couldn't dodge in time and crossed her arms to block.
Even so, her small body was sent flying. Her back crashed hard against a stone pillar, and she collapsed to her knees. Two seconds later, she coughed up blood.
"One billion Berries is mine!" the noble who'd sent the man in cheered.
"Please… please let me fight instead! If this goes on, Sister will die!" Sonia could stand it no longer. Tears streamed down her face as she ran to Grimm and fell to her knees, begging.
"You cannot change your wager in the middle of a game," Saint Garbatia remarked from the next table.
Grimm acted as if he hadn't heard anyone. He spoke calmly, almost to himself. "This is how it has to be… only now will I get to see it — your Haki."
"I have no quarrel with you, but I want to live… so die for me!"
The green‑haired man gave Hancock no quarter. Even though she was at death's door, he charged in to finish her off.
Blood trickling from both corners of her mouth, Hancock lifted her head weakly. Am I… am I going to die here?
Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of Marie and Sonia below — her sisters, weeping. Her gaze sharpened.
An unknown power surged within her, and a voice screamed in her heart: "Holy Light… help me! I want to live…!"
As if from nowhere, an invisible gale swept through the entire hall. The green‑haired man, ready to strike, froze — eyes rolling back, mouth hanging open.
It wasn't just him. Every Celestial Dragon in the stands stopped moving. Eyes rolled back, jaws dropped. Seconds later, one by one, they slumped face‑down onto their tables.
Sonia and Marie wiped away their tears, staring blankly at Hancock. She stood on the arena floor, hands planted on the ground, head thrown back as if crying out.
A few seconds later, her strength gave out completely, and she collapsed heavily.
"Sister! Sister!"
Sonia and Marie screamed. Ignoring everything else, they ran into the arena and lifted her up.
Feeling for her breath, Sonia panicked. "It's faint… she's barely breathing! If we don't treat her now, she'll die!"
Grimm swung his legs down from the table. He looked at Hancock, unconscious, her face half‑hidden by black hair.
"A power only one in a million is born with… Conqueror's Haki… as expected — it has awakened."
---
She sensed a faint light and slowly opened her eyes. Hancock found herself floating in a vast, golden space — empty, endless.
Suddenly, from behind, countless monsters surged forth. Each radiated bloodlust. An army of them — hundreds at least — rushed toward her.
Humans, long‑limbed tribes, giants, even beasts… every kind of creature imaginable.
Eyes glowing red, weeping tears of blood, they clawed and snarled like ghouls from old tales.
"Ah… AAAHHH!"
Hancock shrieked in terror and ran. She didn't know how far she fled before she suddenly bumped into someone.
She looked up — and standing before her was a man in a white coat, a cross hanging from his chest, his form glowing with a soft golden light.
"Y‑you… who are you?"
Hancock trembled. She suddenly remembered the man she'd seen in the newspapers not long ago — the one who had stormed Mary Geoise and killed Celestial Dragons.
Though he looked a little different from the wanted poster with its golden wings, his black hair and dark eyes were unmistakable.
Wait… Everything suddenly clicked. This… this is what the Holy Light really is!
"Hancock… pull yourself together. Don't be afraid." Grimm gently patted her head.
"Y‑you… you know my name?" Hancock didn't know what to say. Her mind was bursting with questions.
"Of course I do. Turn around. Look at what's behind you."
"Ah… they're monsters…" she whispered.
"Then become the flame and purify them!"
With a wave of his hand, a great wave of golden fire rolled forward, engulfing all the creatures.
In the flames, they transformed — no longer monsters, but humans again — writhing, screaming, begging for help…
"Hancock, do you see? They look human, but their souls are filthy. The Celestial Dragons, the World Government… and this whole world… all of it needs purification."
"Lord Grimm… my Lord…" Hancock gazed at the scene before her.
"I understand… Then let me become the flame that purifies the world. I will be the Inquisitor of the Holy Fire…"
"Before that… you still have a long journey ahead of you."
__________________
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