76 The First Shichibukai, Boa Hancock
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Before them stood Brontes, his face lit up with a beaming smile.
Gloriosa spoke with a tremble in her voice, revealing her fear: "This man is the former Marine-Admiral, known as Admiral Ragnarok. After he resigned from his position, the World Government honored him with the title of Fleet-Admiral. I've never witnessed him in combat against the formidable pirates in the New World, but if the newspapers are to be believed, he was the strongest man in the Marines. Now, he's a part of the World Government." She then turned to Hancock; her tone laced with anger:
"Your stubbornness could lead to a fight with him, and if that happens, our entire country, Amazon Lily could be destroyed. How you could bring ruin to our country?!"
Gloriosa hadn't anticipated that Brontes would show up in person; she had assumed the World Government would send a Vice-Admiral at most.
But there he was, and his presence took her by surprise. Even though Brontes was no longer serving with the Marines, his reputation was known far and wide across the seas. Only someone like Hancock, who rarely kept up with world events, might fail to recognize him. Gloriosa, who often spent her time keeping up with the news, recognized Brontes immediately.
Realizing the gravity of the situation with Brontes's arrival, Gloriosa understood they were in serious trouble.
She knew that if they resisted, Brontes wouldn't hesitate to use force, and that could mean the end of Amazon Lily. She hurried to intervene, hoping to stop Hancock's reckless behavior and prevent a disaster.
"Fleet-Admiral!!" She exclaimed.
Hancock stood frozen, turning her head in disbelief to gaze at Brontes.
She wasn't the only one shocked; the expressions of the women on the shore shifted from surprise to outright terror at the sight of Brontes's calm demeanor.
None of them had expected such a high-ranking official to personally extend an invitation to their empress to join the Shichibukai.
Hancock, observing Brontes's youthful appearance, found it hard to believe that someone so young could hold such a prestigious position within the Marines.
In a burst of anger, she shouted at Gloriosa: "Old woman, you must be lying to me! The Fleet-Admiral is Sengoku, and I've seen his pictures. This man is definitely not Sengoku."
Gloriosa calmly responded, shaking her head: "I haven't lied to you. He is indeed the former Marine-Admiral Ragnarok. He may not be on the front lines anymore, but he's in charge of coordinating the World Government's military forces, wielding the authority of a Fleet-Admiral. This man has been stationed in the New World for twenty years. How could you possibly think you can stand against him? I don't understand why he still looks so young, but you are certainly not a match for him."
...
"Alright, I'm on a tight schedule; there are other candidates I need to invite. The World Government has already decided on the candidates, so my job is just to extend the invitations. Naturally, if you decline, the outcome is very simple: you'll either end up dead or in prison. If you doubt my power, feel free to test it. I'm fully capable of destroying a country... especially small countries like yours." Brontes said, with a light smile on his face
Hancock clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her at Brontes's casual threat, but she knew better than to act on impulse.
If Gloriosa was right, and this man was the most formidable person in the Marine, then Hancock knew she wouldn't stand a chance, even if she multiplied her strength tenfold.
The name Admiral Ragnarok was not unfamiliar to her; even during the dark days of her enslavement, she had heard of this formidable man who struck fear into the world's most powerful pirates.
"Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, may I inquire, does becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea legitimize our piracy?" Gloriosa interjected with a question.
"Yes, to a degree. You can't attack World Government member nations, but you're free to do as you wish with other nations or less significant islands without fear of Marine pursuit." Brontes replied with a nod.
"And what if we are attacked?" Gloriosa pressed on.
"The Marines won't come to your aid if you're attacked. However, if you were summoned, you must respond. And if you're defeated by other pirates, you'll be replaced. If you lack the strength, it's best to relinquish your position." Brontes explained.
"I understand. In that case, the Kuja Pirates and their Empress, Boa Hancock of Amazon Lily, will accept the title of one of the Seven Shichibukai." Gloriosa conceded with a nod.
"Old woman, you..." Hancock began, but her protest was cut short.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the sea behind the warship erupted, and a massive Sea King emerged from the depths.
"What a huge Sea King!"
The Amazon Lily warriors gasped at the sight of the creature.
"It's going for the warship!"
Panic spread as the Sea King opened its gaping maw, lunging to swallow the warship whole.
Hancock couldn't help but smile at the sight of the Sea King. She secretly hoped the beast would devour Brontes and his ship, freeing her from the unwanted summons to join the Shichibukai.
"Is he truly that powerful? Let's see if this Sea King can test his strength." Hancock pondered; her gaze fixed on Brontes.
To her, the title of Marine was just a label used to intimidate the pirates, and even though Brontes had been an Admiral, she felt no fear.
Such was the confidence of someone imbued with the Conqueror's Haki; fearless unless faced with a truly terrifying opponent, like the one that Moria gone through against Kaido.
One misstep could mean losing everything.
"Just a minor issue." Brontes said casually, lifting a finger skyward.
"ZliZli!"
A blur and a thunderous noise filled the air, disorienting everyone. They caught only a glimpse of something flashing in Brontes's hand before it vanished.
As they tried to clear their heads, a figure seemed to appear out of nowhere above them.
At that critical moment, as the Sea King's gaping jaws threatened to crush the warship, Brontes acted.
"Thunder Judgment!" He called out.
"Rumble!!"
With thunderous roar, a colossal bolt of lightning, as if summoned from nowhere, struck the Sea King directly on its head.
"Roar!"
The Sea King let out a pained roar, and a shockwave rippled outwards from the impact.
"Boom!"
The impact finally erupted. The onlookers shielded themselves from the blast, and when they dared to look again, they saw the lifeless body of the Sea King floating on the water's surface.
"The super-large Sea King has been killed!" the Kuja Pirates exclaimed in disbelief.
They understood the gravity of facing such a monster; it usually spelled certain doom. Yet, Brontes had killed it with a mere flick of his finger.
The realization hit them hard; had that thunderbolt been aimed at them, they would have stood no chance of survival.
Brontes spoke again, his voice icy: "Have you made your decision? If it remains unchanged, then this island will cease to exist. It has no reason to exist anymore."
Hancock gritted her teeth in anger: "What did you say?!"
Brontes's reply was chillingly straightforward: "Exactly what I said. You can refuse, but then I will obliterate Amazon Lily, sending this island of women to the bottom of the sea."
"Try it!" Hancock braced herself, ready to fight.
Brontes chuckled, sensing her defiance: "It seems your Empress has refused."
"ZliZli!"
The air crackled with tension as Brontes prepared to unleash his power once more.
Hancock, realizing the dire reality of the situation, halted: "I accept the position in the Seven Warlords of the Sea." She said, her voice heavy with anger and defeat.
Brontes appeared momentarily surprised, then the lightning around him faded, and he smiled: "A wise choice. You are now one of the Seven Shichibukai. We will make a formal announcement once all positions are filled. Until then, your status is not official. Should you die before that, you will be replaced."
"I understand." Hancock replied, her fists clenched in anger and frustration.
"Remove the petrification from my men." Brontes commanded.
Hancock complied, lifting the petrification from the Marine soldiers, then turned and walked away without another word.
"Snap!"
"ZliZli!"
With a snap of his fingers, and a thin bolt of lightning encircled the soldiers. They were enveloped in electricity, their bodies convulsing uncontrollably before they collapsed on the deck, still trembling.
"This is a lesson for you. Those without a strong will perish quickly at sea. My subordinates are not weaklings who succumb to simple tricks. Understand?" Brontes's cold words were a stark reminder to the soldiers.
"Yes, sir!" They responded, their voices a mix of fear and respect.
This reminded these marines that they no longer served under the World Nobles. Their leader was now the strongest man in the Marine, a man who had dedicated his life to battling pirates and safeguarding the innocent.
Compared to him, even the world's most vile creatures, the World Nobles, were completely insignificant.
