Hera said, "I know many things. Let me try. The back of the world's most beautiful woman shouldn't have such an ugly mark."
The Empress instinctively wanted to refuse, but her two sisters rushed out. "Is it really possible? Let me try first," they said in unison.
Hera nodded. "It should be fine, but it might hurt a little. I need to take a look first."
Hancock's second sister, Boa Sandersonia, said, "I'll go first. A little pain is fine, as long as the mark can be erased." For those who were once slaves of the Celestial Dragons, this mark was undoubtedly a constant reminder of their past humiliation. They had even tried cutting off the skin on their backs but couldn't get rid of the mark. Hera's words reignited their hope.
Hera observed the special mark. Under her spirit dress, her eyes saw the flow of various energies within the human body more and more clearly. She discovered that the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon was not just a brand, but also a special energy lingering on the body.
It was precisely because of this energy that Hancock and the others were unable to erase it.
The City of Devouring Time crawled onto Sandersonia's back. For Hera, who could sever the connection between a Devil Fruit and the human body, severing this power was even simpler; she could do it without even using the Fourth Bullet.
As the City of Devouring Time gradually consumed it, the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon slowly faded away until it vanished completely.
Hancock couldn't help but cry when she saw this scene. To erase the mark, she had tried all sorts of methods, and now that wish was finally realized. Unable to maintain her facade, she crouched down and hugged Hera, as if to vent all her long-held anxieties.
Hera quickly patted Hancock's head and comforted her gently, "Alright, it's all in the past. It's time to face the future with a brand new posture. What does an Empress look like crying like this?"
Hancock fought back her tears. "I... I am just so happy."
With a thought from Hera, the black shadows crawled onto Hancock's back, gently removing the marks for her and the third sister.
Hancock pulled Hera into her embrace. Hera was somewhat suffocated by being submerged. Even though Hancock was sitting on the ground in a duck-sit position while hugging her, due to the height difference, it was a mix of pain and pleasure. Her hands began to tremble. Shakky quickly pulled Hancock away so Hera could catch her breath.
With a face flushed red, Hera was extremely shy. She quickly bid farewell to Shakky and Hancock before leaving. "I will start the operation in two weeks. I'll send the rescued slaves directly here then. For safety reasons, I won't come over during this period." Then, she fled the scene.
Hancock's face was also flushed red after Hera left. She felt as if all the strength in her body had vanished and asked Shakky, "Why do I feel like I have a fever?"
Seeing this, Shakky sighed. "That's Lovesickness. You must have fallen for Hera."
Hancock, however, was somewhat happy. "As expected of me, regardless of gender, everyone will be infatuated with my beauty." The disappearance of the mark on her back was equivalent to lifting a heavy burden from Hancock's heart, and it also tore a corner of the facade she had always maintained. Her pride was no longer a shell to protect herself, but a pride as a Queen from the bottom of her heart.
Having let go of her psychological burden, Hancock's Conqueror's Haki even grew significantly, and her strength increased to a certain extent.
Shakky also had a bit of a headache. The Empress of the Amazon Lily Kingdom had fallen for a woman; what would happen to the next generation? But thinking that she was now retired and didn't need to worry about such things, she didn't care anymore. "Forget it, I'll leave that kind of thing for Flame Flower to worry about."
Rayleigh remarked with emotion, "Kids these days are truly terrifying. Thinking about killing Celestial Dragons at such a young age. Captain, did you foresee her?"
Looking at the sentimental Rayleigh, Shakky nudged him with her elbow. "Stop thinking about that. What do you think? There are still strong people in the World Government. Your retirement life might be in jeopardy."
Rayleigh laughed loudly. "Don't worry, it's fine. Now that the Captain's child has appeared, these old bones of mine need to move a bit too." Roger's voluntary death back then led the Marines to cancel the bounties on the other crew members. Rayleigh had also lost his purpose because of the Captain's death and lived in seclusion on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Now, the appearance of Ace made Rayleigh see the Roger of back then. His fighting spirit, which hadn't stirred for years, surged forth at this moment. "This sea is going to get chaotic again. An old guy like me naturally has to help Roger's child. At the very least, I must protect him until he grows up."
As his heroic spirit surged, Rayleigh seemed to grow a bit younger. "I am the Right Hand of the Pirate King, Pluton Rayleigh. It is time for my name to ring out in this world once more."
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