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"This... the sword has changed?" Hancock stared at the blade in her hand with confusion.
The next moment, the Noble Phantasm Aestus Estus emitted a burst of intense light, completely encompassing Ikki and everyone present.
When the strong light dissipated and they opened their eyes again, they found they were no longer in the Sword Enlightenment Room, but in a strange and luxurious palace.
"This isn't the wasteland? Ikki, where is this?" Nico Robin blinked and looked at him curiously.
"This is ancient Rome, a country that once had a splendid civilization," Ikki explained. "The sword I gave to Hancock isn't a Zanpakutō, but a treasure that records the memory of a great emperor. So we won't come to the wasteland, but to this area. If Hancock can resonate with the emperor through these memories, then she can truly master the power of Aestus Estus."
"I see. It seems you attach great importance to this empress and even gave her a special weapon," Robin said with a smile, though her expression was full of curiosity about ancient Rome.
"To a certain extent, that Aestus Estus isn't as powerful or growth-oriented as your Senbonzakura," Ikki replied, placing his hand on Robin's shoulder. "For me, you crew members who are by my side now and will be with me in the future are no less important than Hancock."
"Ikki is really cunning, saying things like that... but I will indeed stay with you from now on," Robin murmured, her voice gradually becoming so quiet that no one else could hear.
"Ikki, it seems Hancock can't see us or hear us. Is she okay?" Vivi tugged on Ikki's sleeve and asked with some confusion.
"She's the one who will inherit the power of this sword, so she'll enter a deeper illusion than us," Ikki explained helplessly. "Of course she can't hear our words or see us."
Like the previous Katen Kyōkotsu, the illusion created by Aestus Estus as a Noble Phantasm seemed to only focus on taking care of the person who would inherit its power.
Fortunately, Ikki, as the system Host, would also be able to use Aestus Estus in the future – provided Hancock could truly inherit this sword.
"As spectators, let's just wait here," he said, shaking his head and pointing to the palace door. "Look, the girl who will become the emperor in the future has appeared."
There, a woman wearing a long dress with a face as beautiful as a red rose walked in. Hancock also noticed the visitor and immediately looked over. Even she seemed a little surprised when she saw Nero's beautiful face.
"That's right. The power I will gain must be at least the power possessed by a beauty of this level," Hancock said, nodding slightly and walking toward Nero with Aestus Estus in hand.
Unfortunately, Nero seemed completely unable to see Hancock and was just going about her business. Noticing this, Hancock gave up trying to communicate and watched Nero's behavior quietly.
Soon, the scene changed and time passed. Hancock, Ikki, and the others witnessed step by step Nero's succession to the throne, her festivals, her suppression of rebellions, and finally her suicide due to an uprising.
Three days after seeing Nero take her own life, when the Roman soldiers who found her covered her with cloth and spoke words of comfort, both Ikki and Robin, as well as the proud Hancock, felt deeply moved.
"Is this your life?" Hancock murmured. "Possessing extraordinary talents, but ultimately defeated by your own people... As the emperor of a country, I recognize you. However, I will never take the same path as you. My people will never betray me! There's no chance of them betraying me."
As she spoke, Hancock thought of the Celestial Dragon slave seal that had originally existed on her back. To be honest, that slave seal might have triggered a rebellion among the Kuja people. But now that the seal had disappeared, Hancock didn't think there was anything else that could make her people betray her.
Thinking of this, Hancock's gratitude to Ikki became even more profound.
"You are so confident. In that case, I will lend you my power," a crisp voice suddenly sounded in front of Hancock.
She looked intently and saw Nero standing before her.
"Can you communicate with me?" Hancock asked with slight confusion.
"Just for now," Nero replied. "Speaking of which, you are really beautiful, although you're still a little far from me as the incarnation of the God of Beauty..."
Hearing this, Hancock immediately frowned. But before she could say anything, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from Nero.
In Hancock's surprised eyes, the Noble Phantasm Aestus Estus appeared in Nero's hand. Around her, roses appeared out of thin air and began rotating around the emperor.
"Behold my talent, hear the thunderous applause!" Nero declared in a high, clear voice. "With the glory of a ruler in your heart, bloom like a flower! Let the show begin! Aestus Domus Aurea!"
Nero thrust Aestus Estus into the ground, and her voice echoed around them. Immediately, the surrounding environment began to change drastically. A series of majestic and gorgeous palace structures were built out of thin air – Nero's Golden Theater.
As soon as the Golden Theater took shape, Hancock felt a strong pressure on her shoulders. At this moment, her control over Haki, her Devil Fruit, and other abilities seemed to have dropped significantly.
"This is the Golden Theater of my Noble Phantasm Aestus Domus Aurea," Nero explained with a gentle smile. "When this theater opens, my ability index improves, and the enemy's physical capabilities drop significantly. Accept it, beautiful empress. I hope that with my power, you can govern your country well."
Nero handed Aestus Estus into Hancock's hands. The moment the Noble Phantasm fell into her grasp, Hancock felt the pressure on herself suddenly disappear. Not only that, but from Aestus Estus, she felt an extremely strong connection and huge energy.
"You..." Hancock withdrew her gaze from Aestus Estus and was about to say something to Nero.
But she found that Nero had already disappeared, and she herself had returned to the Sword Enlightenment Room. Also returning were Robin and the others.
"Huh? Where's Ikki?" Hancock looked around suspiciously but didn't find him, so she looked at Robin and the others with great confusion.
"Sorry, we don't know either," Robin shrugged and shook her head.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"Hey, young performer, you seem surprised by my appearance," Nero said, appearing before Ikki surrounded by golden light.