DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Hancock clenched her fists, anger blazing intensely in her eyes. "And who is this Riser? A man who doesn't even have the courage to appear before me and sends an emissary in his place? He is a coward, and I have no time for cowards."

Merlin stepped forward, each of her movements calculated and purposeful. The soft glow in the cube surrounding Hancock's sisters increased slightly, a silent reminder of her absolute power. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering the empress's words before responding.

"Riser-sama is many things, but a coward is not one of them," Merlin said, her voice cold and firm. "He prefers to observe and assess before acting. Unlike many who have crossed his path, you have been deemed worthy of an alliance. Do not mistake that for weakness."

Hancock raised an eyebrow, her scornful gaze fixed on Merlin. "If he is as powerful as you suggest, why isn't he here, face to face with me? Perhaps he is afraid to show himself before an empress."

Merlin allowed herself a slight, almost imperceptible smile that quickly vanished. "Riser-sama does not act on emotional impulses. He sent me as an extension of his will, ensuring the message was clear. If he were here, you wouldn't be questioning his courage but rather your own position."

Hancock took a step forward, her dominating presence filling the space between them. "I fear no man, much less someone who hides behind words and emissaries. If he desires my cooperation, let him come himself to ask."

"You fear no man?" Merlin said, her voice imbued with a cutting calm. "How convenient to say that when the symbol of your true fear is etched on your back."

The atmosphere in the throne room froze. Hancock's sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, stirred within the cube, their eyes wide. Hancock, for her part, recoiled slightly, a look of discomfort appearing on her face. "What are you talking about?" she retorted, her voice wavering slightly.

Merlin took another step forward, the light in the cube around the sisters shining even more intensely. "The tattoo on your back," she continued, her voice cold as ice. "The symbol that connects you to the World Government's Nobles. You, the Boa sisters, carry not only the weight of shame but also of fear."

Marigold and Sandersonia turned pale. "How do you know about that?" Sandersonia exclaimed, her tone mixing shock and panic. "No one should know about that!"

"Do not dare mention that again!" Hancock shouted, her voice faltering as her hands trembled slightly. "I am the Pirate Empress! No one has the right to..."

"You are the Pirate Empress," Merlin interrupted, her voice rising with authority. "But what is an empress who bows to fear? Your strength comes from hiding this secret, but now it is exposed. And you know that Riser-sama is not someone impressed by masks of arrogance."

Hancock tried to reply, but the words died in her throat. The throne room seemed to close in around her. Memories of her enslavement, the horrors inflicted by the Celestial Dragons, all seemed to resurface with full force. For the first time in years, the world's proudest woman was defenseless.

"You fear Riser because you know he doesn't care about your past or your title," Merlin said, approaching. "He only cares about results. Cooperating with him is not a choice, Boa Hancock. It is a necessity."

"What does he want from me?" Hancock asked, her voice reduced to a whisper as she fell to her knees.

"Ah, finally a sensible question," Merlin replied, with a slight touch of sarcasm. She began to circle Hancock, observing her from above like a predator analyzing its prey. "And what do you really have to offer? Beauty, perhaps. A body that could be considered a weapon. But is that enough for Riser-sama?"

Hancock raised her gaze to Merlin, anger burning again in her eyes, but fear prevented her from responding. She knew that any word could be used against her.

"You must understand that your appearance is nothing compared to Riser-sama's goals," Merlin continued, her voice filled with disdain. "He needs strength, strategy, allies who can change the course of battles. Not a doll who relies on her beauty to intimidate." Merlin leaned in slightly, looking directly into Hancock's eyes. "And you, Boa Hancock, what are you beyond that?"

Hancock clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin as she struggled not to explode. "I am a Shichibukai. My power is up to any challenge," she replied, her voice wavering between anger and despair.

Merlin stopped circling, positioning herself again before the throne. "A Shichibukai?" She laughed lightly, but the sound was far from pleasant. "Do you really believe that title holds any value? What Riser-sama wants is not someone clinging to a position given by the World Government. He wants something greater. A Yonkou under his command."

Hancock's eyes widened, the magnitude of the revelation hitting her like a wave. "A... Yonkou?" She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"Yes," said Merlin, crossing her arms. "And you are the first piece on this board. Now, I ask again: Boa Hancock, what do you have to offer?"

Hancock remained silent, unable to answer. The pride she wore as armor seemed to slowly crumble under the weight of Merlin's words. Her rigid expression began to give way, revealing doubts she had never dared to admit.

"Exactly as I suspected," said Merlin, her voice cold and unwavering. "You have nothing to offer beyond a well-polished facade. That, however, needs to change."

Merlin extended her hand, and a small vial emerged in an ethereal glow, containing a red liquid that seemed to pulsate with its own life. She walked over to Hancock, her steps echoing through the room, and stopped a few meters from the empress.

"This is vampire blood," declared Merlin, her voice filled with indisputable authority. "By drinking it, you will transcend your mortal limitations. Your strength, agility, and power will increase exponentially. But above all, you will free yourself from the chains of a past that still governs your existence."

Hancock stared at the vial, her eyes fixed on the pulsating liquid. "And what will this cost?" Her voice was a whisper, but determination began to return to her tone.

Merlin raised an eyebrow, an enigmatic smile appearing on her lips. "Cost? Only your unquestionable loyalty to Riser-sama. He demands nothing but results, and this vial is your key to achieving them."

For a moment, silence took over the room. Hancock looked at the vial, the reflection of the red liquid dancing in her eyes. Her mind was in conflict—accepting meant relinquishing part of her autonomy, but refusing could mean the end of her relevance in the unfolding grand game.

Finally, Hancock extended a trembling hand, taking the vial from Merlin's hands. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before bringing the vial to her lips. The liquid went down her throat like liquid fire, spreading throughout her body.

She staggered slightly, her hands gripping the throne as a wave of energy coursed through every cell of her being. Her eyes opened abruptly, glowing with an intense red before returning to normal. Hancock was breathing heavily, but there was something new in her posture—a renewed, almost palpable strength.

Merlin watched with an approving expression, slowly approaching as Hancock regained her balance. "Congratulations, Boa Hancock. You have taken the first step to transcend what you were and embrace your true potential. This power not only enhances your physical abilities but also redefines who you are at your core."

Hancock, still panting, looked up at Merlin. "I feel... different. Stronger. As if something has been unleashed within me."

Merlin tilted her head, with a light, controlled smile. "Yes, and there's something else you should know. The mark you bore on your back, the one that symbolized the World Nobles' dominion over your life... it's gone."

Hancock widened her eyes, incredulous. "What? How is that possible?"

Merlin gestured to Marigold and Sandersonia, who were still trapped in the translucent cube. "Call your sisters. Have them look at your back and confirm what I say."

With a wave of her hand, Merlin dissolved the cube imprisoning the sisters. Marigold and Sandersonia quickly approached Hancock, still cautious of Merlin's presence. "Hancock-sama, are you okay?" Marigold asked, concern evident in her voice.

Hancock nodded slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on Merlin. "Look at my back. I want to know if what she says is true."

The two sisters hesitated but obeyed. Sandersonia was the first to approach, gently pulling down the back of Hancock's dress to reveal her skin. Both gasped at the absence of the tattoo that once marked her enslavement.

"Hancock-sama... the mark is really gone!" exclaimed Sandersonia, her voice full of emotion. Marigold, looking closer, confirmed with an incredulous smile. "There's nothing there anymore. It's as if it never existed."

Hancock felt a wave of relief and disbelief wash over her. She brought a trembling hand to her back, as if needing to feel for herself the absence of the symbol that had haunted her so much. Tears began to form in her eyes, but she quickly held them back, turning to Merlin with a renewed expression of pride.

"You were right. This is more than a physical transformation. It's a liberation," said Hancock, her voice firm but laden with gratitude. "I now see that this power is a gift."

Merlin crossed her arms, her gaze appraising. "Remember, Hancock, that with this gift comes the responsibility to fulfill Riser-sama's will. He expects you to use this new strength for more than just your own freedom. He seeks allies capable of shaping the world's destiny."

Hancock stood up, her posture once again reflecting the majesty of an empress. "I will accept this responsibility. Tell Riser-sama that Boa Hancock will fulfill her role and that he will find in me an ally worthy of his ambitions."

Merlin smiled, satisfied with the response. "Very well. Prepare yourself, then. The journey that begins now will be unlike anything you've ever faced. And remember, your true strength lies not only in your power but in the choice of how to use it."

With that, Merlin turned to leave, leaving Hancock and her sisters to absorb the magnitude of the moment. The throne room, which had previously seemed charged with tension, was now filled with a new energy—a sense of possibility and rebirth.

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