"Swoosh... swoosh..."

  Moments ter, the once-barren ground was covered with a vibrant array of blooming flowers. The sight was miraculous, leaving onlookers in awe.

  "Whoosh... whoosh..."

  In the instant, a massive sunflower sprouted from behind her, spinning in pce. Gloriosa, the new Devil Fruit user, was now experimenting with her abilities. The sunflower-like structure lifted her into the air. Its petals emitted a faint glow as it swirled.

  "I'm actually flying..." she murmured, astonished.

  Excited, she looked down at El and shouted joyfully, "El, I’m flying!"

  "Gloriosa, you’ve only just started using your ability, so you’re still not that familiar with it," El reminded her with a smile, arms crossed. "Be careful not to fly too high."

  "Got it!" Gloriosa nodded, her face glowing with excitement as she tested her newfound power. With the sunflower on her back ag as a propeller, she zipped through the skies like a child with a oy.

  As she grew more fortable, her fidence soared. She began flying higher and farther, trag wide arcs across the nearby waters.

  "El, thank you so much!" she called down.

  Eventually, her excitemeled, and Gloriosa swooped down from the sky. She nded right into El’s arms, her eyes brimming with passion and affe. Her gaze overflowed with infatuation and gratitude.

  "Why be so formal with me?" El chuckled, stroking her head gently, his tone warm and fond.

  "El… my husband…" Gloriosa whispered dreamily, her cheeks flushing.

  Suddenly, she leaned in, peppering him with fiery kisses. "Please, love me with all yht!"

  Faced with such bold and fervent affe from the former Empress of Amazon Lily, El naturally didn’t refuse. He embraced her fully, giving her all the attention she desired.

  Five days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the two led a shamelessly indulgent life on the isnd. El’s dest onto Enies Lobby to force Vice Admiral Sengoku to release the captured Empress of the Kuja Pirates had not been widely publicized.

  In these days, El fully experiehe fiery passion of the Kuja tribe's warrior women. However, he never allowed himself to be entirely ed by their intimate moments. Each day, he dedicated time torous training and patiently guided Gloriosa in developing her Woods-Woods Fruit abilities.

  In his spare time, he also took Gloriosa—who g to him stantly, fearful he might vanish—on patrols across the surroundiheir efforts paid off: they located Amazon Lily’s position.

  "Whoosh..."

  On this particur day, El’s t form soared through the skies above the sea, wings outstretched. Sitting fortably on his shoulder, Gloriosa ighe breathtaking sights below. Her eyes were fixed solely on El’s handsome profile. Occasionally, her cheeks would redden as she lost herself in admiring him.

  A massive isnd soon loomed on the horizon, its name embzoned in twe characters: "Nine Snakes."

  "Gloriosa, we’ve arrived," El said, gng down at her stunning face. He remihe Nine Snakes Empress, "It seems that without you, their captain, things have bee a bit chaoti the isnd."

  "There’s no helping it," Gloriosa replied helplessly. "Sengoku the Buddha’s strength was overwhelming, and the navy he brought was both formidable and numerous. If I hadn’t stayed behind to hold them off, the entire Nine Snakes Pirates could have been wiped out."

  Ihe Nine Snakes capital, chaned.

  "Damn it! You people!" someone shouted.

  "Gloriosa-sama was captured by the navy, and you dare to return?!"

  "What a disgrace! The Empress stayed behind to protect you, yet as members of the Nine Snakes Pirates, you shamelessly fled bae!"

  "Cowards! You’ve disgraced Gloriosa-sama’s generosity!"

  Many stily en and fierce warriors angrily pointed fingers at the defeated aed figures standing silently in the square. Some enraged civilians even threw rotteables and eggs at them.

  There wasn’t a single man on the isnd—Amazon Lily was inhabited entirely by women. The members of the Nine Snakes Pirates, their heads bowed in guilt, offered ahey stood still, allowing the townsfolk to vent their frustration and humiliation. Deep down, they khe criticism was deserved. They had failed their Empress, who stayed behind to secure their escape.

  Suddenly, a stern voice thundered from above, "Enough! All of you, stuing!"

  Everyone looked up in astonishment.

  "Huh?"

  "What is that?"

  "A giant man? With wings?"

  "Wait, on his shoulder—is that...?"

  "Am I dreaming?!"

  "Gloriosa-sama!"

  "Her Majesty!"

  The people of Nine Sared in disbelief at the t figure in the sky. El, imposing and winged, exuded an intimidating aura. On his shoulder sat a graceful figure—their very own Empress, Gloriosa.

  Many were overe with emotion, tears streaming down their faces. The battered and humiliated Nine Snakes Pirates could hardly believe their eyes. Their Empress, who had bravely stayed behind and fought the navy, had returned unharmed. It was nothing short of miraculous.

  "Enough scolding them," Gloriosa said firmly.

  Leaping gracefully from El’s shoulder, she eadily atop a tiled rooftop. Standing tall, she gazed down at the gathered citizens and decred loudly:

  "The retreat was my direct order as your Empress! They are not weak—the enemy was simply to! Amazon Lily repce its Empress, but the Nine Snakes Pirates are vital to the survival of all our people. Their destru is not an option!"

  "Your Majesty!"

  "Gloriosa-sama!"

  The citizens and warriors of Amazon Lily were moved to tears, deeply touched by her words. Many sobbed openly, gazing at the young woman who bore the heavy burden of leadership and had guided them tirelessly.

  At that moment, though Gloriosa was not physically tall, she stood as a t figure of greatness—an unwavering bea of hope and strength for all her people.

  Bleam