One Piece: The Strongest Creature

Time-shifted back just a few minutes prior.

This was the moment when Doflamingo placed his call to report in.

Kahn, deeply engrossed in his scientific pursuits, often left the responsibility of handling important messages to Robin and Hancock, who would relay anything critical to him. This situation was no different.

Upon hearing about the unfolding situation in the Kingdom of Dressrosa from Hancock, who had teleported in to deliver the news, Kahn didn't pause in his work. He simply commented coldly, "Since he decided to act, he must already be prepared for a reckoning."

"Our family has kept a low profile for too long, giving people the false impression that we're weak. It's time to show them why the 'Cross Family' is the most powerful in the world."

"Hancock, this time, you and Monet will lead the team… I'll join you soon."

"Yes, Master," Hancock replied obediently, her dark blue eyes flashing with a flash of cold purple lightning.

In the next instant, she transformed into a streak of violet energy, vanishing from the underground base.

Outside, the Pirate Empress—known as "Sister-sama" by the maids, excluding Robin—gathered all the combat maids. This included Mansherry, Oro Jia, and Perona, who are primarily support types and served as both life maids and younger sister figures among the fighters.

Even Mary joined the fray, tasked with deploying the Perfect Work and Seraphim units.

The personnel assembled for this mission were as follows:

The Perfect Work and Seraphim series, along with nearly all of Kahn's specialized maids.

This lineup included

Battle Maid Chief - Boa Hancock.

Top Cadre of Battle Maids - Yamato, Monet, Kuina, and Sonia.

Support Maids with Auxiliary Devil Fruits - Mansherry, Oro Jia, Perona, and Mary.

This was the roster for the operation. Robin, Koala, Barbara, Carla, Nami, and Carina were held back on Kahn's orders.

Nine elite maids, combined with the Perfect Work and Seraphim series, plus Kahn, who might join at any moment—this force represented the mightiest lineup the Cross Family had deployed since rising to prominence.

Despite numbering fewer than a hundred, their power rivalled that of the Red-Hair Pirates, and in sheer strength, they arguably surpassed them.

Were it not for the fact that the Red-Hair Pirates boasted two of the Five Emperors' supreme powers, Kahn might not have mobilized such an impressive force.

The scene shifts to the sky islands hovering far above Dressrosa and the waters of Wano Country.

Over time, Kuina had relocated several uninhabited islands from across the world, each tested and confirmed to hold rich mineral deposits. These islands now floated above Wano and Dressrosa, awaiting the moment to serve the Cross Family's purpose.

These uninhabited islands, elevated to altitudes of 7,000 and even 10,000 meters, were launched skyward by Kuina using the powers of her Paramecia-type Lion Fruit.

After depleting the resources of islands in the Wano Sea region, Kuina would bring down these floating islands as fresh resource hubs.

And when an island's resources were exhausted, it became a powerful weapon in her arsenal. With her ability to send entire islands plummeting from the sky, Kuina could devastate any target she deemed an enemy.

Few would survive the onslaught of an island crashing down upon them—proof of her standing as a top cadre in the Cross Family.

In addition to her rank, Kuina held a special role as one of the "Three Strategic Assets" of the Cross Family. The other two were Sugar, with her Paramecia-type Hobby-Hobby Fruit, and Carina, who wielded the Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit.

Among the three, Kuina alone possessed power-focused abilities. Thanks to genetic modifications she underwent years ago, Kuina had become a female counterpart to the legendary Golden Lion.

Her physical abilities now even surpassed his, though her Conqueror's Haki and swordsmanship were not yet on par with his.

Even so, Kuina's strength ranked among the highest cadres of the Five Emperors' forces, comparable to deputies like Katakuri, Marco, and King.

* * *

"Hey… are my eyes playing tricks on me?" someone murmured.

"Isn't that one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Wait… why do they look like children?!"

The Red-Hair Pirates, teleported from Dressrosa to the sky island by Monet's space manipulation, faced this unexpected sight. Despite the sudden move, the crew kept their composure, a result of years under their vice-captain Yamato's lead. Yet when they looked at the rows of Seraphim soldiers behind the Cross Family's powerful maid fighters, shock rippled through the ranks.

Every member of the Red-Hair Pirates, from new recruits to top cadres, felt a sense of unease. Some even gasped in surprise, and a few trembled as they took in the formidable lineup.

Yasopp, a master of Observation Haki, stepped forward and murmured to Shanks, "Boss, there's an overwhelming aura emanating from those soldiers. They're nothing like the robots the Cross Family is famous for—these are more advanced, more dangerous."

Benn Beckman, standing beside Shanks, narrowed his eyes. "I've seen reports," he muttered. "The head of Germa 66 was once part of a highly advanced scientific team focused on cloning and lineage factors. And the head scientist of that team… was a genius five hundred years ahead of his time—Dr. Vegapunk."

"But that scientist has been working with the World Government for years now," Beckman continued, his tone serious. "He disappeared recently, though. If not for a secret report, I wouldn't even know he existed. And if my suspicions are correct, the Cross Family is responsible for his disappearance."

Shanks, unfazed, drew his famous sword, Gryphon, and with a slight smile, replied, "So this is the true power of the Cross Family, finally unveiled. They honour us by sending a force like this to greet us."

* * *

A deep rumble echoed in the sky as if in response to Shanks' words. Just like the atmosphere over Dressrosa, the sky above the islands darkened, thunderclouds gathering ominously overhead. Lightning cracked across the heavens, and then, in a flash of purple light, Hancock appeared before Monet and the assembled maids.

Her gaze fixed coldly on the Red-Hair Pirates, a disdainful sneer on her face. In her usual imperious tone, she declared, "Yes, consider it an honour. Now, die with this privilege."

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