Chapter 38
Hancock grinned as Kuzan closed his eyes. "Well, if I'm correct, that should be the Mero Mero no Mi. Tsk… that Devil Fruit in the Kuja Empress's hands is quite the deadly combination."
Hancock smiled calmly. "Well, I was getting bored by those weaklings. It's my first raid, you see. I can't go back without a fight. Gotta make sure the world knows Kuja has a new Empress."
She launched forward. "Perfume Fleur."
Kuzan kept his eyes closed as his expression turned serious. "Ice Gauntlet."
The kick and fist stopped inches away as their advanced armament clashed. The warship's deck creaked and shattered under the pressure.
Both jumped back and landed on the frozen sea.
"That haki…" Even Kuzan was surprised. Her armament was as strong as his. He had trained for years under Garp, punching warships day and night, yet she had matched him.
"So there really are people better than you," Kuzan muttered, now fully serious.
By the looks of her when he exited the cabin, she was around eighteen or nineteen. "You can't be allowed to roam freely," Kuzan said.
Hancock looked bored. "Tsk… you are annoying."
Both moved in a blur. Fists and kicks clashed as each matched the other strike for strike.
Kuzan jumped back and raised his hands, creating ice birds that shot toward her. "Pheasant Beak."
Hancock raised her hand in a pistol gesture. "Love Pistol."
A pink heart-shaped bullet struck the ice birds, petrifying them as they crashed down.
Hancock kissed her fingers, forming a massive pink heart. She pulled it back and released it. "Love Arrow."
Kuzan froze as his observation haki sensed multiple attacks falling from the sky like rain. Every single one was lethal.
"Ice Wall."
A massive wall rose, but as the arrows touched it, the ice turned to stone.
Hancock tilted her head, observing the stone wall. "You know… if we team up, we can build a castle in a few minutes."
Kuzan, preparing his next attack, froze.
He scratched his head awkwardly. "Umm… young miss, is this really the time for that?"
Hancock snorted. "You want a fight? Fine."
She vanished in a blur and appeared in front of him, her kick striking.
Kuzan turned into ice just as he was about to be petrified.
He reformed a few meters away. "Ara ara… you are really troublesome to fight."
Her attacks were instant kill. If he took even one head-on, he might lose a limb—or his life.
Kuzan sighed and attacked again.
From the Kuja ship, the warriors watched in awe.
"Snake Empress is mighty."
"Snake Empress is the strongest."
Sonia's mouth twitched. "Who would have expected we'd really meet an admiral?"
Mari sighed. "With big sister here, we won't be in trouble."
They trusted her strength. After all, they had seen it themselves.
Both shuddered, remembering the scene of Hancock and Rayleigh fighting on a deserted island.
On Onigashima, Kaido and Kai clashed again and again. Thunderclouds gathered as the sky darkened above them.
Kaido staggered back slightly. "Are you really human?"
He was genuinely shocked. Kai's attacks carried too much force. It felt like he was fighting a giant—no, something even stronger.
Kai grinned. "It's just the beginning, Kaido."
Kaido scoffed. "Tsk… I'd be disappointed if you go down that easily. You wouldn't be worth recruiting."
Kai froze as a dangerous idea crossed his mind.
"Oi, Kaido… you want me to join your crew, right?"
Kaido raised an eyebrow. "What of it?"
Kai laughed. "Then let's bet everything on this fight."
"If I lose, I'll become your subordinate and join your crew with absolute loyalty."
Kaido watched silently as Kai continued.
"But if I win… you become my subordinate. Along with your entire crew."
King and Toki paused mid-combat and turned toward them.
"This guy… is he serious?" Toki muttered, speechless.
Kaido laughed loudly. "Worororo! Brat, you want to be my captain?"
Kai raised Akatsuki toward him. "What? You don't have the guts?"
Kaido grinned widely. "Worororo! Fine then. Whoever is stronger will be the captain."
Kai shot forward, Akatsuki coated in advanced armament and Conqueror's Haki.
Kaido raised his kanabo. Their weapons stopped inches apart as advanced armament and Conqueror's Haki clashed violently.
A spear of will formed between them and blasted upward, splitting the heavens.
Kaido's grin froze as Kai's haki pushed him back.
"Such strong Conqueror's…" Kaido muttered.
King stared in disbelief.
"Where are you looking?"
Toki appeared beside him, her blade slashing across his chest, coated in advanced Conqueror's and armament.
King's eyes narrowed as he was sent flying, crashing into Onigashima's horn.
"Conqueror's infusion…?"
Kaido glanced at Toki in surprise. "Another advanced Conqueror's user? Worororo! Now this is exciting."
Kai rushed at him again. "Oi, we're still fighting!"
Their weapons clashed again as advanced armament flared wildly.
King stood up, a deep slash across his chest, half his mask broken.
He grabbed his sword and charged, flames forming dragons that attacked Toki.
Toki grinned and dove down, cutting through the flaming dragons effortlessly.
In the Flower Capital, inside the Shogun's castle, Hiyori breathed heavily.
Suddenly, ninjas attacked her.
She swung Enma and jumped back. "You—"
She saw the Oniwabanshu standing before her.
Denjiro attacked them, followed by Ashura.
Hiyori's eyes locked onto Fukurokuju. "I will deal with him."
Everyone stared at her.
"Shogun Hiyori?"
She drew Enma, her gaze sharp. "He is the strongest among Orochi's subordinates. No one will interfere in our fight."
Fukurokuju raised his head, eyes landing on Enma.
"You are bold… using that sword without taming it."
His long earlobes lashed out like whips.
Hiyori countered with Enma, but the blade forcefully drained more haki from her.
Denjiro, Ashura, and Kawamatsu gritted their teeth.
"Please be safe, Shogun Hiyori."
They charged forward, engaging the remaining Oniwabanshu.
Near Udon, Usimaru and Hyogoro led the samurai.
"Everyone, attack!"
Usimaru sent a flying slash, cutting the prison gates, and jumped inside.
Queen stared in confusion before roaring in anger.
"How dare you samurai bastards attack my prison?!"
Usimaru stepped forward. "I'll deal with him. You all go and release the prisoners."
"Damn it! Are you looking down on me?!" Queen roared.
He transformed into his dinosaur form, firing a laser beam from his tail.
Usimaru slashed through it and charged.
The two clashed as the samurai fought the Beast Pirates.
The war for Wano had fully begun.