A pink wave of heart-shaped light instantly engulfed the Marine warship.
The Marines who had been cheering moments ago were turned, one after another, into dark gray stone statues—each frozen in their final poses of excitement. Not a single one was spared.
Except Karl.
If Luffy was immune to Hancock's charm because he was simple-minded, then Karl was immune thanks to experience—rich, hard-earned experience. He completely ignored Hancock's petrification.
He even felt like saying: That's it? Got anything stronger? Come on—try harder. I promise I'll petrify next time.
Ding—
Series Quest ["We Don't Fight Our Own – 3/7"] has failed.
As expected.
Karl had been mentally prepared for this. He wasn't furious, but he was definitely irritated.
Looking at the row upon row of statues behind him, Karl let out a cold snort.
"A bunch of weak-willed idiots."
"H-How is this possible?! How can someone ignore my beauty?!"
Boa Hancock stared at the tall, handsome Marine before her, covering her lips in shock, eyes wide as saucers.
The Kuja warriors were equally stunned. Someone resisting Snake Princess's charm was simply unheard of.
"Have you had enough, Lady Hancock?"
Karl pointed Shusui at her, his tone calm but sharp.
"Undo the petrification and come with me to Marine Headquarters. Otherwise—bear the consequences."
Now that the quest had failed, Karl had no reason to hold back. If things turned ugly, so be it.
"Hmph~ You're alone. And you dare threaten me?"
Karl tightened his grip on Shusui. Armament Haki wrapped around the blade as his voice turned icy.
"I'm alone—and that's more than enough."
"Impudent!"
Standing atop the giant snake's head, the towering Marigold swung her guandao down at Karl.
Clang!
Karl casually blocked the strike with one hand and looked straight at Hancock.
"Should I take this as a declaration of war against the Marines? Do you understand the consequences of that?"
Hancock's expression didn't change in the slightest. She narcissistically caressed her cheek.
"It doesn't matter. No matter what I do, the world will forgive me. So—"
"Step aside. I'll deal with this Marine personally."
"Sister?!" Marigold exclaimed in confusion.
"I said, step aside."
"…Yes."
Marigold retreated.
Boa Hancock locked eyes with Karl.
"Resisting my charm isn't something to be proud of. You'll soon learn the price of provoking me."
"Is that so?" Karl replied calmly. "I'm all ears."
The instant she finished speaking, Hancock dashed forward. Her long, pale, perfectly straight leg lashed out at Karl's shoulder.
"Perfume Femur!"
Karl's eyes sharpened. His left arm was instantly coated in Armament Haki, which expanded outward into an external defensive layer, blocking the kick.
"What?!" Hancock's eyes widened in shock.
Her Perfume Femur could petrify anyone it struck—regardless of desire. Yet Karl was completely unaffected.
Karl didn't know what she was thinking, but her expression told him everything.
She's never fought someone who can externalize Armament Haki.
In fact, Karl was confident that even basic hardening would have negated her petrification, as long as his Haki was strong enough.
Seizing the moment while Hancock was distracted, Karl grabbed her ankle, spun in place, and hurled her away.
The battlefield shifted to Hancock's ship.
After all, the Marine warship still held plenty of petrified soldiers—one wrong hit and they'd shatter for good.
"Snake Princess!!!"
The Kuja warriors cried out in alarm.
Hancock adjusted her balance mid-air and landed steadily on the deck. She shouted sharply:
"Stay back! All of you!"
Before anyone could respond, Karl descended from above.
Shusui remained sheathed.
Against Hancock, he didn't need a sword.
From their brief exchange, Karl had already gauged her strength—
Her physique was inferior to his.
Her Armament Haki was average.
Only her Conqueror's Haki surpassed him—
—but Karl wasn't fodder.
Conqueror's pressure meant little to him.
Hancock was only about 23 years old (born September 2nd; it was now the end of 1513), roughly a year and a half younger than Karl. To reach this level at her age already placed her above most of the world.
Still—
Hancock stared at him, her heart in turmoil.
This Marine… is terrifyingly strong.
Unlike anyone I've ever faced.
But as the Empress of Amazon Lily, she could not lose in front of her people.
"Pistol Kiss!"
She touched her lips, forming a small heart, then fired it like a bullet toward the right side of Karl's head.
She didn't miss.
In her Observation Haki, Karl would tilt his head that way.
And indeed, Karl had intended to do exactly that—
but upon seeing the trajectory, he simply stood still.
I predicted your prediction.
The shot missed. Hancock wasn't surprised.
She touched her lips again, forming a massive pink heart, pulled it back like a bow—
and released a volley of arrows.
"Slave Arrow!"
Karl flickered through the air, dodging as he closed the distance.
The arrows he avoided struck Kuja warriors instead, turning them to stone.
Despite injuring her own people, Hancock's expression didn't waver.
"Everyone, stay back! Don't interfere with Snake Princess's battle!"
When Karl was ten meters away, he stomped hard.
His figure vanished—and reappeared before Hancock.
His fist smashed toward her face.
"Damn it!"
Hancock hastily crossed her arms, coating them in Armament Haki.
Boom!
The impact still sent her sliding backward.
Karl pressed the attack relentlessly, stepping in again, showcasing flawless close-quarters combat.
The Kuja warriors watching from the side couldn't believe their eyes.
Their Snake Princess—being overwhelmed?
She'd been struck multiple times in less than a minute, unable to even touch the Marine's clothes.
Karl looked at Hancock—now breathing slightly heavy, bruises forming on her arms and legs—and smiled faintly.
"You know the gap between us very well, Boa Hancock."
"Come with me to Marine Headquarters. I'll pretend none of this ever happened."
Hancock glared at him, eyes blazing, teeth clenched.
"Don't even dream of it!"
"Even if I'm defeated—
even if I die here today—"
"I will never go to Marine Headquarters with you!"
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