Karl shook his head, feeling a little emotional.
Just wait—don't regret it later.
"Perfume Femur—Grande!"
This time, Hancock used a full, wide-ranging kick.
She leapt high into the air, raised her right leg overhead, and brought it crashing down toward Karl. For a fleeting moment, the mysterious triangular zone was faintly visible.
Karl roared,
"Armament—Iron Body!"
His skin was instantly coated in dense Armament Haki. Muscles bulged, swelling visibly as his defensive power skyrocketed.
Hancock's leg slammed down onto his shoulder.
Boom!
Karl's body sank violently. His boots punched into the deck, cracks spiderwebbing outward from his feet—proof of how terrifying the force behind Hancock's strike truly was.
Unfortunately for her—
Karl's defense was even more terrifying.
To him, Iron Body wasn't some trick or illusion.
It was a genuine body of steel.
"The power's decent," Karl said calmly.
"But your aim's still off."
In a flash, he reached out and seized Hancock's thigh, then bellowed as he slammed her straight onto the deck—face and chest first.
If she hadn't reacted in time and reinforced herself with Armament Haki, her J-cup would've needed some serious medical attention.
But Karl wasn't done.
Still gripping her leg, he swung her over his shoulder—backward, then forward—using her like a flail.
"Enough!"
A terrifying aura burst forth, washing over Karl like a tidal wave straight to his crown.
Instinctively, he released his grip.
By the time he regained his senses, Hancock had already broken free.
"Conqueror's Haki… interesting."
Seeing that the surrounding spectators were still standing firm, Karl immediately understood—Hancock's Conqueror's Haki control was quite refined. She could distinguish friend from foe, rather than blasting indiscriminately.
Hancock panted, staring at Karl with fierce, unyielding eyes. It was obvious—she wasn't ready to concede.
"Die!"
Her breathing steadied, and she lunged again—kicks and strikes flying wildly.
At this point, Hancock had lost her composure.
Which meant her Observation Haki was effectively useless.
Karl, still perfectly calm, dodged every attack with ease. Then—
The moment a flaw appeared—
His left hand shot out.
"Got you."
Hancock turned her head just in time to see Karl's hand clamped onto her shoulder, gripping like an iron hook. Waves of pain surged through her body.
Gritting her teeth, Hancock grabbed his wrist with both hands, pushed off with her left foot, and flipped her body a full 360° in midair before yanking herself backward, desperately trying to break free—
Rip—
A harsh tearing sound echoed.
Her cloak—and most of her tight jacket—were ripped apart.
One shoulder was exposed. Cool air brushed her bare back.
Hancock's pupils shrank to pinpoints. Her face went deathly pale, panic and dread flooding her expression.
The next instant—
She turned sideways and, without hesitation, tore off the remaining fabric. One hand covered her chest, the other pulled what little cloth remained behind her, holding it in place.
But Karl had already seen it.
Only for an instant—
Yet enough.
Seeing the shock on Karl's face, Hancock's voice trembled.
"I… I concede! I'll go with you to Marine Headquarters! Just—just give my clothes back… please…"
At this moment, Hancock's pride was completely shattered. Her once-overwhelming presence collapsed in an instant, utterly unlike the arrogant empress she had been only moments earlier.
The two sisters watching exchanged alarmed glances.
"This is bad!" one shouted.
"Snake Princess's Gorgon Curse is about to erupt! Everyone—withdraw immediately!!!"
"The Gorgon Curse?! The legendary petrifying eyes?!"
"Fall back! Now!!!"
Under their urgent commands, the Kuja warriors retreated at once.
In the blink of an eye, the entire ship was left with only Karl and Hancock.
The sisters cast their sister one last worried glance before retreating into the cabin.
That mark must never be seen.
Karl frowned slightly.
He didn't know Hancock very well—but he clearly remembered one thing.
She had once been a slave of the Celestial Dragons.
Her sudden surrender wasn't weakness.
She was afraid—afraid that he had seen the brand burned into her back.
The Hoof of the Soaring Dragon.
That shame… Karl didn't truly understand it, nor did he want to.
But he could feel it.
Her fear.
Her humiliation.
Her desperation.
The Celestial Dragons—one of the world's greatest evils.
With a silent sigh, Karl stepped forward.
Hancock's eyes filled with terror as she collapsed weakly to the deck, curling in on herself as though that might offer even the slightest sense of safety.
Karl drew closer…
"No… don't come any closer!"
Like a frightened wildcat, Hancock bared her fangs, trying to protect what little dignity she had left—yet her trembling body betrayed her completely.
Karl said nothing.
He unclasped the Justice cloak from his back and gently draped it over her.
Calmly, he said,
"I didn't see anything."
"You're lying!" Hancock cried.
"You wouldn't look at me like that if you hadn't seen it!"
His well-meant words struck directly at her most fragile place. To Hancock, it sounded like pity—
—and she hated pity more than anything.
"Yes! You're right!" she shouted.
"That's exactly what it is! But I don't need your sympathy! Take your clothes and get lost! As far away as—mmph!"
Karl stepped forward and covered her mouth with his hand.
Her body froze stiff. Her fists clenched, nails digging painfully into her palms.
"Shhh… don't speak."
Slowly, Hancock calmed down.
Then Karl raised his right hand. A warm, golden sphere of light formed in his palm and gently flowed into her body.
Hancock's pupils widened.
A soothing warmth spread through her, healing every wound she had suffered in battle—then gathering at her back.
The brand she had long considered her deepest shame began to itch softly.
About three minutes later, the sensation faded.
Hancock stared at the Marine standing before her, smiling gently.
A bold, unbelievable thought surfaced in her heart—
—but she didn't dare ask.
She was afraid it was nothing more than false hope.
"Trust me."
Karl slowly drew Shusui and planted it upright in the deck behind her.
Softly, he said,
"Do you want to look again?"
After a long pause, Hancock's face turned faintly red.
"…Mm."
She loosened her fingers from the cloth at her back and let it fall.
Karl looked into the mirror-like black blade of Shusui—
And saw a back as smooth and flawless as jade.
This time, he truly saw nothing.
Without taking his eyes off the blade, Karl smiled and said,
"Look into my eyes. They'll tell you the answer."
He stepped closer—less than twenty centimeters away—and knelt so she could clearly see his gaze.
Hancock's heart trembled.
"T-This man…"
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