Chaotic thoughts flashed through Ain's mind.
She watched as the claw, bypassing the cloak covered in Armament Haki, stabbed toward her waist from point-blank range.
Faced with such a sudden turn of events, Ain had no time to dodge. Instead, a trace of apology filled her heart.
She was not only sorry for dragging Smoker into this.
She was even more sorry that, after Qin Yu's training, she had still been so careless and allowed her opponent to seize an opening.
"Ain, dodge!"
Smoker's body of white mist rapidly gathered in midair.
Watching the situation reverse in an instant, he had no way to intercept the attack.
All he could do was watch helplessly as it came crashing down.
Buzz!
An inexplicably oppressive aura erupted without warning like a raging tide.
Whether it was Smoker, whose body had just re-formed in midair, or Gasparde, who had returned to his original form from his gummy state—even Nides in his hand—all of them froze.
It felt as though their minds had been struck by a heavy hammer, leaving them slightly dizzy.
The next moment, an even more massive mental shock surged over them like a raging torrent.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
A crisp, delicate cry rang out without warning.
The stunned crowd abruptly snapped awake, a chill running down their spines.
It could be said that when they entered the waters around Amazon Lily, what they had first steeled themselves against was not the Sea Kings dwelling within the Calm Belt.
Rather, it was the Pirate Empress Hancock, who was rumored to act without any regard for common sense.
With her extraordinary charm and reputation as the most beautiful woman among pirates, Hancock could be called a walking biological weapon.
Chaotic thoughts raced through their minds as they hurriedly looked toward the voice.