Pirate Empress

Two Conqueror's Haki domains collided in an instant, producing countless dark-red bolts of lightning as they struggled against each other.

Though neither targeted the female warriors in the stands, the aftershock of the clash still made everyone feel immense pressure, drawing even greater shock from them.

[B/C-rank characters developed positive emotions toward the host, moderate, experience increased by 3732]

This amount of experience still fell short of expectations. Sal continued raising his Conqueror's Haki, and the increased intensity began to make his body feel uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the effect was just as he had expected. His Conqueror's Haki domain rapidly suppressed Hancock's, slowly expanding outward until it compressed her Haki into a tiny circle.

Everyone who saw this gasped. Snake Princess, a figure akin to faith in their hearts, had actually lost in a clash of Conqueror's Haki—and in an utterly one-sided defeat.

Boa Sandersonia, who had just regained consciousness, clutched the clothing covering her back and said in shock.

"How is that possible? Just who is that man? His Conqueror's Haki is actually stronger than Sister's."

The two opponents stood motionless, their Haki clash seeming to warp the air itself.

Hancock bit down on her lip. She had never expected the other man's Conqueror's Haki to be so powerful. Only by facing him directly did she understand just how domineering his Haki was.

But there was no way she would admit defeat over something like this. Since her Conqueror's Haki was inferior to his, she would decide the victor through actual combat.

Her Conqueror's Haki domain vanished on its own initiative. Hancock faced the effects of his Conqueror's Haki head-on, every muscle in her body tensing.

Powerful Armament Haki wrapped around her smooth thighs, reaching a level that made Sal's eyelid twitch. Most surprising of all, it did not produce the slightest black sheen.

This made Sal estimate that she might have reached the highest level of Armament Haki. She truly deserved the title of Pirate Empress.

"That kick packs quite a punch."

Sal drew his fine longsword. Vast amounts of Conqueror's Haki coiled around it, causing the blade to emit a dark-red glow as dark-red lightning occasionally flashed across it.

Hancock's phoenix-like eyes shifted slightly. The power on his sword made her wary. Though she had seen Conqueror's Coating used by others a few times, she did not know the details behind this power.

The arrow was already on the string; she had no choice but to fire. Hancock launched herself at Sal in an instant, her long, fair leg kicking toward his vital point.

"Great Perfume Femur."

"Conqueror's Coating, Mountain Crusher."

Under the observation of Observation Haki, Sal swung his dark-red sword at the same time, colliding with the sole of her high-heeled foot.

Her beautiful leg, wrapped in Armament Haki, was not immediately crushed. Her Armament Haki, compressed to the extreme, held against his Conqueror's Coating for several seconds, erupting with countless dark-red bolts of lightning.

As they remained deadlocked, Sal felt his arm nearing its limit. Fortunately, his Conqueror's Coating ultimately shattered her Armament Haki. A dark-red sword aura flashed past, sending Hancock flying dozens of meters away.

Her graceful figure landed steadily. Her battle-hardened experience allowed her to evade most of the sword aura, though several tears appeared in the clothing over her chest, exposing a hint of fair skin.

The high heel beneath her foot had been cut in half, and a red mark had appeared on her pale sole. The discomfort made her remove her other high heel, and she stood barefoot where she was, glaring darkly at the man across from her.

As proud as she was, she could not accept losing to an unknown man. She immediately intended to launch another attack.

"Again. I will never lose."

"...If the Kuja Empress wishes to fight again, I will accompany her to the end."

When a woman intended to be unreasonable, she was generally difficult to persuade. Sal could do nothing about that; he could only use strength to make her change her mind.

Just as the two were about to clash again, a short figure leaped between them. The elderly Gloriosa stopped Hancock and said.

"Snake Princess, stop. Don't fight anymore. We agreed to exchange only one move."

Gloriosa met Hancock's gloomy gaze. She had watched the entire exchange closely. If Snake Princess had been stronger, she would not have intervened, but the truth was that Sal had the upper hand.

Though she did not know much about the technique he used, she knew its name.

Conqueror's Coating—a power only the strongest figures on the seas could wield. Starting a war with such a powerhouse now did not suit Kuja's national circumstances.

Having the truth exposed, Hancock raised her long leg and, in a fit of embarrassment and anger, kicked Gloriosa away from where she stood in front of her. Her expression kept changing. According to their agreement, she truly had lost.

Suddenly, the two people facing each other sensed someone approaching and looked up.

A commotion came from above. Straw Hat Luffy descended from the sky and landed between them, holding down his straw hat as he smiled and greeted Sal.

"Sal, I'm here to help you. No matter who the opponent is, I'll help you send them flying."

"..."

Sal looked at Luffy speechlessly. Hadn't he noticed how awful the woman's expression behind him was? Yet he had run out here to make things worse.

Hearing a man say he could casually send her flying, Hancock's breathing quickened, and the curves beneath her full chest became especially pronounced. Before Sal could warn him, she could no longer restrain herself. Her long leg shot out with such speed that only an afterimage remained. Luffy had no time to dodge and was kicked directly in the head.

"Bang..."

Luffy was kicked a hundred meters away, out of the arena, and deeply embedded in a building. His eyes rolled back as foam spilled from his mouth, and he fell unconscious.

As if she had finished venting, Hancock calmed herself and said coldly.

"Augustus D. Sal, I lost this match. You may leave Amazon Lily now."

After saying that, Hancock turned and left, while Sal waited for the rewards to come. The Kuja Empress's admission of defeat stirred emotions in everyone once more.

[S-rank developed positive emotions toward the host, initial recognition, experience increased by 1000]

[A-rank developed ordinary emotions toward the host, moderate and high surprise, experience increased by 200, 500X2]

[B-rank developed ordinary emotions toward the host, moderate and high surprise, experience increased by 30X14, 50X39]

[C-rank developed ordinary emotions toward the host, moderate and high surprise, experience increased by 8X1475, 12X4327]

[Level increased: Level 55 (3790/54000)]

The prompt he had expected did not appear. Unexpectedly, Boa Hancock had not developed any negative emotions after losing to him. Perhaps this woman's personality was not as terrible as he had imagined?

As his level rose by two, Sal felt his Armament Haki break through its limits and undergo a qualitative transformation.

[Host: Augustus D. Sal]

[Age: 26]

[Level: 55 (3790/54000)]

[Strength: Advanced (Rear Admiral)]

[Constitution: Advanced (Rear Admiral)]

[Agility: Advanced (Rear Admiral)]

[Fruit: None]

[Technique: Top-tier]

[Armament Haki: Advanced]

[Observation Haki: Advanced]

[Conqueror's Haki: Peak]

[Weapon: Ace]

[Points: 63796]

Among the Headquarters rear admirals, his physical abilities were also outstanding. Not to mention his Three Haki Colors and techniques, which far surpassed others at the same physical level.

With his Armament Haki reaching the advanced level, even an Admiral-level opponent would have to take such strength seriously.

He had finally escaped the predicament of lacking sufficient Armament Haki strength to attack top-tier Logia Fruit users.

Come to think of it, things had gone so smoothly partly because Luffy had come out to take a beating. Otherwise, if the proud Pirate Empress had been given no way out, making her admit defeat would have been troublesome. It seemed he should thank Luffy for that.

The battle over, the women in the stands gradually dispersed. Snake Princess's sudden attack was something they needed time to process.

Sal jumped beside the unconscious Luffy and examined this child of destiny. At 1.7 meters tall, his body did not look particularly strong, but Straw Hat gave him a first impression that truly resembled Roger in his youth by about thirty percent. A whimsical thought surfaced in his mind.

What would happen to the course of the world if I killed Luffy here with my own hands?

The thought passed in an instant. Sal merely thought about it. The current situation could not do without this catfish; only with him would the world become more interesting.

Someone had once said that chaos was the ladder of ascent.

He hoisted the unlucky Luffy onto his back and picked up that straw hat, etched deeply into his memories, with one hand. His palm felt every detail of the hat. The texture and touch were still familiar, but this was not his straw hat.

He placed the straw hat directly back onto Luffy's head, then carried him toward the palace.