"Light-Speed Kick!"
Dazzling yellow light illuminated Jiang Lin's left leg. He held nothing back against the Empress, knowing that if he did, he might end up losing his life.
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Facing his attack, the Empress held her head high and watched Jiang Lin's left foot shoot toward her, firing countless red hearts at him.
"Oh no!"
Faced with the Empress's counterattack, Jiang Lin could only abandon his attack for the moment and use Yata Mirror to evade hers.
"Not having Haki really hurts. Couldn't this system give me a few other abilities?"
After voicing his frustration, Jiang Lin panted heavily as he looked at the Empress before him.
"Oh... does my beauty not make your heart flutter? Why are you running away so quickly?"
Boa Hancock thrust out her magnificent chest, extended her crimson tongue, and gently licked her right hand. Her aggrieved expression made Jiang Lin blush and turn his head away after just one glance.
I can't look! I can't look! These are all ways she attacks!
Just one glance at the Empress had frightened Jiang Lin into a cold sweat. He had no Haki and no other means of countering petrification. If she turned him to stone, he would be dead for certain.
"You have quite a bit of self-control. Unlike those Marines, who disgust me!"
After a faint smile, Boa Hancock crossed her hands into a heart and unleashed Mero Mero Mellow at Jiang Lin again.
"It won't work!"
Jiang Lin used Yata Mirror to move rapidly while watching the system's timer. More than forty seconds had passed since the fight began. If he could hold out for another twenty seconds, he would obtain the Empress's Love-Love Fruit.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A dense barrage of hearts furiously swept along Jiang Lin's path. Seeing the Empress's attack, the surrounding members of the Kuja Pirates hurriedly retreated several steps in fright.
"The Snake Princess is under attack! Go help her at once!"
After seeing the battle between the Empress and Jiang Lin, the townspeople put down their work, picked up their weapons, and rushed outside the city.
"All of you, go back!"
Facing the townspeople who had come to help, the Empress held her head high, pointed toward the city walls with one hand, and loudly ordered her subjects back.
"There it is! Lady Snake Princess's pose of utter contempt for everyone!"
At the sight of the Empress's gesture, the Kuja Pirates excitedly showered her with adoring looks. After seeing her response, the townspeople also eagerly put down their weapons and stopped inside the city walls to watch her fight.
"I originally thought you would be quite strong. But now, it seems you aren't that strong after all!"
The Empress gave a cold shout, and an invisible surge instantly swept in every direction, rushing straight toward Jiang Lin.
"Oh no! Conqueror's Haki!"
Seeing the Empress's movements, Jiang Lin immediately realized something was wrong. He was just about to use Yata Mirror to evade her attack when the Haki struck him in an instant. His eyes widened as he began to lose consciousness.
Just one more second! Only one second!
Unwilling to accept defeat, Jiang Lin stared at the system interface before him. How he wished that second had passed before the Empress unleashed her Haki.
"One minute has elapsed. The Love-Love Fruit has been copied successfully." "The host has been detected to possess two Devil Fruit Cards. Devil Fruit fusion unlocked. Devil Fruit Awakening unlocked. Devil Fruit development unlocked. System shop unlocked."
One second before Jiang Lin's consciousness collapsed, the system messages finally appeared. But it was already too late. His eyelids closed despite his efforts.
"Take him back! I will execute him publicly!"
The Empress lightly swept her robes aside, turned, and walked back toward the Snake Ship.
"Enter the city!"
Welcomed by ringing horns, the Kuja Pirates' ship slowly sailed through the wide-open gates into Amazon Lily!
"Mm... where am I?"
Jiang Lin groggily opened his eyes. His head hurt terribly, as though it had been struck by something heavy.
"Hey! Buddy!"
A familiar voice rang out beside Jiang Lin.
"L-Luffy?"
"This is..."
Jiang Lin's eyes flew open. The raised stands around him were filled with scantily clad women. They studied him and Luffy with curious expressions while whispering among themselves.
"Are they gawking at us like monkeys?"
After a cold chuckle, Jiang Lin turned to look at Luffy. Just like Luffy, he had been restrained by small black snakes.
Come to think of it, I seem to have successfully copied the Empress's fruit and unlocked a whole bunch of system functions.
With a thought, Jiang Lin opened the system interface and began examining it carefully.
Only after Jiang Lin possessed two Devil Fruit Cards did the Devil Fruit Infinite Copy System truly reveal its power.
The Devil Fruit fusion function could combine the abilities of multiple Devil Fruit Cards to strengthen a particular Devil Fruit ability. For example, using the Love-Love Fruit to enhance the Glint-Glint Fruit would make the Glint-Glint Fruit's abilities stronger, and the reverse worked as well.
The Devil Fruit Awakening and development functions would allow Jiang Lin to awaken Devil Fruits and develop their abilities.
As for the system shop, Jiang Lin could not afford a single item it sold, so it was useless for the time being.
"Ah... Lady Snake Princess!"
Just as Jiang Lin was carefully studying the system interface, a burst of screams abruptly interrupted his thoughts.
"The Empress?"
Jiang Lin raised his head and looked at the three women on the platform. Seated between two tall women was none other than Boa Hancock, who had defeated him not long ago.
"Now, tell me. What was your purpose in coming here, and how did you enter this island?"
Seated firmly atop a great snake, the Empress looked down at Jiang Lin and Luffy with an arrogant expression.
"I told you, I don't know either! I was flying through the sky, and then I ended up here."
Luffy looked up at the platform with an innocent expression as he spoke.
"Bartholomew Kuma used his ability to send both of us flying here."
Jiang Lin answered calmly, his eyes fixed on the Empress in the stands as he prepared for battle.
"Stop lying. You two men will never leave this place alive, no matter how you coordinate your stories. Death is inevitable!"
The Empress looked down with a stern expression. Her words instantly caused one woman in the stands to turn pale.