Without going all out, they would not even be able to keep their bodies intact.
That was also one of the reasons Ren had deliberately created the current situation.
Getting multiple uses out of a single move had always been one of his favorite methods.
For example, this method would help Ren beat the Kuja Island warriors—aside from the three sisters—into submission.
This was a nation that revered martial strength, to the point that "strength itself was beauty."
Showing them his fist was the fastest way to gain respect, fear, and every other form of authority.
Beyond that, he had other goals as well.
The stars in the night sky gazed down upon the battlefield, which had become a scene of utter chaos.
More and more Kuja warriors fell, unable to rise and continue fighting.
In the end, they were not monsters.
When the first rays of dawn began glimmering across the surface of the sea—
Hancock, who had watched from the sidelines for the entire night, suddenly launched her attack!
She abandoned her Devil Fruit powers and unleashed a high-intensity barrage of kicks using only physical combat.
Countless afterimages of her legs filled the air, shattering the remaining nearby buildings.
For the first time, in a clash of fists and legs, she blasted her opponent away.
'Did it work?'
Hancock stepped forward in excitement, only to see Ren walk out as if nothing had happened.
Quite deliberately, he made the same movement she had seen before.
He opened his mouth.
And breathed.
The withering of the surrounding vegetation was just like Hancock's heart at that moment.
The "demon king" in her eyes had once again returned to his peak. No—not that. This man had never truly been injured in any meaningful sense!
Losing limbs, damaged organs, stamina consumption—these weaknesses that humans should have…
None of them existed in him.
Everything she had seen…
Was only surface-level!
'What should I do…?'
Crack—!
With a crisp shattering sound, the translucent little ghost crushed the bead.
Hancock instinctively turned her head to look, but the little ghost had already vanished.
In its place came Ren, responding to the sound.
He stepped forward, raised his hand, and threw a punch!
Boom—!
His fist slammed into Hancock's abdomen while she was caught off guard, folding her entire body inward.
Then, before she could even be sent flying, he grabbed her ankle.
Ren exerted his strength without hesitation—
Hulk Smash!
Left, right, left, right, left, right, left… right… left.
When the final thunderous crash finally stopped…
The light of justice shone upon the earth, bringing a field of peace.
"Is it dawn already?"
Ren clapped his hands regretfully and swept his gaze across the surroundings.
He had to admit, he had enjoyed that fight.
In the inner city that had served as the battlefield, not a single Kuja warrior remained standing.
Every person here had been properly beaten down by him several times over. Now, they had all exhausted themselves and fainted.
As for the old, weak, women, and children being knocked out by a wave of Conqueror's Haki…
The pitch-black sun disk had not taken part in much.
That did not mean it had done nothing at all. It had been researching the state of that phase, its future prospects, and other related matters.
Strength was not obtained without reason.
On his side, after experiencing a large amount of actual combat, he had gained a wave of experience in the fine manipulation of Haki.
Ren could faintly sense that he was only one thin layer away from mastering that thing.
Perhaps if he trained for two days during the waiting period, he would be able to achieve the expected goal of learning it by observation.
However, happiness would not appear out of nothing.
At this very moment…
Hancock, whose Haki was completely drained, lay flat in the huge pit. Her entire body was covered in dirt, making her look extremely wretched.
Yet despite how much she normally cherished and adored her own beauty, she had no intention of tidying herself up.
Hot tears swirled in her eyes. The fact that they had not fallen was already the last of her stubbornness.
The light of dawn fell upon that peerlessly beautiful face, somehow making her look pitiful and aggrieved.
"No matter what I do, I will be forgiven. Why, you ask? Because I am simply too beautiful!"
That was the conclusion Hancock had drawn.
Ever since she ate the Sweet-Sweet Fruit, the power of that Devil Fruit had combined with her naturally born beauty.
What it brought her was a life that could almost be called smooth sailing.
After escaping from Mary Geoise, everyone she met was willing to help her.
Of course, at that time, Hancock had believed that it was the domination of her power, not kindness.
Occasionally, when she encountered bad people, they were easily dealt with as well. All three sisters were Devil Fruit users.
After returning home, she first received Granny Nyon's help, then relied on this strength step by step to gain a firm foothold on Kuja Island, eventually becoming its emperor.
She had never been rejected.
As long as she displayed her beauty, countless people would give everything they had to satisfy her demands.
Even powerful figures could not help being moved by this beauty and power.
Marine vice admirals, pirates who roamed the seas, or anyone else—it was always the same.
Her many experiences told Hancock that even if she was rude, even if she violated laws and reason, even if she caused others pain…
She would still be forgiven!
'Everyone has moments like that.'
'It isn't your fault.'
'I forgive you.'
'I am willing to give everything for you…'
'What beauty…'
Those were the countless responses she had received in the past.
She had never once been refused.
Until today.
For the first time, Hancock understood that even her invincible beauty could lose its effect.
Although desire truly existed in that man's eyes, the lust that others could not control was unable to genuinely affect him.
Even when she offered a naked bargaining chip, the condensed heart of love was strangled before it could fully form.
This man…
No, this monster's rationality…
Stood above every desire!
Most crucially, Hancock looked toward the sky.
Even though dawn had already risen, the pitch-black sun disk still existed in the dome of heaven.
It moved on its own, descended on its own, and in the process, the darkness receded, replaced by a glowing humanoid figure.
Then the figure of light transformed into a second Ren.
That enormous power seemed to have disappeared, but in truth, it had merely hidden itself.
The sense of danger detected by Observation Haki had not weakened in the slightest. A bone-piercing chill stimulated Hancock's senses.
"I'll leave it to you."
At the same time…
Ren, who had transformed back into his normal state, looked down at Hancock.
Ren No. 2, whose face clearly said he had fought to his heart's content, vanished. The gains related to him would be received one day later.
Then, Ren extended his hand.
But his palm was facing downward.
"Obey, or perish?"
"…"
Hancock bit her lower lip tightly. The pain and blood made her red lips even more vivid.
What was stronger than the pain was the humiliation and fury in her heart, but she had no choice but to restrain herself.
Because in those crimson eyes she saw, there was only an extreme, icy coldness.
There were only two choices left to her.
Would she lower the head she had once proudly held high and express obedience?
Or would she refuse, and perish together with this nation?
Ren did not speak. He simply waited quietly.
This was his final mercy.
If she refused, Ren would indeed erase all of Kuja Island.
The Marineford War was already very close. He did not believe Marine Headquarters had time to find a replacement.
Of course, if possible…
Ren did not like using such violent and merciless methods either.
After all, he had to admit that Hancock was truly beautiful. Even he, as an ordinary man, had been affected by her.
Most of the time, he was just a lecher, after all.
Although the Empress's personality was troublesome, once she fell into love, she would become utterly lovestruck.
And as the party being loved, what one would feel would inevitably be her boundless preferential treatment, affection, and adoration.
His original line of thought had also been clear: replicate the method of Luffy punching the Celestial Dragon.
In fact, Ren's plan did indeed involve the Celestial Dragons.
However…
The two bargaining chips he was about to obtain in the Sabaody incident were more important than Hancock.
He would need them when negotiating with Whitebeard, and he would also need them later when interfering in the succession of the Marine Headquarters' fleet admiral position.
Although after capturing them, he could let Hancock meet them, beat them, kick them, and so on…
In order to ensure the stability of the second part, that choice could not be carried out.
In the end…
The importance of those two bargaining chips was not something a mere "world's most beautiful woman" could compare to.
A beauty's favor, or the progress of his ideals.
Ren chose the latter without the slightest hesitation.
"Snake Princess, I beg you. Do you still remember…"
Granny Nyon staggered over, nervously trying to say something.
She more or less understood the Snake Princess's personality, so she began trying to bring up the kindness she had shown in the past.
Even if Hancock hated her for it, that was still better than the entire nation being completely destroyed.
"Shut up!"
Hancock suddenly turned her head and shouted angrily, her beautiful eyes widening in fury. "I am the emperor of Kuja! Whatever choice there is, I am the one who decides it!"
Without giving Granny Nyon a chance to speak, she turned back around and thrust her head forward.
However, Ren did not feel an impact.
His hand felt smooth black hair.
Hancock bit her red lips and maintained that forward-leaning posture in silence.
Paired with her enchanting, seductive figure, it somehow gave off an indescribable feeling.
Roughly speaking, it was like "lifting her skirt with a face full of disgust to show her panties to someone she hated."
Although she hated it deeply, she still expressed obedience.
"Very good."
Ren tousled Hancock's hair, admiring the sight of her anger that she dared not voice.
How should he put it?
It was a little amusing.
That was a side of her that would absolutely never be seen on the romance route.
But no matter what, the war on Kuja Island had now officially come to an end.
A single night of battle had crushed all of Kuja Island's fighting strength.
And the result he obtained was the large increase in group obedience he had expected.
Kuja was originally a pirate nation, one that revered martial strength and even considered strength to be beauty.
Previously, Ren had been an enemy. No matter how powerful he was, no Kuja warrior would submit.
Because in their worldview, submission was equivalent to death.
But things were different now.
Their emperor had voluntarily given up resistance. The deathmatch no longer had a leader.
At the same time, they had also understood what would happen if they insisted on fighting to the death regardless of the cost.
The pitch-black blazing sun they had witnessed at that time—
Represented complete destruction!
And there was only one reason for the shift in their mindset.
When Ren exited his Meteor Burst state, he had deliberately turned that energy into a sun disk high above.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he threw it toward the distant sea.
Along with a deafening explosion that seemed as if it would shatter their eardrums, they witnessed what destructive power truly meant.
The tyrannical blazing sun evaporated millions upon millions of tons of seawater from the sea, then killed an unknown number of Sea Kings with an enormous explosion.
Their severed remains could still be picked up across the surrounding waters for the next half month.
The seabed erupted into a seaquake because of it, forming a terrifyingly massive tsunami in the waters near Kuja Island.
At the same time…
Kuja Island itself was also affected by the seaquake, triggering a major earthquake.
The combination of pure energy and Haki produced an effect that was practically a qualitative transformation.
(End of Chapter)