Chapter 33: The Empress's Heart Begins to Waver
Bzzzz—
The sweet, fragrant Mero-Mero Mellow washed over Rok's face.
Warm. Pleasant. Almost… refreshing?
Instead of pain, it felt like a spring breeze.
Rok actually closed his eyes, spread his arms, and leaned into it like he was getting a massage.
The entire arena: …
Half the Kuja thought he had accepted his fate and was embracing death.
Luffy and Marguerite were just worried sick.
Luffy didn't fully understand Hancock's power, but from the whispers he figured it out.
"Why isn't Rok dodging?! He's fast enough!"
Is he… charmed by that tall woman?!
…Wait, is she actually pretty?
Damn it, where's Sanji when you need him?
"Hmph! Sandersonia, after he's stone, move his statue outside my bedroom. He'll stand guard for me forever!"
Hancock turned away with a triumphant huff.
She had poured extra power into that beam.
He was 100% petrified by now.
Silence.
No reply from Sandersonia.
No gasp from the crowd.
Nothing.
A bad feeling crawled up Hancock's spine.
"…Sandersonia?"
"S-Sis… your Mero-Mero… it didn't work! That guy Rok—he's not turning to stone!!"
The arena exploded.
Because there stood Rok— completely unaffected, eyes closed, smiling like he was at a spa.
"Shishishi! That's Rok for you! Reliable! When we meet up with the crew, I'm definitely inviting him on the ship!"
Luffy laughed, relieved.
Hancock whipped around.
Her perfect face was pure shock.
Her deep blue eyes wide with disbelief.
Impossible.
She had hit him dead-on with an enhanced beam.
No one—no one—had ever resisted full-power Mero-Mero Mellow.
Yet here he was, untouched.
For the first time in her life, Hancock felt something strange bloom in her chest.
Curiosity. Confusion. And something warm she didn't recognize.
"Boa Hancock. I told you you'd regret trying to petrify me."
Rok opened his eyes and grinned.
He could see it— the Empress was rattled.
And he wanted her more rattled.
The world's most beautiful woman was hard to resist even for him.
Without the petrification immunity skill, he'd probably be a statue right now.
He wasn't Luffy-level asexual, after all.
"You… what do you want? To fight me?"
Hancock's voice wavered as Rok began climbing the steps to her throne.
She wasn't scared of his strength— she was a Shichibukai, she had Conqueror's Haki, domination kicks, everything.
But for some reason… she didn't want to fight him.
That was new.
And terrifying.
"Stop right there!"
Sandersonia and Marigold stepped forward, transforming into their Zoan hybrid forms.
They could tell something was wrong with their sister.
They had to protect her.
"Rok, I got your back!"
"No need, Luffy. Save your strength. Big things are coming."
Rok waved him off.
The Gorgon sisters were strong for Amazon Lily, but not on his level.
And he had no intention of hurting them.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The stairs shattered under their onslaught.
Serpent Hair Possession — Flame Serpent God! Serpent Hair Possession — Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi!
Eight massive snake heads roared toward Rok.
The crowd held their breath.
Only Hancock was stronger than her sisters on this island.
But to Rok?
Child's play.
He didn't even draw Undead.
Armament-less Style — 180 Phoenix of Troubles!
==============================================================
Support me and be 100 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/inkshield