...
"Where am I?"
Ryuuto slowly regained consciousness, rubbing his throbbing head. The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes...
He was lying on a bed, surrounded by six red silk ribbons hanging down.
This was clearly a woman's room!
"Well, when in Rome..."
His entire body felt drained, as if all his strength had been sapped. Ryuuto collapsed back onto the bed, not wanting to move an inch.
His mind replayed the last moments he could remember. An image of Boa Hancock's captivating gaze surfaced, a sight so beautiful it could stir pity in any heart.
"But... isn't something wrong here?" Ryuuto murmured to himself.
Unable to make sense of the situation, Ryuuto submerged his consciousness into his mind to check the system interface. He vaguely recalled a notification popping up.
[Lightning Arts: Mastery]
He hadn't paid it much mind before, but seeing it now was a shock. His Lightning Arts had somehow leaped two levels, going directly from Introductory to Mastery.
"What a massive gain!"
A wave of delight washed over Ryuuto as he took in the change.
"This whole adventure was worth it," he mused.
He had already mastered the Drum of the Thunder God, a technique that used lightning to stimulate his heart, causing it to beat with the fury of a thunderclap. This allowed him to purge any negative control effects and maintain his clarity. But infusing his own heart with his lightning was an immense risk.
Although Ryuuto had discovered that the resonance in his heart could further strengthen his Lightning Arts, a large amount of electrical energy would place an extreme burden on it. Fortunately, he had suddenly entered a chaotic state, allowing him to bypass the stage where his heart would have been destroyed by the power.
Even so, unleashing Raijin had completely drained his stamina in a very short amount of time.
"But there's no denying it. That move is absurdly strong!"
Ryuuto savored the memory of that state. It was like he had entered a transcendent plane of existence. The violet lightning coiling around his body was Annihilation Lightning itself. Every single move he made could not only counter Devil Fruit abilities but also possessed astonishing power. This violet lightning carried its own intimidating aura, capable of suppressing a Logia user's elemental form at close range and granting him immunity to conceptual Paramecia fruits.
"It's powerful, alright, but the stamina cost is just too high," Ryuuto thought.
Grrr...
Suddenly, a loud growl rumbled from his stomach.
"So hungry!"
Forcing his exhausted body to move, Ryuuto slowly stood up from the bed, looking for a place to find some food.
Tap, tap...
His bare feet padded against the smooth stone floor.
"Left or right?" Ryuuto came to a junction, unsure which way to go.
"Let's go right." After glancing down the long corridors, he caught a faint, fragrant scent wafting from the right and made his decision.
Having chosen a direction, Ryuuto dragged his weary body forward.
Thump, thump...
"The smell seems to be coming from this room," Ryuuto said softly, gently pushing open the wooden door in front of him.
The first thing that met his eyes was a large red ribbon, hanging silently to the floor like a curtain, obscuring everything in the room from view.
"This probably isn't the dining hall."
Ryuuto touched the ribbon, guessing to himself.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard the sound of splashing water from right in front of him.
"Ryuuto!" a clear voice called out, laced with a hint of indignation.
The next moment, Boa Hancock's face, a perfect work of art, appeared before him.
It was worth noting that Hancock was currently in a sauna. Hearing Ryuuto's arrival, she didn't even bother to put on clothes, immediately pulling aside the ribbon to reveal herself. Though steam billowed around her, it did nothing to hinder Ryuuto's appreciation of her beauty.
"Hancock!! Where is this?" Ryuuto asked in astonishment.
Before he could say another word, Hancock's soft, delicate hand grabbed his own. Hampered by the steam and his own lack of stamina, Ryuuto staggered, looking up to meet a pair of eyes as gentle as water.
"What... What is happening?" Ryuuto's mind went blank, unable to process the situation. Was this the same look she had given him during their fight?
"Don't look at me like that... this one will get shy!" Hancock stammered, feeling Ryuuto's intense gaze. A blush instantly bloomed across her cheeks as she stood awkwardly, her hands fidgeting at her sides.
When Hancock let go of his hand, Ryuuto lost his support. His foot slipped, and he tumbled forward.
Thud!!
"Ah... don't do that!" Knocked over by Ryuuto, Hancock felt his presence wash over her. Her mind went blank as she stared up at him, her voice trembling.
As for Ryuuto, his gaze was locked on Hancock's exquisite face, and a powerful surge of emotion rose within him...
Hancock looked back at Ryuuto, taking in his sharp brows and piercing eyes, the chiseled features of his face...
"He's... actually quite handsome!" she thought, a fresh wave of shyness sweeping over her.
The night passed in a flurry of passion.
"How did I just get swept up in all this..." The thought kept replaying in Ryuuto's mind.
Outside, the lively atmosphere of Amazon Lily filled the air. The island's residents were calling out enthusiastically in the streets, some selling ironware, others selling beasts caught in the mountains. The entire island was brimming with life.
Inside the house, however, it was a different scene entirely...
Boa Sandersonia arrived with a newspaper, looking for Hancock. On the front page was a picture of Ryuuto's handsome face. But as she approached the door, before she even got close, she sensed something was wrong.
"Sister!!" Sandersonia was furious.
But Hancock's pained cries didn't last long. They soon changed, becoming high and ecstatic.
Sandersonia froze in place. The hand she had raised finally lowered.
"Hah..."
Nothing more needed to be said.
Out on the sea, there was not a breath of wind. The massive Mohmoo let out a bored yawn. With Nami on his back, he couldn't even dive into the depths to feed, leaving him to stare blankly into the distance. Fortunately, now that he had evolved into a Sea King, one meal could last him a very long time.
The sun was high in the sky...
The sun's warm rays bathed every corner of Amazon Lily. The fighting arena was never empty, with one match after another unfolding without pause. The female warriors fought while spectators cheered them on, creating a lively and bustling scene—truly befitting a nation that revered combat.
Elder Nyon had also come looking for Hancock. She too paused at the door for a moment before shaking her head and walking away.
The beauty of the day was reflected in every part of the Kuja's country. This was the peace and prosperity of her people that Hancock would one day fight to the death to protect.
The sun was high in the sky...
"Hrrrr..." Ryuuto's breathing was even, having clearly fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Hancock gazed at the sleeping Ryuuto, her hands gently caressing his face as her heart screamed, "This man is not only powerful, but he's also incredibly handsome."
...