The Pirate Empress approached, the sharp click-clack of her high heels echoing.
As Hancock drew nearer, an invisible wave of pressure washed over Ryuuto and his companions.
"Let me see what you are truly made of." A disdainful smirk curled on Hancock's lips. Then her brow furrowed, her expression instantly hardening with an imperious air.
Boom!
Black lightning erupted from Hancock's body, instantly sweeping across a radius of several hundred meters. The crackling energy distorted the space it touched, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of willpower.
This was Hancock's Conqueror's Haki.
Bang!
Under the force of the blast, those with weaker wills were instantly overwhelmed by the immense spiritual pressure and collapsed into unconsciousness.
The black lightning passed through Ryuuto's group in an instant.
Amidst the spatial distortion...
Hum!
Ryuuto and Ace's eyes widened as they withstood the impact of the Conqueror's Haki.
Nami's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
As the powerful will washed over Mohmoo, the black lightning patterns on its hide flared to life. A dark, flame-like electricity rose from its body, allowing it to endure the blast.
When the black lightning dissipated, the only ones left standing were Hancock, Boa Sandersonia, Boa Marigold, Elder Nyon, Ryuuto, and Ace.
"Hancock, is this your idea of a welcome?" Ryuuto's voice was laced with anger as he saw Nami fall.
"As expected of the Pirate Empress. To think she possesses Conqueror's Haki!" Ace said, glancing at the scores of unconscious people around them with a look of admiration.
"No matter what I do, I will always be forgiven!" Hancock replied to Ryuuto with a melodious laugh.
Nearby, Elder Nyon frowned, watching the two men who remained standing. Hancock was being too impulsive. They had shown no ill intent, yet she had needlessly provoked a conflict.
Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, however, simply stared at Ryuuto and Ace with taunting expressions.
"You've gone too far! How dare you do that to Nami!"
Ryuuto had had enough of this arrogant woman. With a furious shout, he pushed off the ground and leaped into the air, his body erupting with an immense amount of lightning. The electricity arced from his body into the air, leaving behind the acrid smell of ozone.
"What is that ability?" Boa Marigold exclaimed in shock from beside Hancock.
Elder Nyon's expression grew grim. It was clear now that this wouldn't end peacefully.
"In that case, allow me to test you myself!" Seeing she had thoroughly enraged Ryuuto, Hancock prepared for battle.
"Be captivated by my beauty!"
"Slave Arrow!"
Hancock leaned back, touching a finger to her lips to create a massive, pink, heart-shaped projectile. She then drew it back like a bowstring and fired a volley of pink, arrow-like bolts.
The arrows flew straight toward Ryuuto.
"Just what I was waiting for! Three Thousand Flashes!"
Lightning coursed over Ryuuto's body as a silver glint shone in his eyes.
Zzzt!
A sharp sonic boom erupted from where Ryuuto had been, and a silver line streaked through the air.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
The pink arrows pierced the Ryuuto left behind, which dissolved into a mere afterimage.
"What!" Hancock's face tightened. As the silver light reappeared, she realized Ryuuto was already behind her.
Clang! The ring of a drawn blade cut through the air.
"Aurora Blade!" Ryuuto shouted as a flash of steel appeared.
A brilliant light blazed along the edge of his black sword, Yubashiri. Infused with lightning, the blade hissed as it descended, so sharp it seemed to slice through the very air.
Hancock clearly hadn't anticipated Ryuuto's speed. With no time to react, she threw her body backward, kicking up at him.
"Perfume Femur!"
With a sharp cry, Hancock infused her foot with Conqueror's Haki and brought it down hard on the incoming Yubashiri.
Boom!
As black lightning collided with silver, the two unleashed a boundless might, each force dominating half the space as they clashed violently.
Screech!
The impact produced a grating, ear-splitting sound.
BOOM!
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a giant fist of fire hurtled toward Hancock and her sisters. Ace, seeing Sandersonia and Marigold about to attack Ryuuto, had immediately jumped in to help.
Swoosh!
Seeing the massive Fire Fist approach, all four fighters leaped back to avoid it.
Ryuuto and Hancock now faced each other.
Ace, meanwhile, squared off against Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.
Elder Nyon moved to the side, her age keeping her out of the fight.
"Hancock, your Conqueror's Coating is a bit lacking, isn't it?" Ryuuto said, reflecting on her last attack. The kick infused with Conqueror's Haki had been surprisingly weak. He had expected to be no match for her Haki infusion, but it was clear Hancock relied more on her Devil Fruit ability; her Armament and Conqueror's Haki were not as developed.
"I admit I underestimated you! You won't be so lucky next time!" Hancock's expression was now completely serious as she sized up Ryuuto.
"Then try to resist my charm! Mero Mero Mellow!"
Hancock stepped forward with her right foot and gracefully tossed her long black hair behind her. She then formed a heart shape with her hands in front of her chest. Instantly, a pink, heart-shaped beam of light shot out from her hands.
Zing!
The beam was incredibly fast, unleashing an indiscriminate attack on the area. It passed straight through Ryuuto.
"Not good!" As the Devil Fruit power took hold, a dreadful feeling washed over Ryuuto, and his body began to change.
"Thunder God's Drum!"
Ryuuto roared, sending a powerful jolt of lightning directly into his own heart. His mind instantly cleared, and the transformation halted.
Things were not going so well for Ace, however. He had already been turned to stone.
"This Devil Fruit ability is disgusting," Ryuuto thought grimly. As the most beautiful woman in the world, Hancock's charm was nearly impossible to resist. Even Ace couldn't withstand it. You'd have to be someone like Luffy. Thankfully, his own Thunder God's Drum had saved him.
While Ryuuto was lost in thought, Hancock's attack came again. She leaped down from the air, her impossibly long legs wreathed in black lightning that crackled against the surrounding air.
"How did she get stronger so fast!"
Ryuuto could clearly feel that the power behind Hancock's kick had grown immensely. Her Conqueror's Coating was already starting to look the part.
"It seems I have no choice but to use that technique!" he thought. He drew his lightning power inward, channeling it through his meridians to his heart. Then, amplified by his heartbeat, it erupted outward in an instant.