However, after examining the identification documents, Doll showed no intention of backing down.
In her eyes, anyone branded with the name "pirate"—regardless of their background or connections—stood in direct opposition to Marine justice.
Without the slightest hesitation, she drew the sword at her waist and issued a cold command.
"Open fire. Sink them."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several cannonballs screamed through the air, exploding violently around Stussy's ship and sending towering columns of seawater into the sky.
Seeing this, Stussy's fury ignited instantly.
She had never intended to stir up trouble on her way to find Whitebeard—but the relentless aggression of this Marine colonel had completely trampled on her patience.
Planting her foot hard against the deck, Stussy launched herself into the air and charged straight toward the Marine warship's deck.
"Stop her!" Doll shouted sharply.
The Marines immediately raised their rifles and opened fire, while soldiers wielding blades rushed forward to intercept.
But as the so-called "Science Pirate," Stussy possessed not only formidable close-combat skills, but also a deadly arsenal of scientific weapons.
She weaved effortlessly through the gunfire. In the next instant, a small, palm-sized sphere appeared in her hand.
She hurled it to the ground.
Bang!
The device detonated, releasing a cloud of dark green smoke that spread rapidly across the deck. This was one of the latest weapons she had brought from Egghead Island—a specially engineered toxic gas of extreme lethality.
Caught completely off guard, the Marines inhaled the poison. Their bodies convulsed violently as they collapsed one after another, life fading from their eyes within moments.
In just a few short minutes, nearly every Marine on the deck lay dead—everyone except Doll.
Doll's heart clenched at the sight, but years of training forced her to calm herself instantly. She activated Geppo, kicking off the air repeatedly and lifting herself upward, narrowly avoiding the poisonous fumes.
But Stussy had no intention of letting this Marine colonel escape.
Before the toxic smoke had even fully dispersed, she followed Doll's presence, a short blade made of special alloy appearing silently in her hand as she lunged forward.
Suspended midair with nowhere to brace herself, Doll could only rely on Paper Arts to evade, drawing her sword and counterattacking at the same time.
For a moment, the sky itself seemed to become their battlefield.
Steel clashed against alloy. Shockwaves burst with every exchange. The sound of blades colliding and compressed air detonating echoed relentlessly.
Doll had to constantly remain on guard, wary of Stussy releasing more poison, while also fending off her relentless attacks. Gradually, she began to lose ground.
Even so, defeating Doll outright was no simple task.
This young Marine colonel was a true disciple of the legendary instructor Zeff—Z, having trained the Six Powers—Soru, Geppo, Paper Arts, Iron Body, Rankyaku, and Finger Pistol—to a highly advanced level.
Each of her counterattacks was precise and forceful, repeatedly neutralizing Stussy's killing blows at critical moments.
Just as the battle reached a stalemate, a sly smile crept across Stussy's lips, a calculating glint flashing through her eyes.
She deliberately slowed her assault.
Seizing the moment when Doll twisted aside to avoid a lingering wisp of toxic smoke, Stussy suddenly scattered a large amount of fine green powder into the air with her left hand.
The particles were incredibly minute—nearly invisible to the naked eye. Shielded by the remaining poison cloud, Doll had no time to react and inadvertently inhaled some of it.
Only seconds passed before a strange sensation surged through her body.
An unbearable heat spread within her, as if flames were raging through her veins. Her normally fair complexion flushed crimson, and her breathing grew rapid and uneven.
"Y-you… what is that green powder…? Why do I feel—"
Doll clenched her teeth, trying to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. Fine beads of sweat formed across her forehead, her body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
"Kin hahahaha!"
Stussy burst into laughter, her voice brimming with smug delight.
"This is good stuff—something I just finished developing on Egghead Island: Ecstasy Fruit Powder!
It's extracted from a rare plant found in the West Blue—the Ecstasy Tree.
That tree only blooms once every five years, and the fruit it bears is unbelievably scarce.
Once any living creature inhales this powder, their blood immediately surges, their body overwhelmed by intense heat.
If they don't achieve yin-yang balance within one hour, the blood energy inside them will spiral completely out of control—until their body bursts apart and they die!"
As she spoke, Stussy pulled out a small, exquisitely crafted vial and waved it in front of Doll. Inside was green powder identical to what filled the air.
"I originally prepared this for that old man Whitebeard.
But since you stubborn Marines insisted on getting in my way… I suppose you'll do as a test subject."
"You're despicable!" Doll spat.
She bit her lip hard, forcibly suppressing the raging energy inside her body. Gripping her sword with both hands, she gathered her strength, preparing to unleash a devastating Rankyaku.
But Stussy remained completely unflustered. Instead, her grin turned even more sinister.
"Easy there, Marine colonel. I suggest you don't exert yourself too much.
Did you really think Ecstasy Fruit Powder only makes you feel hot?
Its real specialty is far nastier—it suppresses the flow of Haki in your body while drastically weakening your physical strength, leaving you soft and powerless.
The more you struggle, the faster it spreads through your system.
Keep forcing yourself, and the drug will take full effect even sooner—by then, not even a god could save you."
"You vile coward—hand over the antidote, or I swear I'll make you pay!" Doll roared.
Her body trembled violently. An unnatural flush spread across her pale skin, every pore screaming in resistance against the drug ravaging her from within.
The pain was unbearable.
Yet her eyes remained unwavering, blazing with fury and defiance as she glared at Stussy, her voice thick with hatred.
At the word "antidote," Stussy laughed again, her face twisted with undisguised malice.
"Antidote? For your current condition, a man is the best antidote. Kin hahahaha!"
She paused, amusement dancing in her eyes as she continued,
"Oh, and here's another fun fact—the effects of Ecstasy Fruit Powder last a full month.
Even a thick-skinned, incredibly resilient elephant would be driven into uncontrollable heat by it—so what chance does a human woman like you have?"
As her words fell, Stussy pointed toward the deck below, where Marine corpses lay strewn everywhere.
Her cruel smile deepened.
"Now you understand, don't you?
If you want to survive, you'd better hurry up and find a man.
…Oh, that's right. I almost forgot."
She chuckled softly.
"All the men on this warship are already dead from my poison gas.
Looking around, it's just you and me now—no living man in sight.
Which means…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"You don't have any way to detoxify yourself at all."
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