Chapter 8: The Court of the Snake Princess
The walk through the jungle of Amazon Lily was a silent, tense procession. Arata was surrounded by a full dozen Kuja warriors, their arrows nocked and aimed at his heart. He could feel the sharp points, both physical and spiritual, of their Haki. They were strong, their wills forged in a culture of powerful women. To them, he was an unprecedented threat, a violation of their most sacred law.
He observed everything, his historian's mind cataloging the vibrant flora, the intricate architecture of the treehouses, and the sheer, raw power that seemed to emanate from the very soil. This was a land of warriors, and he respected that.
Whispers trailed in their wake as they entered the main settlement.
"A man...?"
"How did he get past the Sea Kings?"
"Look at his eyes...they're like gold."
"And his ship!It's made of darkness and light!"
The villagers stared with a mixture of horror, fury, and intense curiosity. Arata met no one's gaze directly, keeping his expression neutral, his hands visible and non-threatening. He didn't need Observation Haki to feel the deep-seated fear and hatred they held for his gender. It was a palpable wall he had to breach.
They arrived at a magnificent palace, its design elegant and serpentine. The guards at the door, even more formidable than his escorts, glared at him with undisguised contempt. After a hushed, urgent exchange, the massive doors were opened, and he was ushered into the throne room.
It was a grand, open-aired chamber. At the far end, seated on an ornate throne and bathed in a shaft of sunlight, was the most beautiful woman Arata had ever seen. Boa Hancock. The Pirate Empress. Her beauty was legendary, but in person, it was a physical force, an aura of perfection that threatened to overwhelm the senses. Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her regal posture was one of absolute, unquestioned authority. To her side stood her two sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, their expressions wary and hostile.
The lead warrior kneeled. "Empress Hancock! We found this man on the northern shore. He arrived on a... a strange black ship that glows. He claims his name is Arata and that he wishes to speak with you."
Hancock didn't even look at the warrior. Her dark, captivating eyes were fixed solely on Arata, boring into him with a mixture of boredom and profound disdain. She leaned her cheek on her fist, a picture of languid superiority.
"A man," she said, her voice dripping with a venom so sweet it was intoxicating. "To set foot on our sacred island is a crime punishable by death. To lay your unworthy eyes upon me is a sin for which there is no atonement. You are already condemned. Have you any last words before I turn you to stone?"
The air grew heavy. Arata could feel the power gathering around her, the Mero Mero no Mi waiting to be unleashed. This was the moment. He could not show fear. He could not show weakness. He had to speak not as a supplicant, but as an equal.
He took one calm step forward, ignoring the tensing of the warriors around him. He met her gaze, his own golden eyes steady, reflecting her own image back at her without a trace of the infatuation she was used to.
"I do have words, Empress Hancock," he began, his voice low but clear, carrying to every corner of the silent throne room. "I have not come here as an invader, a thief, or a supplicant. I have come as a traveler who has passed through a hell you cannot imagine. I have sailed the Calm Belt alone, not by avoiding its guardians, but by commanding them to stand aside."
A ripple of disbelief went through the room. Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged a skeptical glance. Hancock's lip curled into a sneer. "A pretty lie. All men are liars."
"It is not a lie," Arata stated simply. He didn't elaborate. He didn't need to. He let a fraction of his power rise to the surface. Not a violent burst, but a slow, rising tide. The air in the room began to crackle with static. The hair on the arms of the nearest warriors stood on end. The faint, sweet scent of ozone mixed with the floral perfumes of the room.
Hancock's bored expression faltered for a microsecond. She felt it. This was not normal. This was not the power of a mere Devil Fruit user. This was something... primordial.
"I mean you and your people no harm," Arata continued, his voice gaining a subtle, thunderous undertone. "I come seeking information and, potentially, an alliance. I seek a woman named Nico Robin. I believe you know of her, and of the man she sails with... Monkey D. Luffy."
The moment the name "Luffy" left his lips, the entire dynamic of the room shattered.
Hancock jolted as if struck by one of Arata's own lightning bolts. Her regal composure evaporated. Her cheeks flushed a brilliant crimson, and her hands flew to her face. "L-L-Luffy?!" she stammered, her voice an octave higher. "You... you know of my Luffy?!"
The collective shock of the Kuja was a physical force. Their Empress, who despised all men, was... blushing? Stuttering?
Arata allowed a small, knowing smile to touch his lips. So the stories are true. This was the chink in her armor, the key to this kingdom. "I know of him. I know he is a man worthy of respect. And I know the woman he fights for, Nico Robin, is in grave danger. I intend to ensure that danger passes. That is my purpose."
He had thrown his dice. The fate of this encounter now rested on the connection to the Straw Hat captain