"Who gave you permission to address me so casually, Marine!"
Jet-black hair flowed in the sea breeze like an ink-black waterfall.
Those eyes sparkled with gem-like brilliance, so beautiful one couldn't look away.
Hancock lifted her chin and smiled faintly, carrying a dangerous sweetness.
Her intangible charm made the surrounding Marines blush, their eyes growing dazed.
"Even if I were truly at fault, I would be forgiven, after all, I am—"
...
"White Wolf Kill—"
Griffin's five fingers clawed outward as a phantom image of a white wolf roared forth, its ferocious maw threatening to devour the world's most beautiful woman!
The surrounding Marines held their breath—no one had expected...
Someone could attack such peerless beauty without hesitation!
Whoosh—
Hancock raised her leg high, her jade-white thigh resembling a crescent scimitar that shattered the white wolf phantom.
Her eyes suddenly turned cold.
"What a rude man..."
Forming a heart shape with her hands, a fragrant wind swept Hancock's hair back.
"Love-Love - Perfume Femur!"
Pink heart-shaped rays spread outward.
...
Boa Hancock, Paramecia-type Love-Love Fruit user, possessing the ability to petrify opponents.
"Not good! One of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea is attacking Colonel Griffin!"
"He'll be turned to stone! We're doomed!!"
"Emergency situation! Activate contingency plan! All Marines prioritize covering Colonel Griffin's retreat!"
"Be extremely careful! The Snake Princess's ability is terrifying! Once the petrification is broken..."
The Marines deliberately avoided looking at Hancock, their sense of duty briefly restoring their self-control.
But...
The pink rays passed through Griffin's body without any effect.
...
This...
Even Hancock's eyes showed surprise. Not even all-female Amazon Lily had anyone who could resist the petrification of Perfume Femur!
She remembered something, her gaze toward Griffin becoming more serious.
"Is he a man without lustful thoughts...?"
The Love-Love Fruit's ability was powerful, but it had limitations.
Aside from Perfume Femur through physical contact, the petrification only worked on those infatuated with her.
Being the world's most beautiful woman significantly enhanced this fruit's effectiveness.
...
Griffin finally had time to tidy the hair stuck to his cheek, wiping the blood from his face.
His crimson Sharingan stared directly at Hancock, completely unfazed.
"Don't slander me. My sexual orientation is perfectly normal."
"It's just that you're rather plain-looking, failing to interest me."
...
...
Plain...
Failing to interest...
A vein bulged on Hancock's forehead.
If these words came from an ugly person, Hancock could laugh it off.
But they came from Griffin, renowned as the pinnacle of Marine attractiveness.
Even Hancock had to admit this man's appearance barely reached her level.
In terms of beauty, below myself and Lord Kari, he would probably be next.
...
"Hancock, care to explain?"
Hawkeye quietly approached Griffin's side, while King, whose mask he had sliced off, moved beside Kari.
Beneath the mask, King also possessed a handsome face, with peculiar patterns adorning the corners of his eyebrows. His hair and skin tone closely resembled Kari's.
Were it not for one being over six meters tall and the other under two meters, some might even mistake them for brothers.
...
Kari adjusted his tattered clothing. Though he had been overpowered by Griffin in the later stages, not a single wound marred his body, with every exposed area of skin radiating flawless perfection.
The four stood facing each other, with Hancock positioned at the center.
...
"Hey... I don't know why, but I have this strange feeling."
"You too?... I get it..."
"It's different from when we faced pirates on previous missions..."
"Both our side and the opponents are... unnervingly beautiful..."
"I was nearly captivated by the Pirate Empress, but after a few glances at Colonel Griffin, my faith in justice was restored."
"I never even looked at the Empress from the start. My world only needs Lord Griffin!"
"Really? You're quite devoted... Wait, you're a man?"
The Marines halted their advance once more, feeling unworthy of approaching without sufficient visual appeal.
...
If this scene were isolated, it would appear as four strikingly distinct handsome men vying for the attention of the world's most beautiful woman.
Though Hawkeye's appearance fell slightly short, his aura of elegant strength compensated amply.
A showdown of aesthetics?... How intriguing...
——
"I owe no explanations. Let the World Government come find me themselves."
Hancock maintained her haughty demeanor, though her gaze softened slightly when it fell upon Kari.
To repay your kindness, I've already prepared to oppose the World Government!
...
"Step aside."
Kari's voice was as cold as the blade in his hand.
Hancock frowned delicately: "Kari, we should retreat first. The Marine encirclement is closing in. Now is the time..."
"I said, step aside."
"Hey... Kari, she did come to help you..." King attempted to reason with his younger clansman.
Kari advanced step by step, blade in hand: "Both you and this woman are utter fools."
"If I wish to leave, even a Marine Admiral cannot stop me."
"What makes you think I'd be doomed without your intervention?"
King and Hancock both froze in realization.
...
Now that they thought about it... he was right...
They had overlooked one crucial fact.
After all, Kari's debut battle had been broadcast live, where he calmly escaped Boraslino's assault.
Someone like that...
Did he truly need their rescue?
...
Kari simply bypassed Hancock, striding briskly toward Griffin's location.
"After sustaining that level of damage, he still maintains his initial form... Is this creature even human?"
Hawkeye's brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Griffin's labored breathing.
Even with a Zoan-type physique, such intense combat had drained him to his limits.
...
"Let me assist you. In return, when you've grown sufficiently, spar with me in swordsmanship."
"Though you're a Devil Fruit user, with your talent, you possess the potential to become a Great Swordsman!"
...
Human energy has limits. Among Haki, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruit abilities, mastering even one to its peak qualifies one as a top-tier fighter.
For Devil Fruit users, the most they can manage is developing their Devil Fruit abilities while tempering their Haki, leaving no energy for swordsmanship training.
Take current Marine Admiral Sakazuki for example - he was once a Great Swordsman in his youth, but had to abandon swordsmanship to delve deeper into developing his Devil Fruit abilities.
According to Mihawk's knowledge, only two people in the world had truly mastered all three disciplines.
One was Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, and the other was Shiki, the Flying Admiral who nearly ended the reign of Pirate King Roger.
However, even Whitebeard primarily relied on his Devil Fruit Ability.
...
"No need."
Griffin smiled faintly and stepped forward.
He extended two fingers toward the charging Kari and made a gentle hooking motion.
"Had enough fun, Kari."
"It's over."
—
Kari's movement came to an abrupt halt as ice crystals began spreading rapidly across his chest.
Ice Release - Thousand Years Ice Coffin!
Crack—
A deep blue ice coffin instantly formed, and with a heavy thud as it hit the ground, Kari became like a sculpture preserved in amber, frozen in that very moment!
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