“The condition is accepted.”
Onigumo sheathed his blade.
While it looked like a compromise, his hawk-like eyes remained locked onto Zane, who was coiled beside Hancock.
His gaze was no longer one of shock — it carried a deeply uncomfortable mix of appraisal and greed, like an experienced butcher sizing up a prime piece of livestock ready for slaughter.
“However, Boa Hancock, there is one thing I must remind you of.”
Onigumo took a step forward.
His voice was calm but carried undeniable arrogance.
“Marine Headquarters is a place of rules.
While I’ve never heard of a pirate crew making a beast their Vice Captain, since you insist…”
He paused, a meaningful cold smirk curling his lips:
“I hope you can keep it under control.
After all, this black-scaled, red-patterned mutant is labeled as ‘SS-grade rare material’ in the Celestial Dragons’ illustrated guide in Mary Geoise.
They say armor made from its peeled skin can’t even be burned through by magma.
Perfect timing — Admiral Sakazuki has been looking for a pair of fire-resistant greaves lately.”
The air suddenly went deathly silent.
The Marine soldiers who had been cheering for a “peaceful resolution” felt the temperature plummet to freezing.
On the Kuja ship, Sandersonia and Marigold turned deathly pale.
They knew their sister too well.
If some words were provocation, what Onigumo had just said was outright suicide.
“You said… peeling its skin?”
Hancock lowered her head.
Her bangs covered her eyes, hiding her expression.
But the white imperial cloak that had been fluttering in the sea breeze now rose as if lifted by invisible winds, flapping wildly.
“Yes.” Onigumo seemed unaware of how dangerous the situation had become — or perhaps his Vice Admiral pride made him believe a mere snake wasn’t worth a Warlord flipping out over.
“This is just a kind reminder.
After all, beasts don’t understand manners.
If it offends some big shot, being turned into a specimen is only…”
BOOM—!!!
A dark-red shockwave erupted from Hancock like a volcanic explosion, sweeping across the entire sea!
Conqueror’s Haki!
And it was filled with extreme rage — completely unrestrained!
“Ughhh…”
“What’s happening… my head is spinning…”
On the two closest warships, hundreds of elite Marines didn’t even have time to scream.
Their eyes rolled back and they collapsed like harvested wheat.
Even Onigumo’s adjutant dropped to his knees, gasping in terror.
“A kind reminder?”
Hancock slowly raised her head.
Her peerlessly beautiful face was now covered in bone-chilling killing intent.
Her deep blue eyes burned with two dark flames.
“You dare set your sights on Night… and even want to turn him into a specimen?”
“Unforgivable!
Absolutely unforgivable!!”
Whoosh!
A blast of air exploded where she stood.
Hancock’s figure vanished.
“So fast!” Onigumo’s pupils contracted sharply.
As a master of the Six Powers, he could barely catch a residual shadow.
“Shave!”
The next instant, Hancock’s long, explosively powerful leg appeared beside Onigumo’s face.
“Fragrant Kick!”
This kick carried no petrification effect — she didn’t want to turn this bastard into stone.
She wanted to shatter his skull!
Clang!
At the critical moment, Onigumo drew his blade, coating it in Armament Haki, and barely blocked the strike.
BOOM!
The terrifying impact shattered a huge crater in the warship’s deck.
Onigumo was pushed back over a dozen meters, his feet carving deep grooves into the steel plating until he slammed into the main mast.
“Insane woman!”
Onigumo’s arms felt numb, his palms split open.
He never expected Hancock to actually try to kill a Marine Vice Admiral over “a snake”!
“All ships, open fire!
Sink that pirate ship!” Onigumo roared.
Since they had torn all pretenses, there was no need to hold back.
Boom boom boom!
The remaining two warships turned their cannons and unleashed a saturation bombardment toward the Perfume Snake.
“Child’s play.” Hancock snorted coldly.
She spun in mid-air, flicking her fingers repeatedly.
“Slave Arrow!”
Pink light arrows rained down like a storm.
The incoming cannonballs were instantly petrified upon contact and fell into the sea as worthless scrap.
But in the moment Hancock was occupied intercepting the shells—
Onigumo’s eyes flashed.
As a veteran Vice Admiral, he instantly spotted the opening.
Hancock’s weakness was that snake!
“Since you care so much about this beast, I’ll send it to hell first!”
Onigumo gripped his blade with both hands, took a deep breath, and poured all his Haki into the edge like flowing water.
“One Sword Style – Iaido – Sea Cutter!”
Clang!
A massive fifty-meter-long blue slash tore through the air with a piercing screech, bypassing Hancock and flying straight toward Zane on the Kuja ship’s figurehead!
This was a swordsman-level slash — powerful enough to cut through steel warships and bisect smaller Sea Kings.
“Night!!!” Hancock whipped her head around, her eyes nearly splitting from fury.
She was mid-air and couldn’t defend in time.
“Die!” Onigumo sneered coldly.
However.
Facing the terrifying slash that could cut him in half, Zane — coiled on the figurehead — didn’t dodge.
In fact, a flash of… excitement appeared in his eyes?
“Hiss— (Finally something with some bite!)”
Zane not only didn’t retreat — he charged forward to meet it!
[Mimicry · Partial Enhancement — Tail!] [Armament Haki · Hardening!] [Skill Combo: Conqueror’s Iron Tail!]
Buzz!
Zane’s originally slender tail instantly swelled several times over.
Jet-black Armament Haki coated his dark-golden scales like armor.
He whipped his tail like a black heavenly pillar, smashing viciously against the incoming slash!
Hard clash!
CLANG—!!!
A deafening metallic collision rang out, loud enough to burst eardrums.
The blue slash and black giant tail clashed in mid-air for half a second.
The resulting shockwave pressed the surrounding seawater down by three feet.
Crack!
The blue slash shattered into countless glowing particles and dissipated.
Zane’s massive tail was knocked back by the recoil and slammed heavily onto the deck.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Onigumo remained frozen in his slashing stance, mouth slightly open, eyes nearly popping out.
“He… blocked it?!”
“Bare-handed… no, bare-tailed, he took my slash head-on?!”
That was a slash infused with Ryuo (internal destruction Haki)!
Even regular Rear Admirals wouldn’t dare take it directly — and this snake had shattered it with one tail strike?
Was this thing even a snake anymore?!
On the Kuja ship.
Zane slowly retracted his tail and glanced at the tip.
There, on his previously flawless dark-golden scales, was a deep white mark.
Several scales had cracked, leaking faint golden-red blood.
It hurt.
It hurt like hell.
The sharp blade intent cutting into his marrow made Zane suck in a cold breath.
But he didn’t cry out.
Instead, he bared his fangs in a ferocious,狂热的 grin toward the distant Onigumo.
[Ding!
Suffered high-level Armament Haki (Ryuo) attack!] [Scale damage!
Pain nerve stimulation!] [Triggered Advanced Mission: Comprehend Ryuo!] [Mission Description: Simple hardening is no longer enough.
Devour the flesh of strong Haki users who possess Ryuo, or comprehend the true essence of “flow” in battle!]
“Hiss— (Admiral’s greaves?
I’ve taken a liking to your Vice Admiral skin.)”