The night on Amazon Lily was even quieter than the surface of the Calm Belt.
Inside the vast royal bedchamber, candlelight flickered softly.
The air was filled with a unique, intoxicating fragrance — not cheap perfume, but a delicate blend of orchid and ocean scent that belonged solely to Boa Hancock.
Zane was currently coiled atop an enormous, luxurious bed covered in rare white tiger pelts.
If he weren’t a snake right now, this would be the ultimate “pleasure paradise” that countless pirates dreamed of.
But all he could do was complain internally: Snakes are cold-blooded!
This silk blanket feels nice and slippery, but it doesn’t hold any damn heat!
“Night, why are you squirming so much?”
Hancock had just finished bathing.
She wore only a loose, deep crimson bathrobe that clung to her damp skin, her long wet hair cascading sensually over her shoulders.
She walked barefoot across the carpet, shedding her daytime arrogance and radiating a lazy, seductive charm.
She approached the bed and watched the black snake twisting around on the sheets, trying to find a warm spot.
The corner of her lips curved upward.
“What a strange snake…”
Hancock extended a slender finger and gently poked Zane’s triangular head.
Zane flicked his tongue in annoyance.
You’re the strange one.
Your whole family is strange.
I’m just looking for a heat source!
The next second, he didn’t hold back.
With a flick of his tail, he slid smoothly up Hancock’s smooth calf, slipped under the hem of her bathrobe, and coiled possessively around her warm, soft lower abdomen.
It felt like a perfect furnace.
“Mmm…” Hancock’s body trembled slightly.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
The cool, silky sensation of his scales pressing directly against her bare skin would have meant death for anyone else.
Yet for some reason, this snake made her feel an unprecedented sense of security and comfort — just like when he had covered her cursed brand earlier.
“Only you don’t fear me because of that mark… and you don’t look at me with filthy lust because of my beauty…” Hancock murmured, gently stroking the small bulge under the blanket.
Her deep blue eyes grew hazy.
“Men are all liars… filthy creatures.
But you’re different.”
Zane rolled his eyes inside the blanket.
Lady, I just don’t have the equipment right now, and I’m a snake — species barrier, hello?
Still, listening to the world’s most beautiful woman talk like a vulnerable girl, Zane didn’t interrupt.
In this cruel world, the so-called “Pirate Empress” was just a lonely woman who wrapped herself in arrogance and petrification to protect her heart.
Since I’m eating your soft rice, I’ll take responsibility for your mental health too.
[Ding!
Detected increase in intimacy with Child of Destiny!] [Reward: Observation Haki (Seed Stage)!] [System Evaluation: Your motives may be impure, but the results are excellent.]
“Who has impure motives?
This is survival!” Zane grumbled internally, even as a cool stream of energy flowed into his mind.
The world, previously perceived only through heat and vibration, suddenly gained a faint new “layer” of color.
Just as the woman and snake were enjoying this rare peaceful moment—
Creak.
The massive floor-to-ceiling window of the bedchamber was suddenly pushed open.
A short figure agilely jumped inside.
“Snake Princess!
I have something important to say!”
It was Elder Nyon (Gloriosa).
She gripped her snake staff, her wrinkled old face full of grave concern.
Hancock’s expression changed instantly.
The lazy, seductive big sister from a moment ago vanished.
Her eyes turned ice-cold, and faint Conqueror’s Haki leaked out.
“Gloriosa!
How many times have I told you?
You are not allowed to enter my chambers without my permission!” Hancock flicked her sleeve, radiating killing intent.
“Do you want to be kicked out the window?”
“Even if it means death, I must speak!”
Elder Nyon glanced at the black bulge on Hancock’s abdomen, fear deepening in her eyes.
“That snake… that black snake called ‘Night’ — he cannot stay!”
From under the blanket, Zane poked his head out.
His golden vertical pupils stared coldly at the old woman who had ruined the atmosphere.
“Hiss— (Old hag, ruining my fun?)”
“Look!
That gaze!” Elder Nyon pointed at Zane, her voice trembling.
“That is no ordinary beast’s look!
It’s greed, tyranny, and arrogance above all living things!
Ancient texts record a ferocious beast called the ‘World-Devouring Demon Serpent.’ Even in its youth it feasted on Sea Kings, and as an adult it could swallow entire islands…”
“Enough!”
Hancock’s sharp shout cut her off.
She pulled Zane into her arms, hugging him protectively like her most precious treasure.
“Night is the one I brought back.
He has saved me and harmed no one.
World-Devouring Demon Serpent?
That’s just your senile delusion!”
“Snake Princess, you don’t understand!” Elder Nyon stamped her staff desperately.
“His growth speed is too terrifying!
Today at the dock, he swallowed and instantly digested meat several times his size — that defies all biology!
If he continues growing, not just Amazon Lily, but the entire Calm Belt will become his hunting ground!
One day… he might even devour you!”
“Devour me?”
Hancock suddenly laughed — a laugh full of absolute confidence and a touch of madness.
She lowered her head, gazing at Zane in her arms, her fingers gently tracing his sleek black scales.
“If that day truly comes, dying in the mouth of such a powerful being would be my honor.
But until then… he is mine.”
“Night, tell this old woman — will you eat me?”
Zane looked into Hancock’s deep blue eyes.
This woman… is insanely cute when she’s crazy.
He slowly slithered out of her embrace, raised the upper half of his body over a meter high, and met Elder Nyon’s gaze at eye level.
Since you insist on picking a fight, old hag, I’ll show you what a real ferocious beast looks like.
[Use Item: Haki Guidance Stone?]
“Use it!”
Buzz——!
An invisible wave radiated from Zane.
It wasn’t Conqueror’s Haki yet — he didn’t have that destiny.
This was pure, murderous spiritual pressure mixed with his newly awakened trace of Observation Haki and the full power of his Basic Intimidation talent!
In Elder Nyon’s Observation Haki perception, the little black snake suddenly vanished.
In its place appeared a colossal beast coiled in a dark abyss, jaws wide enough to swallow the sun and moon.
Those golden vertical pupils burned like twin suns, coldly staring down at an ant.
The soul-deep terror made the former Empress lose control of her body.
“This… this is…”
Elder Nyon’s pupils contracted violently.
Cold sweat drenched her back.
This wasn’t ordinary killing intent.
It was the natural suppression of an apex predator at the top of the food chain.
Zane didn’t attack.
He simply opened his mouth slightly, revealing two dagger-sharp fangs, then performed a very human-like action —
He turned his head away, ignoring Elder Nyon completely, and slithered back into Hancock’s arms, rubbing affectionately against her soft breasts for a comfortable spot.
Utter disregard.
Naked contempt.
As if saying: Your old meat is too tough and stringy.
I have no appetite.
“Did you see that?” Hancock hadn’t felt the targeted pressure, but she saw the old woman’s deathly pale face and felt immense satisfaction.
“Night doesn’t even deign to notice you.
Get out!”
“Fragrant Kick!”
Without giving Elder Nyon any chance to react, Hancock lifted her long, beautiful leg and kicked the old woman square in the face.
Bang!
With a miserable scream, Elder Nyon shot out like a cannonball, tracing a graceful arc through the night sky outside the window.
“Nosy old hag.”
Hancock casually lowered her leg, closed the window, then pounced back onto the bed and pulled Zane close, burying her face against him and inhaling deeply.
“Night, you were so cool just now!
That look in your eyes… even I was moved!”
Zane was nearly squeezed breathless.
Lady, ease up… snakes need to breathe too!
…
Deep into the night.
Hancock’s breathing had become steady and peaceful.
Her sleeping posture was bold and unrestrained, yet her face remained breathtakingly beautiful.
Zane, however, had no desire to sleep.
He quietly slipped out from under the blanket, coiled on the windowsill, and examined his body under the moonlight.
Using the Haki Guidance Stone earlier was just a test.
His real goal was to begin training Armament Haki.
In a world full of muscle-bound monsters and Devil Fruit users, without Armament Haki even a giant body was just a living target.
“System, show Haki progress.”
[Host: Zane] [Armament Haki: Beginner (Comprehension 5%)] [Observation Haki: LV1 (Range: 10 meters)]
“Only 5%?” Zane stared at the tip of his tail.
According to the system, Armament Haki was essentially an invisible armor.
For humans it coated skin; for a snake, it coated scales.
“Imagine… a flowing power, like blood, like steel.”
Zane closed his eyes and focused inward.
He could feel the massive energy from devouring the Sea King flowing inside him.
He tried to guide it, compress and refine it, then push it toward his scales.
Once, twice, ten times…
Failure after failure.
The energy kept scattering like sand.
“No, brute force won’t work.” Zane calmed down.
“What’s a snake’s advantage?
Constriction.
Burst power.
Piercing force concentrated at one point.”
He stopped trying to cover his whole body.
Instead, he focused every ounce of will on a single fingernail-sized scale at the tip of his tail.
“Turn black for me!”
Buzz!
As if responding to his will, that black scale suddenly gained a deeper, matte blackness like ink.
It only lasted less than a second before fading.
But for Zane, it was a qualitative leap!
[Ding!
Congratulations!
Successfully condensed the first strand of Armament Haki!] [Reward: 50 Evolution Points!] [Skill Unlocked: Iron Tail (LV1) — When combined with Armament Haki, tail strike power increases by 200%!]
Zane looked at the bright moon outside, excitement gleaming in his golden vertical pupils.
Success!
Now that he had broken through, the rest was just stacking energy through eating.
With Sea Kings all around Amazon Lily, this place was heaven for him.
“Once I master full-body Armament Haki and evolve into a ‘Heaven-Devouring Python’…”
Zane glanced back at the sleeping Hancock, a fierce yet protective grin forming on his serpentine face.
“Even if a Marine Admiral comes, they won’t touch my long-term meal ticket.”
At that moment, the system panel flashed a red exclamation mark.
[Alert!
Special Plot Point Detected Approaching!] [Mission Issued: Trial of Amazon Lily!] [Description: As an outsider, although you have the Empress’s favor, the Kuja royal guards are not convinced.
Tomorrow morning, the arena will open a “Qualification Test” for you.] [Choice 1: Avoid battle and hide behind the Empress.
Reward: Title “Soft Rice King No.1” (No attributes, will be looked down upon).] [Choice 2: Fight alone and dominate everyone.
Reward: Skill “Gigantification” (LV1), unlock next evolution path!]
Zane’s tongue flicked rapidly as he read the options.
Soft rice is delicious, but eating it while staying hard is the real skill.
Gigantification?
Now that’s a good one.