The pink light of love instantly enveloped the warship. The bodies of the cheering navy soldiers turned into dark gray stone statues in an instant, and they continued to cheer until the last moment, with no one escaping the fate of petrification. All except for Karl. If Luffy was immune to the Empress's charms due to his simplicity and carefree nature, Karl ignored Hancock's petrification through his rich experience and skill.
"Really, that's it?" thought Karl. "If you have the power, then put on some kind of thrilling show! If you have the spirit, go ahead, I promise to petrify you!"
— Ding~ [Do not fight with your own people 3/7] Quest series failed. —
Of course, failure again! Karl was ready for it. Although he wasn't too upset, he was somewhat annoyed. He looked at the stone statues with exaggerated expressions behind him and coldly snorted:
"A bunch of weaklings."
"How is this possible? How can someone ignore my charms?"
Looking at the tall and handsome young navy soldier before her, Hancock covered her sensual lips in shock, her eyes wide open like church bells.
The female warriors on the ship were also in shock, unable to believe that someone could resist the charms of Lady Snake.
— Stop causing chaos, Miss Hancock! —
Karl, directing his sword, Shusui, at Hancock, calmly said:
— Reverse the petrification and follow me to Navy headquarters, or you'll face the consequences!
Since the mission had failed, Karl had nothing to fear, and he didn't care if he broke the rules.
— Hmph~ You stand alone and dare to threaten me! —
Karl gripped Shusui tightly, and the color of Armament Haki instantly enveloped the sword. He coldly stated:
— I'm alone, and that's enough!
— Insolent! —
The small giant Marigold, standing on the head of a giant snake, raised her Guandao and aimed it at Karl.
— Claaang! —
Karl effortlessly blocked Marigold's attack with one hand and looked directly at Hancock:
— Can I take this as a declaration of war against the Navy? Do you understand the consequences of such an action?
Upon hearing this, Boa Hancock's expression remained unchanged as she self-indulgently stroked her cheek:
— It doesn't matter, no matter what I do, the whole world will forgive me, so...
— Stand down! I want to deal with this marine myself! —
— Sister!? — Marigold looked at Hancock in confusion.
— I said, go away! —
— Yes! — Marigold stepped back.
Boa Hancock looked at Karl with her beautiful eyes and said:
— You're proud of resisting my charms. You'll find out the consequences of provoking me soon enough!
— Really? I'll wait and see! —
As soon as she spoke these words, Hancock quickly lunged at Karl, striking him on the shoulder with her long white leg and shouting:
— Fragrant Kick!
Karl's eyes sparkled, and his left shoulder was covered with Armament Haki, releasing a detached layer of armor to block Hancock's Fragrant Kick.
— What?! — Hancock was shocked. Her Fragrant Kick could petrify an opponent as soon as they received it, regardless of whether they were in love with her. How is it possible that this Marine remains unharmed?
Although Karl didn't know what Hancock was thinking, he could tell from her expression that she had never encountered a strong person capable of releasing Armament Haki. He even felt there was no need to release it. Simply using Armament Haki for reinforcement would have been enough to make him immune to Hancock's petrification effect, provided the Haki was strong enough.
Taking advantage of Hancock's momentary confusion, Karl grabbed her by the ankle, spun her around on the spot, and threw her aside.
The battleground was thus transferred to Hancock's ship. There were many petrified Navy soldiers on the warship. If it were destroyed, it would be a disaster!
Watching as Hancock was tossed, the women warriors of the nation cried out in concern:
— Snake Princess!
Hancock quickly adjusted her center of gravity in the air and landed steadily on the deck, sharply shouting:
— Get out of my way!
As soon as these words were spoken, Karl descended from the sky. Shusui was already sheathed because Karl felt he didn't need to use a sword to deal with Hancock.
In the previous fight, he sensed Hancock's overall strength. Her physical attributes weren't as strong as his, and her Haki training wasn't top-notch either. The only thing that might have been stronger than his was probably Observation Haki, but Karl was no ordinary soldier.
The limiting power of Observation Haki was negligible to him.
Hancock was probably just 23 years old at the moment (her birthday is September 2, and currently, it's the end of 1513), about a year and a half younger than Karl. Her current strength surpassed that of most people.
Hancock looked at Karl intently, shock already settling in her heart. This Navy soldier is so strong! He is completely different from any opponent she has encountered before.
But as the Empress of Amazon Lily, she couldn't lose in front of her people.
"Kiss Gun!"
Hancock touched her lips with her fingers, creating a small pink heart, and used it like a bullet, pointing her finger at Karl's right temple as if it were the barrel of a gun.
It wasn't that the shot was inaccurate, but in the perception of Observation Haki, that's exactly how Karl should have turned his head.
In reality, Karl was indeed ready for this, but seeing the trajectory of the Kiss Gun, he merely stood still.
"I foresee your prediction!"
Hancock wasn't surprised that she missed. She touched her lips with her fingers, her expression unchanged, and transformed it into a huge pink heart, drawing it back like a bow with an arrow, releasing many pink arrows at Karl.
"Slave Arrows!"
Karl's figure moved swiftly, dodging the Slave Arrows and continuously closing the distance to Hancock, preparing for close combat.
The Slave Arrows that Karl dodged fell directly upon the women warriors, petrifying them one after another, accidentally wounding her subjects, but Hancock remained calm.
The women warriors who were not petrified shouted:
"Quickly, get out of here, don't interfere with Lady Hancock's fight!"
Meanwhile, when Karl was within ten meters of Hancock, he stomped his foot on the ground, and his figure vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing in front of Hancock, raising his fist and striking her in the face.
"Damn!"
Hancock quickly raised her hands and used enhanced Armament Haki to shield her face, but the powerful force made her retreat repeatedly.
Yet Karl was relentless, charging at Hancock in one stride, fully displaying his excellent physical abilities.
The national defense warriors, watching from the sidelines, were in disbelief as they saw her being 'beaten' and were completely powerless to intervene.
In less than a moment of battle, Lady Empress was struck several times, yet she couldn't even touch the Navy officer's clothes.
Karl, smiling, looked at Hancock, who was slightly out of breath and had a few bruises on her arms and thighs.
"You should be aware of the difference between us! Boa Hancock!"
"Now come with me to the Navy headquarters willingly, and I might overlook everything that happened today."
Hancock, with an angry glint in her eyes, replied through gritted teeth.
"Forget it! Even if I lose the battle today and die on my ship, I'll never go with you to the Navy headquarters!"