The battle between Liu Huangyi and Lin Muxue continued, with Lin Muxue gradually falling into a disadvantage.
Although the power of the Rumble Rumble Fruit was formidable, many of her crew members had been charmed, making it difficult for her to unleash her full strength without risking their lives and weakening the Chosen One Pirate Crew's combat effectiveness.
Thus, she was forced to hold back.
"Wake up, all of you!"
However, by slightly controlling the electricity, she delivered a 10,000-volt shock that was painful but not lethal. Some crew members regained their senses, while others collapsed, unable to fight.
Li Cang also regained consciousness and shouted, "Close your eyes! Don't look at her!"
Yet, Liu Huangyi continued to coo, her voice like a siren's song, still affecting those who heard it.
Liu Huangyi's voice seemed to carry a magical allure, capable of stirring the hearts of those who listened, making it hard for them to resist.
The Love-Love Fruit's power surged, turning these enchanted crew members into stone.
Li Cang stuffed his ears with earplugs and covered his eyes with a cloth, unable to see Liu Huangyi clearly but still able to make out her silhouette.
Li Cang activated the Might Might Fruit's power, his muscles tensing as strength surged through his meridians. With a powerful stomp, he shot toward Liu Huangyi like a cannonball, his fist whistling through the air as he aimed a devastating blow at her.
Liu Huangyi sidestepped with ease, dodging Li Cang's attack, her eyes filled with disdain. She formed a heart shape with her hands, and a strong pink light enveloped Li Cang.
"Do you think closing your eyes will save you?"
In the next moment, Li Cang's heart sank as he found himself unable to move. His body rapidly stiffened, and in the blink of an eye, he was turned into a stone statue.
At this moment, the crew of the Empress Pirates joined the fray. Lin Muxue now faced not only Liu Huangyi but also the powerful members of the Empress Pirates and her own crew.
Even if she could hold her own, she was still restrained, and Liu Huangyi's beauty, combined with her relentless use of the Love-Love Fruit's abilities, was wearing Lin Muxue down. The constant pressure began to take its toll, and a crack appeared in her resolve. As she gazed at Liu Huangyi's peerless beauty, a hint of infatuation unconsciously flickered in her eyes. Even the usually aloof goddess couldn't help but blush.
Liu Huangyi seized the opportunity and unleashed another powerful Love-Love Beam. In that moment of distraction, Lin Muxue hesitated briefly, and by the time she reacted, it was too late. The pink light struck her, and her body began to petrify instantly.
"Damn it..."
Lin Muxue gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with unwillingness. She wanted to move, but her body gradually stiffened until she was completely turned into a cold, stone statue, standing tall on the battlefield.
Liu Huangyi commanded, "Start looting their treasures."
"Captain, the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew is almost here."
"Understood. I need to prepare carefully. Ye Yu might be a tough opponent. I'll need to bring out my full charm."
With that, Liu Huangyi went to prepare.
Meanwhile, several other pirate crews were nearby, hesitating.
"There must be a lot of treasure."
"Latest news: the Chosen One Pirate Crew has been temporarily petrified."
"Even more treasure, it seems."
"Let's not go. It's too dangerous."
...
These pirate crews quickly left.
However, one pirate crew remained. Their captain, Lu Han, was an Ability User who had consumed the Clear-Clear Fruit.
At this moment, Lu Han frowned as he looked at the crew gathered on the deck and asked, "Where's Lin Yan?"
The sycophantic crew member beside him said, "He's gone off to work on his inventions again. Instead of focusing on being the ship's doctor, he keeps saying that inheriting the Non-Ability User Franky has made his inventing skills even better."
"Call Lin Yan over!"
Lin Yan quickly arrived, displeased. "You used to study medicine. I made you the ship's doctor, yet you're still obsessed with those useless things?"
"Captain, I won't neglect my medical studies. I'm working hard on them too."
The sycophant leaned closer to Lu Han and whispered, "He's studying gynecology."
Lu Han sneered, "Look at how useless you are, choosing gynecology of all things. I never see you delving into medical studies, always messing around with who knows what."
The sycophant continued to tattle, "He didn't show up for the meeting last night either."
"Lin Yan, where were you last night?"
Lin Yan beamed, "Captain, I've made an invention."
"An invention?"
Lin Yan was confident. Since childhood, he had shown extraordinary mechanical talent, but his parents thought it was a waste of time and made him study medicine instead. However, after the mutation, he chose to contract with a Non-Ability User, feeling incredibly lucky. The Non-Ability User he contracted with was named Franky, who also loved inventing, making it a perfect match for him.
When he first boarded the ship, he wanted to be the ship's carpenter, but Lu Han, knowing he had a medical doctorate, made him the ship's doctor. Otherwise, Lin Yan wouldn't have been allowed on board.
After boarding, Lin Yan didn't give up. In the cramped, sweltering cabin, he spent countless days and nights, finally creating his masterpiece.
A small boat model equipped with a cola-powered mechanism and a launch device. He proudly presented it, placing it in the bathtub, activating the intricate mechanism. The boat shot out instantly, tracing a parabolic arc, flying to a certain height before landing steadily back on the water at the other end of the tub.
Lin Yan's eyes sparkled with pride as he looked at Lu Han, yearning for a hint of recognition.
However, Lu Han merely glanced at it indifferently, a faint smirk of mockery on his lips. "This? You call this an invention? It's nothing more than a child's toy."
Lin Yan eagerly defended himself, "Captain, this is just the beginning! Right now, I can only make this small model launch and fly, but I firmly believe that, given time, I can make a real giant ship soar through the skies!"
Lu Han was unimpressed. "After the mutation, even high-tech is hard to recreate. You're wasting your time with this."
"Captain, I have another invention."
To further demonstrate his abilities, Lin Yan activated the mechanical fist device on his arm without hesitation. With a whoosh, the fist, equipped with a boxing glove, shot out and struck Lu Han squarely in the face.
Yet, Lu Han didn't budge an inch. His expression remained unchanged, as if he had been lightly tapped by a mosquito.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment before the sycophant broke the silence.
"Captain, he's messing with you."
Lu Han's eyes instantly turned icy, his anger fully ignited.
"Fooling around with these useless things all day, it's just a waste of time! This ship doesn't need you anymore. Get out!"
Lu Han abruptly lifted his foot and kicked Lin Yan hard in the abdomen. Lin Yan's body flew like a broken kite, tracing an arc in the air before plunging into the icy, bone-chilling seawater with a splash.
Lin Yan was a Non-Ability User who could swim. He quickly swam to a small reef nearby, feeling uneasy and not wanting to die. He thought about swimming to the nearest island, but it would be dangerous, as he was sure to encounter Sea Beasts.
However, at that moment, Lin Yan's eyes lit up as he spotted a pirate ship shaped like a red dragon, flying the flag of the Black Blade Night.
"It's the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, known for valuing Non-Ability Users. I'll give it a try," Lin Yan thought.
He shouted, "Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, I want to join you! I've contracted a Non-Ability User named Franky!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. He wouldn't have cared for an ordinary Non-Ability User, but it was Franky.
Ye Yu said to Zhou Xing, "Bring him aboard."
"Right away, Captain."
Zhou Xing leaped into the air, stepping on nothingness as he approached Lin Yan on the nearby reef.
(End of Chapter)