Beast Fortress, Southwest Harbor.
The entire entrance square was littered with pirates turned to stone, including even Sasaki and Who's Who.
"What an exaggerated ability."
Gurd arrived at the harbor, looking at the completely annihilated pirate army, especially the petrified duo, as sweatdrops slid down his forehead.
So useless!
And this petrification ability!
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!"
Gurd looked up at the beautiful woman standing atop the high ground. His heart raced for about three seconds before his gaze turned cold.
No wonder she dared to invade. With her abilities, she truly had no fear of the Beasts' forces. Even the executives couldn't resist her charm.
Hancock arrogantly looked down at Gurd, then suddenly changed her expression, clutching her small fists near her cheeks with a pitiful, fearful demeanor.
"Don't stare at me so fiercely, I'm so scared!"
"Ohhh! So cute!"
Gurd's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
"Thump~ Thump~ Thump~"
She's too adorable!
"Idiot, don't get charmed by the enemy!"
Speed, standing nearby with sweatdrops on her head, picked up her longbow and smacked Gurd hard on the head.
"Bonk!"
The sound was crisp.
Gurd's head wobbled slightly, and he instantly snapped out of it.
Damn it, using feminine wiles to test him!
So despicable!
No, I can't look at her!
I really can't hold back!
Gurd quickly closed his eyes—out of sight, out of mind.
However...
Hancock's voice was soft and sweet, tugging at his heartstrings: "Mr. Gurd, why close your eyes? Am I not beautiful enough?"
"You are!"
Gurd's heart itched, and he peeked open an eye.
Crap, at this rate, there's no way to fight!
Do I really have to use that move?!
If possible, he truly didn't want to resort to it.
"I'll be your opponent!"
Speed couldn't take it anymore and nocked an arrow.
In the next moment, she instantly teleported above Hancock, firing an arrow wrapped in Haki almost simultaneously, aiming straight for her!
"So fast!"
The two younger sisters were shocked. The opponent's speed was unbelievably fast—even Observation Haki could barely track her movements.
"Be careful, Sister!"
"No matter."
Hancock spoke indifferently, raising her right leg to kick the incoming arrow, her beautiful long leg stretching taut.
"Crack!"
The arrow turned to stone!
Hancock retracted her long leg, then raised a finger to her lips, pulling out a pink heart shape and stretching it like a bowstring.
"Captive Arrow!"
Countless pink arrows rained down, leaving no room to dodge.
"Move!"
Before the arrows could hit, Speed instantly vanished from the sky and reappeared beside Gurd.
"She dodged Sister's arrows..."
The two younger sisters' expressions darkened.
"Her speed is incredible!"
"It must be a Devil Fruit's power!"
No reminder was needed—Hancock had already sensed Speed's ability. It was indeed troublesome, but not much of a threat.
The difference in basic combat power was too great.
Playing with bows in front of a warrior of the Kuja was somewhat overestimating oneself.
"Time to end this."
Hancock leaped down from above, facing Gurd. She then tossed her long hair back, forming a heart shape with her hands aimed at him.
Every movement of the woman made it impossible for anyone to look away.
"Your guilt for lusting after me will turn your bodies rigid."
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
An enormous heart-shaped light enveloped Gurd and his subordinates. Even Speed failed to dodge in time due to a momentary flutter in her heart.
"Crack!"
Everyone turned to stone!
Even Gurd was left kneeling on the ground.
Not even Haki could resist this.
Because before petrification, the enemy's mind would already be bewitched by the woman's beauty, leaving no will to resist. After turning to stone, they would lose consciousness entirely, making it impossible to activate Haki.
"Lady Snake Princess!"
"Even an Earth Calamity worth 3 billion Berries can't resist Lady Snake Princess's charm!"
"Ah! So beautiful!"
The Kuja warriors shrieked in excitement.
"Men are all the same, after all."
Hancock's gaze was disdainful. She leaned her upper body far back, raising her right hand to point at Gurd. Her contempt was so extreme that despite looking down at him, her face ended up tilted toward the sky.
"It's happening—Lady Snake Princess's signature pose of disdain!"
The Kuja warriors broke out in cold sweat.
At that moment, her sisters suddenly shouted.
"Big Sister, danger!!"
"What?!"
Just as Hancock straightened up, a man with bulging muscles lunged forward, his massive fist slamming squarely into her face.
"Ultimate Face-Breaking Fist!!!"
"Bam!"
The woman's features crumpled inward as the tremendous force sent her body crashing into a nearby cliff wall.
"BOOM!!!"
The towering rock face shattered into pieces!
Gurd's entire body radiated scorching heat as he raised his thick, vein-popping right arm, his eyes gleaming with terrifying ferocity.
"You vile woman, making me suffer such psychological trauma—you'd better brace yourself for a beating!"
"Impossible!"
The Kuja warriors were horrified.
Why wasn't he petrified? How could any man in this world resist Lady Snake Princess's charm?!
"Impossible?!"
Gurd snorted coldly and placed his hands on Speed and Chikara. The petrification on their bodies rapidly faded, their skin returning to its fair complexion.
"Eh?!!!"
The Kuja warriors were stunned once more.
"How can you undo the petrification?!"
"How?"
Gurd's gaze was mocking.
"This lord is an Earth Calamity!"
Petrification meant nothing before the God of Earth—he could effortlessly absorb its power.
Panicked, the Kuja warriors leaped down from their vantage point to rescue Hancock.
Gurd didn't stop them—his rage wasn't spent yet. He still intended to pummel that woman mercilessly.
Soon, a bloodied Hancock was dug out of the rubble by her subordinates, her once-elegant nose now crooked.
Clutching her cheek, Hancock seethed with fury.
"I see—you resisted my charm with some ability!"
"Ability? No!"
Gurd wagged a finger, tilting his chin arrogantly. "Against a weakling like you, I wouldn't stoop to using abilities!"
"Lies!"
Hancock shouted back, "No man could remain unmoved by me! If you didn't use some trick, why weren't you petrified?!"
"Kehahahaha!"
Gurd roared with laughter, jabbing a thumb at himself proudly. "It's all thanks to this lord's will of steel!"
"..."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Behind Gurd, Speed and Chikara's faces darkened with exasperation.
Stop lying already!
Yet Hancock and her sisters, along with the entire Kuja Pirate Crew, were so shocked their hair whipped wildly as if caught in a storm.
"He actually resisted the Snake Princess's beauty with sheer willpower!"
"How terrifying!"
"This is the first time I've seen such a powerful man!"
They bought it!
"Keh keh keh keh!"
Gurd grinned wickedly, cracking his knuckles.
"Come on, I love fighting women the most!"
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