Chapter 179: An Unfortunate Entrance
Over a stretch of ocean within the Calm Belt.
"Hm? Already at the Calm Belt?"
Stepping out of his spatial portal, Rhodes glanced around with mild surprise. Indeed, there wasn't even the slightest breeze—the air completely still.
The Grand Line's weather was bizarre enough, and the existence of Sky Islands was already remarkable, but the Calm Belt was truly something else entirely. A windless zone where even the ocean currents stilled.
"The coordinates Kuma gave should put me right at Amazon Lily..."
Rhodes stretched, regaining his focus before opening another spatial portal to complete the journey.
Walking through the dimensional corridor, he prepared himself mentally for the meeting ahead.
The moment he stepped through the exit portal, however, he immediately plummeted from midair—
SPLASH!
—and crashed directly into water, sending cascading spray everywhere.
Almost instantly, before he could even process his surroundings, a powerful gust of wind struck his face. A white figure, accompanied by a fine mist of water droplets, hurtled toward him with lethal intent.
Rhodes's instincts screamed danger. He immediately channeled Armament Haki across his arm, raising it to block.
BANG!
The impact was tremendous, sending water spraying in all directions. Rhodes's hasty defense left him vulnerable, and the force sent him flying backward through the air.
But his combat reflexes kicked in immediately. He twisted mid-flight and used Geppo to arrest his momentum, landing smoothly as he turned to face his attacker with a wary expression.
However, that wariness quickly transformed into stunned surprise, leaving him momentarily dazed.
He'd materialized in a vast, fragrant bathing pool—a natural hot spring by the looks of it. And standing across from him, having just delivered that devastating kick, was a woman of absolutely breathtaking beauty. She possessed an otherworldly allure that seemed almost supernatural in its intensity.
Through the rising steam, her flawless figure was partially visible—skin like white jade, curves that defied description. Even the splashing water and steam couldn't fully conceal her radiant complexion.
The stunning woman moved swiftly, retrieving a red bathrobe and wrapping it around herself, concealing her perfect form—though the damage to Rhodes's composure was already done.
The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.
His dimensional portal had struck again, depositing him in yet another incredibly awkward location.
"Dragon Slayer Rhodes?!"
Hancock's beautiful eyes blazed with murderous intent as she spoke his name in an icy tone that could freeze fire.
Though Amazon Lily was isolated from the outside world, with even News Coos rarely visiting, the Kuja Pirates occasionally ventured out on raids and kept aware of major events and notorious figures across the seas.
This was especially true since both Rhodes and Hancock were members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Seeing Hancock's furious expression—looking as though she wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands—Rhodes could only offer a helpless shrug.
"Can I say this was completely accidental?"
"What do you think?"
Before he could elaborate, Hancock launched herself forward with a fierce roundhouse kick.
Her legs were impossibly long and slender, the kick both beautiful and deadly in execution.
Her bathrobe fluttered dramatically as Hancock's leg, moving like a striking white serpent, slashed toward Rhodes's neck with lethal precision.
Rhodes threw up a hasty punch to intercept, but was still forced back several steps by the sheer power behind Hancock's kick.
She's stronger than I expected...
Seeing Hancock press her assault without hesitation, Rhodes's expression darkened. It seemed he'd need to use force to convince the world's most beautiful woman to listen to reason.
But before he could draw Spectre, Hancock suddenly employed her ultimate technique:
"Mero mero~! ♡"
Her cold, furious eyes suddenly softened, becoming gentle and captivating. A delicate blush spread across her porcelain cheeks as she struck a pose, forming a heart shape with her hands. Her voice became soft and melodious, like silken cat claws scratching at one's heart, overflowing with irresistible charm.
"Won't you just stand still for me? I promise I'll make it quick with just one kick~"
Hearing this, Rhodes couldn't help but let out an exasperated laugh. He rolled his eyes and replied dryly:
"I have to say, is this level of narcissism really okay?"
A look of genuine shock crossed Hancock's beautiful face.
This man seemed completely unaffected by her charm!
How was that possible?!
Hancock was absolutely confident in her allure—she could captivate men, women, children, and even animals. Yet Rhodes showed no signs of being charmed whatsoever, and she immediately felt indignant.
"No matter what you say, everyone acknowledges it. I'm simply too beautiful!"
She lifted her swan-like neck proudly, her entire presence radiating supreme narcissism.
"..."
Rhodes's mouth twitched. Even though he'd seen this scene in the manga, witnessing Hancock speak with such a tone and say such words in person was somehow even more unbearable.
In truth, Hancock's charm ability wasn't completely ineffective against Rhodes—but unfortunately for her, the Mero Mero no Mi's power targeted the soul and willpower. Not only was it naturally resisted by his strong Haoshoku Haki foundation, but it was also automatically nullified by the Book of Knowledge existing within his soul space.
So Rhodes's attitude toward Hancock was purely aesthetic appreciation of her beauty—nothing more.
"So... are we still fighting?"
Rhodes asked casually while openly admiring Hancock's captivating figure.
"Rude man!"
Hancock was thoroughly angry now. She absolutely refused to believe that anyone—especially a young man like Rhodes—could completely ignore her charm.
She delicately extended her two small, slender hands, forming a heart shape in front of her chest.
"Even if you're hiding your infatuation with me, it won't work!"
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Whoosh!
A wave of pink light completely engulfed Rhodes's body.
Hancock's expression showed satisfaction, certain she'd secured her victory.
But to her complete disbelief, after the light dissipated, Rhodes remained standing perfectly still—seemingly unaffected in the slightest!
"So this is the power of the Mero Mero no Mi..."
Rhodes's eyes showed genuine curiosity as he examined himself.
His speed was more than sufficient to dodge the beam, but he'd had a strong intuition that Hancock's Devil Fruit ability wouldn't work on him.
Sure enough, the moment it made contact, it was blocked—unable to penetrate his body, and naturally having no effect whatsoever.
"My turn now."
Rhodes grinned, then suddenly moved.
WHOOSH!
Transforming into a blur, stirring up gusts of wind and waves, he closed the distance to Hancock almost instantaneously and swung his blade in a controlled arc.
"Tch!"
Hancock's greatest strength and most dangerous quality was indeed her charm ability, but she also possessed considerable combat prowess—her taijutsu skills were masterful, honed through years of training.
Faced with Rhodes's charge, she remained calm and instinctively leaped backward to create distance, but Rhodes was far too fast, pursuing her like a shadow.
"Can't dodge!"
Hancock's heart sank, and she launched a counter-attack.
"Perfume Femur!"
CLANG!
As sword met leg, a shockwave erupted through the air, sending cascading sprays of water across the entire bathing area.
The tremendous force transmitted from blade to calf. Even with Armament Haki coating her leg, the impact still stung painfully. Hancock was forced backward, her robe billowing open momentarily—
—which created an unintentional but devastating distraction that momentarily disrupted Rhodes's follow-up attack.
However, he recovered quickly and struck from mid-range.
SLASH!
A silver crescent of sword energy burst forth, cutting through the water and slashing toward Hancock while she was still airborne.
Unable to dodge while airborne, Hancock spun gracefully and kicked the flying slash directly.
BANG!
The sword energy shattered under Hancock's kick, but the resulting shockwave threw her backward through the air. Her body went momentarily rigid from the impact.
She could only watch helplessly as a figure wreathed in shimmering silver lightning instantly crossed the distance, closing in and reaching out with one hand to grab her—
(End of Chapter)
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