"Thud!"
Mizuchi had no idea how long he had been flying. When he finally landed, the words "Kuja" stood out boldly in the sky above him.
"So, this is…"
Mizuchi brushed the dust off his clothes and let out a helpless, bitter laugh. He didn't know whether he was lucky or unlucky.
But since Kuma had already sent him here, there was no turning back.
"Come to think of it… if I use her powers, would it be… a bit too girly?"
Mizuchi dragged his chin, sat cross-legged, and pondered seriously.
"Over there! Right ahead—heard they found someone who accidentally ate a mushroom growing on their own body!"
"Hurry! Drag him back to the village!"
The rush of footsteps instantly snapped Mizuchi out of his thoughts. Pushing aside the trees in front of him, he immediately spotted Luffy lying motionless on the ground, his body covered in mushrooms.
"Luffy, it's not that I don't want to help you… but… I'm a man too!"
Mizuchi decisively retreated behind the trees and headed alone toward the village.
"I need to blend into the village first… no, maybe heading to the port would be better. But confronting an entire nation directly… isn't that too arrogant? Well, I'll decide once I see the situation."
After a brief moment of thought, Mizuchi decided to go to the port first. After all, his current objective wasn't on the island; even if he entered the village, it wouldn't help.
On the calm sea, two massive ships floated quietly in the windless zone.
"I remember… that's Vice Admiral Momonga's ship. Too bad he's a non-Devil Fruit user. Otherwise, sneaking on board and fighting him could have been a good option."
During his previous battle with Kizaru, Mizuchi had obtained the Devil Fruit card of the Glint-Glint Fruit, and if he could get another Devil Fruit from Momonga, he would be even more confident for the upcoming castle assault.
Unfortunately, Momonga couldn't help him, so Mizuchi's attention remained on the other massive crimson ship docked in the windless zone.
"Boa Hancock… the woman who ate the Sweet-Sweet Fruit… your Devil Fruit power is mine!"
Mizuchi hid along the shore, waiting quietly for the right moment to board. At this moment, he hadn't equipped any Devil Fruit, so he was still a non-user. When the time came, whether he swam from the sea or faced the Empress in a minute-long duel on the shore, it didn't matter.
"She's out!"
As the jade gate slowly opened, Boa Hancock, draped in a crimson robe, bearing the titles of Pirate Empress and Shichibukai, appeared before everyone with an imposing presence.
"No way! Even from this distance, the Empress's aura is unstoppable!"
Mizuchi covered his nose with both hands, a blissful smile on his face, and turned away.
"Calm down! That's Luffy's…"
"No! That's all men's…"
"Calm down! That's Luffy's…"
"No! That's all men's…"
While Mizuchi was torn between admiration and envy at the Empress's appearance, a sudden change struck the sea. A group of Marine soldiers, after a brief commotion, turned entirely into stone.
"It's time to move!"
Mizuchi let go of all distractions. Gazing at the Empress's approaching ship, he slowly emerged from the hiding grass.
"Looks like I'll have to go all out."
As he walked, Mizuchi wove a mask from the surrounding vines to cover half of his face. Once secured, he waded through the shallow water toward the crimson ship.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
The screeching of wooden planks and startled shouts filled the air. Members of the Kuja Pirates, who had just witnessed the Empress's majesty, stared at the masked man in astonishment, covering their mouths in shock.
"A man? How did you get here?"
Boa Hancock looked at the masked figure with bewilderment. In the windless zone, ships and people venturing close usually ended up torn apart by Sea Kings or gravely injured—rarely did someone as bold and healthy as Mizuchi appear.
"Boa Hancock, I challenge you!"
Mizuchi extended his right hand, pointing directly at the Empress perched atop the serpent's head.
"Challenge?"
As a Shichibukai, Boa Hancock constantly faced challenges from pirates worldwide. But for a man to appear so boldly before her, in front of all the Kuja Pirates and the citizens of Amazon Lily, and to openly challenge her… such audacity had never occurred before.
"Why challenge me? Is it my Shichibukai position you want?"
Hancock's expression darkened. Her gaze toward Mizuchi now radiated lethal intent.
The Shichibukai title was tied not only to her fate but to the fate of all Amazon Lily. She would never allow anyone to lay a hand on it.
"No, I'm not interested in your Shichibukai position. I'm… interested in you. No, correction… I'm interested in your abilities."
Mizuchi waded through the water toward the ship. The massive serpent, fangs glinting red, gently lowered the Empress in front of him.
"You're not a Devil Fruit user?"
Hancock looked at Mizuchi, whose feet were submerged in water, clearly surprised. For a non-user to dare challenge her indicated he had special methods—such people were always formidable.
"Not yet. But soon. Let's move somewhere else; I can't fully use my abilities here."
Mizuchi lifted his foot, drenched in seawater up to his thighs. Here, the water had reached his waist. Using a Devil Fruit now would be a suicidal move.
"Fine!"
Hancock didn't take advantage of him. She commanded the serpent to lower its head, dragging Mizuchi toward the shore.
"What's your name?"
The Empress stepped down gracefully. Her crimson heels remained spotless, as if just taken from a vacuum chamber.
"Kawa D. Mizuchi!"
Mizuchi turned his head, avoiding direct eye contact.
"D?"
Her expression subtly changed at hearing his name.
"Don't worry about the details. Boa Hancock… have you ever been kicked by light?"
After stating his name, Mizuchi equipped the Glint-Glint Fruit.
"Sorry… I'm doing this to save Ace!"
He muttered a silent apology, then transformed into a flash of light, appearing above the Empress's head.