"Please wait, Snake Princess. This man doesn't seem like someone who would lie. As for the other one… well, he clearly isn't a good person. Please, spare him and punish him instead."
Margaret stepped onto the central platform, her expression calm as she looked up at the raised dais. Her appearance caused the onlookers around to gasp in shock. To defy the Empress? That was a grave crime!
"Hey! Hey! Hey! What do you mean he clearly isn't a good person?! I'll give you another chance—reorganize your words properly!"
Mizuchi shot a blank look at Margaret. If his abilities weren't restrained right now, he would have already lost his temper and given the little girl a good smack.
"Why do you say that?"
The Empress looked down curiously, her face serene, as though not even the slightest trace of anger lingered.
"Because… because… this man is the one I brought back to the village."
Margaret hesitated for a long moment, but eventually spoke the truth.
"I see…"
The Empress slowly rose from her "chair" and descended the steps, approaching Margaret step by step.
"Hey! Boa Hancock! Our fight isn't over yet. How about you release me, and we continue where we left off?"
Mizuchi didn't want to see Margaret turned into stone with his own eyes. Although Margaret's words were sharp, he knew she was fundamentally kind-hearted.
"Mero Mero Breeze."
The Empress ignored Mizuchi's provocation. Smiling, she activated her Devil Fruit ability on her subordinates.
"Go bring Bachira here!"
After issuing the command, she turned gracefully and walked back to the raised dais with her usual pride.
"Hey! Boa Hancock! You call this a warrior kingdom? Afraid to accept my challenge?"
Mizuchi had hoped to use the Empress as a test subject for his newly acquired power, but she ignored his provocations. It wasn't until a massive black panther leapt onto the dais that she finally spoke:
"Defeat it, and only then will you have the right to challenge me."
"Snake Princess!"
Thunderous cheers and delighted laughter erupted from the spectators.
"Are you out of your minds? Your comrades are being turned to stone by that woman, and you're laughing?"
Luffy, free from restraint, punched the black panther away, glaring angrily at the Empress atop the dais.
"Whatever I do is forgiven… because I am as beautiful as a goddess!"
Her soft, seductive voice echoed from above. Shouts, cheers, and support filled the air around her instantly.
"What a crazy bunch. Classic PUA tactics, right there!"
Mizuchi muttered under his breath. He liked the Empress as a character, but the situation left no room for personal feelings. Ace had less than two weeks left before execution. Since he had already acquired the Empress's ability, he had to leave the place with Luffy as quickly as possible.
"Luffy, I leave this to you! I'll handle the Empress!"
Once freed from restraint, Mizuchi transformed into a streak of yellow lightning and appeared beside the Empress.
"That ability is…"
Gloriosa, below the stage, stared in shock at Mizuchi's power.
"Empress, I return your ability to you!"
Mizuchi gave a charming smile and unleashed "Mero Mero Breeze" on the Empress.
"The ability just now… it's the Snake Princess's! Who is this man? What kind of terrifying power is this?"
Gloriosa's gaze fixated on Mizuchi, clearly more focused on him than on Luffy in that instant.
"Oh! Seems I can't capture your heart!"
Mizuchi shook his head with a wry smile. The Empress's ability was formidable, but without a truly attractive appearance, the full effect of the Sweet-Sweet Fruit could not manifest.
Although Mizuchi was handsome, he was clearly not the Empress's type.
"Why do you possess my ability?"
The Empress looked shocked. Her power came from a Devil Fruit, and Devil Fruits were unique. There could be no second person in the world wielding the same power.
"Surprised already? It's a bit early for that."
"Devil Fruit Fusion! Fusion complete. Congratulations, host has acquired the Glint-Glint Fruit (Sweet-Sweet Fruit augmentation)."
"Glint-Glint Fruit (Sweet-Sweet Fruit augmentation) loaded!"
Mizuchi chuckled lightly and transformed into a streak of red lightning. His lightning not only exceeded the Glint-Glint Fruit's attack power but also carried a faint petrifying effect of the Sweet-Sweet Fruit.
"Fall in love with me!"
The red lightning flashed past, sending faint red smoke into the Empress's nostrils, instantly capturing her attention. Light red hearts began to appear rapidly in her eyes.
The enhanced red lightning carried a charm effect: it could petrify the target without needing them to be infatuated with Mizuchi. He could also attack directly and petrify only the contact points, but the full-body petrification required this subtle charm effect.
"Flash Kick!"
As the Empress was momentarily distracted by Mizuchi's ability, he raised his left leg and kicked toward her chest with incredible speed. The Empress seemed completely unaware, allowing the massive foot to strike her.
"Enough! Since I've tested the fused Devil Fruit, time for a change of position!"
Just before the kick landed on her chest, Mizuchi lowered his leg slightly, redirecting the attack onto the long snake beneath her seat. After successfully kicking it aside, Mizuchi took its place, holding the Empress in a princess carry.
"Snake Princess!""Snake Princess!"
The cheers rose in unison. In that instant, all attention shifted from the platform to the raised dais. There stood not Boa Hancock, but Mizuchi.
In Mizuchi's arms, Boa Hancock's eyes were dazed and mesmerized, her gaze fixed on him with a trance-like devotion.
"Wake up! Hey! Wake up!"
Once Mizuchi deactivated the Devil Fruit ability, the Empress quickly regained her senses and stared at the man before her in shock.
"How dare you…"
She leapt angrily from his arms and summoned a massive heart without hesitation.
"Slave Arrow!"
A barrage of pink arrows rained down under her control, targeting Mizuchi.
"Don't move!"
As the Empress launched her deadly attack, Luffy leapt and grabbed Boa Sandersonia's burning back. Through the tear in her clothes, a pattern flickered faintly amidst the flames.
"That man!"
Luffy's action left an indelible mark in the Empress's mind. She understood what he was doing and the meaning of that symbol to her and her sisters.
"Yo! Boa Hancock! Battling me, and you dare be distracted?"
Pink lightning flashed past. Mizuchi wrapped his hands around the Empress's from behind, preventing her from escaping.
"You…!"
The Empress expressed disgust toward Mizuchi but an inexplicable emotion toward Luffy.
"Ah! Time for some dog food, don't worry! Luffy's my brother; I won't harm you!"
Mizuchi smiled lightly and released her hands. He had achieved his objective and wasn't forcing anything.
"You…"
The Empress looked between Mizuchi and Luffy, her eyes reflecting complex emotions.
"The tournament is over. Everyone, leave the arena before Gorgon's eyes appear."
Finally, the Empress announced her decision to the arena. Upon hearing her words, the spectators scattered in fear, leaving only a handful behind in the vast arena.