Seeing Jin suddenly appear beside her—
Boa Hancock's pupils contracted violently.
Her face filled with disbelief.
This man…
Actually intended to hit her for real?!
And because of that single moment of shock—
She completely lost the chance to dodge.
All she could do was coat her vital points with Armament Haki.
The next instant—
Jin controlled the summoned Susanoo and swung a brutal punch toward Hancock!
BOOM!!
The gigantic skeletal fist slammed directly into Hancock's body.
The impact launched her flying through the air—
Straight through the palace window—
Before she crashed deep into the forested mountains behind the city.
RUMBLE!!!
Looking at the shattered window—
Jin fell silent briefly.
Then muttered:
"…Sorry, Shakky-neesan."
This woman was simply too infuriating.
If he didn't beat her up properly—
He genuinely felt like he wouldn't be able to calm down.
Once he beat her half to death—
Then he'd make her undo Granny Nyon's petrification.
Glancing toward the immobilized Enishida and the others—
Jin said coldly:
"Guard Granny Nyon's stone statue properly."
"Yes!"
WHOOSH—
The next moment—
Jin vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Shortly afterward—
Sandersonia and Marigold rushed into the room.
"What happened?!"
"What's going on here?!"
Marigold frowned upon seeing the scene.
"Where is Elder Sister?"
"And why has Granny Nyon been turned to stone?!"
They had only returned slightly later than Hancock—
So why had things escalated into this mess?
"Hey, Enishida!"
"We're talking to you!"
Unfortunately—
Enishida gave no response whatsoever.
She merely stared blankly at Marigold expressionlessly.
Marigold: ???
What was this supposed to mean?
Why were they all standing there silently like puppets?
Still—
Marigold never once suspected betrayal.
After all—
Anyone allowed near their elder sister was absolutely loyal.
"Granny Nyon brought a man here earlier."
One of the women nearby finally spoke.
"Though we don't know what happened…"
"It's probably related to that man."
After all—
That man was now missing too.
Marigold fell silent.
Then exchanged a glance with Sandersonia.
Eventually—
Their eyes drifted toward the shattered window.
"…Did Elder Sister go after that man?"
"That's likely."
Sandersonia nodded.
"Enishida and the others are acting strangely."
"They may have been controlled by some sort of ability."
"Come on. Let's find Elder Sister first."
"Right!"
No matter what had happened—
As long as they found Hancock—
Everything could be resolved.
Meanwhile—
Deep within the forest behind the mountain.
Hancock pressed a hand against her forehead.
Her expression looked rather unpleasant.
She truly hadn't expected this man to actually attack her.
"…What a cold-hearted man…"
Hancock muttered quietly.
To resist even her beauty—
That genuinely shocked her.
Dusting off her clothes—
She slowly stood back up.
Then began surveying her surroundings.
"…The rear mountain forest?"
Although her palace stood at the highest point in the city—
Being punched all the way out here still exceeded her expectations.
Recalling the golden skeletal structure from earlier—
Hancock frowned.
"What exactly was that thing?"
The pale golden skeleton looked almost like glowing sand from an hourglass.
Was it some kind of Devil Fruit ability?
"Whatever it is…"
"As long as I defeat that man, I'll learn the truth eventually."
After deciding that—
Hancock immediately dashed back toward the palace.
But before long—
She spotted the very man who had sent her flying earlier.
"So you chased after me."
"Yeah."
Standing atop a tree branch—
Jin folded his arms while looking down at her.
"You flew out here, so naturally I came to find you."
This place was part of Amazon Lily's primitive jungle.
Fighting here wouldn't endanger civilians.
After all—
He truly didn't want to destroy the city itself.
The only one with issues here was Hancock.
"What is that ability of yours?"
Hancock asked while frowning.
"You guess~"
Jin grinned.
"If you guess correctly, I'll tell you."
"Hmph. Childish."
If he didn't want to explain it—
Then he could just say so.
What was with the guessing game?
"Anyway…"
"Let's continue."
Jin said calmly.
"I'll keep beating you until you willingly undo Granny Nyon's petrification."
Hancock stared at him strangely.
He was fighting her…
For something like that?
What exactly was his relationship with Granny Nyon?
Still—
At this point—
A battle was unavoidable regardless.
Thinking that—
Hancock brushed aside her hair gracefully.
"Then let's see what you're capable of."
"As one of the Seven Warlords…"
"I have never feared men."
The moment her voice fell—
Hancock vanished instantly.
"Hm?"
Seeing Hancock charge toward him at terrifying speed—
A trace of surprise flashed through Jin's eyes.
That speed…
As expected of a Warlord.
BOOM!!
Hancock raised her long leg and kicked directly into a massive tree several meters wide—
Shattering it effortlessly.
"Quite strong too…"
Jin leapt away from the collapsing tree while glancing at the broken trunk.
"And that's without Haki enhancement…"
If she fully reinforced herself with Armament Haki—
Her attacks would become even more dangerous.
The next moment—
Jin crossed both arms and coated them in Armament Haki.
CLANG!!
Hancock's Haki-coated kick smashed directly into his guard.
"Haki?"
A flicker of surprise appeared in Hancock's eyes.
She hadn't expected this seemingly obscure brat to know Haki too.
Could he be from the New World?
"Heh."
"Haki isn't exclusive to your island."
Jin sneered.
"That's true."
"But even with Haki…"
"You still aren't my opponent!"
As soon as she finished speaking—
Hancock withdrew her left leg—
Then spun her body through the air and lashed her right leg viciously toward Jin's side.
"Perfume Femur!"
BANG!!
CRACK… CRACK… CRACK…
The area she struck instantly began petrifying.
The stone spread rapidly across Jin's body—
Until nearly half his body turned to stone.
Then—
The petrification abruptly stopped.
"…Petrification?"
Jin rotated his right eye slightly and glanced down at himself.
The entire left half of his body had transformed into stone.
That confused him.
He felt absolutely no lust toward Hancock.
So why had the petrification still worked?
Then a realization struck him.
"…I see."
"So your Devil Fruit has two activation methods."
"Long-range abilities require attraction…"
"But close combat works through direct contact."
Touching the target allowed petrification to spread physically.
Honestly—
That was quite an overpowered ability.
"Tell me what your ability is."
"And release Enishida and the others."
Hancock stared at him coldly.
"If you cooperate…"
"I may grant you a painless death."
The only reason she hadn't completely petrified him earlier—
Was because she wanted her subordinates rescued first.
And she avoided killing him immediately because—
If his ability worked like hers—
Then death might not release the control.
"Heh."
"So you do care about your subordinates."
Jin mocked.
"Didn't you just say they'd gladly sacrifice themselves for you?"
This time—
Hancock gave no answer.
She merely stared at him silently.
Her expression clearly said:
Will you do it or not?
"Tch."
"A tsundere empress, huh…"
Jin spat lightly.
Then—
His body distorted violently and vanished instantly.
Kamui remained fully active.
Hancock: !!!
Seeing Jin disappear completely—
Shock filled Hancock's eyes.
"Where did he go?!"
After being petrified—
He could still escape?!
At that moment—
Her Observation Haki finally detected him.
She immediately turned sideways—
Only to see Jin leaning casually against another tree.
"You're completely fine?!"
Hancock stared at him in disbelief.
"How was the petrification undone?!"
His body had fully returned to normal—
As though the damage never existed.
Yet she remembered clearly—
Half his body had absolutely been petrified.
So what exactly was happening here?!
For the first time in years—
Hancock's worldview suffered a serious blow.
"Because I'm invincible."
Jin replied calmly.
"That's impossible!"
"There's no such thing as an absolutely invincible power!"
Hancock snapped.
Every Devil Fruit had weaknesses.
Even her Love-Love Fruit relied heavily on her overwhelming beauty.
Without that—
Its effectiveness would plummet drastically.
That was its weakness.
Thus—
She refused to believe any ability lacked drawbacks.
"Believe whatever you want."
Jin shrugged.
"Anyway…"
"Let's continue."
This was the perfect chance to train.
Whether improving his Haki—
Or mastering his Mangekyo Sharingan—
Everything would help him.
After all—
Soon he would be entering a war at Marineford.
Thinking that—
Jin's eyes widened sharply.
"SUSANOO!"
WHOOSH—
Golden chakra erupted from his body instantly.
A massive skeletal frame and giant skeletal arms formed around him—
Protecting him completely inside.
"…Gh…"
The familiar agony spread across Jin's body once more.
Still—
Compared to the first two activations—
The pain had lessened slightly.
Tch…
Even the first stage hurts this badly.
What kind of torture does the completed form feel like?
No wonder Itachi Uchiha died young.
A body abused like this surviving long-term would be miraculous.
Fortunately—
Jin had cheats.
Physical strain wasn't something he feared.
The moment Hancock saw the Susanoo again—
She immediately shouted:
"That thing from before!"
She recognized it instantly.
This was the exact same ability that had punched her out of the palace earlier.
So it was called Susanoo?
Still—
What exactly was Susanoo?
"That's right."
Jin grinned while suppressing the pain.
"This is the power that sent you flying earlier."
"Hancock, you—"
"Who allowed you to address me so casually?!"
Hancock's eyes widened angrily.
"Call me Snake Princess-sama!"
Jin: …
Even now—
This woman still insisted on maintaining her airs?
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
"…Woman."
"You are not my empress."
The instant his voice fell—
Jin charged forward together with Susanoo.
As he approached—
The giant skeletal arm swung violently toward Hancock!
Seeing this—
Hancock immediately recalled being blasted away earlier.
Back then—
She had been too shocked to react properly.
But this time—
"I won't be blown away again by that thing!"
Hancock shouted fiercely.
WHOOM—
Armament Haki coated her powerful legs instantly.
Then—
She lashed out directly toward the incoming Susanoo arm.
CLANG!!!
BOOOOM!!!
The collision unleashed a terrifying shockwave instantly.
Entire small trees snapped apart.
Rocks were blasted away violently in every direction.
"As expected of a Warlord."
"Don't say it like that."
Hancock replied coldly.
"I'm far stronger than this."
The moment her words ended—
She immediately retracted her leg.
Jin seized the opening without hesitation.
"Armament: Monster Strength Punch!"
"What—?!"
Hancock barely managed to cross her arms defensively before impact.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
This bastard can attack personally while controlling that skeleton too?!
Wasn't that ridiculously unfair?!
It was basically like fighting someone with four arms!
Then—
Hancock noticed something strange.
The Susanoo suddenly began destabilizing.
"…Backlash from the ability?"
Thinking that—
She quickly slid backward and created distance.
Jin ignored her stare completely.
Instead—
He looked upward at the fading Susanoo.
"…Lack of mastery?"
Madara Uchiha could use Susanoo while simultaneously casting ninjutsu.
That proved it was possible.
If Jin couldn't do it yet—
Then the issue was likely simple inexperience.
Thinking carefully—
That made perfect sense.
His Susanoo remained only at its most primitive stage.
It hadn't even formed a complete upper body yet.
Failing to multitask at this stage was normal.
After calming himself—
Jin activated his left eye technique.
"Takemikazuchi no Mikoto!"
CLANG!!
The flow of time around Jin instantly reversed.
All injuries—
All exhaustion—
All chakra depletion—
Everything rewound rapidly.
Within moments—
He returned to perfect condition.
"…Ah."
Jin clenched his fist slightly.
"Having full chakra really does feel amazing."
Smiling lightly—
He looked back toward Hancock once more.
Then activated his ability again.
"SUSANOO!"
BOOM!!
Golden skeletal arms and ribs formed around him once again.
"This guy…"
Hancock frowned deeply.
For some reason—
His aura suddenly felt stronger than before.
Was it her imagination?
No—
Definitely not.
Something had absolutely happened to him just now.
Her eyes narrowed toward his Sharingan.
Is it because of those eyes…?
Thinking carefully—
When they first met—
His eyes weren't like this at all.
Everything changed only after she used Slave Arrow.
Still—
She couldn't understand what kind of Devil Fruit this could possibly be.
Shaking away her thoughts—
Hancock increased her aura dramatically.
Armament Haki wrapped tightly around both her legs.
"I don't care what that thing is…"
"I refuse to believe I can't break it!"
The moment she finished speaking—
Hancock exploded forward again.
And while charging—
Her presence continued rising higher and higher.
The instant she reached Jin—
Her aura peaked completely.
Then—
She leapt high into the air—
And unleashed a devastating kick toward the Susanoo skeleton.
"Grand Perfume Femur!!!"
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