229 Chapter 123.1 : Gift For Hancock!
"Cough, how could you think that?" Yasao feigned seriousness. "I'm not that sort of person; I'm just passing the time."
"Yes, the master isn't like that. Otherwise, he would have devoured us long ago!" Yaya chuckled.
Naturally, they didn't press further. After all, Yasao was their master, and since he intended to participate in the arena, they wouldn't genuinely oppose him.
In the Golden List live room:
[Yasao: Hyuga Hiashi, how about you invite me?]
[Hyuga Hiashi: Lord Yasao is participating?]
[Senju Hashirama: Oh my, Yasao is actually joining the arena?]
[Tsunade: Quite the surprise!]
[Fourth Raikage: If Yasao steps in, it's a guaranteed win!]
[Beerus: Astounded that the master is joining!]
[Sun Wukong: Equally surprised here. But if the master does intervene, this fight won't be much to watch; it'll be an instant kill!]
[Terumi Mei: Perhaps Yasao sees beauty in people, hence his desire to end things without killing.]
Hyuga Hiashi didn't concern himself with Yasao's intentions, but he was naturally thrilled at the prospect of such a formidable presence entering the arena. Victory was assured with this challenge.
Without delay, he extended the invitation to Yasao, who promptly accepted.
At the arena:
Empress Hancock stood in the arena, and soon, Yasao's silhouette emerged.
"So dashing!"
That was the Empress's initial impression. She had never seen such a striking man, as if he had stepped out of a dream. However, no matter how attractive he was, she wouldn't let her guard down.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
Her overwhelming coercion pressed down on Yasao.
Faced with beings from other worlds, she wouldn't withhold her prowess, unleashing her Conqueror's Haki with full force.
However.
Yasao strode forward, hands behind his back, appearing entirely unperturbed by the Conqueror's Haki.
In that moment, the Empress's expression shifted drastically.
Anyone, even those stronger than her, would typically be affected to some degree by Conqueror's Haki. Yet, Yasao seemed to disregard hers entirely.
"A formidable opponent!"
The Empress harbored this thought within.
"Boa Hancock, greetings," Yasao smiled.
"You're so handsome, big brother," the empress replied with a charming smile, preparing to use her Devil Fruit ability to petrify him.
"Do you find me beautiful?" the Empress inquired softly, striking a pose.
"Absolutely stunning. Are you considering petrifying me with the power of your Devil Fruit?" Yasao replied casually.
The empress was taken aback. How did this outsider know about her Devil Fruit ability? Did he possess mind-reading or prophetic powers?
"So what? Are you too afraid to run?" she challenged.
"No need to dodge. In fact, I could stand right here motionless. If I move, I'll concede defeat. But if I win, you must grant me a request. How about it?" Yasao proposed, a smile playing on his lips.
"Don't you think that's asking for too much?" Empress Hancock's expression shifted, but ultimately, she agreed. After all, Yasao's lack of movement was a bold challenge in itself. She doubted anyone could defeat her without moving; she wasn't that weak.
"Fine, let's do it," Empress Hancock agreed, forming a gesture of love with her hands and releasing the light of love.
Yasao remained unmoved as the light washed over him.
"Why isn't he affected? Is he not affected by my charm?" Empress Hancock wondered aloud. Even the strongest opponents usually had to avert their gaze or risk being petrified by her Mero Mero no Mi if they weren't careful.
"No matter if you move or not, my Slave Arrow and Perfume Femur can petrify even non-living objects. I refuse to believe you're immune to petrification," Empress Hancock declared, transforming into a huge pink heart-shaped substance and launching a barrage of pink arrows at Yasao.
However, Yasao simply stood there, allowing the arrows to strike him without flinching.
"I refuse to believe it!" Empress Hancock exclaimed, rushing forward and attempting to kick Yasao with her Perfume Femur.
Yasao skillfully intercepted her kick with his hand, causing her to quickly retreat, wary of further counterattacks.
"This isn't a good move. You might expose it, you know," Yasao cautioned.
"This man..." Empress Hancock observed, realizing that Yasao remained unaffected by her petrification attempts. She began to doubt the reliability of her Devil Fruit ability.
With a determined expression, she unleashed Perfume Mur and kicked the ground, instantly turning the surrounding soil into stone.
Empress Hancock scrutinized him suspiciously. "Why aren't my abilities affecting you?" she asked.
Yasao replied confidently, "Your Devil Fruit ability is indeed impressive, but it's just that—a Devil Fruit ability. I've surpassed the limitations of Devil Fruit powers, rendering them ineffective against me."
"The maximum reach of Devil Fruit abilities is at the Six Paths level. The impact of Love Fruit abilities is at most potent against those at the pinnacle of the Six Paths tier. The stronger one's innate strength, the lesser the influence."
"For instance, even if Empress Hancock were to attempt to petrify someone as formidable as Kaido, it would prove nearly impossible. At best, she could only affect a small portion of his skin, which wouldn't hinder Kaido significantly in combat."
"Above Devil Fruit? I find that hard to believe," Empress Hancock retorted.
"Then allow me to demonstrate my strength to you," Yasao declared.
In an instant, he unleashed his Senjutsu technique—the Golden Light Wave.
A wave of golden light surged forth, shattering the protective barrier surrounding the arena into countless pieces.
The onlookers were stunned. In previous battles, they had struggled to even dent the shield, yet Yasao effortlessly obliterated it with a single move.
However, the shield quickly regenerated, now even stronger than before.
Realizing that the current shield was impervious to further attacks, Yasao ceased his assault.
Meanwhile, Empress Hancock trembled in fear. She hadn't even had time to react to Yasao's attack; its residual power alone could have obliterated her countless times over.
How could there exist such a terrifying individual from another world, capable of such feats?
Empress Hancock was not alone in her terror. The other powerhouses of the Pirate World also paled at the thought of facing Yasao. They would be utterly powerless against him.
"So, have I won our wager?" Yasao inquired.
Empress Hancock gritted her teeth but conceded defeat. "Fine!"
Though reluctant to admit defeat, she knew when she was outmatched.
"If that's settled, then I shall take my leave," Yasao said.
He teleported beside Hancock, startling her. She feared he might attempt something untoward, especially considering they were in the public eye.
However, Yasao had no such intentions. He merely presented Hancock with a gift taken from Kunlun Mirror—a photograph of them together.
Hancock was dumbfounded. "Is this what you wanted?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, is there something else you desire?" Yasao replied casually.
"N-no, that's quite enough," Hancock stammered, her face flushed.
Immediately, Empress Hancock conceded defeat, and the arena responded with punishment.
[Yasao wins, stripping Hancock of Conqueror's Haki and granting it to Yasao!]
In the next instant, Hancock's Conqueror's Haki was torn from her being by the arena, transforming into a beam of light that descended upon Yasao.
Helpless, Hancock watched as her Conqueror's Haki was taken away. However, defeat meant consequences, and she accepted that.
Comparatively, her fate was gentler than Hawkeye's, who had lost even his life.
Just as Hancock grappled with the loss of her Haki, a voice interrupted.
"Hancock, I cannot return your Conqueror's Haki, but I offer you two small gifts instead!"
With those words, two objects landed in Hancock's hands before she could inspect them closely. The arena promptly teleported her away, while Yasao was returned to the ninja world.
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