noveltune Chapter 49 Target 9: Snake Island! The Shy Hancock!
Chapter 49 Target 9: Snake Island! The Shy Hancock!
The azure flames drew a magnificent trail at an altitude of 10,000 meters, tearing a long rift in the clouds.
Marco pushed the speed of his Devil Fruit ability to its limit.
Below lies the windless zone, which silences countless powerful beings.
Giant sea monsters, each the size of an island, emerged their menacing heads from the bottomless, dark waters, roaring silently as they tried to drag the tiny avian in the sky into the abyss.
However, their enormous bodies, which they are so proud of, appear clumsy and laughable in the face of absolute speed.
Before they could launch any effective attack, the blue streak of light swept over their heads and disappeared at the horizon where the sea and sky meet.
Chen Ye sat cross-legged on Marco's broad back, the raging airflow blocked by an invisible barrier of blue flames, as steady as a mountain.
He closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into the system space.
"system."
[Host, what are your orders?]
The system's cold voice echoed in Chen Ye's mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ye's consciousness issued the command that he had been eagerly awaiting.
"Extract all the abilities and physique from the [Peak Rayleigh] encyclopedia, except for swordsmanship, and infuse them all into my body!"
Unlike the white beard.
Rayleigh's greatest strength lies in his unparalleled swordsmanship, but Chenye doesn't use a sword, so forcibly fusing with him would only be a waste.
What he wanted was Rayleigh's top-tier three-color Haki, honed through countless life-and-death battles, and his powerful physique, strong enough to stand up to monsters head-on!
[Command confirmed.]
[Extracting half of Silvers Rayleigh's physique, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki from his peak...]
Extraction complete.
[Infusion begins!]
boom!
An indescribable, terrifying energy instantly exploded throughout Chen Ye's body!
Excruciating pain!
A tearing, excruciating pain shot through the depths of every cell in my body!
Chen Ye's body trembled violently, veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.
"Ughhhh!"
Even with Chen Ye's willpower, he couldn't help but let out a suppressed growl.
Marco, who was flying at high speed, felt the commotion on his back and turned around with concern, asking, "Chenye, what's wrong?!"
"N-nothing!"
Chen Ye squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.
"I was just... a little too excited!"
He could clearly feel that his body was undergoing a tremendous transformation.
Every tear is accompanied by a stronger rebirth.
His already strengthened physique, due to absorbing half of the peak Whitebeard's strength, is now leaping towards a completely new and higher realm at an incredible speed!
After an unknown amount of time, the excruciating pain finally subsided.
Instead, there is an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and power.
[Energy infusion complete.]
[Host's body data has been updated.]
Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
He clenched his fist slightly.
There was no earth-shattering momentum, nor any domineering pressure.
But Chen Ye could sense that his grip contained a terrifying power capable of easily crushing steel and piercing through mountains.
"System, what is my current strength?"
He asked himself this question with an expectant tone.
[Answer to the host: After the enhancement of Rayleigh's strength at its peak and this ability infusion, your current overall strength has reached the level of a peak admiral.]
If you were to engage in a one-on-one battle with any of the current three admirals of the Navy, you would have a significant advantage.
A top-tier general!
Gain the upper hand!
Chen Ye's heart pounded wildly because of these eight words!
An overwhelming sense of ecstasy erupted like a volcano, instantly engulfing his entire body!
at last!
Finally, we have entered the ranks of the true pinnacle of combat power on this vast ocean!
From now on, whether it's a Marine Admiral or one of the Four Emperors, he can fight a truly exhilarating battle against them!
"Hahahaha..."
Chen Ye couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh, his laughter filled with barely suppressed pride and confidence.
Marco's lips twitched involuntarily as he heard the familiar laughter behind him.
This kid, how come he can even imitate his father's laughter so perfectly?
Just then, Marco's speed gradually decreased.
"We've arrived."
Chen Ye stopped laughing and looked ahead.
Then, a huge island shrouded in mist came into view.
Nine-She Island.
The legendary island of daughters!
Instead of entering through the main gate, the two chose to land in a secluded jungle on the island.
The blue flames dissipated, Marco returned to human form, and together with Chenye, they set foot on this unfamiliar land.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The moment they landed, a series of sharp, whistling sounds echoed through the surrounding jungle.
The next second, hundreds of female warriors from the Nine Serpent Clan, dressed in light animal skins and wielding longbows and venomous snakes, emerged from all directions like ghosts, surrounding the two of them.
The cold arrows were all aimed at them.
The air was thick with undisguised killing intent and vigilance.
"Who goes there!"
The leading female soldier shouted sternly.
Marco immediately raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.
"We are from the Whitebeard Pirates, here to pay a visit..."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold and arrogant female voice, seemingly carrying endless majesty, came from behind the path cleared by the soldiers.
"The Whitebeard Pirates?"
The crowd was separated.
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, walked out slowly, surrounded by a group of guards.
Hancock had already sensed Marco and Chenye's powerful auras, so she made preparations well in advance!
She was graceful and stunningly beautiful, yet she possessed an aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay, and her eyes, which looked down upon all living beings, were filled with utter contempt.
Her gaze fell on Marco, and she recognized his iconic pineapple head.
"Marco the Phoenix".
Hancock spoke coldly, her voice devoid of any emotion.
What brings you to my country?
She paused, and before Marco could answer, she continued.
"I am aware that your Second Division Captain, Portgas D. Ace, has been captured by the Navy."
"If you're trying to recruit the Kuja Pirates into this war, then please leave."
"I have no interest in such troublesome matters."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Nine Serpent Warriors around him stepped forward in unison, drawing their bows even tighter, and the tense atmosphere instantly reached its peak.
As soon as the Empress gives the order, ten thousand arrows will be fired at once.
Marco felt a chill run down his spine.
He quickly waved his hand and explained hastily.
"Please don't misunderstand, Your Majesty! We absolutely did not mean that!"
"We are not here to try to recruit Amazon Lily into the war."
Hancock raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised.
Marco said sincerely, "We came here only for a guest, who we heard recently descended from the sky and landed here with you."
"guest?"
Hancock's voice was filled with doubt and impatience.
"Who?"
Marco took a deep breath and said the name.
"Straw Hat Boy, Monkey D. Luffy."
silence.
The moment Marco uttered the name "Luffy," the whole world seemed to be put on pause.
The expressions on the faces of the Nine Serpent Warriors, who were surrounded by murderous intent, froze.
Boa Hancock, standing at the very front, froze completely at that moment, her stunningly beautiful face as cold and aloof as an iceberg.
Time seemed to have passed for a century.
"Click."
A soft cracking sound rang out.
That was the sound of an iceberg melting.
The Empress's arrogant expression cracked visibly, then collapsed with a deafening roar.
A suspicious blush spread rapidly from her neck to her ears, eventually staining her entire pretty face.
Her eyes, which had once looked down upon all living beings, were now filled with panic, tension, and a kind of emotion called... shyness.
"Luffy...?"
She repeated the name uncertainly in a voice barely audible, her body even subconsciously taking a half step back, her hands nervously covering her burning cheeks.
His appearance no longer carried even a trace of the majesty and aloofness of a Shichibukai.
This is clearly the most genuine reaction of a young girl in love upon hearing the name of her sweetheart.
The entire venue was deathly silent.