443 Chapter 443 | Boa

443 | Boa

A somber atmosphere permeated the halls of Marineford as the time came for the Straw Hat pirates to depart. Over the week since their unexpected arrival, the ragtag band had left quite an impression on their involuntary hosts. For a few marine, sadness tinged the imminent farewell.

None felt the pirates' departure more keenly than the swordsmen of the base. A gaggle of them clustered around Roronoa Zoro, imploring him to stay and give out more of his vast-bladed knowledge.

"You can't leave yet, Zoro!" cried one of the marines, "I still can barely block your One Sword style!"

"Please, just a few more lessons!" begged another swordsman, one arm in a sling from their last practice bout. "I have to learn to cut steel as you do!"

Zoro brow twitched as he sighed, scratching his neck in exasperation even as his ego soaked up the attention. "I'm a pirate, and I have things to do." He said, "I've taught you louts a lot already. Just keep up the disciplines I showed you." He grumbled out the last two sentences.

Some marines sniffled at his indifference, loathe to see their master depart.

Equally woeful were the naval chefs, lamenting the loss of Chef Sanji, newly titled "King of Flames." The cook had revolutionized their icy headquarters kitchens, introducing new techniques and flavor combinations. 

Now the perfectionist Sanji inspected his temporary domain one last time, ensuring he left no culinary stone unturned. The cook would be lying if he said, he wouldn't miss this place.

"My most sincere gratitude, Chef!" offered one portly, mustachioed sous-chef with deep respect, "We will apply your lessons faithfully!" The other cooks echoed his pledge, swearing to uphold Sanji's exacting standards. They would sorely miss this piratical culinary savant.

Who would have known that the chefs that were hesitant to let Sanji cook would one day say this kind of stuff. 

In the winding corridors, Coby clasped hands with All-Hunt Grount, even though both boys had their ups and down. They had built up a good sense of respect for each other. Mainly after Bogard let them settle their differences in an all-out fight. Both of them now, had a respect for each other sense of justice. 

 "We'll cross paths on the high seas again soon! We'll settle who's better then." Grount said.

"Sure, whatever you say…" Coby smiled. 

But while everyone was having their farewells, Kuina had taken upon herself to find a last challenge in the marine base. 

Hand on her Wado Ichimonji's hilt, Kuina walked up to the Kuja pirate ship. And with one jump she landed on the deck, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"Get off my ship, worm," Hancock said narrowing her eyes. 

"I would," Kuina said, drawing her blade, "But I was thinking of challenging you… It's not often that you see a powerful woman in the seas."

Hancock narrowed her eyes, but nodded. She knew a powerful warrior when she saw one. But even then she knew who was better. 

"You are not worthy to face me." She said with a shoo-off gesture.

Kuina brow twitched, "You know why do I bother…" 

With that she moved, her blade arching dangerously near the Empress's neck, before it was stopped blocked by a arm, blackened with haki. 

"You…" Hancock said, twisting her body, as she spun around for a high kick, making Kuina jump back. "How dare you attack me!" With that she moved. 

Kuina merely grinned dangerously and settled into a battōjutsu stance. Kuina and Hancock exploded towards each other, blade and leg colliding in a punishing impact that shook the air. Immediately they broke apart, circling warily before commencing a blinding series of strikes and counters.

The rest of the Kuja pirates and marines looked on, not daring to stop them. They were in for blood, and no one wanted to get in between.

Kuina flowed like quicksilver, using her new blade works masterfully, dodging the blows and striking with precision. But Hancock moved with preternatural elegance and flexibility, employing powerful kicks augmented by her very firearms like lethal pistons. The clangor of their duel resounded across Marineford.

The frozen slash of Kuina's named attack Sheer Cold narrowly missed Hancock as the Warlord kicked with tremendous speed. In response, Kuina fell back narrowly escaping the blow. 

The frenzied bout drew an intent audience as well - both Zoro and Sanji watched awestruck from the port. Wondering if they should stop them of not.

But before they could do anything someone already moved to intercept. Luffy's form blurred as he stopped Kuina's blade with his own hand, while he stopped Boa's kick with his naginata. 

"That's enough!" Luffy snapped sharply, towards both of them, but mainly towards Kuina, "We're leaving…" 

Kuina and even Hancock faltered before that uncompromising look. But defiance still burned hotly in the Amazonian pirate.

"You will not order me, Warlord!" Hancock lashed spitefully. She imperiously raised her arms, Mero Mero beam. Luffy stared at her coldly, making no move to evade.

Sparky moved to help Luffy, but he wouldn't make it time. From the audience Sanji called out, knowing about Hancock's powers, "Luffy dodge!" 

But he didn't… Pink light erupted from Hancock's upheld palms to envelop Luffy completely. 

Exclamations of dismay came from the watching Straw Hats. But as the radiance faded, Luffy stood entirely unaffected! No Change had taken hold, nullified entirely by some unknown resistance.

"Luffy is immune to Empress's charm!" One of the marine said.

"That doesn't make sense?!" Another said.

A collective gasp arose from both pirates and marines alike. This unprecedented immunity stunned even the normally unflappable Hancock. "How's that possible?"

Luffy's lips quirked ever so slightly, "Who knows, maybe you had fallen for me. I mean not to tooth my own horn, but I'm good-looking after all." He said with a playful wink. 

Those marines that were sighing in relief, were now throwing curses at Luffy for being shameless. But he just shrugged, flicking Kuina's forehead, "That's for picking up wild fights for no reason. We leave! Now!"

Kuina just wordlessly nodded, massaging her forehead. 

"Wait?!" Hancock said, but Luffy and Kuina were already off their ship. 

"Should we bring them back, empress?" Sandersonia asked, Marigold nodding behind her. Even though they weren't confident in doing the task.

"N-no… leave them be," Boa said, "It's… probably a fluke." She said, "I mean, no way did I fall for him. He's not even that handsome… well, maybe a bit…" she mumbled the last parts to herself, bewildered that her powers hadn't actually worked. 

Luffy on the hand, was dancing in his own mind. 'That worked… that actually fucking worked…' he thought to himself. 

What he did was simple. His naginata had the power of Energy Energy fruit, and well, every devil fruit power was based on energy. So he just used that devil fruit power to nullify, Boa's attack, which was technically energy.

If that was a physical attack that wouldn't have worked, but pure form of energy attacks were useless against a man can control it.

Along with other things Luffy can also distort other devil fruit user's powers by having physical contact with them, something similar to the Yami Yami no mi. 

But even if that didn't work, Luffy had a backup plan. 

After knowing that Boa Hancock would be attending the meeting, Luffy had purposefully, stopped any and all production of sex-related hormones in him. With Life return that was possible, even though it was quite hard to pull off. That's why Luffy really wasn't sexually interested in her. Think having post-nut clarity, but for longer. 

'I wonder if I left a memorable impression on her?' Luffy thought as he united with crew, ready to leave Marineford.

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