Sparring Session

The open area inside the mansion had been cleared, leaving ample space for the confrontation. Standing in the center were Imai and Boa Hancock, their postures tense, their eyes locked. Around them, Nico and the Kuja Pirates formed a wide circle, eagerly watching the unfolding duel.

The air was thick with anticipation. Neither combatant moved at first, each assessing the other in silence, their steps slow and deliberate as they began to circle.

Boa Hancock could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears, but she forced herself to remain calm. She had trained for years, honing her body and mind. She was strong without her Devil Fruit powers, but the woman standing before her—the Fifth Emperor—was on a different level.

Imai, for her part, studied Hancock carefully. Her opponent's movements were graceful, her stance solid. There was no doubt Hancock was a master of her craft.

Suddenly, Hancock made the first move. She lunged forward, delivering a powerful punch aimed at Imai's chest. Imai blocked it with ease, her forearm meeting Hancock's with a loud thud. The empress didn't hesitate, following up with a swift horizontal kick aimed at Imai's head.

Imai intercepted the kick with precision, pushing Hancock's shin downward with the palm of her hand. The movement was fluid, almost effortless, but the precision required to execute it was staggering.

'Quick and agile,' Imai analyzed as she shifted back into her stance. 'She uses her speed to overwhelm her opponents and stays just out of reach. Impressive.'

Without warning, Imai dashed forward, her fist aiming for Hancock's liver. The empress managed to block at the last second, but the force sent her stumbling back. A sharp pain radiated through her arm where she had deflected the blow.

The exchange continued, their attacks growing faster and more relentless. Hancock spun into a low kick, aiming for Imai's legs, but Imai leaped over it and retaliated with a high kick toward Hancock's midsection. This time, Hancock wasn't quick enough to dodge. The impact knocked her backward, and she hit the ground with a grunt.

"Big Sis!"

"Empress!"

The Kuja Pirates gasped, but Hancock was already back on her feet, her expression fierce.

"Not bad," Imai said with a smirk.

They resumed their dance, trading blows in a flurry of punches and kicks. The room echoed with the sound of flesh meeting flesh, each strike more powerful than the last.

POW!

Imai stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek. She blinked in surprise, then let out a low laugh. "Well done. It's been a while since anyone's landed a clean hit on me. Feel proud of yourself."

Hancock glanced at her fist, her eyes wide. "T-thank you?"

Imai grinned. "Come on, we're not done yet, are we?"

"Of course not!" Hancock replied, her determination rekindled.

The fight continued, their movements fluid and almost rhythmic. Hancock was learning with every exchange, adapting to Imai's patterns and finding ways to counter. But her body bore the toll of the battle—bruises darkened her skin, and her muscles ached from the sheer force of Imai's strikes.

Still, she pushed forward.

'She's like a monster,' Hancock thought, wincing as another kick landed against her ribs. 'But I can't stop now.'

As the battle wore on, their fatigue became evident. Sweat dripped from their faces, and their breathing grew heavier. Then, Hancock made a crucial mistake—she leaned too far forward during an attack, her balance faltering.

Imai's sharp eyes caught the opening instantly. She stepped in and delivered a devastating punch to Hancock's stomach. The force sent the empress crashing to the ground, gasping for air.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

"Big Sis!"

Hancock lay on the floor for a moment, clutching her stomach. Then, to everyone's surprise, a small smile tugged at her lips. "I lost," she admitted with a sigh.

Imai, wiping the sweat from her brow, extended a hand. "You're amazing. If you hadn't made that mistake, it could've been a draw—or even your win."

Hancock accepted the hand, allowing Imai to pull her up. She shook her head with a faint smile. "You praise me too highly. I know you weren't using your full power."

Imai chuckled. "Maybe not, but I wasn't holding back as much as you think. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Hancock's cheeks flushed faintly at the compliment. "Thank you for the fight. I learned a lot. It seems I have much more to perfect."

"Don't sell yourself short," Imai said, patting her shoulder. "Your instincts, your agility, your reaction time—they're all top-notch. Honestly, it's scary how fast you are. If you keep refining your technique, you'll be unbeatable."

Hancock turned away slightly, her cheeks reddening further. "T-thank you."

Imai laughed softly and stretched. "Well, I'm off to catch my breath. Also…" She glanced back at Hancock, her expression softening. "I kind of like you."

Hancock froze, her eyes wide. "W-what?"

Before she could respond, Imai walked off, waving casually. Nico followed, casting a knowing smirk at the empress before disappearing from sight.

Hancock stood motionless for a moment, her heart pounding. A faint smile crept across her lips as she raised a hand to cover them, her cheeks still warm.

For the first time, Boa Hancock's heart was moved—not by admiration, but by something deeper.

The Kuja Pirates, meanwhile, were left in stunned silence. They replayed the fight in their minds, the elegant ferocity of the combatants, the almost synchronized flow of their movements. It was as if they had witnessed a dance—a deadly, breathtaking dance.

When their empress turned back to them, her expression was unreadable, save for the faint blush lingering on her cheeks.

The crew exchanged puzzled glances, their thoughts echoing the same question:

"What just happened?"