Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

"Mr. Zane, my Devil Fruit ability is called the Love-Love Fruit. You may be quite powerful, but it is very difficult for a man to withstand my charms. You better not lose to me too quickly."

Hancock winked, offering a playful warning with a seductive air.

"Then I shall have to see it for myself," Zane replied with a slight smile.

He was well aware of how effectively her ability countered men. Otherwise, throughout the previous banquet, he would not have had to repeatedly use excessive Haki to steady his mind.

It was only because his mental energy was so vast; anyone else would have been left mentally exhausted after a single banquet with her.

"Then here I come!"

Seeing Zane's composed demeanor, Hancock felt a surge of competitiveness. She wanted to see how he would react once he fell under her spell.

Mero Mero Mellow!

It came without warning.

Hancock formed a heart shape with her hands in front of her, and a pink, heart-shaped beam rapidly swept toward Zane.

Armament: Emission!

He struck out with a single palm.

A thick wall of Armament Haki transformed into an invisible barrier, intercepting the heart-shaped beam.

In a silent collision, the heart-shaped beam was shattered by the high-intensity Armament Haki.

This sight caused Hancock's beautiful eyes to light up.

'What impressive Armament Haki.'

While Armament Haki had the effect of countering Devil Fruit abilities...

It was not an absolute counter. Rather, it depended on the relative strength of the two.

If a Devil Fruit ability was developed to a high enough level, even Armament Haki could fail to resist it.

The reverse was also true.

At this moment, Zane blocking Hancock's Love-Love Fruit ability with emitted Haki undoubtedly proved that in terms of both Haki and ability strength, Zane held the upper hand.

For some reason...

Even though she was at a disadvantage in the exchange, Hancock was exceptionally happy.

The happier she felt, the more spirited she became.

The red high heels she wore did not hinder her movements in the slightest.

With a quick step, Hancock charged forward, sweeping a fierce whip kick toward Zane's waist.

This kick was not only infused with high-intensity Armament Haki but also concentrated the power of the Love-Love Fruit.

If hit, anyone whose Armament Haki was not profound enough would not only suffer a powerful impact but would also be subjected to a petrification attack.

Combining the Love-Love Fruit with refined martial arts was exactly Hancock's combat style.

He did not dodge.

Facing the incoming whip kick, Zane simply reached out and caught her calf.

Both the force of the attack and the Love-Love Fruit ability were neutralized by his Haki-Nen.

Gripping her calf tightly, Zane spun around, pulling her off the ground and hurling her into the distance.

Her tall, graceful figure resembled a dancing butterfly in the air, landing steadily after a series of agile flips.

Her heels left a crater in the ground. The moment she landed, Hancock shot back toward Zane even faster, like an arrow from a powerful bow.

Her long, ivory-white legs lashed out with slashes, sweeps, and kicks.

Combined with Hancock's stunning face and domineering figure...

Every attack carried not only fierce physical damage but also an inescapable mental assault.

If one were to lose focus for even a second, they would be captivated by her charm and succumb to the attack.

Zane treated her like a formidable foe, not daring to relax for a moment, his eyes scanning every inch of her as she moved.

'Damn it, why can't I control where I'm looking?'

As he scanned her, Zane's gaze would unconsciously be drawn to her swaying, bountiful assets.

This left him feeling quite frustrated with himself.

Yet, he inevitably found his focus returning to those same key points during the exchange.

Old habits die hard.

This phrase described Zane perfectly.

Hancock was a top-tier expert.

How could she not notice where her opponent's eyes were fixed during a battle?

As their close-quarters combat continued...

Hancock quickly noticed the improper intrusion of his gaze.

Her earlobes turned a faint shade of red.

Instead of feeling offended, she felt a sense of secret admiration.

'As expected of the man who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon.'

'Even though he's been captivated by my charms to this extent, he can still suppress me in battle.'

His eyes were one thing, but his actions were another.

During the actual fight, Zane was not going soft in the slightest.

His strikes were incredibly firm.

Not only did he neutralize Hancock's attacks time and again, but he also utilized superior martial arts to force her into a steady retreat.

It was clear that even without using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit or other abilities, the strength Zane displayed was firmly above Hancock's.

And as she continued to be pushed back...

Though Hancock appeared somewhat disheveled, the light in her eyes as she looked at Zane grew brighter and brighter.

Sabaody Archipelago.

"Zane should have arrived at Amazon Lily by now. I wonder how his meeting with Hancock is going?"

Inside the Rip-off Bar, Rayleigh leaned against the counter, savoring the fine wine Zane had gifted him while chatting with Shakky.

"How else could it go? Given what Zane has done, Hancock will certainly give him a warm reception," Shakky replied casually while wiping a glass.

"True!" Rayleigh nodded in deep agreement.

It was he and Shakky who had intercepted and rescued the three Hancock sisters back then, allowing them to escape the pursuit sent by the Celestial Dragons and return safely to Amazon Lily.

Therefore, he was very familiar with Hancock's past and knew that the Celestial Dragons had become her ultimate nightmare.

"Do you think Hancock can take this opportunity to break the cage in her heart? You know, with Hancock's talent, she should be much stronger than she is now. She has stalled precisely because that cage is binding her," Rayleigh said, looking seriously at Shakky.

When she first went to sea at the age of eighteen, she earned the recognition of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and received an invitation to join the Seven Warlords.

Hancock's talent was absolutely beyond doubt.

However, until now...

More than ten years later, Hancock's strength had always hovered in the upper-middle tier of the Warlords without significant progress.

This rate of growth was undoubtedly inconsistent with her natural talent.

As for the cause of this situation...

While others might not know, how could Rayleigh not understand?

Her childhood experiences had left Hancock with a severe psychological trauma that shackled her mental will.

Mental will is something intangible and invisible.

But its importance is beyond question.

It not only relates to Haki but also affects a person's entire mindset.

Shakky remained silent.

She understood everything Rayleigh was saying.

She knew the Celestial Dragons had become Hancock's nightmare. If she couldn't break free from it, it would be difficult for her to make any major breakthroughs in the future.

This was actually the main reason she was willing to help Zane get in touch with Hancock.

The idea that the Celestial Dragons were untouchable and sacrosanct was deeply rooted in people's minds.

To Hancock, Zane—who had actually killed a Celestial Dragon—was a potent medicine.

As the former-former Empress of Amazon Lily, she truly hoped that Zane's appearance would allow Hancock to break free from her nightmare.

"I hope so. Otherwise, it would be a real pity for someone like Hancock."

Having followed Hancock's growth, Shakky was very aware of her potential.

Not just to her, but even compared to all the past Empresses of Amazon Lily, Hancock was undoubtedly the most talented.

Had it not been for the tragedy in her youth, she likely would have already become the strongest Empress in the history of the island.