Chapter 34: The Qualities of a King — "I'll Be Waiting in My Chambers"
No-Sword Style — 180 Phoenix of Troubles!
Facing the furious combined assault of Sandersonia and Marigold, Rok simply closed his eyes for a heartbeat, recalling the tornado slash he had once seen Zoro unleash.
He had trained under Vice Admiral Momousagi for years. Even without the system-granted Master Swordsman level, his own swordsmanship was already monstrous.
Hands empty, he mimicked drawing a blade.
HUMMMMM—
A colossal tornado of pure cutting force erupted from his bare palms.
It wasn't even a serious attack.
Yet the two Gorgon sisters, in their massive Zoan forms, had no room to dodge.
They braced.
BOOM! BOOM!
Both were smashed backward, crashing into the arena floor.
They felt it instantly.
This man hadn't even drawn a sword.
He cut them with his hands.
Sandersonia's mind reeled.
According to intel, Douglas D. Rok was supposed to be crippled by poison.
Did the World Government and Marines both get it wrong?!
No time to think.
Rok was already walking up the final steps— less than ten meters from Hancock.
"The world's most beautiful woman. Pirate Empress Boa Hancock."
He spoke calmly, deliberately taking one slow step at a time.
"You really do deserve that title."
He wanted her to feel every second of this.
And she did.
Hancock's heart was racing. She couldn't predict him. She, the untouchable Empress, was flustered.
"Insolent man—stay back!"
Sandersonia and Marigold charged again from behind.
They saw it too— their proud big sister was acting weird.
Men were never allowed near her.
Never.
Buzz—
Rok glanced over his shoulder.
A wave of pure, terrifying will exploded outward.
Conqueror's Haki.
The pressure slammed into the sisters like a tsunami.
Both dropped unconscious on the spot.
The entire arena shuddered.
Even Hancock's breathtaking eyes widened in shock.
Conqueror's Haki—million-to-one rarity.
And his was stronger than hers.
Then—
"Shit!"
Rok realized the problem.
As the two sisters collapsed, their massive bodies toppled in the same direction.
Marigold's flaming serpent hair went out of control— igniting both their clothes from behind.
The fire was spreading fast.
Toward the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon branded on their backs.
The deepest secret of the Gorgon sisters.
The one thing they would rather die than reveal in front of their people.
Hancock saw it too.
Panic flashed across her perfect face.
She tried to move— too slow.
But in less than a second—
Whoosh!
Rok vanished.
He appeared behind Sandersonia first, then Marigold, ripping his own shirt to shreds and draping the cloth over their burning backs— perfectly covering the slave marks.
It happened so fast the thousands watching saw nothing except a blur.
All they knew was:
Rok had shielded the princesses' dignity.
And now he stood shirtless in the arena.
…And every Kuja woman in the audience started drooling.
They had never seen a man's bare torso before.
Were all men built like this?!
Up on the throne,
Hancock stared.
For the first time in her life, a man filled her entire vision.
Nothing else existed.
Her cheeks burned.
Her heart pounded.
What was this feeling?!
Then—
Rok finally stepped onto the platform, standing face-to-face with the Empress.
"Rok…"
Her voice trembled, no longer cold.
The entire nation waited for her to obliterate him.
Instead—
She leaned forward slightly, violet eyes locked on his, and whispered the words that would be retold for generations:
"Rok… I'll be waiting for you in my chambers."
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