Kikyo had tried to rise and continue fighting—but just as she pushed up, her ribs shattered with a SNAP.
"Stop struggling. Today, for your Empress's sake, we'll spare you. But if you resist again, I won't hesitate to kill a woman!"Renji Kai coldly warned the broken warrior before turning and walking toward the grand palace at the heart of Amazon Lily.
At that moment, a familiar system alert echoed:
"Ding! Congratulations, host has defeated the enemy. You gain 10,000 reputation points."
As expected, someone of Kikyo's caliber only granted 10k rep. After spending 5k for the transformation, he netted +5k. Still, it was his first real reward in days.
With Might Guy's possession effect lasting another hour, Renji began hurrying toward Boa Hancock's palace. The Amazonians, seeing Kikyo fall so decisively, dared not interfere.
Renji and his three crewmates made their way through the city's central streets.
"Are those the legendary men everyone whispers about?"
"Terrifying—they actually saw men!"
"Why didn't Captain Kikyo stop them?"
As the Amazons whispered, Renji's mind wandered to the scene from Journey to the West, where the monk visited the all-female kingdom. Four travelers. Missing only a white dragon horse...
Before he could overthink, two massive women with snake-like bodies blocked their path.
"What are those monsters?" Bartolomeo frowned as he spotted their forked tongues.
"They're Hancock's sisters—Sandersonia and Marigold—top fighters of the Kuja Pirates!" Crocodile explained. As a former Warlord, he knew their status.
"So, you are the Renji Kai Pirates? I heard you're here for our Empress?" Sandersonia stepped forward, green hair fluttering in the breeze.
"You're not in a position to question me—stand aside!"Renji didn't waste time. With Might Guy still active, he lunged straight at Sandersonia.
Sandersonia opened her massive maw to bite—but Renji calmly jumped inside her mouth. She froze, mouth agape.
"What? Captain Renji just got eaten?!"Bartolomeo was flabbergasted.
"Damn—what's that about?"Even Crocodile was taken aback.
"Don't panic. Captain Renji isn't dead. Let's watch."Bullet grinned, confident and composed.
Sandersonia's smug expression faded in an instant. Within seconds, her face twisted with pain.
"Sis—what's wrong?!"Marigold rushed up in alarm.
In that moment, Sandersonia opened her mouth again—and Renji Kai, steady and in full control, propped his hand against the roof of her mouth, preventing it from closing.
"Holy!? That's insane!"Bartolomeo gaped in awe—Renji had defied death.
Then, with a swift leap, Renji sprang back to his companions. Sandersonia fell forward, unconscious.
All the Amazonians watched, stunned. They thought they'd witnessed a decisive victory. Instead, everything had flipped in an instant.
Another system message sounded:
"Ding! Victory over the enemy. You gain 15,000 reputation points."
"Damn you—let's go!"Marigold charged, furious at her sister's defeat.
But from the palace's throne room, a booming female voice rang out:
"Everyone, stand down. Captain Renji Kai—I await you in the palace!"
The crowd's attention shifted toward the grand building. Marigold threw one last venomous glare before retreating—she had no choice but to obey their Empress.