Chapter 45: The New Era – Marine Monster, Man Snake
Peacock stood up, dusting herself off with a glare toward the forge. "That b*****d! He thinks he can resist my Medusa's Kiss? And that annoying Hina—she'll get hers, too."
A teasing voice interrupted her. "In trouble with Chiba again, little Peacock?" Peacock spun around to see a Marine approaching.
He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a mohawk hairstyle, dark purple hair tied back into a bun, and a matching mustache. Dressed in a lavender-striped suit, dark blue shirt, white tie, and the Marine's justice cloak, a samurai sword hung at his waist. This was Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel, a well-known figure at Naval Headquarters.
He'd returned upon hearing about a new top-tier weapon in Marine HQ, hoping for a chance to claim it. Running into Peacock, however, was an unexpected twist. As a close acquaintance of Vice Admiral Tsuru, he had always regarded Peacock as a junior and couldn't help but tease her.
Unfortunately for him, Peacock was in no mood for jokes.
"Seems like you're just as impolite, Uncle Flying Squirrel!" Without warning, she cracked her whip toward him.
The Flying Squirrel chuckled, unperturbed. He had been trained with special techniques, including advanced body and Qi training, along with Chiba's body-strengthening elixirs. His strength had grown significantly, nearly reaching Admiral candidate status. Facing Peacock's attack, he felt no threat and casually raised his sword in defense, without even using Armament Haki.
But he had no idea just how powerful Peacock had become. She had trained in the divine awakening technique and drank a potent foundation elixir crafted by Chiba. Combined with Medusa's Kiss, a supreme blade in her hands, she wielded strength far beyond her rank.
With a sharp crack, Medusa's Kiss knocked his sword away effortlessly. Flying Squirrel's sword went limp, and before he could recover, Peacock's whip lashed at him again, forcing him to retreat as he hastily activated Armament and Observation Haki.
"Close call…," he muttered, realizing the danger. But Medusa's Kiss suddenly extended, its fang-tipped end piercing his defenses. The venom seeped into him, paralyzing his movements and leaving him defenseless.
Peacock's smile turned wicked as she whipped him mercilessly. With each strike, Flying Squirrel helplessly exclaimed, "Yes, Master Peacock, harder, please!"
"Say, 'Monkey D. Chiba is your servant, Master Peacock, and begs for more!'" she demanded.
Flying Squirrel had no choice but to comply, repeating the humiliating line as Marines watched. Although embarrassed, he could do nothing to change his fate under Peacock's relentless assault. The strength and venom of Medusa's Kiss left him completely at her mercy.
Watching from the sidelines, Tenguyama Feiche's eyes shone with admiration. "What a whip! Truly remarkable craftsmanship," he murmured, wondering when he'd be able to forge something of that caliber.
Just then, Shimotsuki Kozaburo arrived, his gaze immediately drawn to Medusa's Kiss, sensing the immense power it radiated. His brow twitched in envy and awe.
"A supreme blade… that whip is indeed a weapon of the highest order."
He turned toward Chiba, his voice rising. "You crafted this whip?"
"Indeed, Senior Shimotsuki," Chiba replied, smirking. "Didn't you leave? What brings you back?"
Tiangushan Feiche chuckled, taunting, "Old man, you missed witnessing the birth of a supreme blade."
Kozaburo's face flushed as he stammered, "I… I realized some things and wanted to meditate on them, that's all. Once I finish my introspection, I'll definitely forge a supreme blade myself and reclaim my title as the world's greatest blacksmith."
Chiba chuckled. "Bellumebo, please prepare a secluded chamber for Senior Feiche. If he needs anything, provide it in my name."
"Yes, Lord Chiba," Bellumebo replied, leading Feiche away. Kozaburo, however, felt a pang of regret. Why had he left? And yet here he was, unable to resist another attempt.
Clearing his throat, he approached Chiba with a forced smile. "Chiba, my boy, how about a little favor?"
Chiba turned away, feigning indifference. "Not interested."
"Come now, don't be so stingy! You're a high-ranking Marine, an Admiral candidate no less! You should be generous to those who serve you."
Chiba raised an eyebrow. "What's it worth to you?"
Kozaburo swallowed his pride. "I'll serve you for five years if you demonstrate it again."
Chiba scoffed. "You'd barely start an apprentice at seven years, let alone teach them anything worthwhile."
"Fine! Ten years, then," Kozaburo offered, struggling to hide his desperation.
"One hundred, or nothing."
Kozaburo gaped in horror. "One hundred years? I'll be nothing but bones by then!"
But Chiba turned to leave, unfazed. Scrambling, Kozaburo finally agreed, "Fine, fine! One hundred years!"
Chiba smirked, knowing that he could extend Kozaburo's lifespan, ensuring he'd honor the commitment. "Deal," he replied, watching as Peacock continued her ruthless training on Flying Squirrel.
Chiba sighed, thinking of Hina. Medusa's Kiss had multiplied Peacock's strength tenfold; if she went after Hina next, his friend would stand no chance.
As if reading his mind, Hina sidled up, clutching Chiba's arm. "Chiba, I don't want to end up like Flying Squirrel. I need a supreme weapon of my own."
"Don't worry, Hina. I'll forge you something unique."
"Senior Shimotsuki, I'll demonstrate this just one more time for you," Chiba called, signaling to Kozaburo to watch closely as he began working on Hina's weapon.
In the days that followed, Peacock wielded Medusa's Kiss with terrifying efficiency, taking down three Vice Admirals in training sessions. Each was defeated soundly and humiliated, unable to withstand her whip's power. Other Vice Admirals, witnessing her strength, quickly petitioned Vice Admiral Tsuru to restrain her, finally putting a stop to Peacock's spree.
Still, her reputation soared, and soon newspapers were buzzing with stories of the new Marine powerhouse. One headline proclaimed her as "The Marine Monster: Man Snake Peacock."
In the accompanying photo, she stood regally, a black and red dress hugging her curves, her chin raised, her beauty as striking as it was dangerous. Wearing the justice cloak and holding Medusa's Kiss, she stood over a "servant" with confidence.
Some underground newspapers even altered the image, dressing the servant in a Vice Admiral's uniform, making Peacock appear as a glamorous yet ruthless queen.
The title "Man Snake" spread swiftly, symbolizing both her alluring appearance and deadly power. Medusa's Kiss, with its embodiment of both love and vengeance, had become an icon, and the name "Man Snake Peacock" echoed throughout the world.
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𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
• 𝘽𝙤𝙜𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪
• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮
• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝
• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲
𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!
👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧