Every beautiful crew member was dear to Reno's heart, and he naturally wouldn't play favorites. Everyone gets equal attention!
Amid the girls' surprised squeals, the sound of mahjong tiles clacking filled the room. The ship… gradually veered off course.
…
A week passed quickly.
High in the sky, Nami created a small island cloud, carrying the Going Merry through the air. This freed up Reno's hands completely.
On the deck, Kaya, drenched in sweat, was diligently training to strengthen her body. Her flushed face was adorable.
As for Nami— To prepare for the upcoming battle with Arlong, she'd been training relentlessly for days. Exhausting. So grueling she felt nauseous, on the verge of collapse. Each time she neared fainting, she'd ask Kaya to use the Healing Fruit to remove her negative effects, then dive back into developing the Weather Fruit.
Kaya felt heartbroken for her. While the negative effects could be erased, the pain of training was real.
Nami brushed it off with a carefree smile. Compared to the nightmarish eight years under Arlong, this pain was nothing. If she could defeat Arlong, free Cocoyasi Village, and avenge Bellmer, she'd pay any price.
Over the past few days, Nami focused on developing two weather elements: lightning and clouds. Lightning for offense. Clouds for defense.
From the initial tiny bolts and small clouds, she'd progressed to thicker lightning strikes and using island clouds to lift the Going Merry into the air. Nami was constantly pushing her limits.
When exhausted, Kaya would clear her fatigue, and she'd continue. A relentless cycle.
Seeing the destructive power of Nami's lightning, Reno praised, "Nami, you're doing great."
Nami turned, hands on her hips, smirking confidently. "Just wait—I'll make Arlong regret everything."
Reno nodded, pleased with her fiery spirit. Excellent! In just a few days, Nami's progress was astounding. Her synergy with the Weather Fruit was near-perfect. Especially with wind, rain, clouds, and lightning—she was an absolute genius. No wonder even the Golden Lion had wanted to kidnap her as a navigator.
Reno had considered slowing their flight to give Nami more training time. After all, all fear stemmed from insufficient firepower. The stronger Nami became, the less she'd fear Arlong. But he'd underestimated her.
Fueled by her hatred for Arlong, Nami's potential exploded, her strength skyrocketing. At her current level, she could take down Arlong with ease.
Now, when Arlong's name came up, Nami's eyes burned with hatred and a bone-deep coldness.
Seeing Nami drenched in sweat, Kaya stepped forward, gently using the Healing Fruit to relieve her fatigue.
"Thanks, Kaya," Nami said with a sweet smile.
"No problem," Kaya replied, smiling back. "Nami, we're almost at Cocoyasi Village. You should rest."
Nami wiped her sweat with a towel and nodded.
Reno suddenly remembered something and cautioned, "Nami, when facing enemies, show no mercy. Cut them down completely." Not like a certain idiot who just knocks them away.
"I understand," Nami said, her nod laced with hatred. Mercy? She wouldn't rest until she turned the Arlong Pirates into sashimi.
Soon, the island cloud reached the skies above Arlong Park.
"Nami, go handle it. I'll back you up from here," Reno said, taking control of the cloud to keep it hovering.
Nami took a deep breath, her lower body transforming into clouds as she dove toward Arlong Park.
…
Inside Arlong Park
The Fishman Arlong was laughing and chatting with a man who looked like a rat. Colonel Mouse stroked his whiskers, delighted by the large chest of Berries Arlong pushed toward him.
"Arlong, pleasure doing business," he said.
Arlong spread his arms, laughing heartily. "Hahaha, Colonel Mouse, as long as we work together, this sea belongs to us!"
For years, he'd wreaked havoc in this region, committing countless atrocities yet remaining untouchable. All thanks to Colonel Mouse's Navy connections. Sure, the man was greedy, but the payoff was worth it.
Colonel Mouse nodded with a sly grin. A mere Navy colonel—how much could he earn through honest work? The Berries in that chest were worth years of his salary. As for the people Arlong killed? He couldn't care less. There were plenty of people. Just don't block his path to wealth.
As they chatted, a small shadow appeared in the sky above Arlong Park.
"What a bunch of scum."
A sudden, icy shout startled Arlong and Colonel Mouse. They looked up, confused. Then they saw Nami's frost-cold face.
"Nami?! How—?!"
Arlong's jaw dropped as he saw her lower body as clouds. With his experience, he recognized it instantly. A Devil Fruit ability! A Nature-Type, no less.
Trouble!
His face darkened. Without Haki, he couldn't even touch a Nature-Type user's body.
Damn it! Nami had gotten a Nature-Type Devil Fruit. This was bad.
Under the shocked gazes of Arlong and his Fishman crew, Nami descended, her clouds reforming into limbs.
Arlong, his face grim with menace, glared at her. "Nami, what are you doing here?! Got the 100 million Berries yet?!"
"Hah, 100 million Berries?" Nami's icy gaze swept over Arlong and his crew, landing on Colonel Mouse. "So even the Navy's in your pocket. No wonder…"
In that moment, everything clicked for her.
"Since that's the case… you can all go to hell!"
…