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The tension didn't break.
It thickened.
Like the air itself had grown heavier, pressing down on everyone present.
The Marine officer stood only a few steps away from Weiss now, his sharp eyes scanning him from head to toe—measuring, analyzing, judging.
Behind him, rows of soldiers spread out, securing the area, their hands resting near their weapons.
The villagers had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
Fear had returned—just in a different form.
"…You admit it so easily," the officer said at last.
His tone wasn't angry.
It was curious.
Weiss shrugged slightly. "Didn't see a reason to lie."
The officer studied him for another moment before straightening.
"Name."
"…Weiss."
"Full name."
"Just Weiss."
A pause.
The officer didn't seem satisfied with that answer—but he didn't press further.
"Do you understand what you've done?" he asked.
Weiss glanced briefly at the ruins behind him, then back at the officer.
"Yeah," he said simply. "I got rid of a problem."
A few of the Marines shifted uncomfortably at that.
The officer's gaze hardened slightly.
"Arlong was a pirate," he said. "Dealing with him was the responsibility of the Marines."
Nami let out a quiet, bitter laugh behind Weiss.
"Yeah? Funny how you showed up after everything was already over."
Several soldiers frowned, but the officer raised a hand slightly—silencing any reaction.
His eyes moved to Nami.
"…And you are?"
She crossed her arms. "Someone who's been waiting years for you to do your job."
A dangerous edge crept into the air.
Weiss sighed softly.
"…This isn't going to go well."
For a brief moment, no one moved.
Then—
"Regardless," the officer continued, his tone regaining its calm authority, "your actions cannot be ignored."
His gaze locked back onto Weiss.
"You destroyed an entire pirate crew. Caused large-scale damage. And used abilities that…" he paused slightly, "…do not match standard combat profiles."
Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"Combat profiles?"
"You're not normal," the officer said bluntly.
Weiss smirked faintly.
"Never said I was."
The wind picked up, carrying tension across the broken battlefield.
The officer took one more step forward.
"You will come with us," he said.
It wasn't a request.
Behind Weiss, Nami stiffened instantly.
"…No," she said.
The word came out sharper than she intended—but she didn't take it back.
Several Marines reacted immediately, hands tightening on their weapons.
The officer didn't look at her this time.
His attention remained fixed on Weiss.
"Well?" he asked.
Weiss didn't answer right away.
Instead, his eyes drifted slightly to the side—
And for a split second—
The world flickered.
[System Alert: External Observation Detected]
His expression didn't change.
But inside…
Something shifted.
Again.
That same strange distortion from before.
Like something was interfering.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Yeah," Weiss said slowly.
Then he smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"I'm not doing that."
Silence.
Then—
A sharp click.
Weapons.
Drawn.
"Think carefully," the officer said, his voice dropping slightly. "This is your only warning."
Weiss tilted his head.
"…You sure you want to do this?"
A faint ripple spread from where he stood.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
The ground beneath his feet cracked ever so slightly.
The soldiers hesitated.
They felt it.
Even if they didn't understand it.
Pressure.
Power.
Something dangerous.
Nami's eyes widened slightly.
"…Weiss."
She had seen him fight before.
But this—
This felt different.
More controlled.
More… serious.
The officer noticed it too.
His gaze sharpened.
"…So that's how it is."
For a moment, it looked like he might actually order the attack.
The tension peaked—
Right at the edge of breaking.
Then—
"…Stand down."
The command cut through the air instantly.
All movement stopped.
The soldiers froze.
Even Weiss raised an eyebrow slightly.
The officer exhaled slowly, lowering his hand.
"…We're not here to start a war," he said.
The pressure eased—just a little.
But not completely.
He looked at Weiss again, this time with something new in his eyes.
Not just authority.
Not just suspicion.
Recognition.
"…This isn't over," he said quietly.
"You've put yourself on the map."
Weiss chuckled softly.
"Pretty sure I did that when I took down Arlong."
"…No," the officer replied.
"You did that when you showed power that shouldn't exist."
That… was interesting.
Weiss's smile faded slightly.
"Careful," he said. "You're starting to sound like you know more than you should."
The officer didn't respond to that.
Instead, he turned slightly.
"Prepare the report," he ordered one of his subordinates.
"Yes, sir!"
Nami stepped closer to Weiss again, her voice low.
"…What's going on?"
Weiss didn't answer immediately.
Because in his mind—
The system spoke again.
[Signal Lock Established]
[Unknown Entity Attempting Connection…]
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…Trouble," he said under his breath.
The Marines began pulling back, organizing their forces.
But the atmosphere remained tense.
Unresolved.
As the officer started to walk away, he paused.
Just for a moment.
Without turning back, he spoke one last tim"
…Next time we meet," he said, "it won't be like this."
Then he left.
The moment they were gone—
The village exhaled.
Noise returned.
Voices. Movement. Life.
But for Weiss…
None of it mattered.
Because suddenly—
Pain shot through his chest.
Sharp.
Violent.
"—!" He staggered slightly.
"Weiss!" Nami grabbed his arm immediately. "What's wrong?!"
His breathing tightened.
Vision flickering.
[Connection Established]
Everything went black—
For just a second.
And in that second—
He wasn't standing on the island anymore.
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
Then—
A figure.
Blurry.
Distorted.
Watching him.
"…So," a voice echoed, calm and almost amused.
"You survived your first real test."
Weiss's eyes narrowed.
"…Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer.
Instead, it stepped closer.
The space around it seemed… wrong.
Like reality itself didn't fully accept its presence.
"You're unstable," the voice said.
"Interesting."
Weiss clenched his jaw.
"Say what you want, or I'm leaving."
A soft chuckle echoed.
"Not yet."
The pressure suddenly increased.
Overwhelming.
Crushing.
"For now…" the voice continued, "…just grow."
A pause.
Then—
"Because soon…"
The figure's outline sharpened slightly.
Enough for Weiss to feel something cold run down his spine.
"You'll have to prove you're worth keeping."
The darkness shattered.
Weiss gasped as his vision snapped back.
The sea.
The ruins.
Nami.
Everything returned at once.
"…Weiss!" she said, her grip tightening. "Talk to me!"
He blinked once.
Twice.
Then steadied himself.
"I'm fine," he said.
But his voice was quieter now.
More serious.
Because this time—
He knew.
This wasn't just a system anymore.
Something else…
Was involved.
And whatever it was—
It had just noticed him.
Weiss looked toward the horizon again.
But this time—
His eyes weren't calm.
They were sharp.
Cold.
Focused.
"…Good," he muttered softly.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Let's see how far this goes."
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