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The night deepened.
Lanterns swayed gently across Cocoyasi Village, casting warm light over smiling faces, clinking mugs, and tables filled with food. Laughter rose into the air, mixing with music and the distant crash of waves.
Freedom had a sound.
And tonight—
It was loud.
Weiss stepped into the celebration quietly.
Almost unnoticed.
Almost.
"There he is!"
A villager shouted, raising a mug high.
"The one who took down Arlong!"
More voices followed.
Cheers.
Gratitude.
Relief.
Weiss paused slightly, caught off guard by the sudden attention.
"…This is new," he muttered.
He wasn't used to this.
Not like this.
Not genuine.
A mug was pushed into his hand.
"Drink!"
Another voice laughed.
"You've earned it!"
Weiss stared at the drink for a second.
Then—
"…Why not."
He took a sip.
The warmth spread quickly.
Not just from the alcohol.
But from the atmosphere.
For a brief moment—
Things felt… normal.
"You look awkward."
Nami appeared beside him, a faint smirk on her lips.
Weiss glanced at her.
"I am."
She laughed lightly.
"Yeah, I can tell."
Her eyes moved over the crowd.
The villagers.
The celebration.
Then back to him.
"…This is because of you."
Weiss shrugged.
"Not just me."
"But you made it possible."
He didn't respond to that.
Instead, he took another sip.
Letting the noise fill the silence.
For a while—
They just stood there.
Watching.
Then—
"Dance with me."
Weiss blinked.
"…What?"
Nami crossed her arms slightly.
"You heard me."
"I don't dance."
"Then learn."
He stared at her.
She stared back.
Neither moved.
"…You're serious."
"Very."
Weiss sighed.
"…You're really not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope."
Another pause.
Then—
He set the mug down.
"…Fine. But if this goes badly, it's your fault."
Nami grinned.
"Deal."
Moments later—
Weiss found himself in the middle of the celebration.
Music louder.
People moving.
Laughing.
Spinning.
"…This is a mistake," he muttered.
Nami grabbed his hand before he could step back.
"Too late now."
She pulled him forward.
And just like that—
He was in it.
Awkward at first.
Stiff.
Uncertain.
But Nami didn't give him time to think.
"Relax," she said. "You're fighting the music."
"I fight everything."
"Yeah, I noticed."
She guided him—small movements, simple steps.
Nothing complicated.
Just enough.
And slowly—
Very slowly—
Weiss adjusted.
"…Huh," he muttered.
"What?"
"…This isn't as bad as I thought."
Nami smirked.
"High praise."
For a moment—
Just a moment—
There was no system.
No corruption.
No unknown entity watching from the shadows.
Just music.
And movement.
And something… light.
Then—
It broke.
[Alert: External Presence Nearby]
Weiss's expression froze.
Mid-step.
"…Weiss?"
Nami noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
His eyes shifted.
Scanning.
Searching.
"…We're not alone," he said quietly.
The music continued.
The laughter didn't stop.
But for him—
Everything changed.
"Where?" Nami asked, her voice dropping.
Weiss didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't know.
That was the problem.
The system detected something.
But gave no location.
No direction.
No identity.
Just—
"Nearby."
"…Stay close," he said.
That was all.
Nami didn't argue.
She could feel it too now.
That subtle shift in the air.
The tension creeping back in.
Weiss stepped away from the crowd slowly.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
The lanterns flickered slightly.
The wind shifted.
And then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Not overwhelming.
Not aggressive.
But there.
Watching.
"…Show yourself," Weiss said calmly.
No response.
The waves crashed.
The music played.
The village lived on—
Unaware.
Then—
A voice.
"…You've grown."
Weiss's eyes snapped toward the source.
A figure stood at the edge of the light.
Half-hidden in shadow.
Familiar.
"…You," Weiss said quietly.
The rival.
Same calm expression.
Same unreadable gaze.
But this time—
There was something more.
Interest.
"You're different," the rival continued, stepping slightly forward. "Unstable."
Weiss smirked faintly.
"Funny. I was thinking the same about you."
The rival tilted his head slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
"I'm exactly as I should be."
Weiss's eyes narrowed.
"…Right."
Behind him, Nami tensed.
She didn't fully understand what was happening—
But she knew one thing.
This person was dangerous.
"…Friend of yours?" she asked quietly.
"Not exactly."
The rival's gaze flicked briefly toward her.
Then back to Weiss.
"…You're being watched," he said.
Weiss's expression didn't change.
But inside—
Something clicked.
"…I know."
A faint smile appeared on the rival's lips.
"Good."
He took another step forward.
The air shifted again.
"Because this…" he gestured slightly around them, "…this is just the beginning."
Weiss crossed his arms.
"…You came all this way to state the obvious?"
A pause.
Then—
"No."
The rival's eyes sharpened slightly.
"I came to see if you're worth it."
Silence.
The tension spiked.
"…And?" Weiss asked.
The rival studied him for a long moment.
Then—
"…You're getting there."
Not praise.
Not approval.
Just a statement.
Weiss let out a quiet breath.
"…How generous."
The rival turned slightly.
As if preparing to leave.
"…Next time," he said, "we won't just talk."
Weiss's lips curved faintly.
"…I'd be disappointed if we did."
A brief pause.
Then—
The rival stopped.
"…Control it," he said without turning back.
Weiss's eyes narrowed.
"…Control what?"
The answer came instantly.
"…Before it controls you."
And then—
He was gone.
No sound.
No trace.
Just—
Gone.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then the world rushed back in.
Music.
Laughter.
Life.
"…I don't like him," Nami said flatly.
Weiss chuckled softly.
"Yeah. That's probably a good instinct."
She looked at him.
"…What did he mean?"
Weiss stared into the distance.
Where the rival had stood.
"…Same thing I'm starting to realize."
The system flickered again.
[Warning: Host Stability Decreasing]
Weiss exhaled slowly.
"…Things are about to get complicated."
Nami frowned.
"…They already are."
He smirked slightly.
"…You haven't seen anything yet."
Above them—
The night stretched endlessly.
And somewhere beyond—
Unseen forces moved.
Watching.
Waiting.
For the moment—
Everything would break.
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