Ace's figure turned into a blazing comet, gradually disappearing beyond the horizon.
On the deck of the Merry, Luffy heard his brother's farewell.
A relieved smile finally spread across his face.
Then—
He looked at the surrounding Marine fleet closing in—
His gaze turned cold.
"Merry—turn the helm!! We're breaking out too!!"
"OOOH—!!!"
The Merry surged forward—
Racing in the opposite direction of Ace.
—
On the wreckage of the flagship—
Akainu's eyes burned red with rage.
Even his breath carried sulfur and smoke.
"Straw Hat Luffy…"
He ground the name through clenched teeth.
"The dignity of the Marines…"
"Will not be trampled by the likes of you."
—
Several nautical miles away—
A pitch-black, unmarked ship floated silently within the mist.
On its deck—
Three white-robed figures with eerie masks stood watching the aftermath with cold detachment.
"Captain, the Straw Hat crew has successfully escaped."
The agent with the smiling female mask reported quietly.
"Fire Fist Ace has broken through—but he's heavily injured. He won't get far."
The towering CP0 leader with the hooked-nose mask tapped the railing lightly.
"The outcome is… acceptable."
He turned his gaze toward the direction Ace fled.
Cold. Calculating.
"The Straw Hats have exceeded expectations… but our priority remains Fire Fist."
He issued his order:
"Notify Akainu—advance toward the southeast waters."
"We follow. Ensure Ace is captured."
—
The inferno of magma and thunder at Banaro Island faded into the distance—
Vanishing beneath the horizon.
After a night of high-speed sailing—
The Golden Merry entered a tranquil, untouched sea.
Morning sunlight scattered like gold across the ocean—
Reflecting off the ship's dark-golden hull with a sacred glow.
After Nami's full-powered use of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—
The ship itself seemed transformed.
Not worn—
But refined.
Its metal carried a clarity—
As if tempered by lightning.
The air still held a faint, fresh ionized scent—
Like a forest after rain.
Refreshing.
—
"Looks like we finally shook off those 'justice' lunatics."
Ronan stood at the edge of the deck, spear in hand.
"The danger's passed—and we even helped Ace break through."
"That fight… was worth it."
—
"Honestly, without Nami-san's miracle attack…"
Sanji exhaled smoke gracefully.
"We might still be stuck in that magma hell."
"Nami-swan… you were truly a goddess."
—
"Yeah!!"
Luffy sat on the sheep figurehead, fishing happily.
"That railgun—BOOM—split the sky open! It was awesome!"
Usopp and Chopper nodded wildly.
For the "weak trio"—
Seeing their crewmate wield such overwhelming power—
Was pure reassurance.
—
"Of course it was."
Nami flicked her hair proudly.
A small arc of lightning danced at her fingertips.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit isn't called 'invincible' for nothing."
"And with my genius, it's capable of far more than just lightning."
—
Ronan stepped forward, full of praise.
"Nami, your understanding of electromagnetism is extraordinary."
"A railgun relies on Lorentz force—generated by strong magnetic fields."
"By combining physical laws with your Devil Fruit…"
"You've reached the threshold of Admiral-level attack power."
—
"Admiral level…"
Zoro murmured, hand resting on Wado Ichimonji.
That shot—
The one that split the sea—
Had shaken even him.
"…I can't see you as just a navigator anymore."
—
Ronan smiled faintly.
"But I have an even more interesting idea."
His gaze swept across Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
"If you can use magnetism to create propulsion…"
"Then by reversing polarity and manipulating field distribution…"
"Could you simulate—gravity?"
—
Silence fell.
Nami's eyes lit up instantly.
"Gravity…?"
"You mean using magnetic interaction with Earth's field to create localized pressure zones?"
She thought rapidly—
Excited.
"That's possible!"
"If I control current flow precisely, I can alter perceived weight!"
—
"Gravity training?!"
Zoro's eyes snapped open.
His breathing quickened.
"Does that mean… we could train under multiple times normal gravity anytime?"
If that were possible—
His strength—
His swordsmanship—
Would skyrocket.
—
"That's just the foundation."
Ronan waved a hand, stopping him.
His expression turned serious.
"Don't forget our core—"
"The Indestructible Body."
"We achieved the initial stage on Little Garden through medicinal baths…"
"But progress has slowed."
"Traditional breathing techniques are too inefficient."
—
He looked at Luffy.
Then at everyone.
"And now—"
"We have Nami."
"Our very own power generator."
His voice deepened.
"It's time to begin advanced body cultivation."
"Lightning Tempering."
—
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji all reacted at once.
"Lightning… tempering?!"
—
Using ultra-high-frequency, precisely controlled electricity—
To penetrate the skin—
Stimulate muscles—
Bones—
Cells.
Accelerate regeneration.
Expand meridians.
Force internal energy to circulate at multiple times its normal speed.
—
"In martial arts…"
Ronan explained calmly,
"This is known as a 'death trial.'"
"One mistake—and you're reduced to ashes."
"But Nami is different."
He looked at her.
"She controls lightning…"
"At the molecular level."
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