Nami calmly raised her staff, and in a glow tinged with soft pink and gold, two silhouettes emerged from the ground, materializing with a magical shimmer in the air. To our great surprise, they weren't the usual rigid card soldiers from the dungeon. No. These two… seemed alive, at least in their stance.
Two young men in gleaming armor took place on either side of Nami, each wearing finely engraved suits adorned with heart and spade motifs—far more realistic and noble than the Queen's card soldiers. Their pale skin, vacant eyes, and eerie silence stood in stark contrast to their knightly appearance.
Luffy immediately shouted, his eyes sparkling like diamonds:"Cooool!! Their armor is so awesome!"
He rushed toward the one bearing the heart emblem, reaching out to touch the breastplate...
But before he could, the soldier moved abruptly, tightening his grip on his trident in a smooth, threatening gesture. A metallic clack rang through the air.
"Whoa! Easy!" yelled Luffy, halted by Koby who grabbed his shoulder in a panic and pulled him back.
"Uh… Nami? Are they supposed to do that?" he asked, clearly uneasy as the two soldiers remained still and expressionless, their vacant eyes scanning the surroundings like living statues.
Despite the strange atmosphere, Nami tried speaking to them gently:"Hello, you two… You're with us, right?"
But neither responded. Their heads turned slowly, mechanically, sweeping the area like watchful guardians.
I frowned, taking a cautious step forward."You'd better cancel the summon, Nami. They… don't seem quite right."
I snapped my fingers in front of one soldier's face—no reaction."And they're gonna attract a lot of attention with that shiny armor. They look more like golems than guards."
Nami sighed, visibly disappointed."I was hoping they'd be… I don't know, like Eisah's Heartless. With a bit of personality or something."
She furrowed her brow and raised her staff, dispersing the two guards in a soft pink shimmer. The figures disintegrated without a sound, fading into mist.
I patted her shoulder."Don't worry. They'll still be useful in combat. You're a mage—having two close-range bodyguards can only help."
Luffy, a bit disappointed, crossed his arms."That's a shame. I wanted to arm wrestle one of them…"
Koby gave him a strange look before smiling at Luffy's antics."You almost got skewered. Why not arm wrestle Jordan's gorilla Heartless instead?" he suggested with a touch of sarcasm.
"You're right! Jordan, call him out!" Luffy asked excitedly—before I shook my head.
"I'm hungry, and I've only got one like him, so no. I'll summon a guardian armor for your arm-wrestling match," I said, walking off before Luffy could pester me further.
Exhausted from the fight with the Trickmasters and still slightly winded from our clash with the Queen of Hearts, we left the dungeon with a clear goal: eat, sleep, recharge our batteries. The sun had just risen, casting an orange glow over the calm waters surrounding the island. The salty breeze seeped gently through our sweat-dampened clothes.
As we followed a winding path toward the island's center, looking for a slope to reach the town perched up high, our conversation naturally drifted to everything we'd just experienced.
I glanced at Koby, still a bit pale but walking proudly."By the way, Koby… mind explaining how you were that fast?" I asked, genuinely intrigued. "I saw you dash across the field like a bolt of lightning. And you blocked the axe just in time... you weren't even near the platform."
Koby scratched the back of his head, embarrassed, his gaze lost in the path ahead."Honestly, I have no idea…" he admitted. "When I saw the axe coming down, I… I don't know, something just clicked. My heart was pounding, and I could only think of Alice, and… the world around me slowed down. Everything became blurry, except for her. I ran without thinking. It's like my body reacted to my will."
Luffy raised an eyebrow, intrigued."So, like, you unlocked a turbo-flash superpower or something?!" he asked with a big grin.
"Not sure it's that cool…" Koby replied with a shy laugh, blushing under our gazes.
I narrowed my eyes, thoughtful."Wait a second," I said, stopping abruptly.
I held out my hand, opening a portal to our base, and stepped through it briefly.In our main storage room, I quickly searched where we had stored the items from the Excalibur. My eyes fell on the Devil Fruit, still perfectly intact inside its special container. I stared at it for a moment.
So… it's not that.
I returned immediately through the portal, rejoining the others waiting in the shade of a tree."The fruit's still there, so that's not it."
"So I didn't eat anything weird?" Koby asked, slightly worried."No," I replied with a small smile. "Which means what you experienced… might just be your own body waking up."
"An awakening?" Nami repeated, frowning.
I nodded."People who train hard can push past their body's limits. You get a lot stronger really fast once you break through that barrier. With my intense training, it probably accelerated that process. What you experienced might be an early, sudden trigger of something you would've unlocked eventually, I imagine."
"Like a power-up… but one that wrecks your body," Koby summed up, grimacing as he massaged his shoulder.
"Exactly." I shrugged. "Your body wasn't ready, but it obeyed your will. You got hurt by pushing past your limit. And here, as long as the wounds are physical, I can heal them. As long as it's not a disease or poisoning, the Cure spell works."
Luffy gave Koby a wink."That's my crewmate, alright! You're gonna be super strong, I can feel it!"
Koby blushed again, but a proud smile appeared on his face."Thanks, Captain… and thank you, Jordan, for the training. I'll become worthy of you both."
Nami, who had been listening in silence, added as she tapped Koby's shoulder:"Just… try not to flirt with death every time you want to impress a girl, okay?"
A round of laughter broke out, lightening the mood as we resumed our path toward the center of the island.
We finally found a passable slope leading to the island's central plateau. The path was rocky, winding, and bordered by tall cliffs casting long morning shadows. The atmosphere was peaceful… or it was, until loud thuds echoed from the top of the slope.
"Something's coming…" I said, looking up.
Suddenly, a shower of rocks broke loose from the top, tumbling down the slope at full speed and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Rocks! Watch out!" Nami shouted, eyes wide.
Without hesitation, Luffy jumped in front of us."GUM GUM GATLING!" he yelled, his arms becoming a blur as he smashed the largest stones one by one, pulverizing them before they could hit the group.
I instantly reached out, materializing a crystalline wall of ice in front of us. The barrier absorbed the brunt of the debris, exploding into a hiss of steam and snow. But some shards, ricocheting at an angle, shot past the wall, heading straight for Nami and Koby.
"Damn it!" I cursed, spinning around.
Koby reacted in a split second. He leapt to the side, rolling through the dust to dodge a shard the size of a melon.
But my gaze locked anxiously on Nami—caught off guard and wide open.
Suddenly, in a flash of rosy-golden light, one of the card soldiers Nami had summoned earlier reappeared on its own, springing to life in front of her with a gleaming axe—not to strike, but to act as a shield.
CLANG!
The chunks of stone slammed against the soldier's armor with a dull metallic thud. He didn't budge. A moment later, with the danger passed, he slowly straightened… and vanished in a burst of shimmering sparkles.
Nami, still frozen in surprise, stood speechless for a moment."He… activated on his own?" she murmured, almost in disbelief.
I stepped closer to her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder."Looks like he's connected to you more deeply than we thought. He came to protect you on his own."
Koby, brushing off his clothes as he stood up again, nodded."That was impressive. He tanked the hit like it was nothing."
Luffy, still standing higher up the slope, turned to us with a big grin."Super cool! Looks like he listens to your heart, Nami!"
Nami frowned slightly, still a bit shaken, but a soft glow sparkled in her eyes."…Maybe it's not so bad after all, having those two guys by my side."
I chuckled gently."They've chosen you as their queen."
She shrugged, looking away slightly, a faint smile on her lips."As long as they don't invade my personal space… I guess I can live with it."
As we finally reached the top of the slope, the scenery shifted abruptly. The rocky, dry ground gave way to a thick carpet of moss. Gnarled roots twisted between the trees, forming a treacherous web, and the air was heavy with humidity. A jungle—dense and silent.
Too silent.
Koby narrowed his eyes, scanning the thick foliage."This is weird…" he murmured. "Not a single bird call. Nothing."
"That's never a good sign…" Nami added quietly, gripping her staff tighter. She had that sharp sixth sense for sketchy situations.
Luffy, meanwhile, was strolling along, seemingly unbothered by the tension… until—
SNAP.
A sinister crack pierced the air. Luffy looked down—but it was already too late."Luffy, WATCH OU—!"
The ground gave way beneath his feet, revealing a hidden trap: a pit lined with sharp wooden spikes.
"GYAAAA—!"
His arm stretched instinctively. I barely managed to grab it, my feet skidding against the ground from the impact. I pulled with all my strength and yanked him away from a painfully stupid death.
Luffy, pale, stared at the pointed stakes below him, then shot me a look full of gratitude."That… would've hurt a lot. Thanks, Jordan."
I sighed, shaking my head."Watch where you step."
No sooner had I spoken than a soft click echoed. Koby had just stepped on a thin tripwire hidden beneath a layer of leaves.
FWOOOSH!"Above!" Koby shouted, diving to the side.
Logs, suspended by vines, came crashing down from above, slicing through the air with incredible force.
I raised my arms instantly, materializing diagonal icicles. The cords were severed, and the logs crashed harmlessly to the ground with a thunderous impact.
"Damn it… this place is a minefield," I muttered.
To my right, Nami narrowly avoided being caught by a net hidden in the roots. She pressed herself against me at the last second."And I hate nets!"
I raised a hand to signal everyone to stop."Hold it! Not another step!"
Lifting off the ground, I floated a few meters up. My hands glowed as I conjured a massive ball of ice, rolling it slowly down the path. The weight of the projectile triggered a chain reaction of hidden mechanisms: spikes shot out from tree trunks, needles launched from bushes, and an explosive trap sent a shockwave rumbling through the ground.
Sweat trickled down my forehead.
I turned back to my companions. Even Luffy, usually carefree, nodded in silent agreement."I think you should all stay here. I'll clear the way on my own."
I continued through the midair, avoiding the ground, spotting and disabling traps with my magic.
But just as I reached the edge of the jungle, an odd pressure filled the air.
POP.
A pellet burst at chest height, unleashing a small explosion that hurled me violently against a tree."Ugh!" I grunted, crashing to the ground. I immediately placed a hand on my chest."Heal," I whispered, channeling a recovery spell. A gentle green glow washed away the pain.
"YOU!" shouted a voice from the foliage.
I looked up, startled.
Perched on a branch stood a young man in a faded cape, wearing a long blue headband and sporting a very prominent nose. He was pointing a slingshot at me, ready to fire.
"YOU DARE set foot on the territory of the great Captain Usopp!"
He was… theatrical. But there was a spark of genuine determination in his eyes.
"Pirate! Scoundrel! Enemy of justice! You won't harm anyone here—not as long as I draw breath!"
I raised both hands in peace, still slightly dazed."Uh… Easy. We're not here for that."
Usopp narrowed his eyes, suspicious."What?"
"We're just passing through. Looking to dock, grab a bite to eat, and stand somewhere without being shot at. We haven't plundered anyone."
He hesitated, his slingshot still aimed.
"You didn't attack the village?"
"No. And judging by your forest of traps, we're the ones who almost got torn to shreds."
Usopp slowly lowered his weapon, eyebrows lifting into an uncertain frown."Hmmm… You don't seem as terrifying as I imagined."
I smiled, amused despite the soreness."That's because we're not. Not that terrifying, I mean. Unless we're starving. And right now—we're starving."
He seemed to consider it, then nodded."Alright… but I'm watching you! Captain Usopp never sleeps with both eyes closed!"
I opened my mouth to respond to Usopp, but a noise behind me drew my attention. Fast footsteps, rustling leaves... Luffy, Koby, and Nami emerged from the jungle in single file, covered in dust and clearly exhausted from the trap-laden path.
Luffy looked up at Usopp, stared for a moment, then pointed at him with his usual bluntness:"Who's the guy with the funny nose?"
Usopp immediately puffed out his chest, grabbing his slingshot with a heroic air."I am Usopp! The valiant defender of this village, legendary sharpshooter, and captain of the Invisible Squadron of Syrup!"
Nami crossed her arms, her scrutinizing gaze analyzing the young man."Well… at least he's got style. A bit eccentric, but it works."
Koby turned to me with a teasing smile."Well well, you got hit? You?"
I stuck out my tongue, mock-offended."So what? I was tired, starving… and this guy's surprisingly sneaky. He caught me off guard, that's all."
My expression darkened slightly as I checked the shadow at my feet. Nothing. Eisah's Heartless wasn't there."Damn… I left him back at the base…" I muttered to myself, annoyed at my own negligence.
Meanwhile, Usopp had invited us to follow him, proudly leading the group with a certain flair. He walked with a mock-casual air, arms behind his back, but his eyes stayed alert.
Luffy had been watching him silently for a few minutes, his gaze more serious than usual. Finally, he spoke up."Hey… Aren't you Yasopp's son?"
Usopp stopped dead. His back tensed. Slowly, he turned toward Luffy, and all traces of humor vanished from his face."I don't consider that man my father," he said, voice cold and sharp. "He let my mother die alone. Left without a word. Chose the sea over his family."
The weight of his words hung heavily in the air. Even the birds had gone silent.
"I just know he joined some powerful crew…" he continued, fists clenched. "And one day, I'll find him. I'll beat him down for everything he didn't do."
Luffy, unusually calm, nodded."He's part of Shanks' crew. I saw him drinking and laughing with him. He talked about you… when he was drunk. Said he had a son somewhere."
Usopp looked away, lips pressed tight. There wasn't anger in his eyes—just a deeply buried pain.
Nami, clearly affected despite herself, murmured with her arms crossed:"Deadbeats who abandon their families… I hate people like that."
I stepped closer to Usopp, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder."With your trap skills and sharpshooting… I think you could really give him a run for his money."
A timid but genuine smile crossed Usopp's face. His gaze softened."Thanks… That's the first time someone's said that without mocking me."
And as the path cleared, the village of Syrup came into view between the trees: small, colorful houses, children running happily through the streets, and a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the traps and old wounds.
"Welcome to Syrup," said Usopp, his tone a little lighter. "I guess I can show you where to get some food."
(Author's note: Here's my little moment for Koby—just think of his canon improvement—and a slight change for Usopp. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't hesitate to leave a review if you did. As always, I'm leaving the bonus images here too.)