"Why me?" Nami asked, barely above a whisper.
[Integration was a result of divine error. Host compatibility: 100%. You are the System's rightful wielder.]
Her heart pounded. Not the casual thump of worry, nor the rush of adrenaline after a close call at sea.
No—this was thunder. A deep, primal sound inside her chest, like her own body was trying to sound an alarm.
She looked around, but the world hadn't changed. The sails still billowed gently. The waves lapped against the Going Merry's hull. Sunlight spilled across the deck in warm gold, brushing everything with calm.
But inside her?
Chaos.
This isn't a dream.
This was real.
The Going Merry drifted calmly across the East Blue, white sails catching the wind. Luffy was probably napping on the figurehead again. Behind her, Usopp was fiddling with something on deck. Sanji's voice occasionally drifted through the air in a soft hum from the kitchen.
But Nami?
She sat alone at the ship's bow, knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them.
She hadn't moved in hours.
The golden light of the late afternoon sun kissed her hair, making it glow like fire. Her eyes, however, were distant. Searching. Unsettled.
Tiny sparks—barely visible—flickered over her fingertips. They vanished just as quickly.
She clenched her hands tightly, hiding them in her sleeves.
[Host, your hesitation impedes optimization.]
The voice again. Always calm. Always mechanical. Too composed to be human.
She didn't react. Didn't flinch.
But her thoughts churned like a storm tide.
Don't answer. Don't acknowledge it.
Just… breathe.
But her lips moved anyway. She couldn't stop herself.
"...What do you mean by 'optimization'?"
[Your physical and mental potential far exceed your current output. The System exists to unlock that dormant strength.]
Nami scoffed. "I don't need some glitchy voice in my head to tell me how to be strong."
[Inaccuracy noted. Without assistance, your progress would remain inefficient. Your tactical capabilities, while above average, are statistically capped.]
Her jaw tightened. "Screw you," she muttered, just loud enough that the breeze could carry it away.
A shadow stretched over the deck.
"You've been sitting here way too long," came Zoro's voice—gruff, blunt.
Her spine stiffened. She looked up.
Zoro stood nearby, arms crossed, one hand resting near his swords—not threatening, but… ready. His gaze wasn't blank, either. It was sharper than usual. Studying her.
Panic pricked her chest for a moment.
But she forced a smirk, that practiced mask sliding into place.
"I'm fine," she said, brushing stray hair behind her ear. "Just thinking about Loguetown."
Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. "Since when do you stare at the sea when you're thinking?"
She shrugged. "Even I can have quiet moments."
A pause. Long enough to feel heavy.
His gaze drifted toward her sleeves—where her hands were hidden.
Then, finally: "…Don't collapse again. That's all I'm saying."
He turned and walked away without waiting for a response.
She waited until his footsteps vanished.
Only then did she release the breath she was holding, unclenching her hands. Her knuckles ached.
[Observation: The swordsman is perceptive. Recommend increased discretion.]
"No kidding," she muttered.
"Stop pulling it like that!"
"I know how to tie a knot, Sanji!"
"You tied a bow! That's not a knot!"
"It's a strategic loop!"
The usual chaos.
Nami glanced over to see Usopp and Sanji tangled in rope, pride, and rising tempers. The sight almost made her laugh. Almost.
Luffy was sprawled across the figurehead, grinning as the sun played in his hair.
For a heartbeat, everything felt… normal.
She stood and walked toward them.
"Oi. Keep it down," she said, hands on hips. "You're giving me a headache."
"Nami-swan~!" Sanji was instantly at attention, swooning. "I was defending the ship's honor from this knotless heathen!"
"Knotless—?!" Usopp gasped. "My knots are the stuff of legend! I once tied down a sea king—"
"In a dream, maybe," Sanji said.
Nami rolled her eyes. "We're nearly at Loguetown. I'd rather we not arrive looking like circus performers."
That quieted them.
Then, from the front of the ship, Luffy spoke—softly.
"…Loguetown."
Everyone turned.
"That's where the Pirate King was executed, right?" His voice was different. Not sad. Not scared. Just… full of something.
Resolve.
"Yeah," Nami said after a pause. "It's also where we stock up before the Grand Line."
Usopp gulped. "Dangerous place…"
"That's why we're going," Zoro said, stepping into the circle as he cleaned one of his swords.
"Where the real adventure starts!" Luffy shouted, the grin returning.
And just like that, the tension broke. The crew burst into laughter, jabs, and arguments again.
But Nami's thoughts drifted.
[Host.]
She flinched.
[Loguetown presents a unique opportunity. A critical event awaits. Successful completion will unlock your first system ability.]
Her heart skipped.
What kind of event?
[Unknown. Proximity will trigger clarity. You must be ready.]
Nami slid a hand into her pocket, pretending to check her map. Her fingers tingled again.
A spark. Fleeting. Hidden.
Later that night, silence draped the ship in silver.
The others were asleep. Not even Zoro kept watch—unusual, but the air was calm tonight.
Nami stood alone at the railing, hair swaying in the wind, eyes fixed on the moonlight dancing across the sea.
"Why me?" she asked aloud, not expecting an answer.
But one came anyway.
[You were chosen.]
"For what?"
[To rewrite your destiny.]
She stared at the moon's reflection—distorted by the sea's motion, but still glowing.
To rewrite my destiny? She didn't ask for this.
And yet…
That part of her—the part that never stopped fighting, never stopped surviving—was curious.
What if this system… really could make her stronger?
That thought scared her more than the voice itself.
Because part of her wanted to say yes.