Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Alright Nami, that's enough of that," Ikki called out. "Hurry up and finish your battle with Tashigi's shadow. After this, you'll want to try activating your Zanpakutō's Shikai, right?"
With a wave of his hand, Ikki used his system permissions to activate Tashigi's swordsman shadow.
"I hate you, Captain Ikki!" Nami exclaimed as she felt a sudden strong wind behind her. She quickly turned around, drawing her sword to face Tashigi's swordsman shadow.
Although Nami was a woman, seeing a unbuttoned sword shadow fighting against her—especially knowing that she was responsible for Tashigi's shadow being in this state—made her feel quite embarrassed.
"Captain Ikki," Nojiko whispered, leaning close to his ear, "what do you think Miss Tashigi would do if she saw this scene?"
"Well... I'd just say Nami was the one who unbuttoned her clothes," Ikki shrugged, speaking casually.
Nojiko laughed, covering her mouth. "But I don't think Tashigi would blame Nami. She'd probably just feel too embarrassed to face you again."
Ikki and Nojiko continued chatting, making no effort to lower their voices.
Nami, overhearing their conversation, nearly got hit by Tashigi's shadow's blade due to her distraction.
Luckily, her base speed was greater than Tashigi's, and Thunder Breathing techniques focused on speed. To avoid any accidents, Nami immediately used her strongest technique, "Thunderclap and Flash Godspeed," bringing the battle to a quick end.
After absorbing the power from Tashigi's swordsman shadow, Nami quickly exited the Sword Enlightenment chamber. She stared at Ikki's face without saying a word.
Ikki found this so funny that he simply kept eye contact with Nami, a playful smile on his face.
Seeing this exchange, Nojiko quietly walked to the arena to complete her own advancement.
...
"Now that both of you have reached the Iron-Cutting Realm with your swordsmanship," Ikki said, clearing his throat, "let's move on to the next step. Nami, put your Zanpakutō into this Devil Fruit. This will let you perform Shikai with your Zanpakutō."
Ikki took out the strange-looking fruit and showed it to Nami.
Nami looked at the Devil Fruit before her, then at Gonryōmaru in her hand. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head.
"Captain Ikki, let Nojiko complete her Zanpakutō's Shikai first," she suggested. "Her Shikai has healing powers. If anyone on our ship gets sick, we'll need her power. With Nojiko's abilities, we'll be safer."
Hearing Nami's words, Nojiko immediately shook her head.
"No, no! Nami joined Captain Ikki's ship first," she insisted. "How could I take away your chance to get Shikai before me? Captain Ikki, let Nami perform Shikai first."
However, as soon as Nojiko finished speaking, Nami began explaining why having a ship's doctor during their voyages was so important. Nojiko couldn't find a good answer.
Indeed, a ship's doctor was very important during sea journeys.
Not knowing what to say, Nojiko looked to Ikki for help. As Nami's sister, she really didn't want to take away Nami's chance to achieve Shikai first. She knew from the moment she joined that Nami had always been excited about releasing Gonryōmaru.
"Let's have Nami do the Shikai first," Ikki decided, pressing the Devil Fruit against the hilt of Nami's sword without more discussion.
When the fruit touched Gonryōmaru, it instantly turned to liquid, merging into the blade.
As the owner, Nami immediately felt something strange. Somehow, she felt a stronger connection with Gonryōmaru, and new words appeared in her mind—words that, if spoken while connecting with her Zanpakutō, would trigger its Shikai release.
"Really, Captain Ikki, you should understand how important a ship's doctor is," Nami said, pursing her lips. She raised her hand to pat Ikki's chest, pouting slightly. "Devil Fruits are very rare. When will we find another one for Nojiko's Zanpakutō to get Shikai?"
"Of course I understand that, but with our health, we probably won't get sick often," Ikki assured her. "Don't worry—though Devil Fruits are rare, I happen to know several places where we can find either Devil Fruits or their power. It won't be long before Nojiko gets her chance for Shikai."
He paused, a playful smile on his face. "Or do you regret the Devil Fruit is gone? They are quite valuable, after all."
Without waiting for Nami's reply, Ikki placed his hand on her shoulder and led her toward the deck.
"Let's go—we've been delayed long enough. It's time for us to set sail."
Although Nami felt helpless, the Devil Fruit had already been absorbed, and there was no way to make Gonryōmaru give it back. She could only accept the situation and follow Ikki to the deck of the Explorer.
Just as Ikki was about to help lower the ship's sail, a slightly familiar voice called out.
"It's you!" The voice shouted. "You bastard! Give me back my sword!"
As the voice faded, a man with short green hair jumped onto the Explorer's deck from another ship.
"Well, if it isn't Roronoa Zoro of the Three-Sword Style. How have you been lately?" Ikki turned his head, recognizing Zoro standing before him. A smile spread across his face.
As Ikki noticed the somewhat familiar figures around Zoro, his smile grew even wider.
'Well, this is unexpected. Zoro has found Luffy, Sanji, and the others as his crew,' Ikki thought to himself. 'This should be interesting.'