Captain Strasser's enraged, amplified voice, promising the wrath of someone named "Smoker" in Loguetown, faded into the distance as his crippled ship limped away. The salty spray from their earlier cannon fire had dried on the Going Merry's deck, leaving faint white streaks. The air, no longer thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder, now carried only the clean scent of the open sea and the fainter, lingering aroma of Sanji's abruptly interrupted breakfast.
A heavy silence settled over the Straw Hats, punctuated only by the creak of the rigging and the gentle slap of waves against the hull. The adrenaline of the fight was ebbing, leaving behind a weary sort_of satisfaction, now tinged with a new layer of apprehension.
Luffy, perched on the sheep figurehead, picked his nose thoughtfully. "Smoker, huh? Dare da? (Who's that?)"
Zoro, leaning against the mast and wiping a smear of someone else's blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, shrugged. "Dunno. Sounds like a pain, though. Another Marine with a stick up his ass, probably." He glanced down at Wado Ichimonji, his sole remaining katana, its white scabbard pristine despite the recent chaos. "Speaking of which, I definitely need to buy some new swords in Loguetown. Fighting with just one is… inefficient. And annoying."
Sanji, meticulously cleaning a small dent out of one of his favorite cooking pots that had apparently been grazed by a stray piece of shrapnel, exhaled a stream of smoke. "Yeah, and our food stocks took a hit with that unexpected… entertainment. We're almost out of decent meat and quality flour. Loguetown better have good markets. I refuse to enter the Grand Line unprepared for culinary excellence." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "And maybe a new, sharper set of carving knives. These ones are getting a bit dull."
Usopp, who had slid down from the crow's nest looking rather green but immensely proud, was already sketching furiously in a worn notebook. "New ammo! I need new kinds of gunpowder! And maybe some sturdier goggles! And ooh! Maybe I can find some rare mechanical parts for my inventions! Loguetown is the Town of Beginnings and Endings, right? It's gotta have all sorts of cool stuff!" His earlier terror was rapidly being replaced by an inventor's acquisitive gleam.
Nami listened to them, a small, tired smile on her face. They were already planning, already looking ahead, their brush with a serious Marine threat seemingly just another Tuesday. It was… typical. And strangely reassuring. But Strasser's parting threat echoed in her mind, louder than their casual chatter. Smoker. The full force of Smoker. It sounded ominous. And the System's earlier warning about an "unnatural storm" and a "critical event" tied to the Pirate King's legacy… Loguetown wasn't just going to be a supply stop.
She felt a pang of her own inadequacy. She'd helped, yes. Her directions, guided by the System, had been crucial. Usopp's critical hit on the powder magazine had been her call. And she'd earned 180 GP. But she hadn't fought. Not really. Not like them. She'd been the brain, the coordinator, but when the steel met steel, when fists flew, she was still… vulnerable.
A new, steely resolve firmed within her. If Loguetown was going to be as dangerous as it sounded, she needed to be more.
"Luffy," Nami said, her voice a little quieter than usual, drawing his attention. He looked over, still picking his nose. "I'm… I'm going to my room for a bit. Call me if anything happens, or if the weather changes."
Luffy hopped down from the figurehead and bounded over, tilting his head. "Hm? What's wrong, Nami? You sick or something?" Before she could react, he reached out and pressed his palm against her forehead, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone who usually operated at a hundred miles an hour. "You're not hot."
Nami's face flushed a bright red. "D-don't just touch me so suddenly, you idiot!" she sputtered, swatting his hand away, though there was no real heat in her voice. "I-I'm fine! Just… tired. And I need to check some charts." It wasn't entirely a lie. She did need to think, and the "charts" in her head were far more pressing than any paper ones right now.
Luffy just grinned his usual carefree grin. "Okay! Don't work too hard, Nami! We need you to find Loguetown!"
She nodded, mumbled a quick "Right," and practically fled to the relative sanctuary of the women's quarters, her heart still thumping a little faster than usual, and not entirely from the recent battle.
Closing the door behind her, Nami leaned against it, letting out a long breath. The small cabin, with her drafting table and neatly stowed navigation tools, felt like a haven of normalcy. But normalcy wasn't what she needed right now.
Okay, System, she thought, her voice firm in her mind. This 'Training Grounds' function. You said it's a place only I can use, where time passes differently. And there's a guide? Tell me how it works. Look, I'm… I'm weak. Physically. Compared to them, I'm a liability in a real fight. And if Loguetown is going to be as bad as Strasser and you say it is, I need to be stronger. I need to be able to protect myself, and them. I want to be strong like they are, strong enough to make sure Luffy becomes Pirate King. The admission, even in her own thoughts, felt raw, vulnerable.
[Accessing Training Grounds Protocol. The Training Grounds are a pocket dimension, an isolated spatio-temporal continuum. The deity Umarekwa, in his… flawed initial design for the System's original recipient, integrated this feature. He mentioned a 'guide' construct, designated Model-KF23, was pre-loaded to assist with foundational combat training and System acclimatization. Time dilation is indeed significant: approximately one standard year within the Grounds equates to one standard day in your current reality. Entry and exit are at will, via mental command.]
Nami's eyes widened. One year in a day? The potential was staggering. "So, I could spend days, weeks, even months training in there, and only a few hours would pass out here?"
[Precisely. Your physical body will experience the passage of time and the rigors of training within the Grounds. Sustenance and rest will be required there as normal. The System can provide basic nutritional paste and simulate rest cycles if necessary, though actual food and sleep are more beneficial for long-term growth.]
Nami nodded slowly. It made sense. "And this Model-KF23… what is it? Some kind of fighting robot?"
[Its exact nature is unknown to me beyond its designation. Umarekwa's notes were… thematic rather than technical. It is programmed to adapt its training regimen to the Host's capabilities and desired focus. You mentioned a desire for physical combat proficiency. The Training Grounds can simulate various environments, adjust gravitational forces, and provide sparring partners of increasing difficulty.]
A flicker of excitement, mixed with trepidation, sparked within Nami. "And you, System? You said you can analyze skills and techniques suited for me. I… I've always used my wits, my staff when I had to. But watching Luffy… he fights with his fists. Zoro with his swords. Sanji with his kicks. I need something… direct."
[Your current combat style is reactive and reliant on tools. Transitioning to unarmed combat is feasible. Your natural agility and developing physical prowess, as noted in your Status, provide a good foundation. We can analyze various martial disciplines and adapt them to your physique and the System's enhancement capabilities. The immediate priority, however, would be foundational physical conditioning within the Training Grounds. Enhancing your core strength, stamina, and resilience will be paramount before layering specific combat techniques.]
Nami took a deep breath. Core strength. Stamina. Resilience. Things she'd never truly focused on, always relying on her cleverness to avoid direct confrontation. But that wasn't enough anymore. Not if she wanted to stand beside Luffy and the others as they faced the Grand Line. Not if she wanted to truly earn the power this System offered.
A small, almost imperceptible tingling started in her hands again, the faint echo of the System's energy. She looked down at them. Slender, agile, good for drawing maps and counting money. Could they become weapons?
She thought of the brief flashes of muscle on Luffy's arms when he stretched, the corded strength in Zoro's back as he swung his swords, the powerful grace in Sanji's legs. She didn't want to be like them, not exactly. She didn't want bulging, oversized muscles. But a lean, practical strength… yes. That, she wanted. Enough to make a difference. Enough to not be the one who always needed protecting.
Okay, Nami thought, her resolve solidifying into something hard and bright. Let's do this. How do I enter the Training Grounds?
[Focus your intent. Visualize a space dedicated to your growth. And issue the command: 'Enter Training Grounds'.]
Nami closed her eyes. She pictured a simple, open space. Clean, functional. A place for hard work, for pushing limits. She took another steadying breath.
"Enter Training Grounds."
My Other One Piece Fanfic:
One Piece: The Wings That Defy The World(24 chapters)-well its luffy x oc one i donna wanna spoil anuthing please take your time to read it apprecite it thanks
Link:https://www.webnovel.com/book/one-piece-the-wings-that-defy-the-world_32643338500686405