Chapter 78 78: Memorial, Set Sail!
As sunlight spread across the land, the lively celebration finally came to an end.
"Ahh—"
Luffy yawned.
Then he suddenly felt something restraining him. Looking down—
Nami was lying quietly in his arms, her fair hand resting on his shoulder.
Her smooth silk blouse and lightly pleated white skirt accentuated her graceful figure, giving her an elegant and gentle appearance.
Her light golden hair was slightly messy, draping across her shoulders. Her delicate face, small upturned nose, and beautiful eyes—combined with the faint fragrance surrounding her—made the moment feel almost dreamlike.
Gradually, Luffy's gaze changed.
It became warmer… and a little intense.
"Mm…"
Nami slowly opened her bright eyes.
When she realized the situation, she froze.
"L-Luffy… I… I didn't mean to!"
Being stared at so directly made her blush with embarrassment.
She tried to escape—
But Luffy grabbed her hand and suddenly pulled her back into his arms.
"Luffy— mm!"
He kissed her.
Her lips were soft and warm, carrying a faint sweetness.
Their breaths intertwined, and Nami's heartbeat skipped.
It was a silent yet burning confession of closeness.
"Mmph!"
After a long moment, Nami lightly tapped Luffy's chest.
Luffy loosened his hold.
Nami breathed heavily, a faint silver thread still connecting their lips for a moment before breaking.
Her body remained pressed against his, her eyes hazy.
"Luffy…?"
"Mm."
Luffy held her soft body, gently breathing in the faint fragrance of her hair.
After a while, Luffy stood up first.
"Nami, remember to change your clothes."
He picked up her outer clothing from the floor and handed it to her.
She was still wearing only a thin layer of sleepwear.
"O-Okay."
Nami took the clothes and gave him a sweet smile.
Luffy then walked out of the room and leaned against the railing, watching the rising sun.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host, for defeating one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea: Gecko Moria.
Rewards:
Significant enhancement of Devil Fruit abilitiesSpecial Den Den Mushi: Can instantly produce countless Den Den Mushi capable of communication, video transmission, and trade. (Cannot be blocked by any signal interference.)Random Enhancement Card ×1: Randomly strengthens either a person or a weapon within the host's group.
Luffy gave a silent command.
"Use the Random Enhancement Card."
Ding! Enhancement in progress…
Observation Haki strengthened
79.9 (Advanced) → 82.5 (Top Tier)
New Ability Awakened: Voice of All Things
Devil Fruit enhancement in progress…
69.9 → 79.9
A warm current flowed through Luffy's entire body.
What followed was an overwhelming surge of perception.
If he focused, he could even see the antennae of an ant tens of thousands of meters away.
At the same time—
He could hear countless voices.
The wind.
The clouds.
The earth itself.
It felt as though the world had opened itself to him.
"Haa—"
Luffy exhaled a long breath.
"Maybe it's time to develop a new form… relying on old tricks forever isn't good."
He had wanted to develop new forms for a long time, but his Devil Fruit mastery hadn't been high enough.
Now…
Maybe it was possible.
Gear Fourth: Boundman was modeled after a gorilla.
Gear Fourth: Snakeman was modeled after a snake.
So—
Could he create something like a Bird Form?
Or even a Dragon Form?
"…The revolution isn't finished yet."
"Still a long way to go."
While Luffy was standing at the bow imagining the future—
Something soft suddenly pressed against his arm.
Turning his head—
Of course, it was Nami hugging his arm.
Her beautiful face rested against his shoulder, her lively eyes glinting with mischief.
Clearly, after last night, something about her had changed.
At the very least, her feelings toward him were no longer hidden.
"Luffy… come walk with me."
Without waiting for an answer, she pulled his arm and ran toward Thriller Bark.
Two Days Later
A grave had been erected on Thriller Bark.
Brook, Chopper, Franky, and Usopp stood before it.
"This is wonderful, Usopp-san, Franky-san!"
Brook expressed his gratitude to the three of them.
Franky put his hands on his hips.
"Don't mention it! Something like this is nothing!"
"What a magnificent grave…"
Brook gazed quietly at it.
"It's a shame I can't take you all with me."
"Thriller Bark came from the West Blue, the soil of our homeland."
"You can rest peacefully here."
Soon the others left.
Brook remained alone before the grave and began playing his violin.
A gentle melody echoed through the cemetery.
Colorful butterflies fluttered among the flowers.
Suddenly—
Zoro walked over and stuck a sword into the ground.
Still in its sheath.
"That is…?" Brook asked.
"A dead sword."
Zoro folded his hands in prayer.
"Yubashiri."
"Let it rest here as well."
Then Zoro grinned.
"You sure have bad luck joining our crew."
"Huh?"
Zoro laughed.
"Our crew…"
"…is full of trouble."
At the Harbor
Soon everyone gathered by the port.
"It's time to start the next adventure!" Luffy shouted excitedly.
"Oh right!"
Lola took out a piece of paper.
"This is my mother's Vivre Card. I'll give you part of it."
She tore it in half, signed one piece, and handed it to Nami.
"That's great! Captain Lola's mom is an incredibly powerful pirate!" one of her crewmates said.
"What's a Vivre Card?" Nami asked curiously.
"It's basically—"
"Oh! I see!"
Nami nodded in amazement.
Then she began thinking.
Her gaze shifted toward Luffy.
"Luffy… the one Ace gave you… could it be—?"
Luffy sighed.
He took out the Vivre Card from inside his straw hat.
It was burning away.
"It's charred…!"
Lola grabbed the paper.
"A Vivre Card reflects the owner's life force."
"This person… must be very important to you."
Luffy nodded firmly.
This wasn't the first time he had taken it out.
Ever since gaining his "god's-eye perspective," he had stared at it almost every night.
Lola's expression darkened.
"I'm sorry to say this… but this person's life force…"
"…is slowly fading."
"What?!"
Nami immediately grew nervous and looked at Luffy.
But Luffy simply remained silent.
As if he had already accepted it.
Soon the Thousand Sunny raised its sails.
It sailed away from Thriller Bark.
Everyone waved goodbye.
"Goodbye, everyone!"
"We'll never forget this kindness, Straw Hat!"
"Thank you for letting us see the sun again!"
Amid grateful gazes—
The Thousand Sunny sailed toward the unknown seas ahead.
Nami walked up beside Luffy.
"Luffy… are you really okay?"
"You mean Ace's Vivre Card?"
"It's fine."
Luffy wrapped his arm around Nami's shoulders and smiled.
"We're pirates."
"The next time we meet… we might even be enemies."
He accepted a drink from Sanji.
Ever since that night, Nami had banned him from drinking alcohol.
Of course, if he insisted… there wasn't much she could do.
Luffy took a sip.
"Ace has his adventure."
"If we're going to meet again…"
"…it'll be somewhere out on the sea."
"And then we'll see—"
"Who becomes the real King of the Pirates!"
"Isn't that obvious?" Zoro said, leaning on his sword with a grin.
"You're going to become the Pirate King, Luffy."
Nami looked at him with undisguised admiration.
Every member of the Straw Hat Pirates wore a confident smile.
That throne that seemed impossibly distant to others—
For Luffy—
It felt completely within reach.
"Hahaha!"
Luffy raised his drink.
"Cheers!"
"CHEERS!!"
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