No One Can Stand in Your Way

"..."

Faced with Arlong's hysteria, Nami closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened them again, every trace of hesitation, daze, and conflict in those eyes had vanished completely.

All that remained was an icy calm.

She turned around, ignoring the silent row of comrades behind her. Her steps were very light, almost soundless, as she slowly walked over to Zoro.

Zoro subconsciously looked up at her.

She did not waste words on politeness. She reached out, and with a click, drew a sword from Zoro's waist.

It was the most ordinary iron sword at Zoro's waist. Even its sheath had been faded by the sea wind.

"Let me borrow this."

Nami spoke, her voice flat, as if she were borrowing a pen.

Zoro froze for a moment, but he did not stop her.

He only glanced at Nami, then at the fish-man standing beneath the glass tower in the distance. In the end, he said nothing.

Nami gripped the sword and walked step by step toward Arlong.

She did not actually need the sword that much.

Her current strength had long since passed the point where she needed a weapon to act.

But what she needed was precisely a sword like this.

An iron sword that could cut into flesh and blood, yet was still a little dull.

She did not care what hardships Arlong had.

She did not care who had directed this play.

She did not care what script that eldest princess of the World Government had written in her little notebook.

Eight years ago, Cocoyasi Village had met with a nightmare.

The childhood playmates who had caught butterflies with her in the fields, picked up shells with her by the sea, and lain by the window with her to secretly watch the adults