Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The lingering fog on the west coast of Jaya Island created an air of mystery, and aboard the Golden Merry, Merry regarded the puppet in Bai Ye's hands with a curious tilt of her head. "This, will be me?" she asked, a mix of wonder and uncertainty in her voice.
Bai Ye had just imparted to Merry a cultivation method tailored for her spiritual form. His intention was to merge Merry with the puppet, allowing her to transcend the limitations typically faced by ship spirits and ascend to a higher form of existence. He reassured her with a gentle smile, "That's right, this is also the gift I prepared for you."
With meticulous care, Bai Ye made final adjustments to the puppet. He then guided Merry to position herself cross-legged, mirroring the puppet's posture. "Soul Concentration Formation — Activate!" Bai Ye's voice was calm and steady as he initiated the merging process. A soft blue light emanated from the magic circle, enveloping both Merry and the puppet.
As the formation's energy pulsed and glowed, Merry and the puppet began to move towards the center of the circle. Gradually, under the precise control of the formation, they started to merge.
Bai Ye watched with satisfaction as the fusion progressed smoothly. He had made extensive preparations for this moment, inscribing various magic formations on the Golden Merry, including some specifically designed to awaken and enhance spirits. These formations had subtly influenced Merry, elevating the Golden Merry from a mere ship to something akin to a magical artifact. This transformation might have contributed to Merry's ability to communicate fluently with Bai Ye shortly after awakening.
The Golden Merry's enhanced status resonated with Bai Ye's vision, aligning with the unique changes he envisioned. The puppet intended for Merry's fusion was crafted from the same type of wood as the Golden Merry's keel, a detail that would ensure a deep connection between Merry and her ship form. Bai Ye also integrated various rare materials into the puppet, sparing no expense in his effort.
His dedication was driven by a singular goal: to fully integrate Merry into the Straw Hat crew. By providing her with a physical form and the potential for growth, Bai Ye aimed to elevate Merry from an ethereal ship spirit to a tangible, evolving member of the crew, capable of interacting, contributing, and journeying alongside them as they navigated the vast and unpredictable seas.
Bai Ye's efforts to transform Merry had multiple motivations. One was to rectify a poignant regret from the original story, where Merry didn't reveal herself until the tragic moment she was engulfed in flames. With Bai Ye's intervention, Merry could now interact with everyone as a visible, tangible friend, long before such dire circumstances.
Another reason for this transformation was to prepare for the significant events anticipated in Water 7. Bai Ye had invested heavily in modifying the Golden Merry from the original design, spending a substantial 50 million Bellys to ensure the ship's durability for the journey to Water 7. Initially, Bai Ye planned to transfer Merry's spirit to a new ship at Water 7. However, this raised a dilemma. In the original story, while the Thousand Sunny never explicitly manifested a ship spirit, there were moments suggesting a sentient presence. This meant that Merry could potentially displace another spirit if transferred to the Thousand Sunny.
After careful consideration, Bai Ye decided to preserve and fully remodel the Merry in Water 7 instead. A key challenge was the replacement of the Merry's keel. The current material, though not exceptional, had been fortified by Bai Ye's magic formations. However, to withstand the harsher conditions of the New World, a sturdier keel was necessary. This replacement was almost akin to building a new ship, which could potentially affect Merry, given her spiritual connection to the ship.
Bai Ye's solution was to give Merry a physical body while maintaining her bond with the Golden Merry. This reversed their relationship; instead of the ship dictating Merry's existence, Merry, in her spirit form, could now influence the ship's fate. As she grew stronger, she could enhance the Golden Merry in return. This synergy meant that the keel replacement would not only be harmless to Merry but would also be beneficial, ensuring both the spirit and the ship could continue their journey together, stronger and more resilient than ever.
As Bai Ye gazed at the magic formation, he saw the figure within becoming clearer under the soft blue light. Merry, inside the magic circle, felt her body gradually solidify. The sensation was exhilarating, a moment she had never imagined she would experience. Overwhelmed with excitement, she clenched her fists, raised them above her head, and shouted with joy, "It's really amazing!!"
As the blue light faded away, a transformed Merry emerged before Bai Ye. However, Bai Ye couldn't help but notice something peculiar about Merry's new appearance, causing his mouth to twitch slightly. "Hey, hey, even though it was expected, but..." he began, trailing off.
Bai Ye understood that when a spirit body takes on a physical form, its appearance tends to be influenced by the most significant person in its heart. In Merry's case, that person was Luffy, the captain of the ship and the central figure in her world. Looking at Merry's small stature, which now bore a striking resemblance to a miniature version of Luffy, Bai Ye couldn't help but comment in mild amusement, "This is too much like Luffy!!"
Merry, grinning widely to reveal her white teeth, responded cheerfully to Bai Ye. She reached up to remove her raincoat's hat, revealing her hair and asking, "Hey, hey. Look, Bai Ye, does my hair look the same as yours?" She proudly showed off her long white hair, tied up neatly, seeking Bai Ye's approval of her new look.
Bai Ye, rubbing his chin and observing the newly physical Merry with a touch of awkwardness, thought to himself, 'Luffy's face and my hair, SO UGLY!' Despite his internal critique, he squatted down and focused his Qi into his hands, gently touching Merry. After a moment, he stood back up, pleased with the adjustments he had made.
He hadn't entirely remodeled Merry's face but rather softened the specific features inherited from Luffy and himself, restoring her to a more neutral, original appearance. The result was a unique Merry, no longer immediately reminiscent of Luffy, yet retaining her inherent cuteness. Bai Ye mused with a smile that Merry might soon rival Chopper as the group's favorite due to her endearing charm.
With a sense of accomplishment, Bai Ye addressed Merry, "Okay, next, let's introduce you to the other crewmates." Merry's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded vigorously in agreement, eager to meet her friends in her new form.
As the dense fog lifted, Bai Ye and Merry disembarked from the Golden Merry. Merry, experiencing solid ground for the first time, was overcome with excitement, tentatively stepping on it several times to feel its reality. Bai Ye, watching her wide-eyed wonder, couldn't help but smile at her childlike curiosity.
Today marked a new beginning for Merry, free from the constraints of being a ship spirit. Now, she could disembark and join the crew on their adventures, never having to wait alone on the ship for their return. With the large ship formation activated and the Golden Merry safely stored, Bai Ye and Merry set off towards the town.