Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye spoke, a hint of curiosity stirred among the crew. Nami, familiar with weather manipulation and always thinking practically, guessed, "Is it a talisman? But that wouldn't last very long."
Under the clear skies, her response seemed logical, but Bai Ye had something else in mind. The Ark, specifically crafted by Enel for his lunar ambitions, was powered uniquely by his Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which no talisman or formation could replicate.
Shaking his head, Bai Ye smiled at Nami, dispelling her guess with a hint of amusement. "No, not a talisman," he corrected gently. "What we need... is you, Nami."
Nami, taken aback, pointed to herself in surprise, "Me?"
As everyone's eyes turned towards Bai Ye, filled with confusion, he revealed something even more startling. "I suppose I forgot to mention—after Wyper killed Enel, I managed to obtain his powers."
The crew nodded along absently at first, not quite grasping the implication.
Then, as the realization dawned, their expressions shifted to sheer astonishment. "What!!??" they exclaimed almost in unison, their features a mix of shock and awe.
Bai Ye, sensing the moment needed a little more clarity, flipped his wrist and revealed a devil fruit, oddly shaped and pulsing with latent power. "This is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, a Logia type that Enel once possessed. It holds the power of thunder."
Sanji, momentarily distracted from his usual habit of lighting a cigarette, recognized the significance. "Hold on, doesn't a devil fruit reappear somewhere random after its user dies? How did you manage to get it?"
Usopp, equally amazed, echoed the sentiment, "Yeah, Bai Ye, how did you take it away?"
Robin, always intrigued by mysteries, gave Bai Ye an impressed look. "It seems our vice-captain has delivered another surprise," she mused. "With your abilities in daoist techniques and now capturing devil fruits, your bounty would skyrocket if the world knew."
When Bai Ye saw the stunned faces around him, he decided to clarify how he managed to acquire devil fruits. He explained in simple terms about his unique ability linked to his internal world and the laws governing it. After his explanation, Luffy clapped his hands enthusiastically, exclaiming, "That's it! It really is an incredible ability!" Despite his excitement, it was clear to everyone else that Luffy might not have fully grasped the details.
Bai Ye wrapped up his explanation concisely: "Basically, that's how it works." He then turned to Nami, offering her the devil fruit, "This fruit's power suits you well. Now, it's your decision to make."
Although Bai Ye had a plan regarding who should wield the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power, he respected Nami's choice in the matter. Nami took the fruit without hesitation, glanced around at her friends, and said with a mix of humor and resolve, "Do you even need to ask?"
She then looked towards Luffy and Bai Ye, a slight smile playing on her lips mixed with a hint of exasperation. "With you two as captain and vice-captain, I'm sure there'll never be a dull moment ahead." Her gaze held a blend of mild frustration and determination. Memories of Bai Ye's bloody battle and Luffy's earnest declarations aboard the Golden Merry flashed through her mind.
Inwardly, Nami mused, slightly annoyed yet fondly, "All I wanted was to be a great navigator and chart the best maps in the world." Yet here she was, on the brink of eating a powerful devil fruit. Her smile widened as she resolved, "If it's Enel's fruit, then I'll eat it without hesitation!"
For the first time, Nami felt a strong, personal desire for power—not just the routine push from Bai Ye during training, but a genuine need to be stronger. "This way, I won't just be someone to be protected when danger strikes," she thought.
With these reflections, Nami bit into the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, ready to embrace the new strength it would bring her.
Nami grimaced as she chewed the Devil Fruit, "It's so gross and hard to eat!" Luffy, ever oblivious to the mood, grinned and added, "Haha, yeah, Devil Fruits are really awful tasting."
Usopp snapped back at Luffy, "Are you kidding me, Luffy?" His tone was a mix of amusement and exasperation. Sanji, always ready to cater to Nami's needs, offered, "Nami-san, I'll make you a dessert right away~"
More practically, Bai Ye flicked an orange towards Nami, "Here, have an orange to wash down that taste." Gratefully, Nami peeled the orange and popped a segment into her mouth, her face smoothing out as the citrus helped mask the unpleasant flavor, "Thanks." She didn't even question how Bai Ye had an orange ready at that moment.
As she focused on the relief the orange brought, she suddenly felt a surge within her. A beam of electricity crackled from her body, startling everyone with its intensity. The sound grew louder, and more lightning flashes danced over Nami, signifying the new power awakening within her.
RUMBLE! With a powerful surge, Nami unleashed the energy within her, sending a column of thunder shooting into the sky. It was as if the Milky Way itself was reversing, its brilliance piercing through the clouds overhead. Encircled by bolts of electricity, Nami rose into the air, her eyes alight with gathering storm clouds, truly embodying the essence of a Thunder Queen.
Robin, witnessing this spectacle, couldn't help but remark on the potency of the power: "Indeed, it's one of the most formidable Logia-type Devil Fruits. Such immense power right after consumption is rare." She recalled her own experience with her Devil Fruit, which had been significantly less dramatic.
Luffy, ever the curious one, tilted his head and commented with a hint of puzzlement, "It feels a bit less showy compared to that long-eared guy."
Bai Ye, correcting him with a touch of humor, replied, "It's because Nami has only just consumed the fruit. She needs time to develop her abilities further." He added with a slight tease, "And I've told you many times—it's Enel, not just 'the long-eared guy'. Shouldn't we be a bit more respectful?"
Despite his light-hearted complaint, Bai Ye was used to Luffy's quirky ways of remembering people. Sometimes he wondered if Luffy would fail to recognize him if he cut his long hair short. After all, their initial introduction had Luffy labeling him as 'the long-haired guy'.
As Bai Ye watched Nami safely descend back to the ground, a smile spread across his face. The Straw Hats had indeed come a long way, their abilities now far surpassing those depicted in their original story.