Baratie, the Sea Restaurant.
Ding!
A sharp metallic clang echoed. Nami's body slid back rapidly, skidding several meters before coming to a halt.
"Haah… haah… he's incredible," Nami said, breathing heavily as she steadied herself, her gaze fixed on the man who had just struck her weapon away—Hawkeye Mihawk.
Similarly, Mihawk was looking at Nami with a glimmer of admiration.
"Your overall strength is not exceptional," he remarked. "But you have mastered remarkably precise slashes."
"And your naginata—it's indeed an outstanding weapon."
"Even when I tried to cut it, I couldn't."
"If it weren't for the limitations of your physical ability, you might have performed even better in our fight using that weapon."
"But for now, if this is all you can manage, it's time to step back."
A faint smile played on Mihawk's lips as he addressed Nami.
*
In terms of swordsmanship, Nami's level was not exceptionally high. If it were to be defined, she was merely at the level of a swordmaster capable of cutting iron.
As for her ability to unleash flying slashes, those were aided by her control over lightning and not the pure techniques of a true grandmaster swordsman.
The only reason she had managed to last this long against Mihawk was due to his curiosity about her naginata—a weapon both she and Arton referred to as a divine blade—and the precision of her slashes, which intrigued him.
However, after the prolonged exchange, even with Nami's exceptional weapon and intricate techniques, Mihawk's interest began to wane. For him, this duel was, at its core, an unremarkable skirmish. Fighting Arton was what he truly yearned for.
*
"No, it's not over yet," Nami replied resolutely.
"I still have one more technique to try."
"Oh?" Mihawk raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"You still have a stronger move up your sleeve? Very well, let's see it."
Mihawk expressed his interest as he observed Nami's next move.
Nami's expression turned serious, and her naginata dissolved into a streak of lightning, vanishing from her hands.
"What's she doing? Why is she putting that naginata away?"
Zoro furrowed his brow in confusion, unable to understand.
"Putting that blade away… Nami-san, she won't be in trouble, right?"
Sanji's face practically screamed worry.
"If she's planning to use that move, she won't need the naginata," Carina replied, her brows slightly knitted.
"What she'll need is a blade known as Musou Isshin."
"But can Nami really pull off that move at her current level?"
The technique Carina referred to was none other than Musou no Hitotachi.
This was no ordinary technique—it was a divine strike, one truly befitting a god. Even with the power of the Raiden Shogun's template, unleashing this technique should have been a monumental challenge. Even using a vastly weakened version of Musou no Hitotachi would push Nami to her limits.
As a swordsman, Zoro could sense Carina's seriousness. His eyes widened to their fullest, intently focused on Nami, afraid to miss even the slightest detail of what was about to happen.
At that moment, Nami seemed to have completed her preparations. Suddenly, her body became enveloped in crackling lightning, which began to converge into a glowing structure before her—a shape reminiscent of a door.
Simultaneously, a fissure appeared in the sky, resembling a slit. The crowd looked up in astonishment as the slit opened wide, resembling an eye staring down at them—a divine eye, as if a god was observing their every move.
This incredible scene was also broadcast through the live recording, reaching the eyes of every diary replica holder.
*
Ulti: "Musou no Hitotachi? Can Nami already perform that technique?"
Charlotte Smoothie: "You've got to be kidding me. Even with her rapid progress, there's no way Nami can execute that move!"
Doll: "This is what happens when you fully exploit your charms to draw Arton's attention. Nami's progress is astonishingly fast—too fast."
Whitey Bay: "Nami started off as just an ordinary person. If I had been in her place as Arton's crewmate, maybe I could have gained the power to influence even the events of the Paramount War."
Gion: "This Nami keeps surprising us… Will she ultimately master the power of the Raiden Shogun?"
Stussy: "Fascinating! Could Nami truly ascend to become a genuine god? Speaking of which, if she fully inherits the Raiden Shogun's power, she might gain eternal life."
Kalifa: "A true god, eternal life, everlasting youth! It's... truly enviable!"
*
"Godlike power, huh?"
"I think I'm beginning to understand."
Zoro clenched his fists, a fiery determination blazing in his eyes.
Directly facing Nami, Mihawk raised his blade with newfound interest.
"Interesting. Show me what you've got."
His words reached Nami, and she suddenly opened her eyes. Her right hand reached upward into the rift of lightning gathered at her chest. As she pulled upward, the hilt of a blade emerged in her grasp.
As Nami continued to draw, a long blade emitting a sharp, radiant glow gradually appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Another divine weapon, is it?" Mihawk remarked as he raised his own blade.
He could sense it—the strike Nami was preparing wouldn't be an ordinary one. This time, it might truly warrant his full attention.
But just as Mihawk's interest peaked, the heavenly lightning eye above suddenly vanished.
The lightning surrounding Nami dissipated, as did the divine blade in her hand.
Nami's body slackened, and she began to collapse onto the floor.
As if expecting this, Arton appeared by her side in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground.
*
Nojiko: "Nami? Is she alright?!"
Black Maria: "It seems she overexerted herself in the end fufu~."
Doll: "Phew, she really gave me a fright. I thought she was about to pull off that move for real."
Charlotte Smoothie: "What a shame. If it were me who received the Raiden Shogun template, I'd probably already be able to use that move."
Conis: "Even so, Nami's strength is incredible. Compared to her, I'm practically nothing…"
Laki: "This woman will eventually become the true God of Thunder. Enel is nothing but a false deity! Will Arton ever come to Skypiea…? If he does, perhaps we can defeat Enel and reclaim our homeland."
Kozuki Hiyori: "Nami's battle is over. Next up should be Arton."
Gion: "With the Emiya Shirou template, I wonder how far Arton will advance it this time…"