The Merry sailed towards the Sabaody Archipelago, where preparations were underway on the third floor. Recently renovated, the luxurious bathroom was now enveloped in steam, the sound of flowing water mingling with soft, relaxed breaths.
"Ha! This is so comfortable. It's even better than the bathroom in our Alabasta Palace," Vivi sighed contentedly, emerging from the hot water with her long blue hair cascading around her reddened face.
The Merry, after its renovations, could now be considered a moving castle on the sea. Nami, holding hot water in her hands, smiled warmly.
"This place has been transformed using Ace's understanding field. The hot water is replenished with seawater, but the filtration device ensures that even Devil Fruit users can bathe without any adverse effects," Nami explained.
Devil Fruit users typically weakened when exposed to seawater. Freshwater was precious on a pirate ship, often substituted with heated seawater for bathing, which, although tolerable, was far from ideal. The new filtration system allowed the girls to enjoy a bath without feeling drained.
"This renovation was specifically requested by Ace. Franky and Mr. IceBurg said that without Ace's understanding field, this filtration device wouldn't have been possible. It still took nearly half the renovation time to install," Kaya added, her eyes narrowing in a happy smile. "Ace is always so attentive."
"Indeed, the captain is very considerate, especially regarding the crew's physical and mental well-being," Robin leaned on the edge of the bathtub, her red lips curving into a meaningful smile.
"No, don't say such misleading things," Kaya's face turned crimson.
"Is it possible you didn't misunderstand?" Robin's smile widened mischievously.
"Gulu! Guru! Guru!" Nami, Vivi, and Kaya, their faces flushed, dove into the hot water, bubbling in embarrassment.
Breaking the subtle atmosphere, Vivi turned to Nami, "By the way, do you have any thoughts about Devil Fruit's awakening? Your mastery is the strongest among us."
Nami's talent for weather control translated seamlessly into her control of the Thunder Fruit. She had mastered its power without needing Ace's understanding field, unlike Vivi, who struggled with her Sand-Sand Fruit despite the aid. Vivi's eyes reflected a tinge of sadness.
"Clang!" Nami gently knocked Vivi on the head, bringing her out of her reverie. "Idiot, you are now a big pirate known as the Desert Princess."
They had recently seen Vivi's bounty poster, which brought mixed feelings of worry and pride. Vivi had placed her bounty order alongside Ace's, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Vivi nodded vigorously at Nami's words, realizing she was no longer just a princess without combat talent. She was now a core member of the Entei Pirates with a bounty of 350 million beli, a symbol of her growth and strength.
With Ace by her side, Vivi felt invincible. Her eyes sparkled with determination.
Suddenly, Vivi's expression changed. She touched the hot water with her delicate hands, and the water dried up instantly. The entire bathroom's water was absorbed by her Sand-Sand Fruit ability.
"Vivi! What's wrong?" Nami asked anxiously.
"I... my grasp of the Sand-Sand Fruit seems to have deepened. My ability feels much stronger," Vivi said in confusion, looking at her hands.
"Could it be that your Devil Fruit power has awakened?" Kaya suggested, surprised.
"No, it's not quite awakening yet," Robin clarified. "But Vivi has certainly touched upon that realm. The fact that almost all the water in the space was absorbed instantly does resemble an awakening."
Vivi stared at her hands, feeling a surge of newfound strength and potential within her. The journey ahead seemed more promising than ever.
Not far from where Nami, Vivi, Kaya, and Robin stood unaware, the atmosphere subtly fluctuated in a way undetectable even by Observation Haki.
"How? Tashigi, the development of the Transparent Fruit was a big success. Not even Nami's Thunder Fruit-amplified Observation Haki can detect your presence. They can't hear our voices either. What do you think? In the future, you could even use the Transparent Fruit to make the sound of drawing your sword undetectable to enemies. Isn't that a perfect match for your Devil Fruit abilities, Tashigi?"
Ace turned to the side, his entire body enveloped in his domain of understanding, activating his Transparent Fruit ability to render them completely invisible. Tashigi blushed deeply, laughing nervously.
"The Shadow Fruit and Transparent Fruit working together in this infiltration plan—great success!"
Tashigi blushed intensely beside him, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise.
"Hey, Ace, you helped me develop the Transparent Fruit. How did you end up here?"
"Nami and the others are all here..."
Seeing the looming figures in the misty distance, Tashigi's thoughts froze.
"Ah, Ace, I... we..."
Tashigi blushed furiously, stuttering as she looked at Ace.
"It's all to help you develop the Transparent Fruit, Tashigi," Ace said seriously. "Your path now is to become a shadow swordsman. Always use the Transparent Fruit to conceal yourself before striking, no matter the situation. Treasure this training opportunity, Tashigi."
Ace nodded approvingly towards the distant figure shrouded in mist.
"It really feels completely different."
"Yeah... does it?"
Tashigi murmured cutely.
"Yes, so let's get closer to Nami and the others. The training is: even if the enemy passes right by you, don't reveal yourself at all. Are you ready for that, Tashigi?"
Ace patted Tashigi's head sternly.
"I-I'll do my best!"
Tashigi clenched her fist, determined.
"Good! Let's move!"
Ace expanded his domain of understanding to the maximum. Despite Tashigi's current mastery, they risked detection by Nami's Observation Haki, amplified by the Thunder Fruit eight hundred times. Only through Ace's understanding could they dive in undetected.
"Got it!"
Tashigi nodded firmly, preparing to move forward.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, the surrounding space distorted slightly.
As the fluctuation subsided, Ace realized the danger, grabbing Tashigi and swiftly moving forward.
In this situation, Ace refrained from using Observation Haki to foresee the future.
After all, the present moment was paramount.
Unexpectedly, the power of the Shadow Fruit abruptly vanished.
"Tashigi!"
Startled by this development, Tashigi struggled to maintain her Transparent Fruit ability, despite Ace's assistance.
Ace's expression twitched slightly
After the exclamations from Kaya, Vivi, and Nami, Robin responded with a meaningful smile. Slowly, the figures of Ace and Tashigi emerged.
"Hey, it's a nice day today, Nami, Vivi, Kaya, Robin," Ace waved awkwardly, forcing a smile.
"Ace?!" Kaya, Vivi, and Nami exclaimed in surprise.
As they took in their surroundings, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
"The weather is indeed lovely, Captain," Robin said softly, lightly covering her lips with a graceful gesture as she leaned elegantly by the pool, smiling radiantly.
"Ah!" Tashigi, feeling exposed, couldn't handle the pressure, her thoughts scattering.
"Perona!" Ace's Observation Haki pinpointed the culprit behind Merry's Shadow Fruit malfunction, his expression twitching.
"How cheeky, Captain," Robin teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Could you enlighten me tonight on the awakening of Devil Fruits—how to align body, mind, and desire?"
Ace felt a warmth spread through him, his gaze fixed on Robin as his heart skipped a beat.
"Not tonight, Robin," Ace replied firmly.
Nami, nestled against Ace, turned her head to look at Robin with a soft smile. "If it's about aligning body and mind, and mastering Devil Fruit abilities, teach me tonight, Ace."
Nami lifted her lovely face, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "As captain, it's my duty to fulfill the wishes of my dear crew members."
Ace gazed at Nami tenderly, running his fingers through her long orange hair.
"Nami," he murmured, "my first crew member. You hold a very special place in my heart."
Nami's beauty blossomed completely in Ace's eyes at that moment.
"You and Kaya's Devil Fruit abilities, used together here, are truly..."
Ace held Nami close, his expression filled with a mix of emotions.
Just before, Nami had controlled her Thunder Fruit ability to its utmost potential, providing just the right jolt that left Ace feeling exhilarated and tingling.
Each time Nami began to tire, a familiar yellow light descended from Kaya's room on the second floor, replenishing Nami's drained strength almost instantly, repeating several times over.
Ace noticed a change in Nami's demeanor that surprised him.
"Heh... heh..."
Nami lay against Ace's chest, her heart beating gently, cheeks flushed with a captivating blush.
Hearing Ace's words, Nami lifted her head slightly, gazing at him with a smile that spoke of maturity.
"Healing fruits aren't all-powerful. It's not like they can infinitely restore physical strength like some bug," Nami remarked with a satisfied expression despite her complete exhaustion.
"I wonder when it all started, Ace."
Nami nestled contentedly against Ace's heart, murmuring softly.
"My dream is to navigate every sea and chart the perfect map. But now, that dream starts with 'being with you'. The 'with you' part means more to me than the dream itself."
"Together, we'll sail every sea, using my navigation skills to conquer the Grand Line's weather, and your Thunder Fruit power to reign supreme," Nami declared passionately.
"You're my captain, my love, Portgas D. Ace—the man destined to be king of the world."
"And I'll be your navigator, Ace."
Ace listened to Nami's confession, his smile softening.
"Then together, we'll chart the perfect map. I'm quite skilled at drawing, you know," Nami added, looking up to meet Ace's gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Yes!"
Nami focused intently.
"Bzzt!"
The mysterious light of Ace's understanding field enveloped Nami completely.
"This... what's happening?"
Nami stared in astonishment at the lightning dancing on Ace's hand. She felt as though she could turn ordinary clouds into thunderclouds with a mere thought.
"Devil Fruit, awaken."
"Nami, Thunder Fruit, responds to your deepest desires."
Ace's Ultimate Observation Haki, glowing red, captured every detail of Nami's transformation, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Desire... my greatest desire is you," Nami realized, her smile growing broader as she grasped the full potential of her Thunder Fruit.
"To use my navigation skills to help you conquer any climate on the Grand Line, master the Thunder Fruit completely, and help you become king of the world," Nami affirmed passionately.
"Then, together, we'll chart the perfect map of the New World you create," she continued, her truest desires awakening alongside her Thunder Fruit.
"The stronger the desire, the stronger the Thunder Fruit's power," Ace explained, his words causing Nami's cheeks to flush.
"And to fully awaken, body and mind must align with that desire, Nami," Ace continued meaningfully.
Nami suddenly realized, amidst her immersion, that Ace's understanding field had surrounded her all along, aiding in her physical and mental alignment during the exhaustion and recovery process, culminating in her Thunder Fruit's awakening.
"Ace..."
Nami's lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a newfound confidence.
"Hmm?"
Ace looked at her expectantly.
"After awakening, I think I can do this," Nami said, raising her delicate hand.
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the clouds above instantly transformed into thunderclouds.
"Crackle!"
Electricity crackled around Ace's room as static energy surged into Nami, enhancing her smile.
"Logia Devil Fruit awakening... Nature's Blessing!" she exclaimed, realizing the potential of her awakened Logia power to restore natural physical strength affected by the Devil Fruit, greatly boosting her combat prowess.
"Ace, the night is young," Nami said, her hand trailing across her lips, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Ace met her gaze with equal fervor.
"Yes, there's plenty of night left."
The next day arrived.
"Laki, today's cooking is a bit lacking," Ace remarked with a deliberate smile as he savored the meal prepared by Laki.
Upon hearing this, Laki's pretty face flushed red.
She hadn't slept well the previous night—sounds from Ace's room and thunder had filled the air.
"Congratulations, Nami, on awakening the power of the Thunder Fruit," Robin acknowledged, observing Nami who now exuded the aura of a mature woman, her lips curved slightly.
Late last night, the sky had been filled with transforming thunderclouds, a scene Robin recognized from witnessing Mera-Mera Fruit awakenings.
Robin glanced at Nami, whose eyes twinkled knowingly. Completing the awakening in this manner was indeed unexpected.
"So, this is the necessary step for awakening," Kaya murmured, her face also tinged with red as she discreetly clenched her fists.
During the night, after Kaya had used her healing fruit to aid Nami's recovery, she too had sensed herself drawing closer to awakening. Her earlier thoughts had been proven correct.
"Now that Nami has succeeded, I might find my opportunity soon," Kaya thought, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"I see," Vivi murmured, her cheeks still flushed. Recalling her reflections in the bath yesterday and her connection to the realm of awakening, she believed that completing the last step with Ace would be crucial for her own awakening. She clenched her small fists tightly.
"Uh," Laki and Conis exchanged glances, both blushing slightly. "Does awakening require... doing the same as Ace?" Laki dared to give Ace a bold look.
Ace had once mentioned that completing the awakening of Zoan required embracing one's wild nature. Laki, a Shandian by birth, no longer concealed her feelings for Ace.
"I like him. I really do!" she admitted. Ace had been the beacon of hope that rescued her in her darkest hour.
"Laki, are you going to take the initiative?" Conis asked, covering her flushed face, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
In her heart, Laki desired Ace.
"Hehe," Perona chuckled, watching Nami with her slightly raised red lips. "My younger sister has accomplished it. As her elder sister, can I fall behind? Can I still complete the Devil Fruit awakening?"
"I need to work harder," she resolved, sensing the intense atmosphere around her.
Ace noticed the peculiar atmosphere and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly.
"Did these girls misunderstand something? How could Devil Fruit awakening be achieved through that?" Ace wondered to himself. If such actions could awaken Devil Fruits, awakened individuals would be rampant in the seas.
"Moreover, if that were the case, shouldn't Robin have awakened first?" he pondered silently. However, Ace chose not to comment further, knowing the girls wouldn't believe him even if he did.
"In any case, they'll gain something positive from it," Ace mused, his smile growing into a chuckle.
"Merry! Full speed ahead to the Sabaody Archipelago!" Ace commanded, filled with anticipation.
After Nami's Thunder Fruit awakening, her strength had reached the level of an ordinary Admiral, bolstering the combat capabilities of the Entei Pirates for the impending conflict.
Ace couldn't wait for the thrilling battles ahead.
"Um!" Melly raised her tiny hand in agreement.
Next to the Merry, Perona appeared somewhat pitiful, rubbing her delicate, doll-like face, still slightly red from the events of the previous day. Despite the outcome being positive, there still had to be consequences.
"Acknowledged!" Under Merry's control, the ship accelerated to an astonishing speed, racing towards the Sabaody Archipelago.
Nami gathered her wind-blown hair and glanced at Ace standing proudly on the bow, radiating fierce determination.
Her lips curled into a slight smile.
Nami, who usually avoided trouble, was unexpectedly looking forward to showcasing Ace's power at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Meanwhile, tensions continued to mount above the archipelago, the atmosphere on the verge of explosive release.