The heat of the moment intensified around them. Luffy, shackled and surrounded by pirates and Marines, stood on the execution platform, eyes fixed on Buggy, who was now grinning maliciously, holding a gleaming sword high above his head. The crowd fell silent, waiting for the inevitable.
Buggy's voice rang out, filled with theatrical malice. "It's time, Straw Hat! Say goodbye to your pathetic life any last words !" "I'm gonna Be The King Of The Pirates!" he shouted after that Luffy, despite the shackles and the dire situation, didn't flinch. His grin only grew wider, unyielding as ever. "Zoro… Nami… Sanji... Usopp... sorry, I'm dead. But it was fun," he said, his voice carrying through the square.
The words sent a shockwave through the crew.
Nami froze, her heart gripped by an inexplicable pain. No. He can't…
She had heard Luffy say things like this before, but something about today's tone, the resigned finality in his voice, made her stomach churn. She looked to Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp, each one of them equally stunned, their expressions unreadable. For a brief moment, the world seemed to come to a halt.
Buggy, eager for the spotlight, lifted the sword higher, ready to bring it down on Luffy's neck. He was about to fulfill his twisted promise, about to end the life of the Pirate King before he even had a chance to begin.
But Nami, standing off to the side, felt something stir inside her—something more than just fear. It was a resolve she hadn't known she had. Not like this, she thought, clenching her fists. I won't let him die. Not now.
Luffy's voice rang in her mind. We're a crew. I promised them I wouldn't die. But you're all my family too. I can't leave you...
Her thoughts turned to the System. She could feel it pulsating inside her, the strange energy that had guided her through every step up until now. What can I do? she thought, desperation creeping into her chest.
[System Update: Host has activated enhanced speed. Commencing rapid action protocol.]
Nami's body surged with a sudden rush of power. The world around her seemed to slow as the System's voice hummed in her ears. Speed of light… She barely had time to process the thought before her legs shot forward, and she was moving faster than she had ever imagined.
The wind whistled in her ears as she blurred across the town square, faster than the eye could track. She saw Buggy's sword descending toward Luffy's neck. Not on my watch. With a fierce determination, Nami called upon the power of the System, pushing herself beyond human limits.
[Speed Enhancement: Activating Light Speed Mode. Host's physical capacity is temporarily amplified. Action: Intercept.]
She shot past the Marines, past the pirates, her body a blur, and in one heartbeat, she reached Luffy. Without thinking, she grabbed the shackles binding his arms and yanked them apart. The shackles broke with a loud snap, and Luffy was free.
[System Update: Host has successfully neutralized restraints.]
The sword fell, its deadly edge missing Luffy by mere inches as Nami tackled him to the ground, pulling him out of the way just in time. The entire town square seemed to hold its breath, caught in a moment suspended in time.
Luffy blinked in surprise as Nami's form materialized in front of him, her chest heaving, eyes wide with adrenaline. For a moment, he just stared at her, taken aback by her sudden appearance.
"Luffy, you idiot!" Nami gasped, her voice a mix of relief and anger. "You really think we're going to let you die like this?"
Luffy, still disoriented, broke into his usual grin, though this time there was a flicker of genuine appreciation in his eyes. "Nami... You really saved me," he said, his voice hoarse but full of warmth.
"We're a crew, remember?" Nami shot back, her heart still racing. "You're not dying today, and neither are any of us."
The ground beneath them rumbled as Smoker, who had been observing the chaos from a distance, clenched his fists. His eyes burned with intensity as he marched forward. "Enough of this nonsense!" he shouted, his seastone sticks ready for action. "Luffy, you're under arrest!"
But Nami, using the power of the System, didn't hesitate. She twisted on her heels and held up her hand. "System, activate defensive mode!"
[System Update: Host has activated defensive barrier. All incoming damage will be nullified.]
A translucent barrier materialized in front of Nami, just as Smoker lunged forward with his seastone sticks. The sticks collided with the barrier, sending sparks flying, but the barrier held firm, protecting both her and Luffy.
"Get away from him!" Nami shouted, her voice full of command. She had no intention of letting the Marines take Luffy again. Not while she had this power.
Smoker stared, slightly taken aback by the sudden force of her defense. He scowled, his temper flaring. "You think this will stop me?"
"I don't care what you think, Marine," Nami retorted. "You're not taking Luffy or any of us today. If you want to fight, then fight me!"
Behind her, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp arrived, their expressions a mix of disbelief and pride. They had seen Nami fight before, but never like this.
"We'll help too," Zoro growled, unsheathing his swords. Sanji cracked his knuckles, ready for a brawl.
Usopp grinned, pulling out his slingshot. "Looks like the odds just shifted, huh?"
Nami turned to Luffy, her eyes steady now, the adrenaline starting to calm. "We're all in this together. Don't ever forget that."
Luffy, grinning his wide, carefree grin, clapped her on the back. "I never will, Nami. Thanks."
As the tension in Loguetown reached its peak, the Straw Hat crew stood united, prepared for whatever came next. The fight was far from over, but now, with Nami's new strength and determination, they were ready for it.
Smoker, standing across from them, narrowed his eyes. This was far from over, but one thing was clear Luffy's crew had something powerful on their side, and it wasn't just their strength or resolve.
It was their unbreakable bond. And Nami, now fully embracing the power that the System had given her, knew she would do whatever it took to protect it.