Chapter 206: Chapter 158.5 – Fusion
"What happened?"
"Was that move unusable?"
Mihawk furrowed his brows as he asked.
"It's unfortunate, I know you were very interested in Nami's technique."
"But for now, that move is still a bit beyond her capabilities," Arton replied with a smile before turning to Nami, whom he was supporting.
"If you want to pull off that technique, you'll need to keep pushing yourself, Nami. How are you feeling? Can you stand?"
Nami nodded slightly.
"Sorry, Arton. I just wanted to give it a try, but I guess I overestimated myself," she said with a playful tongue-out gesture before continuing:
"Don't worry, I've got a bit of energy left. I can manage myself."
With that, Nami stood on her own, determined not to hold Arton back, knowing he was about to face Mihawk.
"Is that so? If you still have some strength left, then let's finish what you started with that slash."
"Leaving the blade half-drawn would be such a waste, wouldn't it?"
"After all, it seems our opponent is quite interested in that move too," Arton said with a smile as he turned to Mihawk.
"Hmm? Arton, do you mean... a fusion?" Nami asked, eyes wide with surprise.
"Arton, are you saying there's still a way to recreate that slash?" Mihawk's interest peaked again.
Arton nodded lightly and placed a hand on Nami's shoulder.
"Let's begin, Nami."
With those words, Arton activated his fusion ability.
Feeling the energy coursing through her from Arton's touch, Nami chuckled softly and surrendered control of her body.
*
As a bright light flashed before her eyes, Nami found herself once again in the fusion space when she looked around.
"Just like the last time we fused—no clothes, huh?"
"Arton, honestly, if you wanted to look, you could just ask me outright."
"There's no need to use this method."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't even charge you," Nami said, hands on her hips, unabashed as she looked upward.
Through Arton's perspective, Nami could see Mihawk's astonished expression outside the fusion space.
"I highly doubt you wouldn't charge," Arton replied.
"Besides, now's not the time for jokes."
"Focus. It's my turn to wield the Musou no Hitotachi now."
Even as Arton said this, he couldn't help but capture Nami's unrestrained and confident posture in his diary.
From multiple angles, he took ten consecutive photos of her, preserving the moment.
Nami, ever the opportunist, noticed this and began changing her poses, each more daring than the last.
This only served to further entice Arton, who inadvertently took more pictures, thoroughly enjoying the view.
Noticing her ploy, Nami smiled triumphantly.
*
Charlotte Smoothie: "Heh, an arms showcase? Decent, but still far inferior to me."
Viola: "Right now, my figure is better than Nami's. If she could make Arton take ten photos, I'd definitely make him take even more."
Gion: "Ten photos? That's 50 points in one go! This Nami… Is she planning to master the Raiden Shogun's power in record time?"
Kujaku: "At this rate, Nami will truly be able to use the Musou no Hitotachi without ending up like this again."
Kalifa: "This Nami is going too far! What's next? Are we going to see her posing in ways only meant for intimate moments between a man and a woman? This… This is blatant harassment! Nami is outright harassing Arton!"
Stussy: "Heh, if these poses were just a bit more provocative, they'd look like those women on Pleasure Street showing off their 'merchandise.' No wonder Arton couldn't resist taking pictures."
Nojiko: "Nami, you're really… Never mind. I just hope that someday, I can take Nami's place in doing these things."
Rebecca: "Are these photos even something I should be looking at? Don't tell me I'll need to do something like this in the future, too!"
Laki: "Now this is what a true god looks like! If I let Arton take photos like the ones of Nami, do you think he'd help us deal with Enel?"
Conis: "A true god indeed..."
*
"This girl really knows how to seize an opportunity."
Carina pouted, jealousy flashing in her eyes as she glanced toward Arton's direction.
"Nami's growing stronger and stronger. At this rate, she'll surpass me for real, won't she?"
"I need to think of a plan too."
Kaya, face flushed red, pursed her lips in deep thought.
Although as a doctor, her strength wasn't a priority, Tsunade's medical ninjutsu required physical strength as a foundation.
It was only natural that Kaya, too, wanted to grow stronger.
"This Nami sure is cunning. I'll have to work harder as well."
"Speaking of which, Nami really knows how to strike a pose."
"Later, I should ask her to help me study dance moves."
"Maybe I can use dance to get Arton to take photos of me—or even record a video."
Uta mused while scrolling through Nami's "weapon showcase" photos, ideas swirling in her mind.
*
Baratie, the Floating Restaurant.
Zoro: "Huh?! Where did Nami go?!"
Usopp: "Is this… Is this the 'fusion mode' Kaya told me about earlier?"
Luffy: "Fusion?! That's so cool!"
Sanji: "Nami-san! Nami-san, where are you? Damn it, that guy has Nami's traits now… Don't tell me he ate her?!"
Zeff: "Shut up, Sanji! Don't meddle in their business!"
At this moment, Nami had completely vanished from everyone's sight.
Instead, traits of Nami's transformed form as the Raiden Shogun now appeared on Arton.
His long, deep blue hair flowed elegantly, and an aura of thunderous majesty radiated from him.
Compared to Nami's earlier transformation, Arton exuded an even more imposing presence.
"You two… became one person?"
"That wasn't mentioned in the newspaper," Mihawk remarked, raising an eyebrow as he observed the scene with intrigue.
With eyes as sharp as a hawk's, he could clearly sense that Arton now carried the same aura that surrounded Nami earlier.
In fact, the thunderous majesty emanating from Arton now was even more intense.
Such a sight only piqued Mihawk's curiosity further.
"The newspaper has left out quite a bit about me," Arton replied coldly, his tone imbued with the authority of the Raiden Shogun.
"I have no intention of broadcasting my secrets to the world."
A brilliant thunderbolt began to coalesce around him as he spoke.
"Fair enough! Then let me witness your secrets firsthand, Arton, with my own eyes," Mihawk responded, raising his sword with both hands, his expression brimming with interest.
He could sense that Arton was preparing a strike worthy of his full attention.
"As you wish!"
Arton extended his right hand toward his chest and slowly drew a blade from the fissure of crackling lightning where Nami's unfinished strike had left it.
"This sword is called Musou Isshin!"
"And this technique, Musou no Hitotachi!"
As the words left his lips, Arton vanished, leaving only a flickering afterimage as he appeared mid-air before Mihawk.