Chapter 25 – Arrival at the Town of Beginning and End
The sudden eruption of spiritual pressure stunned every single person on deck.
Nami, Carina, Nojiko, Kuina, Kaya, Hikari, Izumi, and Tom all froze.
The newly-amplified reiatsu rampaged across the Libra's deck like a living storm.
It lashed the surrounding sea into a frenzy—waves surged, countless fish floated belly-up, and even massive sea kings bobbed unconscious on the surface.
If not for the protection of their contracts, the girls would have been flattened right alongside the fish.
"His power is expanding at a terrifying rate."
Hikari's Mangekyō spun frantically, trying to track every change in Aike's body.
"It's that Shinigami energy inside the boss."
Izumi added, eyes equally sharp.
Thanks to the Indra-Ashura chakra baptism, their soul perception had skyrocketed.
They instantly identified the source of the explosion.
Hearing their explanation, the others finally relaxed.
Realizing this was just Aike leveling up again, they quietly waited.
"This is Aizen at the vice-captain stage, huh…"
Aike opened his eyes and flexed, feeling the difference.
He now fully understood why Aizen was such a freak.
Fresh out of the Academy, he was already captain-class.
By the time he became vice-captain, only Yamamoto and the original Kenpachi Uno Hana could reliably beat him.
No wonder he toyed with the entire Gotei 13 like puppets.
Intelligence + raw power = absolute domination.
"But the real prize is finally having the Hōgyoku blueprint."
With the creation method unlocked, Aike was itching to test whether he could actually forge one in the One Piece world.
The chaotic Grand Line had no shortage of souls to harvest, after all.
"You're finally awake! You had us worried sick!"
Nami and Carina crowded around him, hands running all over to check for injuries.
Kaya even activated her healing Kidō to scan him head to toe.
Clearly Izumi and Hikari's explanation hadn't fully reassured them.
"Alright, alright, I'm fine. The two Uchiha already told you—this is just my reiatsu getting stronger."
Once he calmed everyone down, Aike glanced at the ocean full of free ingredients.
"Look at all this unexpected seafood. How about we throw a banquet? Official welcome party for Kuina."
"Yes! Yes!"
"It's been forever since we had a proper party!"
Nami and Carina instantly voted yes.
Nojiko, Kaya, Hikari, and Izumi had no objections.
Tom didn't even answer—he just changed into fisherman overalls, grabbed a huge net, and started hauling in stunned sea kings like it was his sacred duty.
"N-No, you don't have to go through all this trouble for me!"
Kuina waved her hands frantically, face red.
Too late. The girls had already dragged her off.
"We're all sisters now. No being shy!"
The banquet lasted all day and well into the night.
By the time the sun set, Aike was carrying drunken crewmates back to their rooms one by one.
Except for Nami and Carina.
Slightly tipsy and giggling, the two of them followed him straight into his cabin.
That night, Aike finally unlocked the achievement he'd been looking forward to for a very long time…
Loguetown.
The town of legend.
Birthplace and execution ground of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
Known far and wide as "The Town of the Beginning and the End."
For anyone heading to the Grand Line, this was the final supply stop in the East Blue.
"So this is the Pirate King's hometown."
Nami, Carina, Nojiko, Kuina, and Kaya stared at the bustling streets in awe.
"It really is lively."
Even Izumi and Hikari, who had only ever known the hidden village of Konoha, were impressed.
Konoha might have been powerful, but architecturally it couldn't compare to even Orange Town.
"This is the last proper town before the Grand Line. Of course it's huge."
Aike strolled up with Tom perched on his shoulder.
"Come on, we've been at sea for a whole week. Time to shop and sightsee!"
At his command, everyone disembarked.
Within minutes they scattered in every direction.
Everyone had different shopping lists:
Nami and Carina → clothes, jewelry, anything shiny
Kaya → medical books and rare herbs
Nojiko → seeds and farming tools for the Kamui orchard
Kuina → swords (obviously)
Izumi & Hikari → curious about everything
Aike had zero intention of becoming a pack mule, so he slipped away the moment no one was looking.
As for safety?
Please.
With Nami and Carina now walking disasters, and Izumi + Hikari both knocking on the door of Six Paths power, the only people in the East Blue who could threaten them were already on this island—and they wore Marine coats.
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