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"Whoo~"
"I'm getting stronger again!"
Although she couldn't see her attribute interface, Nami could clearly feel that her physical fitness, strength, and Pokémon energy had surged within her body. She instantly realized...
Her hard work yesterday was finally paying off at this moment!
Over these two days, Nami had gone all out!
During the day, she practiced combat movements in the manor, and at night, she battled powerful Pokémon in the game world.
The trainers on Route 25 all used Pokémon that had exceeded level 15, with the highest level even reaching 18!
When she encountered Flying or Water-type Pokémon that were weak against Electric types, Nami could use the fast and powerful nature of her Electric attacks to quickly defeat her opponents.
But when facing a Ground-type Pokémon, she had to abandon her Electric moves and rely on Pay Day and the staff in her hand to fight.
However, Nami was human after all, and there was an innate gap between her and Pokémon specially bred for battle. Combined with type disadvantages...
As a result, during yesterday's game session, level 18 Nami was sent back to the Pokémon Center in Cerulean City by a level 19 Sandshrew.
With no other choice, Red and Nami had to restart from the last checkpoint, temporarily switching players to allow Zoro to defeat the opponent, and then switching back to Nami to continue advancing through the route.
Yesterday's defeat obviously left Nami in a sour mood.
But fortunately, they got off to a good start today.
The first opponent she defeated allowed Nami to successfully level up.
Watching Nami test the increased power of her upgraded moves, Red thought to himself:
'At this rate of improvement, it shouldn't be a problem for Nami to defeat Arlong.'
'The key issue is the pace of progression...'
'Nami, who only has Electric-type moves, is unable to handle Ground-type Pokémon. At present, it seems the only solution is to get outside help.'
'We need to increase Usopp's workload and have him create the Clima-Tact ahead of schedule.'
The first version of the Clima-Tact didn't require any rare materials and relied entirely on Usopp's ingenuity, so it shouldn't be a difficult task.
With the Clima-Tact's Rain Tempo ability, Nami could also deal normal damage to Ground-type Pokémon.
After a brief reorganization, the duo continued moving forward.
Beyond Route 25 was Bill's Sea Cottage.
Bill was that eccentric scientist in the game who accidentally fused himself with a Pokémon.
After helping him press the button on his machine and freeing him, he gave Red two S.S. Tickets that could be used to board the S.S. Anne.
In the open space at the entrance to Bill's cottage, there was also an attractive woman trainer.
The first thing she said when she saw Red was: "Let me train you, little boy~"
And the Pokémon she used was a level 18 Machop.
This made it hard for Red not to wonder whether this flirtatious woman had done something questionable with the muscular yet childlike Machop.
After all, in the world of Pokémon, the boundaries between humans and Pokémon weren't always clear!
"Nami, use Buzzy Buzz followed by Zippy Zap! Take it down quickly!"
The battlefield materialized, and Red quickly issued orders.
Although Nami's Electric attacks would be completely ineffective against Ground-type Pokémon!
For Pokémon of other types, her attacks were still formidable!
ZAP!!!
Dazzling lightning crossed the battlefield and instantly struck the Machop, which couldn't dodge in time.
In an instant, the Fighting-type's once energetic body suddenly became stiff.
On the surface of its skin, golden electrical arcs flashed intermittently.
It had been affected by the 100% paralysis effect of Buzzy Buzz!
"Finish it while it's paralyzed!"
Nami, who was now familiar with Pokémon battles, said nothing. She waved her staff wrapped in electrical energy, stepping with lightning-quick movements, rapidly closing in on Machop and striking its head with a powerful blow!
"Watch this!" Nami shouted.
As the electrified staff connected with Machop's forehead, the young Fighting-type Pokémon stiffened and fell backward.
"My poor Machop~!"
The woman trainer let out a dramatic cry.
But this couldn't change the inevitable outcome!
After the battle, Red also received a parting gift from the woman trainer...
A TM for the Fighting-type move [Seismic Toss]!
[Move: Seismic Toss]
[Type: Fighting]
[Category: Physical]
[Power: Variable]
[Description: Lifts the opponent high into the air, then uses gravity to slam them into the ground. The damage dealt is based on the user's level.]
"Lift the opponent into the air? So... does this move have any launching effect?"
After reading the move's description, Red contemplated.
He took the Seismic Toss TM and checked the compatibility in his Pokémon list, finding that only Luffy could learn this move.
"Even without a Fighting-type attribute, as long as certain conditions are met, you can still learn corresponding moves?"
"This is very similar to how it works in the games."
Combined with Nami's ability to learn the Normal-type move Pay Day, Red nodded in understanding.
Seeing Nami approaching, he immediately waved the S.S. Ticket in his hand and told her about their next destination.
"Let's go. Next, we need to return to Cerulean City!"
"Sigh... I really don't want to go back to that place again." Nami sighed.
Counting the time they were defeated by the Sandshrew, Nami and Red had already visited Cerulean City three times.
And now they would be returning for a fourth time.
"Can't be helped. The next place we want to go requires passing through Cerulean City."
Red spread his hands helplessly.
If possible, he didn't want to waste game time traveling. When today's game session ended, they had just defeated a Team Rocket member in the backyard of a burglarized house in Cerulean City.
And the reward was...
Yet another TM in Red's inventory—[Dig]!
[Move: Dig]
[Type: Ground]
[Category: Physical]
[Power: 80]
[Description: Quickly dig a hole in the ground large enough to hide in. When activating this move, you can move freely underground by continuously expending energy, and can surprise attack enemies.]
"I don't know whether I should consider this a productive session or a waste of time."
Back in the One Piece world, sitting in the guest room of Kaya's mansion, Red looked at the two additional TMs in his inventory and Nami's experience bar, which hadn't increased much, with a conflicted expression.
But soon, he dismissed these concerns.
After all, they still had plenty of time and weren't in a hurry.
What's more, today was an important day for them to meet their new crewmate, Usopp.
Red didn't want to meet this special partner with dark circles under his eyes; he wanted to make a good impression.
...
...
The night passed in silence.
And just when the Straw Hats had finished their day's training and fallen into peaceful sleep...
In the waters near Syrup Village, on an uninhabited island...
A ship flying a pirate flag with a cat-faced skull was secretly docked at the edge of the coast.
"Captain Jango, how much longer do we have to wait?!"
"It's been three days, and there's still no news from Captain Kuro!"
"If we wait any longer, the supplies on the ship won't be enough!"
"..."
"..."
On the deck of the pirate ship, a group of pirates wearing various cat-themed accessories were creating a commotion, surrounding a man wearing heart-shaped glasses.
The man with heart-shaped glasses was none other than the former first mate of the Black Cat Pirates—Jango!
Due to Kuro's "retirement," as the first mate, he had temporarily taken over the captain's position during these three years.
However, at this moment, the acting captain looked helpless.
Facing the fierce inquiries from his subordinates, he had no choice but to raise his hands in a placating gesture:
"Captain Kuro contacted me in secret just three days ago and asked us to wait in the nearby waters. He may still have some preparations to complete."
"Since Captain Kuro hasn't given any new instructions, let's just be patient and not disrupt his plan."
"Otherwise... none of us will fare well."
However, just as Jango finished speaking, a shout suddenly emerged from the crowd:
"We disagree!"
The crowd quickly parted to both sides, and a pair of pirates—one tall and thin, the other short and fat—both holding sharp cat claws, slowly walked toward Jango.
They were the Nyaban Brothers, second only to Jango himself in the Black Cat Pirates.
The fat one, Sham, said angrily:
"Captain Jango! That bastard abandoned us for three years, so why should we still follow his orders?!"
"Even if we complete the mission he assigned, will we get any benefits?!"
The Nyaban Brothers had obviously entered a rebellious phase and no longer respected their former captain Kuro.
And among the entire Black Cat Pirates crew, quite a few shared their sentiment.
Who would put up with how cruelly Kuro had treated them in the past? Except for Jango, almost nobody in the crew was truly loyal to Kuro.
The tall, thin Buchi also added:
"Captain Jango, our strength isn't weak! Why must we obey that bastard?!"
"Rather than helping that guy complete his ridiculous plan, we might as well go to the village ourselves, rob it, and then head back to sea to continue our pirate lives!"
"I've had enough of hiding for the past three years!!!"
"Yes! We've had enough!!!"
Buchi's words quickly resonated with all the pirates in the crew.
Seeing this, Sham waved his hand directly:
"Forget Kuro!"
"Brothers, we set sail at dawn, plunder the village and the mansion, and then go live our unrestrained lives at sea!!!"
"YEAH!!!!"
The pirates waved their weapons and roared in agreement.
Witnessing this scene, Jango couldn't help but rub his temples.
Knowing he could no longer suppress the pirates' violent impulses, he had no choice but to let nature take its course.
"I hope Captain Kuro won't take his anger out on me."
Jango sighed inwardly.
Little did he know that Captain Kuro, whom he was waiting for, had already fallen into eternal silence in the underworld.