Luffy held up the spirit orb, aiming it at an open space on the Going Merry.
A flash of red light streaked across the deck, and Merry's form reappeared before Luffy's eyes.
Freshly released from the orb, Merry seemed a little disoriented, curiously surveying her surroundings.
Finally, after confirming she was still aboard the Going Merry, she lifted her head again.
Her face hidden beneath the cloak seemed to gaze at Luffy. Her small, adorable mouth opened, her voice tinged with curiosity:
"Wh-where… was that just now?"
For some reason, Merry suddenly felt smarter, her emotions suddenly more complex.
And in her inherited memories, ship spirits were not allowed to leave their ships.
Yet the place she had just visited was definitely not the Going Merry's hull.
Still, it had felt warm, safe, and incredibly comfortable.
But… where did that sense of safety come from? Was it Luffy… or that other place?
…
"That was your spirit orb!"
Luffy handed the orb to Merry.
She hugged it to her chest, eyes wide with curiosity.
In her memory, ship spirits could only touch the ship itself in the real world.
Yet this strange red-and-white sphere was tangible.
Truly, it was magical!
After examining it carefully, Merry handed the orb back to Luffy.
Luffy smiled at her again:
"See? Now you can always be with us, right?!"
Captured pets were stored in the system, and the rules of both the world and the system applied to them.
If the rules of the pirate world conflicted with the system's rules, the system would override the world entirely.
So Merry, now recorded in the pet system, no longer had to worry about the old restrictions ship spirits had to follow, as long as the system didn't recognize any damage done to her.
Merry spun around happily, feeling her newfound freedom.
She looked at Luffy, arms outstretched like she wanted to be lifted high, and happily exclaimed:
"Yay!!!"
But Luffy's eyes still held a trace of regret.
After all, he still couldn't physically touch the adorable little spirit.
Merry, however, didn't seem to mind at all.
To her, being able to stay on the ship and chat with those who cared for her was enough happiness.
Even though her outstretched hands weren't grasped by Luffy, she wasn't discouraged.
Instead, she began running around the Going Merry, arms swinging behind her, body upright, like a child who had just learned to run, joyfully wild on deck.
Before, she had never dared to do this.
Every movement consumed the special energy that bound her as a ship spirit.
Ship spirits usually hid themselves, only using their abilities during special moments to control the ship or perform other tasks.
But from today on, everything changed!
She realized she no longer had to worry about those strange rules.
She could finally do whatever she wanted aboard the Going Merry!
…
"Lu-Luffy, thank you!!!"
After venting her excitement, the little loli returned to Luffy's side.
Her expression was completely different from the shy one earlier, and she smiled happily at him.
Luffy returned the smile, crouching down and pretending to pat her head in the air.
Merry, as if actually feeling the touch, tilted her lips into a contented smile.
"Oh, right~"
Watching her smile, Luffy, slightly entranced, suddenly remembered: he had one chance left to unlock a talent skill for little Merry.
The other three ordinary skills and one ultimate skill couldn't be unlocked due to insufficient coins.
But unlocking a talent skill was free.
And! Thinking of Lab's amazing talent skill, Luffy was eager to see what extraordinary ability little Merry would gain.
He gestured for her to sit and said:
"Wait a moment, little Merry!
Now, it's time to witness a miracle!"
Curious, Merry stepped forward and mimicked Luffy, sitting down in front of him.
Luffy opened the system interface, not paying attention to her actions.
After a brief pause, he located the pet system interface.
Sure enough, beside Lab's 3D model was a new 3D model of Merry the ship spirit.
Luffy tapped it, and an attribute page appeared instantly.
[Merry]
Species: Ship Spirit
Stamina: 0
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Mental Power: 3000
"Huh?"
Luffy stared at Merry's strange stats.
Her mental power attribute was 3000, a superhuman level in the pirate world, but the other three stats were all zero.
Curious, he asked the system:
"System, why are Merry's other stats all zero?"
[Ding!]
[System Response: Host, ship spirits are formed from the mental energy of all people aboard the ship, generated from their genuine love.
The higher the mental energy of the people, the stronger the ship mental power.
Thus, the mental power attribute sustains the ship spirit.
Other abilities and behaviors are derived from this mental energy.
Ship spirits do not possess physical stats such as speed.
They can appear anywhere on the ship but cannot leave it.
This is a restriction unique to ship spirits.]
Luffy's eyes widened.
"Cannot leave the ship!?
Even if they enter a spirit orb, they can't leave?"
[System Response: Host, the system can only alter lifeforms' traits, not other rules.
Merry will no longer consume spirit energy through normal life activities.
But other restrictions for ship spirits remain unchanged.
Entering the spirit orb allows a ship spirit to leave the ship, but it cannot be released into the outside world.]
"I see…"
Luffy looked at the adorable little loli, sitting with her arms behind her for support, legs swinging slightly.
It pained him to think she could only survive aboard the Going Merry.
Well, if I have to, I'll just carry the Going Merry around the town! Let's see who dares laugh at me!!!
"Humph humph!!!"
After venting his frustration, Luffy focused on Merry's skill list.
The other four skills were costly and out of reach.
Moria had taken his terrifying three-masted ship into the New World, so Luffy would have to wait to grind more coins.
Thinking about upgrading the Going Merry, her skills, ship facilities, companions' gear, and occasional rare items…
That's all real money! Hard-earned coins!
He silently hoped the pirates of the Grand Line would help him escape poverty sooner.
Returning to the system interface, he mentally pressed the plus button.
[Ding! Congratulations! Merry has gained the talent skill: Spirit Body Transformation!]
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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