"Because you don't have equal strength. In this world, so-called agreements and reason often only exist between those of equal power.
When you are weak, even breathing can be a mistake. Weakness itself… is the original sin."
"Weakness… is the original sin…"
Nami collapsed onto the ground, repeating those cold words unconsciously. Her empty gaze fixed on Arlong's cruel, triumphant grin, on the villagers around her—faces filled with despair, anger, and helplessness.
Five years of endurance.
The hope that had just ignited—
Like a fragile bubble—
Was effortlessly pierced by him, mockingly, leaving nothing behind.
In the depths of that overwhelming despair, something within her consciousness stirred.
It was the lingering will she had sensed when she accepted the inheritance from the golden handle—the vague yet unyielding figure that came with the Eight Extremes Art.
A young man clad in a pale-yellow combat suit.
Someone who had once faced insurmountable strength… and the misunderstanding of the entire world.
His will whispered within the inheritance:
No matter who you fight for, no matter how desperately you try to protect… if you are not strong enough to defeat the enemy before you, then in the end, you will be the one who falls, kneeling on the ground, unable to protect anything.
"Unable to defeat the enemy… means being defeated… protecting nothing…"
Renji Kuro's words and that heavy realization from the inheritance resonated at this very moment.
Like two keys turning together—
Unlocking the chaotic lock within her heart.
Click.
A faint sound, as if from the depths of her soul.
Her vacant eyes snapped back into focus.
Within those dim pupils, a sharp light reignited.
But it was no longer innocence.
No longer cunning.
No longer fragile hope.
It was something forged by cruel reality—
Cold.
Unyielding.
Rely on others to keep promises? No.
Wait for salvation? No.
Place hope in a demon's mercy? Absurd.
The rules of this world—
Were simple.
And cruel.
Power is truth.
Weakness is sin.
If she wanted to protect her village, her sister, everything Bellemere had left behind…
If she wanted to reclaim her life and her future…
There was only one way.
Become strong.
Strong enough to shatter every obstacle before her.
Strong enough to set the rules—
Instead of being forced to obey promises others could tear apart at will.
That realization struck like icy lightning—
Splitting apart the last remnants of hesitation and weakness in her heart.
She swayed—
Then, using every ounce of strength—
Forced herself to stand.
Her body still trembled from despair and rage—
But her back was straight.
Her gaze swept across Arlong—
Across the grinning fish-men—
Then finally settled on her trembling left hand.
There—
She still gripped the system-generated enhancement serum.
The Eight Extremes Art inheritance was immensely powerful.
But her current physical foundation was too weak—
She couldn't even truly unleash the first form.
If she wanted to gain strength fast enough to fight the fish-men…
This high-risk, high-reward serum—
Seemed like her only choice.
No hesitation.
No looking at Renji Kuro.
No looking at Nojiko.
A flash of resolve passed through her eyes.
She tore open the fabric at the outer side of her thigh, exposing her wheat-toned skin.
Gripping the injector—
She pressed the tip firmly against her thigh—
And activated it.
"Nami?!"
Nojiko cried out in shock.
The device engaged.
The pale-blue liquid flowed into her system.
At first—
It was only a cold sting.
But the next instant—
"Ugh—AAAHHH!!"
An indescribable agony erupted like a volcanic explosion from the injection point, instantly sweeping through her entire body!
Nami let out a scream she couldn't suppress.
Her whole body convulsed violently as she dropped to one knee.
It felt as if molten lava had been poured into her veins—
Every inch of muscle, every bone crying out under unbearable strain—
Torn apart—
Then forcibly rebuilt.
Her skin flushed an unnatural red.
Her body temperature surged.
Sweat poured down like rain, soaking her clothes instantly.
She clenched her teeth so hard a metallic taste filled her mouth.
Her hands dug into the ground, nails cracking, leaving deep marks in the earth.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, curling in on itself—
As if enduring the torture of being torn apart piece by piece.
Renji Kuro stood to the side, watching calmly, his expression unchanged.
The system had clearly stated—
A mortality rate exceeding 65%.
And unbearable pain.
What he hadn't told her was—
If she truly encountered fatal collapse during the process—
He could use the points he had just obtained to exchange for emergency life-saving items from the system store.
But that was only a backup plan.
Whether it would work—
And what cost it might carry—
Remained unknown.
More than anything—
He wanted to see Nami's own will.
Her potential.
Hatchan, the octopus fish-man, waved his six arms uneasily and muttered,
"Th-This feeling… it's like the forbidden drug from Fish-Man Island… E.S…"
"The kind that boosts strength massively in a short time, but burns lifespan… making people age rapidly…"
"This human girl… is she trying to get herself killed?"
Arlong folded his arms, watching Nami writhing in agony on the ground.
His face was filled with mockery and cruel amusement.
"Oh? Using some strange method, huh?"
"Trying to get stronger like this?"
He sneered coldly.
"Pathetic human."
Chapter 14: Injecting the Gene Serum! Nami: I Will Become Stronger!
"Because you don't have equal strength. In this world, so-called agreements and reason often only exist between those of equal power.
When you are weak, even breathing can be a mistake. Weakness itself… is the original sin."
"Weakness… is the original sin…"
Nami collapsed onto the ground, repeating those cold words unconsciously. Her empty gaze fixed on Arlong's cruel, triumphant grin, on the villagers around her—faces filled with despair, anger, and helplessness.
Five years of endurance.
The hope that had just ignited—
Like a fragile bubble—
Was effortlessly pierced by him, mockingly, leaving nothing behind.
In the depths of that overwhelming despair, something within her consciousness stirred.
It was the lingering will she had sensed when she accepted the inheritance from the golden handle—the vague yet unyielding figure that came with the Eight Extremes Art.
A young man clad in a pale-yellow combat suit.
Someone who had once faced insurmountable strength… and the misunderstanding of the entire world.
His will whispered within the inheritance:
No matter who you fight for, no matter how desperately you try to protect… if you are not strong enough to defeat the enemy before you, then in the end, you will be the one who falls, kneeling on the ground, unable to protect anything.
"Unable to defeat the enemy… means being defeated… protecting nothing…"
Renji Kuro's words and that heavy realization from the inheritance resonated at this very moment.
Like two keys turning together—
Unlocking the chaotic lock within her heart.
Click.
A faint sound, as if from the depths of her soul.
Her vacant eyes snapped back into focus.
Within those dim pupils, a sharp light reignited.
But it was no longer innocence.
No longer cunning.
No longer fragile hope.
It was something forged by cruel reality—
Cold.
Unyielding.
Rely on others to keep promises? No.
Wait for salvation? No.
Place hope in a demon's mercy? Absurd.
The rules of this world—
Were simple.
And cruel.
Power is truth.
Weakness is sin.
If she wanted to protect her village, her sister, everything Bellemere had left behind…
If she wanted to reclaim her life and her future…
There was only one way.
Become strong.
Strong enough to shatter every obstacle before her.
Strong enough to set the rules—
Instead of being forced to obey promises others could tear apart at will.
That realization struck like icy lightning—
Splitting apart the last remnants of hesitation and weakness in her heart.
She swayed—
Then, using every ounce of strength—
Forced herself to stand.
Her body still trembled from despair and rage—
But her back was straight.
Her gaze swept across Arlong—
Across the grinning fish-men—
Then finally settled on her trembling left hand.
There—
She still gripped the system-generated enhancement serum.
The Eight Extremes Art inheritance was immensely powerful.
But her current physical foundation was too weak—
She couldn't even truly unleash the first form.
If she wanted to gain strength fast enough to fight the fish-men…
This high-risk, high-reward serum—
Seemed like her only choice.
No hesitation.
No looking at Renji Kuro.
No looking at Nojiko.
A flash of resolve passed through her eyes.
She tore open the fabric at the outer side of her thigh, exposing her wheat-toned skin.
Gripping the injector—
She pressed the tip firmly against her thigh—
And activated it.
"Nami?!"
Nojiko cried out in shock.
The device engaged.
The pale-blue liquid flowed into her system.
At first—
It was only a cold sting.
But the next instant—
"Ugh—AAAHHH!!"
An indescribable agony erupted like a volcanic explosion from the injection point, instantly sweeping through her entire body!
Nami let out a scream she couldn't suppress.
Her whole body convulsed violently as she dropped to one knee.
It felt as if molten lava had been poured into her veins—
Every inch of muscle, every bone crying out under unbearable strain—
Torn apart—
Then forcibly rebuilt.
Her skin flushed an unnatural red.
Her body temperature surged.
Sweat poured down like rain, soaking her clothes instantly.
She clenched her teeth so hard a metallic taste filled her mouth.
Her hands dug into the ground, nails cracking, leaving deep marks in the earth.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, curling in on itself—
As if enduring the torture of being torn apart piece by piece.
Renji Kuro stood to the side, watching calmly, his expression unchanged.
The system had clearly stated—
A mortality rate exceeding 65%.
And unbearable pain.
What he hadn't told her was—
If she truly encountered fatal collapse during the process—
He could use the points he had just obtained to exchange for emergency life-saving items from the system store.
But that was only a backup plan.
Whether it would work—
And what cost it might carry—
Remained unknown.
More than anything—
He wanted to see Nami's own will.
Her potential.
Hatchan, the octopus fish-man, waved his six arms uneasily and muttered,
"Th-This feeling… it's like the forbidden drug from Fish-Man Island… E.S…"
"The kind that boosts strength massively in a short time, but burns lifespan… making people age rapidly…"
"This human girl… is she trying to get herself killed?"
Arlong folded his arms, watching Nami writhing in agony on the ground.
His face was filled with mockery and cruel amusement.
"Oh? Using some strange method, huh?"
"Trying to get stronger like this?"
He sneered coldly.
"Pathetic human."