One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.

Ten-year-old Nami and twelve-year-old Nojiko placed freshly picked oranges before their mother's grave.

"Bell-mère, we'll live on well!"

Nami gently rubbed the tattoo of the Arlong Pirates on her left arm, biting her lip hard to suppress her sobs, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"It's okay, Nami… look, I got a tattoo too, just like you. I had Gen-san do it."

Nojiko tried to comfort her sister by showing her own tattoo.

But it didn't help much—Nami only cried harder.

"Nami… those fish-men saw your talent. This is an opportunity."

Nojiko encouraged her. "As long as we're alive, there's hope. Your talent… is your way to survive!"

"One day, they'll be punished! But until then, we have to live well!"

"Mm!"

...

"Bastards! Our treasure's been stolen!"

"There's a thief! Catch her!"

"The lifeboat! The thief's taken the lifeboat!"

"No! The cabin's on fire! Put it out, now!"

Chaos erupted aboard the pirate ship. Ten-year-old Nami had received a promise from Arlong: Bring me 100 million Berries, and you can buy back your village!

Nami knew Nojiko was right—staying alive was the priority.

But she couldn't stand the thought of waiting helplessly, of becoming nothing more than a tool to draw maps for the Arlong Pirates.

She would earn the money, buy back her village, and free herself and her people. Then, she would chase her dream—

To draw the most detailed map of the entire world!

And so, little Nami began desperately saving money—starting with pirates, big or small, as her targets.

She racked her brain, schemed, stole, and conned with all her might to accumulate treasure.

"Whether it takes five years, ten years, or longer, I will gather 100 million Berries to free my village!"

Nami's small figure rowed desperately, using the fire she had set as a distraction to escape quickly.

"Captain! It's… it's a Marine battleship!"

"Damn it!"

In the midst of the panicked shouting, Nami heard the pirate captain's voice roar in despair:

"This is impossible! That man… how could he…"

"Who…" Nami turned her head, and what she saw made her eyes widen and cold sweat drip down her back.

A massive crescent-shaped arc of golden light shot from the bow of a slowly approaching ship, slicing the pirate ship cleanly in two!

The letters "H·L" stood boldly on the ship's main sail, alongside a huge seagull emblem. Nami immediately recognized it as a Marine Headquarters battleship!

Only Headquarters ships bear sails marked with the letters denoting a senior officer!

"Which Admiral or Vice Admiral is this…"

Nami knew that Marine Headquarters officers were, on average, three ranks stronger and higher in authority than their counterparts in the Four Seas. Whoever arrived now was no small figure!

"Uh… whoops. I got carried away."

On the Holy Light, Wright, holding his sword, scratched his head awkwardly. "You might not believe this, but Ashes acted on its own!"

"I wanted Drake to handle it, but as expected, swords… really should stay in their sheath…"

Drake stared in disbelief at Wright, who solemnly re-sheathed Ashes. He glanced at Kuina, who was trying to stifle her laughter, and the sailors' resigned expressions: 'If the Vice Admiral says Ashes acted on its own, then it acted on its own.'

"So… the Vice Admiral's sword is really that incredible?"

No, you've got it all wrong…

"Vice Admiral! Near the pirate ship—er, what's left of it—we found a lifeboat!"

"There's a little girl aboard the lifeboat! And… it looks like she has a lot of treasure with her!"

The lookout's report rang out.

"This situation feels… oddly familiar…"

Wright ordered Drake to clean up the remains of the pirate crew, leaving Kuina to stand by. He then spread his radiant golden wings and flew toward the coordinates provided by the lookout.

"No matter how many times I see that, it's still so cool…"

The sailors gazed at him with collective starry eyes.

"This child… is Nami?"

Wright activated his Observation Haki, sensing the little girl's inner thoughts. The orange hair and the bag of treasure confirmed it for him.

"Whoosh!"

Wright landed lightly on the bow of the lifeboat and greeted her with a friendly smile.

"Hey there, little one! How are you?"

Nami trembled, staring at the young man before her, cloaked in a Justice coat.

He… he flew over from that battleship? And those golden wings… they're so beautiful…

"I'm Wright, Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters. What's your name, little girl?"

"I… I'm Nami."

Nami whispered, feeling as if his golden, glowing gaze could see right into her soul.

"I'm from… Cocoyasi Village." For some reason, Nami felt she could trust this young Vice Admiral. She remembered her late mother Bell-mère once mentioning that "Vice Admiral" was a high rank in the Marines.

"Can you… save our village?"

"…"

Wright fell silent for a moment, and Nami realized what she had just said.

"S-Sorry… I…"

"Of course I can."

"Huh?"

"I said, of course I can—that's my duty. As a Marine, it's my responsibility to help.

"You asked for my help, and as a Marine, I'll naturally help you. You did well."

Wright smiled warmly. "Come on, let's get back to the ship. We'll reach Cocoyasi Village soon."

With a hint of helplessness, Wright added with a smile, "You can keep that bag of treasure. My junior is also on the ship—she's only a little older than you. Maybe you two will get along."

"Okay!"

Nami didn't know where her newfound determination came from. She only felt an inexplicable trust in the young Vice Admiral before her.

Wright smiled, scooping her up in a gentle princess carry and grabbing her treasure bag. "Off we go!"

Nami gasped as they soared into the sky. Before she knew it, they had landed on the deck of the massive Marine battleship.

"Kuina, this is Nami, from our destination—Cocoyasi Village.

"You're about the same age. Why don't you chat for a bit…"

Wright set Nami down and introduced her to the girl who had stepped forward eagerly. "This is my junior, Kuina, a student at the Marine Academy. We're all from the East Blue."

"H-Hello!"

Nami had once been a cheerful and lively girl, but witnessing her mother's murder had shaken her to her core. She had become far more timid and cautious.

"Hi! I'm Kuina, thirteen, and a swordswoman!"

Kuina showed off her famed blade Wado Ichimonji, instantly liking the younger girl before her.

Her eyes… they're so sad, yet so determined. She must have endured something extraordinary.

"Let's be friends!"

Nami looked at the girl's bright, beaming smile and found herself smiling back.

"Okay!"

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