Nami really didn't want those two to go fight Muzan, because it would endanger Bellemere too. But…
She also didn't want the two of them to die just like that.
When she came, she had alerted Gato with information about Luffy and Zoro. Gato was bound to pass it on to Muzan. But she had thought Muzan would recruit these two, who seemed strong, as subordinates or turn them into demons. She never expected Muzan to immediately try to kill them.
Nami had been helping Muzan search for the Blue Spider Lily all these years, but at heart, she was still a kind person. She didn't want the two of them to die because of her.
So, at the last moment, Nami, who had watched the entire battle, stepped forward.
Muzan naturally noticed Nami. His gaze turned dangerous. "I don't recall someone as lowly as you being able to make demands of me."
"Of course…" Nami felt fear facing Muzan directly, but she gritted her teeth and said, "Those two aren't strong enough to be a threat to you. Wouldn't it be better to turn them into demons?"
"When you find the Blue Spider Lily, I might consider your request," Muzan said coldly.
"Don't forget your mother; she's still waiting for you to hand over the Blue Spider Lily to me."
"I've been searching. Please give me more time; I'll definitely find it!" Nami quickly said. "They're very strong and would be perfect as my guards. Please… uh…"
Nami's pupils constricted. She didn't finish her sentence because, at some point, Muzan had already extended his hand and pierced through her body.
"No, you're useless now," Muzan sneered. "Bellemere betrayed me, and Cocoyasi Village paid a heavy price for it. You're all useless now. Your mother, your sister, and your villagers – I've sent them all to hell. They are waiting for you in extreme agony."
Nami's body was pierced, and her consciousness was fading. But upon hearing Muzan's words, her pupils widened in shock, and then with all her might, she said, "You… You killed Bellemere and Nojiko?!"
"Only those two were left." Muzan paused for a moment, then his lips curved upward slightly. "I suddenly thought of a better idea…"
He slowly took two steps forward, standing before Nami, and reached out to caress her cheek. His ruby-red eyes appraised Nami with interest.
Then, he leaned close to Nami's ear and whispered words that filled her with dread.
"How about I let you send them off?"
?!
Nami's eyes lost their spark. Her fear and hatred vanished. She was lifted into the air by Muzan's massive arm piercing her, trembling and whimpering, "No, please don't… I'm begging you, don't do that!"
She knew exactly what Muzan intended to do. He was going to turn her into a demon that obeyed his command, and then make her kill Bellemere and Nojiko!
She didn't know why Bellemere and Nojiko had betrayed Muzan, or how they could have. But she didn't believe she could escape Muzan's control. She didn't want to kill Bellemere and Nojiko!
But Muzan clearly wasn't listening to her. Nami felt Muzan's blood flowing from the arm impaling her. The thick blood entered Nami's body, circulating throughout her system.
Nami felt an immense power surge through her body, and a powerful shockwave hit her mind. She couldn't help but cry out, her mournful screams echoing in the confined orange town.
Seeing Nami like this, Muzan withdrew his arm, watching Nami's pierced body rapidly heal. He then turned his gaze back to Zoro and Luffy.
Zoro had already lost consciousness. Luffy had witnessed what Muzan did to Nami and heard their conversation. It was then he realized that the navigator he had invited was Bellemere's daughter (Nami had used a false name earlier).
But he was severely injured. While both were pierced, Nami's wound wasn't as serious. Luffy's wound was extremely close to his heart. Although he hadn't passed out yet, he couldn't even speak, and his vision was blurring.
Looking at Muzan slowly approaching, Luffy desperately tried to stand up and fight again, but he couldn't muster the strength.
Was his journey going to end here?
He was unwilling, but perhaps this was being a pirate. Danger was everywhere, and accidents were common. No one knew where they would die.
Since he had decided to set sail, he had naturally prepared himself for death and would take responsibility for it, but…
Luffy took a deep breath. Even if he had to die, he would fight to the very end!
Seeing that Muzan had stopped, as if about to strike down Zoro, his pupils suddenly shook.
Conqueror's Haki!
Boom!
An invisible force spread out, and Conqueror's Haki surged towards Muzan. Muzan paused for a moment. This instant shouldn't have made any difference.
But no one expected that, in that very moment, the steel plate sealing the sky made a sound, and then…
A crack appeared!
"?!"
Muzan looked up in surprise, only to see the iron plate blocking the sunlight slowly retracting. Someone was pulling it back!
And the only one who could do this was…
Muzan looked in a certain direction. Gato's corpse lay there, and at this moment, a hand from a divided body was pressing a remote control beside Gato!
The Chop-Chop Fruit, it was Buggy!
Muzan seemed to have not expected that he would be thwarted by Buggy in the end. But at this moment, the steel plates were about to be retracted, and sunlight was already shining through. As a demon, Muzan naturally feared the sun. He could only run!
He had already started moving when he heard the sound of the steel plates, fleeing from the sun!
Muzan, who had almost killed Zoro, retreated rapidly. The sunlight behind him relentlessly pursued him. Seeing this, Luffy, with a burst of strength from who knows where, activated his Devil Fruit ability, making his body larger. The enlarged shadow protected Nami.
"…You two brats, you'd better remember you owe me your lives."
Just as Luffy was about to completely lose consciousness, Buggy, who had fought with Zoro earlier, limped over. He hadn't been killed by Muzan just now.
Or rather, before being dismembered by Muzan, he had chosen to split himself. Although he was severely injured, he had managed to save his life.
While Muzan was fighting Luffy and Zoro, he stealthily sent his separated right hand to Gato and pressed the button to retract the arch-like structure that blocked the sunlight above!
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