< Mission: Save Bell-mère >
< Choose a leader >
< Reward: Leader 15,000 points, other members 10,000 points >
"Mom…"
When I read that message, my heart stopped. For a second, everything around me disappeared. The screen glowed before my eyes, but the name... that name...
Bell-mère.
My legs went weak. Could it be... could it really be true? Could I actually save her? Was this real? A power like Toki's? Or something even crazier? I didn't know. I could only feel that strange mix of hope and fear running through me.
"Are you okay, Nami?"
Robin looked at me with concern. She had noticed. Of course she had. Always attentive, even with a book in her hands.
"Robin, follow me. I need to talk to everyone."
I couldn't keep it to myself. The screen, the group, the names... it all felt too real. I barely understood what that "Veiled User" explained, but I managed to piece a few things together. Different universes... powers... gifts... and now a mission.
I explained everything. I talked about the group, the messages, the conversation. And then, about the mission. How her name appeared. *Bell-mère*. As if calling me back.
"We're going to save your mom, Nami!"
Luffy shouted with that usual smile, full of certainty and energy. And for a moment, my heart felt lighter.
"I wanted all of you to come with me… But you can't. Only those in the group can go. Look here..."
I showed the screen. I really wanted them all with me. Feeling their support meant everything. But the rules were different now. A separate group, from other dimensions.
"That's okay, Nami. You can do it."
Robin gave me that calm, confident look. And I leaned on that. I took a deep breath. It was going to work. It had to.
< You have been chosen as the leader >
The message popped up in front of me, catching me off guard. "Leader?" I looked around, as if expecting an explanation.
Then, I opened the group again. The messages were there.
---
Red Pepper of Konoha: who is Bell-mère?
Exterminated of Humanity: no idea, but it's a mission. She must be in danger.
Red Pepper of Konoha: yeah, so who's going to be the leader? And what are these points?
Veiled User: go to your profile and you'll see what they're for. I choose the Straw Hat thief as leader.
Exterminated of Humanity: the points are to upgrade powers. Upgrading my Sharingan to level 3 costs 7000. Don't care, I choose the thief too.
Red Pepper of Konoha: I'm jealous. To do the Balance Break of my Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet it costs 25,000. But okay, I choose the thief too.
Veiled User: awakening my Ame Ame no Mi costs 15,000.
---
They chose me.
I stood there, staring at the screen. My heart tight. They don't know me. They don't even really know who I am. But even so... they chose me. No fighting, no argument. Just... trust.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"People..."
I said it out loud. Just one word, but it carried everything I was feeling. It was hard to explain. I, who always learned to distrust others, now chosen as leader by complete strangers. People from other worlds. And even so... I felt a warmth in my chest. As if... as if they were real.
"Nami?" I heard Sanji's voice, as worried as ever. I just smiled at him and nodded, trying to show confidence. Everything was okay… or at least I wanted it to be.
"Nami! We'll be waiting for you. Save your mom!" said Luffy with that silly, comforting smile that always made me believe everything would be alright. I looked at the others… they were all smiling. They really believed in me. How could I not feel emotional?
"Thank you, everyone…" I said, wiping the tears that had started to fall without me noticing. I didn't want to cry, but it was impossible to hold it back.
< Beginning transfer between planes >
< 1 >
< 2 >
< 3 >
Suddenly, the sound of the sea changed. The creaking of the ship's wood disappeared, and I felt soft sand under my feet. I opened my eyes and... I was on a beach. A beach I had known since I was a child. My eyes widened. How was this possible? How did this chat… this system… bring me here?
"You must be the Straw Hat thief…" said a female voice behind me.
I turned quickly and saw a woman with light skin, red hair, and a bandana with a strange symbol — looked like a leaf. She wore a green vest, and above her head something was written: "Red Pepper of Konoha".
"Yeah, you're the Pepper…" I began to say, but before I could finish, I felt her hand cover my mouth with unbelievable speed. I barely had time to react.
"Please don't say that," she said seriously.
I froze. She was fast... really fast.
"Call me Kushina. Nice to meet you, comrade," she said with an awkward smile. I felt like she wasn't as friendly as she wanted to seem.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Nami," I replied, still trying to understand what I'd gotten into.
"Hello. Nice to meet you both. My name is Eren Yeager," said a male voice beside us.
I looked and saw a young man with black hair, parted in the middle, intense gray eyes, and an expressive face. Above his head was written: "Exterminated of Humanity".
I was a bit speechless. He didn't look like someone who would exterminate the world.
"Please don't mind the title I received. I don't even know why I have it," explained Eren, with a confused expression. Honestly, you could tell he was just as lost.
"Hey, he doesn't look like someone who'd wipe out humanity... To me he doesn't seem capable of much," Kushina whispered in my ear. I turned to her, surprised at how indiscreet she was — and even more surprised to see that Eren had heard it. His face twisted slightly.
I was embarrassed too. It's not like she'd been subtle.
< Mission: Save Bell-mère >
< Mission time: 3 days >
< Objective 1: Find Bell-mère >
< Objective 2: ???? >
< Objective 3: ???? >
Suddenly, a new presence appeared. A distorted voice echoed through the air:
"Hello. My name is Lost... pleasure."
I turned to look. A completely black being was approaching. He had no visible face, no eyes, no texture. He looked like a solid shadow in the shape of a person. Even his clothes seemed to absorb light. Above him, the name: "Veiled User".
"Now that looks like someone who'd exterminate humanity," Kushina muttered — but way too loudly.
"Agreed," I said, still trying to figure out what he was.
"Totally," said Eren, as if we were all analyzing a threatening statue.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ALL TALKING ABOUT?!" Lost suddenly shouted.
I was startled. He didn't move his mouth, which made it all even weirder. We just heard his voice in our heads, deep and angry. And at that moment… we all thought the same thing: was our mission really to save someone? Or would we be exterminated before that even happened?