Ron blinked as the system's newest notification echoed in his mind. The moment the words "defensive magic" appeared, a strange transformation swept through his body. A cool sensation spread from his core to his limbs, washing over him like a plunge into a crystal-clear spring.
He knew this feeling.
The first time he received a beginner magic mark, his spirit and soul had also been nourished by that same gentle power. His mental strength soared rapidly.
Within a few seconds, Ron could feel it clearly. His spiritual attribute had risen by at least ten points.
Only after ten full seconds did the chill fade, leaving Ron groaning from deep inside his chest as he slowly exhaled.
"Intermediate magic mark…"
He didn't rush to anything else. First, he raised his left hand, gripping his elven wand, and tapped his right forearm twice.
Bang. Bang.
The strikes rang dull and heavy, as if hitting solid stone. Ron felt only a slight vibration in the limb. No pain, no impact, nothing. Even when he increased the force, the sensation didn't change.
He curled his hand into a fist, then swung at the steel wall of the ship's cabin.
A deep thud echoed through the room, but Ron barely felt a tremor. His arm remained unscathed.
"This feels a lot like Armament Haki…"
Ron lowered his fist and tilted his head. His arm had lost its natural skin tone, now covered by a layer of stone-colored hardness.
After a few more tests, he drew some conclusions.
This Stone Skin spell was pure defense magic. Its defensive strength seemed on par with a typical first-tier offensive spell. It should be able to withstand a wind blade. He had not tested it directly, he wasn't crazy enough to slash himself, but based on his senses, a wind blade would at worst cut a shallow wound.
Stone Skin offered no offensive boost. Unlike Armament Haki, a punch reinforced by Stone Skin was still just a punch. Pure defense, nothing more.
Ron shrugged helplessly. A mage was supposed to be a long-range glass cannon. Yet, because of the Eternal Path's guardian magic, his defense had already surpassed his offense.
Now with Stone Skin, a spell that didn't conflict with his magic barrier, he was practically layered in protection.
"Well, this works too. At least I don't have to worry about defense for a while."
Ron nodded to himself. With this spell stacked atop the magic barrier, he had taken another real step forward in strength.
Against the Marine Headquarters' elite major he fought before the one who used Haki and Moonwalk he still might not win, but at least he could fight fifty-fifty now.
Basic Rokushiki and average Armament Haki could hardly pierce his current defenses.
Of course…
Someone like Garp wouldn't even notice the difference. One punch would still turn him and his barrier into powder. By Ron's estimate, he'd need third-tier guardian magic just to survive a single hit.
Satisfied, he left his cabin and headed toward Nami's room.
They shared one larger cabin with two connected rooms. Nami slept in the inner room, while the outer room, originally an office, had been converted into a temporary bed space.
When he pushed the door open, he found Nami slumped over a desk, listless and cold like a small wilted flower.
She glanced at him briefly then lowered her head again, sighing miserably.
Nami was unhappy.
Her ship had sunk.
She knew from the moment they entered the Calm Belt that disaster was likely, but once it actually happened, she still couldn't accept it.
It was a one hundred million Berry ship.
A perfect, newly purchased twin-mast sailboat.
Never mind that Ron paid for almost all of it. As the navigator, she considered the ship their shared property. Actually, Ron was so generous and careless with money that Nami had long ago mentally labeled all his wealth as hers.
"It's just a ship. No need to be gloomy for this long."
Ron couldn't help laughing. She had been radiating this negative aura ever since they boarded the Marine vessel. Half an hour had passed, and she still hadn't recovered.
Nami snapped her head up and glared fiercely at him.
"Just a ship? That was a one hundred million Berry ship! A brand new ship!"
She slammed her hands down, tears welling up again.
"If we hadn't offended some Warlord, we wouldn't have been forced to abandon it…"
Ron felt his heart twist. Talk to an upset Nami for one minute and you start feeling like you committed a crime against humanity. He had no retort. A depressed little girl was better soothed than argued with.
He walked over and gently placed his hand on her head, ruffling her hair.
"Alright, alright. Don't pout. Look here. Look at this."
Ron held out his right hand.
Golden light sparked to life, condensing in his palm until it formed a delicate crystalline sigil. It resembled a magical crystal more than a rune, shimmering with soft radiance.
Nami blinked. "What is… that?"
Ron straightened his posture and declared solemnly:
"This is a divine magic mark condensed from my very bloodline. With it, even someone without a magician's heritage can use magic."
"…Really?!"
Her frustration momentarily vanished, replaced by pure shock. Something about Ron's exaggeratedly grand explanation felt suspicious, but the glowing magical crystal swept away most of her doubts.
Ron nodded seriously. "I've been thinking about how someone like you, without magical blood, could cast spells. After recalling knowledge from ancient archives, I found the answer. A magic imprint."
Nami was touched. She stared at him with large, soft eyes.
"You never mentioned this before… And it's done right now?"
"Because I wanted it to be a surprise," Ron said with a perfectly straight face. "Creating a magic mark requires enormous spiritual effort. I completed it today. Come, give it a try."
Before she could question him further, he pressed his palm forward. The golden crystal drifted gently, touching her forehead, then sinking into her skin like water.
A wave of cold light burst across her body.
Nami gasped softly and closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a refreshing sensation surging through her entire being. A faint, involuntary moan slipped from her lips.
The system chimed in Ron's mind.
[Notice: You have bestowed a Beginner Magic Mark to another person]
[Achievement Unlocked: Pathfinder. Reward: 1 Achievement Point]
Ron exhaled, smiling faintly.
Now Nami could use magic.
And their journey together had only just begun.
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