Chapter 49: Evolution! [+2]

"What!?"

Under the intense light, Nami squinted and strained to see the figure fleeing towards the door.

"I won't let you escape!"

Nami shouted loudly, "Pichu! Stay away from that hammer! Use a Charming Voice at the door!"

For a few seconds, Pichu and the hammer were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, as if the electricity and the metal had created a magnetic field.

"Pichu?"

Startled by Nami's command, Pichu abruptly stopped emitting electricity and fell to the ground with the hammer. Realizing that its opponent had given up and was now running away in panic, Pichu pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Pichu~ (Why are you running? Can't you fight like a man?)"

Still upset at its first opponent's cowardice, Pichu quickly followed Nami's command. It unleashed a Wild Charge towards the fleeing Buck, emitting a huge, high-pitched scream that released pink heart-shaped waves.

—Charming Voice, a special Fairy-type move, is guaranteed to hit, much like *Swift*. The pink sound waves caught up with Buck, and he momentarily froze in place.

The powerful sound waves penetrated his eardrums, drilling into his brain.

"Ah!!!"

Buck let out a wretched scream, clutching his ears as he collapsed to the ground, blood seeping between his fingers.

"What a powerful attack!" Nami's eyes sparkled with surprise as she watched Buck, who was completely overwhelmed by the move.

Butterfree had once mentioned that this move's power was only about a third of *Volt Tackle*. But here in the pirate world, where physical training was prioritized and spiritual fortitude was rare, attacks that directly targeted the brain were especially devastating.

Without the spiritual training required to awaken Observation or Conqueror's Haki, most people in this world had little defence against such attacks.

Buck, who was once so arrogant, was now writhing on the ground in pain. Nami calmly picked up a long sword from the ground and walked towards him.

"I told you, I came for your head."

"I'm a woman of my word."

Nami placed the blade against Buck's neck.

Although he could no longer hear due to his shattered eardrums, Buck still saw Nami's cold, murderous gaze. Realizing what she was about to do, he pleaded desperately, tears streaming down his face.

"Don't… don't kill me! I'm under the protection of Duke Gordon of the Hyde Kingdom! If you kill me, he won't let you go! The Hyde Kingdom is aligned with the World Government!"

Despite his attempts to escape, the damage from the *Charming Voice* had left him disoriented and unable to maintain his balance, let alone flee.

His once arrogant demeanor had completely crumbled.

But Nami showed no mercy.

With a swift motion, she swung the blade.

*Slice!*

Bright red blood spurted out, and Buck's head, valued at 3 million Berries, rolled to the ground.

Having lived among the Arlong Pirates for so many years, Nami had witnessed countless scenes of bloodshed. The fact that her target was a human trafficker made her decision all the easier.

"3 million Berries... I'll take it!"

A wicked grin spread across her young face as she whispered to herself.

…

Meanwhile, in mid-air, Butterfree landed and immediately began to scold Pichu.

"Pii!? (Do you know what you did wrong!?)"

"Pichu... (I know...)"

Pichu's ears drooped, and it lowered its head in shame, looking as though it was about to cry. But Butterfree wasn't done.

"Piipipiii!? (You know you're wrong, but you still make the same mistake!? You can't ignore the situation around you during a battle! What if the enemy had taken advantage of your distraction and attacked Nami!?)"

As Pichu's mentor, Butterfree was clearly disappointed.

"Piipi! (Don't underestimate your opponents just because you're talented. If something goes wrong, you'll regret it when it's too late!)"

"..."

"..."

Butterfree continued its lecture, critiquing everything from Pichu's timing to its control of the electricity. Pichu was on the verge of tears.

Nami, having secured Buck's head, hurried over and scooped Pichu into her arms, defending it.

"Okay, okay, Butterfree-sensei. Pichu knows it did wrong!" Nami said, stroking Pichu's fur. "Besides, I'm not as weak as you think. Even if I couldn't beat the enemy, I'd have no trouble running away, right Pichu?"

Pichu nuzzled into Nami's touch, comforted by her warmth.

"Pii. (You're spoiling it...)" Butterfree sighed, exasperated.

"It's just a baby..." Nami cooed, continuing to pet Pichu lovingly.

"Pichu..."

Cuddled against Nami, Pichu suddenly realized how close it had come to putting her in danger. Tears welled up in its eyes and began to fall.

"Hey, don't cry~" Nami gently rocked Pichu, trying to comfort it.

But then—

A dazzling white light suddenly enveloped Pichu, completely covering its small body.

"Huh!?"

Nami froze in shock.

"This..."

Recognizing the scene from her studies, Nami's expression changed to one of excitement.

"It's evolving!"

Butterfree, who had been stern just moments before, was now full of joy.

Nami, too, was ecstatic. Butterfree had told her that Pichu would only evolve when it had formed a strong enough bond with its trainer.

Now, witnessing Pichu's evolution, Nami was over the moon. Pichu's affection for her had reached a level that triggered its evolution!

In no time, Pichu's form shifted within the light.

Its yellow fur became smoother, its ears grew longer with black tips, and two red circles on its cheeks emitted a faint electric crackle. Its tail now formed a cute heart shape at the end.

"Pika...pikachu?"

A brand-new Pikachu appeared in Nami's arms.

"Pikachu!!!"

Nami lifted Pikachu up in the air, her face lit up with joy.

She would never forget the vision of a mighty Pikachu that had once saved its trainer like a thunder god.

And now, she finally had a Pikachu of her own!

"Pika~" Pikachu smiled happily, its red cheeks dimpling, melting Nami's heart.

"So cute!"

Nami hugged Pikachu tightly, rubbing her face against it.

She began to imagine a future where, if she were ever in danger, her Pikachu would unleash a mighty thunderstorm to save her.

Pikachu... Pikachu... Hehe... My Pikachu!

  (End of this chapter)