Zhang Naran swiftly countered with her Clima-Tact, pointing it at the Sea Beast before her, and let out a low shout.
"Thunderbolt Tempo!"
Instantly, three colored bubbles emerged from the Clima-Tact: blue bubbles representing cold air, red bubbles representing hot air, and golden bubbles representing electric charge.
The hot air bubbles, containing moisture, rose and collided with the descending cold air bubbles, quickly condensing into a cloud. Then, the electric charge bubbles surged into the cloud, and in the next moment, with a loud thunderclap, a golden lightning bolt struck down from the cloud, hitting the massive Sea Beast.
The Sea Beast's body stiffened momentarily. It had been about to swallow Zhang Naran whole, but the electric shock caused it intense pain, and black smoke billowed from its body as it froze briefly.
"ROAR!!"
This enraged the Sea Beast, which, despite its injuries, lunged forward to bite again.
Zhang Naran was alarmed: "This Sea Beast is several levels above me, probably around level 18. If it were at my level, I could handle it, but now..."
Facing the crisis, Zhang Naran refused to give up.
But just then, the Sea Beast suddenly stiffened again, breaking out in a cold sweat, its eyes wide and bloodshot, filled with terror.
Zhang Naran was stunned, not sensing anything, but she noticed the dark red electric arcs surrounding the Sea Beast—this was Conqueror's Haki.
Only one person could achieve this level...
At that moment, Ye Yu, using Moon Walk, swiftly approached, already hovering above the Sea Beast's head, and a voice of praise rang out.
"You did well."
He had waited until now to act because he wanted to assess Zhang Naran's strength. Determination and resolve were important, but so was actual ability. From what he saw, she was impressive, and her future potential wouldn't be inferior to Nami's—perhaps even surpassing her.
Zhang Naran looked up at Ye Yu in the air, her eyes filled with admiration, and she felt an overwhelming sense of security.
Ye Yu's right fist turned pitch black as he slammed it down, striking the Sea Beast's head.
With a loud splash, the Sea Beast was driven deep into the sea, and a massive wave surged up, creating a small tsunami-like effect, as if a powerful bomb had exploded underwater. A large volume of seawater was thrown high into the air.
Zhang Naran was awestruck: "His physical combat skills are incredible too."
As the sea surged, Zhang Naran's boat was lifted, tilting vertically, and she was about to fall. But she felt a strong arm wrap around her slender waist, and with the sound of footsteps on air, they quickly approached the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew's ship.
Ye Yu, holding Zhang Naran, moved effortlessly through the air.
Zhang Naran, up close, gazed at Ye Yu's handsome and commanding face, feeling the strength and security of his arm around her, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
Ye Yu landed on the deck and set Zhang Naran down, asking with concern.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
Ye Yu corrected her: "You should thank the Captain."
This made Zhang Naran's eyes light up with excitement.
"Do I not need to take the test anymore? Can I directly become a member of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew?"
Ye Yu nodded: "Yes, no need for a test. You've already passed it. In fact, I heard everything from the start. Your courage, your composure in the face of danger—I saw it all."
"That's great!"
Zhang Naran was overjoyed to have joined the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, though she still introduced herself with a hint of self-doubt.
"I still need to introduce myself. My name is Zhang Naran, and I've contracted a Non-Ability User, a girl named Nami. Although my combat strength might not be very high, I've studied a lot of navigation knowledge myself. The Nami I've contracted is also a navigator. Combining the two, I know even more about navigation. I can help the ship avoid severe weather and provide optimal routes."
Ye Yu nodded in approval. "Excellent. We've been in need of a skilled navigator on board. From now on, you'll take on that role. Additionally, not only will you become a member of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, but you'll also directly become one of the Executives."
This left Zhang Naran stunned, unable to react immediately.
"An Executive? No, I can't. I'm not qualified to be an Executive."
The crew members were also surprised. Sun Long and Zhou Xing had become Executives because, although they contracted Non-Ability Users, those Non-Ability Users were exceptionally strong. The Non-Ability User Zhang Naran contracted wasn't as powerful as Zoro or Sanji.
However, there were no objections. They unconditionally followed Ye Yu's decisions, knowing he must have his reasons.
Ye Yu spoke seriously, "Your own abilities aren't weak, and you'll definitely grow stronger in the future. Moreover, a navigator is extremely important on a pirate ship, especially in this era of great voyages. Most of our time will be spent at sea, facing all kinds of harsh weather. With the ongoing anomalies, the weather has become even more unpredictable. We haven't felt it much yet since we've just started sailing, but once we reach truly dangerous routes, it'll become apparent. That's why having a skilled navigator is crucial."
"Just like Qiao Ling'er, who, despite lacking combat strength, is an essential healer and ship doctor. So, you're fully qualified to be an Executive. This isn't favoritism—you've earned it. So, don't refuse."
This made Zhang Naran even more excited. Joining the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew was one thing, but becoming an Executive was beyond her wildest dreams. She had initially thought that becoming a full-fledged crew member would be a great achievement, and even being a lower-ranked crew member would be fine, given it was the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew. But directly becoming an Executive filled her with joy and determination.
"Captain, I'll do my best and won't let you down."
"Good, I believe in you."
The crew cheered and celebrated.
"Welcome to the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew family!"
"Having a navigator is great."
"The Dominant Feather Pirate Crew is getting better and better."
After exchanging greetings and getting to know each other, Zhang Naran found herself loving the atmosphere of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew.
Previously, other pirate crews had invited her, but she hadn't joined because she didn't like their vibe—they felt like purely profit-driven organizations.
Zhang Naran asked, "Captain, are you heading to the island where the Mystic Realm of Truth is located?"
Ye Yu nodded. "Yes."
"Then, Captain, you should take this route."
Zhang Naran reworked the route.
"It's not a detour, but if we continue on the current path, the weather will change—strong winds and heavy rain will alter the ocean currents, causing the ship to rock and slow down the journey. Since the Purple Realm disappears once someone passes through it, this route is faster. It'll save us about an hour, getting us there in roughly an hour and a half."
The crew's eyes lit up, and they increasingly understood why she had been made an Executive. A navigator was indeed invaluable, and they all gave her thumbs up.
"Naran, you're amazing."
Ye Yu praised, "Indeed, it's quite good. Let's navigate according to your plan. You don't need to ask me in the future; none of us understand as much as you do. You have the authority to make decisions regarding navigation."
"Understood, Captain."
As they sailed, the journey was smooth and sunny. Although it was a detour, it was indeed faster.
Meanwhile, on the original route, the sky was dark, with heavy rain and fierce storms. The sea surged violently, causing the pirate ships to rock intensely. The pirates were in a flurry, fearing their ships would capsize.
This was the advantage of having a navigator—many dangers were avoided.
Soon, an hour and a half passed, and they were only a thousand meters away from the Mystic Realm island.
They were almost there, and the island was now clearly visible.
Ye Yu was excited, "No one has passed through yet. Let me see what kind of Mystic Realm this is."
(End of Chapter)