Once they reached the wide, open plaza outside the palace, Shiro released his grip and stepped back, speaking calmly to Kuma.
"Brother Kuma, focus your mind. Try drawing out the power inside you and transform into the Azure Dragon."
Shiro had originally assumed that a first transformation would require repeated attempts and practice.
But to his surprise—
Kuma succeeded on his very first try.
"ROOOAAAR—!"
A thunderous dragon's roar echoed through the heavens, brimming with overwhelming authority and power. Even the air itself seemed to tremble from the force.
A massive azure dragon—hundreds of meters long—appeared before Shiro. Its scales gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight, and its enormous body stirred violent gusts of wind with each slow movement.
Shiro observed carefully and found that Kuma's Azure Dragon form was extremely similar to Kaido's.
The only noticeable differences were that Kuma's dragon form appeared slightly bulkier, and its length was somewhat shorter than Kaido's.
After that, Shiro patiently explained every technique he knew—abilities Kaido frequently used—starting from basic attacks all the way to more advanced techniques.
Kuma learned at an astonishing pace.
Before long, he had fully grasped Boro Breath, Flame Cloud creation, and other Dragon techniques, using them with increasing proficiency.
However, techniques that required Conqueror's Haki were beyond Kuma's reach, since he did not possess it. Those moves had to be set aside.
After half a day of training, once Kuma had fully familiarized himself with the Azure Dragon's abilities, Shiro finally explained the real reason he needed help.
He told Kuma in detail that Onigashima would sink unless it was supported by Flame Clouds.
Kuma didn't hesitate for even a moment.
"No problem," he said immediately, nodding firmly.
"It's a small matter. Being able to help you makes me happy."
Afterward, Kuma returned to the palace to bid a reluctant farewell to Ginny and their children. Only then did he leave with Shiro for Onigashima in Wano.
At that very moment, on Onigashima—
Zeff was leaning against a massive boulder, yawning heavily, exhaustion written all over his face.
Using the power of the Float-Float Fruit to support the entire island, he had been standing guard here for a full day.
When he spotted Shiro approaching in the distance, Zeff instantly perked up. He rubbed his eyes and hurried forward.
"Captain! You're finally here!"
He asked anxiously.
"What are we doing with this island? Don't tell me you expect me to keep holding it up forever! These old bones of mine are about to give out!"
Shiro patted Zeff on the shoulder and smiled reassuringly.
"Relax, Zeff. I came specifically to solve this problem. You won't have to keep this up."
Zeff widened his eyes in disbelief. He looked Shiro up and down, then glanced at Kuma beside him.
"So… you're not planning to sink the island?"
"But if something this big drops into the sea, the impact would be insane."
"No," Shiro replied with a grin.
"I brought help."
He turned toward Kuma and said with complete confidence:
"Brother Kuma, I'll leave things here to you."
"No problem!"
Kuma answered without hesitation.
The moment his words fell, his body transformed. Azure scales spread rapidly across his skin as his form expanded, and in the blink of an eye, he once again became the majestic Azure Dragon.
He coiled through the skies above Onigashima and opened his mouth, continuously breathing out Flame Clouds around the island.
Thick, heavy Flame Clouds slowly wrapped around Onigashima like an enormous barrier, steadily lifting and supporting the entire island.
Only after the Flame Clouds fully encircled Onigashima—eliminating any risk of collapse—did Kuma stop.
"All right, Zeff,"
Shiro waved his hand casually.
"You can withdraw your Float-Float Fruit power now."
Zeff stood frozen in place, staring unblinkingly at the Azure Dragon in the sky.
That dragon looked almost identical to Kaido's transformation.
If Zeff hadn't known Kaido was dead, he would have sworn the Beast King himself had returned.
After a long moment, Zeff finally snapped out of it. He quickly withdrew his Devil Fruit power, and as the burden lifted from his body, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Looking at Shiro, he couldn't help but exclaim,
"Captain… your friend is insanely strong! That power—he's not much weaker than Kaido himself!"
"He's decent,"
Shiro replied lightly.
"He just ate Kaido's Zoan-type, Mythical Fish-Fish Fruit: Model Azure Dragon."
Then Shiro's tone became serious.
"Zeff, go back to the Virtue and get some rest. I need to send my friend back to the Sorbet Kingdom first. I'll rejoin you afterward."
"Yes, Captain!"
Zeff answered respectfully and flew off toward the Virtue, a relaxed smile spreading across his face.
Finally—no more babysitting a floating island.
After Kuma returned to human form, Shiro extended his hand and activated the Paw-Paw Fruit.
A transparent shockwave enveloped Kuma. With a gentle push—
PAW—!
Kuma was sent flying straight back to the Sorbet Kingdom.
Before he disappeared, Shiro called out to him:
"Brother Kuma! If you run into anything you can't handle, call me on a Den Den Mushi! I'll come as fast as I can!"
Watching Kuma's departing figure, memories flooded Shiro's mind.
Back then, fate had twisted unexpectedly, and he had eaten the Paw-Paw Fruit that should have belonged to Kuma.
Now, history had come full circle—
he personally placed the Azure Dragon's power into Kuma's hands.
It was a strangely poetic loop of destiny.
More importantly, the tragedy that should have befallen Kuma and Ginny had finally been avoided.
Shaking off his thoughts, Shiro returned to the Virtue.
The moment he stepped onto the deck, a familiar sense of liveliness washed over him.
Crew members gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing loudly. The ship brimmed with warmth and life as sunlight poured through the windows.
Jinbe leaned against the railing, his round belly rising and falling with hunger.
He straightened up, planted his hands on his hips, and shouted toward the kitchen:
"Zeff! Hurry it up already! We haven't eaten properly all day! My stomach's growling so loud it's driving me crazy—every thought in my head is your cooking! If this goes on, we're going to pass out from hunger!"
Almost immediately, Zeff's irritated voice rang out from the kitchen—raspy but powerful as ever:
"All right, all right! Stop rushing me! You can't hurry good food! If the heat's off, the flavor's ruined! Wait a bit longer—I'll make sure you're satisfied. Quit yelling and messing up my rhythm!"
Their exchange set off a round of laughter among the crew.
The already lively atmosphere grew even brighter, sunlight spilling across smiling faces—warm, relaxed, and perfectly at home on the sea.
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