"Don't worry, Grandpa Colly," Kuma reassured him, his voice holding a comforting power. "I'll protect everyone." His words fell with weight, as if carrying a certain magic, allowing the old man's taut nerves to relax slightly.
"Exactly!" Ginny waved her fist, a fighting spirit flashing in her eyes. "Let those pirates who don't know their place get a taste of our power!" She straightened her back, trying to appear more imposing.
However, Old Man Colly's next words made both their expressions change drastically. "It's different this time... It's the Beasts Pirates!"
"What?!" Kuma and Ginny exclaimed in unison. The church fell into a deathly silence, where even the sound of breathing became audible. Kuma took a deep breath and turned to Ginny. "Ginny, take Grandpa Colly and the others and hide. This time... let me face them alone."
"No!" Ginny grabbed Kuma's arm excitedly, tears glistening in her eyes. "How could I possibly let you face that monster alone?!" Her voice rose with emotion, echoing in the church.
Neither Kuma nor Ginny were strangers to Kaido, the captain of the Beasts Pirates. Whether it was seizing the Devil Fruit from Ivankov at God Valley eight years ago, or the major disturbances he'd caused across the seas in the last two years, it all proved Kaido was a powerful monster. His fearsome reputation had long since spread throughout the Grand Line.
Kuma gently patted the back of Ginny's hand, his gaze firm and gentle. "Trust me, Ginny. I will repel the Beasts Pirates. I promise you." His voice was low yet forceful, as if stating an indisputable fact.
Ginny stubbornly shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No! That's Kaido we're talking about!" Her voice choked. Her fingers gripped Kuma's arm tightly, as if he would vanish the moment she let go.
"Grandpa Colly, I'm entrusting Ginny to you." After saying this to Colly, Kuma vanished from the spot, causing Ginny, who had been holding him, to lose her balance and fall to the ground.
"Kuma!" Ginny shouted, immediately scrambling to go after him.
"Ginny, don't go! You'll distract Kuma if you go," Colly said to Ginny.
"No! You have no idea how strong Kaido of the Beasts is! I can't let Kuma face that monster alone!" With that, Ginny resolutely strode out of the church.
Kaido led his subordinates towards the church. The procession cast long shadows on the desolate street. Suddenly, Kaido, walking at the front, stopped in his tracks, and the entire column came to a halt. Everyone's gaze focused on the tall figure that had appeared ahead at some unknown moment.
"This is..." Sebastian's eyes widened, his weapon tightening unconsciously in his grip. Enel and Kawamatsu also showed expressions of shock; they hadn't sensed this person's approach at all. Even the usually calm Kuzan frowned. He, too, had failed to detect the other's approach.
"Wororororo..." Kaido let out his signature laugh. "Bartholomew Kuma. It's been a long time."
Kuma stood quietly in the middle of the road, his tall frame like an insurmountable barrier. He looked directly at Kaido, his voice low and powerful. "Kaido, why have you come to this impoverished country? There are no treasures here worth your plunder."
"Hahaha!" Kaido spread his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture. "Kuma, we haven't seen each other for so long, and that's the first thing you say? We at least met once at God Valley."
"God Valley?!" Kuzan, Enel, and the others all showed expressions of surprise. They hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary-looking man before them to have been involved in the world-shaking "God Valley Incident" eight years ago.
Kuma's expression didn't waver in the slightest. "Kaido, I don't recall being your friend. And..." his voice suddenly turned cold, "...your Devil Fruit was stolen from my friend."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kaido waved his hands exaggeratedly. "Kuma, don't go accusing innocent people. I clearly took that fruit from Charlotte Linlin with a single blow of my club! She was my teammate at the time!"
Kuma was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was even more serious. "Kaido, what is your real purpose in coming to the Kingdom of Sorbet?"
Kaido grinned, baring his sharp fangs. "Bartholomew Kuma, I came here especially for you! This godforsaken place—if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have bothered coming at all."
"For me?" Kuma's expression instantly turned grave. He realized the matter might be more complex than he had imagined.
"That's right!" Kaido spread his arms wide, his voice booming. "As a survivor of the Buccaneer Tribe, you've always been the World Government's number one wanted man. Hiding in this small country, you'll be found sooner or later. Rather than getting caught by those bastards, why not join my pirate crew? Let's tear down the heavens together, what do you say?"
Kuma shook his head without hesitation. "I'm sorry. I will not join you." His voice was firm and calm, but the resolve contained within it brooked no argument.
"Kuma!"
It was at that moment that a small figure came running from the distance. Though petite, her speed was nothing to scoff at, reaching Kuma's side in just over ten seconds.
"Ginny, I told you to hide! Why did you..." Kuma looked at Ginny, his tone clearly anxious and worried.
"Kuma, I won't let you face danger alone," Ginny said, looking at Kuma with a firm gaze. Even though her body trembled slightly, there was no trace of retreat in her eyes.
The two stared at each other, as if forgetting the presence of Kaido and his crew around them. This sincere affection made the very air feel warmer.
"Wororororo. How heartwarming, Kuma-san," Kaido said to Kuma with a laugh.
"Kaido, I won't allow you to harm Ginny," Kuma said, immediately shielding Ginny behind him. Then he added, "Nor will I allow you to harm a single person on this island."
"Wororororo. So very kind, Kuma," Kaido said, taking a step forward. "In that case, let's have a fight! Kuma, in this world, winners take all. If you win, I'll leave this island immediately. But if you lose, you'll join the Beasts Pirates. How about that?"
Ginny finally understood Kaido's true intent. Suppressing the fear in her heart, she peeked out from behind Kuma. Her voice trembled but was unusually firm. "So your target is Kuma all along? Don't even dream about it! Kuma would never agree to your terms!"
***
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