Carina stared at Bartholomew Kuma with alarm in her voice, "That power… I saw it before. On Thriller Bark, he used his hands to send a girl flying, and she never showed up again."
Her despair deepened. The girl Kuma had flung away was the very person they insisted they couldn't save.
Luffy forced himself to turn toward Kuma, gaze razor-sharp despite the exhaustion weighing him down. "What did you do to Sanji?" he demanded. Then he swung his gaze to Sentomaru, "He's with you, right? Where did you send Sanji?"
Sentomaru looked at Luffy and replied dryly, "Where he went, I'm not obliged to tell you. I'm the most tight-lipped man in this world!"
He then looked toward Kuma and shrugged slightly. "I heard anyone struck by that guy's Paw-Paw Fruit can fly through the air for three days and three nights, but where they land, I don't know. At least they won't appear anywhere on this island again. Maybe across another sea, only Kuma himself knows."
Usopp stepped forward, trembling with anger. "Say something! Where did you send Sanji?!"
Renn, clutching his chest from his injuries, glared at Kuma with grim disbelief.
A confused voice then rang out, "The real Warlords appear to have shown up? How can there be three identical ones?"
Usopp's face twisted in disbelief as his mind stumbled over seeing three figures that looked exactly like Bartholomew Kuma, though they were actually Pacifista units — mass-produced military cyborgs modeled after Kuma's body.
PX1 raised its palm, unleashing a blinding laser beam toward Usopp.
"Usopp, watch your back!" Luffy barked.
His Haki still hadn't fully returned, so all he could do was watch helplessly.
Usopp turned just in time, fear etched deep into every line of his face.
"Mr. Usopp!" Brook shouted, bones rattling as he cried out in alarm.
Just as the laser was about to unleash, Kuma's massive form suddenly leapt in front of PX1.
"Don't block me!" came Kuma's quiet voice, then with a single motion he slapped PX1 squarely in the chest, sending the mechanical clone skidding to the side.
Everyone on the battlefield froze.
"He… he even repelled his own companion," Renn said in shock, taken aback by how casually Kuma had dealt with one of the very machines that looked like him.
Sentomaru roared in outrage, "You bastard! What did you do to your own allies, Bartholomew Kuma?!"
"Mr. Usopp, run! I'll block him for you," Brook said, stepping directly in front of Usopp.
"Brook…" Usopp's eyes shone, moved by the gesture, but he couldn't bring himself to move.
Brook raised his voice defiantly, "Better for me to risk this old life than let you die!"
He spread his arms wide, trying to block Kuma's path with his skeletal frame.
Kuma didn't hesitate. Expressionless and cold as metal, he raised his hand and struck Brook away with the same force he had used against PX1.
"Brook!" Usopp cried, anguish ripping through his voice.
"Renn…" Luffy saw him clench his sword, self-reproach twisting his face. "Damn it. Why am I just watching my crew get sent away like this?"
Renn took a step forward, placing himself between Kuma and Usopp. "Run, Usopp!"
Usopp stood rooted in place, eyes fixed on Renn's back. "Bastard, if we go, we go together."
Renn shoved Usopp aside and brought his sword down toward Kuma.
"Stop, Renn! Go! Don't do anything worthless!" Luffy shouted, strained and powerless.
Before Renn could reach Kuma, a massive hand slapped him aside like a rag doll.
"Renn!!"
Luffy let out a raw, powerless yell.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Kuma advanced without hesitation, each step unwavering toward Usopp.
"It's time for your trip, long-nose," Kuma's voice sounded calm and indifferent.
A single blow sent Usopp flying.
One by one, his crewmates were struck away by Kuma's palm, vanishing from sight until only Carina and Luffy remained on the field.
"Luffy, are we next?" Carina asked, fear dancing in her voice as she watched Kuma approach.
Luffy didn't answer. His Haki had just returned, but even if fully awakened, three enemies like this were beyond his current strength.
Rayleigh, breathing heavily beside him, spoke up in strained words, "The situation over there is unusual. I want to help them, but age… it matters."
Before Rayleigh could continue, Kizaru slashed his light blade at him.
"You're fighting an Admiral and still worrying about others? You truly don't take this old man seriously," Kizaru teased, voice flat.
Suddenly, a massive shape appeared between them.
"You must be Dark King Rayleigh. Due to special circumstances, I need to allow Luffy and his crew to leave Sabaody Archipelago here."
It was Bartholomew Kuma.
Kuma's voice was soft, barely above a whisper, directed only at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh's eyes flickered with confusion; he had never fully understood Kuma's true abilities or intentions, especially now.
Behind him, Kizaru tilted his head, puzzled. "Bartholomew Kuma? What exactly are you doing?"
Kuma ignored Kizaru and turned to Rayleigh.
"I know you may not believe me now, but I will explain when there's a chance," Kuma said.
The last time he met Luffy, Luffy had told him about Vegapunk, and how Vegapunk might preserve someone's memories even after their personality was erased.
That meant that even if Kuma's will had been stripped, there was still a chance he could be restored in the future.
Then, in an instant, Kuma vanished and reappeared behind Carina.
Carina slowly turned, spotting his emotionless figure.
"Luffy, even if we travel for days through the air and distance separates us, we'll still be crew again when we meet," she said, clenching her fists.
A faint smile appeared, bravery shining despite the fear. "Even if we never meet again, I'll still be your navigator in the next life. Haha."
She thought of her orphaned past, of the villagers who helped her, and then of Nami — and of Luffy and his crew who truly cared for her. Her expression was steady with acceptance, not fear.
"Carina…" Luffy felt the weight of guilt and regret crash into him as he watched his crewmate's resolve.
He blamed himself for not being strong enough to protect them.
"Little fox, it's time for your journey," Kuma's voice echoed behind Carina.
With that, his palm struck, and Carina vanished.
Luffy pounded the ground in despair.
"What's wrong with me? Am I so weak? Watching them disappear and doing nothing…"
Images of each of his crew flashed through his mind — every laugh, every struggle, every triumph.
But they were gone now.
His Haki had barely returned, and it was too little too late.
Kizaru and Rayleigh's battle stilled, and both turned to look at Luffy.
Kizaru then glanced at Kuma and sneered, "Swat them all away and call it a day? How do you intend to explain this? It's a serious matter!"
But Kuma did not answer. He walked up behind Luffy, who remained kneeling on the ground, consumed by self-blame.
"We may never meet again," Kuma said, his voice strangely warm, like the first dawn after rain.
But Luffy had no mind for that warmth. All he felt was regret.
"Farewell," Kuma said, and sent Luffy flying with a swift palm.
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