Perhaps it was fate at work. The legendary Nikyu Nikyu no Mi (Paw-Paw Fruit) ultimately ended up being eaten by Kuma. He became a Devil Fruit user, gaining an ability that even the Celestial Dragons coveted with burning greed.
With nothing but instinct, he activated its power and sent a fairly strong World Government retainer flying. To the three children, the sight was like something out of a nightmare.
Kuma himself had no idea what he had just done. The man had simply flown far away. He only knew he was terrified—he just wanted that person to be farther away from him.
"As expected of the Paw-Paw Fruit! What astonishing power! Boy, what's your name? Come here—come to me!"
Though failing to obtain the Paw-Paw Fruit left the Celestial Dragon furious, he quickly realized that this unusually built child might still be useful. Since the boy had already eaten the fruit, rage would accomplish nothing. Better to make him a slave. In the future, he would have a most impressive bodyguard.
He forced what he thought was a gentle smile.
But to Kuma, it was the face of a devil.
Years ago, his so-called master had deceived him with that very same smile. Trembling in fear, Kuma stared at the Celestial Dragon—until Ivankov suddenly shouted:
"Run!"
Kuma bolted instinctively. He abandoned his companions and sprinted forward with his eyes shut.
If he just kept running—like he always had before—he would survive.
He ignored the furious roars of the Celestial Dragon behind him.
He ignored the complicated expressions in his friends' eyes.
He kept running.
There was nothing wrong with that. At a time like this, saving himself was what mattered most.
But after only a few steps—
He stopped.
"Run, Kuma!"
The shout from his companions cleared his mind. He took a deep breath, suppressing the most primal fear in his heart. His legs trembled like fluttering butterfly wings—
Yet he turned around.
"No. We're all leaving together. I'll take you with me!"
Something within him awakened.
Step by step, he walked toward the agents. As a member of the Buccaneer race, blessed with immense natural strength and a body seemingly favored by heaven itself, the Paw-Paw Fruit had become the key to unlocking his true potential.
His body was like a weapon forged for war.
"We're leaving together!"
His massive paws struck again, blasting two CP agents away.
Ginny gritted her teeth. Ivankov's eyes reddened.
"We're going to travel the world—and live truly free!"
Beneath those bear-like palms, the enemies were utterly powerless.
"Kill them!"
"Move! I want him alive!" shouted the Celestial Dragon.
Greed blurred the lines between pirates and the World Government; for a moment, they found themselves strangely aligned. The roaring of pirates and agents filled Kuma's ears.
Fortunately, their attention was not solely fixed on Kuma. Among them was someone cunning enough to strike at the opposing side instead. Just as Rocks had said—pirates and the World Government could never truly coexist.
The faces before him were twisted and vicious.
But he felt no fear.
With luck—and strength—he would succeed.
He sent the enemies restraining his companions flying and stood firmly before Ivankov and Ginny.
Then, inexplicably, he asked:
"If we're going to travel… where would you like to go?"
Bang!
With a crisp sound—
The three of them vanished instantly.
While that struggle ended on one side, the war on the other had already reached its most intense stage.
Rocks' injuries were worsening. In the end, he had overestimated himself and ignored his wounds. His fierce, relentless fighting style—charging forward without hesitation—was now costing him dearly. The seeds he had sown in the past bore bitter fruit today.
But did he regret it?
Probably not.
Like a man possessed, Rocks D. Xebec broke through the encirclement and seized Saint Jaygarcia Saturn by the face. Combining the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit with his monstrous physical strength, he slammed Saturn downward like a falling meteor.
"Your poison… hurts like hell!"
The tremendous force nearly knocked Saturn unconscious. Rocks pressed the advantage, raining down brutal punches. Dense attacks struck from behind, and he twisted his head, eyes blazing with madness and killing intent.
"Black Vortex!!!"
An overwhelming gravitational pull erupted from his palm. The incoming attacks, fierce and destructive, were dragged in and swallowed by the Dark-Dark Fruit's power.
At that very moment—
A humanoid figure charged from behind him.
Its advance was unstoppable. As it ran, its body transformed grotesquely—two enormous tusks sprouted from its mouth, and it slammed violently into Rocks. The sudden impact made Rocks stagger; the power of Black Vortex weakened for an instant—
And Gol D. Roger's sword slash followed.
A magnificent blade arc tore across Rocks' chest. Blood sprayed into the air.
"It's over, Rocks! This pointless war ends now!"
The attacker was none other than Saint Warcury, who had earlier been thrown into the sea by Rocks. Now he appeared as a half-man, half-boar monster. Rescued from the ocean by CP agents who sacrificed themselves under the Five Elders' orders, Warcury—renowned as the strongest in raw power among them—could indeed be called the mightiest of the Five Elders.
Rocks coughed up blood. His aura was weakening.
But make no mistake—this tyrant's strength had not yet run dry. He could endure longer. He could still bring more slaughter to the World Government.
Warcury sensed danger immediately after landing his strike and retreated at once, returning to the Five Elders' side.
As expected—
The wounded Rocks erupted in fury.
His power exploded outward as if limitless, devouring everything around him. There was little left to consume except the mountain-like piles of corpses. Swallowed by the Dark-Dark Fruit's power, the bodies compressed and condensed, forming an enormous black sphere before him.
"Dark Hole… Liberation!"
The strike that followed was apocalyptic.
The heavens themselves seemed to change color. The darkness surpassed all imagination.
Seeing the danger, everyone retreated.
Big Mom—surprisingly honorable this once—did Roldy a favor. As she withdrew, she grabbed both Kaido and Roldy, one in each hand, stepped onto her thundercloud, and retreated to a safe distance.
Faced with Rocks' desperate, death-bound counterattack, none of the top fighters dared step forward. Anyone could see he was at the end of his strength. To clash head-on and risk permanent injury simply wasn't worth it.
The attack plunged into the earth.
God Valley began disintegrating at terrifying speed.
Those too weak had no chance of survival under such power. Even worse, the destruction spread rapidly. The already shrinking island fractured further—vast tracts of land collapsing one after another. The strongest figures each claimed their own fragment of ground.
On the World Government's side, eight Admiral-level fighters watched with dark expressions.
Rocks was still gathering power.
What kind of devastation would follow?
This was beyond their expectations.
The Five Elders could no longer remain seated.
Though they had lured Rocks here with Celestial Dragons as bait—prepared for heavy losses—if all of them perished, they would have no way to answer for it.
The gravely injured Saint Shepherd Ju Peter suddenly stood.
The Five Elders formed a line.
From their bodies erupted an ancient, malevolent aura—as though from 800 years ago, from something primordial and forbidden.
Then—
A shocking scene unfolded.
The highest authorities of the World Government… the Celestial Dragons above all Celestial Dragons…
The Five Elders—
All five of them knelt on one knee.
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