Bonney was Kuma's reverse scale.
No one could touch her.
Leno's words were dancing directly on his minefield.
"You… are… courting death."
For the first time, Kuma's refined voice carried unrestrained fury.
His massive paw shot forward, compressing air in his palm.
"Ursus Shock!"
A terrifying shockwave blasted toward Leno!
Leno didn't dodge.
He didn't retreat.
Instead, excitement flickered in his eyes.
"Perfect. Just what I needed."
He needed battles against the strong to grow.
And he needed Kuma to see his worth.
Leno raised his hand and slashed forward.
"Sever."
Crack—!
Like glass shattering—
The enormous shockwave, powerful enough to level the castle, split apart midair.
Invisible spatial fractures carved it into pieces before it could reach him.
The scattered energy detonated outward.
The ground fractured in all directions.
The gale blew everyone back, even the Straw Hats tumbling helplessly—Brook barely keeping them from worse harm.
Kuma's pupils shrank.
Leno struck next.
His hand formed a grasping motion toward Kuma.
"Annihilate."
He clenched.
An invisible force of decomposition engulfed Kuma instantly.
Annihilation didn't need to be bound to a punch.
Kuma felt the air—and even his own body—being forcibly torn and broken down.
He growled, muscles bulging, Armament Haki erupting outward to resist.
Still, his clothes shredded in multiple places.
"Pressure Cannons!"
Kuma launched a barrage of high-speed paw-shaped blasts.
Leno flicked his fingers casually.
Like slicing fruit.
Each projectile split apart upon nearing him, consumed by spatial rifts.
The Paw-Paw Fruit repelled everything.
But Leno's ability severed everything.
A natural counter.
"Ursus Shock!"
Leno laughed.
"Useless! Anything you send my way gets cut apart before it touches me!"
He vanished—
reappearing before Kuma in an instant.
His fist darkened with Armament—
and crackled with crimson lightning.
Conqueror's coating.
"Take one from me!"
Boom!
The punch detonated against Kuma's crossed arms.
Dark-red lightning burst outward.
Kuma's enormous body lifted clean off the ground and hurtled backward—
smashing through walls before crashing down.
Dust filled the air.
Kuma knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
Metal from his cybernetic arm showed beneath torn fabric.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
He looked up at Leno in disbelief.
Strong.
Too strong.
They had all underestimated him.
Leno approached slowly.
"Following me has more future than following Dragon. He's too cautious."
"And he can't protect Bonney."
He paused.
"Or do you want her to end up like Ginny?"
Dragon could sacrifice everything for the bigger picture.
"I'm different. I value my crew far more."
"And the liberator you're waiting for?" Leno scoffed. "You won't see him. And even if you do—he won't measure up."
That was his confidence.
His foundation.
The reason he dared to look down on gods.
Sun God?
Meaningless.
Kuma knelt, breath ragged.
Leno knew about Bonney.
About Ginny.
About the liberator.
He knew too much.
Kuma struggled internally.
He believed in Dragon's dream.
But Bonney—
Bonney was everything.
He would soon be fully converted into a Pacifista.
If Leno chose to kill now—
he couldn't stop him.
For Bonney's sake—
he needed a contingency.
Ginny was gone.
Bonney could not die.
After a long silence, Kuma lifted his head.
"…I accept your condition. I will leave the Revolutionary Army."
"But spare the Straw Hats."
Leno frowned immediately.
"Bargaining? You're not in a position to negotiate."
He stepped closer, towering over Kuma.
"I offered you terms out of respect."
"I understand," Kuma interrupted calmly. "State your demand. If it's within my power—I'll agree."
Leno raised an eyebrow.
That was decisive.
He studied Kuma for a moment—
then smiled.
"Anything?"
"…Yes."
"Good."
He gestured for Kalifa and the others to step back.
Leno leaned down, whispering something to Kuma.
No one else could hear.
Kuma's body stiffened briefly—
then relaxed.
Finally—
he nodded.
Two paw-shaped bubbles emerged from his body.
He handed them to Leno.
Leno accepted.
The negotiation ended.
Leno straightened, satisfied.
He didn't even look at the Straw Hats again—
as if truly done with them.
But he didn't leave.
Instead, he walked slowly to the battered Luffy.
Luffy tried to glare up—
but couldn't lift his head.
Leno crouched slightly.
He patted Luffy's bloodied face.
Lightly.
Mockingly.
"Monkey D. Luffy…"
His voice dripped with ridicule.
"You second-generation brat. What a blessed life."
"Grandfather's a Marine hero. Father's head of the Revolution."
He slapped Luffy's face a little harder.
Smack. Smack.
"And you call yourself a pirate?"
"Just a child playing at adventure."
"Next time we meet—you won't be so lucky."
"Bastard! Let him go!" Zoro roared, trying to rise—
Kalifa's heel pinned him down.
Sanji snarled but couldn't stand.
Nami, Usopp, Chopper—
tears mixed with blood.
Fury.
Humiliation.
Helplessness.
They wanted to tear Leno apart.
They couldn't.
The gap was too wide.
Leno admired their impotent hatred for a moment.
Then he withdrew his hand.
And kicked Luffy back toward them.
"Scram."
The Straw Hats gathered Luffy and retreated in disgrace.
Broken.
Twice crushed by the same man.
Leno watched them leave, satisfied.
He hadn't taken Nami.
But he gained far more.
Kuma.
Bonney.
Information about God Valley.
And leverage for the future.
Plus—
a Ghost Princess utterly loyal.
His crew's power and potential were steadily growing.
High above—
a flicker of golden light shimmered briefly—
then vanished.
Leno grinned.
His eyes gleamed with unreadable intent.
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