...
Watching the slave in front of him suddenly vanish into thin air, Kuma was first stunned, then the corners of his mouth uncontrollably lifted...
Immediately after, Kuma revealed a pure, unclouded smile befitting his age, without any shadow.
He had succeeded...
He had truly used these hands to personally save a life on the brink of extinction!
"Kuma dear, you…"
"Kuma! You…"
Ginny and Ivankov exclaimed almost simultaneously, along with the surrounding slaves still in their "cages"...
Everyone's gazes focused on Kuma, their eyes filled with incredulous shock.
"I will use these hands of liberation,"
Kuma raised his head, meeting everyone's stares with firm eyes: "to help everyone leave this hellish place!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a rock-solid determination.
In that moment, it was as if "light" emanated from his tall frame—this was Kuma's chosen path to liberation, the belief he would pursue for the rest of his life.
After confirming the ability worked, Kuma no longer hesitated.
He extended those broad palms, patting the remaining companions one by one.
Pat pat pat!
Crisp slapping sounds rang out in the air one after another, like a melody breaking shackles.
After each crisp sound, a slave's figure disappeared from the spot.
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the surrounding slaves had vanished.
Sweat slid down Kuma's forehead; the frequent use of the ability left him feeling a bit fatigued.
But whenever he recalled the relieved smiles those saved ones showed at the end, and the rekindled light of hope in their eyes, a warm current would surge in his heart.
To be able to bring new life to others with his own power—what a fortunate thing that was.
When the last slave also disappeared under his palm, Kuma slowly looked around.
Those he had sent away—some were directly transported to secret aid stations, others patted to distant unfamiliar islands.
But no matter where they went, they had all escaped this hell on earth.
And upon leaving, just like the first slave, they forgot everything that happened in God Valley, including that mysterious screen in the sky...
This was Kuma's final gift to them, allowing them to truly bid farewell to the nightmares of the past and embrace a brand-new beginning.
Kuma slumped to the ground, sweat continuously sliding down his youthful, tender cheeks.
Overusing the ability left him completely drained, his arms trembling slightly, but his eyes sparkled with unprecedented light.
"Kuma, you're amazing!"
Ivankov danced around excitedly, his exaggerated movements making one unable to hold back a laugh.
But when he saw Kuma's pale face clearly, his voice unconsciously lowered: "But you're pushing yourself too hard..."
Ginny silently sat beside Kuma, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead with her sleeve.
Looking at her tightly pursed lips, Kuma showed a reassuring smile: "I'm fine."
"Kuma dear, you're just too kind."
Ginny's voice carried a sob, "Always thinking of helping others, but never considering yourself."
Just then, a piercing scream came from afar.
Kuma suddenly looked up, the fatigue in his eyes instantly replaced by alertness.
"Little Ivan, Ginny... you guys go first."
Kuma struggled to stand, his eyes full of resolve: "There are still many people on this island who need saving."
"What are you joking about! We're not leaving!"
Ivankov immediately jumped up: "How could we leave you alone!"
Ginny tightly grabbed Kuma's hem, shaking her head forcefully: "We go together, or we stay together!"
Looking at his two close friends' determined eyes, Kuma knew further persuasion was futile.
He sighed lightly, his expression turning serious: "Then you must promise me, no matter what happens, stay behind me."
"I've gained new power—I must protect you both!"
Ivankov and Ginny exchanged a smile, saying in unison: "We promise!"
And just like that, the three youths set off once more.
Kuma walked at the front, his broad back seeming able to shield them from all wind and rain.
Ginny gazed at his back, complex emotions surging in her heart—proud of his growth, yet heartbroken over the responsibility he bore too soon.
They passed through a chaotic camp, scattered shackles and mottled bloodstains visible everywhere.
The deeper into the island they went, the heavier the bloody scent in the air became.
"Help... someone..."
A faint cry for help came from behind a pile of ruins. Kuma immediately rushed over, only to see a middle-aged man covered in wounds pinned under a collapsed tent—he was also a slave.
"Please hold on!"
Kuma pressed both hands against the heavy pillar, veins bulging on his forehead.
With a low roar, he fiercely lifted the entire log.
Ivankov and Ginny quickly dragged the injured man out, the three coordinating seamlessly.
"Thank you..."
The injured man weakly thanked them, hope reigniting in his eyes.
Kuma said nothing more, just gently patted his shoulder. With the familiar "pat" sound, the injured man's figure vanished into the air.
"The 38th one," Ginny counted silently in her heart.
Just then, rapid footsteps approached from afar.
"Over there! There's a monster that makes people disappear!"
At that moment, a group of weapon-wielding Marines appeared at the forest's edge, their guns gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Ivankov's face instantly turned ashen: "Oh no, we've been discovered!"
Although the opponents were Marines, earlier the Marines had also acted against them and against civilians, so the Marines had no credibility in their eyes.
Seeing the ill-intent of the arrivals, Kuma unhesitatingly spread his arms, shielding his two companions behind him.
Facing the step-by-step advancing Marines, he took a deep breath, clasping his palms together in front of his chest.
"Bear Impact!"
An invisible shockwave spread outward with him at the center, and wherever it passed, the Marines fell one after another.
This move not only repelled the enemies but also directly patted several of them flying to distant places.
"This is..."
Ivankov stared at Kuma in stunned silence: "You sent them away too?"
"I improved the ability to give it a certain attack effect, but I didn't kill them..."
Kuma showed a tired but happy smile: "Now I can protect you both better..."
Hearing Kuma's words, Ivankov fell silent, while Ginny hugged Kuma tightly.
Just then, more cries rang out. The three headed that way and found six or seven slaves there, crying in pain.
They all had varying degrees of gunshot wounds from the Celestial Dragons. Seeing this scene, Kuma's heart nearly melted...
He activated the ability again, starting to send these slaves away.
When the last slave was sent off, Kuma finally couldn't hold on, dropping to one knee.
Overusing the ability left his hands covered in bloody marks, but his face overflowed with a happy smile.
"It was worth it..."
Kuma murmured softly, no complaints in his eyes, only joy: "Every life is worth saving."
Ginny gently held Kuma's scarred hand, tears glistening in her eyes: "Promise me, before saving others, take care of yourself first."
Kuma looked at his two close friends' concerned gazes and finally nodded.
In this world filled with suffering, their bonds with each other were the most precious hope.
The path to liberation had only just begun, and they would walk it hand in hand until every soul gained freedom.
...
[This time it's Kuma's chapter. The manga has too little depiction of Kuma saving people, so I'm doing something different!]