...
After successfully taking down one Pacifista, Luffy was just about to continue heading toward the rendezvous point when two familiar figures rushed toward him at extreme speed from different directions and joined up with him.
They were none other than the "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro and the cook, "Black Leg" Vinsmoke Sanji!
"Luffy!!"
The two shouted almost in unison, then instinctively glared at each other again out of habit.
Before they could say much more, another Pacifista that had received orders came lumbering after them with heavy footsteps, its massive mechanical arm raised as golden light once again gathered in its palm.
Zoro and Sanji's eyes sharpened at the same time. Any lingering thoughts of bickering were instantly thrown out of their minds.
Facing a common enemy—especially this type of "weapon" that had once caused them so much grief—the two displayed astonishing teamwork.
"Don't get in my way!" × 2
Their fierce shouts merged into one!
Zoro instantly drew all three swords, Wado Ichimonji clenched in his mouth, Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui gripped in his hands. A razor-sharp swordsman's aura soared into the sky!
He used no flashy techniques—his body moved like lightning, turning into a streak of green wind as he flashed past the Pacifista's side in an instant!
Almost simultaneously with Zoro's movement, Sanji spun his right leg at high speed, friction igniting scorching flames that instantly enveloped his entire lower leg!
"Diable Jambe!"
Sanji became like a spinning fireball, charging from another angle with speed no less than Zoro's and slamming a kick straight into the Pacifista's vulnerable joint!
"Shrrrk—!" "Bang—!!"
The ear-piercing sound of metal being forcibly torn apart erupted alongside a heavy thud!
Zoro's slash precisely sliced open the armor plate on the Pacifista's chest, exposing the complex circuitry and energy core inside…
Meanwhile, Sanji's kick—carrying searing heat and immense force—smashed brutally into the knee joint of its supporting leg!
The Pacifista—once capable of driving ordinary pirates to despair—suddenly froze. Sparks flew from its chest…
A metallic groan of twisting came from the joint, followed by loss of balance. It pitched forward with a thunderous crash, slamming into the ground and kicking up a huge cloud of dust. It never got up again.
Clean, decisive, flawless coordination!
The entire process took no more than two or three seconds, and one Pacifista was completely disabled.
The pirates and Marines around—who had already been stunned by Luffy's one-punch feat—were now utterly speechless, eyes bulging in disbelief.
"No… no way? Another one?!"
"That green-haired swordsman and curly-browed cook… they're this strong too?!"
"The Straw Hat crew… have they all turned into monsters?!"
Shouts of astonishment rose one after another.
These three were no longer the "little weaklings" from two years ago in Sabaody Archipelago, who had been chased into a corner by Pacifistas and nearly wiped out.
Though in the eyes of the true top-tier monsters here in God Valley they might still seem immature and lacking decisive power, at least when facing the once-insurmountable obstacle known as the "Pacifista"…
They could now clear it with ease—even with room to spare!
This was a qualitative transformation.
Watching these three spirited young men whose strength had grown so dramatically, Sentomaru's face darkened to the point that water could drip from it.
He gripped his giant axe tightly, fully aware that the Straw Hat Pirates' reunion this time was far from a simple "return."
It was more like a brazen declaration to the entire world…
The Straw Hat kid who had stirred waves during the Summit War and then gone silent for two years had now returned boldly, carrying far greater power and an even firmer will!
The balance of the seas was likely about to be stirred up once again because of this.
[Outside the light screen, from God Valley's perspective]
"Wororororo…"
Kaido looked at the easily dispatched Pacifista on the light screen and commented gruffly, "I hate to boost their ego, but trash like this… I could smash ten of them with one swing! But still…"
His tone shifted, and a trace of genuine acknowledgment toward "growth" flashed in Kaido's eyes: "These brats really do look a bit more decent compared to two years ago.
At least they know how to use Haki, know how to coordinate, and know to target weak points. That kind of progress is real…"
Coming from the arrogant Kaido, this evaluation was already quite high praise.
After all, in his eyes, the current strength of Luffy and the other two was still far from sufficient.
But he did not deny the visible improvement.
"Don't act like you're so mature, Kaido—you're still just a hotheaded punk yourself!"
"Mam-ma-ma-ma~"
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin mocked him with a laugh, but her attention had clearly shifted away from the Straw Hats' power growth.
A thoughtful expression appeared on her face as she pointed at the light screen, toward the already self-destructed wreckage of the "Tyrant" Kuma lying in the ruins.
"What I'm more curious about right now is this guy… This Bartholomew Kuma. Why did he agree to the World Government's human experimentation and turn himself into this half-human, half-ghost monstrosity?"
Big Mom carefully recalled: "During the Summit War, didn't that okama king Ivankov say Kuma was one of their Revolutionary Army cadres?
A Revolutionary Army cadre ending up as a World Government human weapon… What exactly happened in between?"
Suddenly, as if something clicked, Big Mom slapped her huge palm: "Ah! I remember now! This Kuma… and that okama brat Ivankov!
Weren't they the two kids who escaped from the treasure vault back then?!"
Big Mom's memory was astonishing. She had managed to connect the key figures on the current light screen through Kuma and Ivankov's age and features.
This realization excited her even more: "Interesting! So interesting!
Two 'crime descendants' and slaves who escaped from God Valley ended up causing so much trouble in the future! Garp's son became the Revolutionary Army leader, Kuma became a modified weapon, Ivankov is also a cadre…
So how did they end up gathering together later? And why did Kuma agree to be modified?
Was it voluntary or forced? What leverage did the World Government have over him?"
Big Mom's mind raced, and she developed a strong interest in this hidden secret behind future history.
This was far more intriguing than merely evaluating Luffy and the others' combat strength.
At the same time, on the World Government side, Saint Saturn looked at Kuma's self-destructed remains on the light screen and recalled his earlier behavior of guarding the Sunny. His heart was filled with similar surprise and scrutiny.
"Bucaneer remnants… World Government human weapon experiments… the Pacifista prototype…"
Key terms collided in his mind.
Before the light screen appeared, he had already seen the young Kuma and ordered the "handling" of the Bucaneer tribe he belonged to.
He had thought that race—and the secrets it carried—had been completely erased, yet Kuma not only survived but grew to this extent, even joining the Revolutionary Army in the future…
And ultimately, in such a bizarre way, he became fused with the pinnacle technology of the Marine Science Division, turning into a "weapon" obedient to the World Government!
What exactly had happened in between?
Had the World Government successfully turned or coerced this Revolutionary Army cadre? Or was Kuma's "joining" itself part of a plan by the Revolutionary Army or Kuma personally?
And what did his protective behavior before self-destruction signify?
Saint Saturn couldn't sort it out immediately, but the fragments revealed by the light screen were already enough to make him feel deeper vigilance and a desire to investigate this unique individual Kuma…
as well as the possible secrets of the Bucaneer tribe behind him, and the covert war between the Revolutionary Army and the World Government.
"What an interesting future…"
The cold voice of the Financial Martial God, Saint Nusjuro—carrying a hint of mockery—rang in Saint Saturn's (and the other Five Elders') mental link.
"It seems the future Revolutionary Army isn't as monolithic as we thought and won't stir up too much trouble.
Even one of their high-ranking cadres ended up coming over to our side and becoming our weapon. Heh…"
His tone carried a sense of absolute superiority. Similar fluctuations came from the other Five Elders' thoughts.
They had always cared deeply about the Bucaneer tribe. Now, seeing Kuma's "fate" in the future, they instead felt that perhaps this "crime descendant" bloodline could ultimately be used by the World Government—turned into a tool to consolidate their rule!
This might actually be a "good thing."
As for any possible hidden schemes or hardships, in their view, under absolute power and control, they were utterly insignificant.
Inside the light screen, the Straw Hat crew was assembling and preparing to set sail.
Outside the light screen, the powerhouses of God Valley sank into their own thoughts and schemes due to the different fragments of information.
Causes from the past, effects in the future—what exactly had happened in between!
...