In a church in the southern wilderness of the Sorbet Kingdom.
"What?"
Ivankov's sharp voice nearly ripped the spire off the church. "Ginny, are you saying Kuma was taken by Charlotte Linlin?"
"...Mm."
Ginny, sitting blankly on the pew with tear-stained eyes, nodded softly.
"Wait, the Charlotte Linlin you're talking about, is she one of the Seven Monarchs of the New World, the Great Pirate Big Mom Charlotte Linlin?"
Crocodile couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "Hey, hey, hey, why would a monster like that be so bored as to travel to a poor, remote place like this to kidnap a priest?"
Even he knew those names, which echoed like thunder!
She was one of the monsters who formed an alliance with Roa, Kaido, and Shiki at Loguetown and seized control of the second half of the Grand Line!
Having witnessed the power of Roa and the others firsthand, Crocodile had truly recognized the strength possessed by these monsters standing at the world's peak.
Even if Charlotte Linlin wasn't as monstrous as Roa, she probably wasn't far behind.
So why would a monster like that be interested in a country priest? To the point of specifically crossing the Red Line and traveling thousands of miles to the South Blue?
"If it's Charlotte Linlin,"
Ivankov immediately clenched his jaw. "That woman is reportedly obsessed with collecting different races from across the sea."
"Different races?" Crocodile was a bit puzzled.
"Fish-Man, Mermaid, Longarm, Longleg, Longneck, Mink, Tontatta..." Dragon explained. "That woman yearns to build a country that possesses all races."
"So, that guy named Kuma isn't an ordinary human?"
"Kuma is a descendant of the Buccaneer Tribe!"
Ivankov's voice had lost its usual cheerfulness, replaced only by fury and anguish. "That boy has already suffered unimaginable torment due to his innate lineage. He finally had a few years of peace, and now his bloodline has brought disaster again?"
The Buccaneer Tribe?
Crocodile thought back, but he didn't recall hearing about that race.
"The good news is," Dragon offered comfortingly, "Charlotte Linlin shouldn't harm Kuma."
Unless her child with Kuma had already been born.
Anyone with slightly better intelligence knew how Charlotte Linlin established a nation comprising all races.
Once the children of different races were born, the captured men used for breeding lost their utility.
Based on the time Kuma was taken, it's not even certain if Charlotte Linlin is pregnant with his child, let alone whether the child has been born.
Therefore, Kuma must be safe for now.
Of course, this speculation absolutely could not be voiced.
Dragon glanced at Ginny, whose eyes were red but who relaxed slightly upon hearing his words.
Saying it would only make this already distraught girl feel even more pain.
Ginny grabbed Ivankov's sleeve. "Big Brother! Let's go save Kuma! We must bring Kuma back..."
The beautiful woman was in tears. "Kuma is kinder than anyone. He's already suffered so much; the world shouldn't be so cruel to him!"
Ivankov suddenly felt a pang in his nose.
He, Kuma, and Ginny truly had a bond forged in life-and-death situations.
They had escaped together from that hellish God Valley, and had long been as close as family, surpassing even true siblings!
He completely agreed with Ginny's words.
Kuma was as kind as a saint from myth. He shouldn't have to endure any more suffering!
"Alright, Ginny, we..."
Ivankov nodded heavily, ready to agree to Ginny's request.
But.
In the next moment, he suddenly paused, instinctively turning to look at Dragon.
He was no longer alone.
He was a member of the Freedom Fighters (Revolutionary Army), a man who had sworn with Dragon and all his comrades to change the world!
And Charlotte Linlin was indeed no ordinary pirate.
The Freedom Fighters might not even be able to handle the Charlotte Family, let alone the Pirate Alliance backing her.
Roa, the man who Dragon became instantly alarmed just mentioning, and who had infiltrated the entire Freedom Fighters like a sieve, was also Charlotte Linlin's ally!
If they went to rescue Kuma, would it trigger a war between the Pirate Alliance and the Freedom Fighters?
If that happened, would all their efforts be for nothing?
Ivankov suddenly found himself speechless.
"..."
Dragon naturally noticed Ivankov's gaze and understood his meaning.
The man who longed for the winds of freedom to blow across the world also fell silent.
The Freedom Fighters' actions had only just begun.
"...Big Brother?"
Having received no answer for a long time, Ginny looked at Ivankov in a daze.
She didn't say anything more, but just that one surprised question made Ivankov feel mortified.
He was hesitating about whether or not to save Kuma—to save his own family!
And even now, he couldn't make up his mind!
"Hey, what are you two hesitating about?"
Crocodile looked at the silent Ivankov and Dragon, growing impatient.
"Is this some difficult choice? Of course, you protect what you cherish! Humph, I said I'd repay your kindness, so I'm coming with you this time!"
"Little Crocodile?" Ivankov looked at Crocodile in disbelief. "Are you serious? That's the Charlotte Family!"
Crocodile retorted crankily, "Aren't we just going to save one person? It's not like we're actually going to war with them!"
Ivankov instantly frowned.
Yes, we're just going to save him.
With Kuma's ability, as long as they could meet him, and as long as he could freely use his powers, everyone could escape instantly!
And at the end of the day, Charlotte Linlin's threat to Kuma was only the people he knew on this island!
Couldn't they just take them all away?
Ivankov's eyes immediately brightened.
At the same moment, Dragon slowly spoke, "Then let's go. We'll go together."
"Dragon?" Ivankov quickly tried to stop him. "You shouldn't go! You're the commander of everyone. If you put yourself in danger—"
"That's exactly why I must put myself in danger," Dragon replied. "Not only must I put myself in danger, but I must do so openly."
"Whether we succeed in rescuing Kuma or not, a certain individual who has helped us a lot likely wouldn't want to see us fall apart just like this, would he?"
Ivankov was genuinely shocked by this statement.
He was almost dumbfounded. "Dragon, you're not planning to use Roa to pressure Charlotte Linlin, are you!"
Roa?
Crocodile blinked, somewhat confused.
How did Roa get involved in this?
"He's already helped us so much; he shouldn't mind helping with one small favor," Dragon said gravely. "We don't even need to contact him ourselves. Someone within our organization will pass the message to him immediately."
"This..." Ivankov hesitated.
He wanted to remind Dragon not to forget how he was retaliated against the last time he tried to get free weapons from Roa.
Who on the sea didn't know Roa was petty?
But the words caught in his throat.
Roa, who craved chaos, indeed had high expectations for their Freedom Fighters.
As Dragon said, he would never allow the Freedom Fighters to be easily destroyed.
A gamble, then?
A gamble that Roa would indeed act, and a gamble that Roa wouldn't know they were waiting for him to make a move.
"Alright!" Ivankov nodded heavily.
"So, Big Brother," Ginny's eyes instantly sparkled, "are we finally going to save Kuma!"
"Yes! Let's go save Kuma!"
"Gwahahahahaha! This looks like it'll be fun!" Crocodile's smile was meaningful.
That Freedom Fighters organization seemed to have quite a history with Roa.
Almost simultaneously, in the New World, on a training ground somewhere in Calamity City, which floated in the sky.
Two figures stood facing each other.
"It seems that sword has given you a lot of courage."
Bullet's voice was cold, and his expression was indifferent, like a robot wearing human skin, completely devoid of normal emotional fluctuations.
"It's given me more than just courage." King held the sword in his left hand.
Shodai Kitetsu had been refitted with a new scabbard, crafted with care by the chief swordsmith of the Calamity Company, Kouzuki Sukiyaki. It was simple yet elegant.
"In short," King slowly drew the sword, and a green aura suddenly began to spread. "I shouldn't disappoint you this time."
"You'd better not!" Bullet clenched both fists.
He wore gloves that completely covered both his hands.
And now, black lightning instantly began to leap across these gloves.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Roa, sitting on a soft sofa with his legs crossed, opened his mouth with a smile. "Begin."
Standing beside and behind him were all the executives of the Calamity Company, their eyes filled with intense curiosity.
Curiosity over who would win the upcoming battle between Bullet and King.
This was a test.
King claimed he had completely tamed Shodai Kitetsu.
So, naturally, they had to immediately test how strong his newly acquired power was.
When Roa said 'begin,' it meant start right away.
Neither of them questioned it. They both pushed off with their legs, shattering the sturdy floor of the training ground.
Immediately, two black shadows, like bolts of lightning, collided fiercely.
A black iron fist met a black blade. The result of the clash between the two powerful Armament Haki users was a dense scattering of black lightning.
It wasn't as overwhelming as the Haki lightning that bursts forth from the clash of Conqueror's Haki infusers.
But both men were masters who had reached the level of internal destruction with Armament Haki. Their collision still pulverized the ground, and the violent shockwave swept everything like a gale.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you two have become so strong that you can casually destroy a city when fighting unrestrained."
Roa shook his head with a laugh. "Then, for today only, go all out."
Black Armament Haki spread from his feet, instantly hardening the entire field.
"Zehahaha! That's exaggerated, Boss! Do you need to go to this extent just for a battle between the two of them!" Teach couldn't help but laugh loudly.
Hardening the entire battlefield with Haki!
Wasn't that a bit too extravagant!
"Hahaha! That way, they can fight to their heart's content!" Loki sat cross-legged, his eyes clearly filled with anticipation.
In the center of the field.
"In that case, let's skip the pointless probing!"
King spread his wings and soared. In that instant, he put on his Tengu Mask, and his wings grew wider.
A gale surrounded him, and flames erupted from the blade of his sword.
"Come on then!"
Bullet showed no weakness. His body swelled up in the next moment. A mercury giant over a hundred meters tall instantly towered over the battlefield!
The silver-white giant instantly turned completely black, especially its two fists, where exceptionally thick Armament Haki lightning leaped constantly.
"This guy's Armament Haki is unreasonably strong!" Loki couldn't help but complain. "My Giant Tribe Armament Haki doesn't even have that much volume!"
"Bullet is special," Roa said with a smile. "He's as gifted as you."
"However," Loki chuckled, "Bullet is using a fragment of Enma, right? He's infused Conqueror's Haki into his fists. Can King really withstand that?"
"We'll find out, won't we?" Roa chuckled.
In the sky, King suddenly swooped down. The flames on his blade, fueled by the wind, grew even more intense, now spitting fire like a giant jet engine!
But that wasn't all. The scorching flames were suddenly tinged with a deep, eerie green!
"Here I come, Bullet!"
"Come on, King!"
The colossal mercury giant raised its right fist and slammed it out like a massive cannon.
"Ultimate Cannon!"
Bullet wasn't just controlling his body through ordinary means.
He had long completed his willpower training, and Life Return was already perfected.
Just like Loki, his massive body didn't create a disadvantage in agility or reaction time.
Instead, the immense size and crushing weight amplified the power of his punch multiple times over!
Combined with his terrifying Armament Haki and the half-baked Conqueror's Haki infusion achieved via the Enma fragment, the power of this single punch was enough to destroy the world!
Facing this attack, King merely gripped his sword with both hands.
The green flames instantly surged out like a rocket booster!
"Oni Ki: Fire Dragon King!"
With a mighty sweep of the blade, a colossal Dragon of Fire roared down.
Its eerie green body was faster and fiercer than before, as if truly alive!
Boom!!
The collision between the iron fist and the fire dragon instantly resembled a nuclear explosion.
A massive fireball, half eerie green and half silvery-white, blossomed in the sky.
Dylan, standing behind Roa, raised his hands and released a powerful Armament Haki barrier, blocking the oncoming shockwave.
"These two are crazy!"
Doflamingo couldn't help but click his tongue. If it weren't for Dylan, he probably would have been blown away right now!
They were both too strong! If their attacks were allowed to hit Calamity City, even this floating city would be ripped apart, wouldn't it?
Roa raised the corner of his mouth.
Not bad. King had indeed completely tamed Shodai Kitetsu.
By utilizing the Oni Ki released through the Kitetsu, he had truly caught up to Bullet.
Judging just by the collision, the power of both men already exceeded the standard level for a Calamity Star executive.
Hmm, quasi-Emperor low-tier.
They were about the same level as Roa himself was when he first left the War-Torn Nation, not counting the endless regeneration of his black aura.
"Again!!"
One collision wasn't enough. Bullet's voice grew louder. Massive arms extended from his body, and the mountain-like fists became a tempest.
"Limit Cannon Array!"
"Good!"
King flicked his blade, and the eerie green flames instantly spread out.
The flames condensed into a massive Ring of Fire in front of him. The moment he swung his sword forward with all his might, a tremendously huge fire dragon surged out from the ring.
"Oni Ki: Guardian Fire Dragon King!"
The Dragon of Fire instantly split, transforming into several colossal beasts, none much smaller than the previous one, and flew with extreme precision toward Bullet's massive, slamming fists.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
And so, fireworks blossomed in the sky.
"Good." Roa nodded in satisfaction.
But King, is this still swordsmanship?
Who did you learn that from?
A bad habit.
Almost simultaneously.
On the other side of the Red Line.
This was the Calm Belt.
A towering, colossal gate stood silently on this tranquil sea, which had not a single ripple.
This was one of only three Gates of Justice in the world.
Oh, now there are only two, as one of them was destroyed when the Pirate Alliance attacked Marineford previously.
Not far behind this gate, there was a small island on the sea.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't an island, but merely the peak of a structure jutting out of the water.
This structure is commonly known as Impel Down, the Great Prison.
"Jie hahahaha! Don't disappoint me!"
A roaring laugh descended from the sky.
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