"Don't worry, Grandpa Corley." Kuma reassured him, his voice carrying a comforting strength. "I will protect everyone." His words fell with weight, as if possessing some kind of magic that slightly relaxed the old man's tense nerves.
"Exactly!" Ginny waved her fist, her eyes sparkling with fighting spirit. "Let those arrogant pirates taste our power!" She straightened her back, trying to make herself appear more imposing.
However, the old man Corley's next words made both of their expressions change drastically: "This time it's different... It's the Beasts Pirates!"
"What?!" Kuma and Ginny exclaimed in unison. The church immediately fell into dead silence, where even the sound of breathing became clearly audible. Kuma took a deep breath and turned to Ginny. "Ginny, take Grandpa Corley and the others to hide. This time... let me face them alone."
"No!" Ginny grabbed Kuma's arm excitedly, tears glistening in her eyes. "How could I let you face that monster alone!" Her voice rose with emotion, echoing through the church.
Neither Kuma nor Ginny were unfamiliar with Kaidou, the captain of the Beasts Pirates. Whether it was stealing the Devil Fruit from Ivankov at God Valley eight years ago, or the major disturbances he had caused across the seas in recent years, everything proved that Kaidou was a powerful monster. His fearsome reputation had long spread throughout the Grand Line.
Kuma gently patted the back of Ginny's hand, his gaze firm yet gentle. "Believe me, Ginny. I will drive back the Beasts Pirates, I promise you." His voice was low and powerful, as if stating an indisputable fact.
Ginny stubbornly shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "No! That's Kaidou we're talking about!" Her voice choked up, her fingers tightly clutching Kuma's arm as if he would disappear if she let go.
"Grandpa Corley, I'm entrusting Ginny to you." After saying this to Corley, Kuma instantly disappeared from his spot, causing Ginny who had been holding him to lose her balance and fall to the ground.
"Kuma!" Ginny shouted and immediately tried to rush out to find him.
"Ginny, don't go. You'll distract Kuma if you go," Corley said to Ginny.
"No, you don't understand how powerful Kaidou of the Beasts is. I can't let Kuma face that monster alone." Saying this, Ginny resolutely walked toward the church entrance.
Kaidou led his subordinates toward the church, their procession casting long shadows on the desolate streets. Suddenly, Kaidou at the front stopped walking, and the entire group came to a halt. Everyone's gaze focused on the tall figure that had appeared ahead at some unknown time.
"This is..." Sebastian's eyes widened, his weapon unconsciously tightening in his grip. Enel and Kawamatsu similarly showed shocked expressions, completely unaware of when this person had appeared. Even the usually calm Kuzan frowned, having failed to detect the other's approach.
"Wororororo..." Kaidou let out his signature laugh, "Bartholomew Kuma, it's been a long time."
Kuma stood silently in the middle of the road, his tall figure like an insurmountable barrier. He looked directly at Kaidou, his voice low and powerful: "Kaidou, what brings you to this poor country? There are no treasures here worth plundering."
"Hahaha!" Kaidou spread his arms exaggeratedly, "Kuma, after all this time apart, you start with such hurtful words. We at least met once at God Valley."
"God Valley?!" Kuzan, Enel, and the others simultaneously showed expressions of surprise. They never expected this seemingly ordinary man before them to have participated in the world-shaking "God Valley Incident" eight years ago.
Kuma's expression didn't fluctuate in the slightest: "Kaidou, I don't recall being friends with you. And..." his voice suddenly turned icy, "your Devil Fruit was stolen from my friend."
"Hey hey hey!" Kaidou waved his hands dramatically, "Kuma, don't wrong an innocent man. I clearly took that fruit from Charlotte Linlin with a single blow - she was my teammate at the time!"
Kuma remained silent for a moment before speaking again in an even more serious tone: "Kaidou, what exactly are you doing in the Sorbet Kingdom?"
Kaidou grinned, revealing his sharp fangs: "Bartholomew Kuma, I came here specifically for you! I wouldn't bother coming to this godforsaken place if it weren't for you."
"For me?" Kuma's expression instantly turned grave as he realized the situation might be more complicated than he imagined.
"That's right!" Kaidou spread his arms wide, his voice booming, "As a survivor of the Buccaneer Race, you've always been the World Government's most wanted criminal. Hiding in this small country will only lead to discovery eventually. Rather than being captured by those bastards, why not join my pirate crew? Let's turn the world upside down together, what do you say?"
Kuma shook his head without hesitation: "Sorry, I won't join you." His voice was firm and calm, yet filled with undeniable resolve.
"Kuma!"
Just then, a petite figure came running from the distance. Though small in stature, she was surprisingly fast, reaching Kuma's side in just over ten seconds.
"Ginny, I told you to hide. Why..." Kuma looked at Ginny, his tone clearly anxious and worried.
"Kuma, I won't let you face danger alone." Ginny looked at Kuma with determined eyes. Though her body trembled slightly, there was no retreat in her gaze.
The two looked at each other as if forgetting Kaidou and his crew were still present. Their sincere emotions seemed to warm the very air around them.
"Wororororo, how heartwarming, Kuma." Kaidou laughed toward Kuma.
"Kaidou, I won't allow you to harm Ginny." Kuma said as he immediately moved to shield Ginny behind him, then added: "Nor will I allow you to harm anyone on this island."
"Wororororo, you're really quite kind, Kuma." Kaidou said, stepping forward directly. "In that case, let's fight! Kuma, in this world, the winner takes all. If you win, I'll leave this island immediately. But if you lose, how about joining the Beasts Pirates?"
Ginny finally understood Kaidou's true intentions. Suppressing the fear in her heart, she peered out from behind Kuma, her voice trembling yet unusually firm: "So your target is Kuma? Don't even dream about it! Kuma would never agree to your demands."
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