At the port, the Thousand Sunny rocked gently in the waves, anchored steadily as if awaiting the storm to come.
"…"
A tall figure suddenly appeared near the ship, his presence calm yet menacing. He looked down at Franky with indifferent eyes.
"Ah woo! Who is this guy? He's so strong!"
Franky's flying iron fist shot toward the man, but it was swatted away effortlessly with a single palm.
He recoiled midair, landing heavily on the dock and shouting in disbelief:
"My strong right hand… just swatted away so casually?"
"That is Bartholomew Kuma."
Nico Robin's voice trembled with shock from the deck of the Thousand Sunny. She gazed at the towering figure, as massive as a bear.
"'Tyrant' Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea… How is this possible? Two Seven Warlords in the same territory?"
"Target confirmed," Kuma said flatly, his eyes devoid of emotion, locking onto Robin and Franky.
"Demon Child Robin, Iron Man Franky. Initiate capture immediately."
"What?!"
Robin's expression tightened with alarm.
"Franky, this is bad! He's a Marine sent to capture us!"
Franky's spiky hair trembled violently, eyes wide with disbelief.
"A Marine… here for the Thousand Sunny? And it's Warlord?"
He had joined the Straw Hats fully aware of their reputation, prepared for powerful adversaries. Yet facing a Warlord in his first real fight still shocked him.
"Fighting a Warlord… this is going to be a super fun battle!"
The initial shock passed quickly.
The Straw Hats never recruited ordinary people. No normal individual could keep up with them.
"Hehe, perfect chance to test my latest ability!"
Crossing his thick arms, Franky struck a ridiculous pose.
"Franky Weapon Form!"
Midair, his body twisted and deformed, his lower half reshaping into a giant cannon muzzle.
"Franky Perverted Cannon!"
He twisted his head backward toward Kuma with a mischievous grin.
"Try this, Tyrant Kuma! My Weapon Fruit ability!"
Anyone else would have protested Franky's unusual transformation.
"Pervert! Why turn your butt into a cannon! Why not your upper body?"
Kuma simply watched silently, internally bemused.
Weapon Fruit… he thought, wasn't that Baby-5's specialty?
Bang! Bang!
Franky's heavy iron feet planted firmly as flames roared inside the cannon, firing multiple burning cannonballs toward Kuma.
Boom!
The balls disappeared just before impact.
Buzz…
Kuma lifted a fleshy palm, cool and indifferent.
"Ranged weapons are useless against me."
"Ah woo! Tyrant Kuma, you really are strong!"
Franky hadn't expected his cannonballs to vanish instantly. Transforming back, his hands, feet, and head twisted into rotating spiral drills.
"Super Electric Drill Man!"
He dove underground in a rapid assault, disappearing from sight.
Kuma lowered his head, sensing the movement beneath him.
Buzz…
His palm began to punch through the ground, aiming to crush Franky.
"No way!"
Suddenly, multiple petals erupted around Kuma, growing into extra arms that quickly locked his attacking limb in a joint hold.
"Oh?"
Kuma raised his gaze to the deck, where Robin assumed a combat stance.
"The woman behind the Enies Lobby incident… 'Demon Child' Nico Robin."
Robin gestured with her hands, eyes locked on Kuma, unwavering.
"Kuma, I won't let you touch my comrades!"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
From below, Franky, as Electric Drill Man, struck precisely at Kuma's abdomen. A harsh sound rang out as Kuma's clothes tore slightly.
"Super Invincible!"
Franky retreated, grinning.
"How's that, Tyrant Kuma? My Super Electric Drill Man is awesome!"
He noticed the extra arms on Kuma and turned back to Robin, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Well done, Nico Robin!"
"Hehe… you too, Franky."
Her smile faded instantly as alarm struck.
"Watch out behind you!"
"Huh?"
Kuma had leapt silently, palm flashing with concentrated energy aimed at Franky.
"Damn it!"
Franky could only cross his arms into a shield as Kuma's palm slammed down.
Bang!
The shield shattered. Shards flew, tearing through Franky's body and sending him crashing to the dock.
"Cough… cough…"
Despite the impact, Franky gritted his teeth, managing to sit up and chuckle through the pain.
"I was careless. A Seven Warlord is never easy…"
Liquid fragments from his broken body reformed rapidly.
Whoosh!
Kuma appeared instantly before him, palm descending once again.
"Oh no…"
Franky's eyes widened; there was no time to dodge.
Three swords from the sky crossed in front of him, blocking Kuma's strike.
Crack!
The force sent Kuma flying backward.
"Oh, Zoro!"
Franky exhaled, relieved.
Swish!
Zoro, bandana tied, swords ready and Wado Ichimonji clutched in his mouth, stared coldly at Kuma.
"Are you a cyborg like Franky?"
Kuma's mechanical arm gleamed, showing precise metallic patterns.
"…Yes. I am a Pacifista, a cyborg weapon the World Government has not yet completed."
"So you're from the World Government…"
Zoro's stance tightened, blades ready.
"Then you're here for us."
"He's one of the Seven Warlords, 'Tyrant' Kuma. Zoro, I'll assist from the air!"
Franky's lower body twisted, forming a massive ten-barreled Gatling gun. Propelled by his hands, he soared upward, bullets raining down on Kuma.
Above, Shirogai Yamikuro watched from the clouds, chewing an apple, a wry smile on his face.
"Tsk… this perverted guy really has gone astray. But perfect… let's see how my crew handles this."
____
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