"Let go."
Kuma looked at the disheveled Bonnie, his voice calm. But on his right hand, hanging at his side, the paw pad on his palm bulged slightly, emitting a faint white halo of light. Even the surrounding air trembled; he was clearly enraged to the extreme.
Ryan could feel the almost tangible pressure from Kuma behind him. This silent intimidation was more daunting than a direct attack.
"Are you... ordering me?" Ryan narrowed his eyes. Not only did he not let go, but a playful smile curled on his lips. The hand holding Bonnie's chin slowly moved down, his fingers brushing past her neck and reaching for her collar.
Kuma's eyelids twitched violently. For the first time, something akin to "emotion" appeared on his expressionless face. The instant Ryan's fingers were about to touch Bonnie's collar, his right hand, which had been hanging at his side, suddenly shot up. The faint white halo on his paw, accompanied by a whoosh that tore through the air, slapped viciously toward Ryan!
"Thunder Step Instant!"
A cluster of pale blue lightning exploded under Ryan's feet with a sizzle as he dodged to the left. The moment he left his original spot, Kuma's paw struck. The missed slap, carrying an unrivaled impact, hit the wall of a nearby house.
The faint white halo of light erupted in an instant. The power of the Paw-Paw Fruit was unleashed without reservation. The seemingly thick wall was like paper-mâché; spiderweb-like cracks appeared from the point of contact with the paw, and then the entire wall caved in and shattered.
Amidst the flying splinters of wood and stone, the invisible repulsive force penetrated three whole floors of the house, blasting a large hole several meters in diameter through another wall at the back. The house's structure emitted a groaning creak as if under an unbearable load. Several beams broke and fell. Through the billowing dust and smoke, a clear path of destruction could be seen running through the entire building.
Ryan didn't pause while dodging. He continued to use Lightning Step, appearing behind Kuma in the blink of an eye. His right hand rested on the hilt of the Seven Star Sword, and the fingers gripping it suddenly tensed. "One Sword Style: Drawing Slash!"
The blade shot out of its sheath with a shing, moving at extreme speed. Blue-white lightning coiled around the sword's body, emitting a crackling electric sound. The sharp sword aura instantly tore through the air as it slashed toward Kuma.
Kuma didn't turn around, but with his astonishing perception, he sensed the killing intent behind him. He stomped his left foot back forcefully, his sole creating a half-inch-deep pit in the ground. His body twisted at an almost contorted angle, and his left paw accurately met the edge of the Seven Star Sword.
The blade cut into the paw pad, sinking right in. The next second, an invisible repulsive force erupted back along the blade. With a thud, the Seven Star Sword in Ryan's hand was instantly repelled, and he almost lost his grip. Pale blue lightning crackled under his feet as he used the explosive power of Lightning Step to retreat several meters before steadying himself. A new gravity entered his gaze as he looked at Kuma.
Kuma, however, was not completely unscathed. The impact from the blade sinking into his paw pad created a flaw in his previously stable stance. He staggered back uncontrollably for two steps, then retreated a third, each step creating a shallow pit in the ground.
Having created some distance, Ryan held the still-crackling Seven Star Sword, his eyes locked on Kuma.
Although he knew the opponent's Paw-Paw Fruit ability could repel attacks, it had its limits. His 'Drawing Slash' not only carried the Strength of his entire body but was also infused with lightning.
My lightning attack was actually repelled. The force that made my wrist go numb just now was clearly the power of my own slash. Not only was it reflected back, but it was even amplified!
The Paw-Paw Fruit was truly domineering.
Thud, thud!
Two heavy stomps echoed on the street. After stabilizing himself, Kuma abruptly spread his feet shoulder-width apart and slowly bent his knees. His muscles tensed instantly. He slowly raised his hands, which were hanging at his sides. The pads on his palms began to glow with a blinding, pale white halo. The halo expanded, causing even the surrounding air to tremble violently.
It was obvious that this move was meant to unleash an endless barrage of shockwaves.
Ryan immediately tightened his grip on the Seven Star Sword, blue-white lightning once again coiling around the blade as he prepared for battle.
Those were shockwaves created from compressed air. Even with Ryan's tough physique, taking a direct hit would not be pleasant.
Just at this tense moment, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side. Bonnie, having recovered at some point, saw Kuma about to attack. Her eyes were red as she recklessly threw herself forward, hugging Kuma's thigh tightly. Her tears fell pat, pat onto Kuma's black trousers as she choked out, "Father, I finally found you!"
Kuma's outstretched hands froze instantly. With a hum, the pale white halo on his palms dissipated into the air, and even the trembling air around them grew still. He looked down at Bonnie hugging his thigh, and for the first time, a hint of gentleness appeared in his cold eyes. He slowly raised his right hand, intending to stroke Bonnie's long pink hair, but his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, his fingers trembling slightly.
In truth, Kuma had not wanted to meet Bonnie. But just now, seeing Bonnie suppressed and humiliated by Ryan, the fury in his heart had instantly overwhelmed all his reservations, and he had cast them aside.
"Such a touching father-daughter reunion." Ryan watched the scene, shouldering his sword and looking at the towering Bartholomew Kuma with a playful smile on his lips.
The Giant Bloodline of the Buccaneer Clan already made Kuma's body far stronger than that of an ordinary person. Coupled with the Paramecia-type Paw-Paw Fruit, the cat-claw-like pads on his palms could repel anything, including air. If he had truly unleashed that compressed air shockwave just now, half the street would have likely been destroyed.
Among the Seven Warlords, Kuma's strength was definitely in the top tier. Yet, the weakness of this "Tyrant," who struck fear into the hearts of Pirates, was this crying girl.
Kuma's gaze fell back on Ryan. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "I will take responsibility for her actions today. You are not to trouble Bonnie in the future."
"You'll take responsibility for her?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Kuma's expressionless, cold face before narrowing slightly.
In their earlier exchange, Ryan had actually been at a disadvantage. The repulsive force of Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit was absurdly domineering. If they were to fight head-on, he might not gain any advantage.
And yet, this "Tyrant" who could repel anything had actually said something as close to showing weakness as "I'll take responsibility for her" for the sake of his daughter. Especially since Bonnie was Kuma's taboo; for him not to retaliate after Ryan had humiliated her was one thing, but to actively back down was clearly unreasonable.
"Bartholomew Kuma, why don't you tell me how you'll take responsibility?" Ryan pressed the Seven Star Sword down on his shoulder, his tone mocking. "My
My subordinates were turned old and young by your daughter. Can the suffering they endured be written off with just a single word from you?
Everyone says Kuma and his daughter have had it rough, but on these seas, there are plenty of miserable people. Those whose villages were slaughtered by Pirates, those who were wrongly accused by the Marines, those whose families were torn apart and ruined by Ability Users—which of them isn't more miserable than they are? Why should this father and daughter be special? Why should Bonnie be forgiven for taking the initiative to harm people?
Ryan only knew that Bonnie was the one who attacked them first, and that was all.
He just wouldn't indulge a brat.
Thinking of this, Ryan continued to mock, "You don't have much consciousness left now anyway. What makes you think..."
Suddenly, Ryan came to his senses, roughly understanding why Kuma was showing weakness. If he remembered correctly, the only part of Kuma that hadn't been modified yet was his head, but even that was almost done. He probably knew his "death was imminent" and thus didn't want to create a powerful enemy for Bonnie.
After all, while Kuma was strong, Ryan was no pushover either. Being at a disadvantage for a moment didn't mean he would always be weaker.
Tsk, tsk, tsk... As expected, "loving parents always plan far ahead for their children"