"Flatten that church, too!"
"And especially that monster who looks like a bear — kill him first!"
"What are you waiting for? Charge!"
King Bekolli of Sorbet didn't care about anyone's lives.
He only wanted one result — wipe out everyone in the outlaw zone, then burn it all to the ground.
The former Sorbet king had been too soft.
Even while starving, he'd kept most of his people alive.
But Bekolli was different — he'd rather sacrifice half his kingdom if it meant the World Government and Marines would keep protecting the other half.
"Your Majesty! That new priest in the church — he's too strong! He might be a Devil Fruit user!"
The captain of the royal guards reported breathlessly — and received a slap across the face for his trouble.
"A Devil Fruit user? Hah! What a bunch of cowards!"
"Shoot him! Hack him to pieces! Even if his skin's like iron, he'll get tired eventually."
"Fight, you spineless worms! Fight!"
The king hid behind his armored knights, who formed a wall of steel around him.
But his confidence began to falter when he saw ten knights hurled through the air like rag dolls.
The young priest — Kuma — stood tall in the chaos, his giant palms glowing.
He fired another Pressure Cannon from his paw-like hands, sending shockwaves that blasted the army apart.
This was no ordinary child.
To stop him would take far more than men or muskets.
"Who the hell is that brat?"
"How dare he defy me on my own land!"
"Kill him, and I'll pay a million Berries reward!"
The king retreated behind his ranks, as hundreds of knights charged on horseback.
Musketeers loaded their guns; cannons roared.
This was the deadliest firepower the South Blue could muster — pre-Vegapunk's age of science, this was the pinnacle of war.
All Bekolli cared about was killing anyone who stood in his way.
"Useless trash! Even if you all die, who cares — at least half of my kingdom will survive!"
"If we don't pay the Heavenly Tribute, the World Government will abandon us!"
"Better that half die than all be wiped out like those fools from God Valley!"
His twisted reasoning burned in his mind.
He was terrified that Sorbet would share the fate of forgotten islands — erased from history.
And so, to protect his throne, Kuma became his greatest enemy.
"Preach all you want, priest! The Marines will arrive soon!"
"Let's see how long you can protect your flock, monster!"
Kuma clenched his fists. Despite being only nine years old, his massive frame and the Buccaneer blood within him made him nearly unstoppable. Yet even he could make mistakes.
"I won't forgive your slaughter of the innocent!"
"They built this kingdom with their hands — and you exiled the old king and Queen Dowager Connie!"
"One day, you too will grow old — and be cast aside just like them!"
"I refuse to accept a world like that!"
His words thundered as his palms exploded with light — another Pressure Cannon shattered the royal army.
King Bekolli's forehead dripped with sweat.
Only a few steps separated him from death.
"You fool!"
"You dare defy a king?"
"The Marines will hunt you down, Kuma!"
Then — a blur moved through the smoke.
Someone appeared and snatched the king away in an instant.
It was Vice Admiral Snagg, the "Steel Hound" of the South Blue.
A tall man in uniform, his presence radiated discipline and arrogance.
"Just a priest kid, huh?" he growled.
He cracked his knuckles, his body half-shifting — fur sprouting, eyes glowing red.
The Dog-Dog Fruit: Tibetan Mastiff Model turned him into a beast of muscle and rage.
His reputation preceded him: master of Rokushiki — Iron Body, Soru, Tempest Kick.
To him, a child like Kuma was nothing more than a bug.
"Your Majesty, I'll handle this. These fools don't understand how the world works."
Bekolli nodded frantically and crawled away.
Snagg turned to Kuma with a wolfish grin.
"Not bad, kid. A Paramecia, huh? Those shockwaves were impressive. But tell me — can you dodge this?"
He vanished in a flash — Soru.
From above, his leg sliced down — Tempest Kick!
Kuma tried to dodge, but the blade of air grazed his shoulder, blood spraying.
"Behind you, Kuma!" Ginny's voice screamed.
"Stay back, Ginny!" he shouted, spinning around.
But it was too late — Snagg was already there, one clawed hand around Ginny's neck.
"Oh? This little girl's your weakness, huh?" Snagg sneered.
"Ha! You're not a Marine, not a king's man — you must be a pirate. But pirates don't get to have family!"
He pressed his claws closer.
Ginny's eyes flared — she bit his arm as hard as she could.
Snagg roared, ready to crush her throat.
But before he could — a massive hand caught his wrist.
"Who dares stop me?!" Snagg snarled.
He looked up — and froze.
The man standing before him was smiling faintly, his grip like iron.
Rona D. Sharn.
Ginny's eyes widened in joy.
Her lips trembled into a smile.
"...Sharn!"
Even Kuma was stunned.
He'd read the newspapers — tales of Sharn's rampages, his impossible feats.
But seeing him now, calm and real, was something else entirely.
"Long time no see, Kuma. Ginny," Sharn said gently.
Then his hand tightened.
With a single effortless motion, he lifted Snagg off the ground —
and hurled him away like a toy.
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