At the Wano Country's Udon Ironworks, Sabo cradled Koala in his arms, carefully checking her injuries.
Koala's strength was decent compared to ordinary soldiers.
She had trained in Fish-Man Karate under Hack for years, so her physical endurance was passable.
Though she was unconscious now, she didn't seem seriously hurt.
Sabo let out a small sigh of relief—only to then notice Betty, a woman far stronger than Koala, lying on the ground with blood streaming from all seven orifices.
Even Molly, who was even tougher, was kneeling on one knee, dazed from the impact of Caesar's Conqueror's Haki.
"That bastard Caesar… his Conqueror's Haki is this terrifying? This level of Conqueror's Haki could probably knock out even a Vice Admiral from Marine HQ! If even Betty couldn't withstand it… did he… spare Koala on purpose?"
Sabo's mind was a mess, unsure what to make of it.
He didn't move—but someone else did.
THUD! THUD!
Bartholomew Kuma, standing nearly seven meters tall, began mechanically marching toward Caesar, his eyes slowly glowing crimson.
Caesar raised an eyebrow, intrigued as he watched this so-called "Tyrant" of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The modified Kuma was also known by the Marines as PX-0—the original Pacifista.
"Kuma!" Sabo gasped in shock, staring at the towering figure who had been standing motionless like a statue beside Koala ever since returning to the Revolutionary Army.
This was the first time Sabo had seen Kuma take initiative to act since then.
And the reason for Kuma's sudden movement might have been Koala.
"Kuma might have mistaken Koala for his daughter, Bonney. He's always wanted to protect Bonney, to protect the Sorbet Kingdom."
Seizing the moment as Kuma stepped forward toward Caesar, Sabo gritted his teeth and swiftly reached out to grab Koala and Betty.
With a powerful push from his legs, he attempted to carry the two women away from this dangerous place.
Caesar's lips curled into a smirk—one that sent a chill down Sabo's spine.
"Tsk tsk, is it really okay to just run away right in front of me? Law!"
"Room."
As Caesar's voice faded, Sabo's heart lurched.
The next moment, a massive hemispherical dome descended, lasting only a moment before vanishing again!
But along with the disappearance of the enormous dome, Koala and Betty—whom Sabo had been holding—were also gone!
"No!"
Sabo's eyes widened in horror as he stared at his empty arms, an overwhelming surge of fury and helplessness rising within him.
He whipped his head around just in time to see Law, still standing like an emotionless statue with his long sword, several hundred meters away.
And beside him, Betty and Koala's bodies had abruptly appeared on the empty ground.
"Borororo! The Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, so young and accomplished. I heard from Doffy that you're also the brother of Straw Hat Luffy. What a small world, huh?"
"This grudge began in Wano Country, and now it will end here. A fitting cycle of fate. Too bad Straw Hat Luffy isn't here—otherwise, we could have settled this once and for all."
Sabo's face darkened, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
Flames of searing heat erupted from his body, soaring into the sky as a towering pillar of fire.
"Beep beep beep—!"
A series of sharp, urgent beeps interrupted Caesar's words.
When he turned to look, he saw Kuma's eyes gathering a crimson glow, as though charging something.
Caesar scoffed, his massive frame vanishing instantly from his original position, leaving the robotic Kuma standing motionless, his target lost.
"Really? This sluggish? This is the same Pacifista that once dominated the battlefield at Marineford? At best, it's only good for dealing with small fry."
Caesar's voice came from behind Kuma, dripping with disappointment.
Not far away, Sabo had already transformed into a blazing meteor, hurtling toward Caesar in a storm of fury!
Sabo knew that unless he defeated Caesar, there was no way he could safely get Koala and the others out of here.
Right now, his only option was to fight with his back against the wall!
Kuma, standing at a towering height of 6.9 meters, was already as massive as a small mountain.
But compared to Caesar, he looked like a mere child, utterly lacking in intimidation.
From behind Kuma, Caesar silently extended a massive golden hand covered in scales, gripping the back of the so-called "Tyrant's" head and lifting him up like a stuffed teddy bear!
"KUMA!" Sabo shouted in alarm, unleashing a torrent of flames in a furious punch aimed straight at Caesar!
Holding Kuma aloft, Caesar suddenly unfurled a pair of dazzling golden wings from his back.
With a powerful flap, he shot into the sky, effortlessly dodging Sabo's Fire Fist.
"CAESAR!"
Without hesitation, Sabo transformed his lower body into flames and rocketed upward, chasing after Caesar.
Mid-air, Caesar gripped the back of Kuma's head with such force that the indestructible skull creaked under his fingers.
Kuma's round, bulky body struggled mechanically, attempting to break free from Caesar's grasp.
"Lost your self-awareness? Interesting."
Caesar's expression was peculiar as he held Kuma's head with his left hand and extended his right, imbued with a strange power, plunging it directly into Kuma's skull.
"A mindless puppet like this is the perfect subject for my Memory-Memory Fruit ability. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Not a bad asset. Most importantly, you haven't pissed me off, Bartholomew Kuma!"
"Let me see your memories!"
As Sabo charged toward Caesar, he witnessed Caesar's right hand reaching into Kuma's head and pulling out a shimmering ribbon of images!
Horrified, Sabo stared at the luminous strip extending from Kuma's skull, his mind roiling with shock.
"That's... Kuma's memories! That bastard Caesar can actually extract them! Does that mean...?"
Sabo's body trembled as he glanced down at Law below, a terrifying thought forming in his mind.
If Caesar could extract memories, then he might very well be able to manipulate them too!
"Is this his ability? No! He's clearly a Zoan-type Mythical Beast user—where would he get such a bizarre power? Unless... unless he..."
A possibility dawned on Sabo, causing the flames erupting from his body to flicker as if on the verge of extinguishing.
A dreadful realization struck him.
"Unless Caesar has gained a second Devil Fruit ability! Just like Blackbeard!"
The thought of Caesar possessing the power to control others' memories sent chills down Sabo's spine.
If his own memories were manipulated, turning him into Caesar's puppet—forced to turn against Koala and his fellow revolutionaries—the consequences would be unthinkable.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Sabo's face, instantly vaporized by the flames enveloping him.
"I can't let that happen! I have to kill Caesar! I must destroy him!"
Sabo roared inwardly, unleashing another devastating wave of flames toward Caesar.
"Fire Fist!"
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