Chapter 174: The Tyrant's Wrath!
South Blue - Sorbet Kingdom - Church
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful, dancing shadows on the floor.
Six-year-old Bonney was giggling, clambering nimbly over Kuma's broad shoulders.
Her pink pigtails bounced with her movements, like dancing flower petals.
"Kuma-chi! Higher! Higher!" Bonney reached out with her small hands, trying to catch the colorful light.
Kuma supported her gently, his massive hands lifting her carefully above his head. "Bonney, be careful now. Don't fall."
Bonney's smile was innocent and brilliant, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Kuma, having just brought his daughter back, watched her lively demeanor, his eyes softening.
"Vegapunk's treatment... it really worked."
"Thank you... Roy."
However, this warmth lasted only a few minutes.
Kuma frowned. His ears picked up a commotion outside the church—shouts, running footsteps, and the crackling sound of fire approaching rapidly!
"What is happening?"
His expression tightened. He set Bonney down gently. "Bonney, stay in the church. Do not run around."
Bonney nodded obediently, her voice childish and sweet. "Mm-hmm! I'll wait for you to come back!"
Kuma pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The next second, his pupils shrank violently!
At the end of the street, flames soared to the sky. Thick columns of smoke billowed as the entire lawless zone—the slums—seemed to have been thrown into a furnace of hell!
People fled in terror, while in the distance, soldiers were methodically setting fire to the streets!
"Run! Run away!!!"
"The King ordered the entire slum to be burned down!!!"
"Why?! What did we do wrong?!!"
"King Bekori said... he said us poor people are just dragging the country down by living..."
Hearing this, Kuma's fists clenched instantly, his knuckles cracking loudly!
"Bekori returned?! And... he's copying the Goa Kingdom's methods?!!"
He charged into the sea of fire without hesitation, the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit activating instantly!
"Pad Cannon: Shockwave!!!"
"BOOM—!!!"
An invisible oscillation wave swept out, instantly clearing the burning houses on both sides, the air pressure crushing the tongues of fire into nothingness.
Amidst the rolling smoke and dust, Kuma's figure stood like a giant tower.
He moved through the fire, picking up trapped civilians one by one—patting them, flying them, moving them. With his paw pads, he gently and precisely "repelled" them out of the inferno.
"Do not fear. I am here."
"Do not move. I will send you out."
His voice was low and stable, like an unshakable rock.
The saved civilians knelt on the ground, sobbing, faces covered in tears. "Lord Kuma... why do you always stand by us... us unwanted trash?"
"We... don't deserve for someone like you to risk your life for us..."
Kuma remained silent. In this moment, Roy's words from years ago surfaced in his mind:
"If one day, the old King returns and tries to cause chaos..."
"The identity of a Warlord will help you."
"Roy... did you calculate even this step in advance?"
Kuma's gaze sharpened abruptly, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He looked up toward the royal castle, fists slowly clenching, knuckles emitting a dull popping sound.
He turned to the crowd, his gaze firm. "Take shelter in the cellar behind the church for now."
"I will be right back."
The wind blew from the ruins of the fire, stirring his cape. Kuma's back looked like that of a solemn deity.
He walked step by step toward the castle—
It was the march of a father, a king, a "Gentle Tyrant" declaring war on the old order.
Sorbet Kingdom - Royal Castle
In the magnificent grand hall, King Bekori, dressed in brocade robes, sat on the throne swirling a wine glass. His face was filled with insufferable arrogance.
"See that? This is the correct way to rule!"
He boasted loudly to the terrified ministers below who dared not speak.
"The Goa Kingdom's method is the trend of the future! Burn the poor, the trash, the lowly lower class—burn them all, and the country will be clean and efficient!"
"This is 'Purification'!"
"It is the flame of civilized progress!!"
"Bwahahahaha—!!!"
Suddenly—
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening impact echoed through the palace!
The grand doors, along with two stone pillars, were blasted away by a massive force. Rubble flew, and wind pressure swept through the entire hall!
Amidst the billowing dust, a massive figure stepped into the palace, like the descent of doomsday!
All the guards drew their swords instantly, but under the intense pressure radiating from the intruder, they trembled violently, unable to move a muscle!
King Bekori's pupils shook. The wine glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor, splashing crimson wine!
"Y-You... Who are you?!!"
Kuma slowly took off his glasses, revealing eyes that were cold and solemn. He spoke word by word:
"Warlord of the Sea — Bartholomew Kuma."
"Commissioned by the World Government to eliminate pirates and tyranny disrupting the order of the South Blue Kingdoms."
"You... are no longer King."
King Bekori looked dumbfounded. "Wait! I am the King! When did I become a pirate?!!"
"I am 'purifying' the country! I am executing modern governance! What right do you have..."
"The right comes from your order to burn civilians."
Kuma said in a low voice. He slowly opened his palm, the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit condensing—
A transparent shockwave sphere rotated in his palm, like the wheel of judgment!
"You betrayed the people."
"You betrayed the oath you once swore."
"Therefore, I will end you."
Wind howled in the hall. King Bekori collapsed at the foot of the throne, screaming in a breakdown, "I was wrong! I am the King of an allied nation!! You can't kill me!!!"
"You're just a dog of the government! You dare—"
Kuma raised his palm calmly, his tone icy. "I am not a dog."
"I am a shield—the people's last sanctuary."
"Pad Cannon: PURGE!"
"BOOM—!!!"
The massive sound shook the entire palace. The throne room collapsed instantly, all filth turned to dust amidst the invisible oscillation!
Several Days Later - World Economy News Paper Front Page
[SHOCKING! Former King of Sorbet Kingdom Attempted to Burn Half the Population, Warlord Kuma Decisively Intervenes!]
[Citizens Cry in Testimony: "We just wanted to live. Lord Kuma's actions were justice!"]
[Exclusive Interview - Kuma: "I am no hero. I simply did not wish to see meaningless tears anymore."]
In the large photo published in the newspaper, Kuma stood before a ruin. His back was tall and steady, holding a young child in his arms, looking like a silent guardian deity.
New World - Somewhere at Sea
Countless miles of azure waves surged.
A simple small boat floated leisurely. A wooden sign hung crookedly on the bow with scrawled words: "S.S. Salty Fish."
Roy lay lazily on a sun lounger at the stern, the sea breeze brushing his hair. He flipped through the newspaper, his gaze sweeping over the report, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a faint smile.
"Good job... Kuma."
He whispered softly, his gaze looking past the newspaper toward the shimmering horizon where the sea met the sky.
"Kindness alone cannot protect those who are important."
"But power without mercy will hurt the innocent."
"So... a truly strong person must know when to be gentle, and when to unsheathe the sword."
He tossed the newspaper aside and closed his eyes to rest, the boat rising and falling gently with the waves.
Just then, Ace stepped onto the deck barefoot, holding an apple. He took a bite and asked, "Big Bro Roy..."
"Where is our next stop?"
Roy didn't open his eyes, simply spitting out a sentence lightly. "To get a Devil Fruit I've been looking for for a long time."
"Hah?!!"
Ace bit off half the apple in shock, fruit pulp sticking to the corner of his mouth.
"What fruit?! Something even you had to look for 'a long time'?!!"
"Is it... one of those legendary, heaven-defying ones?!!"
Roy smiled lazily, opening one eye. A mysterious curve played on his lips. "Mm... it might startle you."
"Relax. Once I get it, things are going to get very interesting."
The sea breeze blew, and the sails rustled softly.
The boat bearing the "Salty Fish" sign sailed quietly toward the unknown in the vast blue sea.
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