Under normal circumstances, Griffin's Eye Power shouldn't have been able to affect a powerhouse of Kuma's caliber.
But Kuma had suffered too many psychological blows in a short period and was nearly dragged into a Mental Purgatory by Barladi's words.
At the same time, Kuma had zero guard up against Griffin.
Multiple factors combined allowed Griffin to accomplish this.
...
"Sorry, I lied."
Griffin walked over to Barladi's chest, looking down at him indifferently.
"The chrysanthemum doesn't represent pure loyalty."
"It represents a memorial offering."
Shhk!!
A spear that had appeared in Griffin's hand at some unknown moment pierced straight through Barladi's heart!
"Cough..."
He coughed up a mouthful of blood but couldn't utter another word. His pupils dilated as he completely lost all signs of life.
...
...
"Mr. Griffin, why?"
"Why interfere with my judgment, and why tell me about it..."
Kuma placed Barladi's corpse on the ice surface, asking quietly.
Griffin remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly.
"Kuma, you should know what killing a Celestial Dragon represents."
...
Kuma bit his lip, speaking in a low voice: "I know... It means becoming an enemy of the World Government, an enemy of the entire world!"
"Indeed, that's the world's strongest power that has stood unshaken for 800 years. Anyone would think there's no chance of victory against such an existence."
Griffin smiled faintly, looking up to meet Kuma's gaze: "Unlike your fabricated destiny, I was truly born with the... mission to kill them all."
"Kuma, honestly, you've put me in a difficult position."
"You know too much. My initial plan was to use Bonney to threaten you into not revealing my information."
"You're just too strong!"
"So strong that without any restraints, you'd be the freest person in the entire world!"
...
...
Kuma forced a smile: "That's high praise indeed. Thank you, Mr. Griffin."
"I understand your concerns. Don't worry, I've entrusted Bonney to someone reliable."
"I will take responsibility for killing the Celestial Dragon and go to the Holy Land to receive my death sentence."
...
Killing a Celestial Dragon isn't particularly difficult for most powerhouses.
What's terrifying is what comes after.
The full-force retaliation from the Marines, the World Government's furious response... Someone must bear the consequences.
"You're misunderstanding what I'm trying to say."
Griffin shook his head: "I told you, killing Celestial Dragons is my business."
"The reason I influenced you was because even with that guy on the verge of death, I wasn't confident I could kill him."
"He was someone who knew I killed a Celestial Dragon. I wouldn't give him the slightest chance of survival."
"And you... didn't have the determination to kill him, did you?"
"I..."
Kuma wanted to say something, but Griffin raised his hand to stop him.
"None of that matters anymore. You don't need to take the fall for this - I already have the perfect candidate."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kuma sensed something and turned around.
A slender figure emerged slowly from the sea spray, each step creating ripples that spread outward.
His skin was slightly tanned, white hair swaying gently in the sea breeze, gilded by the sunset's glow.
His blood-red eyes stood out strikingly in the twilight, possessing a power that seemed to pierce through people's hearts.
That face was extraordinarily handsome, even comparable to Griffin, whom Sengoku had certified as "the most handsome in the Navy in 800 years."
Holding a blade in one hand, the other hand carried...
Luo's severed head!
...
"Pleasure to meet you, Bartholomew Kuma."
His voice was deep, instinctively giving the impression of a steady personality.
"And this is..."
"One of my Devil Fruit Abilities. You can think of it as a type of clone."
Don't ask—just attribute it to Devil Fruit Ability.
Griffin spoke.
The second reward after killing Luo.
Shaped Magic Puppet "Durability: 6/6"
[Provides a certain amount of Chakra, can exist long-term, and possesses some growth potential.]
Base stats are taken from the original host's state at the time of summoning. Appearance is customizable but unchangeable once set. Lacks self-awareness.
In simple terms...
It's a physical clone that acts according to commands. The difference from the Six Paths of Pain is that it has no range limitations and possesses its own growth potential.
The original purpose of creating such puppets was to assist the original host in training.
It can withstand six destructive blows. After the sixth, it completely disappears, and all accumulated experience returns to the original host.
It's like... how Naruto trains using Shadow Clones.
But ordinary people can't handle the experience of hundreds or thousands of Shadow Clones at once like Naruto can—that's his unique talent.
A puppet that can at least double training speed is an extremely rare commodity.
Upon obtaining this, Griffin completely discarded his previous plans for cleanup and escape.
...
"See, his appearance strongly resembles the perpetrator, right?"
Hearing this, Kuma's gaze shifted between Griffin and the puppet.
"I truly... can't tell it's artificial. Mr. Griffin's Devil Fruit Abilities are remarkably diverse..."
"If we use it as a scapegoat, could it deceive the World Government?"
...
"Scapegoat?"
Griffin shook his head: "What are you talking about, Kuma? Using such a precious clone to trade one-for-one with trash would be a massive loss."He revealed an enigmatic smile, speaking in a low voice: "What he'll become isn't a sinner, but a hunter!""
"Killing just one Celestial Dragon isn't enough. There are many more I want dead."
"Kuma, have you heard of the Lunarian Tribe?"
Kuma thought carefully. He'd read many texts—before the Celestial Dragons settled in the Holy Land, there were indeed indigenous people on the Red Line.
"I have heard of them."
"They're a rare race born with the ability to wield flames. Historically, they were regarded as gods living in the 'Land of Gods,' capable of surviving in various natural environments."
"The World Government has bounties on them. Confirmed information can yield 100 million Berries."
The reason Kuma knew this was because the bounty for his own race was similar.
...
...
"A race whose home was stolen by the Celestial Dragons and who faced extermination—it's only natural they'd seek revenge against the Celestial Dragons..."
Griffin spoke slowly, step by step approaching the puppet.
"Hmm... Since you exist to hunt 'gods,' how about I call you..."
"Ryougi Shiki?"
The puppet remained expressionless, incapable of independent thought.
It wasn't that its creator lacked the ability—compared to self-aware Shadow Clones, creating something so lifelike yet consciousness-free was actually more difficult.
Kuma couldn't help but ask, "Is there... some connection here? It sounds like a name from the Land of Wano."
Griffin shook his head and smiled, "I just remembered something amusing. Never mind, that name isn't quite suitable."
"Let's call it Kari."
The puppet...
Kari nodded, confirming this as the final name given by its master.
After a moment of silence, Kuma spoke quietly, "This should be a very secret ability, right? Is it really okay to tell me?"
...
"Because I'll need your help later. If I don't explain its true nature to you, you might put yourself in danger trying to save it."
Griffin turned to look at Kuma, "Kuma, if you can accomplish this task, as repayment, I'll tell you important information about Bonney."
Kuma originally wanted to say no repayment was necessary—that he would help regardless if asked.
But hearing Bonney's name, he held back his words.
That child... is Ginny's and mine.
Though they had met only a few times, that child had already occupied an important place in Kuma's heart.
——
——
Three hours later.
At Marine Headquarters in Marineford, a piercing alarm woke everyone who had just fallen asleep.
Sengoku's voice came through the broadcast.
Just five words made everyone's hearts freeze.
"The Celestial Dragons—have been assassinated!!!"