Chapter 397: The Promise Across Time
One day, a doctor finally recognized this disease, [Sapphire Scale], and from Bonney's symptoms, he judged that she probably wouldn't live past the age of ten.
But Bonney had accidentally overheard this. In a panic, Kuma could only lie to her, saying that the disease would be cured when she turned ten.
This made Bonney eager to grow up quickly.
A year later, the king who had been driven out of the country returned.
Imitating the Goa Kingdom's burning of the Grey Terminal, he tried to burn all the poor people in the south to death. The great fire caused many civilian casualties.
This act made Kuma completely enraged. He single-handedly defeated the army and broke into the royal palace.
Although he drove the king away again, this also brought a major crime upon him. In order not to implicate Bonney, Kuma decided to leave her in the church, to be taken care of by the villagers.
He himself went out to sea alone, to find a way to cure the Sapphire Scale disease.
The Boin Archipelago, full of strange plants, where even the island itself was a plant.
The holy land of meteorological research, the small sky island of Weatheria.
The war-torn Kuraigana Island.
The Torino Kingdom, rich in various herbs, where giant birds and local tribes fought endlessly.
The Tequila Wolf, which had begun construction of a sea bridge 700 years ago.
Many more years passed. Kuma's footprints had covered the entire sea, but he still had nothing to show for it.
Until one time, he encountered the Revolutionary Army again.
Kuma learned from Dragon that Vegapunk had just changed his base, and the base's defenses were weak. It was the time to take advantage of the vacuum. Perhaps the other could find a way.
Kuma returned to the Sorbet Kingdom and, taking Bonney with him, came to Egghead. He finally successfully infiltrated the research institute and met Vegapunk in his laboratory.
"Eh—! What a big head!!"
Looking at the big head that was almost touching the ceiling, Bonney and Luffy's eyes popped out in shock at the same time.
Soon, Kuma directly stated his identity and purpose. Vegapunk, surprised, also walked over and seriously observed Bonney's condition, then took Kuma alone to another room.
"I didn't expect you to break in here. This is the territory of the World Government. It would be a big deal if your racial identity were to be discovered."
"Bonney doesn't have much time left. I had to come."
"I see. I understand."
Vegapunk nodded, admiring Kuma from the bottom of his heart. He also didn't beat around the bush and said directly, his long tongue hanging out:
"I do have a way to treat her illness."
Hearing these words, Kuma's heart trembled, and the light in his eyes wavered.
To find a cure for Bonney, he had traveled the whole world. Everywhere he went, he held a glimmer of hope, and at the same time, he was prepared to accept disappointment at the last moment.
The moment hope truly descended, Kuma even found it a little hard to believe. Tears of hope flowed out, and his voice trembled.
"C-can it really be cured?"
"Ah. Although it will take a relatively long time, it can be cured."
Vegapunk nodded again, and his tone changed as he added:
"But the treatment requires a very high cost. I'm afraid you can't afford it. How about we make a deal?"
"A deal?"
"Mm. Provide your blood for my cloning experiments. That way, the surgery fee will be written off..."
Vegapunk nodded and said very directly.
In his conception, the future soldiers could fire lasers and strike enemies with great power. Their steel bodies could act as shields to protect civilians.
Kuma's strength was beyond doubt. He was one of the most perfect bloodlines in Vegapunk's mind.
"The bloodline of the Buccaneer race... if this 'curse' can one day become a power to protect others, I suppose that is the meaning of my existence."
Kuma clenched his fist, a gentle look on his face as he said with a self-deprecating, light laugh:
"After all, I am just a weak pacifist."
After hearing his explanation and understanding his original intention for inventing the future soldiers, Kuma very decisively agreed.
Vegapunk was very excited and also very grateful for Kuma's dedication. He silently noted down the name 'Pacifista' in his heart.
However, they did not know that everything they were discussing was being secretly overheard by someone—the Five Elder, Saint Saturn!
Before long, Saint Saturn dispatched Kizaru to the laboratory and brought his communication.
He did not intend to stop this private deal between Vegapunk and Kuma.
A clone army based on the Buccaneer bloodline was undoubtedly what he also wanted, but he proposed another condition.
"He is to become a Royal Warlord and serve the World Government. In addition, Kuma must accept modification and have all his consciousness erased!"
"After the surgery is over, Bonney will be held hostage by the World Government. They are forbidden to meet until Kuma's modification is complete. Otherwise, Bonney will be erased!"
Saint Saturn's cold and ruthless voice echoed in the laboratory. Although Vegapunk fiercely objected, he had no power to resist before the Five Elders.
Erasing his consciousness was undoubtedly equivalent to death, and from then on, he would be completely reduced to a killing tool of the World Government.
Kizaru, at the side, said with the intention of watching a show, and couldn't help but look at Kuma.
"Yare, yare. But can he really accept such harsh conditions?"
"I can. I agree."
Kuma spoke in a low voice.
"Wait a minute, Kuma!"
Vegapunk turned back anxiously and shouted:
"This will make it so you can never see Bonney again! And if you lose your consciousness!"
"It's fine."
Kuma turned his head to look at the room outside, silently watching the innocent Bonney for a moment, and a corner of his mouth lifted into a gentle smile.
"In my world, there is nothing more important than her. At least I still have half a year to spend with her."
"If I can't save Bonney, then any place is hell for me."
Kuma turned his head back to look at Vegapunk, a gentle smile on his face.
"I just hope you can keep these things a secret from Bonney. The truth is too cruel for a child."
"But..."
Vegapunk was at a loss for words. He shook his head and sighed helplessly.
"...isn't this just as cruel for you?"
"..."
Kizaru fell silent. His eyes under his sunglasses couldn't help but be moved, and his expression, for once, became a little serious.
The modification would take two years, while Bonney's treatment would take half a year. Just like that, the father and daughter stayed here. Kizaru also stayed behind as the supervisor of this deal.
The innocent Bonney also brought a lot of fun to this tedious laboratory. Soon, she became friends with everyone here.
They played together, ate together, and danced the Nika dance together. Luffy would also self-entertain and dance with them.
The happy days always passed quickly. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Bonney, having finished her surgery, was sent back to the Sorbet Kingdom, living under the surveillance of CP agents.
Kuma, who had undergone preliminary modification, also went out to sea again and began to fulfill his duties as a Warlord. Although he had not yet completely lost his consciousness, he was also unable to go and meet Bonney.
There was someone he missed and who missed him in the distance. Although he traveled the seas alone, Kuma would not feel lonely.
He would also often write letters, passing on the places he had been and what he had seen to Bonney. Although he did not know that these letters were all intercepted by CP agents and never reached Bonney.
One time, he came to Windmill Village in the East Blue and secretly watched the grown-up Luffy in the forest.
Following his perspective, Luffy also saw his former self. This feeling was a little strange. He couldn't help but jump up and greet himself. Of course, he received no response.
Until the Sea Circle Calendar 1520.
In this year, many major events happened on the sea. One of the topics that the whole world paid the most attention to was the formation of the 'Straw Hat Pirates'.
The moment they entered the Grand Line, they had been continuously creating major incidents, and soon, they had stirred up a news storm.
It was also here that Luffy learned that Kuma had been secretly watching them all along.
When the news of the Enies Lobby incident spread across the sea, even Kuma was startled.
To save his companion, a pirate crew of less than ten people had directly broken into one of the three major institutions of the World Government.
"Fought against ten thousand garrison troops, defeated CP9, and declared war on the World Government in a direct confrontation with a Buster Call..."
Kuma held the newspaper and murmured. He slowly looked up, his expression a little dazed as he looked at the sky.
"If I had been as determined to save you back then..."
During this period, Kuma would also return to Egghead from time to time to continue his modification.
Gradually, the flesh and blood on his body gradually turned into cold metal, and his consciousness was also slowly fading.
Later, he had another contact with the Straw Hat crew on Thriller Bark, and at the same time, he learned that Bonney had gone out to sea and become a pirate.
To be honest, he was a little shocked and also very worried, but more than that, he was proud of Bonney.
Until a few days before the Summit War was about to break out, on Egghead, Kuma was about to undergo his final modification.
In the laboratory, Vegapunk looked at Kuma, who was sitting silently on the modification table. The two were silent for a long time.
"After this time, you will completely lose your self-awareness. This is almost the same as death."
"Mm. I know. Thank you for your care all these years."
With that, Kuma fell silent again.
Faced with his impending fate, his heart was calm. He just sat on the operating table, staring blankly at the wall.
"It's time, Kuma. Lie down."
Vegapunk adjusted the instruments. Everything was ready for the surgery.
Just then, Kuma suddenly spoke:
"Vegapunk."
"Hmm?"
"Do you still remember the legend of Nika?"
"Of course. I have a photographic memory."
Vegapunk nodded and quietly looked at Kuma, waiting for him to speak.
"When I was a child, my father often encouraged me with the legend of Nika. And so, Nika also became my faith."
Kuma looked at his palm, clenched it, and said:
"Later, I got the ability of the Paw-Paw Fruit. I thought I could be like Nika, using this ability to bring joy and liberation to others."
"But recently, I suddenly realized that I don't have that kind of reckless courage."
Kuma slowly relaxed his fist, a hint of loss in the depths of his eyes, and said with emotion:
"I can never become Nika..."
The laboratory was quiet for a while.
Vegapunk seemed to want to express some opinion on the legend of Nika but hesitated, and in the end, he could only comfort him:
"That's just a legend. you've done enough, Kuma."
"Just a legend..."
Kuma said no more. He slowly lay down, quietly looking at the ceiling. The bright light of the operating table was a little dazzling on his face.
"Vegapunk, I believe that Nika is real."
"Is that so?"
"Mm. Do you think... he will come and liberate me?"
"Kuma, you..."
Hearing these words, Vegapunk's eyes suddenly moved, a little in disbelief.
"Ah. Actually, I'm very unwilling, Vegapunk."
"I really want to!"
"I really want to stay by Bonney's side forever!!"
Tears fell along with his voice.
Kuma pressed his lips together forcefully, his face already streaked with tears and snot. His trembling hands gripped Vegapunk tightly, and he cried out in a hoarse, heart-wrenching voice:
"I actually want to live, Vegapunk!!"
The voice that had been suppressed for so many years finally erupted at the last moment of his life.
Only then did Vegapunk realize.
Kuma's life, which had been filled with despair and helplessness, had been yearning for salvation all this time!
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Kuma...!"
Vegapunk clenched his hands tightly and lowered his head forcefully. He really couldn't look Kuma in the eye.
He couldn't even save the person before him, yet he dreamed of bringing peace to the world. His heart was filled with guilt.
Soon, the laboratory returned to a solemn silence.
And Kuma's memory ended here.
Later, he ejected his own memory, and his self-awareness also completely disappeared with the final modification.
The scene before Luffy's eyes began to blur, and darkness gradually encroached on him.
A white figure stood in the darkness for a long time, until everything around him had become quiet, and the beating of his heart became exceptionally clear.
"So this is your true feeling... I understand..."
An unprecedented determination flashed in Luffy's eyes. He slowly grinned.
"Leave the rest to me, Kuma!"
In a laboratory on Egghead, Luffy, who was lying on a table, slowly opened his eyes. The blurry ceiling gradually became clear.
He sat up, his gaze sweeping over the room. The first thing he saw were Uta, Pudding, Vegapunk, and Aokiji.
In a corner, there were also three transparent bubbles, each containing a white-haired child with black wings on its back.
"Long time no see! Hee hee hee! I'm back!"
Luffy grinned cheekily and waved. But he soon discovered that something was wrong.
Uta and the others were all standing a few meters away, looking at him with a mix of disbelief and shock.
"L-Luffy... you just now..."
Uta held her hands to her heart with worry. Suddenly, she didn't know how to describe the change just now.
Luffy looked bewildered and scratched his head.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just... you seemed to be melting just now, and then you turned white... your hair, your clothes, and the flames..."
Uta gestured anxiously, trying to explain clearly.
"You mean that?"
Hearing this, Luffy roughly understood what she meant. He just grinned casually and jumped down from the table, looking left and right.
"Where are the others?"
"Oh right...!"
Speaking of this, Pudding hurriedly spoke:
"We're surrounded by the Marines, Luffy! Sanji and the others have all gone out to fight!"
(End of chapter)
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