At the center of the laboratory is a large operating table.
Beside the operating table is a surgical chair.
A woman is bound to the chair.
Her body is covered with gemstone-like substances, blue in color, each particle distinct.
However, these gems on her body don't add any beauty to the woman; rather, they make her appear terrifying and grotesque.
The woman struggles desperately, "Stop! Stop!!"
On the operating table lies a small baby.
Next to the operating table, an old man with a thick beard and a small black hat stands quietly.
He holds a syringe in his hand, inserting the needle into the baby's arm, then slowly injects the liquid into the baby's body.
"Waahh!!"
Perhaps from the pain, the young baby begins to cry loudly.
"Bonney!!"
The woman roars, "Scum!! Why aren't you dead yet? People like you should just die!!"
"Unfortunately, woman," The old man, one of the Five Elders, the Science Warrior Saturn, speaks lightly, "Gods do not die."
"And you should consider yourselves fortunate, you and your daughter. To die for my experiment is the greatest luck you two will ever have in your lives."
"Ahhh!!"
The woman struggles desperately, her arms and ankles, bound by strong shackles, are worn raw, and blood pours out.
Saturn doesn't care about the woman's anger. He quietly watches the baby on the operating table, "Besides, what's being done to this child is a very interesting experiment."
"That guy, Vegapunk, is researching how to attach a Devil Fruit to a lifeless object. It's a fascinating topic, with two key points: First, how to attach it, and second, how to extract the power from the Devil Fruit."
"I've extracted the power of the Age-Age Fruit and injected it into this child. If she truly gains the ability, it means I can proceed to the next step of my experiment."
"Wahhhhhh!"
The sound of the baby's cries echoed through the empty laboratory.
"Bonney!"
A woman's desperate wail mixed with the cries.
"Ginny!!"
Anger erupted like a volcano as a towering figure burst through the wall, roaring in fury.
"....."
The woman froze suddenly, turning her head in disbelief.
Saturn also turned, confused, only to meet a dark fist coming towards him.
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
Kuma roared in fury.
The regret and sorrow of losing a loved one, the anger and hatred at seeing his beloved endure such torment, all converged in that one punch.
The dark fist slammed heavily into Saturn's face.
In an instant, it caved in his face—no, it seemed like it crushed his entire head!
Saturn turned into a projectile, creating rings of sonic boom clouds as he crashed through the opposite wall and flew out.
"Ginny!!"
Kuma slapped the air, instantly teleporting to Ginny's side, who was still lying on the operating table. He couldn't afford to waste even a second.
But upon seeing Ginny in her current state, Kuma couldn't help but shed tears.
She had once been so full of life.
Ginny stared blankly at the tear-streaked face in front of her. "...Kuma, am I... am I dreaming?"
Every night, I dream of this scene.
"It's me! Ginny! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!"
Kuma apologized loudly, reaching out to tear away the bindings that held Ginny, gently picking her up. "I'm sorry I'm only coming to save you now!"
It's real!
It's really Kuma coming to save me!
Tears instantly surged from Ginny's eyes.
But.
"No!"
Ginny suddenly struggled fiercely, covering her face with her hands, twisting her head in desperation. "Don't look at me! Kuma! Don't look at me!"
"It's okay, Ginny will always be the same Ginny."
Kuma carefully held his beloved, wiping away his tears as he spoke. "You'll always be my favorite Ginny."
The woman's body stiffened for a moment before trembling uncontrollably. She threw herself into Kuma's arms, despite their large size difference.
"Kuma! You shouldn't have come! Why did you come now? Why did it take so long! I was so scared! I've been so scared!!"
"It's okay now. Everything's fine."
Kuma gently patted her back, trying to comfort her.
"My baby!"
Ginny suddenly looked up, panic in her voice. "My baby!"
"The baby is here with me."
Dragon was holding the little infant from the operating table. "She's fine too."
"Thank goodness!"
Ginny sniffed, murmuring softly. "Thank goodness…"
"Ginny, let's go home."
Kuma spoke softly.
"You're not going anywhere!"
A massive explosion erupted suddenly, and the walls and ceiling were obliterated, exposing the sky above.
"What is this?"
Dragon, in a desperate move, raised his hands to create a massive Haki shield to block the shockwave from the explosion. He looked up in shock at the enormous creature before him.
Saturn had transformed into a giant spider with huge bull horns on its head.
Rather than a person with powers, he seemed more like a demon from myth and legend.
The most crucial thing was that this guy was completely unharmed! It was as if the full-force punch from Kuma just now hadn't caused any damage at all!
"Hmm? Dragon, from the Revolutionary Army."
Saturn calmly observed Dragon and his companion. "And you're still alive after the incident at God's Valley? How dare you come to the home of the gods and cause trouble. You are beyond redemption."
Whoosh—
Dragon slowly exhaled, subtly scanning the surroundings.
The walls had been mostly destroyed, and the ground was twisted and deformed, no longer reflective enough to act as a mirror.
Miss Brûlée was no longer of any use.
"Kuma, it seems..."
Dragon tore off his cloak. "We have to take care of one of the Five Elders right here!"
Kuma said nothing, his gaze locked onto Saturn.
It was him. He had tortured Ginny like this!
"Foolish ants, daring to challenge a god?"
Saturn's expression didn't change at all. But, he had secretly activated some kind of power.
In an instant, thick smoke rose, and four massive magic circles formed.
"What?"
Dragon froze.
In the blink of an eye, four colossal creatures emerged from the magic circles.
A giant skeletal horse.
A massive bird with wings spread wide.
A roaring giant insect.
And a gigantic wild boar with terrifying tusks, exuding overwhelming power, just by standing there!
"…"
Dragon's eyes widened.
The Five Elders?
Did all of them arrive in an instant?
"Since you've come, then die here."
The enormous wild boar, Warcury, spoke lightly. "Coincidentally, the Revolutionary Army is an existence this world does not need."
"..."
Dragon took a deep breath.
He handed the baby over to Kuma. "Kuma, take Ginny and the child and go first. I'll stay behind and cover."
"But, Mr. Dragon!" Kuma tried to argue.
"Now's not the time to hesitate."
Dragon's voice was firm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The Bone Horse transformed into its orc form, and Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro pushed up his glasses, drawing his demonic sword from his waist. "At this point, where do you think you're running to?"
"Great Storm!!"
With both hands, Dragon pushed upward toward the sky. A massive tornado instantly formed, a towering whirlwind that swallowed everything around it, sending rocks and sand flying in all directions.
"Kuma! Now!"
Kuma gritted his teeth. "Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Dragon!"
Using the powers of the Paw-Paw Fruit, Kuma shot up into the sky like lightning.
"Not so fast!"
However, someone had already charged at them!
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's speed was absurdly fast.
But...
"Storm Dragon King!!"
The violent winds gathered before him, and Dragon suddenly threw a punch.
Boom!!
His fist collided with the blade, sending black lightning surging.
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro grunted in pain, and was sent flying.
Dragon raised an eyebrow. Not so strong after all.
He turned around. Kuma was already far off. The Five Elders shouldn't be able to catch up now.
It was time for him to leave.
Turning into a gust of wind, Dragon shot into the sky.
"Don't think you can escape!"
But one of the Five Elders could still fly.
Transforming into a monstrous bird with the wings of Itsumade, he flew toward them, spewing flames from his mouth.
Dragon sneered.
Let's see if you can catch me.
**********
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