One Piece: With Sign-in System

Meanwhile…

In the waters not far from Drum Island, a Marine battleship was swiftly approaching.

On its deck, Admiral Kizaru, clad in his signature yellow-striped suit and wearing the Justice coat draped over his shoulders, stood with his hands casually in his pockets. He gazed at the fleeting dark slash that had illuminated the sky over the island and remarked in his characteristic lazy drawl:

"Well, well… looks like it's really there."

Beside him stood Vice Admirals Onigumo and Doberman. Onigumo's face was as cold as ever, while Doberman crossed his arms, his expression one of unyielding seriousness.

Doberman glanced at Kizaru and asked, "Admiral Kizaru, shouldn't we wait for Bartholomew Kuma?"

"No need. I'm sure he's already there," Kizaru replied with a faint smile, his eyes fixed on the island.

After all, in this world, few could rival Kizaru's speed—and Bartholomew Kuma was likely one of the rare exceptions.

…

At the rocky shoreline of Drum Island, Bartholomew Kuma stood tall and imposing. He stared silently at Drum Rockies, his expression as unchanging as stone.

…

Elsewhere, deep in the snow-covered forest at the base of the shattered Drum Rockies, Ron and his companions stood surrounded by countless unconscious Drum Kingdom soldiers scattered across the white expanse.

Dalton, the captain of the royal guards, was sent flying like a cannonball after being struck in the abdomen by Enzo's Armament Haki-infused punch.

"Master, this guy's pretty weak," Enzo muttered, turning to Ron.

He couldn't even take three punches. How boring.

Enzo sighed, clearly disappointed. What he truly craved was a fight against a worthy opponent.

Dalton coughed up blood as he struggled to rise from the snow. His eyes were wide with terror as he looked at the group—one man, four women, and a sea creature—standing before him.

"Y-You… Who are you?"

"Us?"

Ron smiled faintly. "We're just simple travelers. Though lately, the world seems to call us… the Calamity from the Skies."

The Calamity from the Skies?!

Dalton's pupils constricted in shock.

He recognized that name.

"Y-You're… that…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud explosion erupted behind him.

From the rubble of the destroyed palace, a massive figure emerged.

It was King Wapol.

Or rather, what he had become. In a desperate attempt to save himself, Wapol had overused his Munch-Munch Fruit powers, fusing his body with much of the palace structure. He had lost all semblance of sanity, transforming into a towering monster—dozens of meters tall, with much of his body made of bricks and stone.

With crazed, glowing eyes, the colossal creature roared and began charging toward Ron's group, mindlessly smashing everything in its path.

…

Kuina stepped forward, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword, Wado Ichimonji. She exhaled softly before drawing her blade.

Slash!

A glimmer of sword light flashed through the air.

In an instant, Wado Ichimonji was back in its sheath.

Click.

The sound of the sword fully returning to the scabbard echoed faintly.

For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, a sharp line appeared on Wapol's stone body.

In Dalton's stunned gaze, the monstrous figure split diagonally into two halves.

The cut was impossibly smooth.

…

"What a beautiful strike," Conis praised. "Kuina, it looks like you're not far from becoming a great swordsman."

Kuina shook her head. "No, I still have a long way to go."

"Indeed," Ron agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "That Draw-and-Sheath Slash was only effective because you harnessed the concentrated power of the Thunder Breathing technique, allowing for a momentary burst of force. While impressive, it's still far from what a true great swordsman can achieve…"

Before Ron could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of Kuina casting him a slightly irritated glance, her cheeks puffing out just a little.

Conis, Robin, and the now child-sized Bonnie were also looking at Ron with expressions of mild disappointment.

"What's wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?" Ron asked in confusion.

The pink-haired Bonnie, now appearing as a small girl and draped in her red cloak, put her hands on her hips and sighed at Ron. "Sometimes, Captain, you can be so dense."

"Indeed," Robin agreed with a faint smile.

"Absolutely," Conis chimed in, nodding as if in solidarity.

Ron and Enzo exchanged glances, matching question marks practically floating above their heads. Both were utterly baffled by the women's reaction.

…

Meanwhile, Dalton, who had finally confirmed the identity of the group, felt as if a storm was raging in his heart. He took a deep breath, threw down his weapon, and fell to his knees before the black-haired youth leading the group. Pressing his forehead firmly to the snowy ground, he cried out:

"Forgive me for offending you all! My actions are inexcusable and deserving of death!"

The group turned their attention to him, their expressions calm but curious.

Dalton continued, his voice filled with desperation, "The offense is entirely the fault of King Wapol and myself as the captain of his guard. I am willing to offer my life in atonement, but I beg you—please do not punish the innocent citizens of this kingdom!"

His resolve for self-sacrifice was clear, and his words carried the weight of genuine remorse.

…

Ron narrowed his eyes slightly at Dalton's plea. "Is that so? Then… go ahead and die."

As he spoke, he raised a finger. The snowflakes suspended in the air around them suddenly coalesced into several massive lions made entirely of snow. With an avalanche-like roar, they surged toward Dalton, burying him completely under a mountain of snow.

Watching the scene, Conis tilted her head and asked, "Is he… dead?"

"Zoan-type Devil Fruit users don't die so easily," Ron replied with a faint smile. "Besides, I'm not a bloodthirsty person. He was merely following orders. Why take a life without reason? Eliminating the one who gave the order is enough."

Kuina gave a small nod of approval. She also felt Ron's approach was the right one.

But before they could discuss further, Ron suddenly turned his head to look in another direction. A smile spread across his face. "Don't you agree… Kuma?"

The rest of the group hadn't yet registered what he meant when a massive figure seemed to appear on the open snowfield as if out of nowhere.

"Bartholomew Kuma—the Tyrant!"

Robin's eyes widened as she recognized him, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead.

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Conis gasped, clearly startled. "Why would one of the Seven Warlords be here?"

However, Bonnie's reaction was different. When she looked at Kuma, her face lit up with a mix of excitement and joy.

Kuina, momentarily stunned, quickly recalled something. Years ago, when she and Ron had traveled to the Goa Kingdom aboard a Revolutionary Army ship, Kuma had been by Dragon's side. He had even given her and Ron a few candies back then. His demeanor had been gentle and kind.

Why was someone who had once been with the Revolutionary Army now a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?

…

"It's been a long time," Ron said, addressing the man nicknamed the Tyrant.

"Six years, if I recall correctly," Kuma replied. His voice was unexpectedly soft, surprising both Robin and Conis.

Hearing that familiar gentle tone, Bonnie's eyes welled with tears. Back when Kuma and the Revolutionary Army had saved her from a war-torn nation, it was with that same comforting voice that he had spoken words of reassurance.

Kuma might have forgotten, but Bonnie never could. To her, Bartholomew Kuma was a savior.

…

"I heard what you said just now. You spoke well," Kuma said, his gaze fixed on Ron. "Mindless slaughter can never solve anything. In the past, I didn't understand this and made many mistakes."

Ron's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of curiosity flashing in them.

The past Kuma? Mistakes he made?

Could the things Bartholomew Kuma had done in the past have something to do with why he willingly allowed himself to be modified by Vegapunk?