Her strongest attack was effortlessly, even "elegantly," neutralized by the opponent, without causing him even the slightest bit of damage!
At this moment, she more deeply realized that the silent giant before her was too powerful, and anger could not bridge this despair-inducing gap in strength.
Ron's hand gently rested on her shoulder, and his steady voice entered her ear: "Calm down, Nami. Leave it to me."
Nami felt the strength on her shoulder and the undeniable tone. Though unwilling, she bit her lip, suppressed her anger, and stepped back, leaving the battlefield to Ron.
Ron stepped forward, standing opposite Kuma's massive body.
He surveyed the tragic scene around them, his gaze lingering for a moment on the unconscious Luffy, the blood-soaked Zoro, and the struggling Sanji.
Then he looked at Kuma, his tone revealing no emotion, yet carrying a hint of faint emotion:
"Bartholomew Kuma... A pleasure to meet you. Your 'greeting gift' is truly astonishing."
A faint light flickered in Kuma's eyes as he seriously scrutinized Ron. On his usually expressionless face, a hint of subtle gravity seemed to appear.
"Ron, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Holder of Pluton, destroyer of Enies Lobby..."
Kuma listed Ron's "crimes": "Every single one you've committed is enough for the World Government to mobilize all its forces to completely eradicate you. Your very existence is the greatest threat to world order."
Facing Kuma's almost condemnatory remarks, Ron merely shook his head gently, a calm, indifferent smile on his face.
"There's no need for such high-sounding nonsense."
The instant his words fell—
Boom!!!
An indescribable, terrifying pressure, like a tangible tsunami, burst forth from Ron!
That was the pure kingly quality, transcending all beings—Conqueror's Haki!
But this Haki was not an indiscriminate shock; Ron, with precise control, made it bypass all members of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Like a living entity, it transformed into an invisible torrent of destruction, sweeping towards the surrounding battlefield and the distant survivor pirates secretly watching!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As if mowed down by an invisible scythe, all "outsiders" affected by this Haki, without even a muffled groan, rolled their eyes, slumped to the ground in droves, and completely lost consciousness!
In an instant, the entire chaotic and noisy battlefield became utterly silent.
Aside from the Straw Hat and Kuma himself, not a single "outsider" remained standing!
Ron remained calmly in place, as if he had only done a trivial thing.
He looked at Kuma and said faintly:
"Now, it's quiet. We can have a proper 'talk'."
Even on Kuma's usually unruffled face, a barely perceptible ripple appeared, and his deep voice carried a hint of solemnity:
"Such powerful Conqueror's Haki... Such precise control, truly lives up to its reputation."
He acknowledged Ron's strength, but his massive body remained as steady as a mountain. "However, Ron, this Haki alone is not enough to take the Straw Hat from my hands."
Facing Kuma's firm stance, Ron merely smiled calmly. With a flick of his wrist, a crystal test tube, the panacea, glowing with a brilliant, starlit liquid and emanating a gentle yet immense life energy, appeared in his palm.
The appearance of this potion instantly drew Kuma's gaze. His eyes fixed on the potion, and his thoughts paused for a moment, clearly recognizing the extraordinary nature of the item.
"Kuma," Ron said, toying with the panacea in his hand, his tone calm but direct, "there are no outsiders here now. So, let's speak frankly."
"I know your true purpose for this trip. And I also know that your purpose... has actually already been achieved."
Ron's words were like stones dropped into a calm lake, making the barely-standing Zoro, the just-risen Sanji, and Nami and others behind him all freeze.
"Purpose?" Zoro endured the severe pain, raising his head with difficulty.
"Achieved?" Sanji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of confusion.
Ron didn't turn back, continuing to look at Kuma, his voice clear enough for every crewmate to hear: "Luffy's crewmates, their performance, their choices... aren't they enough to prove it?
Every one of them is a crewmate worth entrusting your back to, even your life. This 'test' should end now."
"A test?!"
"A trial?!"
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper exclaimed almost simultaneously!
Everyone's eyes, as they looked at Kuma again, had completely changed!
Shock, anger, disbelief... All sorts of emotions intertwined!
This terrifying Shichibukai, who had utterly defeated them and nearly killed Sanji and Zoro... his true purpose was not to kill, but... a bizarre "trial"?!
Zoro fiercely gripped the wado ichimonji in his hand. Due to the excessive force, his wound reopened and bled again, but he paid no mind, only staring fixedly at Kuma:
"You… you almost killed us… almost killed Curly Brows… just for… a trial?!"
Sanji lit a cigarette. In the swirling smoke, his eyes were incredibly complex. In the end, he just Tsked, saying nothing, but his tense body relaxed slightly.
Kuma silently faced the varied emotions in everyone's gazes, especially Ron's all-seeing eyes. His massive body remained silent, but the invisible killing intent had, without anyone noticing, disappeared.
Ron's words tore away all disguises, laying the core truth bare before everyone.
Upon hearing this,
Kuma's tall body suddenly trembled, his pupils slightly constricted, and his habitually calm face shattered like ice, revealing an undeniable agitation.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only silently and deeply cast his gaze upon the glowing potion in Ron's hand.
Ron met his gaze, his voice not loud but every word clear, as if each syllable struck a chord in the other's taut heart:
"You gave up everything, bore the name of 'Shichibukai,' and surrendered yourself to the World Government... You endured the misunderstanding of the world, even sacrificed your freedom and dignity, drifting alone across the vast sea, treading every corner that might hide hope."
He paused, his tone tinged with a complex emotion: "Everything you did was not for power or ambition, but merely to secure a slim chance of survival for your daughter."
He paused, his tone tinged with a complex emotion: "This heavy and persistent paternal love... when I first heard of it, I was deeply shaken and moved."
Before he finished speaking, the calm on Kuma's face completely disintegrated.
He suddenly looked up, his eyes for the first time revealing an incredible shock. His massive body even leaned slightly forward due to emotional agitation, and his voice carried an unprecedented urgency and surprise: "You... who exactly are you?!"
He stared intently at Ron: "I've never mentioned this to anyone! How do you know? About my daughter... this secret is known only to a very few who could never possibly leak it!"
…