Battle on the shores (II)

 'Words have lost meaning...' thought Kuma. When the one who rises, points a finger while shouting.

'You, you are what's wrong with this world,' would be called a heretic.

An apparent affliction, in a time when insanity prevailed. A time with rules dictated hundreds of years ago by the hands of those who dwell, veiled from the pages of history.

A hand that stirs from time to time to extinguish the light of those who opened their eyes to the truth; they saw insanity, injustice, a world moulded by darkness.

Their eyes saw a cause for which they picked up their arms, a cause that doesn't seek the illusion of significance... a cause that would be extinguished all the same.

Kuma was one such man, but he didn't want his light to be extinguished. He saw it reflected, through a will that had been passed for centuries.

He sought no remembrance or glory; he was a soldier who lived alone, grieved alone, fought alone. Finally, chose to die alone.

It is a world full of evil that doesn't shy from accusation, nor does it plead its cause; it exists despite everyone, every force...

If Darkness had children, then Kuma was born to one of its eldest: Slavery. He had all the right reasons to hate, and kill when no one had shown mercy to him or his kind.

Nonetheless, he didn't do so, as he stood rooted in place, watching as Alexander with his crew fought for him.

Truth be told, he didn't want any of this, for he had already chosen how to go after ensuring his daughter's safety, but he couldn't deny that a part of him, encapsulated by the hardship he had experienced all those years, trembled.

"Why would you antagonize the World Government for someone like me?" he muttered.

He didn't see himself as someone worthy of rescue or help; his whole life had been one setback after the other, till it reached a point where he saw himself as the reason for all of it.

"Ginny, what would you have done in my place?" he asked no one, as he watched from afar Alexander pummeling Kizaru with a force that shook the island.

"Someone is fighting for me, Ginny... I wish I had someone like him to help when they took you..." Tears trickled down from his eyes, her voice calling him 'Kumachi' whispered in his ears.

"Bonney..." the light of his life came to his mind, as he remembered how he decided to sacrifice his mind for her. However, after seeing her happy look when she jumped into his arms, he couldn't deny the rebellious will that rose within him.

That wanted to defy, to go back on his agreement, for they had already taken what they needed from him; a platoon of heartless machines bearing his face was in development to bring destruction on anyone who opposed those in Mary Geoise.

In a sense, it was an unfair deal right from the start, but for Bonney, he'd do anything without even thinking about going back against his agreement.

Those rebellious thoughts within him swirled as he looked at Alexander mightily smashing Kizaru.

He was at a crossroads between honouring his agreement by leaving his daughter to fend alone against the World Government with their agents' lies that they could perhaps do something to her, turn her into a monster under their doctrine, for they didn't even shy from withholding his letters, lying about her medicine.

Another choice was to fight, and take the matter into his own hands; the world from the beginning didn't give him a fair chance at anything, but here in the small form of Alexander, he felt hope.

Kuma took a deep breath, then opened his eyes.

"The matter had gone beyond salvation, why hesitate now Kuma?" he whispered.

"Bonney, I too want to stay home with you..."

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Hancock sidestepped to the left, evading a slash that was after her neck; she wasn't reckless as to block with her arm when Gion was one of the few marines that had mastered advanced armament Haki.

Without wasting time, Hancock formed a heart shape with her hand that soon made Gion halt her series of slashes to evade the petrifying arrow attack.

"Sengoku wasn't wrong when he said you're strong, Pirate Empress..." Gion muttered.

"You too aren't shabby for a Vice Admiral." Hancock rearranged her bangs, then blew a kiss toward Gion.

"Pistol Kiss!" She then aimed with her index finger, firing several consecutive shots at the vice admiral.

Gion rapidly defended the rapid heart-shaped bullets with her coated black Meito sword; after a series of loud bangs, she jumped high out of their trajectory, and slashed, sending a pink flying sword attack that tore the wind.

The attack flew fast, but Hancock was prepared as she met it with a kick that crackled with red lightning, stopping that attack from advancing then went above her head.

In the meantime, Gion narrowed her eyes; she used Geppo, closed on Hancock, delivering an overhead strike to which Hancock took a step to the side, then jumped, and spun.

"Perfume Femur." Gion's heart sank as she heard about Hancock's named abilities; decisively she turned mid-air with her sword sheath in her hand, only to be met with a devastating kick that sent her flying.

Gion, while midair, groaned, quickly dropped the already petrified sword sheath, then struck the air with Geppo, stopping her in place.

She lifted her head to the sight of Hancock sprinting with blinding speed, then jumping, executing an overhead flying kick.

BOOM!

The air rippled violently from their collision as Gion blocked with her sword, barely able to hold her in place.

Within a fleeting moment, Gion grimaced as she felt a surge of Conqueror's Haki surge from the sole of Hancock's feet, then it travelled from her sword to her arm.

"You're not a match if you don't have Haoshoku," Hancock shouted. Red lightning crackled, then Gion's hands trembled as her sword was pushed down, a mighty kick fell on her shoulder.

BOOM!

She hit the ground with such force that the ground split open, then like a ball, she bounced, then went tumbling for a few meters.

Gion endured the crippling pain from her shoulder; like a cat, she regained her balance, and lifted her head to the sight of Hancock hurtling a fist that radiated waves of Haki.

"Alexander taught me how to throw a proper punch," she heard her speak, then pain flooded her senses as she launched back like a broken kite, with Hancock following closely like a predator about to lose her prey.

Just right beside where Hancock was fighting, Alarin could be seen. Cutlass in hand, skillfully darting around Momonga, inflicting various degrees of wounds.

Momonga could not believe that there was another strong pirate in this crew filled with monsters; the one he was fighting was more apt to the title when he fought with a half-missing face.

Using Soru, he closed on Alarin and slashed, but to his astonishment, the man deflected his strike, dove under his guard with a reared punch that smacked him in the stomach.

"Agh!" the Vice Admiral groaned in pain as he skidded tens of meters to the back, then his eyes widened; he turned around, and sent a flying attack that severed the giant skeletal hand rising from the ground through the wrist.

"Get up, Marine soldier," he heard the man speak with a malevolent voice as he approached while twirling his cutlass in his hands.

"Who are you?"

"Kidri D. Alarin," Alarin replied as he stopped a few meters away from Momonga.

"I remember back in the day, there was a young Marine that went by the name of GARP; is he still alive?" He asked.

Momonga stood while dusting his purple-striped suit.

"Admiral Garp is alive and well." He replied then took a stance, his sword pointing at the pirate.

"Hmmm, a long time has passed, yet that fool is still alive... he and Sengoku wreaked havoc on us small pirates."

Momonga narrowed his eyes while feeling surprised; the man spoke as if he had lived for a long time, which was quickly accepted when he looked at the pirate's exposed skull.

"Are you looking for revenge? Let me tell you Vice Admiral Garp is not someone you can beat," he replied.

"No, I'm not, at least Garp, and Sengoku aren't the ones that bear my hatred. I wonder if they're even still alive..." He said while tracing a finger over his sword's edge which soon lit up with Soul bewitching green flames.

"Rocks are dead, I promised the captain to tone down a bit... but, for now, you'll have to entertain me." Alarin flashed him an eerie smile, then all of a sudden he swung his sword, unleashing a wide sword arc made of spectral flames.

Momonga concentrated, then using Soru he disappeared leaving an afterimage, executed a chop that parted the arc around him.

"My flames burn quite differently, they aren't like other Logia types."

He heard the man speak; a moment later his body was coated with a vast amount of Haki as he turned around, beholding a wave of green fire that soon engulfed him whole.

"AHH!" Momonga roared in pain. The flames burned on the surface of his body; however, he didn't feel anything similar to a skin burn, but a strange unfamiliar pain came from within his being.

He rolled on the ground trying to extinguish the flames which proved to be futile.

'These aren't ordinary flames,' Momonga thought; he endured the pain that made his mind a mess, and went back to countering it with every ounce of Haki he had, regardless of the exertion that would put on his body.

"Ahh!" While grunting painfully, he continued to roll on the ground, leaving little flames on the ground, little by little the flames unstuck from his skin, which were the ones that did the most damage.

Breathing heavily, he stood up, then looked at Alarin who had been watching the other battles unfold while he writhed in pain.

"I could have killed you a hundred times," Alarin said dismissively.

"You expect me to feel grateful when we are going for each other's throat?" the Vice Admiral gritted his teeth, feeling insulted.

"You wouldn't kill me, most likely you would throw me at Impel Down," he replied then turned to Momonga who noted that strangely the ground seemed to shake.

"I won't take your life too; I'll play with you for a little longer." Alarin faintly smiled then dashed like lightning toward Momonga.

'Damn it,' cursed Momonga while barely being able to block Alarin who moved around him like a specter. At this point, he realized that the pirate was never serious, and treated him as a form of entertainment.

BOOM! A huge explosion rocked the battlefield causing everyone to look at a giant hole surrounded by large fissures.

"Cough." The sound of someone almost choking sounded from the pit; a few seconds later Admiral Kizaru slowly walked out, battered.

His suit was torn in many places, with blood furiously dropping down from his head.

"Kizaru!" Gion shouted while enduring the heavy kicks Hancock sent her way.

"Admiral!" Momonga took a brief glance that made his heart sink, which he soon paid the price for when Alarin's cutlass glanced his thigh.

"Pay attention!" Alarin spoke, without any worry about his captain.

Further to the back, Doberman didn't have the time to worry about anyone; the combined trio proved to be more than he could handle. Bloodied, he resisted the bolts of lightning only to be struck with a heavy axe and sharp claws.

Golden lightning crackled as Alexander slowly walked towards Kizaru; the invisible bolts tore the ground and reached far beyond Kizaru, who looked grim.

"What a strong Haoshoku Haki," he spoke then made a hand seal.

"Yata no Kagami."

His body turned into light particles that were about to escape to the sky when all of a sudden the intensity of Conqueror's Haki increased.

Golden Haki bolts streaked toward him, their sound as they crushed everything on their way was heard by everyone.

Then, in an instant, they reached Kizaru, and struck him hard, forcing him out of his Logia form.

"You're dangerous, Alexander..." Kizaru said, looking at the bright, almost shining golden eyes.

"Amaterasu!" Kizaru pointed with his index finger, middle finger in the air. Like a rising sun, a huge flash of light was emitted from his hand, blinding everyone for a second.

During this short instance, he had already jumped forward, a beam of light followed his trail as he appeared above Alexander who had his eyes closed.

'An opportunity!' Kizaru lifted from his leg, then fired a thick laser beam that instantly reached Alexander who without opening his eyes looked in that direction.

Before that beam could reach him, he pointed with a palm that in an instant turned Golden Black colour.

A bright light illuminated Alexander's face, then the laser beam struck his palm; a sizzling sound emanated as Kizaru gritted his teeth, then roared, increasing the power behind the attack.

"Why won't you fall! I'll guarantee Kuma's safety!"

Alexander opened his eyes and smiled faintly.

"An empty promise... He'll be safe with me." He sidestepped, and jumped high, evading the explosion that followed.

While midair, he took a brief glance at his hand where a red spot was apparent.

He struck the air, and was upon Kizaru; he hurtled a fist that radiated with immense Haki.

Kizaru struck with a hardened fist, but his eyes widened when he saw Alexander glow for a second with bright golden veins, similar to tribal marks.

"Agh," he groaned as he was sent flying backwards; in midair, he turned into light particles, he soon appeared behind Alexander who turned, and caught his kick.

He did a light spin and sent him to the ground.

Kizaru smacked the ground hard, then immediately dispersed into light, evading Alexander's stomp that flipped the earth.

Alexander didn't waste a moment, and moved like lightning; he passed above Hancock, appearing before Kizaru who had only partially reformed.

"Get down," he growled; with a hand around Borsalino's neck, he fell like a meteor, then touched the ground.

BOOM!

A shockwave passed, travelled far, and wide as everyone looked with wide eyes at Alexander who landed, then struck his face with a punch that knocked a few of the Admiral's teeth.

"Damn it," Kizaru cursed, coughing up blood, trying to disperse his body, but a glare from Alexander sent a wave of Conqueror's Haki, knocking him out of his phasing.

'I'm doomed!' thought Kizaru; his body wasn't moving like he wanted, every bone, and muscle was screaming to him for a rest, but his enemy wouldn't allow him, as he descended on him.

BOOM!

Another punch fell on his head, further sinking him into the ground.

"Why do you take a man's kindness for granted!!" Alexander roared, then blasted him once more.

BOOM!

"Why torture a father!!"

BOOM!

"WHY ENSLAVE A FREE MAN!!" He roared, struck at Kizaru's stomach, almost folding the man in half.

Without realizing it, the ground beneath their feet formed a huge pit hundreds of meters long that interrupted the other battles as they stared in shock.

A few seconds passed before Alexander walked out of the pit dragging the barely awake Borsalino.

Feeling gazes cast his way, he looked at Hancock, who was standing at a distance from the battered Gion.

Then he looked at Alarin, who was sitting atop his giant lizard, legs crossed. At his knees was Momonga's katana. The vice admiral lay sprawled on the ground, suffering from serious wounds.

Finally, he looked at the trio walking towards Alarin. On Axe's shoulder was Doberman, who had also been stripped of his weapon.

"Do you ever question your justice?" he asked while looking at his crew.

"N-never..."

"Cough," Kizaru replied between coughing blood and taking strained breaths.

"I see... you Marines lost your honour a long time ago... that is if you had any from the beginning."

"You deserve no mercy from me," he muttered, then spun and threw the Admiral into the air, who within a few seconds rose high and began his descent.

"Come." Alexander lifted his hand to the side and called. A red lightning streaked through the battlefield, finally forming into a long, spiral-shaped weapon.

He took a deep breath and assumed a throwing position. Red lightning crackled in his hand as a thick, five-meter-long lightning bolt formed. The silence on the battlefield was interrupted by a sound resembling thousands of birds chirping at once.

He calmly watched Kizaru fall. When he was just a few meters above the ground, his eyes shone, and he spun his torso.

"ADMIRAL!!" he heard Gion cry, but he paid it no heed as he was about to launch the bolt.

But someone called to him—someone he didn't expect, someone he respected deeply.

"ALEXANDER, DON'T, I'LL COME WITH YOU!!" Kuma shouted, sprinting madly toward Alexander, who paused for a second, then slowly lowered the bolt, vanishing the lightning.

"I knew you'd come around!" Gone was the murderous look on his face, replaced by a wide smile radiating joy.

"But I must warn you, we are not pirates in the traditional sense of the word. We are warriors. Most importantly, we don't care about the One Piece. Well, at least for now." Alexander, still smiling, felt the need to remind him.

Kuma, who arrived beside Alexander, paused for a moment. He never expected there to be a pirate who didn't want the One Piece.

"It doesn't matter..." Kuma replied and slowly approached Borsalino, who had his eyes half-open, dazed and looking at the sky.

"Long time no see, Borsalino," Kuma said.

"Long time no see, Kuma," Kizaru weakly replied.

A moment of silence passed between them as Gion arrived and stood guard over the Admiral's body.

"Don't come any closer!" she said, glaring grimly at Kuma.

"What do you think you're doing?" Hancock called after finally catching up to the Vice Admiral, who had run away from their battle.

"Let me ease his pain a little..." Kuma said softly to Gion.

However, she didn't seem to believe his words and pointed her sword at him as he edged closer to Kizaru.

"I said, don't come any closer!" She stood her ground, even after seeing that everyone had gathered around her, including the pirates carrying Doberman and Momonga on their shoulders.

"Calm down, woman. He said he'd like to help," Axe said and tossed Doberman to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Gion heard him clearly, but despite that, she'd never trust a pirate's word. Then she heard a sigh from Kuma, her senses warned her. Yet before she could do anything, a giant palm swept past her, and she was gone.

"What was that?" Sabine asked, her mouth open in surprise.

Kuma didn't reply. He knelt beside Kizaru and pointed with both palms. A second later, a giant paw-shaped bubble started forming outside of the Admiral's body. It kept increasing in size without stopping.

"I grieve for you, Kizaru..." Kuma said. "But I grieve even more for what we've lost."

"T-there was nothing from the beginning..." Borsalino replied, a bit more clearly this time, as he felt the pain wrecking his body slowly leave him.

Kuma shook his head. "You lie. Even if our friendship was faint, and despite us standing on opposing sides… there should've been a middle ground."

Kizaru stilled for a second, then sighed. "I've told you many times that I'm nothing but a cog stuck in a bigger machine."

"I know… and for that, you suffer..." Kuma replied, then lifted his hand from Kizaru. Before him was a giant paw-shaped bubble.

"We all suffer our lessons eventually, and I've suffered more than enough..." he said while locking eyes with Kizaru.

"I'll no longer honour our agreement!" He waved his hand, and in the next instant, the Admiral was gone. Then he got up and walked to the limp Vice Admirals, sending them away too.

"What's he doing? Are we going to let them go just like that?" Andretta asked Alexander, who shook his head.

"Let him do as he wants. After all, he is now one of us..."

They followed Kuma, who slowly walked away from the site where the battle had devastated the surroundings, to the place where the Marine soldiers lay knocked out—some even sitting and clutching their heads on the ground.

Without a word, Kuma waved his hand, and tens of people disappeared. He kept doing it for several minutes until no Marines remained, and he was dripping with sweat.

He turned back to his new company, who were smiling at him. He stood silent for a moment, then spoke.

"I hope… I won't bring you any harm by joining you..."

(A picture that summarizes Kuma's struggle.)

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Thanks for reading, now we have Kuma joining the crew, how do you estimate his power level? I think about a high Yonko Commander.