Egghead Island, Research Layer. Bartholomew Kuma stirred awake, his vision blurry as he blinked against the harsh light. He found himself strapped to an operating table, secured by thick belts, with infusion tubes snaking across his body. A metal helmet bristling with wires rested heavily on his head. "Has Vegapunk not erased my memory and personality yet?" he murmured to himself.
Assessing his predicament, Kuma made no move to break free. Though his powerful frame could easily snap the restraints, he remained still. Escape wasn't an option. If he fled, Bonney and the people of the Sorbet Kingdom would face the wrath of the World Government. His fate had been sealed by Satan Saint, and he had no choice but to accept it.
The sharp click of the operating room door interrupted his thoughts. Kuma assumed Vegapunk had arrived to complete the final modifications. But—
"Dad! You're finally awake!" The voice sent a jolt through Kuma's body. His heart surged with shock and joy. In an instant, he tore through the restraints, sitting upright on the table. His gaze locked onto the pink-haired girl rushing to his side. "Bonney… Bonney! What are you doing here? You should be in the Sorbet Kingdom!"
Bonney wiped her tears, her voice trembling. "Dad, I came to Egghead Island to help you recover your memory…" As she spoke, Kuma listened intently, piecing together the events that had unfolded since his transformation into a cyborg. He removed the metal helmet, pressing a hand to his aching head, his brow furrowed in thought.
"So, Sephiroth and Vegapunk restored my personality and memory," he muttered. "But I can't recall anything after the modifications were completed…"
"Sephiroth said he erased those memories to help you recover better," Bonney explained.
"Is that so?" Kuma sighed deeply, regret heavy in his voice. "Bonney, I'm sorry. I wasn't a good father. I left you to face so much alone."
"No! You're the best dad in the world," Bonney insisted, her voice breaking. "Without you, I wouldn't have made it past ten years old."
Their heartfelt reunion was interrupted by a dry cough. "Ahem. I hate to intrude, but since I'm here, I'll have to cut this short." Sephiroth leaned casually against the doorway, his silver hair catching the light. "Bartholomew Kuma, should I say it's our first meeting? Or long time no see? Hmm. Given you were unconscious during Marineford and the Holy Land summit, I suppose this counts as our first encounter."
Kuma nodded, studying the young man before him. "Hmm. Strange as it is, I suppose this is our first meeting. Though I've heard much about you from Dragon. Your revolutionary ideas—the ones you shared with him—were enlightening. There's much I'd like to discuss with you."
Sephiroth scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Ah, that… I was young and reckless back then. Said a lot of impractical things. Let's not dwell on it." His expression turned slightly awkward as he recalled his earlier efforts to persuade Dragon, all in the name of expanding the Umbrella Corporation and bolstering the Revolutionary Army's strength.
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The great persuader found himself increasingly dragged into refining the Revolutionary Army's concepts and action plans by Dragon. The mental strain left his head pounding like a drum. Eventually, his patience wore thin.
"Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth!" he snapped at Dragon. "Instead of pestering me with irrelevant questions, focus on the revolution. Find your own path forward."
Dragon, convinced by this logic, threw himself into the cause. He dedicated himself to overthrowing tyrannical kingdoms one by one, striving to build a system of freedom and democracy fit for the One Piece world.
Over the years, the Revolutionary Army toppled thirty-two regimes—twenty of them World Government affiliates. They established the Liberal Party, abolished feudal slavery, and tirelessly championed their ideals.
Every member followed Dragon's lead, advancing the revolution with unwavering determination. Watching this, Sephiroth hesitated. His own theoretical knowledge paled in comparison to a true revolutionary like Kuma.
Kuma chuckled and shook his head.
"No," he said firmly.
"Dragon remains deeply grateful for your guidance. He credits you for the Revolutionary Army's progress."
Sephiroth coughed awkwardly. "Ahem—! Actually, I came to ask if you'd meet with Dragon after regaining your memories. There's something I need to discuss with him…"
Kuma met his gaze without evasion.
"I made a promise," he admitted. "If I cured Bonney's illness, I'd rejoin the Revolutionary Army and serve Dragon. So the title of Warlord… I'm afraid it no longer suits me."
Sephiroth tilted his head. "You're both a Revolutionary and a Warlord. Do those roles conflict?"
Kuma's voice hardened. "The Revolutionary Army exists to overthrow the World Government's tyranny—to free nations and people from its grip. To ensure the Celestial Dragons fall forever."
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed.
"Fall forever?" he echoed. "Most Celestial Dragons are already dead. Their era has ended. A new age dawns—which is why I intend to speak with Dragon about the future."
"Is that so?" Kuma murmured. "The future…"
Kuma looked thoughtful, muttering to himself, not knowing what he was thinking.