Akainu approached Kizaru and asked quietly,
"Why are you here?"
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, a lazy smile on his face,
"It's not just me who's here…"
Boom!
A massive paw‑shaped shockwave erupted across the battlefield, causing countless Pirates to collapse with severe internal injuries at once.
That was the power of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, also known as the Paw‑Paw Fruit, a Paramecia‑type Devil Fruit that allows its user to repel anything with paw‑like pads on their hands. The pressure of compressed air or objects repelled can be devastatingly destructive.
The colossal figure stood with his huge paw raised, eyes locked on Momonga and the others who were struggling against Barrett's onslaught.
The situation for Momonga's group was grim. Huoshaoshan and Dalmatian lay motionless on the ground, their fates unknown.
Barrett, a user of a Fusion Fruit that allowed him to merge his Armament Haki with Haoshoku Haki to enter a brutal "Devil Form," was at the height of his power. In that state he resembled a fearsome bipedal Tyrannosaurus, making it impossible for Momonga and the others to withstand his assaults head‑on.
Onigumo was the worst off. Seven of his eight swords had been absorbed into Barrett's fused form, leaving him barely able to fight. The single sword left in his hand had a large nick from when he had barely managed to slash Barrett's back.
Seeing his allies struggling, Bear propelled himself forward, placing himself directly between Barrett and the others.
Barrett was locked in combat, but suddenly this massive figure appeared before him, catching him off guard.
True to his nature, Bear didn't speak. Without hesitation, he struck Barrett across the face with a devastating blow.
With Haki reinforcing his palm, Barrett was not flung away, but the sheer force of Nikyu Nikyu no Mi recoil sent him spinning repeatedly across the battlefield.
The battered Marines near the clash nearly cheered with relief. Their bodies were bruised and bloodied from Barrett's earlier onslaught, but now hope flickered again.
Barrett was formidable. He had clashed with Rayleigh before and held his ground. Yet now this unexpected interference changed the tide.
Despite the blow, Barrett was not enraged, but intrigued.
"Not bad," he drawled, grinning, "finally someone decent has shown up!"
Bear's expression remained unreadable. He opened his massive palm, revealing paw pads that looked deceptively soft but possessed incredible repelling power.
Barrett smirked and said,
"Bartholomew, I know you. Your Devil Fruit is interesting."
Bear did not reply. Without hesitation, he swung his paw back toward Barrett's back.
Barrett merely sneered, and seven dark swords erupted from his body to intercept Bear's strike.
Those swords were weapons he had absorbed from Onigumo, now integrated into his fused form.
When that attack was blocked, Bear instinctively withdrew his hand, preparing for the next clash.
Barrett pulled his dark swords back into his body and manifested blades from his fists. With a roar, he leapt forward and struck at Bear's chest with blazing speed.
Bear was forced into a defensive stance, using his paw pads to absorb the brunt of Barrett's attack. Though Bear's enormous size and Devil Fruit durability prevented fatal injury, Barrett's blows were too fast to ignore.
He pushed Barrett back with a shockwave before Bear's own palm contraction expelled a burst of red‑tinged compressed air.
Then Bear inhaled deeply and flicked both massive paws outward, sending a barrage of large paw‑shaped air bursts toward Barrett.
Barrett used his Haki‑reinforced fists to disperse the incoming air bubbles, but among them was one glowing red orb. Thinking it merely stronger than the rest, he struck it with a punch.
The moment his iron‑clad fist touched the red orb, the bubble dissolved into his skin.
Barrett's eyes widened as his body shook violently, an unbearable sting spreading through his chest.
At that moment, Momonga and the others seized their chance. They appeared above Barrett and slashed downward with all their remaining strength.
Yet Barrett's endurance was terrifying. His deep purple skin gleamed like metal, nearly immune to the strikes that barely left shallow marks.
Momonga, eyes wide in shock, cried out in disbelief,
"Impossible!"
The next moment Barrett seized him by the ankle and hurled him away with brutal force.
Bear leapt forward and caught Momonga before he hit the ground.
The other Marines were not so fortunate. Barrett was relentless; Onigumo's hair was nearly pulled out, and Doberman and Strawberry were driven into helpless rolls, utterly defeated.
After dispatching them, Barrett charged Bear once more. Bear planted his massive paw pads to block the storm of punches, but even his strength was insufficient to press a true counterattack.
Although Bear's physique and Nikyu Nikyu no Mi power were formidable, he could only guard, not strike effectively.
The more Barrett fought, the more exhilarated he became. Absorbing weapons from defeated Marines, his body grew larger and more imposing until he became a towering warrior, a living steel giant even Bear struggled against.
Momonaga lay on the ground, breathing heavily, trying to rise, but even moving was agony. Picking up a weapon was out of the question now.
Across the battlefield, the Pirates' main forces far outnumbered the Marines. The likes of Jabba and his elites each found worthy opponents among the naval ranks.
Ordinary Marines were helpless, and the danger facing the rest of the Navy only increased.
Kaji was battered and bruised from a struggle with Joz and Satch, while not far away Ginny and Gion stood back to back against members of the Whitebeard Pirates led by Vista.
Both women were breathless. Gion's right arm bore a deep sword wound down to the bone, originally fair skin now soaked in crimson.
Ginny looked at the injury with guilt — moments earlier, she had faced Izo with her firearm. Vista's sudden charge had nearly taken her head off if not for Gion shielding her with her own body.
Gion noticed Ginny's worried gaze and forced a thin smile,
"Ginny, why are you staring at my arm? This injury is nothing."
She said it lightly, but her trembling arm betrayed her pain. The wound was severe and demanded immediate attention.
Barely had she finished speaking when the Pirates renewed their assault.
Lloyd had been tracking Ginny's location through the chaos. Seeing the two women in danger roused something in him, and he intended to intervene.
But Whitebeard's fury had reached a fever pitch. If Lloyd moved, Whitebeard would follow instantly.
For now, someone else would have to temporarily restrain Whitebeard so Lloyd could act.