Bartholomew Kuma is already dead.

_________________

Sorbet Kingdom, Inside the art store:

Large tears fell from Little Bonney's eyes like watery jewels in that moment.

"W-Why..?!"

Seeing Doflamingo in the manga saying that her father had died, Bonney felt her heart shatter.

Those memories she summoned from another future using her Devil Fruit ability at that time when they were reading the Thriller Bark arc were not just illusions, right?

Kuma's heart melted as he saw his precious daughter cry like this, and all he could do was to gently comfort her.

"Don't cry, my dear, it's all not real, just a story on paper-"

The memory that seemed distant and close at the same time, when her mother died in his arms, made Bartholomew Kuma's words catch in his throat.

Just like what happened with the Gorosei a moment ago, it happened to him now. The foggy and incomprehensible memories became completely clear.

Bonney looked exactly like Ginny when she cried because of the sheer wonder of the happy life they lived after escaping from God Valley at the time.

Even Ivankov found Bonney's scene familiar, he knew her mother, didn't he?

"Already dead? What does Doflamingo mean by that?"

Ivankov felt sorrow after seeing this scene.

"Just keep reading, he will surely reveal what he knows in the next chapter."

Dragon said indifferently.

Following his words, they turned the manga page to the next chapter.

•———•———•———•———•

Chapter's Events:

—————————

"I always believed you would survive and make it here."

With a cute smile, Hancock whispered to Luffy, then pulled out a small key and handed it to him. "Take this…!! It's the key to your brother's handcuffs…!!"

Shocked and happy, Luffy embraced Hancock tightly.

"Hancock~!! You're the best!! Thanks!! I owe your debt!!"

Hancock's cheeks turned red after the warm hug surprised her. "O… O-Oh… Oh, no, no, don't mention it… just go… Do what you need to do, Luffy…!!"

…

..

(To think he'd hug me so tightly…!! Is this what they call… Marriage…!!?)

In that moment, Hancock was in waking dreams.

"You're not getting away, Strawhat!!!"

"Perfume Femur!!!"

Smoker tried to chase Luffy again, but Hancock intervened once more.

She raised her hand, gesturing to Smoker with her head tilted upwards in her disdainful manner towards men. "Insolent swine!! Back off, I say!!"

"I won't let you pass!!" she declared.

"I hope you're aware of the consequences if it's revealed you've been obstructing the marine force!" Smoker said angrily at Hancock's rebellious actions.

"No matter what I do, I'll be forgiven!!" she asserted.

…

"That was awesome… she's really helpful!!" While running, Luffy glanced at the key and couldn't help but get excited.

"Kuma is dead!!? What nonsense is this!!?"

"He's right in front of us!"

Luffy arrived to hear Ivankov yelling in response to Doflamingo's words.

"Iva-chan!! Haa… Haa…"

"It's that bear guy again…!!"

•———•———•———•———•

Seeing Hancock's sweet face as she offered the key to Luffy, Garp laughed.

"Buwahahaha!! As expected from my grandson's wife, strength, agility, beauty, then intelligence and wisdom! There's no ideal woman like her in this world!"

"Only Tsuru-chan in her youth could compare to her!"

Garp recalled how Tsuru was in her youth, extremely beautiful, strong, and wise, and he couldn't help but sigh at the rapid flow of time that turns anything beautiful into something ugly.

"Perhaps I should ask Dr. Kureha about the secret of her youthfulness and help Tsuru regain it…"

Speechless, Dragon looked at his father. Was his father still interested in pursuing Tsuru-san, who had rejected him numerous times already?

"As expected, Doflamingo truly knows what happened to Kuma in the manga."

At that moment, both Kuma and Bonney focused on Doflamingo's speech bubbles describing Kuma's condition in detail.

They weren't the only ones; even Crocodile, Ivankov, Inazuma, and others were reading Doflamingo's words with interest.

"What does he mean by just a few days? Hah... This means that the change in Kuma happened shortly before the war…"

"As expected… Vegapunk in the manga is the one who did it… He completed the modification of Kuma's body by removing his consciousness as a final step, isn't that right?" said Dragon.

Hearing this, Kuma felt a chill down his spine… This grim fate, he didn't want it.

He looked towards Little Bonney, who was still crying while reading what Doflamingo said.

'Only for her will I do this…'

In his heart, he already had a clear guess about the reason for his counterpart's end in this state.

The difference between him and the dead if he's just a Cyborg without consciousness…

To be a war weapon controlled by the World Government as they pleased… He couldn't rest even after his death… This fate was worse than death.

"What kind of stone-hearted heart does Vegapunk have in the manga to do such a thing to Kuma…" Ivankov said with hatred.

"Impossible, Ivankov would never do that." Dragon objected.

...

"Hah... What is he trying to do?"

At that moment, Crocodile marveled at how his foolish counterpart still defied the Whitebeard.

"That Diamond Jozu is too strong…"

"One punch from him made me bleed like this?!"

"Hmm? Doflamingo again… No wonder even my counterpart doesn't like him… There's something about him that makes me want to slap his face repeatedly."

•———•———•———•———•

"Crocodile~!!!"

At that moment, many pirates attacked Crocodile, who was still defying Whitebeard.

"There's no end of them…" shouted Crocodile.

"We still have a long way to go…"

"You're not coming near our old man!!!" the pirates yelled before collectively attacking him.

A sandstorm formed in Crocodile's hand.

"I suggest you don't get in my way!!!"

The sandstorm in Crocodile's hand transformed into a larger tornado that swept away all those who attacked him.

Seeing this scene, Whitebeard sighed in annoyance.

"What a troublesome man. Causing a scene like this…"

Before Crocodile could react, he was punched with great force, sending him flying and bleeding from his nose.

"Ngh…!! That immense size, and that speed… What a fighter you are… Diamond Jozu!!"

At that moment, Diamond Jozu felt his movements stiffen. He looked back with difficulty to hear a mocking laugh.

"Fuffuffuffu!!"

 "Nice to see you made it, Croc-man!! How were the Impel Down bloodbaths?"

"Doflamingo…!!!" Crocodile said with clear annoyance.

"Don't stick your nose in where it isn't wanted, do you want me to kill you?"

"You always were a sweet-talker… Fufu!! What do you say to joining forces with me?" Doflamingo suggested with his devilish smile.

…

"My apologies, Red Hair… But I will not be merciful with my power…"

Mihawk withdrew his massive black sword before saying that.

In front of him, Luffy was running with all his might towards him.

"HAWKEYE!!!" which he finally noticed.

"Now, fate… Let us see how you favor this shining star of the next generation."

"Will his life end here…? Or will you save it from my black blade!!?"

Mihawk wanted to test the extent of this boy's excellence, even though he might earn the enmity of Red Hair in this gamble.

•———•———•———•———•

Ohara:

"T-This..." Vegapunk's long tongue constantly swirled as a sign of his tension.

"What happened... Why would this happen..."

"Doflamingo said you erased Bartholomew Kuma's consciousness completely, meaning you killed him, right?" Clover sighed sadly.

"Why would your counterpart do such a thing?" Homing also wondered.

"It's clear that Dr. Vegapunk cannot defy the orders of the World Government..." Saul said with a sad expression.

"And it must be Kuma-san's final wish..." Even Brook felt that it was not Vegapunk's doing.

"I have an insatiable desire to know the details... I can't deduce anything from Doflamingo's words alone..." Vegapunk said.

…

"Fufufu~ It seems like what my counterpart said has put Vegapunk in a predicament."

Not far from Vegapunk's group, Doflamingo chuckled lightly.

"Hmm..." Returning to the manga page, Doffy was annoyed by how Crocodile was dealing with his counterpart.

"Even though he's as weak as a chicken, he has a very high ego, Fufu~ I like that..."

"That's right, this idiot still tries to fight Whitebeard. What's wrong with his mind?" Enel mocked.

"Hehe~ Fool... Jozu already crushed him."

Even Rosinante found Crocodile's actions in the manga extremely foolish.

…

"Fate, huh?"

"I bet he'll survive... No need to apologize to Red Hair..."

Mihawk's eyes gleamed at the last scene.

_________________

Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):

_________________

Chapter 717: Luffy VS. Mihawk!

Chapter 718: The Appearance of Pacifistas!

Chapter 719: Call Admiral Kizaru Here, I Want to Kick Him in the Face!

_________________

BlackStar_BH:

Join my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/BlackStar_BH to support me and unlock advanced chapters. Get ahead with up to 30 chapters in advance:

- 5 advanced chapters for $5

- 10 advanced chapters for $10

- 15 advanced chapters for $15

- 20 advanced chapters for $20

- 30 advanced chapters for $30 (New)

Don't miss out on this exclusive content and dive into the epic Marineford arc in One Piece!