One Piece Thundergod Marine

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"Is it over? That man's heavy life..."

While almost everyone inside the fortress was covering their ears, afraid to look up, Mihawk sat calmly in a chair with his arms around his knees, silently pondering.

Whether he was still alive or not, after being defeated by the Soryu (Azure Dragon), his fate wouldn't change... The moment he agreed to infiltrate the government on behalf of the Revolutionary Army and accepted the Pacifista transformation, everything had been set in stone.

"A new era is coming!!"

Mihawk sighed deeply, opening his hawk-like sharp eyes.

"Pirate King Roger, if you knew that someone would abandon everything, even their dignity as a human, for the sake of their dream, you'd probably be pleased, wouldn't you?"

In his mind, Mihawk returned to that sunny afternoon twenty years ago... when, even while heading to his execution, that man still stood tall, like a triumphant general, radiating a light that made others feel insignificant.

Mihawk was a pure swordsman.

Thus, he understood better than anyone why people fought.

If a person has no dream, how are they different from a salted fish?

Kuma's tragic yet admirable life would stir the heart of any passionate man.

Except for one person!

"Soryu (Azure Dragon)!"

A blazing fighting spirit ignited within Mihawk, and a radiant sword intent shot out from him, burning bright like the sun.

He wasn't fighting for Kuma, for Shanks, or even for himself.

He was fighting for those fools who still lived by their dreams, for those idiots brave enough to chase their desires!

Just like that green-haired swordsman outside, dancing on the edge of death, those brave enough to draw their swords against him!

"This is my swordsmanship!"

"No one should stop moving forward!"

…

On the fortress plaza, Marine soldiers and the Straw Hats were now in complete shock, unable to believe their eyes as they watched Rowen step forward once again.

"How... how can this be?"

Luffy stood there in disbelief, unable to accept that his benefactor had just died before his eyes.

Meanwhile, the Marines who knew of Kuma's strength found it even more unimaginable.

The terrifying Bartholomew Kuma, who had ruled the seas for decades, was now dead?

As the thought struck him, Henry shouted anxiously.

"Vice Admiral, you can't kill him!"

Regardless of Kuma's crimes, or for other reasons, the government needed him alive to stand trial, for the sake of appearances.

"What are you thinking? I'm not stupid!"

At that moment, Rowen grinned and said, "Kuma is Vegapunk's precious experimental subject, and the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) highly value the Pacifista prototype. If I kill him here, I'd be in a world of trouble."

The Peace Pacifista project was a massive endeavor, still considered a higher-priority research project than Rowen's Aircraft Force and his lightning-stimulation device.

To put it simply, the Pacifista project was the government's backup plan for reviving the Ancient Weapons.

If they failed to resurrect the Ancient Weapons— just as the Straw Hats took Franky and prevented Pluton from falling into government hands— then the Pacifista would be their ultimate weapon to maintain control in the pirate era.

In fact, due to preparations for an imminent final transformation, even Caesar Clown, who had been hiding in G-10 upgrading the Super Electromagnetic Cannon, had been recalled to the Holy Land to assist Vegapunk.

This showed just how crucial Kuma, as the prototype, was to the Gorōsei. 

Killing him now would cause more trouble than it was worth.

Dante: "..."

Of course! That's exactly the Rowen I know!

Dante knew well that their current strength wasn't enough to challenge the government head-on, so it wasn't surprising for Rowen to bide his time… or maybe not!

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

This is Bartholomew Kuma we're talking about!

One of the strongest among the Shichibukai! Even if you could kill him, controlling your power to just defeat and not kill him? That's beyond incredible!

"The gap… it's still immense!"

Glancing at the green-haired swordsman who had collapsed at his feet due to excessive blood loss, Dante slowly shook his head.

He admitted that this swordsman named Zoro had surprised him. Having undergone a transformation in just a few days, Zoro, despite his severe injuries, had held out for this long. An 80,000,000 bounty seemed too low for him.

But the gap between himself and Rowen was still endless.

"Perhaps… I should consider eating a powerful Devil Fruit too?"

Dante thought quietly, his mind beginning to waver.

Swoosh… Bang!

At that moment, a dark humanoid figure fell from the sky, causing the ground to tremble as Kuma lay in a crater, trembling slightly.

Zzzt… zzzzt…

Sparks still crackled on his body, causing the metal components inside him to emit black smoke. With a bloodied face, Kuma, expressionless, raised his remaining right hand and slowly patted himself.

It wasn't enough!

He still had a bit of stamina left.

But then—

Clang!

A vicious halberd gleamed black as it pierced through Kuma's hand, pinning it to the ground.

"Your path has come to an end, Kuma."

Rowen looked down on him. "If you were still the old you, maybe you'd have given me a headache."

"But now, your body is full of metal parts, completely countered by my lightning. I wonder where you found the courage to fight me."

The truth was evident. Under normal circumstances, a human body, composed mostly of water, wouldn't be defeated so easily by Rowen's lightning.

With his natural resilience, Haki, and the Paw-Paw Fruit's abilities, Kuma should have been able to find openings to counterattack, even in the face of Rowen's relentless assault.

However, after undergoing countless modifications, Kuma was no longer fully human, but a unique cyborg.

A cyborg with a body mostly made of metal.

This allowed Rowen's electrical attacks to have devastating effects, preventing Kuma from utilizing even a fraction of his original power.

"Now then…"

Planting the thunder halberd into the ground, Rowen slowly turned his gaze towards Luffy at the edge of the plaza.

"Little brat from the Monkey family, will you willingly return to your cell, or shall I make you?"

Luffy: "..."

Clenching his teeth, Luffy glanced at Usopp and Chopper, bound and thrown to the side by Ain, as well as the fallen Zoro, whose fate was uncertain under Dante's feet.

After a long silence, Luffy loosened his fist.

"We… we'll go back."

"Luffy…"

Zoro weakly opened his eyes, trying to say something, but lacked the strength.

He knew that for Luffy, making this decision was unimaginable.

If it were just him, Luffy would fight to the death.

But now, as the captain, responsible for the lives of his entire crew, Luffy could no longer be so naive.

Recalling the bold words he uttered after Mihawk had defeated him with a single strike, Zoro's eyes reddened.

Too weak!

For the first time, he hated himself for being so weak! So weak that it forced Luffy to make such a burdensome decision.

Chopper, with teary eyes, looked at Luffy, knowing full well how painful it was for him to make this choice.

This was a pain even worse than Robin and Nami leaving the crew.

"No, Luffy, you must keep going forward!"

At that moment, a cloaked figure stepped out from the crowd, addressing the dejected Luffy.

Rowen raised an eyebrow and turned his head.

"Henry, what's going on outside?!"

"I…"

Henry looked around in confusion when suddenly a messenger came rushing over, gasping for breath as he shouted, "Colonel, it's bad! The… the Revolutionary Army has broken through!"

"What? How did they get in!!"

Henry was shocked, looking up at the sky barrier of lightning. It was still intact!

"I see… no wonder Mihawk thought Kuma would succeed..."

Rowen narrowed his eyes, understanding at last.

With his Thunder Slaying Heavenly Coffin sealing off all of G-10, how could enemies have suddenly broken through?

The answer, of course, was that they had come from underwater!

Devil Fruit users' powers had no significant effect on areas below the surface of the sea.

(End of chapter)