Southern Sorbet Kingdom.
The raging fire, like a terrifying giant serpent, devoured the homes of the people with ferocious intensity.
The citizens stood in stunned silence, their eyes filled with desolation and despair as they watched their homes consumed by the flames.
Over a decade ago, influenced by the Celestial Tribute, the Sorbet King had issued a decree to divide the kingdom into two parts, forcibly relocating all the elderly who could no longer work to the barren southern region—this even included the elders of the royal family!
These citizens were no longer considered part of the Sorbet Kingdom. They were outcasts, unprotected by the law, left to be exploited and abused by lawless individuals.
Fortunately, the newly formed Revolutionary Army intervened, and this tyrannical policy was eventually abandoned.
But everyone knew this was far from over.
A few years ago, the Kingdom of Goa in the East Blue set a fire that earned high praise from the Celestial Dragons, even being hailed as the most beautiful country in the East Blue.
Inspired by this, King Beckley's ambitions were reignited.
Now, he too planned to use a fire to burn everyone in the southern region to death, ushering in what he called a "rebirth" for the kingdom.
"My house…"
A thin woman, clutching her child, stared blankly at her burning home amidst the flames.
The elderly remained silent, their hunched figures growing more frail and somber.
"Hey! Someone help!"
"There are still children inside!"
"Uncle Tom! Uncle Tom hasn't come out yet!"
Some stood in silence, others struggled desperately, while some screamed in despair.
Suddenly, Kuma's tall and burly figure appeared out of nowhere. Seeing the hellish scene before him, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes burned with fury.
He raised his hand, ready to unleash an Air Cannon to extinguish the flames, but was abruptly stopped by a wooden cane.
"It won't work, Kuma…"
The one who stopped him was the former king of the country, the grandfather of the current king, who, due to his old age, had also been exiled to the southern region along with the others.
"A vacuum can extinguish the flames, but most of the houses here are made of wood. If they collapse from the impact, it could trigger a chain reaction…"
Kuma fell silent for a moment, then wordlessly charged toward the fire.
Suddenly, a figure blocked his path.
The man was obese, dressed in baby clothes, with a pacifier in his mouth, standing boldly in Kuma's way.
"Move!"
Kuma's voice was cold and hard, as if suppressing endless rage.
"I think I've figured out what's happening here…"
Senor crossed his arms, his sunglasses reflecting the flames, his face full of confidence.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm a user of the Swim-Swim Fruit…"
"Eh? The Swim-Swim Fruit? Can you create water?" someone asked in shock.
"No, but I can swim through anything as if it were water!"
"That's completely useless!!" ×N
"It's useful, brothers, it is!"
Senor gave Kuma a thumbs-up. "On my way here, I heard your story from the elders. What you should do now is go and beat up that bastard king."
"As for this place, leave it to me, brother…"
"Thank you!"
Kuma paused for a moment, then vanished in an instant.
At the same moment, Senor dove headfirst into the ground, swimming swiftly toward the direction of the fire…
Atop the high walls of the Solberg Palace.
King Beckley gazed at the towering flames engulfing the southern region in the distance, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Below the walls, countless citizens gathered in the streets, shouting in anger and protesting.
"Murderer!"
"Put out the fire, you scoundrel!"
"Hohoho~ You fools, I'm doing this for your own good!"
Looking down at the helpless citizens below, King Beckley's smile grew even more smug.
"In the distant East Blue, there's a country that successfully implemented this policy. They created a beautiful city without waste, earning the praise of the Celestial Dragons… So sometimes, to achieve great happiness, one must be ruthless in reforming the nation."
"Your Majesty, it's bad! The citizens are starting to riot!"
"Then shoot four or five of them… Well, it's for the greater good!"
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, but no one was hit.
A towering, burly man stood in front of the crowd, clutching the bullet fired from the soldier's gun in his hand, his face filled with rage. With a single swipe, he sent the soldier flying.
"Who are you?!"
The soldier roared, "Stop now, or we'll execute you on the spot!"
In the distance, the flames raged. Kuma stood with his back to the shadows, his teeth clenched in anger, his furious expression growing darker.
And then…
Boom—
A violent shockwave erupted, blasting open the palace gates.
Dozens of soldiers were sent flying by the shockwave, crashing heavily to the ground!
"Stop! You bastard!"
Inside the palace, soldiers scrambled in panic.
King Beckley stared in terror at the figure charging toward him, screaming hysterically.
"Attacking the king is a grave crime! Do you understand? A grave crime! Damn you!!"
But unfortunately…
The man before him remained silent, only throwing punches relentlessly.
Soon, under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, a massive imprint of a meatball, dozens of meters in size, exploded in the center of the palace, sending the wicked king and his palace flying into the air!
Ignoring the cheers of the surrounding citizens, Kuma hurried toward the fire.
Amid the flames, a perverse figure dressed in baby clothes was darting in and out of the fire, rescuing trapped citizens one by one.
Seeing this, Kuma didn't hesitate and charged into the flames as well.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity.
The fire was extinguished, and on the charred ruins, only faint wisps of flame still lingered.
Kuma stared blankly at the ruins before him, his face covered in soot.
"You've done your best. We've all done our best."
Senor stood beside him, arms crossed. Though only two meters tall, he didn't seem small next to Kuma.
"Thank you."
Kuma's voice was hoarse, "I'm truly grateful!"
"No need for words!"
Senor smiled faintly, "A man like you is worth my help."
Kuma pursed his lips, "About my treasure… you were right. It's my daughter."
"Oh? She must be very cute, then?"
"Yes…"
"Her mother must be very beautiful too?"
"Yes…"
"And you must love her very much?"
"Yes… About what happened earlier, I'm sorry."
"What's the matter?"
Kuma looked at Senor with a hint of unease. "I mean... my attitude."
"What are you talking about... All I see is a man protecting his family."
Senor crossed his arms, the pacifier in his mouth suddenly curling into a faint smile.
"Honestly, your level of handsomeness is no less than mine, brother!"
(End of Chapter)