Highlights
- Kuma comes to the Straw Hats’ rescue, using his own body to protect Jewelry Bonney from Saturn’s attack.
- Despite living like a mindless creature, Kuma still possesses fighting spirit and aids the Straw Hats in their battle.
- Kuma’s Devil Fruit, the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, grants him various abilities, including the ability to deflect attacks and travel at high speeds. He also has access to Busoshoku Haki, making him a formidable opponent for Saturn.
Ever since the One Piece manga returned to the Egghead, fans have been pondering over how the Straw Hats will safely get away from St. Jaygarcia Saturn. Normally, Luffy would have been the one responsible for fighting such a powerful enemy, but the fights against Lucci and Kizaru left him completely exhausted.
He is in no condition to move, and the rest of the crew isn’t powerful enough to take down Saturn, who is among the strongest characters in One Piece. It was obvious that Luffy and the Straw Hats needed help, but there was no one who could step in. With no one to oppose him, Saturn decided to attack and kill Jewelry Bonney. As he got ready to attack the young girl, an unexpected ally appeared out of nowhere to help the heroes.
Kuma’s Return
It was revealed that Bartholomew Kuma came to his daughter’s rescue. He used his own body to stop Saturn from trying to harm Bonney. Kuma then decided to launch a powerful punch towards Saturn, whose eyes were immediately filled with fear. From the flashback, it was evident that Saturn was afraid of Kuma, which is why he went to great extremes to ensure that the Buccaneer wouldn’t have a shred of humanity left. Seeing Kuma in front of him would have definitely made Saturn question if he should have completely destroyed the pirate.
Ever since the completion of the operation, Kuma lived like a mindless creature, and it seemed that he would die like one. However, it appears that Kuma still has some fighting spirit left in him, which shows how strong-willed he is. With Kuma’s arrival, the Straw Hats have a much better chance of winning the battle on Egghead Island and leaving in one piece. It is important to remember that there is a lot riding on Kuma’s shoulders, at least until Luffy fully recovers and is capable of handling the situation.
Kuma’s Devil Fruit And Haki
Kuma possesses the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that results in the creation of soft paw-like pads on the palms of the user. The Devil Fruit has a great deal of utility, which ranges from deflecting attacks to sending people flying. Kuma found the Devil Fruit in the God Valley, where it was being kept as a prize for the winners of the Hunting Competition of the Celestial Dragons. Given that it was considered worthy of being a prize, it is obvious that world nobles thought very highly of it.
Kuma has used the Devil Fruit in a variety of ways. He can take out the pain inside an individual’s body and keep it in the form of a bubble. It can also be used to travel to faraway places at incredible speeds. Kuma used this particular quality to save the Straw Hats from certain death in the Sabaody Archipelago. Another unique trait of the Devil Fruit is that Kuma can deflect attacks such as sword slashes with his paws. Considering the fact that Kuma ate the Devil Fruit when he was so young, it’s hardly surprising that he has learned to use the power in so many different ways. In addition to his Devil Fruit, Kuma also has access to Busoshoku Haki. It is plausible to assume that his Haki is extremely strong and capable of hurting someone like Saturn.
The Showdown Between Kuma and Saturn
In the upcoming chapter, Kuma and Saturn are going to go head-to-head. The Celestial Dragon holds the advantage for now, as it is unclear how much individuality Kuma still has left. One thing is for certain: Kuma is going to land at least one punch on Saturn. The two will probably exchange a few more blows, or it is possible that Saturn might back out and try to get the Marines involved. He could try and use the self-destruction button that he forced Vegapunk to put inside Kuma.
If Saturn actually uses the button, then Kuma’s life will be well and truly over. It would be heartbreaking to see him die before he gets the chance to speak to Bonney. The two have lived a very difficult life in which they have had to sacrifice a lot. Normally, Oda does not kill off characters without purpose, but it seems that it might be too late for Kuma. His body has been badly damaged, and Saturn knows about the switch as well.
However, if Luffy gets up before and defeats Saturn, Kuma might have a moment alone with his daughter. After Saturn’s defeat, the heroes can finally leave the place and start heading towards their next adventure. The news of Saturn’s defeat will indubitably cause panic within the Five Elders, forcing them to make a decision to get rid of Luffy and his crew as quickly as possible. The result of this battle will be revealed in the upcoming chapters, so fans should have their eyes peeled.
One Piece is available to read on Viz Media.
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