Thou Shall Not Die

That night, Kuma wasted no time. With a thunderous boom, he repelled himself from Shimotsuki Village and vanished into the sky, heading toward the Sorbet Kingdom at full speed.

Back at the dojo, Taiyo sat alone in his room, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the wooden floor. Legs crossed, eyes closed, he fell into a deep meditative state. Though he had asked for payment, his heart was sincere—he wanted to heal Bonney. Not for money, nor for favor, but because he understood Kuma's pain. The Revolutionary Army needed its warriors, and Kuma deserved a future where he could fight not out of desperation, but out of hope.

He delved into his inner world, deeper than he ever had before. There, within the quiet void of his soul, he saw them—butterflies. Hundreds at first, then thousands, glowing with an ethereal light. They danced around him in solemn silence, the embodiment of Thou Shalt Not Die.

Watching them, Taiyo couldn't help but feel a curious sense of familiarity.

'They remind me of Rukh… from Magi…' he thought.

But he quickly dismissed it. 'No… this is something else. This is me.'

As he went deeper, the butterflies thickened until they coalesced into a towering figure, a woman made entirely of butterflies. Her presence was overwhelming—serene, yet terrifying in its stillness.

Taiyo stepped closer.

Without warning, the figure moved.

Her hand raised, and butterflies formed into a weapon—a chainsaw, gleaming and humming with unnatural power. In a blur, she swung.

Taiyo reacted instantly. The air trembled as he parried the strike with his own chainsaw, one that had materialized in his grip as instinct took over. Their clash created a shockwave of raw, soul-deep energy. Then, with a single counterattack, Taiyo struck the figure.

The moment his blade connected, the figure shattered into a million butterflies, their fragments swirling in a beautiful yet haunting spiral.

He stood alone again. Then, the butterflies slowly returned, surrounding him like a warm wind. As they merged into him, Taiyo felt it—an evolution.

His soul shivered. His ability… had changed.

'What just happened…?' Taiyo thought as his consciousness drifted back to the waking world.

When his eyes opened, the room was quiet—until the flutter of hundreds of wings filled the air. Red butterflies now circled him, glowing softly with a divine light.

Huginn and Muninn, drawn by the sound, flew into the room and froze in midair as the butterflies swirled around them.

Then, without resistance, the butterflies began to merge with the ravens. Their bodies glowed crimson-gold, radiant for a moment—then dimmed, returning to normal.

Taiyo blinked. At first glance, nothing seemed different. Maybe… they just healed their fatigue, he thought. Still, he made a mental note to observe any changes closely.

The rest of the night passed in quiet contemplation. Huginn and Muninn perched beside him, reporting the latest sightings and whispers from across the seas. Taiyo listened silently, absorbing every word.

Eventually, the boy-turned-warrior lay down, eyes drifting shut beneath the glow of starlight filtering through the window.

Tomorrow, Bonney would arrive.

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Kuma POV

Kuma stood in front of the church, towering and solemn, but with a rare spark of anticipation in his eyes. His massive hand reached for the wooden door and gently pushed it open. The familiar creak echoed through the halls.

Inside, sitting quietly under the soft glow of candlelight, was Bonney.

She looked up, her face lighting up for a moment before puffing her cheeks in a playful pout.

"Daddy, where did you go? I've been waiting all day," she said, her voice tinged with both curiosity and gentle reproach.

Kuma's hardened features softened. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"Ahhh, sorry, Bonney," he said, crouching down to meet her gaze, "but you'll be happy with what I have to tell you. I think… I found a way for you to go outside."

Her eyes widened, glistening.

"Really?! You're not lying?" she asked, voice trembling with hope.

He chuckled softly, brushing her hair with his large palm.

"I wouldn't joke about something like this. But first, I need to do something important. Be a good girl and rest, alright? Tomorrow… you'll be able to play wherever you want. Deal?"

Bonney's entire face lit up, her smile radiant.

"Okay, Daddy!" she said with a burst of energy, dashing off to her room.

"Tomorrow… I'll finally go outside!" she whispered excitedly to herself as she climbed into bed.

Meanwhile, Kuma stood in silence for a moment, watching the hallway she had disappeared into. His expression turned grim.

Now came the part he had to do alone.

He made his way through the winding halls of the castle to a sealed door hidden behind a secret room—the vault. Inside were items that once belonged to the tyrant King Bekori—treasures, artifacts, and most importantly, Devil Fruits. They were fruits that had never entered public circulation, hidden from the world and unknown even to the Revolutionary Army. Kuma had kept them secret, seeing them not as his possession, but as a burden of the past.

But now… with Bonney's life on the line, nothing else mattered.

Without hesitation, he opened the vault. Inside, resting in velvet-lined compartments, were five Devil Fruits. Two more than what Taiyo had asked for.

Kuma stared at them in silence.

"For her… even ten would not be enough," he thought.

He gathered them carefully and wrapped them securely. Alongside them, he placed a sealed chest of twenty million berries, funds that had once belonged to corrupt nobility now repurposed for something far nobler—hope.

Tomorrow, he would return to Taiyo.

And maybe… just maybe, Bonney would have the future she deserved.

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Early Morning – Sorbet Kingdom, Church

The sun had yet to rise, and a quiet stillness hung over Sorbet Kingdom. Yet within the dark sky, movement stirred.

Kuma was already awake, gently helping Bonney get dressed. She yawned heavily, rubbing her sleepy eyes, still not quite understanding what the urgency was.

"Daddy… It's still dark out," she mumbled.

"I know, sweetheart," Kuma said softly, adjusting her cloak. "But today's an important day. Just hold on tight, alright?"

Bonney nodded, half-asleep, as Kuma gathered the securely packed chests and gently cradled her in his arms. Then with a low boom, he repelled all the items—including himself and Bonney—across the sea, arriving moments later at the Isshin Dojo.

Isshin Dojo

Taiyo was already awake, seated in meditation under the still-starred sky, when he heard the tremor of objects landing. He opened his eyes, instantly alert.

In the next moment, treasure chests thudded onto the dojo grounds, followed by a towering figure and a child with unmistakable pink hair.

Taiyo stood and walked calmly toward them.

The moment he saw Bonney's small figure, his expression changed. Without hesitation, he activated his Selfless State, disappearing from all detection, and stepped close. His hand hovered inches from her chest, and his eyes sharpened.

Her body... it's worse than I thought. Jewels had embedded themselves not just in her face but deep within her internal organs—infecting her very core. It was a silent, creeping death.

Without wasting a moment, Taiyo activated Thou Shalt Not Die.

From the air around him, a surge of energy burst into the form of hundreds of crimson butterflies, glowing in the dark like falling stars. They fluttered toward Bonney, who gasped in awe.

"Wooooow…" she whispered with childlike wonder, holding out her hands as the butterflies gently circled her, glowing softly.

As the butterflies began their work, one by one, the gem embedded in her cheek dissolved into glimmering dust. Internally, the jewel growths around her lungs and stomach began to break down. Taiyo's eyes remained focused, his hands moving in deliberate gestures as if guiding the soul of his ability deeper and deeper.

It took an hour.

By the end, the glow faded. The butterflies vanished.

And Bonney… was whole.

No more jewels. No internal crystal growths. No cursed fragments left behind.

Bonney blinked—then cried. It started with a small sob, and then tears flowed freely.

"Daddy!" she cried, leaping into Kuma's arms.

Kuma didn't speak. He only dropped to his knees, clutching her tightly, his massive arms trembling. His face, usually calm and expressionless, was drenched in tears.

He wept—not with weakness, but with relief. For the first time in years, he felt the weight leave his heart.

Taiyo let them have the moment.

Then finally, he stepped forward and spoke calmly, his tone soft.

"Let's test her condition again when the sun comes up. If everything holds… then I'll accept the payment."

Kuma could only nod, holding Bonney as if afraid she'd vanish.

And above them, the first light of dawn began to creep over the mountains.