The Paw-Paw Fruit's Brutal Development! Kuma vs. Kaido

On the third day after Kuma arrived on the island, Lin Yuan brought him to the training ground.

"Your Paw-Paw Fruit isn't just for smacking people." Lin Yuan stood across from him, hands in his pockets. "Your paws can repel anything. Pain, fatigue, damage, even air."

Kuma looked down at the pads on his palms.

"Easy for you to say. How do I train?"

"First, practice repelling physical attacks."

Lin Yuan jerked his chin toward Kaido. Kaido came over with an iron club over his shoulder and grinned.

"Wororororo... Kid, you ready?"

Kuma didn't answer. He simply assumed a defensive stance.

Two

Kaido swung his club down.

He didn't use Haki, only brute strength. But Kaido's brute strength was enough to kill an ordinary person ten times over.

Kuma raised a hand, pointing the paw on his palm at the iron club.

"Bang!"

The iron club struck the paw without the sound of metal clashing. It was as if it had hit a ball of cotton. Kaido's strength was repelled, and the club bounced back, leaving his arm numb.

"Wororororo... Interesting!" Kaido shook out his hand. "Again!"

This time, he used thirty percent of his strength.

Kuma caught the blow again. But this time, he took two steps back.

"Can you take another?" Kaido asked.

"Yes."

"Then I'll use more strength!"

Kaido used fifty percent of his strength. Kuma caught the blow and took five steps back, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"Your body can't withstand the force of the rebound," Lin Yuan said. "The problem isn't your paw. Your physique isn't strong enough."

Kuma wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Then what do I do?"

"Train your physique. At the same time, practice repelling more attacks."

Three

Over the following days, Kuma doubled the intensity of his training.

During the day, he fought Kaido and was left covered in injuries. At night, he practiced repelling stones, cannonballs, and bullets on his own.

"The Paw-Paw Fruit's power isn't a passive defense." Lin Yuan stood beside him, using Spatial Perception to help him analyze the force of the rebounds. "You can actively repel anything, including a person's damage, fatigue, and even memories."

Kuma paused in surprise.

"I can repel memories too?"

"In theory. But you can't do it yet."

"Then isn't what you said useless?"

"No. I'm telling you where the upper limit is."

Kuma fell silent for a moment, then continued practicing.

Four

A week later, Kuma stood in the middle of the training ground, facing Kaido.

"Today, try repelling Haki," Lin Yuan said.

"Wororororo..." Kaido tightened his grip on his iron club, coating it in black Armament Haki. "Kid, don't blame me if you die."

Kuma said nothing and simply raised his palm.

Kaido swung his club down. Kuma's paw caught it, but the power of Armament Haki penetrated the paw's repelling force, numbing his arm and sending him flying backward. He slammed into the ground.

"Cough—"

Kuma spat out a mouthful of blood.

"No good." Lin Yuan shook his head. "Your Haki is too weak to repel Kaido's Armament Haki."

"Then what do I do?"

"Train your Haki."

Kuma climbed to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"All right."

Five

Half a month later.

Kuma stood before Kaido once more.

This time, a thin layer of Armament Haki covered his palms.

Kaido swung his club down.

"Bang!"

The iron club struck the paw. Armament Haki clashed with Armament Haki, producing a dull thud. Kaido's strength was repelled, and he himself took a step back.

"Wororororo..." Kaido laughed. "You've improved!"

Kuma said nothing, merely clenching his fists.

"Again."

"All right."

The two fought again.

Lin Yuan stood to the side and watched, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Ginny walked over, a ledger in her hands.

"Lin Yuan, take a look at this account."

"Later."

"No, look at it now."

Lin Yuan took the ledger and glanced at it.

"No problem."

Ginny took the ledger back and glanced at Kuma on the training ground.

"He's improving pretty fast."

"He was strong to begin with. He just hadn't met the right person."

Ginny stared at Lin Yuan for a few seconds.

"Are you saying the people he followed before weren't good enough?"

"I didn't say that."

"That's what you meant."

Lin Yuan smiled without denying it.

Six

That night, Kuma sat alone on the training ground, practicing his palm techniques.

Ginny came over and sat beside him.

"Kuma, aren't you tired?"

"I am."

"Then why don't you rest?"

"Because I'm still not strong enough."

Ginny was silent for a moment.

"You're already very strong."

"Not enough," Kuma said. "Lin Yuan said we're going to fight the Celestial Dragons. As I am now, I can't beat their guards."

Ginny lowered her head.

"Must you fight the Celestial Dragons?"

"I must," Kuma said. "It's time they paid the debt they owe."

Ginny said nothing more.

(End of chapter 26)