The Power of the Age-Age Fruit

"He seemed... to have lost his own consciousness."

Rune looked at Bartholomew Kuma, at his calm, utterly vacant eyes, and could not help feeling angry.

When they had encountered Luffy and the others on the Sabaody Archipelago, Kuma had still possessed his own consciousness. But by the time of the Summit War, Kuma had already been completely modified.

And now, even though the Summit War had not broken out.

Kuma had still undergone the modification.

Right, I should have realized it when he was protecting the Thousand Sunny...

Rune gently patted Bonney's shoulder, then pulled her away from Kuma.

"Bonney, now... only you can save your father."

As Rune spoke, Bonney wiped away her tears. Seeing the mechanical modifications on Kuma's body, her eyes filled with furious hatred.

"This is going to be difficult..."

Luffy scratched his head. He had no idea how to solve the problem before them. Looking at Rune, then at Bonney, Luffy decided he should go steer the ship and leave this sort of brainwork to Rune and Bonney.

"I... what should I do? Rune, you definitely know how I can save him, right? You definitely know, don't you?"

Bonney grabbed Rune's hand, her eyes full of longing and hope. Over the past few days, Rune had taught her many things and helped her understand many things she had once failed to grasp.

Though Bonney had never said it aloud, she had long since come to trust Rune.

And now, Kuma had clearly lost his sense of self. He barely reacted even when he saw her.

Bonney clutched Rune's hand as if it were her last lifeline. If even Rune did not know what to do, then she truly had nowhere left to turn.

"I told you before, didn't I? Your Age-Age Fruit represents the power of 'the past' and 'the future.'"

Rune looked at Bartholomew Kuma and let out a soft sigh.

"To save him, perhaps the only way is to turn time back to before he was modified."

Rune looked at Bonney. "Use your imagination. Imagine a version of yourself from a possible future, one who has eaten the Time-Time Fruit, then make that version real! After that, use the Time-Time Fruit's power to reverse time on Kuma's body and return him to before he was modified!"

"Other than that, the only way to make him wake up might be to find the person who modified him. I know where that person is, but with our current strength... we simply cannot reach that place."

Hearing Rune's method, Bonney stood frozen where she was.

She could not even replicate the Flame-Flame Fruit she had seen before. What even was this Time-Time Fruit?

In truth, Rune had deceived Bonney. The Time-Time Fruit could only send a designated target into the future; it could not return anyone to the past. Even if the owner of the Time-Time Fruit were here, they would not be able to restore Kuma's consciousness.

But...

Bonney did not know what the Time-Time Fruit even was!

Her Age-Age Fruit relied on imagination to activate! If her imagination was strong enough, she might truly be able to achieve the effect Rune described!

"Actually, it's quite simple, isn't it?"

Rune smiled slightly and looked at Bonney. "Your Age-Age Fruit can alter a person's age, just like changing the flow of time. Using the Age-Age Fruit's power to imitate the Time-Time Fruit should not be difficult."

With that, Rune gently released Bonney's hand. He stroked her head, then patted her shoulder.

"I believe in you. You can do it. And I think he... would be willing to believe in you too, wouldn't he?"

Rune's words fell into Bonney's ears. She bit her lip and resolutely walked toward Kuma, who lay on the ground.

"Dad, I'll definitely be able to save you. I definitely can..."

Bonney drew upon the Age-Age Fruit's power. She closed her eyes and tried her best to recall the days when she had lived with Kuma. Pressing both hands against Kuma's body, Bonney imagined a version of herself who had eaten the Time-Time Fruit.

She did not know what the Time-Time Fruit was, but she knew it was something that could save her father!

Even if it sounded like a fantasy, even if it was something fundamentally impossible by all common sense.

But...

Bonney gritted her teeth.

She had a reason why she absolutely had to succeed!

The Age-Age Fruit's power activated, and the damage on Bartholomew Kuma's body healed at a visible rate. His mechanical body gradually became illusory, and those cold eyes slowly regained a spark that had not been there before.

After an unknown amount of time, Bonney collapsed weakly to the ground. Her strength had been completely drained. At that moment, even lifting one hand took all her effort.

Her body had also reverted to that of a child.

She looked at Kuma, so close before her, at her father, and mist once again welled up in her eyes.

"Dad, is that you? Have you come back...?"

Kuma sat up and looked around in confusion. He lowered his head, and his gaze fell upon Bonney.

A smile suddenly appeared on that cold face.

"Bonney."

Kuma spoke.

"Dad is back."

Upon hearing those words, Bonney's head immediately drooped to one side, and she fainted. Kuma froze for a moment, but then he heard a young voice.

"Don't worry. She's probably just exhausted."

Rune gently picked Bonney up from the ground, then looked toward Luffy, who was steering the ship nearby.

"Luffy, where's an empty room on the Thousand Sunny? Let Bonney rest for a while first."

"I'll take you there."

Luffy led Rune to an unused room, where they laid Bonney down. To help Bonney rest more comfortably, Rune even spread a thick blanket over her.

Only then did Rune return to the deck and look at the long-famous Seven Warlord, Bartholomew Kuma.

"Hello, Lord Bartholomew Kuma."

Rune smiled faintly. "I am Rune, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Seventeenth Division, as well as Bonney's friend. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Could you tell me what happened to me?"

Bartholomew Kuma was still somewhat bewildered. The power of time reversal had left his memories in disarray. Rune sat across from him and told Kuma of the experiences that had originally belonged to him.

"That is what happened. In order to restore your consciousness, Bonney finally developed an advanced application of the Age-Age Fruit. Now, you should no longer need to worry about the World Government."

Rune smiled slightly. "As far as the World Government is concerned, you should be in the state of having been defeated by us and already dead. In a few days, I will also announce that I have killed you. I suggest that you continue living as a dead man. It will be good for both you and Bonney."

After sitting on the ground and thinking for quite some time, Kuma finally smiled. He looked at Rune and gently nodded.

"Thank you, Rune."

The already-dead Tyrant Kuma would naturally no longer draw the World Government's attention. And a Seven Warlord hidden in the shadows might produce unexpected results at many crucial moments.

Rune smiled faintly as he looked at Bartholomew Kuma. Now, it was time to return to the Whitebeard Pirates.