Kuma's entire life has been plagued by these monsters. Along with his parents, he was forced into slavery, and his father tragically lost his mother to the unbearable torment they all endured. Fleeting like a bird, Kuma escaped with his friends from God Valley, hoping to find solace in a village. However, he was still chained to the whims of the Celestial Dragons.
In order to free the villagers from the clutches of their oppressive rulers, Kuma made the ultimate sacrifice. Every week, he would endure excruciating pain so that the villagers could work and pay their taxes to the King and the Celestial Dragons. This constant suffering and existence left him traumatized, causing him to reject marriage and dedicate himself to the Revolutionary Army. Little did he know that his childhood friend and love, Ginny, had been kidnapped and assaulted. Ginny's own story is equally heart-wrenching. The panels convey the profound anguish felt by Kuma, Ginny, and the Revolutionary Army, even if the exact details were left unsaid.
Against all odds, Kuma heard from Ginny again, only to discover that she was terminally ill and strangely content with it, much like his deceased father. He rushed to be by her side, desperate to hear her declaration of love, only to find her lifeless body. This tragic loss was yet another result of the cruelty inflicted upon the world by those who wield power. Just imagining the emotions Kuma must have experienced in those moments, and the lingering pain that followed, leaves us trembling.
With everything behind him, Kuma took on the responsibility of raising Bonny, leaving no stone unturned to care for her illness. Perhaps in order to protect his family, Kuma made a sacrifice to the World Government, becoming a slave once again. Throughout his entire life, he has been haunted by the grip of the Celestial Dragons and the traps they set. His kind and gentle soul deserves so much better.
Recalling the panel where the Celestial Dragon trampled and defeated Kuma, the intensity and tragedy of the moment is now magnified. Until the very end, Kuma was unable to escape the clutches that had gripped him since birth.
Kuma's story serves as a stark reminder of the multitude of lives affected by the Celestial Dragons. Countless individuals have endured unimaginable hardships at their hands. I hope that one day, freedom will be bestowed upon everyone by the most liberated pirate to ever sail the seas.
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