Chapter 245: Balance
"Is this real...?" asked Kuma, a mountain of a man with sunkissed skin, a strong and angular jaw, long and curly black hair, a barrel-chested build, and somewhat short, skinny legs compared to his 689cm body. He was one of the last surviving members of a race of mixed-blood giants known as Buccaneers, so while his proportions were somewhat strange, he was a veritable palace of steel-like muscle, barely contained by a giant-sized hospital gown as he gazed at the palms of his hands with disbelief.
"Your adoptive daughter, Bonney, came to me to solicit my assistance in your rescue, but after peeking at your situation, I couldn't turn a blind eye to either of your plights," explained Vahn, his expression relaxed and tone neutral as he stood before the seated Buccaneer after restoring the man's original, organic form and recovering his memories from the paw bubble Kuma himself had prepared before the procedure that deprived him of his free will.
"Bonney—is she here...?" asked Kuma, his soft, baritone voice catching and his oversized body trembling. Countless questions swirled within his mind like a chaotic tempest, but none mattered more than confirming his daughter was safe and sound.
Nodding, Vahn revealed, "She's currently rolling about in a private lounge and grousing to herself. Once we're finished here, I will send you over to surprise her. Her views of me and the organization I represent are a little skewed, but once you've caught up, she should be able to apprise you of the situation."
"Just who are you...?" asked Kuma, eager to see his daughter again but feeling he had to know the identity of the man who hadn't simply rescued him from a nightmare but presumably kept Bonney safe. At the very least, she trusted the man and his means enough to request his aid.
"Ah, my name is Vahn Mason," answered Vahn, adopting his best smile as he appended, "Though, I'm also known by two pertinent titles, the Dragon God of Intertwining Fates and, in your world, the Blasphemous Wings. It's a genuine pleasure to make the acquaintance of such a kind-hearted man and father. Though her life hasn't been easy, Bonney is lucky to have such a devoted guardian..."
Though Vahn's response birthed even more questions in his mind, Kuma's priorities returned to his daughter at her mention. Thus, after accepting a comfortable change of perfectly tailored clothes from Vahn, obtained via his System Shop, he raced to Bonney's side for a heartfelt reunion, scored by relieved wailing and an abundance of tears...
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[January 15th TST/September 7th DBT]