A lifetime of slavery, losing humanity, losing family, losing will… only at the LAST MINUTE when the revenge punch was thrown, Kuma was able to truly escape the centuries-old chains – not thanks to anyone, but the one who oppressed him accidentally “liberated” him in the BLOODIEST way!

Kuma, as any other former slave of the Celestial Dragons, was branded with the “Hoof of the Flying Dragon” on his back. In his entire life, he had never tasted total freedom (emotional, physical, whatever), he even lost his own personality, he “died” and still he was a slave.

One Piece Episode 1136 Review: Kuma and Bonney's Flashback Finally Wraps up  With Some Pacing Issues

But.. In the last moments of his life, when his own will predominated all boundaries, when he punched the one who ruined his life and his family… Saturn stabbed his back and by that destroyed the mark that symbolically marked him as a slave.

One Piece Chapter 1103 Review: Kuma Arrives at Egghead

Living his whole life oppressed, Kuma even after losing his mind, personality and almost everything, decided to make his own decisions and only in that moment he died.