Chapter 21

"Captain, another newspaper about your brother." On a small island, standing on the beach, Kong could be seen shirtless, examining the scars that covered his body. As the pirate called out, Kong turned, taking the newspaper from his outstretched hand.

"Oh, so Luffy's on Drum Island," Kong said with a smile. For the past few days, he had been keeping a close eye on the newspapers, tracking Luffy's movements.

It was funny—the same day Kong got his wanted poster, Luffy ran into Smoker and entered the Grand Line. Now, just four days later, Luffy should either be on Drum Island or leaving it.

"Drum Island is far from here. Let's head to Alabasta in two days," Kong said calmly. It had been 21 days since he became a pirate. For the past three days, all he had done was rest, and now, for the next two days, he planned to finally set foot in Alabasta.

Meanwhile, aboard a Marine ship, Admiral Akainu sat in silence, waiting for any news on Kong. Just days ago, Kong couldn't go more than a day without running into Marines, but now? It was as if he had vanished.

Akainu's patience was wearing thin. He was pissed and beyond annoyed.

A part of Akainu wanted to step onto Alabasta himself and end the civil war, knowing full well that it was likely the handiwork of the World Government's so-called "warlords."

He despised the Warlord system—the very idea of pirates working under the Marines, having their crimes pardoned in exchange for obedience… It disgusted him.

But right now, Kong was his priority. Akainu hated Garp's bloodline. To him, they were nothing but troublemakers, and Kong might be the worst of them all. Like one of the Four Emperors, Shanks, Kong seemed like he was going to master Conqueror's Haki before any other form of Haki.

Shanks' Conqueror's Haki was unmatched, feared even among the greatest at sea… And now, there was Kong.

Kong's Conqueror's Haki was terrifying—not just in its sheer power and range, but in his ability to selectively target who it affected. That level of control made him even more dangerous, for only those who have mastered Conqueror Haki and had years worth of experience could do such a thing. Yet with Kong, he had countless cannon fodder, and none seemed to faint whenever he used his Conqueror Haki…

If Kong wasn't stopped, then it was only a matter of time before he became another Emperor of the Sea.

"Take me to Alabasta," Akainu ordered coldly. He would get to the bottom of the civil war. If it turned out to be the work of a World War, then he would kill him without a second thought. But if Kong's name appeared anywhere… everything else would be put on hold.

So, Akainu headed toward Alabasta, ensuring that his ship docked in a secluded location to avoid drawing attention to his presence. But before he could set foot on the island, something unexpected happened. Someone he had been searching for appeared.

Meanwhile, Kong sat back, watching as his crew prepared for the long trek through the desert. Why had he come all the way here? Simple.

Alabasta was home to a Warlord of the Sea. Kong wanted that warlord to join his crew—the first step in his grand plan to recruit all seven.

"Why do I have a bad feeling all of a sudden?" Kong muttered, stretching as he absentmindedly scratched his butt, his mind drifting.

"Captain! A marine ship!" a pirate suddenly shouted, snapping Kong back to reality. He lazily turned his head and spotted the approaching vessel. Without much thought, he released a wave of pressure, targeting the ship directly. Satisfied, he turned back to his crew, paying it no further mind.

"Captain, it's still coming." a pirate called out, his voice tinged with unease.

Kong frowned, turning his gaze back toward the approaching ship. With his sharp eyesight, he quickly spotted a figure standing at the bow, staring straight at him with unwavering focus.

'Red suit.' Kong's expression remained unreadable as he took in the man's presence. 'Oh, that's an admiral.'

He gave a faint nod of acknowledgment, then, without a hint of urgency, turned back around, watching his crew go about their tasks. His hand lazily returned to scratching his butt, as if the encounter wasn't even worth his full attention.

.

.

.

"Run!" Kong yelled in horror. The pirates didn't hesitate—if their captain was reacting like this, it meant only one thing: they were completely outmatched. Scrambling in a frenzy, they moved to set sail immediately, but just as they were about to push off, a massive glob of magma arced through the air, slamming into their ship.

The mast exploded in flames, the sheer heat warping the wood before it collapsed into a smoking ruin. Kong's pupils shrank, his mind racing. Magu Magu no Mi… the devil fruit with one of the highest offensive powers among all Devil Fruits. 

Kong gritted his teeth, his fists clenching as he watched the magma slowly consume his ship. But he wasn't angry—no, his blood was boiling.

This was it. A true test. How big was the gap between him and one of the Three Admirals?

His head snapped toward Akainu just in time to see him mid-air, having leaped across the massive distance between their ships in a single bound.

"Everyone, flee! I'll take on the walking volcano!" Kong roared before launching himself into the sky to meet Akainu head-on. But before he could close the gap… A wave of magma erupted from Akainu's fist, rushing toward him with terrifying speed. 

Kong's instincts kicked in. His legs stretched downward, touching the ocean's surface, and with a powerful push, he shifted just in time to dodge the incoming attack.

Boom!

The magma struck the ship behind him, obliterating it in an instant. A handful of pirates screamed, caught in the explosion, their bodies consumed by the searing heat.

Kong didn't look back. His focus was locked on Akainu. His body snapped forward, his arms stretching as he closed the distance, aiming to force Akainu back over the sea. If he could push him into the deep waters below, even an Admiral would be helpless.

Akainu, still mid-air, watched as Kong sprouted multiple arms that shot toward him. Instead of dodging, he used this as a chance to close the distance and land a decisive blow, after all, he ate a logia type devil fruit, he was immune to Kong attacks… but that was a grave mistake.

The rain of fists struck him with overwhelming force, sending him rocketing toward the sea below.

'He changed his state of matter from a solid to a liquid?' Akainu was momentarily stunned. But he reacted instantly, kicking the air and propelling himself upward at high speed.

Kong's eyes widened in shock. 'He can walk on air?!'

Before he could fully process it, Akainu was already closing in, magma-coated fists burning with searing heat as he prepared to strike.

Kong twisted and contorted his body, allowing Akainu's attacks to phase through him. But the intent heat of the magma still singed his flesh, forcing a pained cry from his lips.

Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with a powerful punch, but Akainu was far faster then him. In an instant, the admiral's magma-coated foot struck Kong's midsection with devastating force.

Kong's eyes widened as pain erupted through his body. The wounds from his previous battles tore open, blood spraying from his mouth as he was launched downward, plummeting toward the ocean below.