Chapter 41

{A/N: Extra Long chapter today... Don't thank me. I know I'm amazing, but those extra 300 words truly killed me. So bring me back to life. Only your power stones can give me the power.}

Before Kong even neared the ship, he instinctively pulled out his sword, meeting an incoming arrow head-on. The moment steel clashed against wood, his eyes widened in shock—the sheer force behind the arrow shattered his blade, sending him hurtling toward the sea below. But before he could sink, he caught himself, his feet skimming the water's surface as he landed.

Quickly regaining his balance, Kong snatched the arrow mid-air, his confusion deepening when he realized it was just an ordinary arrow.

How? He thought, easily snapping it between his fingers. His gaze lifted to the barrage of arrows raining down toward him. Narrowing his eyes, the world seemed to darken for an instant.

A powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, distorting the air and sending the incoming arrows hurtling backward, scattering into the ocean like falling leaves caught in a storm.

The entire crew of female pirates collapsed to the deck, unable to withstand the sheer force of Kong's Conqueror's Haki. Silence filled the ship, save for the sound of bodies hitting the floor.

Kong leaped onto the ship's railing, his gaze locking onto the only person still standing—the most beautiful woman in the world, her expression twisted in fury.

"You dare!" Boa Hancock's voice was laced with venom, her rage palpable as she watched her crew drop like flies. Without hesitation, she vanished from sight, reappearing in front of Kong in an instant, her leg already in motion.

Kong barely had time to react. His eyes widened at her speed, his instincts kicking in as he moved dodging the attack.

Kong barely had time to register what was happening before Boa Hancock formed her hands into a heart shape and fired a glowing, heart-shaped beam directly at him. The attack struck his body, and almost instantly, a creeping sensation spread through him—his flesh hardening, his movements slowing.

His body was turning to stone.

Shock coursed through him, but there was no time to dwell on it. Hancock although shocked at the fact Kong didn't turn to stone instantly, she was relentless, pressing forward with a flurry of attacks. Kong dodged as best he could, but the petrification weakened him. His movements were sluggish, unbalanced. Then, her leg struck his ribs with brutal precision.

Crack.

His petrified ribs shattered on impact. Pain shot through his body, his breath catching as he staggered back. 

Kong was sent hurtling toward the ocean, but instead of sinking, he landed on the surface as if it were solid ground. He barely had a moment to recover before a heart-shaped aura shimmered in front of Hancock, and in the next instant, a barrage of arrows rained down toward him.

He moved quickly, weaving between the deadly projectiles, narrowly avoiding them as they struck the water's surface with enough force to create an explosion. 

'Sigh… looks like the only reason I defeated Akainu was because I caught him off guard again… well, she also caught me off guard.'

As that thought passed through his mind, the sky above darkened further, and lightning began to rain down from the storm clouds. Hancock tensed, her instincts warning her of the immense force pressing down on her. Kong's Conqueror's Haki surged, raw and overwhelming, the sound of raining lightning filled the air, enraging Hancock as some of the lightning hit her crew mates.

A shattering sound echoed as the petrification gripping his body crumbled away, his flesh returning to normal. His will had completely nullified her Devil Fruit's effect, while the missing part of his body regrew.

"You're strong, caught me off guard there…" Kong admitted, a grin tugging at his lips before he burst forward, closing the distance in an instant. His sword hummed with raw power as he infused it with his Conqueror's Haki, the air around it distorting from the sheer pressure.

Hancock met his charge head-on, her own Haki flaring to life. The moment their attacks collided, a deafening shockwave erupted, black lightning crackling through the air and tearing across the ship's deck. The sheer force of their clash sent the unconscious Kuja Pirates sliding across the ship.

But in the end, Hancock faltered. Unlike Kong, she hadn't mastered the ability to infuse her Conqueror's Haki into her attacks. The overwhelming pressure sent her flying backward, but she twisted mid-air, landing gracefully on the ship's deck. Her leg trembled slightly from the impact, the numbing force of Kong's strike leaving its mark.

She exhaled sharply, her piercing gaze locking onto him. 

"I mean no ill will. I actually just wanted to see if you'd join my pirate crew. I didn't expect you to attack me before I even set foot on the ship," Kong said with a relaxed smile, sheathing his sword.

Hancock's eyes narrowed at his words, her initial shock quickly twisting into disdain. "And if I don't?" she asked sharply, her tone laced with irritation.

"Then I'll leave," Kong replied simply, his expression unreadable.

The response caught Enel and Boa off guard, especially Boa. She nearly stumbled, not expecting such an easy retreat. 

"My goal is to overthrow the World Government, and having strong people like you as my crew mates is crucial," Kong said with a casual smile, lowering himself onto the stairs. His gaze shifted, locking onto one of the fallen Kuja warriors.

Lightning had struck her back earlier, burning away part of her clothing—just enough to reveal a symbol etched into her skin.

Boa's pupils shrank, her breath hitching as sheer horror filled her eyes. But before she could react, Kong moved. Without hesitation, he pulled off his own cloak and draped it over her sister's back, shielding the brand from view.

"My brother was killed by a Celestial Dragon just for fun. I made it my life's goal to give those pigs a taste of their own medicine. Sitting here and doing nothing won't change anything," Kong said, his gaze locking onto Hancock's with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

He could see it in her eyes—she knew about the mark on her sister's back. She wasn't just aware of it; she carried the same burden. The weight of a past tied to the Celestial Dragons.

By all logic, she should be the easiest person to convince to join his crew. But something held her back. 

"Your reaction… don't tell me you're also… no, that can't be. How could someone as prideful as you be a dog to those pigs' dogs? You're the lackey of a Lackey who's master is your enemy?" Kong's voice was laced with disbelief as realization dawned on him.

Hancock's silence spoke louder than any words could.

She wanted to respond, to say something—anything—but she hesitated under the weight of Kong's glare. His eyes bore into her with pure, absolute disgust. Not hatred, not pity—disgust.

"With how strong your Conqueror's Haki was… I expected more. Someone like you isn't worthy of joining my crew."

Kong turned to leave, his words cutting deeper than any blade.

But then—BOOM.

A sudden surge of Conqueror's Haki stopped him in his tracks. The ship trembled under the sheer force of it, the very air growing heavy.

"Shut up! Don't act like you know me!" Hancock's voice cracked with rage, her fists clenched as if she were ready to fight him to the death.

Kong turned back, unfazed, as she glared at him with unfiltered fury.

"I have a kingdom to protect! I had no choice but to become a Warlord!" she yelled, venting years of frustration and anger.

But just as she was ready to unleash more of her rage, she froze, stunned… Kong after a moment of shock at her words… he had bowed lightly toward her.

"My apologies, I misjudged you…" Kong said calmly.

He had never been a slave, but he understood. A freed slave forced to live in fear, forced to hide their past, knowing that discovery could bring ruin—not just to them but to those they swore to protect. And for someone as prideful as Hancock, being forced to serve the underlings of her former masters must have been its own kind of torture.

"It's best you don't join my crew, then," Kong continued, his tone softer but resolute. "I wouldn't want your people to suffer because of me."

Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave.

"… I want to join," Boa said just as Kong was about to step off the ship.

He paused mid-step, turning slightly, eyes narrowing as he studied her. For someone like Boa Hancock—who openly despised men—to say something like that, it was completely out of character.

But the truth was simple. She knew who he was. She had read the newspapers, heard the whispers of his growing legend. As a Warlord, she was privy to information the common world wasn't. She knew of his goal—to destroy the World Government.

Normally, no man's words would have ever reached her. She wouldn't have cared. But as Kong spoke of toppling the world's greatest power, he had uttered the very thing she had always wished she could say herself.

But she never could. She had a kingdom to protect.

When Kong gave her that look of disdain, Boa realized one thing—he was everything she wished she could be. Free. Unshackled. Bold enough to openly defy the world government without fear or restraint.

She had spent years trapped in a role she never wanted, hiding the scars of her past while playing the part of an empress. She had convinced herself it was necessary—for the sake of her people, for the safety of her kingdom. But now, standing before someone who embodied everything she longed for, the truth was undeniable.

Kong was living the life she could only dream of. And facing that reality, she made her choice to…

Boom.

Something shot through the sky at incredible speed, crashing onto the deck with enough force to shake the entire ship. Kong and Boa went on guard,, eyes locked on the smoking hole that had just been torn through the vessel.

From the wreckage, a massive figure emerged, stepping onto the deck with deliberate, measured movements. A towering man, dressed in a long coat, with round glasses perched on his face, and a bible held firmly in his hands.

Kong's eyes narrowed as the man lifted his gaze, his expression unreadable.

"Monkey D. Kong," the man spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "You remind me a lot of your father."

His gaze lingered on Kong for a moment before shifting toward Boa Hancock, taking her in with the same calm scrutiny.