Chapter 60

"You shouldn't give your enemy too much information," Robin said, her voice calm but edged with quiet warning.

Kong gave a casual shrug, unfazed by her words, as if the moment hadn't carried any weight at all.

"I'm the strongest. I'm pretty sure even by myself, I could rush to the front door of the Celestial Dragons and kick all of their butts," Kong said with a cocky grin.

"Yet you don't… is that because you'd get lost?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. A vein pulsed on Kong's forehead, his grin twitching at the edge.

"No… shut up," Kong muttered, his voice low with irritation. Robin chuckled softly, her laughter light and soothing. She eased herself down onto the nearby wall, taking a moment to breathe. The tension Aokiji had brought with him was finally beginning to fade.

"I almost forgot to tell you—there's a Poneglyph on my ship. I haven't read it yet," Kong said casually, glancing her way. "Want to head back and take a look at my Poneglyph?"

Robin didn't hesitate. The moment the words left his mouth, she was already on her feet, eyes bright with anticipation.

"Let's go," Robin said, heading toward where Kong's ship was. Upon arriving, she saw thousands of identical copies of Kong, each one busy at work. They moved with skillful teamwork, rebuilding the ship according to the blueprints Franky had refined.

Robin slowed, watching as one clone hauled timber while another welded a steel frame into place. The scale of the operation was stunning.

"…You can clone yourself?" she asked, eyes narrowing as she took in the surreal sight.

Kong nodded with a grin, clearly proud of the progress.

"Yup, I'm a one-man army. We should have the ship completely built by tomorrow—though that means we'll be working nonstop… but we are building and destroying the ship until we get it done perfectly." Kong said with a grin.

Robin nodded absentmindedly, her gaze scanning the chaotic harmony of construction. Among the sea of Kong clones, she spotted Enel. Unlike Kong, he had only managed to create one clone, but his main body was clearly enjoying the work, laughing and working alongside the others.

Robin's attention soon shifted. Her eyes landed on the large, ancient poneglyph resting nearby. Without hesitation, she walked toward it, her fingers tracing the familiar carvings before she quietly began to read, with Kong standing beside her.

"Great Kingdom? And Imu again…" Kong muttered, eyes narrowing as he noticed the familiar names reappearing. The ancient script etched into the stone revealed fragments of the Void Century—references to a powerful nation long erased from history, the so-called Great Kingdom.

What caught his attention even more was the repeated mention of Imu. The text didn't reveal much, just faint traces of a name buried under centuries of suppression. But even those vague lines hinted at a presence that seemed to loom over everything.

"The Great Kingdom was the kingdom of the Void Century—one so powerful it took twelve united kingdoms to bring it down. Those twelve later formed the World Government," Robin explained, raising an eyebrow as her fingers brushed across the ancient stone.

"I see… but who created these things?" Kong asked, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. He'd tried everything to scratch the surface, but not even he could leave a mark on it. The thought lingered. If the world had beings capable of crafting something so indestructible… then maybe he wasn't the strongest after all. 

"I have yet to find out… but thank you. Now I know who's truly controlling this world—Imu," Robin said softly, her voice steady despite the weight of the revelation.

She paused for a moment, eyes still scanning the ancient script before turning slightly toward Kong. "Have you ever heard of the Sun God Nika?" she asked, her tone quiet but probing.

Kong blinked, caught off guard by the unfamiliar name. He frowned, something inside him feeling uncomfortable at the name. "Nope. Never heard of that name before."

"Sun God Nika is seen by many as a man who brings forth liberation," Robin said lightly, her eyes drifting over the stone. "Many slaves speak of him with hope in their hearts, passing down his story like a promise. I've also read about him… and there's something that always seems to follow him—the sound of drums. The drums of liberation."

"Now comes a storm through the far-off sky…

Now the waves are dancing, beat upon the drums…

If you lose your nerve, this breath could be your last…

But if you just hold on, the morning sun will rise," Kong sang softly, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Robin blinked, caught off guard. "It's just a theory," she said, her voice a bit hesitant. "That song is very old, tracing back to the void century. I only brought it up to hear your thoughts… I didn't expect you to overanalyze the lyrics."

"Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Today, and tomorrow, our dreams through the night!

Waving our goodbyes, we'll never meet again!

But don't look so down, for tomorrow night the moon will also rise!" Kong sang lightly, his voice thoughtful as he looked toward the distant sky.

"Could the moon be pointing toward the World Government?" he asked after a pause. "Thinking back to the song, there are a lot of references to opposites—light and dark, sun and moon, gold and silver. And the island Roger found… it's called Laugh Tale."

"Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Let's all sing it with a Don! A song of the waves.

Doesn't matter who you are—someday, you'll just be bones.

Never-ending, ever-wandering, our funny traveling tale!"

"Funny traveling tale? Laugh Tale?" Kong muttered, his brow furrowed in thought. "And the Don—isn't that the sound of a drum?"

He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the wood beside him. "This song feels like a farewell. Like it's saying, 'Yeah, we're going to lose… but it's fine. Because after the fall of the sun and raise of the moon, the sun will rise again."

"Sun God Nika… The sun had fallen, and the moon rose, but the sun would rise… It's too hard to believe," Robin said quietly, her brows furrowed. Kong nodded, understanding her hesitation.

"Then again, it kind of makes sense. The world government can erase everything about the Void Century, but a song passed through the mouths of criminals? That's harder to kill," Kong said lightly, casting a glance at his clones. As expected, they all paused, visibly unsettled by the name Sun God Nika, though none of them could explain why.

"Why do I feel guilty?" Kong asked, his voice low and thoughtful. The moment the name Nika was spoken, something deep within stirred—a presence that tried to rise to the surface, as if clawing its way out from the depths of his soul. But it wasn't strong enough. Instead, all Kong felt was a crushing wave of guilt, raw and unfamiliar. He tried to focus on the sensation, to follow its thread—but it slipped away, fading like a half-remembered dream, leaving him only with confusion.

Far beneath the sea, hidden in the dark depths, a golden staff began to tremble. Dust fell from its surface as it stirred, revealing a form weathered by time and scarred by battle—its surface cracked, its shine dulled, yet its presence undeniable.

Atop the Grand Line, in the sacred heights of Mary Geoise, a shadowy figure stood cloaked in silence. Its glowing eyes gleamed with twisted joy as it gazed upon the trembling crown in its grasp.

"It's almost time… soon, we'll reunite, my pet monkey," it whispered, voice laced with malice and something far darker. Its gaze stretched far, far beyond the Holy Land, towards Water 7. "But you've changed… stronger than before. I wonder if it's because the person who inherited your powers through that devil fruit is far more capable than you were."

A low, chilling laugh echoed through the room. "No matter. Your fate remains unchanged… My loyal pet."

"What's wrong?" Robin asked, seeing Kong looking off towards the sea with a blank look.

"I don't know… but the sea looks far more dangerous for some reason. I'm guessing this has to do with my devil fruit, otherwise I don't see myself being such a little bitch," Kong said in disdain, his eyes narrowing as he studied the horizon. A strange weight settled in his chest—an unease that didn't feel like his own.

If he knew his devil fruit was going to be such a pussy, he would have picked something else. 

And to his shock, the feeling vanished the moment he spoke, leaving Kong deeply unsettled. How could a few simple words erase something that had felt so overwhelming? Did Devil Fruits really have wills of their own? Was he now supposed to be on guard, watching out not just for enemies, but for his own powers turning against him?

"What can you tell me about Nika?" Kong asked, his voice steady but clearly intrigued.

Robin, wearing a mildly confused expression, gave a slight nod and began explaining everything she could recall. Unfortunately, there wasn't much. Most of what she knew came from the stories passed down throughout the world—tales of Nika as a figure of freedom, a symbol of hope. A being slaves prayed to, waiting for the day he would return and save the world. But beyond that? There wasn't much else to say.

"What a shame… I guess I'll just have to see what I can uncover during my journey across the sea," Kong said lightly, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. He then glanced at his countless clones and Enel, all steadily working on building the ship. 

His eyes returned to the sea, now stretching endlessly before him. For some reason, it looked more massive than ever—like a bottomless void daring him to step forward, only so it could consume him whole.

"It's funny…" Kong muttered with a faint smile. "With all of my powers and strength, I still feel too weak to bring down the world government."

He had already defeated a Big Mom who had pushed herself far beyond her limits. And even now, he stood stronger than he did back then… yet something about the world government felt untouchable. A presence so vast and entrenched that even now, at his peak, he couldn't help but feel like a small ripple against a boundless tide.

"This isn't something you can rush. The world government has stood for hundreds of years—it won't collapse overnight," Robin said softly, her voice light.

Kong nodded in quiet agreement, his gaze still on the distant sea. "Yeah… it just sucks I've already hit my current limit," he muttered, frustration buried in his tone.

He had pushed his body as far as it could go, tested the boundaries of his strength until there was nothing left to push against. Even his Devil Fruit, for all its overwhelming power, felt like it had stalled—no longer growing.

Only Haki remained as a hope, the one thing he believed might still grow with him. Otherwise, this was it—his peak—for now..

It had barely been a month since Kong had become a pirate—his rise in strength was nothing short of terrifying. But it wasn't natural growth; it was the result of his 100x cheat. Without it, there was no way he would have reached this level so quickly. And yet, even with that advantage, he had now hit a wall. From here on, progress would come slower… though still leagues faster than anyone else.

***

"Hey, since you're building Luffy's ship, I thought I should help out a little," Kong said, strolling up to Franky, who was knee-deep in his work. It was the next day, and nearly everyone had gathered, lending their hands to the construction of the Straw Hats' new ship.

"All the help is welcome. Plus, it might help you get a real feel for building a ship," Franky said, glancing up from his work and welcoming Kong without hesitation.

"You're Luffy's twin brother, right? I've heard a lot about you… and that ship you're planning to build," said a man in a sleek purple suit as he stepped forward, extending a hand in greeting. His tone was friendly, but his eyes held a spark of curiosity as he sized Kong up.

"Well, I hope you've heard a lot about me. I'm the man who plans to kick the World Government's ass," Kong said with a confident grin. Iceburg's eyes widened slightly at the bold claim, but after a brief pause, he nodded with a small, amused smile.

Without a word, Iceburg pulled a set of papers from under his arm and handed them over to Kong. The unexpected gesture left Kong momentarily stunned.

"I asked for his help… just a little," Franky admitted. It wasn't something he usually did, but considering the sheer scale of Kong's planned ship, he had decided to let Iceburg review a copy of the blueprints for a second opinion.

"Thanks… I honestly don't know how to repay you guys," Kong said, scratching the back of his head, before suddenly remembering he was, quite literally, a walking bank. So, the money stored within his body was taken out.

"That's 900 million," he added with a smile, casually handing over the funds.

Iceburg hesitated for a moment, eyes drifting toward the city beyond. After a brief pause, he accepted the money. Water 7 had suffered damage, and they'd need every bit of it to begin repairs.

And so, with the exchange complete, the shipbuilding began in earnest—day after day passing in a blur of sweat, wood, and steel.

***

"Fish-Man Island… I don't think I've ever seen a fish-man," Kong said casually, his thoughts drifting to the image of a beautiful mermaid smiling warmly at him. The thought brought a faint smile to his face—until he paused, feeling a gaze on him.

He glanced up and met Robin's eyes, finding her watching him with a subtle smile. Caught off guard, he awkwardly returned the expression, scratching his cheek.

"I'm a mermaid," Granny Kokoro chimed in cheerfully, flashing him a grin.

Kong blinked, staring at her for a moment. Then his gaze dropped to her two legs. He raised an eyebrow.

Her overweight body shape, along with that wide, toothy smile, made her look more like a frog than anything remotely graceful. She looked nothing like the mermaids Kong had imagined—and honestly, he felt personally offended that she dared to call herself one.

"Yeah, sure," Kong muttered with a roll of his eyes, not even trying to hide his disbelief.

Granny Kokoro's eyes narrowed slightly at his reaction, though the smile never left her face. Still, she didn't push the point. A moment later, she shifted the conversation.

"Anyways, you'd find it hard to reach Fishman Island. To get there, you'll need to pass through the Florian Triangle," she said, her tone growing serious—serious enough that even Luffy stopped goofing around and paid attention.

"Every year, over a hundred ships go missing in that area without a trace. No signs of struggle. No distress calls. Nothing. The scary part?" She paused for effect, her gaze sweeping over the crew. "Those ships show up later… completely empty. No bodies. No survivors. Just the ghosts of their former crews still wandering around."

Even Kong raised an eyebrow at that, his interest piqued by the eerie tale.

"No, it's mine!" Luffy yelled quickly, cutting off Kong before he could even form the thought of claiming the destination for himself.

"You can't just claim a location like that! Besides, you're heading to Fishman Island—this is just a stop along the way!" Kong shouted back, clearly annoyed at Luffy.

"Yeah, I think we should leave this to Kong," Nami said, her voice low with unease. Chopper quickly nodded, clearly not eager to challenge her suggestion. The thought of ghosts was enough to spook him, and the mention of missing ships only made things worse.

But Luffy wasn't having any of it. "You weren't even going that way! You're stopping here before going off somewhere else," Luffy said, pointing at Kong with an annoyed look.

Kong clicked his tongue, knowing Luffy was right. He had more important things to handle. Plus, he still needed to recruit Kaido into his crew.

From what Zed had explained, it seemed like every major powerhouse in this world had something they were most skilled in.

For example, Big Mom was slow and lacked refined combat skills, but she made up for it with sheer durability and overwhelming flexibility in the sense that she had a lot of skills to pick from. Her powerful Haki was mastered to a scale below their peak, and her Devil Fruit granted her the terrifying ability to rip out souls and infuse life into objects—amplifying both her battlefield control and overall strength.

Then there was Garp—a pure Striker. Garp believed that every problem in the world could be solved with a punch. And those weren't just ordinary punches. Backed by monstrous physical strength and crushing waves of Haki.

Kaido was a Tank. He wasn't called the "Strongest Creature Alive" for no reason. It wasn't that he was the most powerful being overall, but rather that his body alone was absurdly durable—nearly impossible to injure, let alone kill. He lacked top-tier speed, didn't have an arsenal of abilities like other monsters of his level, and his raw attack power couldn't match Garp at his peak. But what set him apart was that no matter how hard he was hit, he simply wouldn't fall. His endurance was unmatched.

As for the marines, Akainu stood at the top in terms of raw destructive force. His Devil Fruit had arguably the highest offensive output of them all, capable of erasing anything in its path. On top of that, his durability was nothing to scoff at. While it didn't quite reach Kaido's level, Akainu could take punishing blows and still rise again.

Kizaru, one of the three admirals, possessed the highest speed known, possibly even in the entire world, thanks to his Devil Fruit, which allowed him to move at the speed of light. His speed was nearly untouchable, making him an elusive and deadly opponent. But, like everyone else, he had his weaknesses. His durability wasn't anything special, and his attack power, while still devastating, didn't hold up when compared to monsters like Akainu or Garp.

Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses. No one was as durable as Kaido, as fast as Kizaru, as overwhelmingly powerful as Garp, or as versatile and terrifyingly skilled as Big Mom.

So, could Kong break past Kaido's durability? Kong believed he could. Kaido was durable, nearly unmatched in that regard, but he wasn't Whitebeard. The man known as the strongest in the world—Whitebeard—had stood at the peak. Even in his old age, long past his prime, he was said to possess the strength to destroy the world itself.