Chapter 17: Chapter 17
"We're in the clouds…" Kong murmured, awestruck, reaching out in an attempt to touch them. For a brief moment, the ship glided through misty white, the soft vapor curling around them, But then, in the blink of an eye, they rose above it.
They weren't just in the clouds anymore. They were above them. Yet, despite how high they had climbed, the ship kept going, as if gravity itself had ceased to exist
"Captain!" a pirate screamed in panic. Before Kong could process what was happening, the ship suddenly lurched, flung upward by an unseen force, And he was thrown off.
His eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he realized what had just happened, He had been sent flying. The ship was already dozens of meters away, but Kong didn't hesitate.
His arm stretched outward in an instant until they found purchase on the ship's railing. With a powerful yank, he pulled himself back aboard. But before he could catch his breath, things took a turn for the worse. The ship, which had just moments ago been soaring upward, suddenly dove. It plunged downward at insane speed, barreling down the Reverse Mountain.
"So, that's the Grand Line… home to this world's powerhouses." Kong stood at the front of the ship, arms crossed, a cocky grin stretched across his face as he gazed at the vast, untamed ocean before him.
"Just wait, Kong shall shock the world." But that grin vanished in an instant. His sharp eyes locked onto something up ahead, and his expression shifted to one of confusion.
A massive mountain loomed in their path. At the same time, a strange, unnatural wailing echoed through the air, sending a chill down his spine.
"Captain! There's a mountain ahead!" one of the pirates cried out in panic, their voices filled with horror as they realized their ship was barreling straight toward it.
They had no way to stop. Kong's brow furrowed, His gaze narrowed, studying the rocky surface ahead… And then, he saw it. Teeth. Sharp, jagged, and impossibly large. His eyes widened in shock. That wasn't a mountain.
"That's a whale!" Kong shouted, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. He had seen many insane things in his life, But nothing like this. Something that massive could swallow their entire ship whole without even noticing.
And the worst part? He had no idea if his attacks would even hurt it. "Hurry! Steer around it!"
"Move, move, move!" the crew screamed, scrambling to turn the ship before it was too late. Kong didn't hesitate. He launched himself to the opposite side of where the ship was turning, stretching his body to its limit.
His feet slammed into the Red Line, his arms pressed firmly against the ship's side, acting as an anchor. With one massive push, he forced the ship's trajectory harder, hoping to veer them away from the monstrous creature in time.
Kong's legs blurred as he ran along the Red Line, his speed matching the ship's rapid movement. With both the crew's efforts and his own strength, the ship began to turn, veering toward the edge of the Red Line.
But the danger wasn't over yet. Kong had to act fast. In a flash, he pulled himself back onto the ship, then immediately launched himself to the opposite side, pressing his body against the Red Line once more.
This time, he pushed hard, keeping the ship from slamming into the rocky cliffside. The sheer weight of the vessel was immense, but Kong's strength made it look easy.
The real challenge? His legs had to keep moving constantly, matching the ship's speed perfectly—or else, he risked losing control.
Soon, the ship stabilized, no longer in danger of colliding with the massive whale. With the immediate threat gone, Kong finally pulled himself back aboard, exhaling as he watched them sail past the enormous creature.
Its head was tilted straight up, reaching toward the sky, making it impossible to see its full size, But even from this angle, it was clear, This thing was massive.
"I wonder if I could one-shot it…" Kong muttered to himself, tilting his head as he considered the idea. But after a moment, he shook his head. Fighting something that big in the middle of the ocean? Not a smart idea.
Instead, he turned his attention forward, his eyes locked on the horizon. He had finally entered the Grand Line. But it only took 30 minutes for the ship to slow down.
Kong frowned, sensing something off. Then, up ahead, A fleet of Marine ships had formed a blockade, completely surrounding them.
"You little brat… you just had to run around causing trouble." Garp's voice was tight with frustration, his jaw clenched as he stood at the center of the Marine fleet, arms crossed, eyes locked onto Kong with an intensity that could shatter stone.
Onboard one of the ships, a pink-haired Marine recruit and a blonde-haired swordsman stared at Kong, their expressions frozen in shock. The resemblance between him and Luffy was uncanny.
"Grandpa…" Kong said, sweat beading on his forehead as he forced a grin. "You should really think about retiring." The moment the words left his mouth, the entire fleet went silent.
"Grandpa?!" A ripple of shock spread through the Marines, murmurs erupting as eyes darted between Kong and Garp. Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of the Marines, had a grandson who was a pirate?!
But Kong didn't bother acknowledging their shock. His focus remained on Garp, and his body began to shift, muscles tensing, limbs stretching and twisting in unnatural ways, preparing for a fight.
Garp's expression remained stone-cold. Then, in a voice like thunder, he gave his command, "Sink the ship."
The cannons roared. Cannonballs tore through the air, streaking toward the ship. Kong acted instantly. Without hesitation, he launched himself off the deck, his body twisting midair as he plunged straight into the sea.
But unlike any other Devil Fruit user, he didn't sink. Kong shifted his density, his body staying afloat as if the ocean itself refused to claim him.
"You have to bring him in." The words came from a man lounging lazily on Garp's ship, his expression unreadable behind a blindfold. He barely moved, his tone calm but firm, as if this entire situation was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
Garp, who had been fully prepared to sit back and do nothing, let out a deep sigh of annoyance. With a grunt, he started to move forward, ready to leap into battle, But then, he paused. And he wasn't the only one.
Every Marine froze, their eyes locked onto Kong in stunned disbelief. With one hand, Kong had lifted the entire ship.
His arm expanded, growing hundreds of times larger, stretching out to grasp the massive vessel as if it were nothing more than a toy.
What he was doing was insanely complex. To keep from sinking, he had to carefully adjust the density of his legs, ensuring they spread across a wider surface area to distribute his weight.
It was a delicate balance, And yet, he made it look effortless. Before anyone could react, the ship was already soaring through the air.
Kong didn't waste time. As soon as he launched it, he shifted his own density, allowing him to run across the water's surface. Then, with a single earth-shaking kick, he sent a massive wave rippling across the ocean And propelled himself skyward.
Like a bullet, he rocketed into the air, his body twisting mid-flight as he stretched out his hand, grabbing hold of the ship. With one final pull, he effortlessly swung himself back onto the deck, landing with a smug grin.