"Thank you, Kuzan."
Kuzan was slightly stunned when he heard Kong suddenly say those words.
He did not understand why Kong would thank him at a time like this.
Kong turned his head and looked at him.
"Would you like to hear an old man's story?"
Kuzan remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding and sitting down beside him.
The old man lying on the ground no longer possessed the fierce and domineering presence he had displayed moments ago. He seemed to have become the righteous Fleet Admiral of the past once more.
Seeing this, Kong smiled faintly, relief visible in his eyes.
"Eighty-three years ago, in West Blue, a fifty-seven-year-old fisherman finally had a son."
"That family treasured the child dearly. They worked hard fishing and lived a relatively prosperous life."
"The boy grew up healthy under the careful care of his parents."
As Kong spoke, nostalgia gradually appeared on his face.
Kuzan listened quietly, unsure why Kong had chosen this moment to tell such a story.
He glanced upward at Uranus.
The massive Ancient Weapon radiated an overwhelming pressure, and he could almost feel its destructive energy locking onto the world below.
Yet sensing Kong's steadily weakening life force, he chose to continue listening.
"That happy family experienced a disaster when the boy was only three years old."
"One day, a ship arrived from the sea carrying a skull-and-crossbones flag."
"Back then, pirates weren't as common as they are today. The islanders didn't know what that flag represented and assumed they were merchants coming to trade."
A bitter laugh escaped Kong's mouth.
"Hehehe... hahaha..."
"When they arrived, the villagers welcomed them warmly."
"But after entering the town, those people demanded all valuables be handed over."
"They even demanded the women."
"Only then did everyone realize they were pirates."
"Naturally, the villagers refused."
"But how could a group of ordinary people stand against pirates who had survived on the seas for years?"
"It took less than half a day for the entire island to be consumed by flames."
"Countless villagers who resisted were slaughtered."
"Countless women were violated."
"Everything of value was stolen, and whatever couldn't be taken was destroyed."
His eyes gradually reddened.
His fists clenched tightly.
His entire body trembled.
"The island was filled with screams."
"During the looting and massacre, the fisherman's husband and wife died beneath the pirates' blades."
"Their only child had been hidden inside a cabinet beforehand."
"He witnessed everything."
"The young boy could only cover his mouth and nose while desperately stopping himself from making a sound."
"After the pirates left, the cheerful child disappeared."
"He became quiet."
"He spent every day training."
"Then, when he turned ten, he encountered those pirates again."
"The Baguo United Pirates."
"By then, he was no longer prey."
"He became the butcher."
"And he slaughtered every single one of them."
"He avenged his parents."
By this point, Kuzan already understood.
The child in the story was Kong himself.
Kong suddenly grabbed his chest and coughed violently.
Blood once again trickled from the corner of his mouth.
A trace of sorrow flashed through Kuzan's eyes.
Kong continued.
"After that, the child wandered the seas alone."
"His only goal was to eradicate pirates."
"Over the next two years, no fewer than ten pirate crews were destroyed by his hands."
"Then one day, he came across a Marine recruitment station."
"He signed up."
"As expected, he became a Marine."
"For many years afterward, he carried out missions and gradually climbed through the ranks."
"Eventually, he became an Admiral."
"Thirty-eight years ago, he participated in the battle against the Rocks Pirates alongside the Roger Pirates."
"Together, they stopped Rocks D. Xebec's attempt to overturn the world."
"Afterward, he was promoted to Fleet Admiral."
"Twenty-four years ago, Golden Lion Shiki attacked Marineford."
"Sengoku, who was still an Admiral at the time, joined forces with Vice Admiral Garp and captured him."
"As Fleet Admiral, he was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the World Government."
"Sengoku inherited the position of Fleet Admiral."
Kong's gaze became distant.
"After becoming Commander-in-Chief, he believed he could finally change the world."
"He believed justice could spread to every corner of the seas."
"But he was wrong."
Tears slowly rolled from the corners of his eyes.
"Only after reaching the center of power did he witness the true darkness of the world."
"Only then did he meet the being who truly rules everything."
"The self-proclaimed King of the World."
"Imu."
"That person is extremely suspicious of anyone capable of bringing change."
"And a Commander-in-Chief devoted to justice naturally became a target."
"He grants power under the guise of blessings."
"In reality, he turns people into monsters."
"He forces them to abandon their human bodies and form contracts with beasts from hell."
"From that moment onward, they become demonic creatures."
"Although they can still assume human form, they gain immortality, telepathic abilities, and immense Haki."
Kong paused briefly.
"Fortunately, I was not chosen for that path."
"I wasn't qualified."
"Instead, Imu used another method."
"He stripped away my sense of justice."
"He turned me into a puppet that obeyed only the Gorosei and himself."
After hearing everything, Kuzan finally understood.
The reason the once-righteous Fleet Admiral Kong had become a loyal servant of the World Government was not because he had abandoned his beliefs.
He had been controlled by Imu all along.
"Marshal Kong..."
Before Kuzan could continue, Kong suddenly began coughing violently.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Large amounts of blood spilled from his mouth.
His face rapidly lost all color.
The aura surrounding him weakened dramatically.
Seeing this, Kuzan quickly supported him.
"Marshal Kong, I'm sorry... I..."
Kong slowly shook his head.
"No need to apologize."
"Seeing Marines like you, strong, courageous, and devoted to justice..."
"I'm already satisfied with my life."
"Cough... cough..."
His breathing grew weaker.
"Although I don't know exactly what kind of person Rolan is..."
"I trust your judgment."
After revealing everything hidden within his heart, the last bit of strength supporting him finally faded.
His body trembled as the coughing continued.
"Cough..."
"Cough..."
"Marshal Kong!"
Kong grabbed Kuzan's arm tightly.
"This world..."
"I'll leave it to you."
"I believe you can win."
"It's a shame I won't live long enough to see it."
Then, gathering the last of his strength, he revealed one final secret.
"Also..."
"You must be careful."
"That King of the World, Imu..."
"Is not a native of this world."
"Nani?!"
Kuzan's eyes widened in disbelief.
The revelation struck him harder than any attack.
He wanted to ask more.
He wanted answers.
But Kong's grip loosened.
The old man's eyes slowly closed.
Forever.
At that exact moment, a terrifying pressure descended upon the battlefield.
Kuzan instinctively raised his head.
A massive purple-red beam resembling divine lightning tore through the sky.
It descended from Uranus.
The air along its path ignited and exploded continuously.
Boom!
The beam slammed directly into a distant mountain on Kulusimiya Island.
The entire island shook violently.
It felt as though the end of the world had arrived.
A devastating shockwave erupted outward.
Solid rock shattered like fragile paper.
Flames and smoke soared into the sky.
The already collapsing island trembled even more violently.
When the light finally disappeared, a gigantic black crater hundreds of meters wide remained at the impact site.
The surrounding sea was thrown into chaos.
Towering waves dozens of meters high surged outward like enraged beasts.
Immediately afterward, countless scarlet beams began raining down from the sky.
Kuzan gently laid Kong's body back onto the ground.
Then he slowly rose into the air.
Without hesitation, he flew straight toward Uranus.
...