Gon looked at Luffy, who had already taken a stance, his eyes burning with excitement.
He also wanted to know just how strong he was now, after his training at Heaven's Arena.
Boom! His "Ren" instantly erupted, and a powerful aura stirred up fine dust on the ground.
This sudden change immediately sobered Luffy's usually carefree expression, replaced by the focus he showed when facing a strong enemy.
Zoro's eyes sharpened, and his hand instinctively went to his sword hilt. "Luffy, don't be careless, this kid is extraordinary."
"Hm!" Luffy nodded heavily, but then a wide grin spread across his face, and he issued his classic invitation: "You're strong! Come be my crewmate!"
"Be your crewmate?" The aura around Gon suddenly grew fiery, and anger made his Nen surge even more violently.
"You want me to become a Pirate King?" In his understanding, Pirate Kings were no different from thieves, evil villains who plundered and destroyed at will.
Luffy patted his straw hat, about to explain, but Gon didn't give him a chance.
Gon moved with astonishing speed, instantly closing the distance to Luffy. His fist, enveloped in pure Nen, shot straight for Luffy's face.
Seeing it was a normal fist, Luffy didn't dodge, confident that his rubber body was immune to impact.
However, when that fist landed squarely on his cheek...
Bang!
A colossal force, far beyond what he imagined, struck him. Luffy felt a sharp pain in his face and was uncontrollably sent flying backward, crashing heavily into a stack of containers behind him with a loud thud.
"Luffy!" Zoro was shocked. "How is that possible? He's a rubber man, physical attacks should be ineffective against him!"
What alarmed him even more was that Luffy's mouth was bleeding in mid-air, which was completely illogical.
Kyle Link watched clearly from the side, understanding.
Nen is life energy; such direct attacks have an extremely high priority by nature. Even Armament Haki, which doesn't belong to this world, can still cause physical damage to any ability user.
Luffy quickly jumped up from the wreckage, wiped the blood from his mouth, his face full of confusion.
Instead of being scared, he curiously pinched the cheek that had been hit, pulling it hard in both directions.
"It hurts! But it's still rubber!" He mumbled, like a child encountering a difficult problem. "Why can your fist hurt me? That's so strange!"
Not thinking about what he couldn't understand was one of Luffy's main characteristics.
He adjusted his straw hat, his smile growing even wider: "Even though I don't understand, you really are strong! I want you as a companion even more now!"
The battle erupted again, growing even more intense.
Gon, with his incredible perception and Nen protection, entangled with Luffy's freely stretching and wildly imaginative rubber techniques.
And not far away, Kyle Link was clearly experiencing all of this.
Every offensive and defensive shift, every one of Luffy's strange attack angles, every one of Gon's improvised blocks and counterattacks, transformed into the most direct combat experience and energy insight, continuously pouring into his body through their soul connection.
He felt as if he were personally on the battlefield; although his body was weak, his soul was simultaneously learning, adapting, and even optimizing these techniques.
This was the terrifying aspect of the Book of Resonance—it allowed the contractor's cultivation achievements and combat instincts to be shared unreservedly with the host.
"Gum-Gum—Pistol!"
"Gum-Gum—Gatling!"
Luffy shed all traces of underestimation, his attacks becoming more ferocious.
Using his elasticity, he shot forward like a meteor, extending his arms back, unleashing a powerful technique.
However, Gon seemed to have anticipated it. The moment Luffy exerted his maximum force, he swiftly dodged sideways, then stomped the ground and leaped, seizing the opening when Luffy's old strength was spent and new strength had yet to form!
His fist, enveloped in intense Nen, once again slammed heavily into Luffy's face like a sledgehammer.
Boom!
Luffy was smashed directly into the ground, creating a shallow pit, his body momentarily stuck within it.
Gon immediately stepped forward, his right fist raised high, the condensed Nen radiating a dangerous aura. He stared at Luffy and said seriously, "Give up being a Pirate King, and I'll spare you."
"I won't." Luffy replied without a trace of hesitation; even facing a death threat, his eyes remained clear and firm.
"Aren't you afraid of death?"
"I am." Luffy said it as if it were obvious, "But even if I die, I will become the Pirate King!"
Gon was stunned.
He saw no hint of falsehood or evil in the other's eyes, only a pure, childlike obsession. This was completely different from the brutal Pirate King image he had in mind.
This caused his descending fist to hesitate for a moment.
Just at that instant—
"Captain!"
A chilling killing intent locked onto Gon from the side! Zoro rushed towards Gon, and as he neared him, he unhesitatingly slashed at Gon.
Relying on his excellent Hunter instincts, Gon instinctively ducked sharply, and an invisible, sharp aura grazed past his hair.
He immediately leaped back, creating distance from Zoro, who now had three swords drawn.
"Are you alright, Captain?"
"Hehe, I almost bought it!" Luffy easily jumped out of the pit, stretching his limbs.
Zoro stared intently at Gon, and without turning his head, he whispered to Luffy, "This guy is strong, things are looking bad, prepare to retreat, I'll cover you!"
"No way!" Luffy refused without hesitation, "If we run, we run together!"
Listening to their unreserved trust and responsibility for each other, Gon's confusion deepened.
Such Pirate Kings were completely different from what he had imagined.
Kyle Link felt Gon's gaze and slowly walked forward. His stamina had recovered quite a bit, and his tone was calm yet held an undeniable firmness.
"People's pursuits differ. Someone who appears good isn't necessarily good, and someone who appears bad isn't necessarily bad."
"This world is mostly composed of oceans and islands, giving rise to countless dreamers and ambitious individuals seeking adventure. The title 'Pirate King' has become mainstream. Among them, some pursue wealth, power, and slaughter, while others... simply want to chase ultimate freedom."
"This is no different from the Hunters in our world; it's just a difference in title and pursuit. There's no absolute right or wrong in itself."
As Gon listened to Kyle Link, the anger and confusion in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
Kyle Link then finally turned his gaze officially to Luffy, a smile on his face that blended admiration and competitiveness.
"You are Monkey D. Luffy, aren't you? It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Kyle Link."
He paused, his voice clearly echoing across the area: "So, I look forward to—that on the final path to the pinnacle, we can fight again!"
These words were like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake! How could Luffy not understand Kyle Link's meaning?
This was not just recognition, but a naked declaration of challenge! Kyle Link also wanted to become the Pirate King and saw Luffy as an opponent he had to overcome!
Instantly, all the playfulness vanished from Luffy's face.
He adjusted the straw hat on his head, and beneath the low brim, a huge, incredibly excited smile full of fighting spirit spread across his lips, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
"Alright! Bring it on!" His voice was loud, and he showed an incredibly confident smile.
"I am the man who will become the Pirate King."