Luffy Twin Brother: The Monkey King

"Join my crew. I promise you battles, unlike anything you've ever faced. Why not become my right-hand man?" Kong said with a grin.

Mihawk remained expressionless, his sharp gaze fixed on Kong. "If you can speak such words, you must be prepared to bear their weight. Why should I abandon my solitude for you?"

Kong's grin widened as the water beneath him began to ripple—then boil. Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly. The sheer force of Kong's Conqueror's Haki was something extraordinary, Kong was only at sea for no more than a month, yet his Conqueror Haki felt as if he went to the New Work and back… and it was still growing.

"I'm not your equal yet, but that won't last forever," Kong said confidently. "That doesn't mean I'm insignificant. I'm the man who will overthrow the world government."

As he spoke, a sword began to grow out from his body. It was a marine blade he had absorbed, and stored inside his body. 

"So, let's make a deal," Kong said, pointing his sword toward a nearby island. "You'll see my talent today… and the next time we meet, after witnessing my growth, you decide if you still want to join my crew."

Mihawk studied Kong, his expression unreadable. "For someone who's never wielded a sword, your confidence is something else," he said, his tone flat. His sharp gaze flicked toward the distant island. "Very well. But be warned—this may be your last day."

As the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk could tell at a glance. The way Kong held his blade, the stance he took—he was a complete novice.

"Then let's go," Kong said with a grin, swinging the sword experimentally. Mihawk cast him a sidelong glance, his heart skipping a beat at what he witnessed.

At first, Kong's swing were sloppy, filled with flaws, unrefined, and unbalanced. But then, with the next swing, his form improved drastically, as if he had swung the sword a hundred time. On the third swing, it was as if he had swung the sword 100 times on top of the last swing, his technique sharpening to a scary degree.

Mihawk remained silent, watching as Kong adapted with terrifying speed. A freak of nature.

"I've always learned faster than others. My mind is different—it replays my actions countless times over, letting me see every flaw and refine my skills instantly," Kong said with a smirk. "And judging by that look in your eyes, you've already lost interest in killing me."

Mihawk lowered his head slightly, an almost-forgotten smile tugging at his lips.

"Let's fight first," he said. Without hesitation, his boat glided forward across the water. Kong, grinning in excitement, dashed across the sea to keep up.

As soon as Mihawk docked, he stepped off his boat without hesitation, his piercing gaze sizing Kong up from head to toe. Then, with deliberate ease, he reached for the cross hanging around his neck. Pulling the lower half, he revealed a small knife.

"… Rude," Kong said with a smirk.

"I'm not the kind of fool who goes all out to hunt a mere rabbit," Mihawk replied coolly. "You're talented—yes, you even managed to defeat Akainu. But in the end, you're still just a bigger rabbit relying on tricks. Tricks won't work on me. Unlike Akainu who could be considered a heavy hitter, I rely mostly on skills than anything else."

Kong raised an eyebrow, and slowly a powerful pressure radiated from his body, causing the small island to tremble beneath them. Mihawk remained unfazed, simply waiting for Kong to make his move. And Kong didn't hesitate—he disappeared in a blur.

His sword sliced toward Mihawk with incredible speed, but with just one hand and that small knife-like weapon, Mihawk effortlessly blocked and deflected the attack. Kong didn't let up, continuously adjusting his movements, refining his technique with every strike to better suit the fluidity of a swordsman.

At a speed beyond what a normal human could ever hope to follow, Kong dashed across the island, striking from every angle—above, below, and behind. Yet, Mihawk met each blow with perfect precision, blocking and countering without the slightest sign of struggle.

'I'm this weak without tricks? How is he reading every move I make? All my feints, all my full-power strikes… he's handling them like they're nothing.' Kong thought in shock. It was almost as if Mihawk could see the future.

"That's enough. I've seen all I needed to see," Mihawk said, stopping Kong before he could launch another attack.

Kong hesitated, caught off guard. "What?"

"You're talented. Your Conqueror's Haki is the most impressive thing about you… it grows stronger the more you fight," Mihawk said, his voice calm. For a brief moment, he recalled the past—back when he, too, had Conqueror's Haki. But that fire had long since died when he reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

"Conqueror's Haki?" Kong asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Mihawk studied him for a moment before sighing. It was absurd—someone who didn't even know what Haki was could already wield it at will.

"Yes. Try learning to infuse it into your attacks," Mihawk said before turning away and walking back toward his boat.

"What about joining my crew?" Kong called out, raising an eyebrow.

Mihawk didn't respond. He simply pushed his boat off the island and drifted away.

"The next time we meet, if your swordsmanship surpasses mine, my loyalty is yours," Mihawk said calmly.

Kong raised an eyebrow. That was it? All he had to do was surpass the world's greatest swordsman in skills only. That wasn't going to be too hard.

"If that means I get the prime Mihawk, then sure… but if it's just the current you, I'll pass. I need the strongest version of yourself if I'm going to overthrow the world government." Kong's words made Mihawk pause for a moment. His expression, usually unreadable, shifted ever so slightly into a faint smile—one that Kong couldn't see.

"We will see," Mihawk said lightly. Kong smirked before turning away, leaping back toward his ship. With that, the two went their separate ways.