Kong Tai's coldness at that moment stunned Kenshiro on the spot.
Although he had witnessed Kong Tai's power and learned about gods from him, he had no concrete concept of what kind of beings gods were or how great they were.
However, from Kong Tai's tone, he glimpsed just a fraction of it.
The idea of comparing the world to a well sent shivers down his spine just thinking about it.
If the world was a well, what were the people in this world?
"Is this what a god is?"
After gazing deeply at Kong Tai, Kenshiro lowered his head.
He saw the answer in Kong Tai's eyes.
If the world was a well, then the people of this world, from a god's perspective, were truly just fish in a well.
Under the gaze of gods, humans were not even frogs.
Because frogs might be able to jump out of the well and see a wider world, but fish could not.
Because if they left the water, they would only die.
"I understand."
Kenshiro nodded, silently moved forward, and his figure disappeared from the training ground.
The moment Kenshiro vanished, the cold moonlight replaced the darkness, instantly covering the area.
Looking at the dark corridor, Kuina raised her head and tilted it towards the young man, a rare hint of worry in her eyes. "Kong Tai."
It wasn't that she was worried about Kong Tai, but rather about Kenshiro.
To suddenly accept so much information, with a living god by his side, and Kong Tai having just revealed the gods' indifference to Kenshiro.
Even though this coldness was not directed at Kenshiro, Kenshiro was still human. Even if he was strong, in Kong Tai's eyes, he was merely a fish trapped in a well.
This fact, which shattered her worldview, made Kuina a little more worried about her father.
"It's fine."
With a chuckle, Kong Tai turned to meet Kuina's clear, cold blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight. He reached out and stroked the girl's soft blue hair, saying with a smile, "Master is not a fragile person. Give him time to process, and he'll figure it out."
"Besides, we will indeed be leaving this world in the future, so it's good for him to accept it sooner."
"Mhm!"
Squinting her eyes, Kuina nuzzled her head against Kong Tai's right arm and nodded. "Let's go! Robin and the others are still waiting for us."
As she spoke, she took the lead, pulling the young man, and walked into the corridor.
A gentle breeze blew, rustling through the leaves. Their figures, bathed in the hazy blue light of the moon, gradually faded into the darkness and disappeared.
...
The sun sets, the moon rises. The moon sets, the sun rises.
All things in the world cannot escape this predetermined order, nor can they break free from the fixed rules of time and the ages.
To break free, one must possess the power to shatter the rules.
Marineford Calendar 1521, March 15th.
Today was destined to be a day etched in history.
Exactly one year ago today, Kong Tai and his crew set sail.
And one year later, they had nearly circumnavigated the Grand Line, returning to the Isshin Dojo in the East Blue, ready to fulfill the promises they made to themselves and to the world.
Perhaps it was fate, but the sunlight today was exceptionally dazzling. Even though the sun had just peeked over the horizon, its orange-yellow light, like the countless expectations of this world, instantly filled the entire world.
At least, that was the case in Mary Geoise, the Holy Land.
The Holy Land of Mary Geoise was exceptionally lively today. Below the stairs leading to "paradise," countless people had gathered early in the morning, using every means possible to arrive.
There were Marines, pirates, Revolutionaries, Four Emperors, and countless wandering individuals who had emerged from every corner, wanting to personally witness this event that was destined to be recorded in history.
The factions were diverse, yet no one was making a scene.
Those who came were not weak. They were at least of Vice Admiral level, because everyone knew that anyone too weak would not even be qualified to stand upright here.
In a corner to the right, below the stairs, had long been tacitly agreed upon by all factions. Behind a super Den Den Mushi that had been set up, Morgans' narrowed eyes flashed with a red light. As if sensing something, he suddenly opened them.
"They're here."
"They're here?"
Beside him, Firebird involuntarily straightened his back and then, without hesitation, flipped the switch on the giant Den Den Mushi in front of him.
"They're here, they're here..."
At this moment, the world, upon receiving the signal from the World Economic News Society's giant Den Den Mushi, seemed to awaken like all things, and instantly came alive.
The Sabaody Archipelago, Dressrosa, Bass, East Blue...
Countless citizens gathered before the signal-receiving Den Den Mushi of their respective factions, gazing at the giant screen in front of the Den Den Mushi.
As they looked at the image appearing on the screen, unprecedented light filled everyone's eyes.
"Hello everyone! For this unprecedented live broadcast today, we, the World Economic News Society, bring you the most cutting-edge coverage for our viewers."
Just then, Firebird's iconic fiery red mechanical head appeared on the screen.
Holding a microphone, he pointed to the crowd making way in the distance and said, "Please look, who is the first faction to appear?"
"That's right, looking at the numbers, those who are familiar will recognize them as the Red-Haired Pirates. They are likely here today as allies of the Silver-Haired one."
As soon as Firebird's voice fell, countless Den Den Mushi that received the signal projected the same image as the giant Den Den Mushi in Mary Geoise onto the screens in front of them.
"It's Shanks, it's really Shanks."
"I heard this guy is a Yonko, and an evil one at that."
"How could Mr. Kong Tai cooperate with such a person?"
Instead of the expected excitement, as they looked at the screen, countless people were filled with questions.
After all, Shanks' reputation, to be honest, was not good in places where people hadn't interacted with the Red-Haired Pirates.
The very identity of pirates inherently gave the Red-Haired Pirates an evil facade, just like Kong Tai and his crew.
Coupled with Shanks' self-staged terrible incident of destroying Allegria, and various other rumors, it was no wonder they didn't have a good reputation.
"Quick, look, who is that on the other side?"
Just then, Firebird suddenly pointed to another direction.
At the same time, the giant Den Den Mushi followed the direction Firebird pointed and looked towards another direction not far from the Red-Haired Pirates.
A group of people with diverse appearances, led by a tall man wearing a dark green cloak with his head hidden in a hood, gradually emerged from the mist.
"Those who haven't seen them have surely heard of their legend."
As he looked at Dragon and the high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Army behind him, Firebird's eyes gleamed with even more excitement.
Unlike the reaction to seeing the Red-Haired Pirates, countless citizens in front of the screens showed excitement the moment they saw these figures.
"That's right, they are the Revolutionary Army, and the person at the forefront of the crowd is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, 'Monkey D. Dragon,' who has given the World Government a headache for years."