The sand blade clashed against the giant shadow blade.
Though it looked like mere gravel, the impact was so fierce it sparked flames.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The shadow blade, coated in Haki, shattered the sand blade into dust.
A whirlwind of golden sand erupted into the air.
"That's it?"
Moria grinned wide, watching Crocodile through the swirling sandstorm. The shadow beneath him had vanished.
"This is just the beginning!"
Crocodile had never planned to end the fight with a single blow. That last move was just a way to stall Moria.
He raised a hand, and the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit surged.
The floating grains in the sky accelerated in an instant.
A massive tornado formed, blotting out the sun and sky, swallowing the entire battlefield.
Corpses, stone slabs, crumbling walls, trees—everything was sucked into the maelstrom.
Like a monstrous millstone grinding the world to dust.
The sight of such devastation left even the factions from the West Blue—watching from a safe distance—sweating nervously.
"What is this?!"
"You idiot! That's the power of the great Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile!!"
"A Logia user—the Sand-Sand Fruit. A force of nature itself."
At the edge of the harbor, the Rokuro Family head and Rokuro Daz arrived just in time to witness the spectacle. They exchanged glances, both eyes shining with anticipation.
"As expected of Crocodile-sama."
"Daz, find Nico Robin and offer her to Crocodile-sama. Once we gain his favor, the Rokuro Family will finally step onto the stage of the Grand Line."
Just as the two slipped out of an alleyway...
Two small ghosts drifted out from a nearby wall, darting silently away.
Moria's subordinates peeked out, flanking Perona protectively in the center as she relayed what she'd heard.
"Heeheehee... Knew it. Unexpected bonus! Nico Robin's in the Rokuro Family's hands."
"But that Crocodile used to go toe-to-toe with a monster like Bullet... You think Captain Moria's gonna get crushed?!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Like Moria-sama would lose to some flashy move!"
"Forget that—let's get Nico Robin first. After her!"
...
Aboard the Rokuro Family's ship, word quickly reached Nico Robin's ears.
"They found me!"
Her thigh was already bruised purple from how hard she'd been pinching herself to stay calm.
Now, she forced herself into a cold, composed state.
The harbor was sealed tight. Alone, she didn't have the strength or stamina to escape by ship.
What's more...
Both the strongest figures on this island—Moria Pirates and Crocodile's forces—had clearly caught wind of her presence.
Strangely, neither seemed to be after her bounty.
At least for now, her life wasn't in immediate danger.
But the various West Blue powers?
They all wanted to cash in her head.
"So... who do I side with?"
Robin hesitated.
Each faction had its own motives. Aligning with either could just mean walking into another trap.
But she had no choice—she needed a protector powerful enough to defy the World Government. A force strong enough to ignore even the Navy's pursuit.
Bang!
The cabin door burst open. A ray of light pierced the darkness inside.
The Rokuro Family patriarch and Rokuro Daz stepped into view, eyes gleaming with greed.
"Hahaha! Nico Robin—get out here, now!"
Robin's body trembled slightly, but she stepped out obediently.
That brilliant mind of hers had finally reached a cruel realization.
She'd never had a choice to begin with.
Clack, clack, clack, clack~
Moria's men suddenly barged into the cabin.
"Heeheeheehee... Mind handing that cute little girl over to us?"
...
Back on the battlefield.
The sandstorm had died down.
Everything caught within it had been completely obliterated. All that remained was a thick layer of yellow sand carpeting the ground.
Crocodile stared coldly ahead. Not a trace of satisfaction on his face.
His gaze locked onto the full moon overhead.
"Moria. How long are you going to keep hiding?"
"Heeheeheehee... Just figured I'd let you enjoy yourself for a while."
In the moonlight, a swarm of bats gathered into a massive shadow—then morphed into Moria's towering figure.
"But you can stop with the parlor tricks now!"
He'd already slipped away the moment Crocodile launched his attack, swapping places with his shadow via Shadow Doppelgänger.
Crocodile had basically swung at thin air.
"Parlor trick? That was a pathetic dodge using your powers!"
Crocodile scoffed and crouched low.
"Let's see you dodge this!"
His right arm suddenly transformed into sand, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.
"Desert Spada!"
Crocodile moved so fast that even Moria struggled to follow him with his eyes.
No way to dodge.
Then fight it head-on!
Realizing that, Moria swung his blade toward the spot his Observation Haki warned him of.
BOOM!
He staggered back a step but held his ground. Laughing wildly at Crocodile.
"Heeheehee... That had some bite to it! But not enough!!!"
Now that was more like the Crocodile who once rivaled Bullet.
"Too bad your years in Alabasta almost turned you into a washed-up has-been."
A shadow leapt out from beneath Crocodile's feet.
A giant claw, carried by the wind, reached for Crocodile's head.
That blow would've been enough to end the fight.
Whoosh!
But it only stirred a bit of sand.
Crocodile's real body reformed some distance away.
"Heeheehee... Another preemptive Logia transformation. So annoying, you guys are."
Moria clicked his tongue.
Always the damn Logia types who could just phase out of danger.
Too bad this wasn't that meathead Enel who actually liked close combat.
"You're not half bad either."
Crocodile's hand—still hidden behind his back—trembled slightly.
Moria's Haki and raw strength were superior to his own.
Just what had he been doing these past few years to grow this weak?
...
Two little ghosts peeked out from the ruins in the distance, flashing an "OK" gesture.
Moria saw it, and his eyes lit up. A wicked grin spread across his face.
"Heeheehee... Crocodile, let's settle this fair and square!"
"If we keep fighting like this, that weak bunch will be the ones who get their hands on Nico Robin."
Before Crocodile could respond, Moria absorbed the shadows he'd just collected into his own body.
His frame visibly swelled, bulging with power. His thick legs pressed down on the crushed sand, packing it solid beneath his feet.
"You think I'm scared? I'll show you what real Logia power looks like!"
Crocodile, focused entirely on Moria, didn't notice anything amiss.
With a cold grin, he crouched and thrust his right hand into the ground.
The power of the Sand-Sand Fruit surged at full force.
The ground began to move as though alive, sand flowing outward in waves.
All non-sand areas began to dry out and crack at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Not just the surface—he was draining the moisture from underground too.
-----------
Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg