Crocodile stared at Ayr in disbelief. He'd tried to retreat, thinking distance might help, but against Conqueror's Haki, space meant nothing. Ayr, calm and composed, spoke with chilling certainty, "Distance won't help you."
Crocodile forced a smirk, steadying himself. "Senior Ayr... you really are something." He tried to sound confident, standing straight as if he were Ayr's equal. But Robin, still recovering from the Haki's impact, could see through him. Crocodile hadn't considered fighting Ayr he had instinctively tried to flee.
Ayr shook his head. "Crocodile, you really don't learn until it's too late."
Still backing up, Crocodile kept widening the gap. "He's arrogant," he told himself. "If I stay sharp, I can dodge whatever comes." He recalled the overwhelming pressure of Admiral Aokiji, but even Kuzan hadn't felt this paralyzing.
He forced himself to act bold. "Fine then. Let's see what you've got!" But even he didn't believe it. His pride was in shambles. Ayr had never drawn his sword, yet Crocodile was already on the defensive.
Robin, clearer-minded than her partner, recognized the hopelessness. Crocodile's Logia form was retreating instinctively, his body turning to sand. "Come on then," he muttered, masking fear with bravado. He was a Warlord, a ruler of seas, but now? Now he was cornered prey.
"This man didn't even move and we were crushed," she thought. "Even Aokiji didn't do this to me." Ayr hadn't even used his weapon his sword remained sheathed, and yet he'd already dominated the field.
Crocodile looked at Ayr again. Still motionless. Still calm. A sword untouched at his side, radiating more threat than any attack. The futility of the confrontation crept in. His mind searched for a way out, a way to spin this, salvage his pride but none came.
"You two are bold," Ayr finally said, voice quiet but unmistakably sharp. Crocodile swallowed hard, mind racing. What were we thinking, trying to con someone like this?
Ayr stepped forward. "Take one attack from me without getting hurt," he said. "Do that, and I'll overlook today." Robin's eyes widened. Was he… giving them a chance?
"Otherwise," Ayr continued, "you pay the price."
Crocodile gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll take the hit." A lie, and he knew it. But he couldn't back down now.
"I'm giving you the chance to challenge me," Ayr said flatly.
Robin's heart pounded. This wasn't mercy. This was judgment wrapped in civility.
The gap between them wasn't just power it was legacy, presence, reality. Crocodile, for all his infamy, was being reminded: there's always someone greater.
And he'd just tried to rob him.