"Is Crocodile's strength actually rated at six stars?"
Storm looked at the Diamond Trophy that had jumped out from the void, feeling a slight surprise.
Previously, after defeating Kuma and obtaining a Diamond Trophy, he thought the trophy's level was low; now, after defeating Crocodile and receiving another Diamond Trophy, he felt the trophy's level was high.
After all, in Storm's impression, Crocodile's strength was too erratic.
If one were to say Crocodile was strong, even four years later, he was beaten to the ground by the newly emerged Sun God, his resolve shattered; if one were to say Crocodile was weak, even during the Marineford War, he could still roam around, fighting evenly with various powerful foes.
Especially in his younger days, Crocodile was a "supernova" who could compete with Devil Heir Douglas Bullet! Yet, in his old age, he had already fallen...
One could even say he fell before he truly aged...
To be fair, Crocodile's development of the Sand-Sand Fruit's abilities was commendable.
Like the "Crescent Dune" he had just used in battle, and the "Erosion Reincarnation" he hadn't had the chance to use yet.
These techniques were not ordinary "sand control" techniques.
Rather, they were derived from "sand control," evolving into unique abilities like "water absorption" and even "desiccation"!
It was just... they lacked expressiveness.
"What a perplexing strength rating..."
Storm shook his head, no longer dwelling on this trivial matter.
He glanced at Crocodile, who had lost consciousness with his eyes rolled back, and after a moment of thought, looked at the Blue-Eyed White Dragon beside him.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon understood and spread its wings, soaring high into the air, heading towards the rain-soaked ground behind.
In less than a moment, the Blue-Eyed White Dragon returned.
Its already white and glossy round belly now looked swollen, like a thin-skinned water pouch filled to the brim.
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon flew back to Storm's side and opened its mouth wide towards Crocodile.
"RUA――"
Dragon King Water Spray!
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon sprayed a belly full of cool water all over Crocodile's head.
Crocodile, who had just been unconscious, was suddenly jolted awake by this "Dragon King Water Spray."
The disheveled Crocodile, upon opening his eyes, instantly saw Storm's figure.
His pupils constricted to pinpricks, and without caring about his disheveled appearance, he rolled away at once.
Like a true Golden Banana Crocodile performing a "death roll."
Crocodile rolled several dozen times across the desert, completely distancing himself from Storm before finally getting up from the ground.
"Die!"
Crocodile unhesitatingly unleashed the powers of the Sand-Sand Fruit, transforming his hands into four massive sand blades.
"White Dragon! Desert Diamond Vajra Sword!"
The battle resumed.
Storm, however, let out a bored yawn.
He had already figured out Crocodile's true strength and had obtained the opponent's Diamond Trophy.
At this moment, Storm didn't want to waste any more time with Crocodile.
His figure suddenly vanished from the spot, dodging the attack of the "Desert Diamond Vajra Sword."
In the next instant, Storm's figure appeared before Crocodile as if he were traversing space.
More-More Fruit・Hundredfold Speed! Storm raised his right fist, enveloping it in deep black Armament Haki.
"Have you heard..."
Storm swung his right fist, the extreme speed bringing with it immense impact.
"That speed is power?"
Bang! Storm's armored fist struck Crocodile's abdomen with tremendous force.
Under this swift and fierce "Belly Cross Punch," Crocodile's eyes bulged, and his body curled up like a deep-fried shrimp.
He was sent flying hundreds of meters back into the desert.
By the time he landed, Crocodile lost consciousness once more, collapsing.
In Storm's line of sight, another trophy appeared.
Platinum Trophy: Sand Crocodile
"Now it's only five stars..."
Storm shook his head and looked at the Blue-Eyed White Dragon beside him.
"Roar~"
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon called out and flew back towards the rain-soaked ground.
Fill with water, transport water, spray water.
Crocodile was once again "forced to reboot."
Having been easily defeated twice by a stranger he had never met, Crocodile felt a splitting headache and excruciating pain in his abdomen.
His mentality was beginning to crumble.
This time, upon waking up, Crocodile instinctively unleashed his ultimate move—
"Erosion Reincarnation!"
Crocodile slammed his right palm heavily onto the ground, unleashing the full power of the Sand-Sand Fruit.
Under the influence of this power, everything around him—from the earth to the plants, even the solid rocks—was all pulverized into sand! "So strong! Too strong!"
Storm stood in place, lightly applauding.
In the next moment, Storm decisively activated More-More Fruit・Hundredfold Speed.
His speed surged past the speed of sound, leaving even sound behind.
Storm once again appeared before Crocodile, raised his right hand, and unleashed his secret technique—
The Silent "Belly Cross Punch"! Bang! Storm's fist once again struck Crocodile's abdomen solidly.
Crocodile felt a sharp pain in his stomach and spat out a mouthful of blood towards the sky.
The words Storm had just spoken finally reached Crocodile's ears.
"So strong... too strong..."
What should have been a compliment sounded to Crocodile like mockery from an enemy at that moment.
Light faded, darkness surged.
Crocodile was once again easily taken down by Storm.
And this time, the trophy he provided was only rated four stars...
Golden Trophy: Sand Crocodile. Storm ignored this Golden Trophy and commanded the Blue-Eyed White Dragon, which had been prepared with water, to fly forward.
"RUA――"
Once again, Dragon King Water Spray! Crocodile was drenched thoroughly once more.
But this time, Crocodile had no strength left to rise.
Or rather, Crocodile no longer wanted to move.
Soaked and lying flat in the desert, he resembled a wild dog with a broken spine.
Defeated repeatedly by the same person.
Even using his strongest move, he couldn't touch his enemy at all.
Even a little boy he had never met could defeat him, yet he fantasized about finding ancient weapons, charging into the New World, and taking down Whitebeard?
Crocodile's dream was extinguished in that moment.
Tired, let it all end, quickly...
His resolve shattered, indeed.
Storm walked slowly to Crocodile's side, looking down at the former Warlord of the Sea lying there.
"Finally calmed down?"
Crocodile placed his hands on his abdomen, staring at the sky, devoid of any desire to speak.
"What? Still not fully awake?"
Storm raised an eyebrow, glancing at the Blue-Eyed White Dragon beside him.
"Go, sprinkle some water on Lord Crocodile."
"…Enough! White Dragon!"
Crocodile finally found the will to speak, but he remained lying in the desert, only using his peripheral vision to glare at Storm.
"What do you want?!"
"Vongola Storm."
"What?"
"Nice to meet you, I am Vongola Storm."
Storm extended his right hand to Crocodile.
"Be my friend, Crocodile."
"…"
The sudden invitation of "friend" caused Crocodile's brain to momentarily freeze.
After a while, he scoffed.
"Friend? Ha!"
Crocodile, forcing himself through the pain, got up from the ground without even looking at Storm's outstretched hand.
"Don't be so naive, White Dragon! What do you really want? Fame? Wealth? Or perhaps my head on a platter?"
"Those boring things, what's there to care about?"
Storm awkwardly retracted his right hand.
"However, I do have something, or rather a plan, that requires your help.
"Are you interested in the 'Pirate Emperor'?"
Crocodile was once again taken aback by Storm's words.
"…Pirate Emperor? You mean the 'Four Emperors'?"
"Exactly!"
Storm smiled brightly.
"I have a plan to take down the Four Emperors!"
"Hahahaha!"
Upon hearing Storm's words, Crocodile also laughed, but it was a derisive laugh, a mocking laugh.
"So you're just a kid after all!
"The strength of the Pirate Emperor is not something you can imagine!"
Storm quietly stared at the derisive Crocodile.
He suddenly threw out a line.
"You are afraid."
"What?"
The mockery on Crocodile's face lessened slightly.
Storm spoke calmly.
"You are in fear."
Veins popped on Crocodile's forehead.
"…What are you talking about?"
"What 'the strength of the Pirate Emperor,' what 'unimaginable power'..."
Storm expressed his thoughts directly.
"Such boring and poisonous ideas, akin to scorpion dung in the desert, have already cost you your life!
"Crocodile, I initially thought you at least had the courage to challenge the Four Emperors.
"Yet, I find before me only a coward who doesn't even dare to think about it! What 'Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea'? Just a walking corpse, a skeleton in a grave!"
After dropping these words, Storm raised his right hand again, wrapping his fist in Armament Haki, assuming an attacking posture.
"Sand Crocodile, let me send you on your way..."
"Wait!"
Crocodile clenched his fists.
He was extremely reluctant to admit that Storm's words had indeed struck a chord with him...
Having stayed in a small paradise like Alabasta for too long.
Today, Crocodile finally realized that his abilities had been wasted for too long, and even Haki had faded away...
"What you just mentioned about the plan regarding the 'Pirate Emperor,' how do we go about it?"
"The plan is simple."
Storm released his Armament Haki and said lightly.
"Join me, charge into the
New World, and directly challenge the Pirate Emperor!"
Crocodile looked at Storm, a thought emerging in his mind.
He really is just a kid after all...
Old Croc still had strength.
But "the more one plays with schemes, the more one realizes that human abilities have limits..."