"Oh ho, actually approaching voluntarily? Not choosing to flee but actively coming to me."
Kai propped his chin with one hand, eyebrows raised in surprise.
Not far away, the somewhat disheveled Crocodile was slowly walking toward them. However, though his appearance was rough, the aura radiating from him was actually stronger than before.
"He really did it."
Kai was impressed. Turns out I was the villain all along.
Beside him, Yamato's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. Just as she raised her kanabo to rush forward and finish their unfinished battle, Kai gently stopped her with his extended arm.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Yamato stood with hands on hips, face pouting with dissatisfaction.
"King versus king, general versus general. Let me send him on his final journey."
Kai smiled slightly.
For dealing with the washed-up Crocodile, Yamato was more than enough. But now that he'd awakened his resolve, Kai should give him the dignity he deserved. This version of Sand Crocodile had earned that respect.
Kai slowly walked forward, stopping not far from Crocodile with his arms crossed. "Ready to die?"
"I should be asking you that!"
Even knowing full well the strength gap between them, Crocodile stood his ground defiantly.
Kai nodded. "As a courtesy to my elder, ladies first."
"Tch, how arrogant!"
Crocodile's eyes sharpened. Frustration burned inside him, but his actions showed no hesitation.He spread both hands forward. In his palms, two miniature but rapidly spinning sand tornadoes instantly formed!
So what if your bounty reaches 2.4 billion? Fighting me in the desert is your biggest mistake!
"Heavy Sables: Twins!"
As Crocodile's arms swung forward violently, those two miniature tornadoes left his palms and hit the ground.
As if injected with life, they expanded at visible speed. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into two massive sand tornadoes connecting heaven and earth, reaching dozens of meters high.
Yellow sand was swept up violently, blocking out the sun as if doomsday had arrived. The powerful wind became an invisible giant mouth greedily devouring everything around. Sand, rocks, trees, building debris—everything was swallowed into the tornadoes, making them grow stronger.
Most dangerous was the narrow zone between the two massive tornadoes. Any object drawn in would suffer extreme pulling and grinding from two opposing forces, instantly ground into the finest fragments!
Facing this natural disaster that would make ordinary people lose all courage, Kai still stood in place, not even moving his feet. He instead examined these two violent sand tornadoes with great interest, his eyes even showing curiosity.
Then, under Crocodile's incredulous gaze, Kai slowly extended his right hand, as if wanting to touch that destructive wind wall!
"Hmph, overconfident fool!"
Crocodile's mouth curved into a disdainful smirk. "Even Whitebeard back then didn't dare be so careless, using his body to directly receive this move!"
Prepare to die, ignorant brat!
His eyes flickered with bloodthirsty excitement, as if already seeing Kai's arm, or even entire body, being torn into countless fragments in the next second.
However, the next second—
"This—this is impossible!"
Crocodile's confident expression instantly froze and crumbled. He didn't even notice his cigar about to fall from his mouth.
What did he just see?
That kid—he actually extended his hand into the storm center capable of grinding steel! And withdrew it intact!
Kai pulled back his hand, casually flexing his fingers. Seeing Crocodile's shocked expression, his mouth curved into a playful arc. "What? Surprised?"
"Seems you know absolutely nothing about my abilities."
See, this is why intelligence matters.
As the Sky God, controlling wind was his basic ability—it was already instinctive. Moreover, Rayquaza's arsenal included Sandstorm. Using such an attack against him was like teaching a fish to swim.
That seemingly dangerous wind force between the two sand tornadoes became as gentle as a spring breeze under his will. He'd extended his hand merely to experience Crocodile's wind structure firsthand, curious if anything was worth learning to strengthen his own Sandstorm technique.
"Alright. The show's over."
Kai smiled indifferently, casually waving his right hand.
Those two originally massive, roaring sand tornadoes suddenly stopped as if grasped by invisible hands! The violent wind force within was easily dispersed and dissolved into nothing.
If he let the tornadoes continue, this royal tomb area would be completely leveled. Alabasta's former kings would literally have only walls left for homes.
Crash!
Losing wind support, countless sand, rubble, and broken wood swept to high altitude poured down like rain, scattering everywhere. The sky suddenly regained clarity as if the previous apocalyptic scene was merely an illusion.
Everyone hadn't even reacted yet—how did the sand tornadoes suddenly disappear?
On the other side, Crocodile's pupils contracted sharply to dangerous pinpoints!
Kai had disappeared from his vision!
The next instant, unprecedented danger enveloped his entire body. A shadow with red-glowing eyes and swinging fists already filled his entire field of vision!
Not good!
Crocodile's internal alarms blared. The Sand-Sand Fruit ability was driven to its limit by survival instinct. His body began turning to sand at an unprecedented speed, about to completely merge into the endless yellow sand beneath his feet.
Success—
Crocodile rejoiced internally. As long as he hid in the vast desert, he'd still have opportunities to attack!
But the air suddenly rang with a close, teasing chuckle.
"Elementalization isn't invincible."
Along with Kai's casual words, crimson-black Conqueror's Haki burst forth explosively with him as the center, like a breached dam!
Lightning-like Haki precisely struck Crocodile's real body location.
"Ugh—"
Crocodile, about to completely elementalize and escape, released a pained groan. Under this violent mental impact, his consciousness faltered instantly. His partially transformed body was forcibly reverted to solid form, staggering into visibility!
How is this possible?! This intensity, this quality of Conqueror's Haki!
Vaguely, he seemed to see that man standing at the world's pinnacle...
Impossible, absolutely impossible! How old is this kid?!
Just as Crocodile's resolve collapsed, Kai's emotionless voice sounded.
"This is the end—Sand Crocodile."
A pitch-black hand reached for Crocodile's neck.
"The end?! Don't make me laugh!"
Crocodile's face contorted with fury. Darkness instantly covered his right fist, lashing out boldly toward Kai's palm.
Under life-and-death pressure, his Armament Haki was considerably more solid than before.
Unfortunately—
Raw power couldn't be overcome by willpower alone.
"Useless!"
The instant their fists collided, Crocodile's right arm, which had gathered all his strength, only resisted momentarily before sickening cracks echoed through the air! Like being crushed by a hydraulic press, his entire right arm bent at a grotesque angle, completely useless.
Kai's right hand didn't pause, clamping down on Crocodile's neck like a vice.
"No!"
"Release our boss!"
Seeing this scene, the remaining Baroque Works officers immediately panicked. As they rushed to rescue him, they were blocked by Kai's companions.
On the other side, Kai didn't immediately act but smiled. "To show my respect, take one more drag."
"Khehehe... Respect? Save your pity."
Crocodile showed a twisted, disdainful smile, yet his body greedily took a deep drag of the nearly burnt-out cigar.
As the cigar tip's ember flickered, his gaze gradually emptied as if reminiscing about his grand yet ultimately empty life.
My life has truly been a failure.
"Huff—"
He slowly exhaled the last mouthful of smoke that had accumulated in his lungs.
"Rain Dingers—my office. Everything I have is there."
"If possible, spare my subordinates' lives."
"Fine, as long as they behave."
"—Thanks."
With this barely audible thanks, Kai's fingers slightly tightened.
Crack.
A soft snap. Crocodile's head drooped limply, the last trace of life fading from his eyes—no more sound.
The man who had dominated Alabasta's underground world for years, who had once challenged Whitebeard—"Sand Crocodile" Crocodile would rise no more.
Kai lowered his eyes, glancing at Crocodile's lifeless body on the ground, feeling nothing in particular. Victory came too easily. If not for respecting Crocodile's final courage in the face of death, he wouldn't have bothered.
"Boss—really died—"
Witnessing this scene, Baroque Works' remaining officers' last will to resist completely collapsed. They understood that before absolute strength, any tricks were pointless.
Kai's gaze swept the battlefield. After the brief exchange, of nine Baroque Works officers who could still breathe, only four remained.
Miss Doublefinger Paula, Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Mr. 3 Galdino, and Miss Goldenweek Marianne.
Kai said, "You're luckier than those lying down. Sand Crocodile left you a way out."
The four people's eyes immediately brightened. Not even daring to ask if it was true, they turned to flee.
"Stop!"
Kai's sharp voice was like ice water.
The four immediately froze in place, backs covered in cold sweat. They didn't even dare look back, fearing that terrifying man behind them would play some "I already spared you once after we made eye contact" word game.
Fortunately, the next second, Kai's words sounded like music to their ears.
"Before leaving, help me retrieve Crocodile's belongings."
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
As the team's most opportunistic member, Galdino reacted first, face full of eager smiles, rushing to take credit.
"Lord Kai, rest assured! My Wax-Wax Fruit can open any lock with a keyhole, guaranteeing you won't miss anything."
Rain Dinners Casino, Top Floor Office
A massive safe embedded in the wall had been opened by Galdino's ability. The door gaped open, revealing stacked gold bars, thick account books, and some yellowed documents that looked very old.
Robin immediately took those documents, her slender fingers rapidly browsing. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, she gently shook her head.
"Mostly baseless rumors and unverified tall tales. The only value might be what led Crocodile to Alabasta."
Through this fragmentary information, Crocodile back then could only confirm two things: Pluton's power was tremendous, enough to destroy an island, and Alabasta might hide its clues.
Kai wasn't disappointed. If these materials truly contained key information, Crocodile wouldn't have spent over a decade in this country without substantial progress. Without his appearance, following the original timeline, Crocodile would still be stubbornly waiting here until the day Luffy defeated him.
Nearby, Cobra had found something shocking.
"Despicable Crocodile!"
He tightly gripped a document marked "Utopia Operation," a top-secret plan, growing more alarmed and furious the more he read!
The document detailed how Crocodile planned to initially play the hero to gain public support, later use Dance Powder to turn citizens against the royalty, then incite rebellion, and finally seize the nation—the complete conspiracy!
Until now, Cobra suddenly realized he'd been completely deceived by Crocodile's carefully woven facade, actually believing he was a "chivalrous" pirate with principles. He'd even allowed him to establish a gambling city in Rainbase, gathering support.
Never expected—
Fortunately, Kai had coincidentally shattered this conspiracy.
His last trace of regret for Crocodile vanished, replaced by waves of fear and fury.
Bon Clay, standing in the corner, witnessing Cobra's rage, nearly shrank his head into his neck—after all, he was precisely the main executor responsible for luring pirates to attack towns, creating "hero" opportunities for Crocodile!
The other three were equally nervous.
They'd done plenty of killing and sabotaging to undermine Cobra.
Knock, knock, knock.
Finger-tapping sounds arose, attracting the four's attention.
Kai lazily leaned in the chair that once belonged to Crocodile, looking at them expressionlessly. "So, what are your plans now?"
"I want to be a painter."
The youngest and most innocent Miss Goldenweek almost without thinking, blinking large eyes as she blurted out.
Nearby, Mr. 3 was scared out of his wits, hurriedly covering her mouth, looking at Kai with a nervous smile. "How dare we have plans? We'll listen to you."
Mm, worthy of strategist Mr. 3—his brain works faster than most.
Kai silently nodded, speaking indifferently. "Do you still want to live this kind of dark, endless killing life?"
The four almost instinctively shook their heads vigorously in unison.
Honestly, except for Mr. 1, that killing maniac, these officers weren't very willing to do this work. Initially they were deceived by Crocodile's "Utopia" plan. Now the plan was completely bankrupt, their boss dead, they naturally wished they could completely escape this mess and start over.
"Good. In that case, things are simple."
Kai chuckled, making the final decision for the four.
"You four, stay in Alabasta."