"Damn it, what the hell did that bastard Adrian do!"
When Smoker arrived at the palace, he was stunned by the scene. The square had been turned into a wasteland, and in the center, nearly a dozen crushed remains lay in a pool of blood.
"Adrian, is this your real strength?" Tashigi's hand trembled as she held her sword, remembering the handsome face of the young man she had once thought harmless.
Furious, Smoker called Feet Admiral Sengoku to report everything. Sengoku was shocked. "Crocodile was killed! Nearly a dozen advance troops were also killed... And all of this was done by that kid Adrian?" he said, his face becoming extremely ugly.
Chief Staff Officer Tsuru shook his head. "Hey, Sengoku, it looks like that kid has turned against us after all!"
Garp, laughing, chimed in. "Wahhahaha, Sengoku, I heard that that little brat rejected your invitation before!"
"What do you know?" Sengoku snapped. "That kid had the potential to become an Admiral. If you let him become a pirate, he'll be as troublesome as Red-Haired Shanks in the future!"
He then slammed the table and pointed at Garp. "It's all your bastard grandson's fault! If it wasn't because he defeated Crocodile, how could Adrian have had a chance!"
Garp, however, was unfazed. "Hey, had Luffy become so powerful now? He can even defeat a Seven Warlords of the Sea... Wow, hahaha, he really deserves to be the grandson of this old man!" he said proudly.
Sengoku was about to punch him when Officer Tsuru intervened. "Sengoku, the most urgent task is how to explain the battle in Alabasta to the outside world!" she said meaningfully. If the truth about Crocodile's defeat was revealed, the World Government would be seen as incompetent.
"Right now, we can only declare to the outside world that this successful crusade against Crocodile is all thanks to Smoker and others," Sengoku said, rubbing his temples. "We will then use an award ceremony to divert the attention of the outside world, and then secretly end this matter!"
Officer Tsuru nodded. "Smoker said Adrian used the same power as Crocodile.. How many secrets are hidden in him!" she said, a determined killing intent flashing in her eyes. "Immediately send someone to investigate his whereabouts. Since he can't be used by the Marines, get rid of him before he grows up!"
Night fell over Alabasta. KingCobra looked at the black-haired boy sitting across from him with trepidation. Just minutes before, Adrian had killed his guards who had stopped him from returning to the palace.
"You... who are you, why do you have the ability of Crocodile?" Cobra asked cautiously. He had an instinctive fear of the Sand-Sand Fruit's power.
"It doesn't matter who I am!" Adrian said with a smirk. "The important thing is, if you don't want to see Luffy and his crew killed by me, you can buy their lives with two billion Berry!"
Adrian didn't sympathize with Cobra, whom he considered incompetent for believing in Crocodile. He felt the king's foolish actions were to blame for the suffering of his people.
"Okay... but you have to promise me that you won't hurt them anymore after you get the money, and leave Alabasta immediately!" Cobra said, having no other choice.
"No problem, I always keep my word!" Adrian said calmly. He had no intention of dealing with Luffy just yet, as the troublemaker would be very useful in the future.
Soon, a team of guards delivered the two billion Berry ransom. Adrian nodded in satisfaction, took the money, turned into a puff of yellow sand, and flew into the dark, rainy night.
"He... with this ability, why isn't he afraid of rain?" Cobra said, shocked.
Three days later, 10,000 meters above the ground, on Sky Island.
Adrian, using the "Sand-Sand Fruit" to fly in the form of a sandstorm, arrived before Luffy and his crew. His objective was clear: Enel and the Thunder Fruit.
Although Luffy had famously beaten Enel, Adrian knew that the "big-eared bastard" wasn't weak. His Observation Haki could cover the entire island, he could move at lightning speed, and his high-voltage electricity could melt gold. His downfall was simply the "luck of rubber" of the protagonist against thunder. Enel's power was immense, and his Thunder Fruit was a valuable asset.
Adrian drifted to the shrine where Enel resided, only to find four figures already waiting outside. They were Enel's four high priests. "Enel, you truly live up to your reputation. It seems you must have discovered me the moment I landed on the island!" Adrian said with a smile, knowing Enel could hear him.
"Hey, people of Blue sea, trespassing on the shrine is a capital offense," the priest of the Iron Trial, Ohm, said coldly. "If you are willing to participate in the trial, you may still have a chance of surviving. Otherwise, we will kill you here as a warning to others!"
"You better stay away, little one, otherwise... you will die a miserable death!" Adrian smirked. In the next second, he appeared behind the four priests.
"How is that possible! His speed can't even be caught by the heart net?" The priests were horrified. Only their god, Enel, possessed such speed.
"Everyone, attack together!" they yelled, determined to stop him from entering the shrine. But just as they were about to attack, they found their feet bound by sand. The quicksand enveloped them, and they couldn't escape.
"Sand Explosion!" Adrian said casually.
Boom—!!
Four terrifying explosions rocked Sky Island. Adrian's combination of the Sand-Sand Fruit and the Explosive Fruit had instantly killed all four of Enel's strongest followers.
"Yehahaha, I didn't expect a person from Blue sea to have such strength!" Enel said, lying lazily on a sofa inside the hall, holding an apple. "How about it? Are you interested in becoming God's new servant? I can give you the highest glory and take you to the infinite land that only God can reach!"
Idiot, I came to recruit you, okay? Adrian frowned. Enel's arrogant and conceited personality was even more annoying than in the anime. Adrian knew that such a person wouldn't surrender, so he had already prepared a plan: if he wouldn't join, he would die. Adrian was determined to get the Thunder Fruit.
"The infinite land you mentioned must be the moon!" He chuckled. "Enel, I'm here for you this time! How about it, are you interested in joining me as a subordinate and going to the blue sea with me to create a new era?"
Enel's face turned extremely gloomy. "Hey, people from blues, offending the majesty of God is a death penalty... God's punishment!!"
Bang—
A terrifying lightning bolt descended from the sky, completely engulfing Adrian.
"It's such a pity. You had the opportunity to accompany me to the infinite land... Nani? You were safe and sound under my attack?" Enel's eyes widened in shock as Adrian emerged from the lightning pillar completely unharmed.
"Damn it, go to hell... 30 million volts Thunderbird!!" Enel turned over, his golden stick hitting the taiko drum on his right shoulder. A massive lightning bird flapped its wings and flew toward Lin Xiao.
"Smug guy!" Adrian grinned. He wrapped his right hand in Armament Haki and punched the Thunderbird.
Boom—!!
The Thunderbird instantly tore apart and dissipated.
"This... how is this possible!" Enel's previous calm was gone. He couldn't understand why his attacks were being so easily nullified.
"Enel, since you don't want to join, then hand over the Thunder Fruit!"