The Royal Tomb
Accompanied by a deafening rumble, the shaking of the entire underground palace grew increasingly violent.
Massive chunks of debris fell from the high vaulted ceiling, smashing against the ground and kicking up waves of dust and smoke.
One really had to wonder how those designers originally built this place; Cobra had only pried out a small stone brick, yet it had triggered the collapse of the entire Royal Tomb.
At the same time, the death match taking place within the Royal Tomb had once again reached a conclusion.
"To think he'd use his own blood to solidify my sand... Cough. Pfft!" A sweet metallic taste surged in Crocodile's throat, and he spat out a mouthful of bruised blood.
"You... you bastard, surely you're dead this time."
"Straw Hat!"
Crocodile wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, staring at the scarred and battered Luffy lying not far away. His mood right now was beyond depressing.
In truth, if both of them had dueled in their peak condition, Luffy wouldn't have been able to even touch Crocodile. The latter was not only capable of Elementalization but had also mastered Observation Haki. For an idiot captain who specialized in physical combat but knew no Haki, Crocodile was simply a natural predator.
But as fate would have it, Crocodile had first rushed to the G-17 Fortress to clash with Vice Admiral Hisoka, then arrived in Alabasta to face the White Hunter, and afterwards was drenched by a damn rainstorm that was annoying beyond belief. Although he had forcibly used his powers to change the weather, it had consumed a massive amount of his energy and stamina.
His body was currently nearing its limit. His condition wasn't just bad; it was terrible. It was so bad that even though he had clearly predicted where Luffy's fist would land using Observation Haki, his body simply couldn't execute the perfect dodge.
Looking at the golden hook on the ground that Luffy had snapped off, Crocodile revealed a sinister smile. "My hook is coated in scorpion venom! In your current state, you won't even be able to stand..."
The rest of Crocodile's words were abruptly choked back in his throat. To his shock, the Straw Hat kid, who had been lying on the ground like a dead dog, was now trembling as he climbed back up.
At this moment, there was hardly a spot on Luffy's body that was intact. This was especially true of the hole in his abdomen, pierced by Crocodile's golden hook; as Luffy moved, blood flowed uncontrollably from the wound, painting a shockingly vivid streak of crimson across the stone tiles.
"Straw Hat!" Cobra looked on in disbelief. He truly couldn't understand how Luffy could stand up again after sustaining such heavy injuries.
"The scorpion venom should have taken effect by now..." Sitting on the ground, Nico Robin's beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment. As Crocodile's partner for the past four years, she knew deeply just how terrifying the poison extracted from scorpions was.
"I won't die! You bastard crocodile!" Luffy clenched his fists tightly and raised his head, his eyes fixed dead on the stunned Crocodile. The astonishing fighting spirit in his gaze burned like a raging fire, and his indomitable aura was even more intense than before!
"Are... are you suicidal?" The corner of Crocodile's mouth twitched violently as reality slapped him in the face. Sand and dust churned around him. He was truly beginning to feel a sense of panic brought on by this Straw Hat kid who wouldn't stop until he achieved his goal.
"Just what will it take for you to give up?! Straw Hat!"
What kind of enemy is the most terrifying? An enemy who doesn't value their life is the most terrifying! If he isn't even afraid of death, then what is left to make him feel fear?
"What will it take? Didn't I tell you before..."
Gasping for breath, the thick scent of blood in his chest made Luffy feel as if he might faint. He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, the sharp pain instantly snapping the idiot captain back to consciousness. Then, with a roar, he launched his scarred body into another charge toward the sand crocodile.
"I'm gonna send you flying!!!"
Gum-Gum Pistol!!!
His five fingers clenched tight, the unyielding fist whipped up a biting gale, striking with the momentum of crashing thunder!
Sables!!!
The surrounding sand abruptly condensed into a sand blade, whistling through the air with an ear-piercing shriek, moving like a swiftly passing storm!
What kind of punch hurts the most? A punch thrown without hesitation hurts the most! Because there is no hesitation, the intent is clear—striking for the sake of striking, pure to the point of absolute purity.
And without a doubt, there was absolutely no hesitation in this punch Luffy threw!
The blood-stained right fist imprinted heavily onto Crocodile's face. The force of the punch was so great that it created a tearing sonic boom in the air, and Crocodile's towering frame was blasted far into the distance by the vicious blow.
At the same time, Luffy was struck by the sand blade Crocodile had condensed and was sent flying.
Pfft!! x2
Almost simultaneously after hitting the ground, both of them spat out a mouthful of bruised blood.
"Why? Why come to help this country? To help that naive princess?"
Crocodile staggered as he climbed up from the ground, blood seeping from his nose and mouth, his chest heaving violently. He looked at the Straw Hat kid not far away, whose body was also near its limit.
"You, and that Sorcerer, and your subordinates—aren't you all pirates?! As pirates, what does this country have to do with you? Why must you all oppose me?!"
Crocodile roared in exasperation, unaware that his own voice was now trembling noticeably.
"Because we are Vivi's companions!" Luffy climbed up, pressed down on the straw hat atop his head, and spoke in a tone rarely so serious:
"You bastard crocodile who stole Vivi's country... I will absolutely never forgive you!"
"Companions? Hah! Companions?? Hahahahahaha..." Hearing that word, Crocodile threw his head back and laughed as if he had heard something incredibly hilarious. His laughter was rampant, unbridled.
"Just for something so boring, you're actually throwing your lives away?"
The laughter came to an abrupt halt. Crocodile looked once more at the Straw Hat kid whose fighting spirit remained high. His cold eyes flooded with a tyrannical killing intent, as if Luffy's words had dredged up some very unpleasant memories.
"Stop screwing around!!!"
Clang! A sharp blade sprang out from the broken stump of the golden hook on Crocodile's left hand. With a crazed expression, he charged forward.
"I'd like to see, after I slice your head off, whether you'll be dead or not!"
Facing the murderous charge of Crocodile, Luffy's face showed neither sadness nor joy. He took a deep breath, his expression suddenly focusing as his entire spirit and energy peaked in an instant.
"I am the man who will surpass you!"
Whoosh! Turning sideways to dodge the slash of Crocodile's blade, Luffy violently raised his leg. With a kick full of heavy power, he punted Crocodile hard toward the vaulted ceiling of the Royal Tomb.
"I am..."
Taking a massive breath of air, his belly inflated into a giant ball. The idiot captain then blew downwards with all his might, launching himself upward like a deflating balloon, heading straight for the dizzy and disoriented Crocodile he had just kicked.
"I am the man who will become the Pirate King!!!!"
Luffy let out a shout that seemed to come from the depths of his soul, and then his fists bombarded the visibly shocked Crocodile like a violent storm.
"I'm gonna send you flying!!!"
— Gum-Gum Storm!
Meanwhile, the battle in the plaza was drawing to a close.
With the significant assistance of Tashigi and the Straw Hat crew, the Royal Army, despite suffering heavy casualties, had secured the final victory.
Boom, boom, boom. Subtle, low vibrations echoed.
"?"
A flash of confusion crossed Sanji's tired face. He turned his ear to listen carefully, then asked the green-haired swordsman sitting cross-legged on the ground nearby:
"Oi, Mosshead, did you hear some strange sound? It seems to be coming from underground."
"Strange sound? Underground?" Zoro frowned. Just as he was about to say something, a violent roar suddenly erupted in the distance, followed by a plume of thick smoke rising into the air. It seemed some building had collapsed.
This disturbance immediately grabbed the attention of everyone in the plaza. They all turned in unison toward the rising smoke, their expressions varying.
"Ah! A figure appeared in the smoke!"
Holding a pair of binoculars, the mummy-wrapped Usopp shouted in surprise.
"Who is that?" Nami squinted, puzzled.
"That person is the Sand Crocodile, Sir Crocodile!" Tashigi answered, supporting her body with her sword hilt. She gazed at the Crocodile who had been punched into the sky, her face wearing a complex expression.
(To think that in the end, this country was actually saved by a group of pirates...)
"Ah! Is that Crocodile?" The little reindeer spoke somewhat dazed, before Chopper suddenly realized something, and tears instantly burst from his eyes.
"That means..."
"Luffy won!!!" The group cheered happily. Then, they hurriedly picked up the unconscious Sherlock and ran toward the direction where Crocodile had been sent flying.
After all, they still remembered the Sorcerer's earlier instructions: Before the Marines arrive, quickly hide inside the palace.
"..."
Watching the Straw Hats gradually run into the distance, the blue-haired female Marine clenched and unclenched her hand around her sword hilt. In the end, Tashigi let out a long sigh, thrust Shigure forcefully into the ground, and tears streamed down her face.
(What kind of Justice is this!)
Pitter-patter. A small raindrop fell from the high sky, splashing against the stone bricks.
Then, moments later, a torrential downpour descended once again.
Outside the city of Alubarna.
"It's raining?"
Vice Admiral Hisoka wiped the rainwater from his face, looking up at the sky that had suddenly turned into a deluge with a look of disbelief.
"Hasn't it been a long time since this country saw rain? Why is it suddenly raining now? And the range is so massive."
"But now that the sun is gone..."
As if suddenly remembering something, the natural blonde hurriedly turned around, only to find that Vice Admiral Lehman had already collapsed on the ground at some point, sleeping soundly, letting the sky full of rain soak his clothes.
"...With that pitfall of a Devil Fruit side effect of yours, I finally understand why the higher-ups transferred you to Enies Lobby!"
Sighing, Hisoka face-palmed with a dark expression. Then he shook his head, barked a few orders to the Marines behind him, and ran quickly toward the palace alone.
As an excellent swordsman with powerful intuition, a very impractical thought had faintly arisen in his heart.
Alabasta Northern Port.
(Regardless, as long as that bastard crocodile gets sent flying, it's fine, right!)
"Luffy..." Vivi looked out at the sky full of rain beyond the ship, her fair face already streaming with tears.
In the unseen quiet, the blue-haired girl seemed to sense something. She turned her head to look at Pell beside her.
"Pell, take me back to Alubarna quickly!"
Meanwhile, on a newly docked warship nearby.
"Oho... it's raining, huh?"
Tossing the cigar in his hand aside casually, Rear Admiral Alan blew a smoke ring. His two long black and white ponytails fluttered in the wind, and his exposed right eye shimmered with a moving light.
"Things have started to become interesting."
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