Thunder crashed endlessly from the heavens, striking down at random into the rolling dunes below.
Occasionally, the storm would pause — the lightning would ease, and then the sky would open up with a torrential downpour.
How could one describe this place? Hell? Or perhaps the underworld?
In any case, it was most certainly not a good place.
"Hell, huh? Not a bad ending, all things considered."
A man with slicked-back hair and a cigar clenched between his teeth awoke amid the ruins, draped in a long, black feathered cloak. His sharp, hawk-like eyes scanned the apocalyptic landscape around him. Then, as always, he smiled — that same cold, emotionless smile.
Even if he had fallen to hell itself, Crocodile felt no regret.
His final memories played in his mind: The black muzzle of a gun, a bullet both cold and searing hot — and that four-winged angel.
Never had Crocodile imagined he would die at the hands of such a brat.
And yet—Faced with an opponent who could summon seawater, teleport, command thunder, and wield flame itself…Crocodile did not think his loss shameful.
After all, dead men had no pride left to defend.
But… is this what hell looks like?
As Crocodile pondered how to explore this infernal wasteland, a familiar yet distant voice echoed all around him.
"Long time no see, Crocodile."
Ren's voice boomed like a broadcast across the boundless void, though he stood thousands of meters away. In the blink of an eye, he stepped forward — his body transforming into the radiant form of a four-winged angel — appearing before the ruins.
"You died too?"Crocodile's eyes widened. "Who killed you? How could a monster like that exist in Alabasta?!"
"You're the one who's dead, not me," Ren muttered inwardly, twitching the corner of his mouth. He couldn't be bothered to explain further. Instead, he began channeling information directly into the void.
This was a virtual space, and he was its sole administrator.
The GM. The Creator. The God of this world.
As for why Crocodile's soul was here — the reason was simple.Ren had seized his soul and sealed it within a soul-crystal, channeling it through the Imaginary Chamber's functions.
Then, using that chamber's virtual engine, he reconstructed a digital body for Crocodile to inhabit.
In essence, the Imaginary Chamber was both a prison for souls and an arena for training.
That was precisely why Ren had wished for and drawn the Virtual Seed from the roulette.
What does a strong man's rise require? A path of growth, ample resources — and worthy enemies.
The first two, Ren could obtain via the Dimensional Roulette. But the last — the enemy — was always the hardest to secure.
And so, with the Imaginary Chamber at his disposal, Ren had wasted no time binding Crocodile's soul and upgrading the equipment that housed this virtual realm.
Yes —Crocodile was to become Ren's chosen "enemy," a foe he could battle endlessly within this digital arena.
An opponent armed with immense combat experience and the terrifying power of a Devil Fruit — a perfect whetstone for honing one's blade.
In theory, Ren could have deceived him — recreated the battlefield and made Crocodile believe he had never died. They could have continued their war of wits, pushing each other's limits.
But virtuality had its limits. Some things simply couldn't be replicated unless the other party cooperated — not even with Creator-level authority.
There were details Ren didn't know.
What he did know was that he needed an opponent with high combat instinct — one who could design traps, fight dirty, and strike with cunning.
As for convincing such a proud man to cooperate after revealing the truth — the method was simple:
Give him hope.
"So that's your offer, huh?" Crocodile's voice dripped with disdain. "Let me help you without restraint, and in return you'll 'revive' me? What an absurd bargain. Fitting, though — an absurd deal for an absurd power."
His fury surged. The surrounding sand rose and gathered like an army awaiting command.
Ren merely snapped his fingers.
The sand froze midair — and with it, the entire world.
Crocodile's face went blank with shock.
"You're dead, Crocodile. What stands before me is merely your soul.
The Suna Suna no Mi has long left you — no one knows where it's been reborn. The power you have now is nothing but my gift."
Ren's voice echoed calmly. "You can refuse, of course. But this place will become your eternal cage. Endless solitude will be only the beginning. Think carefully — I won't offer this twice.
Four months ago, I was nothing more than a shopkeeper. My growth far outpaces what you imagine.
I won't need a whetstone like you for long. Once that time passes, you'll be useless to me.
But if you agree, when that time comes, I'll let you go. Or let you rest forever.
Refuse, and this will become true hell.
That's all I have to say — whether you accept or not, the choice is yours."
Ren's form gradually faded into nothingness, leaving Crocodile alone in the desolate void.
It was a false promise — and both of them knew it.
The difference was that Ren held absolute control. Even if this one failed, he could always find another.
Crocodile, on the other hand, had no leverage. He was dead.
His only remaining hope was that Ren might show mercy and keep his word — perhaps offer him resurrection, or release.
A desperation Crocodile had never tasted before.
The Royal Capital — Alubarna.
Vivi returned to the city astride her faithful Super Spot-Billed Duck, Karoo. She didn't fly back with Pell but instead walked through the familiar streets she hadn't seen in a year.
Once, Alubarna had been one of only two cities blessed with rainfall — thanks to Crocodile's manipulations. Its people still smiled, though drought had long haunted them. Yet anxiety lingered beneath those smiles — a quiet fear that one day their turn would come.
Even so, they were the king's most loyal subjects — desert dwellers who believed in Cobra's kindness with unshakable faith.
During the drought crisis, to support the king's relief efforts for the other regions, every household here had given everything they could.
Now, the patched clothes and worn sandals on every passerby — even soldiers, merchants, and officials — told the story of that sacrifice.
Because of King Cobra's benevolence, they adored the royal family all the more.
And so, the moment Vivi appeared, she was recognized instantly.
"Look! Isn't that Princess Vivi?! She's been missing for a whole year!"
"Quick, inform His Majesty!"
"Get the soldiers, hurry!"
Chaos spread down the street as the townsfolk swarmed protectively around her.
Vivi could only smile bitterly, offering soft reassurances to calm them. She hastily made up an excuse — saying she'd been traveling to "clear her mind" — to cover her infiltration into Baroque Works.
Why call it a black mark in her history?
Ask Robin — she'd laughed until her sides hurt when Vivi once asked how convincing her disguise had been.
"Never seen a worse disguise in my life."
Those had been Robin's exact words.
The memory still made Vivi's cheeks burn with embarrassment.
She shook her head quickly, brushing aside the thought as she struggled to handle the excited crowd.
"Princess Vivi, please take this fruit basket!"
"Wait, add this! A rare cactus fruit I found in the dunes!"
"Forget those, take mine! Imported fruits from the harbor!"
"And mine—!"
The overlapping voices sounded like hundreds of ducks quacking at once.
By the time Vivi finally mounted Karoo again, her saddlebags overflowed with gifts. She even had several baskets hanging from her arms, stuffed full of all kinds of desert fruits — especially cactus balls, which in drought-ridden Alabasta had long been reclassified as "fruit."
Even in the capital, that said much about the people's devotion to her.
It wasn't surprising, though — Vivi had never been the pampered type. As a child, she used to sneak out of the palace to play with commoner kids — even becoming the second-best fighter among them.
Their gang had even called themselves the Sand-Sand Crew.
Those peaceful days are long gone, she thought, her gaze distant.
From beneath a cloth covering one of the baskets, she pulled out a round, thornless cactus fruit.
But it's fine. Crocodile is dead now. Alabasta will soon be at peace again.As for public sentiment… I'll just ask Ren to bring a few more rainstorms. That should do it.Though… how much money does the kingdom even have left?
The thought weighed heavily. Absentmindedly, Vivi took a bite of the fruit——and instantly regretted it.
An indescribably awful taste exploded across her tongue.
Her face scrunched so tightly it resembled a wrinkled chrysanthemum.
"So disgusting!"
She spat it out at once, staring blankly at the round fruit in her hand — or rather, the cactus ball.
She'd heard of them, yes, but seeing one up close still surprised her.
What was strange, though, was its color — it wasn't green, but the pale yellow of desert sand.
A cactus like that… in the desert?
A chill crept up her spine. There was only one possibility.
A Devil Fruit.
Such treasures of the sea were exceedingly rare in Alabasta — practically unheard of on land. But Vivi, born of royal blood, recognized the descriptions from her studies.
A fruit that looked otherworldly, unnatural — such fruits were almost certainly Devil Fruits.
Had she… eaten one?
No way… maybe it's just my imagination?
Raising her hand in uncertainty, Vivi urged Karoo forward. But then, mid-gallop, the duck suddenly felt lighter — as if its rider had vanished.
"Quack?"
Karoo screeched to a halt, looking back — and froze in shock. Vivi was gone.
Panicked, he squawked loudly, searching the dunes.
But unseen by him, high above, a swirl of golden sand drifted toward the royal palace.
What did it feel like… to become sand?
It was like losing all your senses — seeing nothing, hearing nothing, feeling nothing.
Sand had no eyes, no ears, no skin.
Vivi panicked. She desperately tried to regain her form, recalling the sight of Ren's battle with Crocodile — that sand-bodied figure.
With that image in mind, the flying grains swiftly gathered.
Sand piled into a humanoid shape, shedding excess dust until it formed the outline of a woman.
Facial features emerged — eyes, nose, lips, chin — until at last, Princess Vivi stood once more, trembling in awe.
Then joy overwhelmed her.
A Devil Fruit! She was a Devil Fruit user! And not just any — the power once wielded by Crocodile himself!
She didn't know why or how, but it was undeniable — she had inherited that terrifying ability.
Vivi understood what power meant. The moment she'd learned her enemy was Crocodile, she'd realized she couldn't fight him alone.
Robin had told her what the man was capable of — she had seen it herself in Nanohana.
That kind of monster couldn't be defeated by ordinary soldiers.
If the army tried, they'd lose tens of thousands — and even then, he might simply escape.
That was why Vivi had placed all her hopes on Ren — she'd had no other choice.
Either bet everything on him… or watch her kingdom drown in despair.
But now—She saw another path. A possibility where she wouldn't have to rely on anyone else.
The power to grow stronger herself.
If that's the case, I need to understand Devil Fruits…Father's study has a book about them, I think.
Vivi flicked her long blue hair over her shoulder and turned to leave — but froze mid-step, staring out the window.
Maybe I should try turning into sand again… just once more.
The golden grains danced through the palace halls, the overjoyed princess completely forgetting about poor Karoo still searching for her outside.
Drifting from room to room, she eventually reached her father's study through an open window and found the book she sought.
Just as she was about to leave, footsteps sounded beyond the door.
Pell entered with King Cobra, both pausing at the sight of the open window and sand on the desk.
"This place could use a good cleaning, Your Majesty," Pell remarked, eyeing the dust. "With over ten thousand volumes here, proper care is essential. Losing even one would be a loss to the kingdom — knowledge is priceless, after all."
Cobra chuckled warmly. "Perhaps, but I've no money left to hire more servants."
He sat down at his desk, relaxing for a moment before returning to his paperwork."So then, how are things elsewhere?"
(End of Chapter)