52: Chapter 52 Straw Hat Crew vs. Baroque Works ExecutivesSince Luffy and Nami confirmed their relationship, the group has been getting closer and closer to Alabasta.The closer they get to the capital, the more serious the rebellion becomes.Many townspeople are leaving their homes, fleeing this dangerous place.Vivi is deeply worried.To save time, Luffy immediately decides to travel through the night, taking turns resting in the training space.The Kung Fu Nus who were already in the training space have fully mastered the Six Powers of the Navy.To enhance their fighting strength, Luffy teaches them both types of Haki.After several days of continuous travel, Luffy and his crew finally arrive at the capital.Luffy originally planned to avoid the Baroque Works battle.The group first took Vivi to the royal palace to meet her father, but the capital of Alabasta was in chaos, with battles everywhere.Ultimately, they decided that Luffy would take Vivi to the palace by air, while the rest stayed behind to fight the Baroque Works.After Luffy left, everyone used their unique abilities to fight the enemy.Before Luffy, who had taken Vivi first, arrived at the palace, Crocodile had already captured Vivi's father, King Cobra of Alabasta.He was already being tortured by Crocodile, who had nailed him to a cross, interrogating him about the whereabouts of Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons.Under Crocodile's threat to the lives of all the people of Alabasta, Cobra reluctantly revealed the location of the Poneglyphs containing the location of Pluton.After leaving a few guards behind, Crocodile led Robin to the location of the Poneglyphs.Luffy and Vivi arrived late.After dealing with the guards, Luffy rescued Cobra, who had fallen into a coma due to blood loss.Seeing her father's haggard face, Vivi couldn't help but throw herself into his arms and burst into tears.As if hearing her daughter's cries, Cobra gradually awoke.After Luffy used wood element to heal him, the gradually recovering Cobra looked towards the two.People say that Crocodile's actions are all aimed at seizing the Ancient Weapon Pluton to unify the world.This coincides with the information Vivi obtained while infiltrating Baroque Works.Luffy estimates that Crocodile has already reached the location where the Poneglyphs are stored.After inquiring about the exact location of Cobra, Luffy leaps down from the city gate and rushes to Crocodile's location.Meanwhile, Zoro and his crew encounter several Baroque Works executives.After clearing out most of the nearby Baroque Works henchmen, Zoro and Kuina encounter Mr.1, whose strength is second only to Crocodile within Baroque Works.Mr.1 possesses the ability of the Quick-Slash Fruit, allowing him to transform any part of his body into blades at will, giving ordinary punches and kicks the power of blades.Zoro grips his three swords tightly, his eyes resolute and focused.His body is tense; regardless of the opponent's strength, Zoro never relaxes, preparing to meet Mr.1's attack.Kuina sat down to the side.Zoro's battle was a good opportunity for him to practice with his new swords.But could Zoro really get the hang of his opponent and pull out those two new swords?
Mr.1 made his move, transforming his arm into numerous blades that spun rapidly to slice through his opponent, slashing at Zoro with overwhelming force.He had used this technique to defeat countless swordsmen.Zoro dodged to the side, drawing his Kitetsu sword and slashing towards Mr.1's chest.Mr.1's eyes changed, his chest instantly transforming into countless blades to block the attack.However, a sword covered in Armament Haki was not so easily blocked.Mr.1 felt a sharp pain in his chest, looking down to see a scar prominently displayed.Mr.1 wiped away the blood from his chest."You are the first swordsman who can wound me.It seems your swordsmanship has broken through to the level of cutting iron.You are worthy of my full strength." Mr.1's eyes turned serious.He had always killed swordsmen with a single blow, but Zoro, through that attack, Mr.1 had sensed his immense power, the "Dust-Slicing Speed Blade."
Mr.1's feet transformed into blades, slashing forward like ice skates, while his palms and fingers also transformed into blades as he lunged at Zoro.Zoro took a serious stance, took a deep breath, and slowly drew his sword, "Lion's Song."
In the fierce clash of swords, the two figures passed each other like ghosts.Zoro nimbly wielded his sword, and as he swiftly sheathed it, another spray of blood erupted from Mr.1's chest, blooming like a bewitching rose.Mr.1's eyes rolled back, his body uncontrollably leaning backward before finally collapsing heavily to the ground.His eyes revealed both praise and resentment, as if pleased to have met an opponent like Zoro, but also resentful for failing to stop the Straw Hat crew.Blood gushed from his wound, staining the surrounding ground crimson, creating a bloody and cruel scene.
Zoro glanced indifferently at Mr.1 lying on the ground, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the palace with Kuina.On another street, Nami also finished her battle.Looking at the charred Mr.2 on the ground, she thought he was incredibly strong when they first met, but even with all his attacks, Mr.2 couldn't inflict the slightest damage on her in her elemental form.After a single Thunderbolt attack, Mr.2 collapsed to the ground, his body billowing black smoke."You can insult him however you want, but this is that guy's dream, and I will never let anyone insult it!"
Usopp's eyes widened in fury as he stared intently at the two officers on the ground, his heart burning with rage.During their fight, these two had brazenly insulted Luffy's dream, something Usopp absolutely could not tolerate.
His fists clenched, his body trembling slightly, as if he were struggling to suppress his inner rage.His eyes were filled with hostility and fury, as if he wanted to tear the two men apart.The two officers on the ground sensed Usopp's anger; they looked at him with some fear, but remained unrepentant, continuing to mock him.Driven by Luffy's dream, Usopp's anger finally became uncontrollable.He roared and transformed into his hawk-man form, charging towards the two executives.He was incredibly fast, like a whirlwind, arriving before them in an instant.He raised his fist and slammed it with all his might against one of the executives, sending him flying.
Another officer tried to resist and prepared to ambush Usopp, but he forgot that Chopper was still nearby.Just as he was about to succeed, Chopper struck him with a powerful attack, and at the same time transformed into a radiant angel to deliver a divine judgment that completely incapacitated the enemy.Looking at the two unconscious men on the ground, the man and the beast turned and left.This was the price for insulting Luffy's dream!
Beneath the palace walls, Robin lay limp on the ground, clutching her stomach.She had just translated the Poneglyphs and learned that Pluton wasn't in Alabasta at all, but she didn't want to tell Crocodile.However, she underestimated Crocodile's shrewdness; even without understanding the script, he could guess some of the clues.But he couldn't forgive Robin's betrayal, so he stabbed into her body.Just then, Luffy arrived.If it weren't for Vivi leading the way, he would still be wandering aimlessly in the palace, unable to find his way here.