Chapter 114: Surpassing the Sandstorm! The Stubborn Archaeologist and the Bloody Fist
Underground Tomb.
"Glug... glug..."
After a fierce exchange, the huge water barrel on Luffy's back had been completely shattered by Crocodile.
Precious water spilled everywhere, quickly absorbed by the dry sand.
"Without water, you're just a monkey jumping around aimlessly," Crocodile said with cold eyes.
However, looking at his blood-stained fists, Luffy showed a calm expression.
"I see..."
Luffy suddenly clenched his fists, blood dripping through his fingers:
"It doesn't matter if the water's gone! Blood is liquid too! As long as my fists are covered in blood, I can solidify your sand and hit you!!"
"Hmph, how foolish."
Crocodile slammed his right hand onto the ground, and a terrifying power erupted instantly:
"Ground Death!!"
Rumble!
The stone floor of the entire tomb turned into sand in an instant, becoming a quicksand swamp that could swallow everything.
At the same time, Crocodile aimed his palm at Luffy.
"Sizzle..."
The terrifying dehydration ability activated.
Before Luffy could even throw that blood-soaked punch, the moisture in his body was instantly drained.
He became as withered as dry wood again, eyes rolling back as he collapsed into the sand.
"Turn into a mummy completely," Crocodile prepared to deliver the final blow.
Just then.
"Ox-Monkey-Rabbit-Rat-Boar-Bird..."
Standing not far away, Tatsuya's hands had already turned into afterimages as he finished the hand signs.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!!"
Roar—!!
A massive amount of water appeared out of thin air, converging into a roaring water dragon that surged toward the center of the battlefield with staggering momentum.
Crocodile's expression changed. Thinking the attack was aimed at him, he quickly transformed into a sandstorm and retreated. "Tch! That red-eyed brat!"
However, the imposing water dragon didn't pursue Crocodile. Instead, it turned its head and crashed directly into the mummified Luffy.
"Splash!!!"
A large amount of clear water instantly submerged Luffy.
Tatsuya lowered his hands and sighed helplessly:
"As the Vice Captain, I can't just watch my Captain turn into dried fish."
Receiving this life-saving replenishment, Luffy's withered body swelled up like a sponge absorbing water, even spraying out a jet of water.
"Puh-ha—!!!"
Luffy sat up abruptly, shouting with renewed energy:
"Ah!! I'm back to life!! That was a huge help, Tatsuya!!"
Seeing this, Crocodile—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea being played like a fool by two rookies—fell into a complete rage.
"Good... very good..."
Crocodile ripped off his fur coat, revealing the exquisite suit vest underneath.
Then, with a "click," he removed the outer shell of his golden hook, revealing a poison-dripping scorpion hook inside.
"Since you want to die so badly... then I'll give you a taste of hell!"
"This is scorpion venom that can corrode even rock and kill instantly! Just a scratch and you're dead!"
However, Luffy didn't care at all.
"That kind of thing... I'm not afraid of it!!"
Luffy roared and charged. Even as the poison hook cut his skin and his vision began to blur from the toxin, he still swung his bloody fists frantically.
The two entered the final and most brutal stage of their death match.
...
While Luffy and Crocodile fought to the death.
In front of the massive poneglyph, another battle was decided in an instant.
Robin looked at the black-haired youth who always seemed at ease, and the sense of crisis in her heart reached its peak.
To cover up the secret, or perhaps out of an instinctive fear of an "uncontrollable factor" like Tatsuya.
"Seis Fleur: Twist!"
Robin crossed her arms, activating her Hana Hana no Mi ability once more.
Countless arms grew out of thin air on Tatsuya's shoulders and neck, attempting to snap his spine again.
However.
Swish!
This time, Tatsuya didn't even use hand signs.
His figure became blurred like a ghost; with a single Body Flicker, he easily passed through the dense forest of arms.
The next second.
A cold chill touched Robin's skin.
Tatsuya appeared behind Robin, a sharp Kunai held coldly against her fair, slender throat.
At the same time, his other hand skillfully pinned her arms behind her back.
He pressed her entire body firmly against the cold poneglyph stone.
"Zero points for the movement."
Tatsuya's voice sounded in her ear:
"As an assassin, your Taijutsu is too poor. You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability; once someone gets close, you're defenseless."
Robin tried to struggle, but the other's grip was incredibly strong, like iron pincers that wouldn't budge.
"Don't move."
Tatsuya leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice, his tone becoming serious:
"Listen, I have no interest in Crocodile's boring ambitions, nor do I care about the Ancient Weapon Pluton."
"But I am very... curious about the text on this stone."
Tatsuya looked at the ancient characters on the stone monument, his eyes sparkling:
"Tell me what's written on it. I swear on my life that I won't tell anyone, including the World Government or my Captain."
"This is just... a secret between the two of us."
Pressed against the stone, Robin didn't show fear or plead for mercy upon hearing these words.
In those deep eyes, there was only a profound emptiness, along with coldness and despair.
"A secret?"
Robin closed her eyes, a sorrowful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she replied coldly:
"Just kill me."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"History, the D Clan... I'm already tired. I've spent my life searching, only to be constantly betrayed and abandoned."
Robin's voice was as light as a breeze, yet filled with a death wish:
"This is my end..."
"Let me be buried along with this stone."
Tatsuya looked at the woman who was bent on dying and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long sigh, withdrew the Kunai from her throat, and released his grip.
It seemed this side quest wouldn't be completed.
"What a stubborn and troublesome woman." Tatsuya stepped back, looking at Robin as she slowly slid down to sit on the floor. "You'd rather die than trust someone just once?"
Just then.
"I... will never lose!!!!"
A heart-wrenching roar came from the center of the hall.
With incredible willpower, Luffy forcibly suppressed the scorpion venom in his body.
With a sudden kick, he sent Crocodile, who was trying to deliver the final blow, flying into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Luffy inhaled frantically in mid-air, his body expanding and twisting like a balloon, gathering strength.
It was all the anger he had accumulated throughout this journey—from seeing Vivi's tears, Toto's muddy water, and the suffering of this country!
Ding! Luffy's fists were once again wrapped in black air!
Crocodile stabilized himself in the air and transformed into a giant sand blade to counterattack: "Desert Girasole!!"
"Whether it's the country!! Or my friends!!!"
Luffy's roar drowned out the thunder of the sandstorm.
"You won't take any of it!!!!"
"Storm!!!!!"
Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!!
Luffy's fists turned into a violent machine gun, carrying a mist of blood and striking Crocodile like a torrential rain.
Every punch was with full strength, and every punch hit the solid body!
"Puh-ah!!"
Crocodile's prideful sand blade was instantly shattered, his eyes rolled back as he was pummeled, and countless bones in his body were broken.
Under Luffy's Storm-like barrage, Crocodile's body smashed directly through the thick underground rock ceiling of the tomb!
Rumble—!!
The earth split apart.
The once-arrogant Warlord was beaten from underground to the surface by Luffy.
Finally, he flew into the sky over Alubarna like a broken ragdoll!
The rain finally began to fall.
"Huff... huff..."
Luffy landed in the ruins, looking at the large hole above his head with a silly grin.
"Tatsuya!! I won!!"
After saying that, his eyes rolled back, and he fell backward.
Whoosh.
Tatsuya appeared behind Luffy instantly and caught him steadily.
"Yeah, I saw."
Tatsuya looked at the boy in his arms, covered in blood and poison wounds, and said softly.
"Good job, Captain."
However, the crisis was not over.
With Crocodile being sent flying and the impact of that terrifying "Storm" just now, several massive pillars supporting this underground temple were completely shattered.
"Rumble..."
The entire tomb began to shake violently, boulders rolled down, and it was about to collapse.
Tatsuya glanced at the corner.
Robin was still leaning against the poneglyph stone, motionless.
She looked up at the falling debris, quietly waiting for death to arrive.
Sensing his gaze, Robin turned her head and looked at Tatsuya:
"Aren't you leaving yet? This place is about to collapse."
"Take your Captain and go, don't worry about me."
Tatsuya looked at her "it's romantic to die at this historic moment" expression and shook his head helplessly.
"Are you kidding me?"
Tatsuya hoisted the heavily injured and unconscious King Cobra onto his left shoulder.
Then, he strode over to Robin.
"Since you won't read it to me..."
Tatsuya reached out his right hand and, like picking up a chick, unceremoniously grabbed Robin by her back collar, ignoring her startled struggle:
"Then live for me! You can read it to me slowly later!!"
"What... let go of me!!" Robin said in panic.
"Shut up! Hold on tight!"
Tatsuya's eyes sharpened, and blue Chakra instantly erupted from the soles of his feet.
Boom!
A second before several massive boulders completely blocked the exit, he carried the three of them and turned into a bolt of black lightning, rushing out of this doomed Underworld!
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for assisting Luffy in defeating Crocodile and Robin.]
[Battle Evaluation: B.]
[Reward: 2500 Ninja Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for slightly changing the original plot.]
[Reward: 1000 Ninja Points.]
[Current Ninja Points: 4000]
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