Thus, Xiao decided to test it personally—seeking a way to integrate the solar sail system into his own cultivation framework.
If this experiment succeeded, he would not only gain the ability to absorb stellar energy, but also achieve energy amplification through this special matrix.
In other words, the most terrifying aspect of the solar sail's energy matrix lay in this:
It consumed one unit of energy—
And erupted with hundreds of times that power.
…
…
While Xiao secluded himself in deep cultivation, refining and upgrading the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Straw Hat Pirates were enduring their own crucible in Alabasta.
After countless hardships, they finally reached the royal capital—Alubarna—and clashed head-on with Baroque Works, led by Crocodile.
The details of the battle need not be repeated.
Originally, Luffy stood no chance.
But under Crocodile's manipulation, the Shichibukai abandoned his strongest Devil Fruit abilities and chose to fight Luffy hand-to-hand.
The result was simple.
Crocodile was beaten senseless.
He lost consciousness completely.
With Crocodile's defeat, the Straw Hats successfully completed their mission to save Alabasta.
And yet—
Crocodile's fall did nothing to slow the advance of the rebel army.
Even without the instigation of traitors hidden within the Royal Army, the rebels' resolve to overthrow the monarchy remained unshaken.
Their conviction had already reached an unprecedented level.
As they drew closer to the capital, their belief only grew stronger:
Alabasta would be better off without the king.
More importantly, the revolution had already become unstoppable.
Could a few passionate speeches—claiming the mastermind had been defeated and the water crisis resolved—really make millions of people lay down their arms and return home?
The answer was obvious.
No.
When the number of rebels swelled to two million, their goal was no longer reform.
They wanted all of Alabasta.
They wanted to seize power from the Crown itself.
Princess Vivi watched the brutal fighting between compatriots; her heart filled with endless pain and helplessness.
These were all citizens of Alabasta.
And yet they were being driven to slaughter one another.
Raised on ideals of governance for the people, Vivi felt utterly torn apart—
And utterly powerless.
She could only collapse onto the battlefield, kneeling as she wept.
Perhaps hearing Vivi's cries, the Straw Hat Pirates—still battered and bloodied from their battle with Baroque Works—forced themselves upright once more.
Dragging their broken bodies, they rushed to Vivi's side and stood firmly at the center of the battlefield.
In that instant, an invisible pressure descended.
The two raging armies were forcibly pushed apart.
"Stop it! Everyone, stop fighting!"
"Crocodile has been defeated! The water will be returned to everyone!"
Vivi screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face as she tried desperately to explain the truth.
At the same moment, Luffy stepped forward.
"If you're still not satisfied—"
"Then come on!"
"Let us be your opponents!!"
His words carried an overwhelming dominance.
For a brief moment, both armies hesitated.
No one dared to take even half a step forward.
After all, the rebels had personally witnessed Crocodile's power—
And the man standing before them was the one who had defeated him.
His true strength was unfathomable.
Faced with the Straw Hats' intervention, the rebel army wisely chose not to push further.
Since Luffy wished for peace, they granted him that peace.
After all, the Straw Hats wouldn't remain in Alabasta forever.
Once they left—
Alabasta would naturally fall back into their hands.
Thus, not a single one of the millions of rebels withdrew.
Instead, they lingered around the capital day and night—reorganizing their forces, scouting positions, and preparing for the next strike.
As for orders from the Royal Army—such as surrendering weapons or disbanding—
They were ignored entirely.
And if the Royal Army dared to take forceful measures, the rebels would immediately turn around and cry to the Straw Hat captain:
"Hey! Didn't you tell us not to resist?"
"But now the Royal Army is attacking us anyway—why is that?"
"Waaah! We want peace more than anyone!"
"Why are they still pushing us so hard?"
"Why are the city gates closed to keep us out?"
"We just want water—what's wrong with that?"
"We were deceived by Crocodile too!"
"Do they really have to kill us all?!"
(T/N: Not gonna lie this is smart as hell. Though I doubt One Piece citizens are that smart.)
Faced with this masterful display of performative victimhood, Luffy was completely thrown off balance.
His mind descended into chaos.
On one side stood his dearest friend—Vivi.
On the other stood the rebels, who had followed his command and ceased resistance—only to be suppressed.
He was trapped between the two.
At a total loss.
He had never faced anything like this before.
He was just a pirate.
A wild boy who had never gone to school, raised among beasts and bandits.
How could he possibly be expected to manage something so complex?
By common sense, Crocodile's defeat and the restoration of water should have resolved everything.
Everyone should have let go of past hatred.
So why had the hostility not diminished—
But instead grown even stronger?
This was nothing like the problems he had solved before.
After struggling fruitlessly, Luffy finally gave up trying to understand.
He chose to escape.
At that moment, Nami delivered news:
Alabasta's Log Pose had finished recording.
Without hesitation, Luffy gave the order to set sail.
Originally, King Cobra had hoped Vivi would leave with the Straw Hat Pirates.
He had seen firsthand the unyielding resolve of the rebels—
And realized that the Nefertari family's rule might truly end in his generation.
Thus, he resolved to entrust Vivi to Luffy.
He believed that as long as Luffy and his companions were with her, Vivi could live freely and safely—far from this collapsing nation.
Vivi agreed with her words—
But not with her actions.
She did not board the ship.
Instead, she stood alone on the shore, smiling through tears as she waved goodbye to the Straw Hat Pirates.
And with that—
The curtain fell on Alabasta.
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