At the same time, near the Sanlora River outside Rainbase.
A massive spatial ring suddenly appeared, and from within it, three figures were hurled out — Red, Robin, and Crocodile.
Boom!The moment Red's boots landed on the soft sand, a violent force surged up beneath him.
Even though his coat was soaked with seawater, Crocodile still erupted with strength, tearing himself free from Red's grip.
He tumbled across the ground several times before finally pushing himself upright, throwing off the drenched black cloak that had always seemed like a part of him.
It was one of his most treasured garments — he refused to remove it even under the blazing desert sun.
But now, drenched by seawater, keeping it on would only make him weaker.
"You… what the hell are you!?"
Crocodile lifted his head sharply, glaring darkly at Red as he demanded an answer.
At the same time, he was secretly using his Sand-Sand Fruit ability, quickly absorbing the water from his clothes.
Seawater merely weakened him and prevented elementalization — it didn't completely nullify his Devil Fruit powers.
And thanks to the Sand-Sand Fruit's tremendous desiccating power, he'd be back on his feet soon enough.
But at that moment, Red suddenly extended his hand, a smirk curling on his lips."Trying to stall for time with small talk? You really think I'm that stupid?"
"Hyperspace Hole!!!"
BOOM!!!
As his voice fell, several spatial rings appeared once again above Crocodile's head — just like in the office earlier!
In an instant, endless torrents of seawater poured down like a monsoon.
"Damn it! What is this ability!?"
Crocodile's heart trembled. Still unable to turn to sand, he stomped hard, summoning a storm of sand to propel himself backward.
But years of lazing in the first half of the Grand Line — bullying weaklings worth only a few tens of millions of Beli — had dulled his edge.
His strength was a shadow of its former glory.
Even though he reacted immediately, the seawater spilling from the Hyperspace Hole still splashed over him, soaking his body once again.
Weakness surged through his veins, and a cold wave of dread rose in his chest."What the hell…!? Why can this guy's power interact with seawater?!"
"Isn't that supposed to be taboo for all Devil Fruit users?!"
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
But when the pursuing Hyperspace Hole appeared above his head once more, Crocodile knew—
If this continued, all that awaited him was unending weakness.
He couldn't rely on Devil Fruit suppression anymore!
His eyes flicked to the golden hook on his left hand — the scorpion poison stinger!
Though he hadn't fought hand-to-hand in years, Crocodile had once gone toe-to-toe with Douglas Bullet — the "Heir of the Devil" himself!
Close combat might not be his specialty, but it certainly wasn't something some upstart brat could challenge!
"You forced me into this!!!"
Soaked and weakened though he was, Crocodile ignored the fatigue weighing down his limbs.
As a veteran powerhouse who'd once survived the New World, he'd long trained his body to exert some strength even under seastone's suppression.
Compared to seastone, seawater's PYROBROIN content was much lower anyway!
Thud!
The sand trembled as Crocodile launched forward like a bullet, streaking toward Red.
"Oh?" Red chuckled. "Changing up your fighting style, huh?"
The next second, a mischievous grin spread across his face."In that case… I'll change mine too!"
Lightning erupted beneath his feet.
With the move Magnet Rise, Red's body lifted off the ground, soaring into the air to widen the gap between them.
Then he swept his arm downward and shouted:"Come forth, my loyal subordinates!"
Whoosh—
Instantly, several glowing spatial rings appeared in Crocodile's path.
He instinctively prepared to dodge.
But instead of another downpour of seawater, what emerged from the shimmering light…
…were human silhouettes — as though soldiers had stepped through time itself, summoned from the ancient desert by Red's power.
Yet the tension on their faces betrayed the truth — these weren't illusions.
They were living, breathing people.
Soon, however, their confusion faded.
In unison, they took up fighting stances, their eyes hardening as killing intent locked onto Crocodile.
Crocodile froze in disbelief.
Because every face before him was one he knew all too well.
They were his men — the elite agents of Baroque Works, the organization he himself had built from the ground up!
And now… they stood on the other side.
Up above, Red's voice rang out, passionate and commanding:
"Listen up, everyone!"
"The man before you is none other than Sir Crocodile — one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea recognized by the World Government!!"
"And from this moment on, he is our common enemy!"
"This will be the defining battle that makes Baroque Works famous across the world!"
"Defeat him — cut him down! When Crocodile falls, your names will echo through every sea!!"
"Let the world know who the strongest bounty hunters truly are!!"
"Today, we make history!!"
"Don't hold back! Use the power I've granted you — and fight to your heart's content!!!"
BOOM!!!Red threw out his hand again, and a radiant field of light enveloped the area, forming a massive ring around the battlefield.
At the same time, motes of starlight shimmered across the agents' bodies.
In truth, neither the light nor the field had any real effect — they were nothing more than flashy psychic visuals conjured by Red's Psychic Power for dramatic flair.
But looking at the glowing battlefield, at their own shimmering forms, and hearing Red's rousing words…
The agents' hearts blazed with passion!
As the two strongest members of Baroque Works, Mr. 1 and Mr. 2 leapt into battle first — one's body transforming into gleaming blades, the other soaring through the air with the aid of a Pokémon move.
"Tri Attack: Destruction Slash!!!"
"Floaty Fall · Okama Kenpo · Explosive Swan Kick!!!"
With those shouts, red, yellow, and blue energy flared from Mr. 1's body, coating his blades as he vanished in a flash of steel, cleaving straight toward Crocodile!
At the same time, Mr. 2 stretched his long, hairy leg into a perfect swan pose midair, then dove down with devastating force, crashing toward Crocodile's head!
BOOM!!!Dust exploded across the desert, filling the air with choking sand.
Within the haze, Crocodile blocked Mr. 1's strike with his golden hook while his other hand seized Mr. 2's leg — the one covered in coarse hair.
The instant his palm brushed it, a visceral disgust crawled up his spine.
He didn't know whether it was because of the revolting sensation… or because of Floaty Fall's built-in intimidation effect.
Meanwhile, cold energy crept from the point of impact along his golden hook — Mr. 1 had triggered Tri Attack's freeze effect.
Staring at his two former agents' murderous gazes, Crocodile's fury and confusion surged together.
"Baroque Works…"
"Wasn't that the organization I spent years building myself?!"
"Why the hell are my own subordinates fighting for someone else now?!"
(End of Chapter)