Goes OnlineAs the last warm glow of the setting sun swept over the broken walls of Yuba, the Straw Hat crew had just bid farewell to Ace and the Sand Pirates.Night in the desert came unexpectedly; the warmth seemed to be sucked away in an instant. Everyone ducked into an abandoned house to settle down. Nami took the lead in lighting a campfire, its flickering light barely fending off the cold wind around them.Ink Meteor curled up by the fire, and the soft Chopper buried himself directly into its fluffy fur. Tilting his little face to look at the starry sky, he murmured softly, "Being a pirate is really so much fun...";Zoro leaned against the damaged doorframe, his fingertip lightly touching his scabbard. His Observation Haki quietly spread out, intertwining with Enma. The blade reflected the fragmented glimmers of the Sand Pirates' campfire in the distance;Usopp squatted in a corner setting up a tent, muttering incessantly, "Will giant scorpions crawl out of the desert? I heard they can drag a whole person away...";Robin sat on a stone bench flipping through a yellowed old map. Her fingertip lightly brushed over the mark for "Rainbase," a hint of hard-to-detect familiarity hidden in her eyes;Mark was organizing the supplies in his space, while Sanji handled the giant desert scorpion meat nearby. Between the rises and falls of his blade, he had already planned to make a fragrant midnight snack."We must make it through the Red Sand Zonebefore noon tomorrow—" Nami suddenly spoke, her tone carrying an urgency that brooked no argument."The sandstorms there will definitely arrive in the afternoon. If we get caught in one, even the sled house will fall apart! So we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning.""Got it, got it!" Luffy lay sprawled on the sand, pillowing his head on his arms as he looked at the stars, his tone full of nonchalance.Before dawn, the group set out on their journey.The desert in the early morning was wrapped in a layer of mist, the sand crunching underfoot. After only two hours of walking, the sun smashed into the sky like a red-hot iron, and heatwaves instantly enveloped them.Inside the sled house, Usopp began to spin a tale about "the time I fought ten sand worms alone in the desert," but no one paid him any attention at all——Luffy had long been staring at a mirage in the distance, mistaking those shimmering shadows for a mountain of meat, and ran off faster than anyone else;Mark used his Observation Haki to scan the surroundings, carefully avoiding areas that might hide quicksand.It wasn't until evening that neon lights finally peeked through in the distance.First, a few blinding lights pierced the twilight, then continuous outlines of buildings emerged from the sand mist. Finally, that pyramid-shaped building topped with a Crocodile sculpture—Rainbase—had finally been reached.The deathly silence of the desert shattered the moment they stepped through the city gates.The fine sand underfoot turned into smooth white stone slabs;The copper fountains by the roadside splashed water mist, coolly dispelling the heat from their bodies.The shops on both sides of the street were lit with warm yellow lights, and the laughter of diners was reflected in the glass windows of restaurants.Clothing store mannequins were draped in silk gowns, and the diamonds in the jewelry store windows were dazzling.The aroma of coffee wafted through the air. Carriage bells, shop shouts, and the chatter of people blended together, making even the wind feel soft—compared to the desert that could bake an egg just now, this was simply another world."Whoa—!" Luffy suddenly jumped up, pointing at the tallest building nearby. "That's a huge Crocodile!"Everyone's gaze was drawn over. That was "Rain Dinners," the core building of Rainbase—stacked with yellow and green stones, narrowing as it went up, looking just like a pyramid,with a massive golden Crocodile sculpture perched at the top.The setting sun spilled over the Crocodile, its scales shimmering with blinding light. Its eyes, made of two pigeon-blood rubies, "stared" down at the street below,even its fangs were carved as if they were about to bite, exuding a sense of intimidation."Is that the world's largest casino?" Chopper stood on his tiptoes, his little paws clutching the straps of his backpack. His tone went from anticipation to panic, "Are there lots of delicious things inside... No, no, are there lots of games?"Mark rubbed his hands together and pulled a stack of Berries from his pocket, shaking them. The crisp sound made Nami turn her head instantly."Heh, having come to a place like this, how can we not gamble a bit? Back in our village, I was a veritable God of Gamblers—""You probably just cheated to win against the little kids in the village, right?"Nami rolled her eyes, but her gaze was glued to the people in custom suits with female companions. Her eyes were shining as if they were about to glow,"But there really are a lot of rich people here! Look at that man's watch; it's worth at least five hundred thousand Berries! If I started 'Cat Burglaroperations' here, wouldn't I make a fortune?""Compared to money, the hostesses are more attractive~" Sanji suddenly produced a rose like a magic trick, bending down to hand it to a waitress at the entrance of Rain Dinners. He had just taken a step when he was pulled back by Usopp."Hey, hey! Have you forgotten where this is?" Usopplowered his voice, pointing at the doors of Rain Dinners. "This is Crocodile's base! Are we just going to stand in the street like this? Aren't you afraid of being caught by his men?"Zoro glanced at him sideways, his fingertip inconspicuously pointing toward a street corner—a man in sunglasses was pretending to read a newspaper, but the corners of his eyes were constantly glancing this way."From the moment we stepped into Rainbase, he should have received the news." His voice was as calm as if it were quenched in ice."Who cares!" Luffy pointed at the Rain Dinnersentrance. "I just want to know... is there meat inside!""Hey! Luffy! Wait a minute!" Mark quickly grabbed the corner of his clothes as he was about to launch off, sighing with his hand on his forehead. "I thought you were going to make some grand declaration, but your head is just full of food!"Robin walked over slowly and took a black card from her bag, handing it to Luffy—The edges of the card were engraved with delicate Crocodile patterns, its surface had a matte finish, and in the center was a golden character for "Rain.""With this, you can eat whatever you want in the VIP area." She explained softly, her fingertip lightly brushing the card. "When I was the manager here before, this was my black card. It comes in handy now."Luffy grabbed the card, his eyes shining like stars. "Awesome! Robin, you're amazing!""Robin, you're spoiling him too much!" Nami pursed her lips, thinking to herself: If only the black card could be exchanged for Berries!Suddenly, Nami pointed at a sign not far away, her tone cheerful, "Robin, shall we go check out that clothing store over there?"Pink neon lights spelled out the words "Girls' Generation." A light blue dress hung in the window, its hem embroidered with small white flowers,"I haven't bought new clothes in a long time, and you should change into something more lightweight too."Robin glanced in the direction of Rain Dinners and nodded slightly. "Alright, my current identity is indeed not suitable for going directly to the casino.""Then there must be a guardian of the flowers!" Sanji immediately approached, straightening his collar and not forgetting to throw a wink,"Miss Robin, Miss Nami, let me protect your shopping trip!We can also go to the cafe next door for afternoon tea and try the strawberry-flavored desserts...""Stop talking nonsense and let's go." Nami grabbed Robin's hand and pulled her toward the clothing store. Sanji quickly followed, still muttering about the dessert flavors.Watching the three of them walk away, Marksuddenly clapped his hands and took four stacks of Berries from his pocket—each stack was exactly one million—and slammed them onto the nearby stone table with a "thud":"In that case, how about we make a bet? One million Berries each. Whoever wins the most wins. The losers have to stand in the street and shout 'I am a flea.' Do you dare to play?""Huh? Who are you looking down on!" Usoppimmediately puffed out his chest, intentionally raising his voice. "Don't you know?The legendary God of Gamblers is none other than I, the Great Usopp! When I was three years old, I won a bet worth a warship—of course, that's me being humble; I actually won three!"Chopper also stood on his tiptoes, crossing his little paws over his chest, trying his best to look serious. "A man's bet, I, Chopper the God of Gamblers, will participate too! I won't cry if I lose!"Zoro sheathed his swords and walked to the stone table, picking up a stack of Berries. His gaze was as sharp as a blade about to be drawn. "A battle with pride on the line, I won't lose.""What about Luffy?" Usopp looked left and right, only to realize that Luffy had long since disappeared—Following the aroma, that guy was clinging to the doors of the Rain Dinners VIP area, shouting at the waiters inside, "Give me... meat!"Mark sighed helplessly. "Where else could he go? The restaurant. Forget it, never mind him. Let's go buy suits first—how can a God of Gamblers dress so casually?"The group found a high-end men's clothing store. When the owner first saw them enter, his face still held a bit of contempt,until Mark pulled out a stack of Berries and slammed it onto the counter. The owner's attitude changed instantly, his eyes narrowing into a smile.Zoro chose a black slim-fit suit. After putting it on, his tall stature was even more apparent. His blade-like gaze made the shop assistants afraid to look him in the eye;Usopp picked a pinstripe suit and even put on a small top hat, pretending to be an elegant gentleman;Chopper's suit was a mini version—a small black jacket with a white shirt and a red bowtie at the collar. He looked like a serious little adult;Mark chose a light blue suit, which made his skin look even fairer and more delicate, making his gender even harder to distinguish.When they walked out of the men's store toward Rain Dinners, the eyes of the hostesses at the entrance lit up.Previously, they only dared to smile politely at ordinary guests, but now they proactively stepped forward to offer wet towels, their voices becoming a few shades softer: "Gentlemen and lady, do you need me to lead the way?""No need, we'll look around ourselves—and where's this 'lady' coming from?"Mark took the towel, wiped his hands, and casually tossed it to Usopp behind him. He walked into Rain Dinners with a bit of a temper.Upon entering, an aura of luxury washed over them. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, its thousands of crystals reflecting brilliant light, illuminating the entire hall as if it were broad daylight.In the center of the hall was a circular gaming table area. Slot machines were neatly lined up on both sides, with "ding-dong ding-dong" sounds ringing incessantly;Dealers in crisp uniforms elegantly shook Dice cups, drawing bursts of exclamations from the people around them.Some gamblers cheered joyfully while others sighed in despair. The crisp, pleasant sound of chips clashing filled the air. To the left was a luxurious restaurant, where the melodious tune of a violin could be heard faintly;To the right was the hotel entrance. Waiters in red uniforms respectfully greeted every guest.The air was a mix of the richness of cigars, the sweetness of perfume, and the aroma of food. Compared to the desert outside, it was simply another world."Exchange chips first." Mark led the way to the counter and handed the Berries in his hand to the staff, receiving a pile of silver and gold chips in return—The silver ones were ten thousand Berries, and the gold ones were one hundred thousand Berries."Well then, let's set off separately." Mark distributed the chips to everyone and, holding a pile of his own, walked toward the Big or Small betting area.A lot of people were already gathered around the Big or Small table. The dealer was a woman in a black uniform with slender fingers. Her movements when shaking the Dice cup were fast and flashy, drawing bursts of exclamations from the crowd.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteMark found a spot and stood still, his eyes slightly narrowed as he quietly unleashed his Observation Haki—his Observation Haki was different from others, capable of delving into the interior of matter; having spent his days breaking down trash, he had long since perfected it."Place your bets!" The dealer slammed the Dice cup onto the table, the crisp sound echoing all around.The people around him began placing their bets; some bet on Big, some on Small, and a few daring ones bet on three-of-a-kind.Mark's Observation Haki had already penetrated the Dice cup, clearly seeing the Dice inside—5, 5, 6, adding up to 16 points, Big.He sneered inwardly and, without changing his expression, pushed 300,000 Berries worth of chips into the "Big" area."Open!" The dealer reached out to lift the Dice cup. At the very moment she lifted it, her finger inadvertently touched a small button on the edge of the table—the button was the same color as the tabletop and would be impossible to notice without careful inspection.Mark's Observation Haki clearly saw the Dice inside the cup suddenly spin; the 5 turned into a 1, the 6 turned into a 4, eventually becoming 1, 1, 4, adding up to 6 points, Small."Small!" The dealer announced with a smile, pushing the chips for the Small bets to the winners, while those who bet on Big sighed one after another.The corners of Mark's mouth twitched, and he cursed "Shameless" in his heart—it was one thing to cheat himself, but the dealer was even more ruthless, having actually installed a mechanism.That's how you want to play, huh! Then don't blame him! He deliberately put on an annoyed expression and slapped the table: "What rotten luck! Lost on the first round! This time, I'm going all in!"As he spoke, he pulled a bag of cash from his pocket and slammed it onto the table with a "thud." The weight of the Berries made the bag jolt, kicking up a bit of fine dust.A floor supervisor nearby immediately walked over with a polite smile, though their tone carried a hint of warning: "Respected guest, I apologize, but we only accept wagers in chips. Please go exchange your cash for chips first. Thank you for your cooperation.""Oh! Look at my brain, I must be muddled from losing!" Mark hurriedly rubbed the back of his head, put on a guileless smile, and tucked the cash away. "Sorry, sorry, I'll go exchange it right now."He turned and went to the counter, and by the time he returned, the dealer had already finished shaking the Dice cup again.This time, Mark didn't hesitate; he pushed all 600,000 Berries worth of chips into the "Big" area and added an extra 100,000 Berries to the "three-of-a-kind" area: "This time I'm going to win back my losses!"The people around them looked over, and some whispered: "Is this guy crazy? Betting on three-of-a-kind?"The dealer's eyes flickered, but she maintained her smile: "Place your bets, open!"She lifted the Dice cup, and there, strikingly, were three 5s—three-of-a-kind, which was also Big.The dealer's hand paused; she glanced at the Dicecup in confusion, then looked at Mark, but still smiled and said: "Congratulations to this guest, you've hit the three-of-a-kind!"The surrounding crowd gasped, but Mark was calm inside—just now, while the dealer wasn't paying attention, he had used his Observation Haki to control the fine dust nearby, slipping it into the Dicecup to gently nudge the Dice, turning the points into the three-of-a-kind he wanted.The staff pushed the chips over, and Mark counted them—600,000 principal, 20 times odds for three-of-a-kind, winning a total of 3.2 million, and after deducting the principal, a net profit of 2.5 million.He put the chips into his bag, a knowing smile curling the corners of his mouth.In the next few rounds, Mark deliberately lost two, then won a big one, and before long, his chips had risen to 10 million Berries.On the other side, Zoro was playing Blackjack. He didn't use Observation Haki, relying only on a swordsman's keen intuition for danger—when the dealer dealt the cards, relying solely on intuition, every hit he called for was incredibly precise.Before long, the chips in front of him were piled into a small mountain, and the dealer opposite him had sweat breaking out on his forehead.Usopp was playing darts. It was an unpopular gambling game; the target was hung on the wall, and the numbers on it were as small as ants. Only by hitting the designated number could one win, and the odds were 10 times.No one had played it before because it was too difficult, but who was Usopp? He was a man with top-tier sniping talent!He narrowed his eyes, fingers pinching the dart, his arm as steady as a rock. With a "whoosh," the dart struck the designated number with precision."I hit it!" Usopp jumped up and cheered, while the staffer broke out in a cold sweat, secretly pulling out a transponder snail, unsure who he was calling. Before long, Usopp had won 20 million Berries, and the chips in front of him were almost too many to stack.As for Luffy and Chopper, they had long since forgotten about the betting agreement entirely.Chopper had originally been following Mark and the others, but when he smelled the scent of cake drifting from the restaurant, he couldn't move his feet anymore. Following the scent, he found Luffysitting in front of a large table in the buffet area, a pile of delicacies in front of him, shouting, "Five more servings!""Luffy! You're here!" Chopper ran over, climbed onto a chair, and picked up a small fork to spear a piece of cake.The staff had originally wanted to stop them, but seeing the black card in Luffy's hand and noticing how cute Chopper looked, they assumed he was a "pet" of a black card member, so they didn't say anything more and even specially brought them a plate of fruit.Luffy and Chopper were now free to eat as much as they wanted.Luffy grabbed roasted meat in one hand and a burger in the other, with fries stuffed in his mouth; Chopper focused on desserts, having eaten half of a three-layer cake tower, his face covered in cream.The surrounding guests put down their chips and gathered around to watch them. Some even pulled out Berries to bet, saying, "I've never seen a guest who could eat so much."The restaurant's head chef was a fat man with a big beard, wearing a tall chef's hat. He had been resting in his office, but hearing the commotion outside, he ran out to see. Seeing Luffy and Chopper devouring their food, he wasn't angry at all; instead, he clapped his hands happily: "It's been a long time since I've met guests who know how to eat like this! I'm going to cook myself!"The kitchen was suddenly in a frenzy. Apprentices ran back and forth with plates; the sizzling sound of roasted meat, the aroma of seared steak, and the sweetness of baked cake mixed together, and could even be smelled in the hallway.It wasn't until the moon rose to the top of the sky that Luffy and Chopper waddled out of the restaurant, their bellies round and taut—Luffy's stomach was as swollen as a ball, his clothes stretched out of shape. When they left, his belly got stuck in the door frame. Chopper pushed hard with his hooves and shouted, "Luffy, eat less! If you get stuck again, we won't be able to get out!" The people around them laughed until they were bent double."Oh right, Chopper, Mark and the others are over there gambling, let's go play too!" Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up, and he grabbed Chopper and ran toward the gambling area.When they found Mark, he was winning his third big round. Seeing Luffy run over with his belly still getting stuck in the crowd, he almost dropped the chips in his hands: "Luffy! How much did you eat!""So much, so much!" Luffy patted his belly, and seeing the chips in front of Mark, his eyes lit up even more. "Give me some chips! I want to gamble too!"Mark sighed helplessly and handed him a pile of silver chips: "Take them, take them, lose as you please, just consider it the money for your buffet—if you keep eating, the boss will be crying."Luffy took the chips, ran to the Big/Small table, and casually pushed the chips into the "Big" area: "I bet Big!"The dealer lifted the Dice cup; it was 2, 3, 1, Small."Huh? Lost?" Luffy scratched his head and pushed the remaining chips up, but ended up losing again.He pouted, saw Chopper playing a slot machine, and ran over to snatch it: "Chopper, let me play for a while!"Chopper didn't want to let him, but being pulled by the arm by Luffy, he had to let go.Unexpectedly, as soon as Luffy pressed the button, the slot machine went "ding-dong, ding-dong," the pattern of three 7s lit up, and a large pile of chips clattered out."Wow! I won!" Luffy cheered, grabbed a few handfuls of chips, and ran over to Zoro. "Zoro! I'm here to help you gamble!"Zoro had just won a round, and seeing Luffy run over, he helplessly pushed the cards to him: "Don't mess around."Just as everyone was having a great time, a man in a black suit walked over.He wore black sunglasses, an earpiece tucked into his ear, and his expression was as serious as a block of ice. He walked up to Mark, bowed slightly, and said in a low voice: "Sir, our boss would like to meet with you and your Captain."Mark's movements paused; he looked up at the man, then glanced at Zoro not far away—Zoro had already gripped his scabbard, the vigilance in his eyes like quenched cold light.Mark smiled and deftly put the chips into the bag: "Lead the way; we also happen to want to meet your boss."He gave Zoro a reassuring look, then followed the attendant into the elevator, heading straight to the top floor.The attendant pushed open the door, and the vast office instantly burst into view.In the center stood a long solid wood office desk, the wood grain exuding low-key luxury. Sitting in the chair behind the desk was a man with a cigar in his mouth—his slicked-back hair was meticulously groomed, a horizontal scar ran across his face from his brow bone to his jaw, and the earring on his right ear swayed gently with his breathing. The golden hook on his left hand shone with cold, hard light under the overhead lamp, and a black fur coat was draped loosely over his shoulders. The orange plaid shirt underneath made him look both like an intimidating warlord and possessed a certain mafia-style roguishness."My casino isn't bad, is it?" Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring, his voice as deep as if it were coated in sand."Not bad," Mark pulled over a chair and sat down casually, tapping his fingertips on the bag of chips. "After all, I've won quite a bit of money from you."Luffy, on the side, was more direct, simply sitting cross-legged on the office desk, dangling his feet as he stared at Crocodile—his posture was so unrestrained that someone unaware might even think he was the master of this place.Despite such rudeness, Crocodile didn't get angry, only crushing his cigar: "It's easy to get money. Work for me, and I guarantee you'll have enough to spend for a lifetime.""No." Luffy shook his head without a second thought, his tone firm and decisive. "I'm going to be the Pirate King; I won't join someone else's faction.""You've got a big mouth." Crocodile's brow finally furrowed, the ember of his cigar brightening. "Do you think the title 'Pirate King' can be obtained just by shouting slogans?""If I want to be it, I definitely can! I'm going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy's voice suddenly rose, and at the same time, his Conqueror's Haki suddenly radiated—the invisible pressure made the air seem to congeal, the cigar ash on the table fell with a rustling sound, and even the wind outside the window seemed to pause.Crocodile was somewhat moved this time; his golden hook unconsciously brushed against the tabletop, his pupils slightly constricted as he set aside his contempt. "It seems you really do have some qualifications. In that case, how about we cooperate?""Cooperate?" Mark leaned forward, his fingertips resting on the edge of the table. "Tell me your thoughts."
CrocodileCrocodile held the cigar that was more than halfway burnt, the tobacco wrapped in light gray ash, glowing and fading between his fingertips.He slowly exhaled a perfect smoke ring; the white mist hung in the air for a moment before being torn apart by the dry air seeping in from outside, vanishing without a trace.He pressed the cigar into a crystal ashtray with a "sizzle," the sound of burning tobacco echoing.A spark jumped half an inch high, then vanished instantly like a snuffed-out emotion, much like the occasional, fleeting glimmer in his eyes.As he stood up, the hem of his long black trench coat brushed across the velvet carpet, making a faint rustling sound.Then came the metallic clink of his gold hook catching the curtain—the curtain was pulled open abruptly, and the view of Rainbase outside rushed in:Grand buildings were lit with piercing lights, yet they were shrouded by the yellow sand swirling in the rain; light and dark, wet and dry, clashed with jarring intensity."This era has never been one that leaves room for the weak," his voice was deep."Ideals? Those are luxuries that require strength as a stepping stone. People without ability talking about ideals are nothing but a self-deceiving joke."As he turned, his pupils narrowed into slits, his gaze fixed precisely on Luffy and Mark, his tone so certain it brooked no argument:"Robin has already joined you, hasn't she?""That's right!" Luffy stood up almost instantly, his fists clenched and his Straw Hat pulled low, but the gaze from beneath the brim was as sharp as a blade.The youth's characteristically clear voice was laced with wariness, every word hard: "Robin is my comrade! If you dare try anything with her, I'll send you flying right now!"He took a step forward, his rubber arm subtly stretching—a signal that he was already prepared to strike.Faced with this blatant hostility, Crocodile laughed lowly, his laughter full of mockery:"Ignorant fool—what do you think that woman is?"He raised his gold hook, pointing it vaguely at Luffy, his tone contemptuous. "She is a double-edged sword that is unsharpened yet hides a deadly poison.""Though, following a bunch of brats like you is better than falling into the hands of the World Government.""As long as she isn't taken by those people, her life, her ability—none of it matters."His gaze fell back outside, piercing through the yellow sand filling the sky, locking firmly onto the direction of the royal palace.Hidden there was a secret he had been plotting for years; even every grain of sand in the air seemed to be screaming on his behalf for his thirst for power."She must have told you about my goal by now?" There was a hint of imperceptible urgency in his voice, his eyes flashing with a near-fanatical light."Whether you become a pirate or a king has nothing to do with us."Mark leaned back against the chair, his knuckles lightly tapping the armrest, his tone as calm as if he were discussing something trivial, yet wrapped in a layer of cold, hard detachment."I can't think of anything between us worth cooperating over."He knew the ambition of the man before him all too well—this so-called "cooperation" was nothing but bait; once they lost their utility, what awaited them would only be remorseless abandonment."Pirate? King?" Crocodile scoffed, as if he had heard the world's greatest joke.His gold hook tapped lightly on the windowsill, the "thud-thud" sound exceptionally clear in the quiet room."Those are all too small. What I want is the power to dominate this era—a power sufficient to subvert the world."He abruptly pulled the curtains shut, and the room instantly fell back into its previous gloom, save for the light in his eyes which grew increasingly morbid, as if blinded by power.Even his voice became somewhat twisted, "And that power is in the basement of the palace far away, buried in the dust of history.""You want Robin to help you decipher the poneglyph?" Mark instantly grasped the key point, his hand already resting on Ink Meteor."And that Long-nose," Crocodile added."You want to steal the Gunpowder Formula," Mark's tone was not a question, but a statement.Crocodile sat back down on the velvet sofa and pulled a new one from the cigar box; the flame of the lighter danced at his fingertips, casting half his face in light and the other half in shadow."Steal?" He raised an eyebrow, the disdain in his tone nearly overflowing, "Don't use such a low-class word."He flicked the lighter between his fingers, the flame flickering, "You have no room for choice—either cooperate with me, or..."He didn't finish the sentence, but the coldness in his eyes already gave the answer—it meant "death."The cigar was lit, and he took a deep drag, the smoke slowly spilling from the corner of his mouth, blurring his expression."We're leaving right now!" Luffy turned abruptly, his hand already on the doorknob, "If you dare try to stop us, just try it!"He hated people full of schemes like this the most; every word felt like it was circling a trap, making him feel uneasy all over."Of course you can leave," Crocodile's voice followed from behind, carrying a composed confidence of having already won, "But once you step out this door, what awaits you is a MarineHeadquarters Vice Admiral."Mark's footsteps paused. When he turned back, there was a hint of realization in his eyes: "You sold our location to the Marines?"He understood the logic instantly—if the talk failed, he'd let the Marines act as the "executioners."Meanwhile, Crocodile could remain uninvolved with his status as a Shichibukai and an Alabasta King candidate, while reaping the benefits of the conflict.If the deal went through, they would merely be pawns for him to seize Pluton.Even more insidious, the other party might, at a critical moment, detain one of them under the guise of "assisting the Marines in capturing pirates," using them as leverage to force the others to obey."You are indeed smarter than that Straw Hat kid," Crocodile said noncommittally, flicking the ash from his cigar.The ash fell onto the carpet, leaving a dark mark like an unwashable scar."But rest assured, I have always understood 'equivalent exchange'." The gold hook pointed toward the door, his tone flat."I have already sent a capable subordinate to 'guard' your ship. As long as our cooperation is pleasant, he will sail the ship to a safe harbor.At that time, whether you stay to help me decipher the stone tablets or continue your voyage is up to you."Mark met Luffy's gaze, a decision already formed in his heart.But now was not the time to agree or refuse—they needed time to discuss with their comrades, and even more time to find a way to break the deadlock."I cannot make this decision on behalf of my comrades." He looked directly into Crocodile's single eye, his tone steady without the slightest tremor, "I will give you an answer tomorrow morning.""A wise choice." Crocodile clapped his hands, the crisp sound echoing in the room as if applauding the "prey's" compliance.A moment later, a waiter in a black uniform pushed the door open, his head bowed so low it nearly touched his chest, not even daring to glance up with the corner of his eye, only cautiously noting Crocodile's movements."Take our two distinguished guests to their rooms," Crocodile's voice was devoid of emotion. "The best rooms in Rain Dinners, do not be neglectful."The waiter hurriedly complied, making a "please" gesture and leading Luffy and Mark out of the room.Just as the door softly closed, the neighboring door opened silently—Mr. 3 walked in carrying a bone china tray, with a pot of steaming black tea and a small bone china cup on it.He carefully placed the teacup on the coffee table in front of Crocodile; his wrist trembled slightly as he lifted the teapot. The amber tea slowly poured into the cup, its aroma spreading and finally diluting some of the cigar's burnt smell."Boss," Mr. 3 rubbed his hands together, a fawning smile plastered on his face, his voice even softening,"With your strength, dealing with them would be a simple matter. Why waste time with them? Wouldn't it be easier to just strike and eliminate them, then capture Robin?"Crocodile picked up the teacup but didn't drink, only stroking the rim of the cup with his fingertip—the coldness of the bone china seeped through.When he looked up, the coldness in his single eye instantly enveloped Mr. 3, making him freeze in place, his smile turning stiff as if coated in a layer of paste."Are you teaching me how to do things?"There was no anger in his voice, yet it was more terrifying than anger—it was a kind of disregard, like looking at an eyesore of an insect."I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" Mr. 3 waved his hands frantically, fine beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead and sliding down his temples.He hurriedly lowered his head, his voice trembling: "I just... I just felt there was no need for you to deal with them, Boss. Your strength is more than enough to kill them...""Kill?" Crocodile put the teacup back on the tray with a crisp "clack" that was exceptionally jarring in the quiet room."The dead have no value." He picked up the cigar and relit it; smoke rings rose before him again, slowly dispersing. "As long as they are useful, they cannot die. Unless... they become useless."Mr. 3 didn't dare speak again, only keeping his head low, his breathing extremely light for fear that any noise would cause trouble.The atmosphere in the room was suffocatingly heavy, with only the "sizzling" sound of the burning cigar and the occasional howl of the wind and sand outside knocking against the heart.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteMeanwhile, in a luxury suite on the top floor of Rain Dinners, the Straw Hat Crew was gathered around a huge round table.The joy of winning money earlier had long vanished, leaving only a heavy silence, like a cold, damp cloth, wrapping tightly around everyone and making them feel uncomfortable.Nami stared at the bag full of chips on the table, her fingertips gripping the opening, but there was not a hint of a smile on her face.Usopp gripped his slingshot tightly; Chopperhuddled next to Robin, his ears drooping and his head hanging low, clearly feeling the tension as well."Weren't you guys going to buy clothes? Why are you here?" Zoro broke the silence first.He leaned back in his chair, his three swords resting casually on his lap, his gaze sweeping over Robin, Nami, and Sanji—they had clearly agreed to split up and meet at the casino entrance after finishing their respective tasks.Now these three were appearing in a room arranged by Crocodile, which was truly suspicious."Someone passed a message to us."Nami frowned, her tone full of confusion, "They said you won a lot of money, and that Crocodile agreed to let Robin join us, specifically arranging the best room in Rain Dinners, complete with pretty waiters."She looked at Luffy and Mark, who had just walked in, "We thought you were the ones who sent the message.""It seems he has figured out our temperaments and habits completely."Mark pushed open the door and walked in, with Luffy following behind, his face still showing dissatisfaction toward Crocodile—his brows were furrowed, and his lips were pursed tightly.As he spoke, his Observation Haki had already spread out—unlike Luffy's which carried explosive power, his was astonishingly meticulous, capable of capturing even the slightest fluctuations of airflow in the air.A moment later, he frowned: "Strange, he didn't even send anyone to watch us."To confirm, he mobilized his ability, a pale blue current of air circling his fingertips before slowly spreading to every corner of the room—From the walls to the ceiling, from the furniture to the decorations, he didn't even miss the patterns on the carpet."There isn't even a surveillance transponder snail." When he retracted his ability, his eyes held an extra layer of vigilance, "The more at ease he appears, the more suspicious it is.""I don't care what kind of conspiracy he has!" Luffypulled his Straw Hat down, the brim pressing lower, "Once the magnetic force is stored, I'm going to sail with you all and continue our adventure!""I'll keep the story about him brief." Mark sat in a chair, tapping his fingers on the table, his voice deepening, "He wants Robin to willingly help him translate—the poneglyph regarding Pluton.""Willingly?" Nami reacted instantly, her eyes widening, unable to suppress the anger in her tone, "He's probably using us as a threat, making Robinafraid to act recklessly!""But even so, we can fight back!" Usopp gathered his courage to speak, but as soon as he finished,Crocodile's overwhelming strength surfaced in his mind, and his voice weakened again, "Or... could we just pretend to agree and then look for a chance to slip away...""It's not that simple." Mark shook his head, his tone heavy, "He has already reported our whereabouts to the Marine, and he has also sent people to guard the going merry."He looked at Usopp, his eyes showing an extra bit of concern, "And you, Usopp—He has read the newspapers and knows you are the son of Yasopp, and he also knows that your gunpowder skills are formidable.He wants you to provide gunpowder to help him realize his ambitions.""What?!" Usopp stood up abruptly, his chair sliding back a distance and making a harsh, screeching sound.His face was full of panic, his voice trembling: "Then what about the going merry?The Kung Fu Manatee definitely won't be able to beat his subordinates! And me... why have I become his target?""You are a 'hot commodity' in our crew now, so it's no surprise that you've been targeted."Sanji interjected, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance, "Don't panic yet, let's hear what Robinhas to say about Crocodile's plan."Robin sat to the side, her expression calm, but her tone could not hide the gravity: "According to the timeline, Crocodile is going to execute his plan to usurp the country tomorrow.Plus, he has an ultimate insurance policy—what exactly it is, I don't know."She paused and added, "He never tells everyone all his plans.""As for the Marine side, there's no need to worry too much." Mark changed the subject, his tone relaxing slightly, "Although Smoker is stubborn and tenacious against pirates, he is a Marine with a sense of justice.He already knows about Crocodile's conspiracy and surely won't just sit by and watch; he will make the right choice.""So what are we doing now?" Zoro drew his wado ichimonji, his fingertips lightly brushing the blade, his eyes already burning with battle intent, "Fight him directly?""Now is not the time to fight." Mark shook his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone firm, "The primary task is to take back the going merry.As long as the going merry is in our hands, whether we fight or retreat, it's up to us to decide.If the going merry is controlled by him, we will become rootless duckweed, and we will only be at his mercy.""Yes! We'll set off tonight!" Usopp immediately agreed, his eyes full of urgency—He was most worried about the going merry right now, "I really can't stop worrying about the going merry; if it gets damaged by his men, we won't be able to sail.""Yes, we'll ride Ink Meteor there." Mark stood up and pointed outside, "Ink Meteor is fast; we can reach the port before dawn.""No time to lose, let's go!" Nami also stood up, stuffing the chips into her backpack all at once, her tone carrying a bit of grit as she zipped it up."I'll go exchange the chips for Berries first; I can't come to Rain Dinners for nothing. Even if we're going to go against Crocodile, having enough Berries is a trump card."No one objected. They all packed their things and quietly followed Mark out of the room.The corridor of Rain Dinners was terrifyingly quiet, with only their footsteps echoing in the emptiness, like sounding a warning bell.The process of exchanging chips was unexpectedly smooth. Nami gripped the heavy bag of Berries, the weight against her fingertips finally bringing a look of relief to her face.A moment later, Mark summoned Ink Meteor. Everyone climbed on one after another—Usopp, Nami, and Robin were protected in the middle, while Zoro and Luffy were on both sides, their eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly, their breathing light for fear of disturbing anything.Ink Meteor's four claws stepped onto the desert, kicking up clouds of yellow sand. The buildings of Rainbase grew farther and farther behind them, and the bustling streets were gradually replaced by the desolate desert.The night grew deeper, there was no moon in the sky, and only a few stars twinkled in the sand and dust, dim as candle flames about to go out."I always feel that things aren't that simple." Markwas riding in the lead, and when he looked back at everyone, his tone was full of gravity,"Crocodile wouldn't let us leave so easily; he must be waiting for us behind."As soon as he finished speaking, a strange wind suddenly rolled in from behind. The wind was wrapped in pungent sand and gravel, scraping against their faces like small knives—Naminarrowed her eyes instantly, her years of sailing intuition allowing her to judge the situation immediately: "It's a sandstorm!""It's that guy Crocodile!" Luffy's eyes turned sharp instantly, his fists clenched tight, and he shouted to those behind him, "Everyone, be careful! Protect Robin!"Zoro immediately drew his three swords and closed his eyes—he gave up his vision, turning instead to use his hearing and touch to perceive the movements around him.His aura gradually settled, and a faint cold light shone on the blades, which was a signal that he was ready to engage in battle at any time.Chopper transformed into his beast-human form, his massive body shielding Nami, his claws digging shallow pits into the sandy ground.The group quickly formed a circle, protecting Usopp, Nami, and Robin in the center.The yellow sand grew heavier and heavier, almost obscuring all vision, and they could only vaguely see the surrounding sand dunes changing shape in the sandstorm, like a constantly tightening net.Just then, a low, hoarse voice emerged from the sandstorm, carrying disappointment and mockery, like an ice thorn piercing into people's hearts:"I am truly disappointed, Straw Hat. I thought you people might be able to slightly understand my pursuit."Crocodile's figure gradually became clear in the sand and dust. He stood on a sand dune, his long black trench coat flapping loudly in the wind and sand, his golden hook gleaming coldly in the dim light, as if quenched in ice.The coldness in his eyes was almost overflowing—clearly, from the beginning, he never intended to let the Straw Hat Crew leave.The first direct confrontation with Crocodile thus began.
Chapter 66: The Death Match Between the Straw Hat Crew and CrocodileCrocodile stood at the peak of a sand dune, the hem of his overcoat lifted by the desert evening breeze.He looked down from his high position at the Straw Hat Crew fanned out below, a cold sneer with a hint of bloodiness curling his lips, and his raspy voice rang out:"For my plan to proceed smoothly, you will either go back and cooperate obediently, or die."As the final word "die" fell, his index finger brushed over the golden hook on his hand, and the light reflected off the golden hook under the dim Moonlight happened to flash across Usopp's face—The latter's hand, which was clutching his slingshot, tightened, causing even his shoulders to tremble slightly, yet he still braced himself and took half a step forward:"D-do you think you can handle all seven of us by yourself?" As the words left his mouth, he could even feel his own voice shaking along with the yellow sand.But his gaze was fixed intently on Crocodile's hand, which was pressed against the sandy ground."Handle you?" Crocodile laughed lowly, as if he had heard some joke, his laughter filled with the arrogance of one who had long held a high position."It's a crushing. It seems the bounty the Marine gave you has given you a confidence you shouldn't have."He paused, and the sand at his feet suddenly began to rotate clockwise, forming a tiny whirlpool."When I was fighting for my life in the West Blue, you brats hadn't even come out of your mother's womb yet."Before he finished speaking, the hand he had pressed into the desert suddenly pushed down hard, and a low shout echoed in the sand valley: "Desert Sunflower!"The next second, the sand beneath the Straw Hat Crew's feet suddenly began to vibrate violently.Chopper was the first to notice something was wrong. His four short legs were about to jump back when he found his paws felt as if they were stuck—The originally solid sandy ground had actually turned into a flowing quagmire, with fine cracks spreading beneath their feet.The sand collapsed downward at a speed visible to the naked eye, forming a continuously expanding funnel-shaped pit.Luffy tried to reach out to pull Nami beside him, only to find his ankles already sunk into the quicksand.With a little effort, his whole body was instead dragged further down; even the extensibility of the gum-gum fruit was difficult to utilize in this eerie quicksand."Not good, grab onto Ink Meteor quickly!" Namishouted urgently, being the first to reach out and grab Ink Meteor's tail.Everyone understood instantly!Ink Meteor dared not move at all right now. It knew clearly that once its nearly ten-meter-long body shifted, it would only make the quicksand flow faster. At that time, let alone saving people, even it would be dragged into the deep pit.It could only dig its claws deep into the relatively solid sand around it, letting out a low whimper from its throat as it watched the quicksand gradually submerge its calves.Just as half of Chopper's body had already sunk into the quicksand, Luffy suddenly gave a low shout.His right arm instantly turned into rubber, snapping out like a rubber band stretched to its limit, accurately wrapping around the horn on Ink Meteor's head. "Rubber - Pull!"As he exerted force, his arm made a crisp "boing" sound, and he broke free from the quicksand using the tension, drawing an arc in the air.Before he could land, his left arm quickly snapped out, grabbing Usopp's collar, while his right foot hooked Nami's belt. Using the elasticity of the rubber, he swung his arms rapidly, throwing the two of them onto Ink Meteor's back one by one.But how could Crocodile possibly let them escape the quicksand pit so easily?"Annoying." He sneered coldly. His left arm suddenly turned into flowing sand, grains rustling down and re-condensing in the air into a shape with sharp edges.He swung his arm violently toward Luffy in mid-air, and a crescent-shaped sand blade half a meter wide instantly took shape.The sand blade was surrounded by tiny grains of sand, making a sharp "shoo" sound as it sliced through the air, shooting straight toward Luffy.At this moment, Luffy was clutching the back of Chopper's neck with one hand and supporting Nami's knee with the other, suspended in mid-air with no room to counterattack.Chopper was so scared his ears drooped, and Namiinstinctively closed her eyes—at this critical moment, a silver blade light suddenly lit up from diagonally below."Draw!" Zoro's voice carried a determination like cutting steel. The moment wado ichimonji was unsheathed, a silver blade light drew a sharp arc in the air, "Flying Slash!"The blade light collided violently with the sand blade. With a muffled "pfft" sound, a clear gap was cut into the sand blade.But the next second, the surrounding quicksand quickly surged over, refilling the gap, and the sand blade continued to fly toward Luffy, completely intact."As expected, it's hard to exert force in this posture." Zoro gritted his teeth. By now, the quicksand had reached his waist.With every breath, he could feel sand pouring into his clothes. That slash just now had almost exhausted all the strength from his waist up.Fortunately, that slash ultimately slowed down the sand blade's speed. When the sand blade was only half a meter away from Luffy, he finally threw Chopper and Nami onto Ink Meteor's back.His freed right fist was instantly covered by black Armament Haki, looking like it was wrapped in a layer of cold, hard obsidian."Rubber - Iron Fist!" He turned abruptly, his fist striking the sand blade with the sound of breaking wind."Crack!"A crisp cracking sound echoed in the sand valley. That seemingly indestructible sand blade actually cracked with dense patterns like glass hitting a stone, and then it turned into sand with a "shush," being instantly swallowed as it fell into the quicksand.At the same time, Robin finally found an opportunity. With a slight movement of her fingertips, a dozen or so pale purple arms suddenly extended from beneath Ink Meteor's fur, accurately grabbing Zoro's belt and Sanji's collar—The latter had already sunk to his chest, and as he was pulled out, he spat out a mouthful of sand, wiping the sand off his face while cursing: "Damn it."Mark closed his eyes, his Observation Hakienveloping Ink Meteor's entire body like an invisible net.He could clearly perceive the positions of Ink Meteor's limbs trapped in the quicksand, as well as the flow trajectories of the surrounding sand. "Ink Meteor, lend me some strength!" He shouted lowly, and his Observation Haki instantly lifted Ink Meteor's body off the ground.Ink Meteor cooperatively raised its limbs, its massive body drawing an arc in the air, and finally, its four claws landed steadily on the solid sand outside the quicksand pit, splashing sand all over everyone as it landed."Do you think you can escape from the palm of my hand?" Crocodile's voice came again.This time, both of his hands had turned into flowing sand, his sand hands condensing into four ferocious sand dragons—each sand dragon's head was topped with a three-meter-long blade that glinted coldly, made of sand condensed to extreme hardness."Desert Diamond Slasher!"He thrust his arms forward, and the four sand dragons lunged toward the people on Ink Meteor's back, the sound of the blades slicing through the air sounding very much like the Grim Reaper's scythe."Two-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!" Zoro was the first to react. He drew the yodo himawari from his back, the blade instantly enveloped in orange-red flames, forming tiger fangs along with wado ichimonji.As he swung the swords with both hands, the flames condensed into a roaring tiger in the air, heading straight for the leftmost sand dragon. The moment the blades collided with the sand blade, the flames "sizzled" as they burned the sand, and the sand dragon's head was actually burned slightly black."Busoshoku: Hardening! Rubber Rubber - Gatling!" Luffy's feet kicked off Ink Meteor's back, and his arms instantly turned into rubber afterimages.His fists, covered by Armament Haki, smashed into the middle two sand dragons like a rainstorm.Every punch that hit the sand dragons made a muffled "bang bang" sound. Amidst the flying sand, the sand dragons' bodies were constantly broken apart, only to constantly re-condense.Sanji used Ink Meteor's back to jump into the air, his right leg drawing an afterimage in the air, his toes carrying pale blue flames: "Mutton Shot!"His flying kick accurately struck the neck of the last sand dragon, the immense force directly kicking the sand dragon off course.The blade brushed past the scales by Ink Meteor's feet, leaving a deep crack in the sand.Under the combined efforts of the four, the four Desert Diamond Slashers were finally completely defeated, and the scattered sand fell to the ground.Taking advantage of this gap, Mark controlled Ink Meteor to retreat a dozen meters, completely pulling out of the range of the Desert Sunflower and coming to a steady stop on a relatively flat patch of sand.Seeing his technique defeated, the arrogance on Crocodile's face finally showed a crack, and he was momentarily stunned—it was during this one-second gap that Usopp seized the opportunity.He quickly pulled a black steel ball from his pocket, placed it on his slingshot, and pulled the bowstring back hard with his finger until his arm was taut in a straight line: "Take this!""Shoo—"The black steel ball left an afterimage in the air, flying straight toward Crocodile's face."This kind of child's play, to me..." Crocodile's mockery was only halfway through when his pupils suddenly constricted—his Observation Haki actually perceived an unusual aura on the steel ball.He instinctively leaned to the side, and the steel ball flew past his cheek, the wind it carried making his cheek sting.The next second, a trail of blood spread from his cheekbone, and droplets of blood slid down his jawline, being instantly sucked dry as they dripped onto the sand."Is it actually a Sea Stone bullet?"Crocodile wiped the blood trail on his face with his index finger, his gaze turning sinister as he looked at the red on his fingertip.He stared at Usopp as if trying to see through the other's background."Something like Sea Stone isn't something ordinary pirates can get their hands on. Did your sniper father leave it for you?"But he didn't know that the steel ball was much more precious than a Sea Stone bullet—It was tyrant iron repeatedly infused with Armament Haki, capable of ignoring the elementalization of Logia fruits, equivalent to a bullet wrapped in Armament Haki. Usopp only had ten of them in his entire backpack."Was it still noticed..." Usopp clenched his slingshot, his nails digging deep into his palm. "If only I were a bit faster, I could have shot through his head."Crocodile didn't ask further, but instead laughed, though that smile was full of calculation."To have such good things, it seems our cooperation can indeed go a bit deeper."As he spoke, a small tornado suddenly appeared in his right palm.Yellow sand rotated at high speed in the eye of the wind, making a "woo woo" sound, and the surrounding sand began to be sucked in bit by bit. "Sables."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteJust as the tornado was about to form, Robinsuddenly moved.With a light tap of her fingertips, dozens of pale purple arms sprouted from the sand around Crocodile, some grabbing his wrists, some locking onto his shoulders, and others wrapping around his ankles—it was her signature technique, "Cien Fleur: Joint Technique and Lock Technique: Rotating Flower."Normally, these arms would instantly twist Crocodile's joints in the opposite direction, but the next second, everyone was stunned—Crocodile's body seemed boneless, twisting 360 degrees along with the rotation of the arms, with a morbid smile still hanging on his face: "Logia elementalization isn't so easy to deal with.""Body elementalization, what a pain." Sanji clicked his tongue. He was just about to rush forward to deliver another kick, but he realized Crocodile's body had already reformed, and the hand forming the tornado was raised once again.Fortunately, Robin's attack had ultimately interrupted the formation of the "Sandstorm."Mark took the opportunity to shout: "Don't let him use large-area skills! Close combat! Usopp, provide long-range support!""Understood!" Usopp nodded immediately, aiming his slingshot at Crocodile's limbs.Mark, Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro moved almost simultaneously. They kicked off the ground, leaving four shallow marks in the sand as they rapidly approached Crocodile.Luffy launched the first attack. Armament Hakiformed black ripples around his fists, each punch whistling through the air as it headed straight for Crocodile's head.But every time the fist was about to land, Crocodile's body would turn into quicksand, causing Luffy's attack to miss, with only the dull thud of fists hitting the sand echoing in the air.On the other hand, Zoro's yodo himawari slashes made Crocodile particularly wary.Whenever flames lit up on Zoro's blade, Crocodilewould immediately manipulate the sand to form a thick wall in front of him—as if the flames were the bane of sand; even the diamond-hard sand he condensed would become brittle when scorched by the demon flames.Every one of Zoro's slashes could carve a gap in the sand wall, but those gaps would be filled by the surrounding sand in the blink of an eye. The sand wall would even take advantage of the moment Zoro retracted his blade to curl toward him like a living creature, forcing him back to his original position.Sanji's situation was no better. Though his kicks were swift, they were precisely predicted by Crocodile's Observation Haki.Just as he kicked toward Crocodile's lower abdomen, the opponent suddenly turned, his left hand transforming into a sand blade, slashing viciously into Sanji's shoulder.With a "rip," a large tear appeared in Sanji's suit, and blood instantly seeped out. He was sent flying backward, sliding several meters across the sand.Mark's Baji Quan felt like hitting cotton. He slammed a fist into Crocodile's chest, but it only passed through a pile of quicksand, failing to even touch the opponent's physical body."This guy's elementalization is far more proficient than Smoker's." Mark thought to himself—Crocodilehad been training alone on the sea since he was a child, and his control over sand had reached the pinnacle; without extreme speed, there was no way to touch his physical body.But their attacks were not without effect. The fierce offensive from Luffy and Mark forced Crocodile to retreat step by step. He had to use Observation Haki to track their punch patterns while also dividing his attention to manipulate sand walls to defend against Zoro's flame slashes, and fine beads of sweat had already seeped out on his forehead.Mark keenly sensed this. He and Luffy exchanged a glance; without a word, they instantly swapped positions—Mark suddenly accelerated, a flurry of fast punches aimed directly at Crocodile's eyes, forcing the opponent to tilt his head to dodge; meanwhile, Luffy took the opportunity to step back half a pace, his arms instantly stretching out, and his fist, covered in Armament Haki, aimed at Crocodile's abdomen: "Gum-Gum Rocket!""Too slow!" Crocodile sneered. Just as he prepared to elementalize to dodge, he suddenly felt a chill in his abdomen—it was Usopp's bullet.This time, he hadn't fired a tyrant iron ball, but a transparent water pellet.The water pellet traced an arc in the air. It wasn't fast, and Crocodile originally didn't pay it any mind, but the moment the water pellet landed on his abdomen, it burst with a "pop," and the clear water instantly soaked the sand in front of him.Sand solidifies when it meets water; even with Logia elementalization, one cannot freely manipulate it when it is soaked.Crocodile's pupils constricted suddenly. He wanted to elementalize, but he found his abdomen as heavy as if it had been filled with lead—and in this half-second delay, Luffy's Rocket had already slammed hard into his abdomen."Boom!" The immense force sent Crocodile flying. He traced a parabolic arc through the air like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the sand a hundred meters away, kicking up dust several meters high, and even making the distant sand dunes tremble.But the Straw Hat Crew's vigilance did not diminish in the slightest. Luffy clenched his fists, staring in the direction of the dust, and said in a deep voice: "Don't relax. He is a Shichibukai, and this is a desert."Zoro also stabbed his sword into the sand, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's: "He said that no one can defeat him in the desert."As soon as he finished speaking, a roar suddenly came from the dust: "Sandstorm!"The next second, a gigantic sandstorm with a diameter of several tens of meters rose from the dust, like a massive black wall, rushing toward everyone with world-destroying momentum.The sand grains within the sandstorm rotated at high speed; one could even hear the sound of rocks being ground to pieces. The surrounding small sand dunes were instantly swallowed, and even the Moonlight was dimmed by this sandstorm."This guy brought us to the desert on purpose!" Mark blocked the oncoming sand with his hand, his voice tinged with annoyance, "The endless sand here is the ideal battlefield for him to wipe us all out at once!""Haha, knowing that is already too late, brats!" Crocodile's voice came from the sandstorm, filled with manic laughter, "Today, you are all going to die here!"The massive wind and sand obscured everyone's vision; only Luffy, Mark, and Zoro, the three possessors of Observation Haki, could barely lock onto the figure within the sandstorm. But before they could launch an attack, the ground suddenly began to undulate—"Sables!" Following Crocodile's voice, the sand beneath everyone's feet turned into waves, undulating continuously like the tides of the sea.Luffy tried to jump up to steady himself, but was swayed by the wind and sand, nearly falling; Namiheld onto Ink Meteor's fur for dear life, not even daring to open her eyes; Chopper burrowed directly into Ink Meteor's fur, leaving only his pink top hat visible.Just then, Mark suddenly opened his eyes. His Observation Haki captured a fast-moving trajectory—that trajectory was heading straight for Usopp! "Watch out!" Before he finished speaking, he had already kicked toward the sand on the right."Boom!" With a dull thud, Crocodile's figure suddenly appeared from the sand, his right hand transformed into a sand hand, mere centimeters from Usopp's back. Kicked in the side by Mark, he groaned. Just as he wanted to retreat, he saw a blade of flame slashing toward him—"One-Sword Style: Flying Dragon Flaming Sky!" Zoro had been waiting for a long time. The flames of the yodo himawari condensed in his hand into a roaring fire dragon. The fire dragon opened its mouth, biting toward Crocodile with scorching heat.This time, Crocodile could no longer manage to elementalize in time. He could only instinctively turn to the side. The fire dragon grazed his shoulder, the flames instantly burning through his trench coat and leaving a wound on his shoulder deep enough to see the bone. The sand at the wound hissed as it was scorched, quickly turning into black crystals, barely extinguishing the flames."That hurts... you three-sword bastard!" Crocodilegritted his teeth, cold sweat sliding down his forehead. He looked at the wound on his shoulder, his eyes becoming increasingly fierce, and threw his hands wide open: "Ground Death!"The moment his voice fell, the sky suddenly went dark. Countless yellow sands gathered from all directions, raining down upon everyone like a storm. Even the distant sand dunes collapsed, and the entire desert seemed to turn into purgatory in that instant."Quick, hide under Ink Meteor!" Luffy shouted urgently. Everyone immediately curled up under Ink Meteor's belly—Ink Meteor curled its body into a ball, using its thick frame to block the sky-filling yellow sand. The sand hitting its scales made a "pitter-patter" sound. It let out a low, pained growl from its throat, but never moved a single step.In the midst of this chaos, a sand hand suddenly reached out from the yellow sand, precisely grabbing Robin's wrist. Robin was just about to activate her Hana Hana no Mi to counterattack, but she was violently dragged into the depths of the sandstorm. Her body dragged a trail through the sand, and she was quickly swallowed by the yellow sand."Oh no, protect Robin!" Luffy's voice came from the sandstorm. He punched away the sand hand in front of him, only to discover countless more sand hands extending from all around, attacking everyone like tentacles.Nami tremblingly reached out her hand, groping under Ink Meteor's belly, but only felt a handful of yellow sand—Robin had been standing right next to her, but now not even a shadow remained. "Ro—Robin!" She shouted with a sobbing voice, but there was no response in the wind."It's bad... Robin has been taken!" Nami's voice, filled with despair, hit everyone's ears like a heavy stone striking their hearts. Luffy looked up sharply, staring at the center of the sandstorm, his fists clenching until they creaked, black Haki surging around him: "Crocodile—!"
Chapter 67: The Yellow Sand Settles, the War Drums Sound AgainThe wild yellow sand dancing across the sky finally exhausted its last bit of raging energy, falling rustlingly into the dim air.Clumps of gravel struck shoulders, the fine, muffled "shasha" sound like an elegy being played for those who had vanished.As the last wisp of dust hit the ground, vision finally pierced through the turbidity—the desert, once swallowed by darkness and yellow sand, now revealed a few glimmers of bleak sky light.But under that sky light, Robin, who should have been standing by Nami's side, hadn't left even a trace of her clothing behind.On the empty sandy ground, only the shallow pits she had stepped in remained, being filled bit by bit by fine sand carried by the hot wind, as if she had never stayed there."Damn it!"Luffy threw himself to his knees, slamming a fist hard against the cold sand surface, sending grains of sand flying in all directions."If only I were a bit stronger... If only I could have defeated that bastard sooner..."He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with an unprecedented hoarseness, as his other fist also slammed fiercely into the ground,Sand seeping into the gaps between his fingers rubbed his knuckles until they bled, but this bit of pain was far less than the frustration of having a companion taken away.The Straw Hat, tilted to one side, covered his eyes, leaving only the sharp lines of his tense jaw visible—Luffy never cried easily; even if he was beaten black and blue, he would only get up with a smile. But this time,The warmth in his eyes could not be suppressed, like an undercurrent in the desert, quietly surging beneath the brim of his hat.Nami squatted not far away, her hands tightly clutching the light blue silk scarf Robin had given her yesterday.A faint lingering fragrance remained on the scarf, but now it felt like fine needles pricking her heart.Scalding tears fell like broken beads onto the sand, absorbed in the blink of an eye by the dry grains, leaving only small dark pits.Her shoulders shook violently; she wanted to speak, but only intermittent sobs came out, and even her breathing was trembling.Not until Mark's shadow fell before her did Namisuddenly look up. Her eyes were as red as if soaked in blood, and before the teardrops hanging from her lashes could fall, she reached out and grabbed Mark's wrist—Her hands were cold, and her voice was choked with sobs: "Mark... please, is there any way for me to become stronger?I don't want to watch my companions be taken away again... I don't want to just stand here and cry anymore..."Mark looked at her reddened eyes and sighed softly in his heart.He knew Nami had to plan routes with everyone during the day and secretly study weather charts at night; her cultivation had fallen behind quite a bit.But this desire to protect her companions was more sincere than anyone's. He reached out and patted the back of Nami's hand, his voice softening slightly:"Nami, don't worry. Becoming stronger isn't something that happens overnight, but I promise your opportunity will come soon."He glanced at the 86,930 energy points on the system panel, his eyes growing more certain."I want to become stronger too!"Chopper's voice suddenly broke in. Clutching his small hooves, he looked at everyone with teary eyes, yet his gaze held an unquestionable determination."I haven't had a family since I was little; you guys are the ones who treated me as a companion... Sister Robin was taken away, and I couldn't do anything!Next time I see Crocodile, I'll definitely let him know what a real monster is!"Mark quickly stepped forward and held his shoulders, fearing the little guy might impulsively eat a third rumble ball: "Chopper, I know you want to protect everyone, but you must not act recklessly."Zoro, who hadn't spoken, finally moved. The hand holding wado ichimonji turned slightly, the blade reflecting the sky light with a cold glint.He didn't show his emotions like the others, only raising his hand to rest on the hilts of his three swords:"Talking is useless. What we need to do now is—how to rescue Robin, and how to beat Crocodile to a pulp."He looked up toward the palace, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through the wind and sand.These words were like a bucket of cold water, waking everyone from their emotional state.Sanji fiercely threw away his cigarette butt, straightened his collar, and prepared to head toward the royal capital:"That's right, Robin-chan must be saved. That bastard Crocodile needs to taste my demonic kicks.""Wait, Sanji." Mark reached out and grabbed the corner of his clothes. "We can't be impulsive now.Crocodile needs Robin to decipher the poneglyph, so she won't be in danger for a short while. This is our chance.And he will definitely send officers to intercept us on the way to the capital. We need to plan our route first."He paused and looked over everyone. "We have two goals: first, reclaim the going merry; second, rescue Robin. Therefore, we'll split into two groups.""Leave the ship to me," Mark's voice was firm. "Although there might be Marines on the east coast, I have a way to handle them.Your mission is to reach Alubarna as quickly as possible, defeat Crocodile, and rescue Robin.""Hey! Mark, can you do it alone?" Usopp quickly stepped forward, his face full of worry. "There might be a Marine Vice Admiral stationed at the going merry!""Don't worry, I'm very strong—besides, I have Ink Meteor." Mark patted Usopp's shoulder.Behind him, Ink Meteor—that pitch-black lion—immediately let out a low growl, pawing at the sand and kicking up fine grains as if echoing its master's words.Luffy finally climbed up from the ground, picked up the tilted Straw Hat, and put it back on his head, pulling the brim very low to hide the emotions in his eyes."Crocodile, leave him to me this time."His voice was soft, but it carried an unquestionable resolve. "Last time I lost. This time, I won't let him take anything else."Everyone managed a rare smile—this was their Captain."Luffy, Crocodile's sand-shifting ability fails when it hits water. You must seize the opportunity then!" Usopp quickly added.Nami also wiped away her tears, pulled a map from her backpack, and spread it out on the sand:"The palace has three gates: East, West, and Center. We'll attack from all three gates simultaneously to draw away their main forces,so Luffy can conserve his strength and go directly for Crocodile."Everyone gathered around the map, their fingertips tracing the routes as the confusion in their eyes was gradually replaced by determination.Once they had decided—Luffy was the first to reach out his hand, palm up, waiting for the others. Mark was the first to place his hand on top, followed by Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Nami, and finally, Zoro added his hand too."Guys! Give it your all to crush Baroque Works!" Luffy's voice carried a power that could infect everyone."Full assault!"Just then, a "rumbling" sound suddenly came from behind a distant dune, and a massive sand pirate ship emerged, heading toward them.Usopp shrank back in fear: "It's that group of sand pirates we met in Yuba! Last time they were followed by a Desert Giant Scorpion; there won't be some other terrifying creature this time, will there?"Nami squinted to look and suddenly smiled: "They might be able to help."She waved toward the sand pirate ship, "Uncle Barbaro! We're going to Alubarna. Can we catch a ride?"The sand pirate ship gradually drew closer, and Barbaro poked his head out from the bow. Seeing Luffy's group, he laughed heartily: "It's you guys! No problem!""Thank you very much!"Mark looked at the sky and knew they couldn't delay any longer. He flipped onto Ink Meteor's back and patted the mane on its neck:"I'm heading out first. Be careful on the way. I'll reclaim the going merry. Leave the rear to me!"With that, Ink Meteor let out a low growl and galloped toward Erumalu, its four claws flying as it quickly shrank into a small black dot.Luffy and the others boarded the sand pirate shipone after another. At Barbaro's command, the ship kicked up dust and set off toward Alubarna.Alubarna—Inside the palace, it was already a mess.Cobra was pinned to the wall by four thick iron spikes, his limbs bleeding, yet he still stubbornly held his head high, looking at Crocodile before him:"What on earth do you want?" His voice was hoarse, yet it carried the dignity of a king.Crocodile toyed with a golden dagger in his hand. "What do I want?" He sneered, stood up, and walked over to Cobra, the tip of the dagger resting against his chin,"I want to know where Pluton is.""Pluton?" Cobra frowned. "I have no idea what that is.""You don't know?" Crocodile's gaze turned cold, and he turned to look at Vivi, who was tied to a pillar.Vivi still had tear stains on her face, her hand secretly clutching that "Peacock" circular blade."Little Princess, tell me, is your father lying?"Vivi suddenly looked up, her eyes full of rage:"You usurper! I know nothing, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you—you only know how to incite war and make people kill each other!""usurper?" Crocodile burst out laughing, his laughter filled with cruelty. "What I want is destruction."He walked to the edge of the roof, and the sounds of slaughter from the plaza immediately drifted up—The Royal Army and the Rebel Army were still fighting. Blood stained the white stone slabs; people fell, and people roared. This was the country Vivihad fought so hard to protect, but now it had become a living hell."Look, it's noon now. In half an hour, this place will become a sea of flames. How festive! Hahaha!"Vivi's body swayed, and tears welled up again. "Don't do this! What good does it do you?""Good?" Crocodile turned around, his eyes full of arrogance. "Do you think these people in the plaza will be loyal to me?Once everything is destroyed and I find Pluton, what can the World Government even do to me?When that time comes, ambitious pirates from across the sea will all come to join me. I will build a military nation that will strike terror into the heart of the whole world!"As he spoke, he looked at Robin, who was tied up on the other side. "Right, partner?"Robin looked up, without a hint of fear in her eyes. "You won't succeed. You've provoked someone you shouldn't have.""The Straw Hat crew? Those brats? Beat my officers first, then we'll talk!" Crocodile sneered.He walked back to Cobra. "Cobra, let me change the question—where is the poneglyph? If you don't speak, I'll let the little princess taste the bombardment first."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteCobra looked at his daughter's pale face, his heart aching as if pierced by a knife. He knew Crocodilemeant what he said; if he didn't speak, Vivi would certainly be in danger."Fine, I will take you. But you must promise not to harm Vivi.""A wise choice." Crocodile nodded in satisfaction and reached out to pull the iron spikes from Cobra's body. Cobra groaned in pain but managed to force himself to stand straight.Just then, a figure suddenly pushed the door open—it was Chaka! He was wearing his royal guard uniform, gripping a long sword in his hand, his eyes full of determination:"Vivi, I can no longer watch you and the King be humiliated!"As he spoke, his body suddenly transformed. Fur sprouted from his skin, his ears lengthened, and his limbs thickened—Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Jackal!Chaka moved at lightning speed, almost turning into a blur, his long sword slashing directly at Crocodile's waist.With a "swish," the blade struck Crocodile, but his body suddenly turned into sand, and the blade passed straight through. "Useless."Crocodile's voice came from the pile of sand, and the next second, a sandy hand suddenly clamped onto Chaka's head.Chaka felt a tremendous force, the moisture in his body drained instantly, his skin began to shrivel, and his eyes gradually lost their luster.He wanted to struggle, but he didn't even have the strength to move a finger. Finally, Crocodile tossed his desiccated corpse onto the ground like trash—the body was as withered as a piece of dead wood, devoid of its former vitality."Chaka!" Vivi screamed, cutting the ropes on her hands, grabbing the "Peacock" circular blade from the ground, and charging at Crocodile.Crocodile didn't even lift an eyelid. Just as Vivi's blade was about to strike him, his body suddenly turned to sand, and the blade passed right through.He backhanded her, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up like a chick: "Boring."Vivi's face turned bright red, her hands desperately clawing at Crocodile's hand, but it remained as immovable as an iron vise."Let… go…" she managed to squeeze out, her vision beginning to blur.Crocodile carried her to the edge of the roof, with a drop of dozens of meters beneath his feet:"Look, listen—this is the country you want to protect. In half an hour, this place will become a sea of fire. And you will be the first person to witness it all."As he spoke, his hand suddenly turned to sand—Vivi lost her support and fell toward the ground like a withered leaf."Vivi—!" Cobra's roar echoed through the palace. He tried to rush over but was blocked by Crocodile's wall of sand.Crocodile watched Vivi's falling figure and laughed heartily: "Hahaha! Farewell, little princess!"But before his laughter could cease, a red blur suddenly flashed before him— "Gear Second!"Steam rose from Luffy's body, his speed so fast it was almost invisible."Gum-Gum—Jet Pistol!" His fist, coated in Armament Haki, smashed fiercely into Crocodile's face.With a loud "bang," blood instantly sprayed from Crocodile's nose, and his body, like a kite with a broken string, crashed through three walls behind him before slamming heavily onto the ground.Luffy reached out and firmly caught Vivi's arm, gently setting her down on the ground, then turned to look at Robin: "Robin, are you okay?"Robin shook her head, her eyes full of relief: "I'm fine. Crocodile's shelling plan still has half an hour; we must stop him as soon as possible."Vivi looked at Luffy's back, tears falling again. This time, they were tears of hope: "Luffy…"Crocodile's smile froze on his face. He looked at Luffy, his eyes full of surprise:"How are you here? Where are my officers? Didn't they stop you?""Your officers? They were already blown away by my crew. Now, it's your turn!" Luffy said, his body surging forward!Meanwhile, at the palace's east gate, a fierce battle was in full swing.Zoro held his three swords, confronting Daz Bones. Cold light extended from Daz's body—those were the blades manifested from the Dice-Dice Fruit."Can your sword cut through steel?" Daz's voice was devoid of any emotion. He stepped lightly, his body rushing forward like an arrow released from a bow, the blade on his elbow slashing directly at Zoro's face.Zoro tapped his toes on the ground, retreating rapidly while swinging his sword to block.With a crisp "clang," sparks flew everywhere, leaving Zoro's arm slightly numb from the vibration.Watching the blades continuously extending from Daz's arms, Zoro's eyes grew brighter: "Whether I can cut it or not, I'll only know after trying."As soon as he finished speaking, Zoro spun around, adopting his Three Sword Style stance. The three swords in his hands traced three blurs, slashing toward Daz's head, chest, and knees respectively.Daz didn't dodge or evade. His body instantly turned into a "blade-man," covered from head to toe in sharp blades, taking Zoro's attack head-on: "Useless. My body is the strongest blade."As he spoke, the blade on his arm suddenly lengthened, stabbing straight at Zoro's heart.Zoro dodged to the side, the blade grazing his shoulder and leaving a tear in his clothes: "Is that so?" He sneered, suddenly lowering his center of gravity, "Then I'll keep cutting until you admit defeat."Palace west gate—Usopp and Chopper were facing off against Mr.4 and Miss Merry Christmas.The ground suddenly bulged, and Miss Merry Christmas emerged from the sand. In her mole form, her claws were sharp, aiming directly for Usopp's ankles."Watch out!" Chopper immediately transformed into his reindeer form, thrusting his antlers forward to block her attack.Usopp seized the opportunity to pull out his slingshot, shooting a smoke bomb with a "bang," and thick smoke instantly enveloped the area."Chopper, now!" he shouted. Chopper nodded, his antlers crackling with electricity as he charged into the smoke. But just then, a huge shadow suddenly smashed in from outside the smoke—It was Mr.4's four-ton bat, smashing into the ground with a whistling sound, instantly creating a huge crater."Too slow～" Mr.4's voice was slow and drawn out. Lassoo, beside him, suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a timed baseball bomb.The bomb traced an arc in the air, flying toward Usopp. "Oh no!"Usopp frantically pulled out a rubber ball, hitting the timed bomb precisely and deflecting it into the distance. With a "boom," the bomb exploded in the sand, creating a small crater.Chopper seized the chance to charge at Mr.4 from the side, his antlers aiming for his knees: "Take this!" But Mr.4 just looked down, reaching out to grab Chopper's antlers:"Little thing, you've got quite a bit of strength."Chopper gritted his teeth, his body growing even larger: "I am not a little thing!"In the middle path of the palace, Sanji was locked in an intense battle with Bon Clay.Bon Clay stood on his tiptoes, performing his signature swan dance, his pink cape tracing an arc behind him:"Little Sanji, don't blame me～ Disobeying the boss's orders gets you killed, you know～? I parked your ship on the east side of the palace; consider it repayment for your kindness."Sanji frowned, his heart sinking—Bon Clay said he took the going merry, so wouldn't Mark end up empty-handed if he went to the east coast?And judging by Bon Clay's words, Marineford had already sent people. It was too dangerous for Markto face Vice Admiral Momonga alone."I don't have time to play imitation games with you." Blue flames suddenly ignited under his feet, the temperature of his Diable Jambe making the surrounding air scorching hot, "Let's finish this quickly!"On the coast of Elmar—Mark was surrounded by a group of Kung Fu Manatee. The largest one pointed its fin toward the eastern sea, making "woo-woo" sounds, and occasionally nuzzled Mark's leg, as if complaining.Mark crouched down and patted its head: "You mean, someone wearing a swan outfit beat you up and took the ship?"The Kung Fu Manatee nodded immediately, chattering to add details—the guy was dressed gaudily, walked like a swan, sailed the ship as fast as flying, and almost hit one of them.Mark stood up, his brows furrowed—no need to think, that was Bon Clay. He actually took the ship; it seemed this trip was for nothing.Just then, a massive Marine battleship suddenly appeared in the bay, its white sails bearing the Marine seagull emblem, the cannons slowly aiming at the coast.Vice Admiral Momonga stood on the railing, his white cape flapping in the sea breeze. He looked at Mark, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's:"I intended to round up the entire Straw Hat crew, but I didn't expect only you to be here."Ink Meteor, behind Mark, let out a low growl. Mark's voice was calm: "Why are you bothering with us instead of capturing the Shichibukai who is trying to overthrow the country?"He knew the strength of Vice Admiral Momonga—a Marine Vice Admiral, proficient in the Six Powers, and capable of using Armament Haki. But he could not retreat; he had to hold the Marines here to buy time for Luffy and the others.Vice Admiral Momonga sneered, leaping from the battleship and landing on the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust: "I'm taking both you and him." He said, his body suddenly surging forward, "Shave!"Mark was prepared and dodged the attack by sidestepping.The battle on the coast was imminent, the slaughter within the palace continued, and the half-hour countdown was ticking away bit by bit.The members of the Straw Hat crew were fighting with all their might, each in their own way, toward the same goal—to rescue Robin and defeat Crocodile.The yellow sand had already fallen, but the battle that belonged to them had only just begun.