Chapter 206: You're Using a Giant's Spear to Fight Me?
Crocodile still had bloodstains on his head from the earlier group attack, looking extremely disheveled.
The killing intent in his eyes was more intense than ever before.
"Trying to kill me with such methods? Don't make me laugh!"
Having his plans disrupted by Fire Fist Ace was one thing, but being literally slapped in the face by a bunch of small fries was the last straw.
"Even if I have to leave the Seven Warlords of the Sea, I'll get what I want!"
Before his words faded, he spread his arms wide—
Suna Suna no Mi ability activated at full power!
Howling winds and sand blotted out the sky, making it impossible for anyone to keep their eyes open.
Crocodile's figure flickered in and out of the sandstorm, each appearance accompanied by deadly attacks.
"Ah—!"
Usopp was struck by a sand blade and sent flying.
"Usopp!"
Chopper tried to rescue him but was blown rolling across the ground by a fierce gust.
Nami attempted to use her Clima-Tact, but the sandstorm was too strong—she could barely stand steady, unable to create abnormal weather phenomena.
Sanji protected Vivi and Robin, kicking apart several incoming sand blades, but was forced to retreat repeatedly.
"Hahahaha! Do you see what real power is now?!"
Crocodile's laughter came from all directions,
"That earlier was just me being careless!
Now I'm going to bury you all in this sand!"
Just then—
A loud shout pierced through the sandstorm, coming from high above in the sky.
"Gomu Gomu—"
Everyone's movements froze for an instant.
That voice... was it Lufia?
"—Giant Gun!!"
Boom!!
An enormous fist descended from the heavens!
The fist was at least ten meters in diameter, its surface covered in pitch-black Armament Haki, crashing down toward the center of the sandstorm with thunderous force!
Crocodile's pupils contracted sharply.
He wanted to dodge, but the fist was too fast—
Before he could react, the fist was already suspended above his head.
The yellow sand controlled by the Suna Suna no Mi was instantly scattered by this single punch!
"I can't dodge it..."
As Crocodile watched the approaching fist, a sudden image flashed through his mind—
Many years ago, when he was still a rookie Pirate, he had challenged that man.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate.
That battle, he lost completely, utterly defeated without any chance to fight back.
Since then, he had learned to use schemes, calculations, and every available means to achieve his goals.
He thought this was the path of the strong.
But now, facing this descending fist, the long-forgotten fighting spirit buried deep in his bones suddenly surged forth.
"In that case, I won't dodge!"
Crocodile roared, raising both arms upward, manipulating sand to form an equally massive fist—
Then, the two fists collided violently!
Boom—!!
Shockwaves radiated outward from the impact point, cracking the ground and sending debris flying.
Then, Crocodile's sand giant fist shattered.
The massive fist covered in Haki struck him without any fancy tricks.
Thud!!
Crocodile was smashed deep into the ruins of the royal tomb.
As the dust settled.
Everyone stood frozen in place, as if in a dream.
The voice earlier sounded like Lufia, the move sounded like hers too, but... how could Lufia possibly use such a giant fist?
Just then, a giant falcon descended from the sky, landing gracefully.
"It's Pell!"
Chaka exclaimed in surprise.
Deputy Captain of the Alabasta Kingdom's Royal Guard, Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon Devil Fruit User—Falcon Pell.
Only after Pell landed did everyone notice there was someone lying on his back.
A child.
Wearing a red top, blue shorts, carrying a straw hat, with a scar under the eye.
Exactly like Lufia!
Except she had shrunk to the size of a seven or eight-year-old, completely unconscious and looking extremely weak.
"Wh-what's going on?!"
Nami screamed.
Pell transformed back into his human form, carefully placing the shrunken Lufia down, his expression serious:
"When I was flying over with Miss Lufia, she wasn't in this state."
"A warrior's intuition tells me this is likely a side effect of using that powerful move just now."
Then Pell began recounting his experience.
Lufia and the others had encountered him on their way to the capital.
At the time, Pell had been severely injured after challenging Crocodile and was lying in the desert, barely alive.
It was Ralph who found him, used his medical abilities to treat his wounds urgently, and saved his life.
After that, they traveled together.
But Lufia kept thinking about going to fight Crocodile, so anxious she was jumping around on the dinosaur vehicle.
Seeing how desperate she was, everyone suggested letting Pell carry her ahead by flight.
So, Pell transformed into his falcon form and flew Lufia all the way to the skies above the capital.
When they arrived, they happened to witness Crocodile resurrecting from the ruins of the royal tomb and controlling a sandstorm to attack everyone.
Lufia grew frantic.
Then, she used that earth-shattering punch.
And after that, she became like this.
After hearing Pell's account, everyone exchanged glances.
"Will she recover?"
Chopper had already begun examining the shrunken Lufia's body,
"Vital signs are stable, it's just... she's just smaller! I've never seen anything like this before!"
"She probably... will," Usopp's voice trembled, but his words revealed confidence in his captain,
"Lufia said that no matter how badly injured she is, she'll recover after enough rest and food."
"I really don't understand these monsters on the ship!"
Nami sighed in relief, then immediately changed her expression, "Alright, now let me see what valuable things that bastard has on him!!"
She strode toward the spot where Crocodile had fallen.
Nami unceremoniously began searching Crocodile's body.
A moment later—
"Found it!"
She held up a glass bottle containing a strange liquid, "This should be the antidote for Bon Kurei's poison, right?"
Bon Kurei's eyes lit up:
"Yes, yes! That's it!"
Nami tossed the antidote to Chopper, then continued searching.
"And this—"
She held up a set of keys,
"These should be... the handcuff keys!"
She walked over to Robin and used the keys to unlock the Seastone Handcuffs.
Robin flexed her wrist and looked at Nami:
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Just remember to pay."
Finally, the handcuffs were placed on Crocodile's wrists.
Soon after, he slowly regained consciousness.
The once-arrogant Seven Warlords of the Sea, the great pirate who attempted to steal a kingdom, had finally become a prisoner.
However, when everyone looked at him, they noticed not a trace of despair on his face. Instead, he wore a strange, eerie smile.
"You... cannot save this country."
His voice was hoarse, yet brimming with malice.
"I still have a backup plan."
Everyone's hearts sank.
"What backup plan?"
Vivi stepped forward.
"Explain clearly!"
Crocodile's smile deepened:
"I planted an immensely powerful bomb somewhere in the capital long ago.
It can obliterate everything within a five-kilometer radius."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed.
A five-kilometer radius.
This was the capital, one of the most prosperous cities in Alabasta.
Royalty, commoners, merchants, soldiers... hundreds of thousands of lives.
"What did you say?!"
Vivi rushed forward and grabbed Crocodile by the collar.
"Where is the bomb?! Tell me now!"
Crocodile stared back at Vivi fearlessly, not uttering a word.
The smile on his face was infuriating to the extreme.
"You bastard!!"
Vivi was furious, but Crocodile only laughed, even more gleefully.
Everyone's hearts sank to the depths.
If what he said was true...
Just then, Crocodile's smile suddenly froze on his face.
An expression of disbelief flashed in his eyes as he stared intently behind the group.
Everyone followed his gaze.
There, Zoro, Ace, and Ralph were leisurely making their way from the direction of the palace.
The little dinosaur Munch-Munch was happily hopping beside Ralph, occasionally rolling around.
But that wasn't the main point.
The main point was—
Ralph was holding a massive black mechanical sphere in one hand.
On the surface of the sphere was a countdown dial, its second hand ticking away incessantly.
Ralph walked up to the group, placed the black sphere on the ground, and clapped his hands.
"Picked up a bomb on the way. It's pretty heavy."
He looked at Crocodile, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Is this the one you were talking about?"