"Here I come, Crocodile," Run says, walking in the Shichibukai's direction calmly. He takes only two steps before surging forward, covering the distance between them in what seems like an instant. Crocodile immediately brings his hook down in the red head's direction, aiming it's point towards his neck. A loud 'smack!' sounds almost immediately, as Run intercepts it, changing it's direction immediately. The Shichibukai's left leg is knocked back seconds later, as Run delivers a kick to it, driving Crocodile to a knee. "Sea King's Bite!" Crocodile looks up quickly just before Run's fist slams into his chin, his vision briefly flickering as he's lifted back to his feet, staggering back from the red head. "You're the first person in Paradise that I've seen eat my punch like it was nothing..."
Crocodile turns his head and surprises all present by spitting out a mouth full of blood and an accompanying tooth. His legs feel like they're made of rubber, and his head is buzzing. It is without a doubt the hardest he's been hit since settling into Paradise, and immediately clear that fighting with this man without be like fighting with his Captain. The Shichibkai collects himself as he reaches up, wiping his lips with the back of one palm. This red head...he's extremely dangerous. Without warning Crocodile quickly drops to a knee, his hand transforming before their eyes before he thrusts it into the ground.
"Desert Spada!" growls Crocodile, sending a wave of sand racing in the red head's direction. Rather than avoid the attack, however, they watch as he simply raises a forearm to shield his face. The attack strikes him head on, violently scattering sand in all direction. Sensing something fast approaching, the red head quickly ducks as a golden hook cuts through the wave of sand surrounding him. The red head surges up immediately, his fist aiming once again towards Crocodile's chin, however, the Shichibukai immediately sways backwards, avoiding the blow. "I won't fall for--" His words die in his throat as Run surges forward once again.
"Sea King's Rush!" The red head leaps up, his knee striking the Shichibukai square in the face and sending him tumbling across the ground before crashing through the wall of the palace, a shower of dust and debris accompanying it. Everyone standing on the side lines save Robin watches wide-eyed. How is this man over-whelming Crocodile? Their attacks just passed right through him as a result of his Devil Fruit but Run's...he seems to be beating the man back without much effort.
"His Haki really is in a league of it's own," Robin sighs, slowly crossing her arms.
"Haki?" Vivi echos. "Is that the name of that technique you used on Little Garden?" Robin gives her a nod in response, and offers a brief explanation. She tells them that Haki is a force that resides in every living thing in the entire world, and that it's not all that different from your normal five senses. However, more people will live their whole life without ever noticing it as it requires training or extreme circumstances to awaken it. She tells them that there are three types of Haki, and two available to everyone. "Three types?"
"Yes. Kenbunshoku, Busoshoku, and Haoshoku Haki. He's currently using Busoshoku to fight Crocodile. But what you felt earlier was Haoshoku...it cannot be obtained through training, and you must be born with it. It's said that those who possess this type of Haki have the qualities of a King."
"The qualities of a King?" Vivi stare at her for several moments before finally reflecting on the words of the Shichibukai. "Wait...didn't Crocodile say that Run is the son of Red Haired Shanks?" Robin nods in the affirmative once again.
"Come out and fight, Crocodile!" Run calls, attracting their attention. He reaches up and readjusts the straw hat on his head. "Hiding won't save you from me." His words provoke an immediate reaction. Sand rolls out of the hole like waves across a beach. It shifts and twists, moving like a swarm of angry hornets seconds. It's almost enough to mesmerize those watching, if it weren't for the fact that a coarse, and clearly angry voice, follows the sand.
"You damn red hair!" bellows Crocodile. "I'm gonna kill you!" Gleaming like the talons of a desert hawk, and ten times deadlier, Crocodile's hook barrels out of the sand towards the neck of the red head, trailed by the rolling sand which rapidly forms into the Shichibukai's body. The red head blinks in surprise, he certainly hadn't expected him to move this fast! Even moving as fast as it is, Robin doesn't miss the change in the hook's appearance. No longer gold, but pitted, and black, instead.
"RUN, GET AWAY FROM IT!!" Robin screams at him, actually surprising the red head enough to dodge to his immediate right. The cruel hook passes inches from his vulnerable neck. The Shichibuki appears in front of him seconds later, hook raised to deal another blow. Run's fist smashes into his ribs hard enough to arch Crocodile in the opposite direction before slamming a second into his jaw. It's a hard enough blow to send the Shichibuki stumbling several feet away from the red head, although he recovers almost immediately as Run moves forward, sand swirling around him.
"Grand Desert Espada!" Run's eyes widen in surprise as a blade of sand erupts from the ground, and his arms come up quickly. The red head is thrown back, geta scrapping across the ground as he slowly comes to a stop several meters away with a grimace. Blood races down his forearms, spattering the ground as the red head glares at the Shichibukai. His technique...he'd actually managed to cut him through his Haki. "Hah. Looks like your Haki isn't as strong as you think it is, red hair."
"Don't get so full of yourself over two little cuts," huffs Run. "You--"
"Desert Spada!" Once again a line of sand races in his direction, and Run simply turns his shoulder as it sails past while he surges forward. He's covered the distance between them in the blink of an eye, while Crocodile raises his free hand. "Bar--"
"Sea King's Roar!" The red head slams shoulder, elbow and palm into the Shichibukai's torso, driving the air from his lungs as he sails backwards. He's thrown back, smashing into the railing at the edge of the platform in front of the palace, and demolishing it in turn. Crocodile sits up quickly, a string of half formed curses tumbling out of his mouth as Run closes in once again. "Sea King's Bite!" His fist connects with Crocodile's jaw, smashing him straight back into the pavement, and actually demolishing it entirely. "Oh, sh...!"
In a storm of dust, and demolished concrete the two go spilling off the edge of the platform to the city square below. The destruction rapidly spreads out towards their former spectators, the ground beneath Vivi and Chaka's feet crackling and rumbling violently before suddenly giving way. The two immediately start their fall...but fortunately it comes to a sudden stop when a tight grip closes around their wrists, suspending them in air at the edge of the drop. Both look up, finding themselves held tightly by two pairs of disembodied arms, and the woman they belong to.
"I've got you," Robin tells them, helping the two scramble back up to the remains of the platform.
"He destroyed nearly the entire platform," Chaka says in amazement, staring down for a moment before realizing what this means. "Your Highness!" He whips around, and runs back towards Cobra.
"I knew he was strong but...I guess I didn't realize just HOW strong," Vivi murmurs. If this is how the son of the great 'Red Haired' Shanks fights, if he can fight so evenly with someone like Crocodile...then just how powerful IS his father? What would fighting the man himself be like?
"Run can handle things from here," Robin tells her, staring down at the pile of rubble in the city square. "We need to find the bomb."
"Aah! That's right! Now's our chance! But...where would it be?"
"I know where it is, follow me!" The two turn on their heel and go running into the palace past, Chaka and Cobra. The crowded square has fallen completely silent now as soldiers stare at the massive pile of rubble that's fallen from the palace. A massive chunk of stone slowly begins to move before suddenly rising from the pile. Run stands with the chunk of stone held above his head in one hand and a straw hat in the other. With a simple motion he tosses it aside, nearly crushing several soldiers as he slowly begins to descend from the rubble.
He's barely reached the bottom before sand begins to rush out, racing past him and slowly reforming into the shape of the Shichibukai. Run once again places the hat firmly on his head as he begins to brush himself off. Aside from a few scrapes and bruises, neither man appears any worse for wear. Those soldiers and rebels who have gathered in the city square all begin to drop to the ground face first, foaming at the mouth. It starts with those closest to the two, and then spreads out, as they drop by the dozens. It isn't long until only Crocodile and Run are left standing in a now completely silent square.
It's a strange feeling. With the sounds of battle echoing through the city, it feels as if the two of them are standing in the heart of the storm. Nothing and no one moves aside from the two of them. It's as if they're completely separated from the rest of the world. The red head glances down at a nearby rebel before slowly bending and retrieving a single saber from the man.
"I haven't swung a sword in years," Run tells him, raising the sword as it's blade turns an inky black. "You'll forgive me if I'm a little sloppy." Run moves once again in an instant, light reflecting on the surface of the weapon even as Crocodile raises his hook to intercept. A brilliant shower of sparks and spray of dangerous venom accompanies the first blow, along with a teeth rattling impact through the Shichibukai's arm. Crocodile's eyes narrow slightly as he back pedals from the red head. A second harder strike follows as Run steps forward and Crocodile gives ground.
He'd been fighting him bare handed only moments before but...is this man actually a swordsman after all? He believed the red head would be at least somewhat fatigued by now, but that clearly isn't the case. That combined with the intensity of the strikes, and the precision of them; both struck in the same place at the base of his hook...something about this isn't right.
Run's attacks become more and more intense, each one hard enough to jar his bones and rattle his teeth. Crocodile calmly paces backwards, turning his hook with the blows each time in an attempt to lessen the impact. The red head is a flurry of motion, his strikes possessing both finesse and monstrous strength. The Shichibuki grinds his teeth in anger,; he won't allow himself to give anymore ground. He's running out of time, and he needs to finish this quickly!
"You damn red hair!" bellows Crocodile. "Grand Desert Espada!" A blade of sand springs from the ground between the two, striking the red head in his torso. Run flies back from the impact, and completely catches the Shichibukai off guard by actually slashing his saber in his direction, aimed at his head. Crocodile's eyes widen as the darkened blade closes in, and he quickly raises his hook, deflecting the attack with a blinding shower of sparks. Run strikes hard on his back, tumbling several times before righting himself and sliding to a stop as blood spatters the stone under foot. Not willing to let there be distance between himself and Crocodile, he rushes forward once more ignoring the pain now radiating through his body.
Lips curling into a silent snarl, Crocodile surges forward, hook cutting a wide arc towards the red head's neck. The blade whips up, edge meeting hook and deflecting the blow before it comes close. Run follows the motion, stepping right under his arm towards the Shichibuki's left side. He quickly swings his arm back, once again meeting the edge of his blade rather than flesh. White hot pain runs through him like a bolt of lightning, radiating from the fresh slash on his thigh. Pain and fury ignite with Crocodile in a potent fireball, who reacts before he can stop himself.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Crocodile snarls, once again swinging his hook towards the red head. The sound of metal on metal sounds as Run's blade whip up, deflecting and then pushing the hook straight backwards with a second following blow. The sudden changes actually spins the Shichibuki, sending him stumbling backwards before he can stop himself. "I'll--"
"Sundering Tide!" exclaims Run, blade falling straight down toward him. Crocodile reacts immediately, hook raising in front of him to ward off the slash. Hook and sword collide head on, and to Crocodile's utter amazement, his hook gives way under the pressure of the red head's strike. Lopped off at the hilt, where he'd struck again and again, his blade cleaves the Shichibuki from shoulder to hip. In a spray of blood, he pitches backwards slowly, eyes boring into the red head's own.
How has this happened? How has someone like HIM, who has such a weakling for a Captain, managed to do this to him? It should have been childs play to eliminate a fighter-- no, a SWORDSMAN, like him. No matter how had he tries, he can't connect his bare-handed fighting with the swordsman in front of him. It's like two entirely different people. Even so...even so, it should have been easy. He should have been able to drag out the fight, and deplete his ability to use Haki entirely and then go in for the kill.
So, why then? Why couldn't he kill him out-right?
The ground grows closer, his head pitching back and shifting his gaze to the palace where they had been only minutes ago...and where that damn Nico Robin still is. This was her plan...this was her plan from the beginning. She never had any intention to assist him, not even in the slightest. Just as he was using her she was using him, and Baroque Works. If he could kill her he absolutely would. That woman...that damned woman must be laughing at him now.
The Shichibukai strikes the ground in front of the red head, arms and legs spread wide as he finally lies motionless. He doesn't have the strength to move...he can't even find it in him to turn his head away from the azure sky over head. The soft clacking of the red head's geta sounds on the stone over his pounding heart and heavy breaths as he approaches, slowly appearing in his field of vision. Bleeding from his arms and stomach but still standing firmly. He raises a foot, bringing it down on the Shichibuki's metal gauntlet hard enough to dent the surface as he pins it to the ground.
"I asked before but...any last words?" Run questions him, pointing the tip of his saber at Crocodile's throat.
"You...red haired...bastard!" growls Crocodile, glaring at the red head fiercely.
"Hah. Still not very original for someone's final words...but so be it." He lifts the saber as he stares down at the Shichibukai. "See ya 'round, Crocodile."
"CROCODILE!!!" bellows a loud voice from above their heads. Both immediately turn skyward just in time to see the owner of the voice plummeting out of the sky, a barrel strapped to his back. He impacts the ground hard enough to crush the stone under his feet. Anyone else would have broken both legs but he doesn't seem to be any worse for wear. "I'm gonna kick your ass, you bastard!"
"Impossible," Crocodile mutters, turning his head with a grunt. "I buried you."
"L...Luffy...?" mutters the red head, relief suddenly washing over him. "Luffy!" The red head discards his saber and approaches quickly, a huge grin appearing on his face as he sweeps his friend up in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead, you dumbass! What the hell took you so--"
"Unnh! C-Can't...breathe!" Luffy gasps, attempting to pry himself free of Run's grip. In the process, however, he accidentally knee's him right in the stomach.
"Aah! That HURTS!!!" Run drops Luffy to the ground, pressing a hand to his bleeding stomach. "What'd you do that for?"
"Aaaah! Run is bleeding! Chopper--"
"Grand Desert Espada!" shouts Crocodile. Run immediately shoves his Captain out of the way just as a blade of sand erupts from the ground. It strikes the red head in the stomach once again, sending him sailing across the square where he strikes the ground, eventually sliding to a stop. Crocodile slowly pushes himself up from the ground. "I'm going to kill the two of you here once and for all!"
"Run! Aaah! Gum-Gum..." His arm stretches from his current position to the opposite end of the city square before he sends it barreling in their direction. The Shichibuki actually smiles in response, staring down the fist rushing towards him. If the fool is so eager to rehash their earlier battle, he'll finish him first before dealing with the red head. "...Pistol!" Luffy's fist strikes him square on the jaw, his head snapping in the opposite direction as he goes sailing across the square, demolishing a building completely. "Oi, Run, are you ok?" Luffy sprints in his direction, quickly helping him to sit up while Run presses a hand against his stomach.
"I'll live," Run assures him, actually smiling at Luffy. "Aah, here." Run reaches up and takes the straw hat from his own head before placing it on Luffy's. "Try not to lose it again, huh?" Hearing running foot-steps, Luffy glances back quickly to find none other than the rest of his crew quickly approaching.
"Luffy! Run!" exclaim them all, drawing near. If they're bothered by the destruction or all the unconscious rebels and guards they don't show it. Luffy grins from ear to ear in response, and actually laughs as he sees them. At least until he remembers the shape Run is in.
"Aah! Chopper! Run is hurt!" Luffy tells him, watching the little reindeer approach Run's side quickly. "Look after him...while I take care of Crocodile." Laughter once more echos across the silent city square, and all eyes turn towards the sound. As the dust settles they find Crocodile standing in front of the building he'd been launched into my Luffy.
"So, it looks like you figured out a way to hit me," Crocodile says, watching as Luffy suddenly grasps the hose attached to the barrel and douses himself with water.
"That's right. I figured it out when Toto's water spilled on you. If you're wet, then I can hit you." Luffy grins so broadly it amazing his face doesn't get hurt. "Which means, now I'm gonna kick your ass...Crocodile...!"