Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
SWISH!!! Crocodile's sand sword, swift and deadly, lunged towards Luffy, who was poised for action. But in the next instant, Luffy's figure vanished from where he stood, only to reappear on the other side of Crocodile. Such an attack didn't seem to startle Luffy in the slightest. The blade, sharp and fast, missed its target but continued its trajectory unabated.
BOOM!! The sand blade struck the wall of the secret room, creating a terrifying crack that spread rapidly. Soon, countless fissures branched out, threatening the structural integrity of the room. The crumbling secret room mirrored Crocodile's precarious situation, teetering on the edge of collapse.
In the midst of this chaos, Crocodile had little time to worry about his surroundings, as Luffy's counterattack was already upon him.
Gomu Gomu no Pistol!
Luffy lunged forward with a straight punch. Crocodile, made of sand, instinctively dispersed to avoid the blow, a tactic that had often rendered him invulnerable.
However, this time, Crocodile's defense was futile.
BONK!!!
Luffy's fist, enveloped in Armament Haki and augmented by the artifact gloves crafted by Bai Ye, made direct contact with Crocodile's cheek. The gloves, not hindering the Haki, amplified its power significantly.
Caught off guard, Crocodile was sent flying back by the force of Luffy's punch. His black coat fluttered away as he crashed into the already damaged wall.
BOOM!
With another resounding crash, the secret room could no longer withstand the strain. The walls gave way, and the room began to collapse.
As the battle between Luffy and Crocodile intensified, the hole above the secret room began to widen, indicating that the structure was on the brink of collapse. Realizing the imminent danger, the senior agents of Baroque Works quickly made their escape, each scrambling to find safety.
In the midst of this chaos, Mr. 2 and Robin joined Luffy, fleeing through a secret passage to avoid the crumbling room. Crocodile, however, remained on the ground, stunned and immobile. His face showed utter disbelief as he muttered to himself, "Armament Haki? How?" The shock of Luffy possessing such a skill was clearly jarring for him.
THUD! THUD! The room continued to disintegrate, with debris raining down upon Crocodile. Uncharacteristically, he made no attempt to transform into sand to avoid the falling rubble. Instead, he lay there, battered by the stones and tiles, which tore through his clothes and skin. "A pirate who just went to sea, not only he is that fast, but also has Armament Haki," he reflected, his mind struggling to comprehend the reality of the situation.
Crocodile's entire belief system was shaken. He had always thought that Haki was a skill exclusive to the strong warriors of the New World, and yet here was Luffy, a relatively new pirate, already wielding it. Crocodile had never learned Haki himself, especially after his defeat by a formidable opponent in the New World. That loss had led him to retreat from learning such skills and to leave the New World behind.
Amidst the rubble, Crocodile's mind was racing, eventually leading him to his most distressing memory of the fight. He recalled a sword that split the sky, a sword so formidable that no one could match its power. That very sword had not only cleaved the sky but also shattered Crocodile's courage and ambition. The once audacious Crocodile, whose aspirations soared higher than the heavens, was metaphorically slain by that sword's blow.
From that moment, Crocodile's pursuit of personal strength diminished. He couldn't fathom the sacrifices required to attain a power that could rival the wielder of that sky-splitting sword. Subsequently, Crocodile found himself in Alabasta, where fate led him to a momentous discovery. Hidden within Alabasta lay clues to the ancient weapon Pluton. This revelation ignited a new ambition within him. If he could possess Pluton, he believed he could defeat not only the man behind the sword but also dominate the entire world.
This newfound goal consumed Crocodile's thoughts completely. His discovery in Alabasta went beyond mere clues; he found the exact location of Pluton, detailed in the country's historical texts. With this knowledge, he founded Baroque Works, allied with the Devil Child Nico Robin, and initiated Plan Utopia. His ultimate aim was to seize Pluton and ascend to unparalleled power, ruling the world unchallenged.
As he lay amidst the ruins, Crocodile's resolve reignited. 'Haki or not Haki! It does not matter,' he thought. 'Human strength is limited after all! As long as I get Pluton, I can realize my dreams!' With this conviction, the ruins around him began to tremble, and quicksand started to surge through the cracks. In a blink of an eye, Crocodile vanished into the sands, escaping the collapsed secret room and clinging to his dream of obtaining Pluton and reshaping the world under his dominion.
In the chaos following their narrow escape from the secret room, Robin quickly realized the imminent danger. "Everyone, get out of here!!" she urgently warned. But her words were barely out before the ruins erupted in a massive explosion. BOOM!!!
Amidst the swirling smoke and dust, countless streams of quicksand converged, taking on a human form. It was Crocodile, emerging from the destruction he had caused. In his mind, he dismissed the significance of Luffy, Princess Vivi, and Nico Robin. His sole focus was on acquiring Pluton, the ancient weapon that he believed was the key to realizing his ambitions.
Driven by this single-minded goal, Crocodile wasted no time. The quicksand around him surged once more, rapidly rolling towards Robin in a threatening wave. Mr. 2, standing close by, was the only one to react in time. "Miss All Sunday!" he called out, attempting to save her. But Crocodile, now consumed by a frenzied madness, was beyond reason.
He ensnared both Robin and Mr. 2 in his quicksand attack. The wind howled and sand swirled wildly, then suddenly, everything came to a halt. In an instant, the chaotic whirlwind of sand changed direction, galloping towards a target with Crocodile's relentless determination.
Luffy, realizing the situation too late, was taken aback. "Is he escaping???" he exclaimed, staring in disbelief at the quicksands moving away. Instinctively, he felt the urge to chase after Crocodile, driven by a desire to defeat his enemy and to rescue his friends.
However, Luffy halted almost immediately, turning to face Nami and the rest of the crew who had caught up to him. Before he could say anything, Zoro interjected with a tone of frustration, "Are you an idiot?" Zoro could see that Luffy was torn between pursuing Crocodile and staying with his friends.
Zoro understood Luffy's concern for his friends, especially given Bai Ye's current state, but he also knew the importance of their mission. "Even if Bai Ye is here, he wouldn't stop you from pursuing him," Zoro pointed out. He recognized that Luffy's primary task was to confront Crocodile, and he wanted Luffy to focus on that objective.
Sanji then added his perspective, "As for other things, rest assured and leave it to us." He understood that while a thoughtful Luffy was admirable, hesitation could hinder his effectiveness as a captain.
Nami, holding her weather stick, smiled supportively at Luffy, reinforcing Sanji's message. "That's right, Luffy, we don't need you to help us defeat all the enemies. We are strong!" Her words were a reminder of the crew's collective strength and capability.
Usopp, adding to the chorus of encouragement, rubbed his nose and chimed in, "That's right, Luffy. Fighting for our friends, this is the Straw Hat Pirates!!"
Hearing his crew's supportive words, Luffy's resolve was visibly bolstered. The corners of his mouth turned up into a determined smile as he exclaimed, "OK!!" In a decisive move, he pulled out a talisman and activated it, feeling a surge of power coursing through his body.
No longer hesitating, Luffy dashed towards the direction where the wind and sand had vanished, his strides full of purpose and resolve.