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Such a massive sandstorm naturally attracted the attention of all the city's residents. At first, they thought it was just another ordinary desert climate event and hurried into their homes to take defensive measures.
They had extensive experience dealing with harsh desert weather, and with the recent resolution of their water issues, there was little left to fear.
As the raging sandstorm was partially blocked by the city buildings, the residents hiding in their homes faintly noticed a figure slowly moving at its center.
It was Alabasta's hero who had repelled numerous pirate invasions and protected the coastal cities from external threats countless times—Crocodile!
At this moment, the residents were unaware of Crocodile's sinister intentions hidden beneath his heroic facade and couldn't detect the tense atmosphere.
Seeing their national hero, they opened their doors, braving the stinging sandstorm, and came out to the streets to greet him.
"Crocodile-sama! It's Crocodile-sama!"
"I heard Crocodile-sama attended a World Government meeting recently, but he's back so soon!"
At the center of the storm, Crocodile looked at the smiling crowd, contemplated for a few seconds, and finally suppressed his anger, dispersing the sandstorm and replacing his face with a friendly smile.
Although he had learned of the dramatic changes in Alabasta through the Den Den Mushi, he still held a glimmer of hope to see it with his own eyes.
After all, Alabasta was his main base, for which he had abandoned his seafaring career.
If there was any chance to reclaim it, he would not burn his bridges.
"Yes, I heard that while I was away, everyone's lives have improved significantly?" Crocodile asked softly.
Due to his sensitive identity, Daz Bonez, who had returned with him, stayed hidden and did not appear.
"Yes! Crocodile-sama, you don't know! Aqua-sama is practically a divine being!"
Thinking of the ever-flowing well in the city center, the residents' faces lit up with radiant smiles.
"Thanks to Aqua-sama, we no longer worry about water."
"The canals have connected the entire Alabasta, bringing all our compatriots together. Our hard days are finally over!"
"We are now devout followers of Aqua-sama in the Axis Cult. With Aqua-sama's blessings, Alabasta will be more prosperous than ever!"
To Crocodile, the national hero, the residents showed immense enthusiasm, chattering about their newfound happiness.
In their eyes, Crocodile, who had selflessly helped the nation, would be overjoyed to hear this news.
They couldn't wait to share their joy of escaping hardship with the hero they trusted and respected.
However, immersed in their joy, none of them noticed Crocodile's face quickly turning dark and cold, obscured by the thin yellow sand!
"So, not only here, but the entire Alabasta has become someone else's believers..."
Crocodile's voice was low, filled with barely concealed anger and killing intent.
The foolish residents still did not grasp the gravity of the situation. Even the few sensitive warriors who sensed something wrong were quickly drowned out by the noise.
"Yes, yes! Everyone is now full of gratitude to Aqua-sama. Look, we even built a goddess statue for her in the city center!"
"Crocodile-sama, why don't you join us too? I feel so empowered since becoming a follower of Aqua-sama!"
Some fanatical follower even invited Crocodile to join the Axis Cult, a statement that pushed his patience to the limit.
"So, the entire Alabasta has fallen…"
"I'm very upset now, so you can die."
The sandblade formed by the gravel slashed without warning, hitting the fanatical follower and instantly draining his water, turning him into a dried corpse.
The chattering residents were stunned, their joyous expressions slowly replaced by fear.
Before they could comprehend why the hero who had saved them from countless pirate attacks would do such a thing, the eroding yellow sand, like the scythe of death, spread out from Crocodile, engulfing everything in its path!
"If not for the need to build my reputation and gain real power, why would I ever help you worthless ants living at the bottom of this world?"
"I am a Shichibukai, a pirate—Crocodile!!"
Shing, shing, shing! Wherever the yellow sand passed, the water in the civilians evaporated, and they fell to the ground in droves.
Their shriveled faces were etched with shock and fear. With despairing eyes, they looked at the national hero, unable to struggle, waiting for death to claim them.
As the chaos spread, more clueless residents rushed in from other streets.
Among them was the young Koza, who had moved to the city to see a broader world and become stronger.
It wasn't until they witnessed the surrounding carnage and saw Crocodile's murderous intent that people finally realized the true face of their so-called hero.
"Crocodile, what the hell are you doing?!"
Young Koza rushed out from the stunned crowd, shouting angrily at Crocodile.
He couldn't accept that the man he once admired and wanted to follow could be so brutal and evil! "What am I doing?"
Crocodile sneered, revealing a cold smile, "I'm destroying things that have lost their value!"
Since his plan to seize Alabasta through legitimate means was foiled, there was no need to maintain his hero facade.
If he couldn't have it, no one else would!
Ignoring Koza's impotent rage, Crocodile's body began to transform into deadly yellow sand.
The residents, engulfed in a chilling sense of foreboding, fled in terror, desperately trying to escape the demon.
However, the speed of ordinary people could not match the sandstorm that could cover the entire city.
In an instant, the city was lifeless and silent.
The city, which had just started to thrive after overcoming drought, became a dead town! Such was the terror of the Sand-Sand Fruit in the desert! "Boss, what's the next move?"
A muscular man emerged from the corner of the sandstorm.
It was the Slice-Slice Fruit user, Daz Bonez.
"Of course, we settle accounts with those who ruined my plans. And since Cobra made his choice, he must pay the price."
Crocodile radiated cold killing intent.
Having returned to find his carefully built base stolen, his fury was unmatched.
Hearing this, Daz Bonez frowned.
He wanted to remind Crocodile that the crew had repelled even Marine Admirals, and rushing in could be dangerous.
But knowing his boss's character—someone who would challenge even the strongest man, Whitebeard—he decided against it.
As Crocodile's loyal henchman, all he could do was follow! "Let's go."
Crocodile lit a cigar to calm himself and stepped over the shriveled bodies, heading towards the royal capital.
Just as they left the city gates, a loud thunderclap echoed in the clear sky.
A blue light covered the city, bringing a drizzle of rain.
Sensing something, Crocodile and Daz stopped.
Behind them, the residents revived by the holy water rapidly regained their vitality.
"I'm not dead?"
"This rain, this thunderous sound, it's Aqua-sama and Zyhark-sama!"
"Wait, Crocodile, he's still here!!"
Recalling the despair and fear of being swallowed by sand, the recovering residents panicked and fled.
The silent city became chaotic and noisy again.
Crocodile didn't bother with the revived residents but spat out his rain-soaked cigar.
His expressionless face emanated cold killing intent.
Ahead, lightning struck, raising a cloud of dust.
As the rain stopped and the dust settled, Zyhark and Aqua stood side by side.
Although Zyhark could extend his Observation Haki over the entire sky island like Enel in the original work, this ultimate ability wasn't passive.
It required continuous activation of Observation Haki and Devil Fruit abilities, constrained by stamina and mental will.
He managed to arrive quickly with Aqua because he had learned from Rainbase's forces that Crocodile would return to Alabasta today, preemptively monitoring key coastal ports.
The rest of the crew, led by Kanna, was on their way from Rainbase but hadn't arrived yet.
"Zyhark, I was just looking for you. Didn't expect you to come to me."
Crocodile instantly recognized the "culprits" who had stolen his base, surrounded by sand.
Especially Zyhark, whom he wanted as a subordinate. He had studied this name and face countless times at the Shichibukai meeting in Mary Geoise!
"I heard that Shichibukai Crocodile is a hero of Alabasta, but you're just a wolf in sheep's clothing."
While mocking, Zyhark observed Crocodile.
His physique and appearance were not much different from ten years later, only slightly less mature and shrewd.
Like Moria, who neglected his training on Thriller Bark, Crocodile, who had recently settled in Alabasta, exuded a more refined Haki, with his eyes filled with arrogance and sharpness.
Having repeatedly challenged Whitebeard and fought young Barrett to a draw, and being recruited by the World Government as a Shichibukai, he naturally possessed both types of Haki. "Alabasta is mine. You rookies with some fame on the sea really dared to cross me."
Crocodile's gaze fixed on Zyhark, his tone suddenly calm but carrying a deep undertone.
The calmer he appeared, the more tense Daz became, knowing that his boss's anger had reached its peak!
"Zyhark, is he the king of Alabasta?"
Aqua ignored Crocodile's murderous threats and lazily pointed at him.
"No, he's just a pirate," Zyhark smiled and shook his head.
Honestly, even if Crocodile at this stage was far stronger than when defeated by Luffy, Kanna could still beat him with Haki alone! "So he's a pirate. I thought he was some big shot royalty."
Aqua looked at Crocodile with disdain, her spittle flying, "Why the big talk, trash hook? Claiming Alabasta, why not claim the world?!"
In terms of arrogance, the goddess surpasses Crocodile.
Aqua didn't care about the Shichibukai; if she didn't like someone, she'd unleash a tirade.
"Hahaha, it's been a long time since someone dared speak to me like that. So, you're the Aqua those useless peasants worship?"
Crocodile's rage turned into laughter, but his gaze grew colder. He raised his right hand, creating a small sandstorm with his Devil Fruit ability.
He stopped talking and attacked.
"You brats think you can stand against me? You're a century too early!"
"Sandstorm!"
Shing, shing, shing.
As Crocodile hurled the sandstorm, it grew larger, smashing buildings and streets into pieces, creating even more devastating damage.
Zyhark's face remained calm, his fingers sparking with lightning.
As he was about to strike, Aqua, uncharacteristically diligent, stepped in front of him.
"Zyhark, let me handle this. Daring to harm my devoted followers, I must make him pay!"
Zyhark hesitated but then stepped back.
"Alright, it's all yours."
He doubted Aqua's combat IQ but let her take the spotlight as water was the Sand-Sand Fruit's biggest weakness.
Aqua, delighted with the opportunity, waved her goddess staff, her divine power forming a deep blue magic circle.
"Holy Water Summon!"
Water droplets floated, blue light swirled, and torrents of water surged, clashing with the sandstorm.
Then…
The water was absorbed by the sandstorm, turning into a more powerful, muddy vortex!
The resulting air current rushed towards Aqua, freezing her movements as she blinked her intelligent eyes, "Ah, ah?"
Indeed, the goddess couldn't maintain her prowess for more than three seconds.
Zyhark, retreating to a safer distance, "…"
He was shocked that she used water against a sandstorm, wondering how her brain worked! As the ten-meter-high muddy sandstorm engulfed Aqua, Zyhark turned into lightning and retreated to a safer distance.
Despite Aqua's zero combat IQ, he didn't believe she'd be defeated by this level of attack.
And indeed, she wasn't.
As Aqua was engulfed, the sandstorm suddenly froze in place.
Swoosh!
In the next second, the muddy water poured down, flooding the street.
As long as water was involved, Aqua could easily control and reshape it! 'The moment the water covered her, I completely lost control of the sand…'
Crocodile clenched his right fist, his expression growing solemn as he looked at Aqua standing unscathed in the murky water.
At the Shichibukai meeting, he had learned a lot about Aqua and knew how much her water abilities countered his sand! Even so, he wasn't afraid.
In any other place, he might be cautious, but in the endless desert, he was invincible!
And that was why he dared to attack Zyhark's crew!
"Desert Spada!"
Without further ado, Crocodile raised his transformed right arm and slashed a sandblade at Aqua.
The high-density sandblade cut through the ground, swiftly aiming for Aqua.
Her eyes flashed red as she activated her Observation Haki, tracking the sandblade's path.
"Water Jet."
Deep blue water compressed into a powerful high-pressure stream, meeting the sandblade head-on.
Boom! Water and sand clashed, exploding into a shower of droplets and grit.
As sand flew, Crocodile, through elementalization, moved swiftly, appearing behind Aqua!
His golden hook, coated in Haki, gleamed with dangerous reflections, aiming for Aqua's head.
Despite his cunning attack angle, his speed couldn't match Zyhark's, making it easy for the buffed Aqua to evade.
As the hook neared her neck, Aqua bent her legs, ducking to avoid the fatal strike.
Though her combat IQ was low, her godly instincts were enviable, and she had learned basic combat reactions from last night's duel!
"Hahaha, you think you can sneak up like Zyhark? What a joke!"
Aqua, successfully dodging, reverted to her cheeky self, squatting and mocking.
But Crocodile didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled sinisterly.
"Really? I'm not so sure."
His hooked left arm raised, and Aqua froze.
She, too, was hoisted up! Watching from afar, Zyhark facepalmed: This idiot should just be called the Goddess of Comedy…
Crocodile's hook had caught Aqua's divine hair loop, lifting her into the air! "Wait, wait, hooking hair is cheating, right? Definitely cheating."
Dangling in the air, Aqua panicked.
"I don't know what those old geezers at the World Government were thinking, listing a clueless girl like you as a high-priority threat."
Seeing his hard-earned hero status usurped by this foolish girl, Crocodile's anger flared even more.
At least in terms of winning hearts, he was utterly outclassed by her!
"No way I'll lose to a fool like you!"
Crocodile, livid, coated his right hand in Haki and aimed for Aqua's abdomen.
He intended to drain her completely, satisfying his wrath! "Erosion Reaper!"
As his hand touched her soft abdomen, the Sand-Sand Fruit's power activated, draining Aqua's water.
Crocodile was confident that with his Haki, even a supposed Logia user couldn't escape.
This normally accurate assessment proved ineffective—only if Aqua were a Logia Water-Water Fruit user.
Unfortunately, she wasn't.
Crocodile's smile froze.
No effect, not even a bit?! No, something's wrong…
His eyes shifted to his right hand on Aqua.
The special sand, designed to absorb water, kept falling off, and his entire sandy arm was drenched, becoming unbearably heavy.
"Where is all this water coming from?!"
Crocodile was bewildered. The Erosion Reaper could drain an entire city's water, yet…
He couldn't dry out one person? Was she even human?!
(End of Chapter)