When the dust settled, Luffy stared in shock at the massive hole that now punctured the underground tomb. The clash of techniques between Ryu and Crocodile had caused an explosive impact, piercing straight through the tomb.
"What are you still doing here?" Ryu asked, his Marine uniform torn and his hands bloodied. In his grip was the unconscious body of Crocodile.
"Is he... dead?" Luffy asked, surprised.
"No, the Warlords don't die that easily. He's just knocked out," Ryu replied, shaking his head. "Hand the king over to me. You go help Vivi; I'll take His Majesty to the medical point the Marines have set up."
Luffy nodded, carrying the unconscious Robin as he ran off to find Vivi.
"Thank you so much for your help, Marine," Cobra, slung across Ryu's back, expressed his gratitude.
"It's what we're here for," Ryu replied with a slight smile.
Before long, they reached the aid station, just in time to see a massive bomb launched from the clock tower, rising high into the sky.
"What is that?" one of the nearby Marines gasped, looking up at the ominous object soaring above.
"Sir!" Lena rushed to Ryu's side, alarmed.
"It wasn't enough… even after defeating Crocodile?" King Cobra murmured, closing his eyes in resignation.
"No… it's not over yet!" Ryu said quietly.
"What?" Cobra looked at him in surprise.
"The bomb is still ascending," Ryu observed, squinting.
"Why…?" Cobra asked, confused.
Using Moonwalk, Ryu rose into the air to get a better look. Then he came back down, a slight smile forming on his face. "You have some loyal subordinates! I can see that large white-robed bird lifting the bomb higher."
"Pell!" Cobra exclaimed, astonished.
A massive explosion filled the sky, blowing away the sand clouds over Alubarna. Vivi, who had been shouting desperately from the clock tower, collapsed momentarily in shock but quickly regained her strength, shouting with every ounce of energy she had, "Please stop fighting! The war is over!"
"Please stop fighting! The war is over!"
"Please stop fighting! The war is over!"
She repeated her plea over and over, her voice echoing across the battlefield. Suddenly, a straw-hatted boy appeared by her side, joining her in her call for peace.
Below, the Straw Hat crew, moved by Vivi's determination, began shouting alongside her, amplifying her voice.
As the echo of the explosion faded and people's ears cleared, Vivi's voice began to reach them. One by one, the combatants lowered their weapons.
The dust from the explosion started to clear, and rain began to fall gently from the sky. The rebels and royal army, still clashing in small skirmishes, started to calm down, as if their fury had been washed away by the rain.
"Royal army! Lower your weapons!" Igaram, supporting an injured Cobra, called out as he emerged from the Marine aid station.
"Lord Chaka!? His Majesty?!"
The royal soldiers looked on in surprise as they recognized the two figures.
"Rebels! Lay down your arms!" Igaram, steadying Koza and holding a child, shouted as he too stepped forward.
"Captain Igaram? Leader Koza?"
With these familiar voices calling out for peace, the tension finally broke, and the fighting came to an end.
The rebels were equally shocked.
Koza and the child in Igaram's arms then began to recount what they had witnessed firsthand, leaving many of the rebels filled with regret.
"Regret is natural, as is sadness!" King Cobra said as he slowly walked forward. "We've lost so much and gained nothing. But this… this is growth. The war has happened, and it is over. None of us can erase the past, but what truly matters now is how we continue to live after the war!"
"Your Majesty…"
"Your Highness…"
One by one, the rebels dropped their weapons, their faces wet with tears. The royal soldiers standing beside them did the same, subtly wiping their eyes.
"Oh, people of Alabasta! We must unite and rebuild our homeland!" Cobra continued, his voice strong and commanding.
"Long live His Majesty! Long live Alabasta!"
A collective cheer rose from the people, echoing across the land. At last, the war that had ravaged the desert kingdom of Alabasta had come to an end.
"So you're planning to report everything to headquarters?" In the palace, Cobra had arranged a resting room for Ryu, Lena, and the other Marines.
"That's right. An incident of this magnitude can't be kept secret," Ryu replied with a nod.
"But sir, you handled everything so well, even thwarting Crocodile's scheme!" Lena said, puzzled.
"That decision's up to the higher-ups. It's not my concern now. Let everyone rest up; we'll set sail soon," Ryu replied with a casual smile as he sank into the couch.
"Are we not going to arrest the Straw Hats?" Lena asked after a pause.
"Now's not the time for that. Besides, we really do owe them for their help this time," Ryu replied, shaking his head.
"Yes, sir!" Lena responded, her perspective on the Straw Hat crew softened after everything that had happened. They were not the kind of pirates who spread malice.
"Report!" A Marine burst into the room.
"What is it?" Ryu looked up.
"Rear admiral, a warship from headquarters has arrived at the port. Shall we head over?" the soldier replied loudly.
"They arrived so quickly? All right then, pass the word around. Leave is over; we'll take all the bounty heads and set out for the port tomorrow!" Ryu stood, and Lena draped the Marine cape of "Justice" over his shoulders before following him out.
"Lena, go to the Marine communication post and gather the soldiers. Meet me at the southern gate tomorrow morning," Ryu instructed as he walked toward the palace's main hall.
Lena was briefly surprised but immediately saluted. "Yes, sir!"
Not long after, Ryu found King Cobra, and the two spent the entire day discussing matters in the study.
Meanwhile, the effects of the poison Crocodile had used in their battle, combined with his exhaustion, had caused Luffy to collapse from fatigue. Even though Ryu had intervened in the fight, Luffy fell unconscious after helping Vivi restore peace.
"Zoro! Did you go train again?" Chopper yelled when he saw Zoro entering the room.
"Relax. It's my body—I know how to train," Zoro replied, waving his hand dismissively.
"That's not what I meant! I'm telling you not to train at all!" Chopper shouted, exasperated.
"Ahhh, that was the best sleep ever!" At that moment, Luffy finally woke up.
"Oh, Luffy! You're awake!" The Straw Hats greeted their captain cheerfully.
"What? I was out for three days? That means I missed fifteen meals?!" Luffy exclaimed in horror upon learning he'd been unconscious for three whole days.