The crew's arrival in the royal capital, Alubarna, was met with the tense atmosphere of a kingdom on the brink of collapse. As they approached the gates, the city seemed alive with chaos, the sound of marching soldiers and distant explosions echoing in the streets. It was clear that the Baroque Works had a tight grip on Alabasta, and if the Straw Hat Pirates didn't act swiftly, the kingdom might be lost.
Luffy clenched his fists, his Armament Haki coating his body like a second skin. His crew was with him, each of them now much stronger than before, their growing mastery of Haki making them a force to be reckoned with. The road to the Palace was not going to be easy, but Luffy knew they were ready for the challenge.
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The Clash with the Royal Guards
Before they could even enter the heart of the capital, they were met by the royal guards. These men and women had been brainwashed by Baroque Works, and now stood as an obstacle in the Straw Hats' way.
"They're just pawns," Luffy muttered under his breath. "We'll make this quick."
Without hesitation, Luffy took the lead, charging at the nearest guard with explosive speed. His Armament Haki flared around his fist, and with a single punch, the guard was sent flying into a nearby wall.
Zoro and Sanji were not far behind, each using their Haki in tandem with their unique fighting styles. Zoro's blades were coated in Armament Haki, the dark aura surrounding them as he sliced through guards with precision, each strike more deadly than the last. Observation Haki allowed him to predict their movements before they even thought to act, and his opponents were left powerless to react.
Sanji, his legs aflame with the power of Diable Jambe, moved with incredible speed. His kicks, now enhanced with Armament Haki, shattered shields and knocked back opponents with bone-crushing force. The power of his strikes left the guards no time to retaliate.
"Nothing's stopping us now!" Sanji grinned, landing a final Haki-powered kick to a guard's chest.
Usopp, having learned how to predict the trajectory of his enemies with Observation Haki, had become a much deadlier sniper. His shots were on the mark every time, taking down guards one by one with incredible accuracy. His ability to sense their movements allowed him to land critical hits, even when they tried to hide behind cover.
"I've still got plenty of tricks up my sleeve," Usopp said with a grin, knocking out another soldier with a well-placed shot.
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Crocodile's Right Hand – Mr. 1
As they moved further into the city, they encountered the Baroque Works agent Mr. 1, a man who could turn his body into steel, making him a formidable opponent. But the Straw Hats had come a long way since their arrival in Alabasta, and they weren't about to let Crocodile's top agent stand in their way.
Luffy stepped forward, his Armament Haki flaring around him. His fists were already coated in the dark, armor-like energy that had become his signature.
"I'm not gonna let you stand in our way," Luffy said, his voice full of confidence. "Let's finish this!"
Mr. 1 smirked, his body turning into a jagged steel form. "You think you can defeat me, boy? I'm the man with the power of steel. You can't even touch me!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I've got something for you, then."
With a burst of speed, Luffy closed the distance between them, his Observation Haki guiding his movements as he anticipated Mr. 1's strikes. The steel limbs came at him with blinding speed, but Luffy dodged and weaved effortlessly, his body moving like a shadow. The flow of battle was almost like a dance—Luffy could feel every move before it happened.
Then, in one fluid motion, Luffy closed the gap and unleashed a powerful punch. The dark aura of Armament Haki surrounding his fist collided with Mr. 1's chest, the force of the blow sending the agent crashing into the ground.
Mr. 1 struggled to rise, but Luffy was already on top of him, raining down blow after blow, each one enhanced with his Haki. The steel body of Mr. 1 cracked and buckled under the relentless assault.
With a final Haki-empowered punch, Luffy sent Mr. 1 flying into a wall, defeated. He turned to his crew with a satisfied grin. "That was easy."
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Zoro vs. Mr. 2 Bon Clay
While Luffy dealt with Mr. 1, Zoro faced off against Mr. 2 Bon Clay, one of Crocodile's more eccentric agents. Known for his ability to mimic anyone's appearance with his Mane Mane no Mi powers, Bon Clay was a tricky foe. But Zoro was no stranger to overcoming tough enemies.
"Your trick won't work on me," Zoro grunted, preparing for the battle ahead.
Bon Clay smirked, his form shifting into that of Zoro. "I can be you now, Zoro! What's your plan?"
Zoro's Observation Haki flared, allowing him to sense the real Bon Clay's movements even as he tried to mimic his form. Zoro's strikes were now more fluid, his sense of timing impeccable. Each swing of his swords was calculated, his Armament Haki coating his blades with a dark, dangerous aura.
"You may have my appearance, but you'll never have my strength," Zoro growled, his swords slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. "I'll finish this quick."
Bon Clay fought fiercely, but Zoro's mastery of Armament Haki and Observation Haki gave him the upper hand. With a single strike from his Santoryu, Zoro delivered the final blow, knocking Bon Clay out cold.
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Sanji vs. Crocodile
Meanwhile, Sanji faced off against Crocodile himself. The warlord's power was immense, and his control over the Suna Suna no Mi made him a formidable opponent. But Sanji, with his mastery of Armament Haki, was determined not to let this man harm his friends.
"You're not getting away with this, Crocodile!" Sanji shouted, his leg ablaze with Diable Jambe.
Crocodile smirked, his body turning into sand. "You think your Haki can defeat me, weakling? I am the desert itself."
Sanji didn't hesitate. Using his Observation Haki, he anticipated Crocodile's movements, evading the deadly sandstorm that the warlord created. With a powerful Haki-infused kick, Sanji struck Crocodile in the chest, but the sand shifted, and the attack passed through him.
Sanji didn't falter. His Haki allowed him to sense the real Crocodile, and with an explosive Diable Jambe-enhanced kick, he struck the warlord again, this time hitting him with the full force of his fiery power.
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Victory and the Road Ahead
The battle was fierce, but the crew had made great strides with their Haki. With Luffy defeating Mr. 1 and Zoro, Sanji, and the rest of the crew stepping up to fight the Baroque Works agents, the Straw Hats had taken the first major step toward defeating Crocodile and ending the war in Alabasta.
As the dust settled, Luffy turned to his crew, a grin spreading across his face. "We did it! But there's still one more thing we've got to do. Let's end this war and save Alabasta!"
And with that, they set their sights on the final battle against Crocodile—the battle that would decide the fate of Alabasta.
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End of Chapter
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