(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you!)
Unlike Nami and the others, Tashigi found herself in a desperate, one-sided battle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Tashigi relentlessly swung her sword, but Mr. 1's speed and strength far outmatched her. No matter how much effort she put into each strike, none of her blows could harm him—his body was coated in blades, impervious to her attacks. Blood seeped from her numerous wounds, weakening her with every passing second.
With one final blow, her sword was knocked from her hands, and she collapsed onto the sand.
Struggling, she reached for her blade, Shigure, her fingers trembling as she grasped its hilt.
"Don't you get it yet? Any sword is useless against me." Mr. 1's voice was cold, his eyes devoid of emotion. "In front of my Dice-Dice Fruit powers, all blades are nothing but scrap metal."
Tashigi bit her lip, tasting blood. Scrap metal? She refused to accept it.
In a burst of defiance, Tashigi summoned all her remaining strength and swung Shigure once more.
"It's not scrap metal!" she shouted, her voice filled with conviction. "Every sword has its own soul, its own will! That's why I'll reclaim every blade from the hands of those who would use them for evil!"
Her expression was no longer one of fear or hesitation. It was filled with determination and resolve.
Mr. 1 deflected her strike effortlessly, his arm—now a massive blade—blocking her attack with ease.
"How boring."
With a flick of his wrist, he sent her crashing back into the ground, blood flowing freely from her new wounds.
"You're only capable of spouting useless ideals." Mr. 1's voice was cold and condescending. "A sword is just a tool. The idea that it has a will of its own is ridiculous. And against my powers, even the sharpest blade is nothing more than trash."
Tashigi lay in the sand, breathing heavily, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Her dream had been mocked before, but never had she felt this much anger. Never had she been so close to someone who utterly dismissed her belief that every sword held its own essence.
But then, she recalled Ace's words. He had been the first person to ever truly understand her dream.
"Alright, let's end this." Mr. 1 raised his arm, the blade gleaming menacingly as he prepared to finish her off. "You're just a naive girl with no strength to back up her words. What can someone as weak as you hope to achieve?"
Tashigi clenched her teeth, her eyes growing bloodshot. Yes… I'm weak…
She thought of all the people she had seen in Alabasta, displaced or killed because of Crocodile's tyranny, and how she had been powerless to protect them. Her own justice seemed so far away, slipping out of reach. But still, she couldn't accept this. She couldn't give in!
Suddenly, the lucky charm around her neck flickered.
"What?!" Mr. 1 instinctively stepped back, momentarily blinded by the light. Years of experience as an assassin kicked in, and he prepared himself for the unknown.
In the midst of the confusion, Tashigi heard Ace's voice in her mind.
"You don't want to give up, do you?" Ace's warm smile appeared in her memory.
"You still want to fight for the justice you believe in?" His voice was gentle, encouraging.
Tashigi's lips quivered. She clenched her fists and raised her head.
"I refuse to give up! I will become stronger! I will uphold the justice I believe in!" she shouted, her voice full of passion. "It doesn't matter whether I'm a Marine or a pirate! True justice is justice that can be protected!"
Ace's voice echoed once more. "Then take my hand, and listen closely to your inner voice."
With no hesitation, Tashigi reached out and grasped the hand extended to her in her mind's eye.
A mysterious light enveloped her, and as she closed her eyes, she felt herself enter a strange, quiet realm.
"Breathe… Breathe… Breathe…"
The world around her stilled, and in the silence, she heard a sound—a rhythmic breathing, one she had never noticed before.
Shigure…
She gripped her sword tightly, and with a sudden clarity, she heard it. The breathing of her sword.
Tears welled in Tashigi's eyes, and a smile—a pure, relieved smile—formed on her lips.
"I hear you, Shigure… your breath… your will."
From the outside, Mr. 1 watched the fading light with disdain.
"Another one of your childish tricks? I'm tired of this. It's time to end it." His blade-arm gleamed ominously as he prepared his final attack.
"Let's see if your foolish dream can survive the desert."
With a terrifying leap, he crossed his arms and slashed down.
"Die! Dice Slice!"
His voice was cold as the blade sliced through the air toward Tashigi.
But then—
Clang!
Mr. 1's eyes widened in shock. His attack had been stopped.
"A ridiculous dream?" Tashigi's voice was calm as she looked at him with newfound strength. "It's not ridiculous at all. This is the dream that my captain, Portgas D. Ace, praised."
With that, she raised her sword high and slashed down, aiming for Mr. 1.
"You don't understand!" Mr. 1 growled. "Swords are nothing but scrap metal to me!"
But before he could complete his counterattack, blood sprayed from his chest, staining the sand beneath them.
"I hear your breath…" Tashigi whispered as she stood above him, her eyes serene. "The breath of everything around us… Once you hear it, you can cut through anything. Even steel."
Mr. 1's face twisted in disbelief, his body quivering. "Impossible! A scrap of metal could never cut through me!" His whole body turned into blades once more as he attacked in a frenzy.
But his movements were erratic, distorted by his inability to accept the reality before him.
Tashigi, her eyes closed, whispered, "Your breath… is fading."
In a single fluid motion, her sword slashed across Mr. 1's body.
Slash!
Blood poured from the deep wound, and with a final gasp, Mr. 1 fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
His face was filled with disbelief and gloom as he looked at Tashigi one last time.
"Why… why… why was I defeated by a sword?"
Mr. 1 muttered in disbelief, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Every sword has its own breath, its own will. And I will cut down your sinful blade."
Tashigi's voice was steady, her eyes unwavering as she faced Mr. 1.
"I am Tashigi, swordsman of Portgas D. Ace and the Entei Pirates."
She introduced herself with quiet resolve.
Mr. 1 opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak—
Boom!
His body hit the sand heavily, blood spraying into the air. The weight of defeat had finally crushed him.
"Hah…"
Tashigi sheathed her sword, Shigure, and adjusted her glasses. A sense of calm washed over her.
She had done it. She had protected her dream and the justice she held dear.
Even though she was now a pirate, she had still helped the people of Alabasta.
"Ace… thank you for bringing me aboard."
Tashigi whispered, clutching the lucky charm around her neck, a small smile forming on her lips.
Suddenly, she heard shouts in the distance.
"Tashigi!"
Turning around, she spotted Nami, Kaya, Vivi, and Nojiko waving to her.
"Everyone!"
Tashigi beamed, waving back as she ran towards them.
Nami and the others exchanged glances, then smiled warmly at Tashigi.
"Welcome to the crew, officially, Tashigi!"
Nami, Kaya, Vivi, and Nojiko cupped their hands around their mouths and called out in unison.
Tashigi nodded firmly, her heart swelling with joy as she shouted back.
——
Meanwhile, at the Rain Dinners Casino, the atmosphere had shifted. Many gamblers had fled, unnerved by the clash between Ace and Crocodile.
Ace leaned casually against a slot machine, flipping a poker chip in his hand, his gaze meeting Crocodile's furious eyes.
"Buru-buru-buru!"
The transponder snail in Ace's pocket began to ring.
"Buru-buru-buru!"
Ace calmly answered the call under Crocodile's sharp gaze.
"Hello," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Ace, it's Kaya," came the voice on the other end of the line.
"And we're here too!" Nami chimed in, her voice full of excitement.
"You're calling me now? You must have some news."
Ace's smile widened.
"Yeah! Mr. 1 and the other agents have been taken care of," Nami announced triumphantly, her voice carrying through the line.
Crocodile's pupils contracted, and even Robin couldn't hide her shock as she covered her mouth.
"Oh, and by the way, your new crewmates, Tashigi and Vivi, want to speak to you."
The sound of laughter and playful teasing echoed from the other side.
Vivi's nervous voice then broke through the commotion.
"Hey, Ace…"
She hesitated, biting her lip.
"Can I join your pirate crew?"
Vivi asked loudly, her voice filled with determination.
Tashigi chimed in, her voice a little shaky but equally resolute.
"And me too!"
Ace, still holding the transponder snail, looked surprised.
"Huh? Aren't you both already part of my crew?" His lips curled into a soft smile.
"The lucky charms you're wearing… they're something only my crew members get."
Ace's words were laced with warmth, and the smile on his face softened even further.
Those lucky charms were special. They were created using Ace's Conqueror's Haki combined with his imagination and connection to the "Nika," a symbol of inspiration. Whenever his crew needed support, those charms would draw upon Ace's strength and project a comforting presence, encouraging them in their toughest moments.
That's why, when Nami, Kaya, and Tashigi had called on their lucky charms earlier, Ace had appeared to guide and support them.
The charms resonated with the deepest hopes and dreams hidden in their hearts.
"Hehe," Nami, Kaya, Nojiko, Vivi, and Tashigi exchanged knowing glances, each one holding tightly to their lucky charms and smiling.
"Well done everyone, I'm proud of you~"
Ace's voice rang out, as bright as the sun.
"Yes!"
They responded in unison, their hearts full of pride.
Click!
Ace ended the call, turning his gaze leisurely toward Crocodile, whose expression had darkened considerably.
"It seems my lovely crew has taken out all of your subordinates,"
Ace said, his tone almost teasing as a smirk tugged at his lips.
Crocodile's face twisted with barely contained fury. He could no longer hold it in.
"What a joke!!!"
He roared, lunging at Ace with his hand transformed into sand.
"Portgas D. Ace!!!"
As his sand hand shot forward, it grasped at nothing but flames—the spot Ace had been standing in was now engulfed in fire.
"What's wrong, Crocodile?"
Ace's voice dripped with sarcasm as he toyed with the flames.
"Did you think your sand could absorb the fire's heat?"
Crocodile gritted his teeth, his form dissipating into a swirl of sand as he attacked again.
"I promised Vivi I wouldn't fight inside the casino, so how about we take this somewhere more open, Crocodile?"
Ace's smile remained unfazed as his hands suddenly turned black, his fists coated with Armament Haki.
"Haki?!"
Crocodile's eyes widened in shock.
"That's right," Ace said, his voice growing colder.
"Isn't it about time you remembered what it feels like to be a loser?"
——
Crocodile's rage swelled as he recalled his past defeat at the hands of Whitebeard. He had spent years plotting, hoping to secure the ancient weapon Pluton to regain his former glory. But now, even his Haki had left him, dulled by his obsession with hidden schemes.
"You've abandoned your Haki, Crocodile,"
Ace continued, his voice taunting.
"You relied too much on tricks and forgotten what true power feels like."
Crocodile's face twisted with anger and humiliation.
"Raaaah!!!"
But before he could react, Ace's Haki-infused fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying through the walls of the Rain Dinners Casino and out into the desert.
As Crocodile struggled to recover, reforming his body from the surrounding sand, Ace calmly followed, his figure a blur of fiery speed.
——
In the open desert, Crocodile's body reformed, but pain radiated from his cheek—a pain he hadn't felt in years.
"Haki…"
Crocodile muttered, his face darkening with realization.
In the first half of the Grand Line, there were few who could wield Haki. Crocodile had believed himself invincible among such weaklings. But Ace, the son of the Pirate King's bloodline, was different.
"Yes, this is the Haki you know all too well,"
Ace said, his voice now calm and resolute.
"The Haki of someone who hasn't lost their way."