"Swoosh!"
The terrifying flames that had pierced the heavens gradually dissipated, though no one could tell how long it took. Yet, the lingering heat in the air was enough to remind the world of the flaming blade that had once soared here.
"Huff… Huff…"
White steam continued to rise from the ground due to the extreme heat. In Robin's shocked gaze, the sky became completely covered with rain clouds, stretching endlessly across the horizon.
"Ace!"
Nami, Vivi, Kaya, Nojiko, and Tashigi rushed onto the battlefield. The awe of what they had just witnessed still lingered in their wide, astonished eyes. The fiery blade that had reached for the sky was beyond shocking.
Boom!
Crackle!
As the white mist rose in the distance, thunder began to rumble.
And then, the skies opened.
Crash!
Countless raindrops poured down, drenching the parched land. The downpour seemed endless, a much-needed rain after a long drought.
Vivi held her hand out to the rain, tears streaming down her face. She covered her mouth, overcome with emotion.
"It's raining! Alabasta... it's finally raining!"
Vivi touched the raindrops, and the cool sensation on her fingertips told her that it was real.
"Under Ace's blazing sword, Alabasta… it's finally raining!"
The entire kingdom of Alabasta went wild with joy as the downpour washed over the land.
Ace stood silently before Crocodile. Half of Crocodile's body had been vaporized by the sheer intensity of Ace's final strike. There wasn't even a trace of bone left.
Had it not been for the extraordinary resilience of people in the pirate world, Crocodile would have died long ago. But now, he was at the end of his rope.
"cough… incredible power…"
Crocodile managed to lift his eyelids. Even that small movement seemed to require all of his strength. With the half of his face that remained, he gazed at Ace, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile.
Such destructive power... Crocodile had never seen anything like it in his life. Not even Whitebeard's Quake-Quake Fruit, which was said to have the power to destroy the world, could compare.
"Hey, Portgas D. Ace…"
Crocodile's voice was weak as he opened his only remaining eye, staring at Ace.
"You'll become the strongest, won't you? Your name… it'll reach even the depths of hell, right?"
"The Flame Emperor… Portgas D. Ace…"
With the last of his strength, Crocodile uttered those words.
He didn't speak of heaven—Crocodile had never cared for such a place. No, his destination was hell.
"Of course," Ace replied, his lips curling into a small smile, his aura unmistakable.
"Just wait, Crocodile. You'll hear my name soon enough."
Ace gazed silently at Crocodile, his presence exuding power.
"Your understanding is heaven-defying. echoed in Ace's mind. "In this battle with Crocodile, you've realized your true purpose and vowed to walk the path of the strongest. Your abilities have grown immensely!"
"Your Conqueror's Haki has become stronger!"
"Ace!"
Nami, Kaya, Vivi, Nojiko, and Tashigi rushed toward Ace.
Smack!
Nami and the others smiled as they watched Vivi leap into Ace's arms.
"Thank you, Ace! Thank you!" Vivi cried, tears and rain mixing on her cheeks as she smiled up at him.
"It's only natural for a captain to look after his beloved crew," Ace replied, gently wiping the tears from Vivi's face with a warm smile.
"Welcome back, my lovely crew."
With that, Ace embraced Vivi with one arm and reached out toward Nami and the others with his free hand.
The girls exchanged glances, smiled, and rushed to squeeze into Ace's embrace. After a moment of hesitation, even Tashigi and Nojiko joined in.
"We're back, Captain!"
In Ace's arms, the girls' faces glowed with happiness, their smiles bright like flowers blooming in the rain.
"Ace… is he dead?" Vivi asked, her voice tinged with hesitation, as she looked at Crocodile.
"Do you think anyone could survive in that condition?" Ace replied with a hint of helplessness.
"But there's still a shadow in my heart," Vivi said playfully, holding onto Ace's hand.
In that moment, she was no longer Princess Nefertari Vivi, the guardian of her nation. She was simply Vivi of the Entei Pirates, who could always rely on her captain.
"What incredible power…" Robin said as she finally approached, having composed herself.
"Miss All-Sunday!" Vivi said, her voice laced with unconscious caution.
"That name belongs to the past. Just call me… Nico Robin," Robin smiled.
"So, you've made up your mind?" Ace asked, smiling at Robin.
"After witnessing such power, I have no reason to doubt your words," Robin replied, sighing as she met Ace's gaze.
This man truly had the strength to chase the century-old history she sought.
Ace smiled, turning toward Vivi.
"Vivi, did you bring what I asked for?"
Vivi blinked, then quickly pulled a pineapple out of her backpack.
Nami, Kaya, Nojiko, and Tashigi watched in amazement as Robin looked on in confusion.
"On the path to becoming the strongest, let this power serve as witness!"
Placing the pineapple next to Crocodile, Ace reached out his hand.
Realm of Comprehension!
In the next moment, a mysterious light enveloped the pineapple.
Gurgle! Gurgle!
Before the astonished gazes of Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, Tashigi, and Vivi, and under Robin's disbelieving eyes, the pineapple began to darken and take on strange patterns, transforming into a mysterious fruit that seemed to be made of sand.
"You've endowed the pineapple with boundless understanding, and the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit has been drawn to it," appeared in Ace's mind as text.
Ace's lips curved into a knowing smile as he picked up the newly formed Sand-Sand Fruit.
"This... this is…" Robin whispered, covering her mouth in shock.
"A Devil Fruit?!" she exclaimed.
"That's right, Logia's Sand-Sand Fruit," Ace said with a smile.
"Crocodile…"
Robin murmured, having anticipated it but still astonished now that she had seen the truth.
The Devil Fruit had been captured by Ace—through a pineapple, no less.
Yes, captured, as though the Devil Fruit's power, slowly fading from Crocodile's body, had been drawn into the pineapple!
"No matter how many times I see it, it's always incredible," Nami sighed.
"Vivi," Ace said, turning to her.
"Hmm?"
As Vivi snapped back to reality, Ace tossed the Sand-Sand Fruit to her. She barely caught it, staring dumbfounded at Ace.
"Eat it. This Devil Fruit is perfect for you," Ace said, smiling.
"Me?" Vivi's eyes widened in shock.
"How can this be possible? This is too precious, and neither Nami, Nojiko, nor Tashigi have eaten a Devil Fruit."
Vivi waved her hands frantically, not out of false modesty, but because the Devil Fruit Ace was offering was far too valuable.
It was the Logia-class Sand-Sand Fruit.
In Alabasta, Crocodile had used this very power to become invincible, dominating both the kingdom and the surrounding seas. When Vivi discovered that Crocodile was the mastermind behind Baroque Works, she had felt an overwhelming sense of despair. Crocodile's control over the Sand-Sand Fruit rendered armies useless—neither swords nor bullets could harm him. With just sand and dust, Crocodile could bury entire battalions.
Simply put, whoever possessed the Sand-Sand Fruit would be invincible in Alabasta. This Devil Fruit was priceless.
Not far away, Robin stood quietly, her face full of emotion. The Sand-Sand Fruit was indeed rare and precious, and yet Ace had casually offered it to Vivi.
From Robin's observations, it was clear that Vivi had little talent for combat. But to Ace, the Devil Fruit seemed insignificant. As Crocodile had hinted in his final moments, the power Ace wielded was immense—capable of dominating even the second half of the Grand Line and the New World. And on top of that, Ace could capture a Devil Fruit's essence using a mere fruit.
Robin marveled at this and also found herself wondering about something else: how had Mr. 1 and the other powerful agents been defeated by Nami and the girls? The last time they had encountered them at Whiskey Peak, these girls were still novices, not even close to the level of Baroque Works' top agents. But now...
Robin observed Nami, Kaya, Nojiko, and Tashigi in silence.
They were completely transformed.
It was unmistakable that Ace was the reason behind this transformation.
Robin looked at Ace, full of curiosity. How was any of this possible? How did he achieve such a profound change in them?
Ace was a truly mysterious man.
But she would have time to figure it out. Robin smiled softly to herself.
"You were born in Alabasta, a desert kingdom. No one is more suited for this Devil Fruit than you," Ace said, smiling at Vivi. "As for Nami and the others, I'll find fruits that are better suited to their abilities."
"Yes, Vivi, go ahead and eat it! The thought of a desert princess with the Sand-Sand Fruit is thrilling," Nami added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Nojiko, Tashigi, and Kaya chimed in with similar encouragement.
Vivi looked at them all, her heart swelling with emotion. "But Nami, everyone..." she trailed off, her eyes full of hesitation.
"Eat it," Ace gently commanded, his voice soothing as he brushed his fingers through her long blue hair. "That's an order from your captain."
"Alright!" Vivi said with a nod, rubbing her head affectionately against Ace's hand, finding comfort in his touch. He made her feel safe.
Then, she gazed at the Sand-Sand Fruit in her hands.
"Woo!" Vivi winced in pain as she took a bite. Her face contorted in discomfort, her lips pressing together.
"Is it really that delicious?" Nami asked, wide-eyed with curiosity.
"It's... awful..." Kaya said, her complexion paling slightly as she remembered the taste of the healing fruit she'd eaten before.
Seeing both Kaya and Vivi's pained expressions, Nami, Nojiko, and Tashigi all shuddered, now unsure if they ever wanted to eat a Devil Fruit themselves.
"Ah!" Vivi suddenly gasped as her right hand began to transform into sand. She panicked, clearly unable to control the newfound power.
"Calm down, Vivi," Ace said, taking hold of her hand as it disintegrated. He gave her a reassuring smile.
"Ace!" Vivi cried, her eyes brimming with tears as she watched her body turn to sand.
"Don't worry. I'm right here," he said softly, his voice calm and steady.
"Okay..." Her frantic heart quickly settled, and she nodded.
"Now, focus. Imagine the sand, and think about how to control it," Ace instructed as his hand emitted a strange light that enveloped Vivi.
The Realm of Comprehension!
Vivi closed her eyes and envisioned the desert landscape of Alabasta. She had grown up in the sand, played in it as a child—it was the element most familiar to her. The once unruly grains of sand now felt like obedient children, responding perfectly to her will.
With a wave of her hand, Vivi gathered the sand, molding it into the shape of a human figure. In front of her stood a sand sculpture, its face smiling gently at her.
Vivi opened her eyes and stared at the sculpture, a subconscious smile creeping across her face.
"Vivi, you're so bold! But if you want Ace to look at you like that, you could just go to him directly," Nami teased, poking Vivi playfully.
Realizing everyone was still watching, Vivi's face turned crimson, and she quickly looked away. The girls all wore knowing smiles, and even Ace had a warm grin on his face.
"This... this is incredible..." Robin muttered to herself, still in disbelief. Just moments ago, Vivi had been unable to control the Sand-Sand Fruit, but now she wielded it with ease. How was this even possible?
Was this Ace's secret? Was this how the women on his crew had become so powerful, able to defeat even Mr. 1 and the others?
It was beyond belief.
Robin placed a hand over her mouth, her mind spinning from the realization.
Ace turned to Nami. "By the way, Nami, the agents of Baroque Works were all Devil Fruit users, right? Why didn't you bring their bodies back so I could capture the fruits? You could've sold them for a fortune."
Nami wrinkled her nose, her playful grin returning. "No way! I'm not about to start killing people for money. Besides, we already defeated them. Whether they live or die is up to them now."
She paused, suddenly looking anxious. "But you can't forget the beli you owe me!"
Ace laughed heartily. "You're still thinking about that? I don't recall owing you anything," he teased, holding her up as she jumped onto his back.
"I'll fight you, Ace!" Nami cried, her voice ringing through the rain as she chased after him.
Ace laughed, putting her down and running off, with Nami hot on his heels. "Pay me back my half a million beli!" she shouted, her voice full of frustration.
Kaya, Nojiko, Tashigi, and Vivi laughed, chasing after them through the downpour.
Robin watched them, a soft smile playing on her lips. Though there was a hint of loneliness in her eyes, she soon resumed her calm, mature demeanor and quietly followed them, the rain falling softly around her.