At this moment, directly above the secret chamber was the clock tower where Crocodile had planted the bomb.
The entire Straw Hat crew had gathered there, desperately trying to climb the tallest building as fast as possible.
Only five seconds remained before the bomb would explode.
A bomb powerful enough to level the entire royal palace.
They were preparing to launch one person up in a relay-style effort.
Everyone's faces were filled with urgency.
But just as they were about to act, the ground suddenly split apart.
"Huh?! What's going on?!"
Chopper staggered backward in shock.
Everyone turned their attention to the scene unfolding before them.
The ground was turning into sand, and several buildings began collapsing into the depths below.
A massive crater soon formed.
Then, a battered and bruised figure emerged from within.
"It's Crocodile!"
Vivi gasped in shock. She would recognize the man who wanted to destroy her country, even if he were reduced to ashes.
Even the two warring armies paused, turning their gazes toward the spectacle.
Nami and the others, upon seeing Crocodile in such a state, couldn't help but wonder—who had done this to him?
Could it have been Luffy?
Just as they were questioning it, another figure stepped into view.
Who else could it be but Vir?
"Big bro! It's big bro! He's the one who beat Crocodile like this!"
Chopper cheered excitedly.
Just the sight of Vir made him instinctively smile.
Everyone else found it hard to believe.
Could a Shichibukai really be no match for Vir?
Just how strong had he become?
Seeing Crocodile right in front of him, Vir twisted his body, his right leg lashing out like a whip.
His leg remained cloaked in a deep black hue.
But now, that blackness was darker than ever—an abyssal shade that was terrifying to behold.
The dangerous aura it exuded made Crocodile's face twist in sheer terror.
He tried to evade, tried to block.
But it was too late—Vir's speed far exceeded his expectations.
Just as the kick was about to land, Vir's leg suddenly grew even thicker, its raw power palpable.
Then—
*Boom!!*
A deafening impact resounded throughout the palace.
Everyone's eyes widened at the sheer force of it.
Crocodile vanished in an instant, and a shockwave rippled outward, sweeping across the entire kingdom.
The blast of air was so strong that it sent Chopper flying.
Even the massive trees nearby were uprooted by the wind pressure.
"What the hell is that?!"
Nami and the others couldn't help but cry out in shock. The destruction from that single strike was undeniable.
Just the aftershock alone was enough to send people flying!
Was this even real?!
Crocodile, struck squarely in the waist, was launched through the air in a perfect 'C' shape.
His trajectory? Straight toward the clock tower.
*Boom!*
Another loud crash. Everyone's gazes followed him.
A massive hole now gaped in the top of the clock tower.
And the bomb—was gone.
"This…"
Vivi stared in stunned disbelief.
The bomb was gone.
The danger—had been neutralized…
Just as that thought crossed her mind, the sky above suddenly lit up.
A light rivaling the sun erupted across the heavens.
Everyone instinctively squinted their eyes.
*BOOM!*
A thunderous explosion echoed across the sky.
The clouds above instantly dissipated without a trace.
Then, another powerful shockwave followed.
Fortunately, the distance was great enough that the impact wasn't too severe.
Vir landed back in the chamber, his breathing somewhat labored.
That kick had drained a huge amount of his stamina—he had pushed his Armament Haki to the absolute limit.
More than half of his energy was gone in an instant.
He was still too weak.
Normally, coating his attacks in Armament Haki wasn't particularly exhausting.
But using it at full power, far beyond his body's natural limits, had nearly worn him out after just one strike.
Even so, Vir was certain—if Crocodile wasn't dead, he was at least half-dead.
That guy had done so much damage to Luffy—it had pissed him off.
So he hadn't held back.
The moment his kick connected, he felt something inside Crocodile rupture.
Probably a kidney.
On the battlefield, as the wind brushed past them, Vivi and the Straw Hats gulped nervously.
First, they were shocked by the sheer power of the bomb.
It really could have leveled the entire capital.
But even more shocking—Vir's strength.
He had not only defeated Crocodile but had also sent both him and the bomb flying high into the sky…
That bomb, which should have caused catastrophic destruction, had been reduced to nothing more than a distant gust of wind.
"Hey, perverted cook, can you do something like that?"
Zoro, still staring at the sky in disbelief, asked Sanji in a trembling voice.
"Don't joke with me…"
Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag.
Only then did his emotions finally settle.
But the shock in his eyes remained.
"Big bro is amazing! He didn't just beat that guy—he even took care of the bomb while he was at it!"
Chopper mumbled in awe.
Deep down, he made a firm resolution—to become stronger.
To always stay by his big bro's side.
Nami and Vivi wore similar expressions.
"Nami… has Vir always been this strong?"
"No one really knows just how strong he is…"
At that moment, not far away, a figure wearing a straw hat slowly approached.
Everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to him.
Then, in the next instant—
A chorus of screams erupted.
…
Back inside the chamber, Vir, after taking a moment to catch his breath, turned his gaze toward Robin, who was still lying on the ground.
He walked toward her and extended a hand.
Robin hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out and grasped it.
"Do you have anywhere to go?"
Vir asked calmly.
There was a trace of concern in his voice, and Robin picked up on it immediately.
She looked at him in confusion.
Why was this man helping her?
What did he want?
There was no malice in Vir's eyes.
Only tranquility—and that faint trace of concern.
Though puzzled, Robin shook her head honestly.
"Want to come with me? I'm the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates. Our captain would probably welcome you aboard."
Vir smiled warmly as he extended the invitation, his sincerity evident.
Robin's expression shifted.
She hadn't expected him to invite her to join them.
Was it because of her ability to read Poneglyphs?
Was she going to be used again?
She had spent her life on the run, always being exploited.
That thought naturally crossed her mind.
But from Vir's eyes, she couldn't see any ulterior motive.
Just casual ease—
And yet, he was genuinely sincere.
Could he really just be…
Robin hesitated.
She felt his sincerity.
But that only made her more reluctant to join.
This man had saved her life.
And he treated her with kindness.
How could she possibly bring misfortune upon him?
In her eyes, she was nothing but a burden.
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