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SWOOSH!
The blade shot forward, aiming straight at Luffy's back.
But the next second—
Luffy vanished from where he stood.
He reappeared instantly on the other side.
That attack didn't faze him in the slightest.
The sand blade missed, but didn't slow down at all.
BOOM!
It slammed into the chamber wall, tearing open a massive crack.
Then more cracks followed, spreading like spiderwebs.
The whole secret room looked like it might collapse any second.
Just like Crocodile's current situation—
Already full of cracks, ready to fall into ruin at any moment.
At that moment, Crocodile couldn't care less about any of that.
Because Luffy's attacks were coming at him nonstop.
"Gum-Gum… Pistol!"
Faced with a straight punch from Luffy, Crocodile instinctively activated his Logia powers.
After all, dodging an attack so plainly… was just way too lame.
But he paid the price for it—real fast.
"Armament Haki — Hardening!"
BAM!!!
Luffy's fist smashed right into Crocodile's cheek.
The gloves crafted by Bai Ye didn't hide the Haki—instead, they focused the energy, boosting the power even more.
Crocodile, completely unguarded, took the full brunt of the hit.
His black coat went flying, and Crocodile was sent hurtling backward.
He slammed into a wall that was already covered in cracks.
BOOM!!!
Another deafening crash followed.
The whole secret chamber finally gave up and collapsed.
At the same time, the opening above the chamber began widening.
It was obvious—the whole place was about to cave in.
The higher-ups, still not quite sure what was happening, quickly bailed.
Bon Clay and Robin dragged Luffy out through a hidden passage.
Only Crocodile was left lying there on the ground, dazed.
He looked like he was seriously questioning his life choices.
"Armament Haki?"
BOOM!!!
Chunks of stone and rubble fell and smashed into Crocodile.
But he didn't even try to use his Logia powers.
He just let the debris rip his clothes and cut into his skin.
"A rookie who just left the East Blue… not only has that kind of speed, but he's awakened Armament Haki too?!"
Right now, only one thought was echoing in Crocodile's mind:
"That's impossible!!!"
Crocodile felt his entire worldview shatter.
Haki… was supposed to be a power only the strong in the New World could use.
That kid…
What gave that kid the right?!
Even he hadn't mastered it yet.
But then Crocodile froze.
Wait—had he really never learned it?
Had he actually tried to learn Haki?
Crocodile's mind drifted back.
After he was defeated by that man… he quit the New World.
It hit him.
It wasn't that he couldn't learn it—it was that after losing to that man, he never even tried.
Why?
Why had he given up?
By now, Crocodile was completely buried under the rubble.
But his mind was still spinning.
Yeah… it was fear.
Crocodile finally remembered the one memory he never wanted to face.
That day—he witnessed a slash that split the sky.
It was a slash no one could ever match.
That attack didn't just slice open the heavens—it also shattered his courage.
The once-ambitious Crocodile, who thought nothing was out of reach… maybe that guy had died the moment he saw that slash.
What took his place was just a scheming, ruthless shell of a man.
Since then, Crocodile stopped chasing strength.
He couldn't even imagine what he'd have to sacrifice to gain the power to match that man.
After that, he came to Alabasta.
By pure chance, Crocodile discovered a secret.
There might be a clue to the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, hidden somewhere in Alabasta.
Crocodile didn't hesitate. Even if it was just a possibility—even if it was only a clue—he wasn't going to let it slip by.
Pluton, the Ancient Weapon!
If he could get his hands on that, he could finally beat that man.
No—not just that man.
With Pluton, he could crush the entire world under his feet.
Once that thought entered his head, it took over completely.
He came to Alabasta.
And then, he found something even more incredible.
Alabasta didn't just have a clue to Pluton—it had the exact location.
It was written right there, on the Poneglyph the kingdom had been protecting.
So he formed Baroque Works.
Recruited Nico Robin, the Devil Child.
Launched the so-called "Utopia" Plan.
Everything was going smoothly—he was going to get Pluton and rule the world!!!
Hell yeah!!!
Thinking that, Crocodile finally moved in the rubble.
Screw Haki or whatever.
Human strength had its limits!!!
As long as he could get Pluton—he'd make his dreams come true!!!
The rubble started shaking. Sand poured in through every crack.
And in the blink of an eye—it vanished completely.
Just then, Robin, who had just escaped the collapsed chamber, suddenly realized something.
"Everyone, run!!!"
BOOM!!!!!!
Right as Robin shouted, the ruins exploded!
Smoke and dust flew everywhere as sand swirled and gathered—slowly forming a human shape.
It was Crocodile!
Straw Hat… Princess Vivi… they didn't matter anymore.
He just needed Pluton!
That thought consumed Crocodile. He didn't hesitate at all.
The sand swirled and rushed straight at Robin.
At that moment, the only one near her who reacted was Mr. 2.
"All-Sunday, my dear!"
Mr. 2 rushed in to save Robin—but Crocodile, now fully unhinged, had lost all sense.
He swept Mr. 2 up along with her.
Sandstorm engulfed the area, then disappeared in an instant—racing off in one direction.
"He… he ran away?!"
Luffy stood frozen, jaw dropped.
He stared at the direction Crocodile disappeared in, totally stunned.
Then, without thinking, he tried to dash after him.
Whether it was to beat Crocodile… or to save Bon Clay…
He had to go.
But he stopped in his tracks and turned to the others.
Before he could say anything, Zoro's pissed-off voice rang out:
"Are you stupid?"
"Even if Bai Ye were here, he wouldn't stop you from chasing him."
Zoro was the first to pick up on Luffy's change.
Because of Bai Ye's "death," the guy in front of him had started to care more about his crew.
Zoro was glad to see it.
But at the same time, he was frustrated.
"Beating that guy was your job!"
"Leave things here to us."
Then Sanji chimed in too.
A Luffy who could think things through was worth praising.
But a Luffy who hesitated too much—wasn't fit to be a captain.
"Yeah, Luffy. We don't need you to beat every bad guy for us."
Nami raised her Clima-Tact and smiled at him.
"We're strong too!"
"That's right, Luffy! Fighting for your crew—that's what being a Straw Hat is all about!"
Usopp rubbed his nose and grinned as he said it.
And after hearing all that, Luffy couldn't help but grin wide—his mouth stretching up in that signature smile…
"Hmm!!!"
Right after, Luffy pulled out a talisman and activated it.
[Swift Step Talisman!]
Feeling the power surging through his body, Luffy didn't hesitate for even a second.
He dashed forward, charging straight in the direction where the sandstorm had disappeared.
"....."