"Wmmmmm—"
An invisible wave of pressure erupted from Rayne Hawke's body, sweeping through the battlefield.
However, this aura didn't scatter aimlessly. Under his precise control, it bypassed everyone else and locked directly onto Crocodile.
"Guhahahaha!"
"Well, well,, Marine!"
Crocodile bit down on his cigar, the corner of his lips curling into a cruel smile as he stared at the overwhelming Marine force before him.
"If you turn around and get out of here right now, I might still—"
Before he could finish, an earth-shattering pressure suddenly crashed down upon him!
"!!!"
Crocodile's body jolted violently, his feet sinking into the soft desert sand as his knees trembled uncontrollably.
Cold sweat slid down his temple and dripped into the scorching golden sand.
He had once challenged the strongest man in the world — Whitebeard himself. Of course, he recognized this presence instantly. This wasn't just power. This was that rare, terrifying quality unique to true kings…
Conqueror's Haki!
But… how was this possible?!
According to intelligence, the Marine who landed at Nanohana this time was only a Headquarters Rear Admiral!
A Rear Admiral… possessing Conqueror's Haki?!
How could that make any sense?!
"Damn it…"
Crocodile's muscles bulged and veins popped as he fought desperately to withstand the crushing, mountain-like pressure.
He couldn't kneel.
Not here.
Not in front of a Marine!
"Step—"
Rayne Hawke's boots pressed into the sand as he walked forward at an unhurried pace.
With each step he took, the oppressive force increased, doubling with relentless intensity.
"Crack—"
Crocodile's knees groaned under the unbearable strain.
"Boom!"
His legs finally gave out, slamming hard onto the scorching sand, sending dust spiraling into the air.
"Sand Crocodile…"
Rayne Hawke stopped right in front of him.
He slowly raised his right fist, the black sheen of Armament Haki spreading across his knuckles.
"Stay down."
With a sharp whoosh, his fist cut through the air and slammed down onto Crocodile's head.
"Thud!"
Crocodile's consciousness snapped instantly, his massive body collapsing face-first into the sand.
"..."
The entire battlefield fell into stunned silence.
On the Marine side, the thousands of soldiers showed no surprise whatsoever.
To them, this was expected.
Rayne Hawke, the future of the Marines… the leader they had sworn to follow until death.His strength was supposed to be absolute.
But for the Baroque Works agents, this was nothing short of a nightmare.
They couldn't comprehend what they'd just witnessed.
A gust of wind blew past…
And their mighty, untouchable, godlike boss—
Had just been forced to his knees.
Then, with a single punch, the young Marine officer flattened him into the sand.
This…
How the hell were they supposed to fight against this?!
"..."
Rayne Hawke's cold gaze swept across the battlefield.
He lifted his hand and gave a slight wave.
"Wipe them all out."
"Yes, sir!!"
"Kill them!!!"
Thousands of elite Marines roared in unison and charged, descending upon the scattered Baroque Works agents like a pack of starving tigers.
But this wasn't chaos.
They didn't swarm mindlessly.
They split into tight, coordinated squads, weaving in and out like blades of a killing machine, systematically carving through their enemies.
The battlefield became a meat grinder.
...
"Oi, crappy moss-head. Wanna bet on who kills more?"
Sanji lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag before exhaling a lazy smoke ring shaped like a taunt.
"Heh. After this mission's merit points are tallied, make sure you salute me properly, 'Not-Bad' Lieutenant Commander."
Zoro's hand rested on Wado Ichimonji's hilt, his gaze sharp and predatory like a hawk's.
His foot pressed down hard into the sand.
"Soru!"
His body vanished from sight.
In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Mr.1 like a phantom.
The Wado Ichimonji whistled sharply, slicing downward with overwhelming force.
"Clang!"
The ringing clash of steel echoed loud and clear through the chaos.
Mr.1 had crossed his arms, transforming them into razor-sharp blades, perfectly blocking Zoro's slash. His expression was full of unshakable confidence in his steel-hard body.
"Useless, Marine."
"My body is made of steel. You can't cut me."
"Oh, really?"
Zoro's voice was low and steady.
In the next heartbeat, Armament Haki coated Wado Ichimonji's blade, staining it jet-black.
A draw slash so fast it transcended thought.
Mr.1 saw only a streak of black lightning before—
"Splurt!"
Blood sprayed in a deep crimson arc, a gash carved clean through his chest.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at his prized, steel-forged body… split open like paper.
"T-This… can't… be…"
"Thud!"
Mr.1 collapsed into the sand, motionless.
"..."
Zoro slid his blade back into its sheath without sparing him a glance.
A frog at the bottom of a well who didn't even know Armament Haki… wasn't worth another second of his time.
His gaze was already fixed on his next target.
...
Elsewhere on the battlefield.
Mr.2 Bon Clay spun like a human top, his Okama Kenpo in full force as he clashed wildly with Sanji.
"Take this, Marine boy!"
"Okama Kenpo: Summer Memories Kick!"
Mr.2 twisted into a sharp, whirling strike, his kicks slicing through the air toward Sanji.
"Disgusting technique."
Sanji frowned slightly, dodging each attack with the barest tilt of his body, his movements smooth and effortless.
His Observation Haki had already read every trajectory of Mr.2's assault.
"Why?! Why can't I hit you?!"
After a relentless flurry of kicks, Mr.2 finally stopped, panting heavily.
"Exhale…"
Sanji blew out a smoke ring, eyes narrowing.
He glanced over at the battlefield—
That damned moss-head had already finished his opponent.
That irritated him.
No more wasting time.
"It's over."
Sanji's expression turned cold.
His right leg shot up, friction igniting the air at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
His black suit pants glowed red-hot, the scorching heat warping the air around him.
Sanji's body spun violently, unleashing a fiery kick.
A massive, crescent-shaped slash of crimson flames tore through the air toward Mr.2.
The burning arc ripped across the sand, leaving behind a deep, charred trench.
"Splurt!"
The blazing strike engulfed Mr.2 completely.
With a scream of agony, his body was hurled through the air, crashing into a distant sand dune, charred black and unconscious.
"Phew…"
...
High above the battlefield.
A majestic falcon circled in the sky. On its back, King Cobra and Princess Vivi gazed down at the scene below.
And what they saw… left them speechless.
A one-sided massacre.
The Marines, disciplined and merciless, moved like the finest-tuned war machine, cutting down enemy after enemy without pause.
The agents of Baroque Works, once so feared and untouchable in Alabasta, now resembled helpless lambs awaiting slaughter.
"This… this is Rear Admiral Hawke's force?"
Cobra's voice was hoarse with shock.
Vivi covered her mouth tightly, her wide eyes trembling with disbelief.
The falcon descended slowly.
And there, standing at the center of the battlefield in his Justice coat, they saw the young figure.
At his feet lay the man who sought to overthrow Alabasta—
Sir Crocodile.
"Shhk—"
Crocodile's eyes snapped open.
"Marines… ALL OF YOU… DIE!!!"
"Desert Funeral!!!"