Chapter 81 Crocodile's Despair
The sky was filled with yellow sand, and the air was thick with a murderous aura.
Crocodile struggled to his feet, his body swaying, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes bloodshot.
His chest heaved violently, a few bones seemed broken, and the pain in his chest made every breath feel like his internal organs were tearing apart.
He raised his head, his gaze fixed menacingly on Straw Hat Luffy in mid-air, his eyes filled with rage and unwillingness!
Behind him, the Advanced agents of Baroque Works looked grim, their faces etched with shock and worry.
They never expected their boss, Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, to be in such a sorry state!
"Boss... are you alright?!"
Mr. 1 stepped forward with a somber expression, his fists clenched, his voice low.
Upon hearing his subordinate's concern, a wave of shame surged through Crocodile!
Who was he?
A Shichibukai! Crocodile! A great pirate! The de facto Dominator of Alabasta!
But now?
To be blasted away in front of so many people by a rookie pirate who had just entered the Grand Line?!
This was an absolute disgrace!!!
Crocodile gritted his teeth, enduring the sharp pain in his chest, his face darkened, and he roared—
"Bastard!! That was strong enough!!"
He panted heavily, his face ferocious, his eyes burning with furious flames!
"But do you think this is enough to defeat me? Then you are gravely mistaken!"
He forcefully wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze locked onto Luffy, his eyes filled with insane Battle Intent!
"Straw Hat, I admit, I underestimated you..."
"But you dare not look down on me!!!"
His voice was like a beast's roar, echoing across the entire desert battlefield!
"I am Crocodile! I am a Shichibukai! I am the King of this desert!"
"How could I be easily defeated by a pirate like you who just debuted!!!"
Crocodile slammed both hands onto the ground, his eyes cold and furious as he roared!
"Desert—Grand Sepulchre!!!"
Boom—!!
In an instant, the earth seemed to wail, and the entire desert battlefield instantly went wild!
The ground, already covered in yellow sand, rapidly turned into quicksand under the activation of Crocodile's ability, becoming an inescapable abyss!
The desert seemed to come alive, churning wildly under Crocodile's control, creating countless whirlpools.
Every grain of sand carried a strong corrosive ability, as if it could devour all life!
The earth was collapsing!
Centered on Crocodile, the ground of the entire battlefield was rapidly collapsing, and waves of sandstorms swept towards Luffy!
This was no ordinary sandstorm, but a death trap that devoured all things!
The former oasis was completely swallowed by this very move!
Crocodile's eyes burned with furious anger, his voice low and cold: "Die... Straw Hat!"
However—
Facing this terrifying scene, Luffy showed no panic.
Before Crocodile unleashed Desert Grand Sepulchre, he had already sensed it all through Observation Haki.
But he didn't stop it.
Because in Luffy's eyes, Crocodile could no longer stir up any trouble!
This man... was far from his opponent!
The next second, the sandstorm surge was about to engulf Luffy!
But just as countless desert whirlpools were about to sweep over Luffy—
"Swoosh!"
Luffy's figure suddenly soared into the air, instantly flying high into the sky!!
He didn't take the attack head-on, but... directly leaped into the sky!
"Six Powers—Moonwalk!"
Boom—!
He stomped hard in mid-air, the air exploded with a cracking sound, and he soared even higher, suspended in the sky!
Crocodile: "...?!"
Crocodile's eyes suddenly narrowed, his expression instantly frozen!
He had thought that Luffy would take this attack head-on, and no matter how strong he was, he would be bound by the quicksand and trapped!
But... this brat actually flew up directly?!
"This... what kind of joke is this?!"
Crocodile's expression changed from shock to complete disbelief, and finally, twisted into a furious roar!
"Bastard... it's the Six Powers' Moonwalk?!"
He stared intently at Luffy in mid-air, his eyes filled with shock, anger, unwillingness, and a hint of... faint despair.
This brat... how much more did he know?!
Conqueror's Haki... Armament Haki... Observation Haki... and now he can even use the Six Powers?!
How was anyone supposed to fight like this?!
His Sand-Sand Fruit was already countered by Armament Haki, and now, even his strongest sandification and devouring ability was easily avoided, leaving him completely at a disadvantage!
At this moment, for the first time, a deeply humiliating thought arose in Crocodile's mind—he was completely helpless against this guy!!!
Luffy in the air, overlooked everything!
In mid-air, Luffy looked down at Crocodile on the ground, his gaze calm and sharp!
He glanced down at the wildly churning sandstorm whirlpool below, without a hint of fear in his eyes, but rather a slight, disdainful smile!
"Crocodile..."
He slowly raised his fist, Armament Haki covering it again, and black-red lightning wildly danced on his fist!
"This time... it's my turn to attack!"
Crocodile stood on the ground, his face pale, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his entire body already swaying precariously.
His hands trembled slightly, the speed of his fingertips turning to sand slowed, and even the power to control the sandstorm began to become unstable.
He lost... he knew it himself.
Completely and utterly defeated!
He was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he was the King of Alabasta, he was the Dominator of this desert.
But now, his ambition, his power, his dignity, all were crushed by this brat from the East Blue!
This outcome made him afraid! It made him angry! It made him unwilling!
He knew that he could no longer change his fate... he would be used by this pirate crew as a stepping stone to fame on the Grand Line!
He, Crocodile, would be nailed to the pillar of shame, mocked by the whole world!
This was more terrifying to him than death!
His former plans, everything he had painstakingly built, had all turned into bubbles!
He once wanted to take over Alabasta, find the ancient weapon "Pluton," and then use it to dominate the seas!
But now... he no longer wanted to find any Pluton... he even wished he had never come to this cursed place!!!
Unfortunately, time no longer allowed him to think further, because—
—Luffy's attack had already arrived!!!
High in the sky!
Luffy floated in mid-air, his Moonwalk lightly stepping, his body stably suspended, looking down at Crocodile on the ground, his eyes utterly cold.
At this moment, he had no pity!
Luffy thought of the destroyed cities of Alabasta, he thought of countless citizens lying in the streets, desperate and suffering from drought... He thought of Vivi crying and pleading, hoping to save her country... And the culprit of all this was Crocodile before him!
This guy was not worth pity!
"Crocodile!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed, and he extended both hands, fingers covered in thick Armament Haki, pointing at Crocodile on the ground!
"Die!!!"
"Gomu Gomu no Armament—Finger Pistol Machine Gun!!!"Chapter 82 Obstruction from the Navy
"Boom—!!!"
In an instant, destruction descended!!!
"Crackling!"
Black and red lightning crackled and exploded on Luffy's ten fingers, and the air vibrated wildly!
His ten fingers, covered in Armament Haki, rapidly contracted under the elasticity of the Rubber-Rubber Fruit!
This powerful rebound made each finger's thrust as swift as a laser!
This was no ordinary attack!
This was Luffy's original Move, a Fusion of Six Powers: Finger Pistol and the Rubber-Rubber Fruit, with an attack speed faster than lightning and a penetrating power that could easily pierce steel!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!!"
In an instant, ten pillars of black and red lightning streaked across the sky, like the judgment spears of the God of Death.
With unparalleled speed, they tore through the air, blasting towards Crocodile!
At this moment, Crocodile knew—
He was finished!
He could clearly feel that Luffy's Move was even more powerful and deadly than his previous attacks!
This was not an ordinary Haki attack, but a finishing blow with extreme penetrating power!
If he was hit, he would instantly be pierced all over, like a tattered cloth full of holes, welcoming death!
He... couldn't escape!
Luffy's Observation Haki had completely locked onto him; he couldn't even turn into sand!
At this moment, Crocodile's mind raced. He thought of countless possibilities, how to escape, how to counterattack, how to find a glimmer of a chance to survive... but... there was none!
He was completely desperate!
He thought of his life, his past ambitions, the man he once wanted to defeat... Whitebeard!
The strongest man in the world, who also possessed Haoshoku, and who he had once challenged only to suffer a crushing defeat!
His life would actually end at the hands of two such monsters... Crocodile sighed deeply.
He suddenly realized that he no longer felt fear; in fact... there was a sense of relief.
"Heh heh... Hahahaha..."
A bitter smile played on his lips, but his eyes were unusually calm.
"If... I die at the hands of the future Pirate King..."
"Then it wouldn't tarnish my name, Crocodile, would it...?"
Crocodile even felt now that this Straw Hat Pirates could claim the title of Pirate King.
He gave up struggling, closed his eyes, and calmly awaited death!
"Boom!!!!!"
Just as Luffy's "Rubber Armament: Finger Pistol Machine Gun" was about to pierce through Crocodile—
An incomparably sharp, massive slash, carrying destructive Sword Qi, suddenly struck from afar!
"Rumble!!!"
Two terrifying forces collided head-on in mid-air, and the entire sky was instantly torn apart by black and red lightning!
"Crackling—!"
Lightning exploded, like thousands of thunderbolts intertwining in the air, each black and red lightning bolt carrying a destructive oppressive force.
Making everyone on the battlefield feel a terrifying might.
Crack! —
Although Luffy's ten fingers were fully unleashed, the power of this Sword Qi was equally astonishing; the clash of two formidable Haki actually stalemated for a moment!
However... "Boom!!"
Ultimately, Luffy's attack still suppressed the slash; the black and red lightning exploded in the air, and the Sword Qi was completely shattered!
But in that instant, Luffy's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he slowly retracted his hands, his eyes becoming more solemn than ever before.
He didn't notice the arrival of this sword at first; it was only when the Sword Qi approached that his Observation Haki detected this dangerous aura!
What did this mean?
It meant... the person who attacked was at least one step above him in the mastery of Observation Haki!
Who was this person?! How could he block his finishing blow?!
On the ground, the dying Crocodile's eyes widened as he watched the attack that should have killed him be severed, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
But soon... he just sighed softly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
He no longer cared... If he died, he died; there was no meaning in living.
His ambition had been completely crushed by Luffy; he had completely given up, and everything happening now was simply not important to him.
"Heh... a busybody has arrived..."
He muttered softly, too lazy to even show anger on his face.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the battlefield, the Advanced agents of Baroque Works, those elites who had escaped Crocodile's ultimate Move, now had drastically changed expressions!
They had just desperately fled, and now seeing their boss saved, they immediately rushed over.
Surrounding Crocodile, checking his injuries.
"Boss... are you alright?!"
"Who was it that launched that attack just now?!"
They looked in horror at the distant sky; the figure who blocked Luffy's attack was rapidly approaching!
"...This guy is not simple!"
Zoro narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the rapidly approaching figure, his Battle Intent soaring in an instant!
He could feel it—the person who attacked was definitely a master swordsman, perhaps even a Great Swordsman!
"A Great Swordsman, huh... Heh heh... Finally, someone who can excite me has arrived..."
Zoro's lips curled slightly, and his hand gripping wado ichimonji unconsciously tightened; he was already eager to fight!
Sanji also only realized the horror of the attack the moment the Sword Qi approached, his heart shaking, and his face darkened:
"Tsk... This mysterious guy is not simple."
Zoro said nothing more, but the Battle Intent in his eyes had burned to its extreme!
The appearance of this person... excited him immensely!
And Lin Ning, standing by, although his Observation Haki was slightly stronger than Luffy's and Zoro's, only detected it a step earlier.
However—
Lin Ning showed no panic, instead, a slight smile played on his lips.
"Interesting, it seems this battle is far from over."
"That's good, the Straw Hat Pirates truly need stronger opponents to hone themselves."
"The enemies they've encountered so far... aren't enough."
Nami and Vivi were also stunned by this sudden turn of events, especially Vivi.
She had just been ready to see Luffy completely defeat Crocodile and then cry tears of joy, but she never expected the battle to change at the last moment!
"Who... who exactly is this?!"
Vivi's face changed; she couldn't believe that someone would help Crocodile at this moment!
Was this person an enemy or a friend?!
Just then—
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!!"
The figure rapidly approached, flickering and soaring through the air, each step seemingly treading on the Void Realm!
"This Move is...?"
Luffy and the others instantly recognized the opponent's movement style, their eyes suddenly narrowing!
—This was none other than Moonwalk, one of the Marine's Six Powers!!!
"Marine...!!!"
The Straw Hat Pirates' hearts jolted!
The newcomer was actually a Marine?!
"A Marine would save Crocodile?!"
Nami gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with shock.
Zoro, however, stared intently at the figure, his fists slightly clenched, his Battle Intent growing even stronger!
A moment later, the figure finally descended onto the battlefield!Chapter 83 General Candidate Momousagi
Luffy, who was just about to deliver his ultimate attack, now hung suspended in mid-air, his gaze fixed solemnly on the mysterious powerhouse who had suddenly entered the battlefield.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Lin Ning, Vivi, and the others all stared intently at the figure gracefully landing, their eyes filled with shock and wariness.
Just then, Vivi's eyes widened abruptly, her pupils contracting violently, and with a face full of disbelief, she shouted out the identity of the newcomer!
"Marineford Vice Admiral Candidate—Momousagi!!!"
This shocking cry exploded across the battlefield like a clap of thunder!
Vice Admiral Candidate?!
The Straw Hat Pirates' hearts tightened as they heard that name.
This was an existence several times more powerful than an ordinary Marine Vice Admiral!
Momousagi—one of Marineford's top powerhouses!
At this moment, everyone finally saw the newcomer's appearance.
Her smooth, black wavy long hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and her figure was tall and slender, possessing a stunning beauty that was hard to forget at first sight.
But her demeanor exuded a noble and cold majesty, naturally carrying the Aura of a superior.
She wore a white "Justice" cloak of the Marine, its wide fabric billowing in the wind.
Her uniform clung to her body, perfectly outlining her graceful figure.
Especially her pair of long, shapely legs, paired with black long boots, appeared incredibly domineering, while also possessing a unique feminine charm.
At her waist hung a highly imposing famous sword—Konpira, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. Its scabbard shimmered with golden light, exuding a chilling sharpness.
She was indeed one of Marineford's top combat forces, Vice Admiral Candidate Momousagi!
"Brat, don't look at me like that."
Momousagi narrowed her eyes slightly, slowly raising her hand to gently grasp the hilt of Konpira. Her gaze was as sharp as a blade, carrying an undeniable oppressive force.
"Crocodile is, after all, a Shichibukai recognized by the World Government; he cannot just die here."
"Although we Marines have received news that he intends to overthrow the Alabasta government and will be stripped of his Shichibukai status, that doesn't mean you pirates have the right to execute him!"
Her voice was cold and firm, like a drawn sword, piercing through the silent battlefield!
"Crocodile's judgment should be carried out by us Marines!"
As Momousagi's words fell, the atmosphere on the battlefield suddenly solidified, and the temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
Luffy, standing in the air, frowned slightly, a displeased expression on his face.
His gaze was fixed on Momousagi, and he seemed to unhappily purse his lips.
"Tch, meddling Marines."
But in the end, Luffy didn't argue further and slowly landed back on the ground.
Momousagi also slowly withdrew her hand, her gaze sweeping over the Straw Hat Pirates again, sharp light flickering in her eyes.
"However... compared to Crocodile, you young pirates interest me more."
A hint of coldness emanated from her tone: "At such a young age, you've already mastered such powerful combat abilities. If left unchecked, you will sooner or later become a great menace on the seas."
"Therefore, I am now going to arrest you!"
"Marines?! Don't catch me!!!"
Upon hearing Momousagi's words, Luffy's expression instantly changed from displeasure to panic, and he became flustered.
His hands waved in the air, looking like a naughty student afraid of being caught by the teacher.
Everyone: "..."
Nami: "Why does this guy always react like this when he encounters Marines?!"
Chopper: "Hey! Get serious, Luffy!!!"
Usopp: "Weren't you overflowing with Haki just now?! Why did you suddenly become a coward?!"
A moment later, Luffy returned to his serious demeanor, his fists clenched, his eyes burning with Battle Intent as he looked at Momousagi.
"We won't be caught by you Marines!"
"Because—I am the man who will become the Pirate King!!!"
As this declaration left his mouth, the atmosphere of the entire battlefield instantly ignited!
Momousagi frowned slightly, a strange emotion in her eyes: "...Pirate King?"
She stared at the battle-ready youth before her, and for some reason, a hint of interest unexpectedly arose in her heart.
However, very quickly, her eyes grew cold again.
"If that's the case... then I absolutely cannot let you go."
However, just then—
"Clang—!"
A crisp sound of a sword being drawn echoed across the battlefield!
Zoro directly stepped in front of Luffy, his Battle Intent boiling!
"Luffy, I'll take care of this Marine swordsman."
Zoro had already drawn his three swords, his Aura soaring, his gaze locked onto Momousagi!
Luffy glanced at Zoro, then grinned and nodded without hesitation: "Zoro, I'll leave it to you!"
No doubt, no hesitation, absolute trust!
Momousagi's mouth twitched slightly as she saw this scene.
"...Do you look down on me that much?"
"You're not even coming at me together?"
Her voice carried a hint of displeasure, and her tone grew several degrees colder.
"Do you think one person alone can stop me?"
"Then let me personally crush your pride!!!"
As soon as her words fell, Momousagi's hand suddenly tightened on the sword hilt, and the Aura of a powerhouse surged wildly!
Zoro stood his ground, slowly raising his three swords, their blades gleaming with intense Armament Haki.
The black blades, illuminated by the sunlight, emitted a chilling glint.
His gaze was fixed on Momousagi in front of him, his eyes unwavering, his Battle Intent burning fiercely!
Momousagi, however, still maintained her arrogant posture, holding the famous sword Konpira at her waist with one hand, a hint of disdain on her face, and a touch of surprise in her eyes.
"Oh? Your Armament Haki is quite well-mastered."
Her tone remained calm, without any tension, and even carried a hint of playfulness.
"Too bad..."
Her lips curved slightly upward, her eyes sharp.
"You're just a filthy pirate!"
"Clang—!"
Momousagi gently drew Konpira, the blade slowly unsheathing, and instantly, an extremely sharp Sword Qi swept across the entire field.
The intense slashing Aura caused the surrounding sand to be blown away!
"...Go on, brat, let me see what you've got."
Momousagi stood her ground, holding her sword with one hand, not assuming any flashy starting stance, nor even deliberately adjusting her sword posture.
Clearly, she didn't consider Zoro to be on an equal level with herself.
Boom!
The next second, Zoro's figure transformed into a whirlwind-like afterimage, his feet stomping hard on the ground, yellow sand exploding, and he charged towards Momousagi like a fierce tiger!
"Three Sword Style—Onigiri!!!"
Zoro's blade carried incredibly sharp Sword Qi, and three black slashes tore through the air.
They went straight for Momousagi's throat, abdomen, and both legs—three vital points, a thunderous killing move right from the start!
"Clang—!"
The sound of metal clashing reverberated across the entire battlefield!
Everyone's pupils contracted; Zoro's attack had been blocked!
Momousagi simply held her sword with one hand, casually placing it horizontally in front of her, effortlessly blocking the three deadly slashes.
Her posture remained calm and unhurried; she didn't even move a single step.
"Is that all?"
Momousagi tilted her head slightly, a hint of disappointment in her tone.Chapter 84 Smoker's Attack
Zoro's eyes narrowed, and his body instantly vanished from his spot, circling around Momousagi's side as sword light swept forth like a storm!
"Three Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!!"
"Clang—!!"
Momousagi still used only one hand to wield her sword, easily parrying!
She didn't even change her expression in the slightest; with a flick of her wrist, Zoro was instantly sent back several meters, leaving two deep drag marks in the desert sand beneath his feet!
"Tch... this is really tricky."
Zoro licked the corner of his mouth, stomped his feet, and exploded forward, charging at Momousagi again!
"Three Sword Style: Dragon Twister!!"
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Zoro's three swords transformed into streaks of sword shadows, and terrifying Sword Qi rained down like a fierce storm; each strike carried the power to tear the earth apart!
However... Momousagi's movements remained effortless, she didn't even use both hands, wielding her sword with only one hand throughout!
She simply swung her sword calmly, blocked, and pushed back... all attacks were neutralized by her in the simplest manner!
With each clash, Momousagi's expression remained unchanged, while Zoro continuously accelerated his rhythm, pushing himself to his limits!
"...Too slow."
Momousagi sighed softly, a faint hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Like this... you won't be able to defeat me."
Zoro's pupils suddenly constricted, his heart trembling!
Momousagi's basic attacks were so strong that he could barely fend them off!
No matter how he attacked, she could neutralize it in the simplest way, and her movements were clean and precise, without any unnecessary flair!
This feeling was somewhat similar to when he fought Hawkeye... Is this... the strength of a Great Swordsman?!
Despite this, Zoro's Battle Intent showed no signs of weakening!
His gaze grew even sharper, his feet suddenly sank, his entire body's muscles tensed, and Armament Haki surged wildly as he unleashed his full power!
"One Sword Style — All-Encompassing Rending Void!!!"
At this moment, Zoro's Aura abruptly reached its peak!
He abruptly sheathed his sword, his Qi contained, and then in an instant, unleashed a devastating Sword Pressure!
The moment wado ichimonji was swung, the entire world seemed to be torn apart by this single strike!!
A terrifying black Saber Qi tore through the air, ripping through heaven and earth, striking towards Momousagi!!!
At this moment, Momousagi's eyes finally changed!
Her initial casualness and playfulness completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented serious expression!
"...What terrifying talent."
She slowly raised her hand; this time, it was no longer with one hand, but with both hands holding the sword!
konpira's blade, at this moment, bloomed with terrifying Sword Qi, Armament Haki covered it, and purplish-black Sword Qi coiled around the blade, like surging lightning!
"Boom — — — —!!!"
Zoro's "All-Encompassing Rending Void" and Momousagi's slash collided head-on in mid-air!!!
The terrifying Sword Qi shockwave instantly swept across the entire battlefield, tearing a massive gully into the ground, and yellow sand swirled wildly!
The entire sky was covered in red lightning, as if the end of the world had arrived!!!
As the dust settled, Zoro's figure slowly emerged.
His clothes were torn, and a deep sword mark was left on his shoulder, blood slowly trickling down.
Momousagi looked at him calmly, her tone flat: "...Your strength is indeed good."
"But you... are still far from it."
Despite being at a disadvantage the entire time, Zoro still looked directly at Momousagi, a stubborn smile curving his lips!
"Heh... as expected... a Great Swordsman... is an interesting goal..."
Momousagi frowned slightly: "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Zoro grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't be standing here."
"I've made a vow, I will never lose again!"
Momousagi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.
"...What a troublesome fellow."
She gripped her sword again, her eyes sharp—
Momousagi gently flicked the blood beads from her blade, her gaze cold, ready to get serious and completely crush Zoro, this young swordsman who dared to challenge her!
But just then—
"Rumble — —!!!"
The distant ground suddenly trembled, and a low rumbling sound came from the edge of the desert.
Everyone looked up to see dense figures rapidly approaching from afar; thousands of Marine Soldiers were surging towards the battlefield!
They wore white Marine uniforms, held weapons, and had serious expressions on their faces as they quickly approached the battlefield!
The Marine reinforcements had finally arrived!
At the very front of this massive Marine force, a familiar figure stood amidst the sandstorm.
With two cigars in his mouth, his eyes as sharp as blades, his gaze fixed intently on the Straw Hat Pirates!
Smoker!
This man, who was soundly defeated by Lin Ning's Conqueror's Haki Coating in Loguetown, had returned!
But unlike last time, Smoker this time exuded a completely different Aura.
Compared to his previous impulsiveness and anger, the current Smoker was clearly calmer, more profound, and his entire demeanor had undergone an astonishing transformation.
His hands were slightly clenched, and Armament Haki slowly covered his fists, as black as ink!
He had finally mastered Armament Haki!
After his defeat at Lin Ning's hands in Loguetown, Smoker did not wallow in despair but trained day and night, mastering both types of Haki, making himself even stronger!
Now, he had finally found news of the Straw Hat Pirates, and in his investigation, he discovered that the Shichibukai Crocodile was actually attempting to overthrow Alabasta!
This shocked Smoker immensely!
A Shichibukai recognized by the World Government was secretly plotting a coup, intending to control a World Government affiliated nation?
And what was even more unbelievable to him was — the Straw Hat Pirates were playing a righteous role in this incident!
"How is this possible... those pirates, protecting a country?"
Smoker initially refused to believe it, but as the investigation deepened, he found that this fact could not be denied!
Crocodile's crimes were laid out before him with irrefutable evidence, while the Straw Hat Pirates had been trying to prevent this disaster from happening!
Smoker was in a dilemma... he was a Marine, and pirates were enemies.
But this time, the one truly disrupting the World Government's order was the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" recognized by the World Government, and not the Straw Hat Pirates!
Finally, Smoker made the first exceptional decision in his life—
He requested support from Marine Headquarters!
This was the first time Smoker had ever asked his superiors for help; he was very reluctant, but he knew.
If Crocodile succeeded, Alabasta would be overthrown, and the Marines' reputation would be completely ruined!
After careful consideration, Marine Headquarters decided to dispatch Vice Admiral Candidate Momousagi to quell this storm!
At this moment, Smoker, standing at the forefront of the Marine contingent, his eyes blazing, stared intently at the Straw Hat Pirates!
"Straw Hat! Surrender now!!"
"Buzz—!"
Smoker's entire body instantly transformed into swirling white smoke, which then formed a raging dragon-like smoke stream.
It charged towards the Straw Hat Pirates from the sky with terrifying speed, stirring up a violent surge of air!
The smoke swept through, as if to completely engulf the Straw Hat!
Boom!!
Facing Smoker's sudden attack, Luffy, Lin Ning, Sanji, Nami, and the others immediately entered combat mode!
"Wait... someone will make a move."
Lin Ning's voice was calm, as if he had already foreseen the upcoming change.
Sanji was startled, then immediately vigilant, staring at the sky, his Observation Haki rapidly expanding, trying to pinpoint the person Lin Ning had sensed!
"Boom!!!"
Just as Smoker's smoke was about to engulf the Straw Hat Pirates—
A searing flame descended from the sky, fiercely colliding with the surging mass of smoke!!Chapter 85 Ace
Flames and smoke fiercely intertwined in the air!
For a moment, fierce flames surged, smoke billowed, and the entanglement of fire and smoke was like a confrontation between heaven and earth!
"Sizzle—!!"
The high-temperature flames furiously burned Smoker's smoke, the two constantly entangled, instantly plunging the entire battlefield into a chaotic heatwave!
Smoker's figure trembled slightly in the smoke, and he involuntarily took a step back, his gaze sinking as he suddenly looked up at the sky!
..."Who is this flame?!"
The afterglow of the setting sun spread, yellow sand rolled across the battlefield, and the air still lingered with the aftermath of Sword Qi and Haki clashing.
Flames danced high in the sky, gradually condensing into a tall figure. That person slowly stepped out of the flames, landed in the center of the battlefield, and looked calmly at Smoker.
His short black hair fluttered slightly in the wind, carrying a hint of wild and unrestrained temperament.
He wore an orange cowboy hat, with two ornaments, one smiling and one crying, hanging from either side of the hat.
His chest was exposed, revealing well-built muscles, black shorts paired with a dark belt from which a short knife hung.
However, what was most striking was the tattoo on his back!
Engraved on it was a large white skull flag with a white mustache drawn on it.
That was the symbol of the strongest man on the seas—"Whitebeard" Edward Newgate!
—This was the emblem of the "Whitebeard Pirates"!
—This symbolized the glory of the "World's Strongest Pirate Crew"!
Ace stood amidst the flames, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, revealing a defiant smile.
"Smoke cannot block fire."
His voice carried a hint of playfulness, yet it exuded an undeniable Haki that commanded attention!
Smoker's face immediately darkened. He stared intently at Ace, his gaze sharp, his mouth, which held a cigar, twitched slightly, and he said in a low voice:
"Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace..."
"Why are you stopping me from attacking the Straw Hat Pirates?!"
His voice was like thunder, carrying the authority and anger of a Marine officer, and at the same time, his eyes showed deep confusion.
As the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors, Ace should have had no connection with the Straw Hat Pirates.
But now, he actually intervened to stop Smoker, even actively standing against the Marine!
Ace heard Smoker's questioning, smiled lightly, slowly raised his head, and said with a firm gaze:
"Because Luffy is my dear younger brother..."
"How could I just stand by and watch?"
One sentence plunged the entire battlefield into a brief silence.
"Eh?!"
Luffy, standing in the crowd, heard Ace's voice and was suddenly stunned, then his eyes widened, and a surprised yet excited smile appeared on his face!
"Ace!!!"
The next second, Luffy excitedly rushed over, spreading his arms to pounce, but Ace raised his palm and pressed down on Luffy's head, smiling as he blocked him.
"Haha, calm down, Luffy."
Ace smiled and ruffled Luffy's head, his gaze full of doting affection and relief: "Long time no see, little brother."
"Hahaha! Ace!!! It's Ace!!"
Luffy danced with excitement, jumping up and down happily.
At this moment, the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates finally reacted, all showing shocked expressions!
Nami's mouth dropped open in surprise: "I didn't expect Luffy to have such a reliable older brother?!"
Usopp's mouth twitched: "Hey, hey, wait, Luffy's brother is actually an executive of the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
Zoro narrowed his eyes slightly, thoughtfully: "Whitebeard Pirates... an interesting fellow."
Lin Ning stood to the side, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, and said faintly: "So that's it, a Four Emperors-level connection... things are getting more and more interesting."
Amidst this commotion, the Marine Soldiers, led by Tashigi, surrounded Crocodile!
"Click!"
A pair of Sea Stone handcuffs were firmly clamped onto Crocodile's hands!
Crocodile's face was pale, and there was no hint of struggle in his eyes, as if he had already resigned himself to his fate. He was being escorted by two Marine Soldiers, ready to be taken away.
The elite members of Baroque Works saw this scene and immediately wanted to resist, but—
"Whoosh—!"
A flash-like Sword Qi streaked across the sky!
"Boom!!!"
"Ah ah ah!!"
Before the elite agents of Baroque Works could even act, they were struck down by Momousagi's casual attack, falling directly to the ground, unable to get up again!
Momousagi coldly scanned the battlefield, slowly sheathed her sword, and said nonchalantly:
"Resistance is futile, all of you stay put."
At this point, the crisis in Alabasta was completely resolved!
As Crocodile was taken away by the Marine, the battlefield finally quieted down.
Ace stood on the scorched earth where the flames had receded, his arms crossed, his gaze slowly sweeping over the Straw Hat Pirates, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Luffy, your companions... they seem quite reliable."
His words carried a hint of teasing, but his eyes were full of scrutiny and approval.
Hearing Ace's evaluation, Luffy immediately grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and stood proudly with his hands on his hips.
"Hehe, of course!"
"I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King, so of course all my companions are amazing!"
Saying this, Luffy pointed to his companions one by one, introducing them individually—
Ace heard this, smiled lightly, a hint of brotherly affection in his eyes: "...You really haven't changed at all, Luffy."
Luffy pointed to the man standing to the side, still panting heavily, his face showing the afterglow of battle.
Zoro's figure was tall and robust, his muscles sculpted like steel, standing over two meters tall.
The aura of battle still lingered around him, exuding a beast-like pressure!
"Three Sword Style swordsman, Roronoa Zoro!"
"Zoro is our ship's swordsman, he's super strong!"
Ace's gaze fell on Zoro, he examined him carefully, and nodded slightly.
"Good swordsmanship, and a killing intent about him... This guy is a battle maniac."
Next, Luffy pointed to another man, a blond man in a black suit with an elegant demeanor, Sanji.
"This guy is our cook, Sanji!"
"Sanji's leg techniques are super strong, kicking through steel is no problem at all!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, gently exhaled a puff of smoke, and said with a hint of laziness in his eyes: "...Thank you for the compliment, Captain."
Ace glanced at Sanji, frowning slightly.
..."This guy seems relaxed, but the feeling he gives off is also quite unusual."
Finally, Luffy pointed to the man standing on the side of the group, holding a heavy halberd, with well-proportioned muscles all over his body.
"This is Lin Ning!"
"Lin Ning is super strong! He can wield huge weapons with one hand, and he can even shatter mountains with a single halberd!"