Wisps of Haki instinctively coiled around the blade of Kashu. At the same moment, Li Ke's flames ignited, erupting in a sudden flare.
Before the breath could leave his lungs, Li Ke's strike was already at Daz Bonez's throat.
"What?!"
The searing heat hit Daz before the steel did. He scrambled backward, desperate to dodge the incoming arc of destruction, but he had barely moved an inch before the violent shockwave slammed into him.
His "indestructible" steel body was shredded in an instant. A massive, gaping hole appeared in his chest and abdomen, his internal organs and skin instantly carbonized by the ultra-high-temperature flames.
Because the heat was so intense, it cauterized the nerves instantly. For a split second, Daz's mind remained unnervingly clear even as his insides were reduced to ash. He tried to trigger his Devil Fruit ability to counter-attack, but his voice failed him. His brain screamed for his limbs to move, to strike, to kill—but his body no longer obeyed. Instead, he simply collapsed, his momentum carrying him helplessly toward the dirt.
As the ground rushed up to meet him, a single, dazed thought flickered through his mind:
Didn't I... didn't I dodge that?
The moment he hit the ground, the agony finally registered—the localized inferno that had ignited within his chest. But he couldn't scream. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't even feel his own heartbeat. Within seconds, his blood pressure plummeted, and his consciousness faded into eternal blackness.
It was a staggering reality. In the original story, the Dice-Dice Fruit user had pushed Zoro to the brink of death. But against Li Ke—who had combined Haki, Dragon Fire, and a swordsmanship level far beyond "cutting steel"—the man was dead in a single stroke.
"Hmm. Did I use Roger's technique by instinct?"
Li Ke wasn't surprised by the outcome. The temperature of the Dragon Fire was astronomical. If an opponent tried to tank it with their bare body after their Devil Fruit defense had already been breached, instant death was the only logical conclusion.
If the man had known Armament Haki, he might have stood a chance. But clearly, he was just another arrogant fighter who relied entirely on his Devil Fruit, utterly ignorant of Haki's true power.
Against a swordsman wielding both Armament and Observation Haki, relying solely on a fruit's defense is a fatal mistake—it's usually settled in a single strike. In this case, Li Ke's fire burned far hotter than magma, dealing what amounted to "True Damage." Daz hadn't held up; he simply died.
Had the man focused on dodging and used hit-and-run tactics, even Li Ke wouldn't have found the kill this effortless.
"Relying on a strong ability while neglecting everything else... it's only natural that judgment caught up with him."
Li Ke flicked his blade to clear it. He actually hoped "Sand Crocodile" would show up now so he could settle everything in one go. Even if things went south, they were surrounded by the ocean; he could simply manipulate the seawater to crush the sand-man. As long as he eliminated every witness, there wouldn't be any problems.
However, scanning the surroundings, there was no sign of Crocodile—not even a grain of stray sand. Li Ke's Observation Haki wasn't nearly as vast as that self-proclaimed "God" who ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"I truly didn't expect you to be this powerful already," Robin said, looking at him with genuine shock. She knew he trained hard, but this level of dominance was beyond her expectations.
"The guy was just too conceited. He thought his fruit ability could tank my blade; otherwise, finishing him would have taken a bit more time. Besides... the power system in your world is interesting. Whether it's Haki or Observation, it's clear this world gives them special 'favor'."
Li Ke sheathed Kashu. Although he preferred spears or greatswords over katanas, he had to admit this blade handled the heat well. So far, it only showed minor signs of melting. This intrigued him—steel usually melts at around 1,500 degrees Celsius, far lower than the temperature of his flames. The quality of this sword was clearly supernatural.
More importantly, his Observation Haki felt different from how the anime described it. It wasn't just a "feeling"—it felt as if the world itself was whispering information to him. This was clearly a unique mechanic of the One Piece world, much like the buffs in 7 Days to Die; he likely couldn't carry that specific "world-logic" elsewhere.
It made sense. While Li Ke could seamlessly adapt to any world, the fundamental rules of those universes didn't travel with him. It was like trying to take a character's stat values from DNF and drop them into League of Legends—it just didn't work that way.
The differences between worlds were vast, and the peculiarities of this one weren't just limited to—
Li Ke glanced at Robin's waist. It was aesthetically perfect, but impossibly thin; in a normal world, it wouldn't have the structural strength required for her combat moves. It was proof that this world operated on its own unique "logic."
Because of this, he suspected that while he wasn't sure about Armament Haki, Observation Haki would almost certainly be heavily nerfed in other universes. This was why he never over-valued these techniques, only maintaining his Observation Haki out of sheer necessity.
At the end of the day, those skills were merely derivatives of the physical form. If his body wasn't strong enough, Haki—be it Armament or Observation—was nothing but an illusion. His foundation would always be his physical stats and the skills logged in his System; those other "fancy" tricks could easily fail the moment he hit a world with different laws.
Robin didn't have much to add. She had only been to the 7 Days to Die world, but she had experienced the suppression of that world's rules firsthand, so she found Li Ke's logic sound.
"Just be careful," she warned. "Sand Crocodile is not someone to be taken lightly."
Li Ke nodded in understanding. He sheathed his blade, intending to regroup with Vivi.
But at that exact moment—
The earth beneath him collapsed. Countless torrents of yellow sand erupted into the sky as a man with slicked-back hair emerged slowly from hundreds of meters away.
At that distance, Li Ke's Observation Haki couldn't reach him. By the time he sensed the sand, it was already too late to dodge. However—
Violent flames exploded from Li Ke's body, pushing back the encroaching sand. In one fluid motion, he drew his blade and unleashed a ferocious strike toward the man with the slicked-back hair.
The concussive force of the blow tore toward Crocodile. The surrounding sand was powerless to stop a slash infused with a faint trace of Armament Haki. Crocodile's eyes widened in surprise. Instantly, he summoned layers of sand to form a massive shield before him.
Yet even through the dense, stacked layers of protection, the slash broke through. As the final wall of sand shattered, a stray gust of blade-wind pierced through, forcing Crocodile to tilt his head. A single lock of his hair was sliced clean off by the passing wind.
"What a formidable flying slash... I see why Robin chose to follow you."
Crocodile narrowed his eyes. As he watched the flames radiating from Li Ke, his brow furrowed. The man was clearly an Ability User, but to possess such powerful swordsmanship on top of a Devil Fruit made him a dangerous opponent.
Still, this was the desert.
He had already replaced the ground beneath the harbor with his own sand; Daz had simply died too quickly for him to intervene. Because of this, Crocodile felt no fear.
"Hand over Nico Robin and work for me. If you do, I might consider letting you live."
He calmly dissolved into a cloud of sand, closing the distance between them. Still puffing on his cigar, he watched Li Ke with an air of absolute indifference.
When he first heard Robin had taken time off, he assumed she had found another archaeological site. He only recently discovered she wasn't excavating at all. Not only that, but her ship was full of newcomers, and she wasn't the one in charge—the leader was some complete unknown.
That changed everything. Though he found it hard to believe a woman like Robin would settle for a man, he realized immediately that she had defected. Knowing she wouldn't betray him unless her new protector was strong, he had gathered all of Baroque Works to test Li Ke's limits before deciding to step in himself.
It was a pity Daz was dead. But it didn't matter—
His sand countered Li Ke's fire!
Endless sand gathered around him. He remained unruffled; Li Ke's flames were meaningless against him. And while that flying slash carried Haki, Crocodile's reaction speed was top-tier. There was no way Li Ke could defeat him here.
This was the desert! His home turf! Even if a Marine Admiral showed up, he was confident he could win!
But—
Li Ke swung his blade straight at his head.
"So, you're the Sand Crocodile! I'll be taking that head of yours—I need it to impress a girl!"
The violent slash, infused with searing fire, surged toward Crocodile. This wasn't a warning shot like the last one; it was a full-powered, lethal strike.
Crocodile had no intention of taking the hit head-on. His body dissolved instantly into a swirl of grit as he reached out, transmuting the ground beneath Li Ke into a shifting pit of sand to trap his feet.
He knew better than most: a Flying Slash was never as lethal as the blade itself. With the power Li Ke had displayed, letting him get within arm's reach would be pure idiocy. This wasn't some nameless brat like Luffy; this was a man who had swayed Nico Robin to his side.
Crocodile was finally taking this seriously.
He pushed his speed to its absolute limit, repositioning through the dunes. But it was useless. To Li Ke's fully unleashed Observation Haki, Crocodile's location within the swirling storm was as clear as day. The very sand Crocodile had transformed into was screaming his position:
"I'm right here!"
"You're a little slow, aren't you?"
Li Ke's silhouette blurred, lunging forward like a bolt of lightning with jets of flame erupting from his back for propulsion. His blade struck with surgical precision into Crocodile's sand-form. Strands of Armament Haki coiled around the steel, catching the Shichibukai's solid essence mid-transformation and sending him spiraling backward.
"What—?!"
Crocodile stared in disbelief at the man who had suddenly closed the gap. He hadn't expected Li Ke to be this fast—he was significantly quicker than Crocodile himself. By the time he tried to dodge, it was already too late; the edge of the blade had buried itself deep into his ribs.
The sharp edge of Kashu sliced through bone with terrifying ease. Crocodile only survived being hacked in two by desperately manipulating a surge of sand to carry his body away at the last possible second.
Retreating to a safe distance, Crocodile clutched his side. He looked down at the wound—it wasn't just a cut; the flesh was carbonized. He couldn't wrap his head around how Li Ke had found his vitals amidst a sandstorm, nor how that Haki had bypassed his defenses so effortlessly.
He was no stranger to Haki—he had survived the New World, after all. He had killed plenty of Haki users over the years, and by all rights, Li Ke's Haki looked amateurish, barely able to coat the blade. It shouldn't have been able to hurt him like this!
Yet the reality was undeniable. That Haki felt more potent than many Vice Admirals he had faced.
How is this possible? he thought, his mind racing. That Observation Haki... those flames... and that level of mastery? How can someone this young be this monsterous?!
Crocodile glared at Li Ke, his teeth grinding together in frustration. If he hadn't reacted with lightning speed, he would have ended up just like Daz—slaughtered instantly by the man standing before him.
He couldn't wrap his head around Li Ke's existence. Human energy was finite; training one's body, honing Armament Haki, and mastering Observation Haki all demanded years of dedication—to say nothing of developing a Devil Fruit ability.
The temperature of those flames was far beyond normal limits; they had likely reached the stage of Awakening, otherwise, such terrifying heat would be impossible.
But then what's with his swordsmanship?! Crocodile wondered. That level of skill spoke of decades of discipline. And his physique? Why is it so monstrously powerful?!
Does the world truly produce geniuses of this caliber?
To Crocodile, it defied logic. Li Ke looked to be in his early twenties. At that age, having one standout ability was impressive enough—but to excel in three distinct disciplines was unheard of. Most importantly, how had a man this dangerous remained completely off the radar until now?
"A man like you shouldn't be a nobody," Crocodile spat, struggling to his feet. His physical wound wasn't fatal yet, but a seed of dread had taken root in his heart. He was already beginning to feel that victory against Li Ke was impossible.
Glancing at his surroundings, Crocodile began calculating his escape. He wasn't abandoning his pursuit of Robin—she was far too valuable—but he needed to regroup. He planned to whittle down Li Ke's strength with sheer numbers, heal his wounds, and strike again when the odds were in his favor. To stay and fight while heavily injured against a fresh opponent was a gamble that could ruin his entire grand design.
But...
Li Ke, with his Observation Haki fully unleashed, looked at the "Sand Crocodile" in sheer amazement. He could sense it all!
Crocodile's hesitation, his strategic retreat, his intended escape route, and the very blueprints of his schemes—everything flickered through Li Ke's mind with startling clarity.
He saw the way the man thought: the feint Crocodile planned to throw, the backup plan if that feint failed... it all unfolded before Li Ke's eyes. Not only that, but Li Ke began to experience visual hallucinations—visions of multiple combat scenarios and their eventual outcomes.
The visions made him pause, but a moment later, the wind picked up. The movement of the sand and the shift of the breeze matched his "hallucinations" with terrifying precision.
Future sight, mind reading, and communing with all things...
Is this really just Observation Haki?
Li Ke felt a wave of disorientation. These were specialized abilities usually reserved for the absolute masters of Haki, yet they were all manifesting within him simultaneously.
"So this is why they call it 'Observation,'" Li Ke murmured. "It truly lives up to the name."
Li Ke gave a short laugh and lunged at Crocodile once more.
It was over. Every move Crocodile was about to make, every desperate gambit he had planned—Li Ke saw them all!
Crocodile watched in sheer horror as Li Ke navigated the collapsing terrain, dodging every sand trap with impossible precision. Panic-stricken, the Shichibukai swung his golden hook, unleashing his power to create a screen of dust, intending to dissolve into the sand and vanish.
But Li Ke's blade sliced through the grit without hesitation. Coating the steel in a thin layer of Armament Haki, he thrust the sword toward a seemingly empty patch of air.
That was exactly where Crocodile was.
In an instant, blood sprayed. Crocodile stared down in disbelief at the tip of Kashu protruding from his chest. He couldn't wrap his head around how he had been pinpointed and defeated so flawlessly. It was as if the man before him could truly see the future.
"This... can't be..."
Li Ke withdrew his blade. He had run Crocodile clean through the lung, using the residual heat of the sword to sear the wound. For Crocodile, even breathing would be an agony now, let alone resisting. Attempting to flee would be a death sentence.
The only reason Li Ke had spared his life was simple: he needed Crocodile alive as a witness to prove the conspiracy to usurp the throne.
"Sorry, but it seems this world favors me a bit more," Li Ke said, looking down at Crocodile's collapsing form. He kept his Observation Haki active, choosing to let the fallen warlord know the truth. "And the reason you lost is simple: you think too much."
Crocodile had been defeated so easily because his mind was cluttered with variables—gains, losses, interests, and his own safety. His physical combat skills were as weak as filth, and he was completely ignorant of the three colors of Haki. Facing a "well-rounded" powerhouse like Li Ke while having such a shaky will to fight made a one-shot defeat inevitable.
He was the textbook definition of a man who wanted everything and ended up with nothing. It was the same reason he would eventually lose to Luffy. He overthought every detail, while someone like Luffy only thought about how to knock him down.
In this world, being indecisive or lacking a singular will was the ultimate sin. One could be anything in this sea, but one could never afford to be anything less than "pure" in their intent.
That, after all, was the true lesson of the Pirate King.