Chapter 62: Alabasta – Cobra's Defiance & Robin's Betrayal
King Cobra stared blankly at Crocodile being sent flying, murmuring in disbelief: "Truly… unbelievable…" Before he could finish, a sharp pain suddenly struck, cutting off his thoughts.
Pfft! With a wet sound, Robin used the power of the Hana Hana no Mi to pull the nail from his shoulder.
"This isn't the time for admiration, King Cobra," Robin's cool voice sounded in his ear. "Just take me to where the Poneglyph is stored."
Cobra endured the pain and looked up at Robin: "Why are you so obsessed with it? What exactly are you after?"
"Stop wasting words." Robin's expression remained indifferent. "This has nothing to do with you. You just need to lead the way." She glanced at Luffy who was still locked in fierce combat. "I won't interfere with your fight."
"Hurry up, Nico Robin." Crocodile stood again in front of Luffy, his face dark. "Unless you want to become a dried corpse. I'm furious right now." He slowly crouched, pressing his right hand to the lawn. "Straw Hat brat, listen carefully—the rocks on the surface will one day crumble to dust."
As he spoke, everything around them began drying up rapidly. "Ground Desiccation!" Crocodile shouted sharply. The ground cracked like it had suffered a thousand years of drought—even the earth beneath Luffy's feet collapsed instantly.
"Waaah! I'm gonna fall!" Luffy hurriedly braced both feet against the crumbling walls, holding himself in a splits position in midair. "Damn it! Take this—Water Water Gun!" Hanging upside down, he fired a barrage of water bullets at Crocodile—only to have them easily absorbed.
"With just this level you think you can beat me?" Crocodile sneered. "The essence of the Suna Suna no Mi is the power of 'desiccation.'" He raised his right hand. "Watch—this hand can make everything wither!"
"Let everything turn to dust! Erosion Reincarnation!" As the ability activated, the surrounding buildings rapidly weathered and collapsed into sand as though they had endured millennia of erosion. The entire courtyard turned into desert in an instant—even Luffy's boots weren't spared.
Luffy quickly stretched his arms to grab the surrounding wall: "Phew… close call… the whole courtyard turned into desert? Where did that guy go?"
"You actually made me go this far." The sand-formed Crocodile suddenly appeared in front of Luffy, effortlessly dodging the water bullets before seizing his throat.
"You missed—so the game ends, Straw Hat brat." Watching the boy in his grip gradually wither, a cruel pleasure flashed in Crocodile's eyes. He casually tossed the mummified-looking Luffy downward.
"I should head to the West District's Mausoleum—where Nico Robin said it is…" Before the words finished, his body dissolved into flowing sand and vanished.
"Puhah! Thought I was gonna die…" The earlier stray water bullet coincidentally fell, pulling Luffy back from the brink of death. "That bastard went west… just you wait, Crocodile!" Revived, Luffy clenched his fist and dashed toward the west.
Meanwhile, Sol had dealt with the Baroque Works agents in the clock tower and successfully retrieved the special bomb. As he descended the stairs, preparing to hurl it skyward to detonate, Nami and the others came rushing over.
"Usopp!" The moment she saw him, Nami swung the Clima-Tact and smashed it hard against the back of Usopp's head. "Who told you to make all these messed-up party props?! You almost got me killed!"
"But they ended up being useful, didn't they!" Usopp clutched his head, grimacing in pain as he defended himself.
"You damn idiot—if I hadn't figured it out in time and eaten that Devil Fruit, I swear I'd curse you to hell even after I died!" Nami's rage flared hotter, her finger nearly jabbing into Usopp's nose. "If I had died, I wouldn't let you off even as a ghost!"
Chopper was frantically bandaging Zoro and Sanji's wounds. "You two are hurt so badly?! Hold on!"
"No, Doctor Chopper—treat the moss-head first," Sanji said calmly, cigarette in mouth. "I'm afraid he'll bleed out and die on the spot."
"Hmph, better check the perverted kappa first," Zoro shot back without yielding. "He's been clutching his chest the whole time—probably broke several ribs."
While the two bickered, Chopper couldn't take it anymore. He jumped up and gave each a hard knock on the head. "Both of you! Lie down quietly and accept treatment!"
"Yes sir!" they replied in unison, finally behaving.
"Yo, everyone's here. Now we're just missing Luffy." Sol walked over carrying a massive bomb, greeting the group casually before handing it to Usopp. "This bomb has a five-kilometer blast radius. See if you can do something with your ability."
Usopp hugged the bomb, activated his powers to modify it, and soon showed a confident grin. "Done! Now it's under my control!" He excitedly stowed the bomb away. "Hehe, this is a nice trump card!"
"Be careful with it," Sol gave him a glance. "If it explodes on the ship later, everyone's going to heaven with you."
"Don't worry! This great inventor has it covered!" Usopp thumped his chest proudly.
Sol nodded, turning to leave. "I'm going to keep an eye on Luffy. If you guys have nothing else, go help Vivi at the city gate."
"Got it!" the group replied in unison.
——————
Deep inside the Mausoleum, the Poneglyph stood silently.
Robin's fingers gently traced the ancient text, her eyes reflecting the cryptic runes. Cobra sat to the side and asked gravely:
"Is there… what you were looking for on it?"
Robin didn't turn, only answering softly: "Is there nothing else? Any more Poneglyphs about this country's history?"
Cobra shook his head: "Only this one. Not satisfied?"
Robin fell silent for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, heavy footsteps came from behind.
"So this is the Poneglyph, Nico Robin." Crocodile's figure slowly emerged from the shadows, a cold smile on his lips.
He glanced sideways at Robin and said flatly: "Can you read it?"
"Yes."
"Then translate every single word for me." Crocodile's tone left no room for refusal.
As Robin read aloud, Crocodile's expression gradually darkened. Finally, he smashed his fist into the stone wall, sending sand cascading down.
"Who cares about this country's history?!" he roared. "Tell me where Pluton is!!"
Robin closed her hands, expression calm: "Unfortunately, this only records Alabasta's history. There's no mention of the 'Pluton' you want."
"Is that so…" Crocodile laughed in furious irony. "Four years, Robin. For Baroque Works, your mind and abilities were impeccable…" His gaze turned icy. "But you broke our agreement—so now I have no choice but to kill you myself!"
"Or perhaps…" He narrowed his eyes. "You know the clue but refuse to tell me?"
Before the words finished, he swung his left golden hook! Robin had anticipated it—she quickly retreated while throwing off her coat to reveal a hidden water bottle.
"Hmph. Four years of cooperation—how could I not guard against you?" Robin sneered coldly. A hand suddenly sprouted from Crocodile's left shoulder and caught the bottle firmly.
"As long as water touches you, you're no longer invincible!" Robin drew a dagger in reverse grip and thrust the cold blade straight toward Crocodile!
But the instant the bottle tipped, Crocodile's body turned to sand. The water passed harmlessly through the phantom and spilled onto the ground. In the next second, the golden hook pierced Robin's chest like a venomous snake!
Pshht— Blood sprayed.
Crocodile slowly withdrew the hook, letting Robin stagger backward before collapsing powerlessly to the floor.
His voice was low and cruel: "After you die… I'll forgive you for everything, Nico Robin."
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