In the desert, the battle between two Logia users raged on.
"Sandstorm!"
Crocodile conjured a miniature sand tornado in his hand. Taking advantage of the desert terrain, the whirlwind rapidly expanded into a massive sandstorm.
"Smoker! The way you've developed your White Smoke is commendable! But in a clash between smoke and sand, you have no advantage whatsoever!"
"Against ordinary opponents, you might be able to suffocate them... but against a fellow Logia user like me, what can you do?"
"..."
Smoker shook his head. "Crocodile, what exactly have you been scheming all these years? Usurping a kingdom? Just like Doflamingo?"
"He almost succeeded because of his unique advantage... But you? You don't stand a chance!"
"White Bind!"
A massive pillar of smoke shot into the sky, merging with the colossal sandstorm. As the white smoke thickened, the storm itself took on a dual-colored swirl.
"White Cloud Burst!"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from within the storm, instantly dispersing the towering sand vortex! Sand rained down like a torrential storm, while Crocodile sneered.
"Sand and smoke can never truly overpower one another, but your fighting style is far too exhausting."
"And this is the desert—my domain! My abilities are greatly amplified here! The moment your stamina runs out will be the moment of your defeat!"
As the falling sand fused with the shifting dunes below, Crocodile used them as a conduit for near-instantaneous movement, flickering from place to place!
"..."
Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke. "I have to admit, Crocodile, you figured out my weakness pretty quickly."
"But... do you really think you'll last long enough to exhaust me?"
"Hmph! There's no way you can—ugh!"
Before Crocodile could finish his taunt, Smoker struck! Without even turning, he drove his "White Jitte" backward, slamming it forcefully into Crocodile.
"You... how did you—"
"That... that weapon..."
Crocodile's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Smoker's jitte. The weapon... had turned black.
For the first time in years, he felt genuine, searing pain—an agonizing reminder of a power wielded by the elite of the New World.
Haki.
Specifically, Armament Haki—the ability to strike the true bodies of Logia users.
"So this is what happens when you rely too much on scheming instead of actual strength?"
Logia users did have ways to avoid Armament Haki attacks—by using powerful Observation Haki, they could preemptively shift into their elemental form, dodging the attack entirely.
But clearly, Crocodile lacked such mastery over Observation Haki.
And with Smoker's battle-hardened experience from the New World—wielding both Armament and Observation Haki alongside his unique smoke abilities—he was now capable of completely dominating Crocodile!
"What a disappointment, Crocodile... I was actually looking forward to this fight!"
"Now, prepare yourself!"
...
In the Royal Palace Courtyard...
Mr. 3's signature wax hair bun was ablaze as he piloted his towering "Candle Champion" armor, throwing massive fists at Captain T Bone.
"Behold my greatest artistic masterpiece!"
"This armor's hardness rivals steel—it has no weaknesses!"
"Champion's Strike: Road Flattening Barrage!"
The massive "robot" unleashed a rapid flurry of punches, a storm of iron fists crashing down on the much smaller Penn.
But Bone gripped his greatsword tightly and charged forward.
"Right-Angle Flash—Bone Sky Cleave!"
A uniquely angled energy slash materialized into a rectangular strike. With a single swing, Mr. 3's so-called invincible armor was sliced clean in half!
Mr. 3 tumbled out of his destroyed suit, coughing up blood as he collapsed.
The sharp click of Seastone cuffs echoed as they snapped onto his wrists, instantly draining his strength.
"Damn it... Since when were Marine Headquarters captains this strong..."
The last thing he heard before losing consciousness was Bone's resolute declaration:
"You treacherous scum! I, 'Ship-Cleaving Swordsman' T Bone, will never forgive you!"
"The blade of justice cuts through all!"
...
Elsewhere...
"So, Nico Robin... You leaked Baroque Works' list of senior agents to King Cobra, allowing him to counter their plans in time."
"What was your objective?"
Robin resisted the instinct to flee.
She had exposed Baroque Works' top agents because she did not want Crocodile's scheme to succeed. Alabasta could be thrown into chaos—but it could not be allowed to fall.
If Crocodile seized the kingdom and gained military power, the world would plunge into turmoil.
Especially because of... that thing.
"Vice Admiral Wright... I never expected you to personally intervene in Alabasta."
"In that case, Crocodile's plan must have completely collapsed by now."
Robin spoke with difficulty. Originally, she had intended to use Crocodile's ambitions to get close to Cobra and force him to take her to the place she sought.
But Wright's intervention—his precise strategies and overwhelming power—had shattered all of her plans. Though she was technically not restrained, she dared not make a single reckless move.
She knew full well that this seemingly kind young man was a "monster" on the same level as that person from her past.
"Brrrr... brrrr... brrrr..."
A Den Den Mushi rang. Wright answered—it was Smoker.
"Click."
"Yo, Smoker. All done?"
Across the vast desert, Smoker stood over Crocodile's unconscious, bloodied body. Wearing smoke-formed gauntlets, he pulled out a pair of Seastone cuffs from a specialized pouch at his waist.
He snapped them onto Crocodile's wrists before picking up the receiver.
"Yeah, it's done. Crocodile... in the end, he didn't even try to run."
"Alabasta's desert was the perfect battlefield for him. If he had chosen to flee, even with my Haki, catching him would've been near impossible."
"Hah. A prideful warlord of the sea. If he had run, I'd be more surprised."
Wright chuckled, glancing at the relieved King Cobra and the still-stunned Robin.
"Well then... from Mr. 0 down, all of Baroque Works' senior agents have been completely annihilated."
"Half an hour ago, I already received reports from Hina, Kuina, and Cavendish. And as for Bone... well, we just witnessed him finishing the job."
Wright's Observation Haki had already "seen" T Bone cutting down Mr. 3, while Miss Goldenweek stood frozen in shock.
Turning back to Smoker, Wright continued: "Hina is already guarding Princess Vivi. Bring Crocodile here and detain him in the castle cells. Coordinate with the others to transport the rest of the captured agents."
"Captain T Bone is handling cleanup operations. Coordinate with him first—I have some matters to discuss with King Cobra."
"Understood."
"Click."
Wright turned to Cobra and spoke with a reassuring nod.
"It's over, Your Majesty. Crocodile has been completely defeated."
Cobra nodded, then shifted his gaze to Nico Robin—who was still reeling in shock.
"Now then, Nico Robin, you were Crocodile's partner. You should know exactly what he was planning."
"What was Crocodile's true goal? Why did he set his sights on Alabasta?"
"Was the status of a Warlord of the Sea not enough to satisfy him?"
Nico Robin let out a wry smile. "Vice Admiral Wright, I didn't expect that in less than an hour since your operation began—far earlier than planned—you would have already crushed everything..."
"As a wanted criminal of the World Government, I suppose this was my own arrogance... walking straight into a trap. I have nothing to say."
"Nico Robin, do you know why I chose to keep you here alone?"
Wright took a seat, forming a triangle with Cobra and Robin. "I know far more about you than you might think..."
"There's no need to be nervous. If I wanted to capture you, I would have done so long ago... I owe Kuzan-senpai that much. Since he's been watching you, I wouldn't act on my own accord."
"...Kuzan?"
Robin's pupils dilated, and before she could stop herself, the name dragged her deep into old memories.
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