Royal Palace of Alubarna
Chaka had already collapsed to the ground.
The difference in strength was too great.
Far too great.
"Weakness itself is a cri."
Sir Crocodile raised his golden hook.
If he had not been trying to avoid pushing Cobra too far, everyone present would already be dead.
Vivi's pale legs gave out beneath her.
She dropped to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that mont—
A blond man wearing purple-lensed sunglasses entered the palace.
The mont he saw the scene before him, he froze in shock.
"Koza!"
As soon as he appeared, everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"...Am I seeing things?"
Koza's breathing grew heavy as he stared at the devastation around him.
"I ca here intending to persuade the king... but instead..."
"Chaka... and the king himself... are about to be killed by this country's so-called hero!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Crocodile laughed arrogantly.
His right hand, decorated with a jeweled ring, opened slightly as a miniature sandstorm ford in his palm.
"You seem confused."
"It's simple."
"Just use your imagination... and picture the worst possible scenario."
Nearby, Nico Robin leaned quietly against the wall.
Her graceful figure was half-hidden in shadow, making her expression impossible to read.
"Vivi... tell sothing."
Koza's voice trembled.
"Who stole the rain from this country?"
"Of course it was ."
Crocodile answered casually.
"The drought you blad on the king... was actually a trap set by Baroque Works."
"You rebels have been quite entertaining these past two years."
"The royal family and the Royal Army have been dancing in the palm of my hand!"
"Hahahaha!"
His maniacal laughter struck Koza like a hamr.
Koza's face turned deathly pale.
"T-That's impossible..."
"You're the hero of this country...!"
"You must be joking!"
He clutched his head and collapsed to his knees.
If this was true—
Then the past two years of rebellion...
Had been nothing but a terrible mistake.
"No..."
"There's still a chance!"
Koza suddenly raised his head.
His eyes were bloodshot.
"As long as I can kill you!!"
"No..."
"There's no chance anymore."
Tears stread down Vivi's beautiful face.
Her voice was hoarse with despair.
"In less than thirty minutes... the square in front of the palace will be blown up!"
"What?!"
Koza stared at her in disbelief.
"Hurry!"
"You're the only one who can save the people now!"
King Cobra shouted desperately.
Blood loss had drained all color from his face.
"Heh... how interesting."
Crocodile chuckled softly.
At the Clock Tower
A violent storm raged around the tower.
At its center—
Luffy gripped an iron pillar and spun wildly.
Faster.
Faster.
3 rotations per second.
5 rotations per second.
10 rotations per second.
100 rotations per second...
3,000 rotations per second!!
Lightning began crackling within the storm.
Then—
In a single instant—
Luffy released his grip.
A red streak tore across the sky.
It shot over half of Alubarna at a speed impossible to follow with the naked eye.
"VIVI!!"
"I'M HERE!!"
His voice echoed through the entire royal palace.
Crocodile snapped his head toward the sound.
But—
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Black Armant Haki flowed over Luffy's fist like liquid tal.
Then—
He punched.
Like a falling teor.
BOOM!!
The fist slamd into Crocodile's abdon.
A massive shockwave exploded from his back.
His vest and black fur coat were blown apart instantly.
CRACK—CRACK—
The sound of bones breaking echoed.
Crocodile's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
His body shot through the air like a missile—
As if he had been struck by a high-speed train.
Shockwaves rippled through the sky.
The sheer force of the punch was overwhelming.
Luffy landed in front of Vivi.
Crocodile's blood stained his fist and cheek.
"So... strong..."
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Even Robin's normally calm expression faltered.
Not long ago, this boy had nearly died.
Yet in such a short ti—
His strength had changed completely.
A monster.
A true monster.
"LUFFY!!"
Vivi suddenly turned and threw herself into his arms.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Her tears soaked into his shirt.
Her face buried against his chest.
For the first ti in years—
She felt warmth.
That warmth instantly drove away the fear, confusion, and exhaustion in her heart.
Luffy froze awkwardly.
But feeling her trembling body—
He decided not to move.
Nearby—
Cobra, Koza, and the unconscious Chaka stared in shock.
Their daughter.
Their childhood friend.
Their princess.
...was tightly hugging so random young man.
After a long mont—
Luffy gently held Vivi's shoulders and moved her back.
His deep gaze t her sky-blue eyes.
"Vivi."
"Go do what you need to do."
"That crocodile..."
"...leave him to ."
Luffy smiled.
That smile was like a fresh breeze, sweeping away everyone's exhaustion.
He pressed down the brim of his straw hat.
Then he crouched slightly.
When he pushed off—
The entire palace trembled.
CRACK!!
The ground within a hundred ters shattered instantly.
BOOM!!
Luffy launched into the sky, chasing in the direction Crocodile had flown.
Outside Alubarna
The massive explosion echoed across the desert.
The Rebel Army and Royal Army both covered their ears as the sound thundered through the battlefield.
Everyone looked up in shock.
"What... is that?"
On the horizon—
A gigantic mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Under the golden light of dusk, the scene looked like the end of the world.
anwhile
BOOM!
A figure crashed through multiple buildings.
Each impact sent debris flying.
White shockwaves rippled along his trajectory.
"Cough...!!"
Crocodile lay in the rubble, covered in blood.
Several of his ribs were broken.
Even his consciousness began to blur.
"What...?"
The explosion on the horizon caught his attention.
He pushed himself up slowly and stared at the mushroom cloud in the distance.
"Why now...?"
"Why didn't it explode in the square?!"
"What are those two idiots doing?!"
Crocodile's anger boiled over.
Then—
A figure appeared in his vision.
Moving so fast it broke the sound barrier.
Luffy descended with a crushing kick.
Crocodile imdiately transford into sand and retreated.
BOOM!!
Luffy's sandal smashed into the ground.
The earth shattered violently.
Stone fragnts flew in every direction.
Crocodile's eyes widened.
"...Armant Haki?!"
"Why would sothing from the New World appear in Paradise?!"
Blood dripped from his cigar.
His expression turned grim.
"You damned brat..."
"...who the hell are you?!"
Back at the Palace
Vivi and Koza ran toward the gates.
They had to stop the rebellion.
Robin quietly removed the spikes pinning Cobra to the wall.
"Co."
"Take to see the Poneglyph."
Supporting the injured king, Robin led him toward the royal tomb.
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