It had been over an hour since the battles of Zoro and Sanji began, unfolding simultaneously in different corners of Rainbase. During this time, Douglas continued his stealth operation, diligently assembling and placing a series of small-scale explosives throughout strategic points within the base. While Zoro and Sanji engaged their respective enemies among the Baroque Works agents, Douglas could still sense a strong, lingering hostility radiating from Rainbase itself—evidence of the sheer number of mercenaries and soldiers Baroque Works had amassed over the years.
Despite the volatile situation, Douglas remained patient. He knew that striking too early would only complicate things for Vivi and the Kingdom of Arabasta. His goal wasn't just to defeat Crocodile—it was to make him confess his crimes in his own words. Only then could Vivi and the King be free of any political repercussions once Crocodile fell. For now, Douglas simply waited and listened in on the conversation happening in the chamber where Crocodile and Robin were speaking with their prisoners—Luffy, Nami, Usopp, and the recently arrived Smoker.
As it turned out, Smoker's presence was a boon. Overconfident and eager to flaunt his perceived superiority, Crocodile began talking more freely than he should have. He dismissed Smoker and Luffy as non-threats, revealing his plans without hesitation. Douglas listened attentively, and finally, the moment he had been waiting for arrived.
"Kuhahahaha! The people of Arabasta are so simple and naive—just like you, Straw Hat Luffy. So trusting of strangers. They don't even realize that their supposed hero is the one orchestrating their suffering. Meanwhile, their villain? He's the one who should be their true savior. How ironic. How amusing," Crocodile sneered with a cruel grin, relishing in his own twisted sense of humor.
Luffy's and Smoker's eyes widened at the revelation.
"What do you mean by that?" Luffy asked, his confusion evident as he struggled to piece the implications together.
"It means he's the mastermind behind everything that's been happening in Arabasta," Smoker clarified with a cold tone, glaring at Crocodile.
"Hahahaha! How clueless can they be? A sandstorm hitting the same spot repeatedly? That's no coincidence," Crocodile said, raising a hand as he summoned a small sandstorm with his Devil Fruit powers, swirling it menacingly in the air for dramatic effect.
"You're the reason the Yuba Oasis dried up!" Nami shouted, horrified by the revelation.
Crocodile merely laughed again, unbothered by their reactions. But Douglas, still hidden, smiled silently to himself. This was the final piece he needed.
He pressed a button on a small device in his hand, completing the recording. The confession was captured and instantly transmitted via a Den-Den Mushi connected to a secure broadcast line. Now, the truth could be shared. With precise timing, Douglas activated another mechanism, prompting four small camera-like robots to crawl into position at each corner of the cage.
These devices released a highly corrosive chemical compound. Though odorless at first, once it began eating through the metal, the chemical reaction released a pungent scent that immediately caught everyone's attention.
"What is that smell?" Crocodile asked sharply, glancing around. Robin, feigning ignorance, shrugged nonchalantly.
Within seconds, the front section of the cage corroded and collapsed entirely. The prisoners—Luffy, Nami, Usopp, and Smoker—were now free. Crocodile's eyes widened in shock, unable to grasp how the situation had turned so suddenly. Usopp and Nami, however, exchanged a knowing glance. Douglas had briefed them beforehand.
"Hahaha! Alright! Time to kick your ass!" Luffy shouted with a grin, immediately lunging at Crocodile and throwing a punch.
But his fist passed right through Crocodile's body, hitting nothing but air. Crocodile had transformed into sand. Angered by the bold move, Crocodile retaliated. He reappeared behind Usopp and slashed him with his poison-tipped hook.
"Usopp!" both Nami and Luffy cried out in horror as Usopp collapsed, the poison quickly taking effect and leaving him barely conscious.
As Luffy and Nami panicked, Smoker jumped into action, launching his own attack on Crocodile. The two clashed fiercely, smoke and sand colliding in a chaotic blur. Robin remained at the edge of the room, silently watching the battle unfold with unreadable eyes.
Luffy, consumed by rage, kept trying to land a hit on Crocodile, but his fists passed through him again and again. One of Luffy's missed punches struck a large viewing window facing the sea, causing a hairline crack to appear—Crocodile noticed it, smirking ominously.
Meanwhile, as Nami tended to the weakened Usopp, she suddenly felt a hand grab her from behind. Robin had moved. In a swift motion, Robin struck Nami, knocking her to the ground. Nami reached for her Clima-Tact, but Robin's grip prevented her from grabbing it.
Back at the main fight, Smoker continued clashing with Crocodile. Luffy, despite his attacks being ineffective, stayed close, acting as a distraction. Smoker's intervention prevented Crocodile from focusing fully on either of them. In one synchronized attack, both Smoker and Luffy struck Crocodile again. He phased into sand to dodge, slipping through a vent and out of the room. Robin followed immediately after.
Unfortunately, their combined strike shattered another sea-facing window. Within seconds, seawater surged into the chamber, quickly flooding the room.
Nami, still recovering from Robin's blow, slowly stood up, pain radiating from her shoulder. As she did, she heard something clink to the floor. Looking down, she saw a small vial labeled Antidote. It had fallen right where Robin had grabbed her.
'Why would she...?' Nami thought in confusion, before shaking it off and rushing to administer the antidote to Usopp.
Gradually, Usopp's labored breathing slowed and returned to normal. Nami let out a breath of relief—but there was no time to rest. She turned to check on Luffy, only to find him and Smoker being swept through the shattered window by the rushing seawater, sinking into the lower level—where the Bananadiles awaited.
Nami wasted no time. She dragged Usopp to the stairs to keep him safe from drowning. Then, grabbing her Clima-Tact, she dove into the water after Luffy and Smoker. Multiple Bananadiles began swimming toward the helpless pair, circling like predators sensing blood.
With determination burning in her eyes, Nami used her weapon to launch precise electrical shocks at the sea creatures, forcing them to retreat momentarily. She reached Luffy first, pulling him free from a Bananadile's grip. Then, with one arm wrapped around her unconscious captain and the other gripping the Clima-Tact tightly, she began her desperate ascent back to the surface, refusing to let any of her crewmates die that day.
As soon as Luffy surfaced and caught his breath, he immediately turned to Nami, his voice urgent. "Nami! Get him out too!"
Nami hesitated, protesting instinctively. "What? Are you serious? He's a Marine!"
But when she saw the look in Luffy's eyes—fierce, unwavering, and filled with determination—her words caught in her throat. Without another moment of argument, she took a deep breath and dove back underwater, swimming down toward Smoker's unconscious body.
Luffy, now free of the water's grip, didn't wait. Without wasting a single second, he bolted toward the door, his sandals slapping against the wet floor as he sprinted down the corridor. His only focus now was catching up to Crocodile—and finishing what had been started.