Flap, flap…
Four dried-up corpses collapsed to the ground with dull thuds.
"Sharp Claw Squad, you bastards! Die!"
Chaka roared, transforming into his hybrid jackal-human form.
He had consumed the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Jackal — a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
With a blade gripped tightly in one hand, Chaka leapt through the air, his eyes locked onto Crocodile. He slashed downward with a ferocious arc aimed at Crocodile's midsection.
"Wolf Fang Slash!"
The force behind the strike, powered by Chaka's transformed strength, tore through Crocodile's abdomen — splitting him at the waist.
But…
Lacking Armament Haki, Chaka's strike passed through harmlessly. Crocodile's body disintegrated into sand, slowly reforming.
"Zoan…" Crocodile muttered.
His sand body reassembled without effort, and he smirked with a cigar dangling from his lips.
"You think that can hurt me?"
Crocodile sneered at the transformed Chaka.
"Kuhahaha! Zoan Devil Fruit users really are just muscle-bound idiots charging around like fools."
"Night Wolf Devour!"
Refusing to back down, Chaka lunged again, his long sword gleaming as he charged with full force.
But Crocodile remained unfazed.
"The weak have no right to challenge the strong."
He raised both arms. A torrent of golden sand erupted, engulfing Chaka completely.
---
Chaka crashed to the ground, his body battered and bleeding. He groaned as blood poured from his mouth.
Crocodile approached slowly, wiping blood from his hook as he sneered.
"The incompetence of the weak," he said coldly, "is a sin in itself."
"You'll be defeated… by Shirogai and Luffy!" Vivi shouted from the side, trembling with anger.
Shirogai...
That monstrous force — a figure of power, had arrived with her.
Crocodile's expression shifted as the name struck a nerve. His eyes narrowed on Vivi.
"Princess," he growled, "have you enjoyed the show?"
Swish!
A flash of memory — of nearly being killed by that monster Shirogai, and being forced into a reluctant alliance with him— surged in Crocodile's mind. His killing intent exploded.
He dissolved into a storm of yellow sand and surged toward Vivi.
"Ah!"
Vivi screamed and bolted to the side.
"I didn't think you'd be the one to bring me this much trouble," Crocodile said with a sneer. "Die!"
He reformed in front of Vivi, his right hand snapping out toward her throat.
"Vivi, look out!"
A figure dashed into the fray — it was Koza, leader of the Rebel Army. He had entered through a hidden chamber and leapt forward to protect Vivi.
But Crocodile's sneer only deepened. His hook lashed out with brutal precision — piercing Koza's chest before he could act.
"I spotted you long ago," Crocodile muttered.
"Koza, leader of the Rebel Army. You'll die here."
He twisted the hook.
"I'll blame your death on the princess."
Koza coughed up blood, his face pale with pain.
Vivi's body trembled. She felt Crocodile's cold hand brush against her neck, as if the grip of death itself was tightening.
In that instant—
Crocodile froze.
His entire body locked up. The hook paused mid-swing.
Not because of hesitation.
But because a chilling, deathly intent had stabbed into him like a dagger between the shoulder blades.
A threat.
A presence.
If he moved again... he would be the one to die first.
Who…?
Crocodile's face twisted in alarm.
A figure stood before him.
When had he appeared?
Smiling lightly, almost casually, was a man Crocodile had not expected — Shirogai.
With hands in his pockets and an easy smirk on his face, he asked nonchalantly:
"Crocodile, do you want to die?"
Crocodile's face darkened.
He took a slow step back, retracting his right hand from Vivi's throat, and lowering the hook from Koza's chest.
"Shirogai…" he muttered.
Vivi rushed to Shirogai's side, tears streaming down her face. She clung to him as if holding onto hope itself.
"Shirogai-san! You're finally here! Crocodile—he… he nailed my father to the wall!"
Shirogai didn't move to push her away. He merely watched Crocodile with a calm, almost amused look.
"Relax," he said softly. "Your opponent hasn't even arrived yet. Be patient."
"My… opponent?" Crocodile scoffed.
He gritted his teeth.
"I don't see anyone else in this country capable of fighting me, besides you!"
Shirogai chuckled, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
"You're not worthy to be my opponent," he said coolly. "But don't worry… someone you know well is."
Crocodile's face tightened.
"Hmph… Don't think you can control me."
Meanwhile, Koza struggled to his feet, blood still dripping from his wound. He rushed toward King Cobra, still nailed to the wall.
"What the hell is going on?!" he gasped.
Vivi and Koza quickly helped the wounded king down.
Robin stood silently in the corner, observing everything with calculating calm.
"This entire incident…" Cobra coughed, voice weak, "…was orchestrated by Crocodile. He even burned Dance Powder here in Alubarna…"
He recounted the entire conspiracy.
Koza's expression twisted in horror.
"We were manipulated from the start…"
He collapsed to the ground, shaking with rage. His gaze turned to Crocodile.
"It was all you…"
Crocodile sneered again, unconcerned.
"How amusing. A weakling daring to lecture me?"
His killing intent surged again.
"I could kill you right now."
Cobra ignored his own pain and barked out a command.
"Koza, Vivi — go stop the civil war. The sight of you two together can end it."
Koza hesitated.
"But… Crocodile…"
Cobra looked at Shirogai.
"He won't move while he's here."
Reassured, Koza and Vivi departed to halt the conflict.
But outside, the sound of battle didn't fade.
Instead, the sky began to shift.
Massive sandstorms brewed in the distance. Dozens of tornadoes spun with terrifying power, racing toward the royal city.
"Sandstorms… tornadoes…" Cobra whispered in disbelief.
He looked at Crocodile, voice rising:
"What are you doing?! Do you want to destroy Alubarna completely?!"
But Crocodile only stared back coldly.
"You fool."
He stepped forward, gaze filled with contempt.
"Do you really think this is my doing?"
He gestured toward the calm man beside him.
"These storms… these disasters… they were brought by the savior you pinned your hopes on!"
Crocodile let out a wild, scornful laugh, pointing at Shirogai.
"The one you believe will save you — he's the one who brought destruction to your doorstep!"
---
Lmao, is the Mc low-key a villain?
__
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