Adrian didn't even need to speak.
His subordinates had already charged forward with sharp awareness the instant Crocodile gave the order.
Two forces collided.
Weapons clashed.
The battle erupted in full.
Originally, anyone watching might've expected a fierce, drawn-out fight—
a clash between two dangerous organizations.
But reality unfolded in the most humiliating way:
Baroque Works was completely crushed.
A total one-sided slaughter.
Their "officers" were merely at Danger-class strength.
As for their regular members?
Most barely reached the Extraordinary-class, and even that was rare.
Baroque Works could dominate Alabasta only because the country's fighting level was low.
But compared to the wider sea?
They were nothing.
And compared to Adrian's elite squad?
They were lambs walking into a pack of wolves.
His people shone brilliantly on the battlefield,
each one cutting through enemies like a reaper harvesting wheat.
Even though Adrian had given an explicit order beforehand—
"No unnecessary killing."
—because he wasn't a bloodthirsty demon,
but simply a bandit fulfilling his profession—
there was only so much restraint his monsters could show.
With power comes collateral damage.
Even the gentlest strike from someone like Yoriichi
still cut down dozens of Baroque Works members at once.
As for the few Calamity-class subordinates?
They stood behind Adrian, watching the battle with boredom.
Adrian knew very well—
if those monsters stepped in, the battlefield would be empty of life in minutes.
Sometimes, being too strong was also a problem.
After just a brief moment,
aside from the core officers,
almost everyone in Baroque Works lay dead.
Even the officers lay on the ground, heavily injured and unable to stand,
faces pale with terror.
In Alabasta, they were tyrants.
Arrogant rulers.
Unmatched.
Only now did they understand the meaning of:
"There is always someone stronger."
Before Adrian's team,
they were nothing.
Crocodile's jaw hung slack.
Baroque Works—his years of effort, planning, control, and ambition—
was being shredded like paper.
All before his eyes.
"ADRIAN, YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Driven insane by humiliation,
Crocodile lunged toward Adrian.
His legs dissolved into sand,
his right hand swirling with a miniature sandstorm.
"Boss, leave him to me."
Zabuza stepped forward immediately, eager to contribute.
But Adrian shook his head.
"You're not his match."
Crocodile was still one of the Seven Warlords.
A Logia—Sand-Sand Fruit user.
Even weakened from his Whitebeard incident,
he still held at least Citycrusher-level power.
Zabuza couldn't win.
"Let me handle him."
Lucci stepped out calmly.
Adrian nodded.
He trusted Lucci completely.
After the recent training, Lucci's strength had skyrocketed.
He was already among the top tier in Adrian's forces.
Even if Crocodile had three heads and six arms,
he wouldn't be Lucci's opponent.
"Soru."
Lucci's figure vanished instantly—
moving faster than the eye could track.
Before Crocodile could even react,
Lucci appeared in front of him like a ghost.
"The Six Powers…?
You're Navy?
Why are you with Adrian?!"
Crocodile was shocked.
The Six Powers weren't exactly secret—
but anyone who used them was definitely Navy-trained.
"I'm not Navy.
I serve Adrian."
Lucci answered coldly.
Finger Pistol—Shigan!
Lucci thrust a finger straight toward Crocodile's shoulder.
"Hmph, I'm a Logia.
Physical attacks don't—"
But the smirk on Crocodile's face froze instantly.
Blood sprayed forth.
His shoulder—
pierced.
"You… You're using Armament Haki?!"
Crocodile's voice trembled.
In the first half of the Grand Line,
few pirates or Marines possessed Haki.
To meet a Logia-countering Haki expert here
was a nightmare.
But it made sense.
These people had defeated the Navy and the Admirals themselves.
Of course they could use Haki.
He had simply underestimated them.
"As trash like you dares to oppose my boss?
Laughable."
Lucci said, voice icy.
System-summoned subordinates always carried their original personalities—
and Lucci, though usually quiet,
was absolutely capable of sharp arrogance.
Crocodile leapt back, creating distance,
whipping up a massive sandstorm.
Violent.
Chaotic.
Devastating.
But to Lucci,
it was nothing more than a light breeze.
"If you have any more tricks, use them now.
Otherwise, you won't get another chance."
Lucci taunted, curling a finger.
Crocodile roared:
"DIE—ADRIAN'S DOG!!!"
Desert Spada—Golden Sand Blade!
Crocodile gathered power,
transforming his arms into two massive sand blades
capable of cleaving anything in their path.
Lucci didn't move.
"Finally a real attack…
though still not worth dodging."
He activated:
Tekkai (Iron Body).
And for safety,
he coated himself in Armament Haki,
making his defense impenetrable.
Adrian stared at him and sighed helplessly.
"Why do CP9 members always have such blind faith in Tekkai…?"
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