53: Chapter 53: Defeating Old Man Crocodile and Revealing the Whole Truth"As expected of you, Crocodile.You can be so ruthless even to your own comrade," Luffy said, looking at the dying Robin lying on the ground.At the same time, his fingers twitched, and smiling green shoots enveloped the wound on Robin's abdomen, slowly healing her.Crocodile frowned, watching Luffy.He hadn't expected Luffy to be so resilient, surviving such a situation.But it didn't matter; this time he was going to completely defeat Luffy, the "Desert Diamond Blade."
Crocodile struck first, his hands transforming into four enormous sand blades that slashed towards Luffy.The surrounding walls were sliced apart layer by layer by these sand blades.Luffy dared not be careless, leaping into the air to dodge, his hands covered in Armament Haki, aiming at Crocodile, and unleashing a barrage of punches like a storm.Crocodile, not daring to take the blows head-on, quickly dodged, but Luffy's fists seemed to have a tracking system, relentlessly pursuing him.With no way to avoid them, Crocodile was still hit by Luffy's dense rain of punches.Because of his Armament Haki, Crocodile could not transform into his elemental form and could only endure the blows.As Luffy's attack stopped, Crocodile clutched his chest and leaned against the wall.He was no longer as composed as before; his face was covered in bruises, and he coughed up blood intermittently.He had never been so disheveled.Overwhelmed by rage, he pulled out the tip of his weapon, revealing a highly poisonous hook.The venom dripped from the hook onto the ground, rising in a wisp of smoke."Straw Hat Kid, I will definitely kill you!"
Crocodile roared and charged at Luffy, raising his hook to stab him.Robin, who had been lying on the ground, slowly awoke and, seeing this, warned Luffy to be careful, as Crocodile's hook was highly poisonous.Luffy turned and gave a confident smile.Just as Crocodile was about to strike, countless clods of earth suddenly rose from the ground, forming a sphere that enveloped Crocodile.Luffy thoughtfully covered the inner walls with ice power, leaving only Crocodile's head and limbs exposed."Frozen Earth Cage, you never expected this, did you, Crocodile?Did you really think I couldn't defeat you last time because I was too weak?You're sorely mistaken.If I wanted to defeat you, I could have done it in the Rainlands.But defeating you there and bringing you here would be too much trouble.It's much easier to just finish you off in the capital."
Luffy approached Crocodile, whose face was contorted in a ferocious grin, a confident smile playing on his lips.He gently patted Crocodile's face, as if disciplining a disobedient child.
"You bastard, don't be so arrogant!" Old Sha said through gritted teeth, his eyes wide with anger.He had never suffered such humiliation before.
However, Luffy seemed unfazed, turning and walking towards Robin.His steps were firm and powerful, seemingly unconcerned about Crocodile's anger.Robin, seeing Luffy approach, was surprised.She had expected a fierce confrontation, but he had defeated Crocodile so easily."Robin, are you alright?" Luffy asked with concern.Robin's eyes widened in disbelief.Since setting sail, everyone she had encountered had only wanted to use her; no one had ever shown her such concern as Luffy had today.Robin nodded stiffly, indicating she was fine."I'll make you pay for what you did today!" Crocodile's voice held a resolute edge.Having failed to get what he wanted and been treated so humiliatingly by Luffy, he was determined to drag both of them down with him, even in death.Crocodile broke free from Luffy's grasp, conjuring a sandstorm in his hand.Luffy, however, remained calm and composed.He shrugged, not stopping Crocodile's actions, and said with a nonchalant smile, "Then try it!"
"Heavyweight Sandstorm"
As the sandstorm intensified, Crocodile allowed its power to ravage the underground, making the already dilapidated palace even more precarious.Robin watched the ever-growing sandstorm in despair, closing her eyes and awaiting death.Luffy, however, wore a serious expression.He first knocked Crocodile unconscious with a single punch, then, gazing at the sandstorm, conjured ice and wind power in his left and right hands respectively, creating the "Ice Whirlwind."
Inside the palace below, the sandstorm roared and raged like a ferocious beast.Suddenly, an icy whirlwind appeared in the center of the sandstorm, mixed with ice crystals, and collided fiercely with the sandstorm.The two were locked in a life-or-death struggle, devouring each other.
As time passed, the icy whirlwind gradually gained the upper hand.Its frigid power chased and neutralized Crocodile's sandstorm, slowly engulfing it.The sandstorm's power weakened, while the icy whirlwind grew stronger, its chilling aura filling the air.Finally, Crocodile's sandstorm vanished under the whirlwind's relentless pursuit.Silence returned to the underground palace.Looking at the crumbling structure, Luffy hoisted Robin onto his back, grabbed Crocodile by the collar, and prepared to return to the surface."Leave me here, I don't want to live anymore."
Robin called out to Luffy, but he ignored her, leaping back to the ground and placing Robin down.He left with the words, "Live well, for only by living can you find hope," and then drifted away.Robin watched Luffy leave, a strange emotion flashing in her eyes.She got up and walked towards the port.Luffy landed from the air, hoisted Crocodile onto the city wall, and threw him to the ground.Vivi rushed forward, her gaze fixed on Crocodile on Luffy's shoulder, her eyes filled with complex emotions.Tears of emotion streamed down her face, her lips trembling slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't express herself in words.
Luffy sensed Vivi's emotions, gently patted her shoulder, and gave her an encouraging smile.Vivi raised her hand, wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and tried to calm herself down.
The wind howled on the city walls, and Vivi's skirt and hair fluttered in the wind.She took a deep breath, walked to Crocodile's side, and gazed at him.Crocodile's eyes were tightly closed, seemingly unconscious.Vivi relaxed completely.Three whole years had passed, and Crocodile had finally been defeated.At that moment, dark clouds filled the sky, and with a loud boom, Alabasta welcomed its first rain in three years.Everyone stared blankly at the sky, feeling the long-awaited rain.Just then, Luffy took a bucket of water and splashed it on Crocodile to wake him up.Looking at everything around him, Crocodile knew that all was lost.Just as he was about to say something harsh, Luffy swiftly stuffed three honesty lollipops into his mouth.Before Crocodile could react, Luffy had already swallowed them by hand, almost causing him to choke to death."Come on, tell me, who did all this?"
Crocodile was dragged to the city wall by Luffy, who placed a megaphone amplified ten thousand times in front of him.Crocodile didn't want to speak, but some unknown force made his mouth involuntarily begin to recount everything he had done.Crocodile tried desperately to control himself, but it was beyond his control.As everything Crocodile said was amplified, everyone below realized that they had been deceived by Crocodile all along, and finally realized that they had misunderstood their country's king.Smoker, who had just arrived, overheard everything and was about to arrest Crocodile when a figure fell down in front of him.Upon closer inspection, it was Crocodile, who had been knocked unconscious again by Luffy.