Rainbase
The sand moved in slow spirals as Riser walked with measured steps across the Rainbase desert. The Going Merry rested nearby, a surreal contrast against the casino city and the desert dust.
Mr. 3's dead weight dragged across the ground, the seastone cuffs creaking with every step. His body trembled, but he had no strength to resist.
The silence was suffocating.
The golden glow in Riser's eyes reflected the lights of the city ahead. His lazy smile never wavered.
"Don't worry, Galdino. You won't be the first to fall tonight."
Mr. 3 panted, his breath short and erratic.
"I… I can be useful… I—"
Riser's boot struck his ribs with a dry kick.
"Don't annoy me."
His body collapsed onto the hot sand. He tried to lift his head, but the weight of the cuffs drained him completely.
'I don't want to die… I don't…'
The sound of dragging footsteps mixed with the whisper of the wind. Each heartbeat echoed like a funeral drum.
They had arrived.
The circle of prisoners still breathed, but the scene was pathetic.
Crocodile lay slumped on the ground, his face half-buried in the sand, breathing slow and controlled, but without strength to react.
Mr. 1 was unconscious, his forehead bleeding from a hard blow.
Mr. 2, once vibrant and exuberant, lay like a broken doll, a dark bruise growing on the side of his head.
Miss Doublefinger didn't even move.
At the center of it all, Alvida rested her mace on her shoulder, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Ahahah! You're finally back, boss."
Riser raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the fallen bodies.
"You didn't waste any time."
She twirled the mace in her fingers.
"I don't like prisoners who ask too many questions."
Riser smiled.
"Good."
A chill ran down Alvida's spine. The fear was still there. But it was a controlled fear. As long as she followed the rules, everything would be fine.
She learned that early.
"Did that one give you any trouble?"
Her eyes fell on Mr. 3, still crawling like a worm in the sand.
Rainbase – The Fall of Crocodile
Riser gave a light tug on the chain.
"Not for long."
He flung the agent into the middle of the other prisoners, Mr. 3's body rolling to a stop in front of Alvida.
She tilted her head, tapping the mace lightly against her palm.
"Want me to have fun with him too?"
Mr. 3 tried to speak, but only a choked sound came from his throat.
Riser shoved his hands in his pockets, the hot wind ruffling his golden hair.
"Do whatever you want."
Alvida's smile widened.
"Ahahah! Good boy."
The terror on Mr. 3's face was almost comical.
The mace came down.
BANG!
His scream was short, muffled by the night.
The other prisoners, even unconscious, seemed to flinch.
Riser watched the scene with indifference.
The sand mixed with fresh blood. The scent of dust and iron filled the desert air.
Crocodile remained motionless.
Silence stretched for a few moments.
Footsteps.
Heavy, determined.
Igaram emerged from the dust mist, his cape billowing in the hot city wind. His eyes widened at the scene before him.
Crocodile, thrown to the ground like a common criminal.
The Baroque Works agents defeated, lying still.
And in the middle of it all, Riser—the man he recognized from before.
"This… this actually happened?"
Shock rang clearly in his voice.
At his side, Pell, the Guardian Falcon of Alabasta, stopped abruptly. His eyes scanned the chaos, absorbing every detail.
He took a deep breath, fists clenching involuntarily.
Rage boiled in his chest.
Crocodile. The man who nearly destroyed Alabasta.
There. Beaten. Weak.
Pell had wanted to be the one to take him down.
Riser noticed the furious stare.
"Ah… so you're Pell."
The warrior's eyes narrowed.
"You know me?"
Riser smiled faintly.
"You were one of the few who truly fought for this kingdom. But you were too busy protecting the royal family while this trash spread his roots all over the country."
Pell's jaw tightened.
"I would do anything to bring that bastard down."
Riser's smile widened.
"But it wasn't you who did it."
Silence fell like a blade between them.
Pell took a deep breath, hatred in his eyes.
Igaram placed a hand on his companion's shoulder, trying to ease the tension.
"What matters is that Crocodile has fallen. Alabasta is safe."
Pell didn't take his eyes off Riser.
"What do you want?"
Riser shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing around as if the weight of the question meant nothing.
"I just want everyone to know who did this."
Igaram exchanged a brief look with Pell.
"You… you're saying you did all this just for recognition?"
Riser raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so strange?"
The wind whistled between the ruins of the plaza.
Pell didn't know what to think.
He wanted to hate him.
But he couldn't ignore the truth before his eyes.
Crocodile was no longer a threat.
And the man standing before him was the reason why.
Pride burned in his chest.
But at that moment, all he could do…
Was accept it.
Riser sighed, looking at the soldiers behind Igaram and Pell.
"Take Mr. 1, 2, and 3 with you."
Pell frowned, his fist instantly tightening.
"You're kidding? Crocodile is the biggest threat this kingdom has ever faced! And you want us to take just those three?"
Riser's golden eyes gleamed slightly, but without a trace of patience.
"Crocodile and Miss Doublefinger are staying with me."
Pell's body stiffened.
"You want what?"
Igaram swallowed hard.
"Pell…"
His voice faltered, but there was a warning in it.
Pell didn't move.
His eyes were fixed on Riser, defiant.
"This doesn't make sense. You've already won. What's the point of keeping them?"
Riser stepped forward, stopping just inches from Pell.
The air grew heavy.
The desert wind stopped blowing.
The silence became unbearable.
"Because I want to."
The words were cold. Final.
The soldiers behind Pell exchanged hesitant glances.
Sweat trickled down Igaram's temple.
He knew.
Riser didn't make requests.
He gave orders.
And refusing wasn't an option.
Igaram placed a firm hand on Pell's shoulder, squeezing it slightly.
"We'll take them."
Pell turned to him, incredulous.
"Igaram, you can't—!"
Igaram's hand gripped tighter.
Pell saw the tremble in his fingers.
The fear.
The same fear the prisoners felt.
That made him stop.
Rage pounded in his head, hot and suffocating.
But he wasn't a fool.
He knew when there was no choice.
His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"Bastard…"
Riser smirked.
"You'll get over it."
Pell took a deep breath, the bitter taste of humiliation stuck in his throat.
Igaram nodded to the soldiers.
"Collect the prisoners."
The soldiers hesitated before approaching. The gleam of the seastone cuffs already bound the wrists of Mr. 1, Mr. 2, and Mr. 3, each one unable to move freely.
Igaram exhaled slowly, adjusting his posture as he looked at Riser.
"They're secured."
The soldiers looked at each other, nervous, but began lifting the prisoners one by one.
Riser watched the scene without hurry, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light of the city.
Pell remained still for a moment, his gaze falling on Crocodile, still lying in the sand.
He wanted to kill him.
More than anything.
But now…
Now that bastard belonged to another monster.
He turned, his cloak billowing in the wind as he walked away.
The sand crunched beneath Riser's feet.
Alvida twirled her mace in her fingers, eyeing Miss Doublefinger, still unconscious.
"Take her to the ship."
Her eyes drifted to Crocodile.
"And him?"
Riser shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I'll take care of him."
Alvida's smile vanished for a moment. She knew what that meant.
Without arguing, she ran a hand through her hair, grabbed Miss Doublefinger by the collar, and dragged her effortlessly across the sand.
Riser sighed, crouching down to grab Crocodile by the coat.
The former Shichibukai didn't resist.
He had no strength left.
The city was silent, but he knew eyes were watching him.
Everyone knew what had happened.
That's what he wanted.
The dust was settling.
Crocodile's reign had fallen.
Slow steps cut through the sand.
Alvida led the way, her slim silhouette carrying Miss Doublefinger with no visible effort. The woman's weight meant nothing to her.
The Going Merry wasn't far. The ship remained where Riser had left it, anchored in the middle of the desert like a misplaced mirage.
The city of Rainbase still breathed, but tension hung in the air. The citizens, even from a distance, knew something had changed.
The desert was quiet.
Too quiet.
The wind swept between them, brushing against Riser's clothes, but he felt something else.
'Visitor.'
His golden eyes gleamed faintly.
Alvida didn't react. She just kept dragging Miss Doublefinger without looking back.
She knew too.
The Going Merry had company.
The deck creaked.
A slender figure with black hair stood there, watching them calmly.
Nico Robin's cold eyes met Riser's.
She said nothing.
Neither did he.
The sand shifted under his feet as he climbed the plank onto the ship, tossing Crocodile onto the deck without any care.
Alvida did the same with Miss Doublefinger, dropping her beside him.
The silence between them was almost absolute.
Robin tilted her head slightly.
"Interesting."
Riser's eyes shimmered.
"You took your time."
Robin smiled faintly.
"I wanted to see how far you'd go."
Alvida leaned back against the mast, arms crossed.
Robin stepped forward, her cold gaze falling on her former boss.
"You always thought you controlled everything, Crocodile."
No response.
His breathing was slow, heavy.
Robin raised her eyes to Riser.
"And now?"
Riser smiled softly.
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