Crocodile was lounging on a soft sofa, lost in thoughts of his grand "Utopia," when a sudden alarm rang in his mind.
"What?!"
A massive lightning column appeared overhead, expanding rapidly. The blinding light made it impossible for him to keep his eyes open. Instinctively, he attempted to evade using his Logia ability, turning into sand and shifting to the side.
But he was too slow.
The lightning struck with immense force, sending him crashing downward. His body was blasted through multiple floors before slamming into the ground, leaving behind a bottomless pit.
Even though Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit (Suna Suna no Mi) granted him immunity to lightning itself, he couldn't ignore the sheer impact force and scorching heat of the attack.
"Tch...!"
From the depths of the crater, Crocodile groaned in pain.
He felt as if his internal organs had been shattered by the impact, and his already scarred face and body were now burned beyond recognition.
Yet, his willpower was astonishing. Even in such a state, he struggled to his feet.
With his lower body shifting into sand, he soared out of the crater.
"Who the hell did this?!"
Gritting his teeth, he swung his golden hook in a sweeping motion—only to realize it had been completely vaporized. In its place was his exposed, bloodied hand.
Meanwhile, the people of Rainbase (Rain Dinners) were jolted awake by the deafening thunder. When they saw Crocodile's battered figure, they immediately sensed danger and fled in all directions.
Screams and chaos filled the streets.
Then, a voice echoed from above.
"Crocodile, instead of wasting your time playing tricks in this tiny country, why don't you focus on getting stronger? Shouldn't you be seeking revenge on Whitebeard?"
A man floated in midair, electricity crackling around him.
Suddenly, an overwhelming electromagnetic force spread from his body, enveloping all of Rainbase.
"Domain: Electromagnetic Field."
In an instant, every electronic device in the city was rendered useless—permanently destroyed.
More than that, the man himself could now teleport anywhere within the field at will.
Crocodile clenched his fists. His expression darkened at the humiliation.
"I don't believe we've met before. I have no quarrel with you, so why are you coming after me?"
Despite his seething anger, he forced himself to suppress the urge to fight.
The sneak attack had left him severely injured, and the situation was far from favorable.
"I just felt like having some fun."
The man chuckled. In a flash of lightning, he vanished—only to reappear behind Crocodile.
Before Crocodile could react, a powerful sidekick came crashing towards him. The attack, infused with Armament Haki, carried immense force.
"Ever been struck by lightning before?"
Pain shot through Crocodile's body as the kick sent him flying.
He smashed through several walls, tumbling across the ground before coming to a stop. He hadn't even been able to fight back.
"Damn it… Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi)!"
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Crocodile felt sheer frustration.
Of all places, he never expected to run into such a monstrous opponent in Paradise—the "easier" half of the Grand Line.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Erosion Cycle!"
Placing both hands on the ground, he activated his ability.
The surrounding buildings began to disintegrate into sand, sinking into the ground. The very earth beneath them withered into a barren, cracked wasteland.
As Crocodile absorbed the moisture, some color returned to his face.
But the people of Rainbase weren't as fortunate.
Many who had been too slow to escape were swallowed by the sand, their lives hanging by a thread.
Crocodile glared at his enemy, his body suddenly spinning at high speed.
"Super Heavyweight Sandstorm (Sabaku Taiso)!"
The surrounding sand surged toward Crocodile, gathering to form a massive sandstorm.
But this wasn't some turn-based battle—Hikaru wasn't about to stand still and wait for him to finish his attack.
"Too slow!"
Even before Crocodile had made his move, Hikaru had already been charging an immense amount of electricity in his hands.
Spreading his arms forward, he unleashed his attack. A massive Thunder Kirin materialized in the air, stepping through the void as it rushed straight at Crocodile.
[Lightning Art - Jade Kirin!]
The sandstorm Crocodile had painstakingly formed was instantly shattered. The Thunder Kirin struck him directly, sending him crashing into the ground before exploding in a violent burst of electricity.
In Rainbase, there was no one truly strong—only Crocodile.
His casino, Rain Dinners, had long been a gathering place for criminals and desperate gamblers.
But now, they were all gone. The sheer devastation from Hikaru and Crocodile's battle had wiped them out completely—leaving no survivors.
As the storm of destruction finally settled, Hikaru reappeared in front of Crocodile, lightning crackling around him.
"Guhahahaha... Pluton... my utopia..."
Crocodile was barely conscious, teetering on the brink of death.
Even in his final moments, he never understood why he had been hunted down in the middle of this desolate desert.
Without a shred of emotion, Hikaru rubbed the white lightning between his hands and pressed it against Crocodile.
In an instant, Crocodile's Devil Fruit ability was stripped from him and transferred into a pineapple that had been prepared in advance.
The fruit quickly transformed, reshaping into a small cactus with outstretched arms—oddly cute despite its terrifying power.
"The Sand-Sand Fruit... It would be interesting to let Princess Vivi wield this ability. But... now isn't the right time."
Hikaru's gaze flickered with thought. He needed more Devil Fruits for his experiments.
Meanwhile, Crocodile's body had withered further, appearing frail and lifeless—his strength completely drained after losing his Devil Fruit.
Hikaru casually raised his hand. Sparks of electricity crackled, forming a ball of fire in his palm.
With a simple flick, he incinerated Crocodile's body to ashes.
Later...
"Hikaru!"
As soon as he returned, Vivi ran toward him without hesitation. He caught her firmly in his arms.
The scent of him—the warmth and strength—filled her senses, making her feel incredibly fortunate.
"Hikaru, thank you!"
Hikaru smiled faintly. "It's too early for thanks. When we return to the palace, you'll have plenty of chances to show your gratitude."
Vivi blushed, murmuring softly. "Mmm~"
Hikaru gently stroked her light blue hair before shifting his gaze toward the others.
"Robin, Crocodile is dead. Go inform all the key operatives of Baroque Works. They are to regroup in Aruba within five days."
Robin chuckled, her voice carrying a playful edge. "Understood, God~"
Rebel Base, Katorea
The rebel stronghold was tense.
"Koza, there's no water again! Damn that king! When are we going to act and save everyone?"
Koza's face remained solemn. "It's not time yet..."
His father still believed in the king and urged him not to start an uprising. But as the leader of the rebellion, Koza had to consider the safety of his people.
However…
Alabasta was an officially recognized member of the World Government. Even if he succeeded in overthrowing the monarchy, the World Government would never acknowledge his rule.
In just a few days, they would send forces to crush the rebellion completely.
That was the real reason he had yet to make a move.
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