At the Same Time, in a Distant Overseas Region
Since the recent arrival of mysterious individuals in Alabasta, the kingdom had significantly increased its military defenses. The soldiers stationed along the coastline remained on high alert, their eyes scanning the horizon for any potential threats."You must stay vigilant this time," the army captain commanded, his tone grave. "Not long ago, we had unknown intruders in Alabasta. We need to be prepared to deal with any similar threats."Just as he finished speaking, a massive ship loomed on the horizon. Silhouettes of figures could be faintly seen aboard."Captain! A ship is approaching!" one soldier reported, peering through his telescope. "Something feels off… their purpose doesn't seem simple."The captain narrowed his eyes. "No mistakes can be allowed. Follow me!" He led his troops toward the shore, ready to intercept the vessel.As they approached, the ship came to a halt."So this is Alabasta," a deep voice murmured. A man stood at the bow, casually exhaling a trail of smoke from his cigar. "If we pass through this kingdom, we'll reach our target soon.""Lord Crocodile," one of the men at his side said with a smirk, "as long as nothing unexpected happens, Alabasta will be ours. This land is our greatest weapon."A slow, sinister chuckle escaped Crocodile's lips. He stepped forward, locking eyes with the approaching troops."Who are you? State your purpose!" the army captain demanded, refusing to back down.Crocodile exhaled another puff of smoke, his sharp gaze settling on the soldier. "Who am I?" he echoed mockingly. Then, without warning, he lunged forward and seized the captain by the throat."W-What are you doing?!" the surrounding soldiers shouted in alarm."You still don't understand?" Crocodile sneered. With a slight squeeze, the captain's body crumbled into dust, vanishing into the wind.A stunned silence fell over the remaining troops. They stared in horror, struggling to comprehend what had just happened."You fools," one of Crocodile's subordinates scoffed. "Step aside now, or when Lord Crocodile loses patience, none of you will leave here alive."The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, their expressions shifting from fear to defiance. But before they could react, Crocodile simply waved his hand. A powerful force swept through the battlefield, and in an instant, the entire unit was struck down.What remained of Alabasta's defense had been completely obliterated."My lord," one of Crocodile's men spoke up, surveying the scene with satisfaction. "This place seems well-suited for our plans. If all goes smoothly, Alabasta will soon be under our control."Crocodile let out a low chuckle, his expression filled with smug confidence. Then, his gaze turned sharp."Enough standing around. Get moving."
Meanwhile, Inside the Dungeon
Akira and her companions had lost track of how long they had been imprisoned.Escaping from this dungeon would have been easy for her. The locks, the guards, all of it posed little challenge. However, breaking out forcefully would only cause unnecessary complications.As they pondered their next move, the sound of light footsteps echoed through the dim corridor.Moments later, a young girl appeared before them—a strikingly beautiful princess with large, curious eyes."Are you really bad people?" Vivi asked softly, her gaze flickering between them.Akira hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Before she could say anything, Ellie scoffed."Of course not! What kind of nonsense is that? Your stupid father just made a stupid mistake!" she huffed indignantly.Vivi observed them for a moment, then, without hesitation, reached into her pocket and pulled out a key.With a quiet click, the heavy iron door swung open.Akira and the others stared in disbelief."I know you're not bad people," Vivi said in an innocent yet determined voice. "My father must have misunderstood you. You should leave before it's too late."Akira found herself momentarily at a loss. This girl—so young, so trusting—had just given them a chance at freedom. But if they ran now, wouldn't that be the same as admitting they were guilty?She clenched her fists. The decision wasn't as simple as it seemed."Princess Vivi, what are you doing?!"The ministers had noticed what Vivi had done and rushed over, their faces filled with alarm. One of them immediately reached for the iron door, intent on locking it again."You despicable scum!" one of the guards sneered, still recovering from his earlier beating. "Trying to seduce the princess just to escape—how shameless!"Akira let out an exasperated sigh. She had no patience for baseless accusations. Instead of responding, she shot the man a sharp glare. The intensity of her gaze made the minister hesitate, a flicker of unease crossing his face.Before the tension could escalate further, a sudden, violent commotion erupted outside.Boom!The walls trembled as the sound of destruction echoed through the palace.At that moment, Crocodile and his men stormed inside.His gaze swept across the grand surroundings, admiration laced with greed. A slow smirk formed on his lips."Tsk, tsk… What a magnificent place," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "I never expected an ancient kingdom like this to have stood the test of time for so long."Meanwhile, in the palace hall, the King of Alabasta stood rigid, his eyes narrowing at the intruder."Who are you, and what is your purpose here?" he demanded.
Crocodile chuckled, shifting his stance as if he were merely stretching.
"Come now, can't you see?" Crocodile's smirk deepened, his voice dripping with malicious confidence. "This kingdom has grown stagnant. It needs a new ruler—someone with real power. And that person… is me."
The king's breath caught for a moment. His mind raced as recognition flashed across his face. He knew exactly who stood before him—Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. His heart sank as the weight of the situation became clear. Crocodile was not just a threat to the kingdom; he was a force beyond the reach of the World Government, untouchable in the eyes of most.
The king straightened himself, drawing what little strength he had left. "You... You will never succeed!" His voice, though shaken, rang with defiance.
Crocodile's grin widened, a dark gleam in his eyes. "Is that so?" he taunted, stepping closer with predatory calm. His fingers curled slightly, and with a mere flick of his wrist, the air shifted. A powerful whirlwind of sand exploded outward with unnatural speed and force. The ground trembled as the sandstorm slammed into the king, sending him crashing violently to the floor.
The room fell deathly silent, save for the sound of the king's heavy breathing as he lay sprawled on the cold stone. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead.
"You really don't know when to accept reality, do you?" Crocodile sneered, looming over the fallen king, his voice thick with contempt. "You were never fit to be king."
The king's chest rose and fell as he struggled to push himself up, but his body failed him. His vision blurred, and every attempt to speak only left him gasping for air. He was no match for Crocodile, and deep down, he knew it.
Crocodile's expression twisted into one of absolute triumph. He stood tall, his posture relaxed as if this victory were already a foregone conclusion. "This is only the beginning," he muttered, almost to himself, as he gazed out over the kingdom that he intended to claim for his own.
... patreon Seasay.