"Navy?"
Crocodile's expression shifted slightly in surprise.
He remembered the Alabasta garrison navy, which had long since been manipulated into inaction by his careful planning during the civil war.
So—where did this naval force come from?
Even stranger, the man leading them, Shiroha...
He didn't appear to hold any formal rank.
"If you've come all this way... it just means your luck has run out."
Crocodile quickly regained his composure.
It was merely a naval squad of a few dozen soldiers—no vice admirals or rear admirals among them.
They weren't worth his concern.
"Princess Vivi, we're from the 188th Branch of the Navy," the young man at the front stepped forward, addressing her calmly. "We received intel and came here immediately to provide support. I'm Bai Yu."
He completely ignored Crocodile's imposing presence, speaking to Princess Vivi with a relaxed smile.
"188th Branch? Bai Yu?"
Princess Vivi's brow furrowed in confusion.
She had never even heard of a Navy Branch numbered 188. And how did they know about Crocodile's coup in advance?
The rebellion and takeover had only just occurred...
How could the Navy possibly respond so quickly?
"You all—go!" she ordered suddenly. "Send this information to the rebel army immediately!"
She couldn't afford to question Bai Yu's origins now.
Crocodile's coup had been carried out under layers of secrecy.
If the rebel forces discovered that the entire civil war was orchestrated by Crocodile...
Then the fighting would cease.
And Crocodile would face the unified military might of all Alabasta.
"Guhahahahahaha..."
"No one here is walking out alive!"
Crocodile burst into a booming, maniacal laugh.
Boom!
With a wave of his elemental sand-formed arm, a swirling gust of sand surged across the palace floor, slamming the giant hall doors shut.
"Crocodile is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user—everyone fall back!" Bai Yu commanded without hesitation. "Protect Princess Vivi!"
"Yes, sir!"
The navy soldiers responded swiftly. Having witnessed Bai Yu's strength earlier, they no longer doubted his authority.
Several marines pulled Vivi back toward the sealed palace entrance, while others pounded against the door, trying to force it open.
"Hmph!"
Crocodile scoffed coldly. As the navy moved to retreat, his lower body suddenly disintegrated into swirling sand.
With the speed granted by his Suna Suna no Mi powers, he floated swiftly toward them.
"Your opponent is me."
Bai Yu stepped forward to block him, hand already wrapped around the hilt of his blade.
"You're overestimating yourself."
Crocodile's grin widened with disdain.
He shot forward in a burst of sand, surging directly at Bai Yu.
Boom—!
Just as Crocodile reached him, Bai Yu's arm flexed, muscles tensing as he pulled the heavy tachi sword up in one clean motion.
Raising it above his head, Bai Yu brought it down in a powerful vertical slash—like cleaving a mountain in half.
Crocodile's sneer deepened. He made no attempt to dodge.
Instead, he swung up the scorpion-shaped golden hook on his left hand—its tip glinting ominously, laced with deadly poison.
Even the slightest graze could render an opponent instantly paralyzed.
This was Crocodile's strategy:
Use his Logia powers to let the blade pass harmlessly through his sand body...
...while striking a fatal blow in return.
Poof!
The tachi connected with Crocodile's body—but just as expected, it passed through harmlessly.
Only a spray of sand burst from the point of impact.
Crocodile laughed mockingly.
"Fool. You thought you could harm me?"
The poisoned hook continued forward, aiming to tear into Bai Yu's flesh.
He was already envisioning Bai Yu writhing in pain—easy prey for capture.
But then... Crocodile noticed something strange.
Bai Yu didn't look concerned.
In fact, he looked calm.
Too calm.
An odd sense of unease washed over Crocodile.
"Busoshoku Haki..."
Bai Yu whispered to himself.
Hum—!
A dark energy surged from Bai Yu's body.
It coiled around his right arm, pulsing through his veins, concentrating into his palm, then flowing into the blade.
In an instant, the tachi transformed—its steel blade turned pitch-black, glimmering with a dense, hard aura.
Armament Haki!
Without hesitation, Bai Yu struck downward again.
Tear—!
An ear-splitting sound echoed across the hall.
Crocodile's body, previously invulnerable, screamed in pain as the Haki-infused blade tore through him.
The tachi slashed down from his shoulder, ripping across his chest and drawing real, actual blood.
"ARGH!!"
Crocodile screamed, stumbling back, clutching the deep wound.
Shock flashed in his eyes.
His golden hook stopped mid-swing.
Across the hall, the navy soldiers and Princess Vivi stared in stunned silence.
He... he hit him!
He actually hit Crocodile!
A Warlord of the Sea!
A pirate with an 81 million beli bounty!
A feared Logia user—injured in a single strike?!
"Commander Bai Yu... he's way too strong!"
Some of the marines couldn't help but whisper, giving him silent thumbs-ups.
Vivi clutched her dress tightly, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
For the first time... she saw a glimmer of hope.
She looked again at Bai Yu, standing tall, unfazed.
Drip, drip.
Bai Yu flicked his blade sideways. Blood arced through the air and hit the ground with a soft splatter.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed.
"That was Haki..." he muttered in disbelief. "Armament Haki..."
He looked at the now-blackened blade.
"You actually know how to use Haki...!?"
His voice trembled with a mixture of rage and realization.
He had underestimated this so-called no-name commander.
But now—it was too late.