In the early stages of the One Piece world, users of Logia-type Devil Fruits were nearly untouchable, their elemental bodies granting near-complete immunity to conventional attacks.
Only a few rare counters existed.
For example, Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi (Sand-Sand Fruit) was vulnerable to water, which could force his form into solidity. However, the application was tricky—after all, sand also absorbs moisture.
The one counter that worked consistently was Haki. Specifically—Busoshoku Haki, Armament.
Which is why Crocodile couldn't comprehend it.
A navy recruit—no rank, no title—actually wielding Busoshoku Haki?
No wonder Bai Yu had been so calm earlier.
He wasn't bluffing. He was a tiger in disguise!
"Who the hell are you?" Crocodile's voice was cold, edged with disbelief as he glared at Bai Yu.
"Bai Yu," came the calm reply. "Technically, still just a Navy recruit."
Bai Yu shrugged, casual as ever, though the battlefield was tense.
Boom!
Crocodile's face twisted in fury. To him, Bai Yu's words were pure mockery.
A recruit using Haki? Since when did the Navy breed monsters from the academy?
"Don't think you can stop me just because you have a little Haki," Crocodile growled.
They stood now as enemies: one a Warlord of the Sea who betrayed the World Government, the other a naval enigma with a blade and no rank.
There would be no talking this one down.
Suddenly, Crocodile's aura intensified.
Shh—sshh—sshhh...
Wind and sand began to surge violently from his body. Even the deep wound Bai Yu had inflicted was sealed over by the spiraling grit.
Bai Yu, seeing this, dropped his smirk and gripped his katana with both hands, ready for a fierce counterattack.
Hoo... hoo...
Then, Crocodile raised his right palm skyward.
A swirling miniature sandstorm formed instantly in his hand.
"Sables!"
Once the vortex reached peak intensity, Crocodile thrust his palm forward.
Whooosh—BOOM!
The miniature cyclone burst from his hand, sweeping up the surrounding sand like a tidal wave. In seconds, it ballooned into a storm easily a hundred meters tall.
The pressure was suffocating.
Within the storm, blades of wind sliced mercilessly. Anything caught in it would be shredded.
Then, with a flick of his arm, Crocodile sent the storm barreling toward Bai Yu.
Everything in its path—palace columns, ornate decorations—was annihilated.
This was the terrifying force of a Logia user unleashing their full power.
"Hoo..."
Bai Yu took a deep breath, eyes flicking to the navy soldiers and Princess Vivi behind him.
He could escape. His speed far exceeded the sandstorm's pace.
But they couldn't.
If he dodged, they would be caught in the destruction.
He had never intended to run.
"If I won't dodge... then I'll cut it down!"
Switching his grip from one hand to two, Bai Yu's gaze sharpened.
Hum!
His blade began to tremble, emitting a crisp resonance as energy surged through it.
Green light poured from his hands, gathering into his katana.
This was Bai Yu's Qinglong—Azure Dragon Sword Intent!
"Qinglong... Zhan!"
With a roar, Bai Yu raised his sword high, then slashed downward toward the incoming storm!
Roar!!
A deep dragon's cry echoed across the battlefield.
The green energy exploded from the slash, first forming a sweeping crescent.
Then it surged forward—morphing into the shape of a colossal azure dragon!
The dragon's scales shimmered with condensed Haki and willpower, charging headlong into the sandstorm.
"My god!"
"What is that?!"
"His slash turned into a dragon!"
The navy soldiers cried out in disbelief.
Across the field, Princess Vivi gripped her robes tightly, heart pounding.
The dragon collided with the storm in an instant.
BOOOOM!!
The palace shook as the two forces clashed.
A blinding shockwave erupted at the epicenter.
Stone floors cracked. Debris launched skyward. Dust and rubble engulfed the battlefield.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed as he watched the chaos unfold.
"What's the deal with this guy?" he muttered.
He hadn't held back with Sables—yet it wasn't enough!
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosive burst erupted from within the sandstorm.
The azure dragon had broken through the outer shell.
Its remaining energy detonated inside the vortex, sending turquoise shockwaves bursting outward.
The sandstorm writhed, destabilized from within, before...
BOOM!!
A final explosion tore through the sky, shattering the storm into a million grains of glowing sand.
"No way!" Crocodile recoiled.
His signature technique—obliterated!
Only now did Crocodile realize—
Bai Yu wasn't someone he could defeat in a few moves.
He might not be able to defeat him at all!
"Soru!"
Just as Crocodile stood frozen in disbelief, Bai Yu's voice rang out once more.
Fwoosh!
Out of the dust and debris, a blur of motion cut through the air.
Bai Yu had vanished from sight—his figure now an afterimage.
He was charging straight at Crocodile!
So fast!
Crocodile instinctively raised his gilded hook to defend.
Clang!!
A sharp metallic clash rang out as Bai Yu's katana struck the hook in a burst of sparks.
The battle was far from over.
But now, the hunter was no longer hiding his fangs.