Location: Rainbase, Outside Rain Dinners Casino
"Crocodile is actually a Six-Star rating?"
Storm looked at the [Diamond Trophy] floating in the void, slightly surprised.
He had previously defeated Kuma and obtained a 6-Star trophy, which he felt was too low. Now, looking at Crocodile's 6-Star rating, he felt it was perhaps too high.
'His strength is unpredictable,' Storm thought. 'If he's strong, he can clash with Bullet or Akainu. If he's weak, he loses to a rookie Luffy. He's a Supernova who rotted before he could peak.'
Storm shook his head. 'Regardless, his mastery of the Sand-Sand Fruit is undeniable. Drying, absorption, erosion... he has taken the Logia ability to its absolute limit. It just lacks... impact.'
He looked down at the unconscious Warlord.
"White Dragon."
The dragon understood immediately. It flew to the oasis lake, filled its belly, and returned.
"RUA—"
SPLASH!
A torrent of water drenched Crocodile's head.
"Gah!"
The Warlord woke up choking. Seeing Storm, his pupils contracted to pinpoints. He instinctively performed a "death roll," tumbling dozens of times across the sand to put distance between them.
"Die!"
Crocodile roared, his humiliation fueling his rage. He transformed his hands into four massive blades of compressed sand.
"Desert Spada (Diamond Sword)!"
The blades tore through the ground, converging on Storm.
Storm yawned. 'I've already seen his best. Time to wrap this up.'
[Ability: More-More Fruit - 100x Speed]
Zip.
Storm vanished. He didn't dodge; he simply moved faster than Crocodile's eyes could track. He appeared instantly in front of the Warlord, his fist coated in jet-black Armament Haki.
"You've heard the saying..."
Storm pulled his fist back.
"Speed is power."
BOOM!
The iron fist buried itself in Crocodile's gut. The impact was so severe that Crocodile's eyes bulged, and his body folded like a shrimp. He was launched backward, crashing through a stone wall hundreds of meters away.
He didn't get up.
[System Alert: Target Defeated]
[Platinum Trophy: Sir Crocodile]
[Star Rating: ★★★★★ (5-Stars)]
"Only five stars now?" Storm shook his head. 'His will is weakening.'
"White Dragon. Again."
"Awooo~"
The dragon flew over, refilled its belly, and dumped another load of water on the unconscious Warlord.
"COUGH!"
Crocodile woke up again, spitting mud. His head was splitting, his ribs were cracked, and his pride was shattered. Defeated twice in a row by a complete stranger.
His mentality began to crumble.
"Ground... DEATH!"
"Cycle of Erosion!"
He slammed his palm onto the bedrock. The full power of the Suna Suna no Mi flowed outward. The stone plaza, the trees, the statues—everything turned to gray dust instantly. The ground itself died.
"So powerful! Too powerful!" Storm stood still, clapping lightly.
Then he vanished.
100x Speed.
Before the erosion could reach his boots, Storm was already inside Crocodile's guard.
"Silent Gut Punch."
WHAM!
Storm's fist connected with the exact same spot on Crocodile's stomach.
"Guh-!"
Crocodile coughed up a mouthful of blood. As he lost consciousness for the third time, Storm's earlier praise echoed in his ears like a mockery.
[System Alert: Target Defeated]
[Gold Trophy: Sir Crocodile]
[Star Rating: ★★★★ (4-Stars)]
'Four stars. He's done.'
Storm ignored the Gold Trophy. He waved the dragon over.
"RUA—"
Water soaked the Warlord again. But this time, Crocodile didn't jump up. He didn't roar.
He just lay there in the mud, staring at the blue sky. He looked like a wild dog with a broken spine.
Defeated three times. Powerless.
'What's the point?' Crocodile thought bitterly. 'I couldn't beat Whitebeard. I can't find Pluton. I can't even beat a nameless brat.'
Storm walked over and looked down at the broken man.
"Finally calmed down?"
Crocodile rested his hands on his stomach, staring blankly at the clouds.
"What? Still not awake?" Storm raised an eyebrow. "White Dragon, get more water."
"...Enough! White Dragon!"
Crocodile finally spoke, though he remained lying on the ground. He glanced at Storm out of the corner of his eye.
"What exactly do you want?!"
"Vongola Storm."
"What?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Vongola Storm."
Storm extended his right hand.
"Be my friend, Crocodile."
"..."
The Warlord's brain short-circuited.
"Friend?" He let out a dry, raspy chuckle. "Ha! Don't be naive, kid. What do you want? Fame? Wealth? Or my head?"
"What does it matter?" Storm shrugged, withdrawing his hand awkwardly. "However, I do have a plan I need your help with."
"Are you interested in the Emperors of the Sea?"
Crocodile froze. "...The Pirate Emperors? The Yonko?"
"That's right!" Storm smiled brightly. "I have a plan to drag them down from their thrones."
"Bwahahaha!"
Crocodile laughed, but it was hollow. Mocking. "So you really are just a brat! The power of a Yonko is beyond your imagination!"
Storm stared at him quietly.
"You're afraid."
The laughter stopped abruptly.
"What?"
"You're fearful," Storm said calmly.
Veins bulged on Crocodile's forehead. "...What are you saying?"
"'Unimaginable power'? 'Beyond comprehension'?" Storm sneered. "Those are the words of a loser. That venomous mindset has already cost you your life!"
"Crocodile, I thought you at least had the courage to challenge them. But I didn't expect to find a coward who doesn't even dare to dream!"
"What 'Warlord of the Sea'? You are nothing but a walking corpse. A skeleton rotting in a tomb called Alabasta!"
Storm raised his fist, Haki flaring to life.
"If you're already dead, I might as well send you on your way..."
"WAIT!"
Crocodile shouted, clenching his sand-fist.
He hated it. He hated every word. But he hated them because they were true. He had been rotting here, playing king in a sandbox, because he was too terrified to go back to the New World.
"The plan..." Crocodile gritted out, looking at Storm. "The plan to take down a Yonko. How do we do it?"
Storm lowered his fist. The killing intent vanished.
"Simple."
"Come with me. We charge into the New World, and we kick their door down!"
Crocodile looked at the young monster in front of him.
'He's just a kid...'
'But Old Crocodile still has some strength left...'
'Maybe...'
....
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