Location: Rain Dinners Basement, Alabasta Year: 1522
The sandstorm was like a belt sander. It stripped the paint off the walls and threatened to strip the skin off Hiroki's bones.
[Environmental Damage: Continuous][Vision: Obscured]
Hiroki closed his eyes.
Observation Haki: Active.
He couldn't see the sand, but he could hear the wind.
Ittoryu: Swallow's Dive.
He slashed through the storm, aiming for the presence behind it. The air pressure of his swing dispersed the sand for a split second, creating a tunnel.
Crocodile was standing there, looking bored.
"Too slow," Crocodile mocked.
Hiroki appeared in front of him.
Armament Haki: 6.5%.
He focused everything into the tip of Umitsubame. The blade turned black for a heartbeat.
Tsuki.
A thrust aimed at the heart.
SHUNK.
The blade pierced Crocodile's chest.
For a second, silence reigned.
Then, Crocodile looked down at the sword sticking out of him. He grinned. His body dissolved into sand around the blade. The black Haki had touched him—Hiroki felt the resistance—but it was too shallow, too weak to hold the Logia form solid.
"Haki," Crocodile noted. "Weak. Untrained. Pathetic."
The sand reformed around the blade, trapping it.
"Let go," Crocodile commanded.
He swung his golden hook.
Hiroki tried to pull the sword free, but the sand held it like a vice.
Release the sword or lose the head?
Hiroki made the choice instantly. He let go of Umitsubame. He ducked under the hook.
He was weaponless in front of a Warlord.
Martial Arts: Repulsion Palm.
Hiroki slammed his palm into Crocodile's stomach.
POOF.
Crocodile exploded into sand again. The physical strike did nothing without Haki coating.
Hiroki rolled backward, putting distance between them.
"You are arrogant," Crocodile said, the sand coalescing back into his human form. He held Umitsubame by the blade, inspecting it. "Nice sword. Wazamono. Wasted on you."
He tossed the sword into the Bananawani pool.
Splash.
Hiroki watched his partner sink.
"Now," Crocodile said, raising his right hand. "Ground Death."
He touched the stone floor.
The moisture was sucked out of the stone. The floor turned to dust. The effect spread rapidly toward Hiroki.
[Warning: Desiccation Imminent]
Hiroki jumped. He ran up the wall, using the centrifugal force to stay above the crumbling floor.
Without a sword, I am nothing.
No. That was wrong.
I am a Calculator.
He scanned the room. The glass windows holding back the water. The cracks formed by the earlier sandstorm impact.
Target: Structural Integrity.
Hiroki didn't aim for Crocodile. He aimed for the glass.
Acceleration Boost: Leg Strength Max.
He kicked the glass wall with everything he had.
CRACK.
"What are you doing?" Crocodile frowned.
CRASH.
The glass shattered. Tons of water from the Bananawani pool flooded into the room.
Crocodile's eyes widened. "Water..."
Sand clumped when wet. A Sand-man couldn't turn into dust if he was soaked.
The torrent washed over them both. Hiroki was slammed against the back wall, coughing. Crocodile was drenched, his fur coat sagging.
"You clever rat," Crocodile hissed. He tried to dissolve, but his arm remained solid, muddy and heavy.
Hiroki dove underwater. He wasn't trying to fight. He was swimming toward the bottom of the pool.
He found Umitsubame.
He grabbed the hilt. The blue lacquer was bright in the water.
He kicked off the bottom, shooting up toward the surface like a torpedo.
Crocodile was standing knee-deep in water, furious.
Hiroki burst from the water.
Ittoryu: Wet Swallow.
He slashed. This time, no Haki was needed. The water on the blade made contact with the sand body.
SLASH.
A deep cut appeared on Crocodile's chest. Blood—real, red blood—sprayed into the water.
Crocodile stumbled back. He looked at the blood. His face twisted into pure rage.
"You... cut me."
The water was draining away now, leaving puddles. The advantage was temporary.
"Ground Sekco!"
Crocodile slammed his hand into the remaining water. The ground cracked, creating a massive fissure. The water drained instantly.
Hiroki landed on the drying floor. He was panting. He had wounded a Warlord.
But now, the water was gone. And Crocodile was angry.
"Playtime is over," Crocodile growled.
He appeared in front of Hiroki in a blur of sand.
Desert Spada.
A blade of sand rose from the ground.
Hiroki tried to block.
CLANG.
The force was overwhelming. Umitsubame held, but Hiroki's arm broke.
[Left Arm: Fractured]
He screamed.
Crocodile grabbed Hiroki by the throat with his sand hand. He lifted him up.
"You have potential," Crocodile admitted. "But you lack despair."
He activated his power.
Barchan.
He didn't suck all the water out. He just sucked enough to incapacitate. Hiroki felt his muscles shrivel, his skin tighten like parchment.
"Gah..." Hiroki choked.
Crocodile walked to the hidden exit. He tossed Hiroki's withered body into a garbage chute leading to the desert wasteland outside the city.
"Let the desert finish you," Crocodile said.
Hiroki tumbled down into the darkness.
[Battle Result: Defeat][Injuries: Critical][Hydration: 10%]
[Chapter 17 End]