Chapter [275]

Rainbase

The wind cut through the square.

Crocodile ran his tongue over his teeth, tasting the metallic tang of his own blood. His gaze met Riser's, and for a brief second, fury consumed his mind.

'Bastard…'

His hands trembled slightly before clenching into fists. A black flash covered his skin.

Fwoosh!

Haki flowed.

Riser narrowed his eyes.

"Hmph. Now you're serious."

Crocodile twirled his cigar between his fingers before tossing it to the ground and crushing it under his boot.

"I was going to kill you all slowly… but now, I've changed my mind."

The air grew drier.

The ground began to crack.

The dust around them trembled as if the desert itself was holding its breath.

Zoro cracked his neck.

"Finally, he's going all out."

Alvida spun her club, resting it on her shoulder.

"I like men who get interesting when they're mad."

Luffy leaned forward, excited.

"So that means I can punch him now?! Shishishi!"

Crocodile vanished.

Fwosh!

A blur of sand cut through the space between him and Riser.

The punch came fast.

BANG!

Crocodile's Haki-coated fist slammed into Riser's abdomen.

The impact echoed through the air.

Crocodile's smile widened.

Then…

Nothing.

Riser didn't move.

No reaction, no recoil, no damage.

Crocodile's fist remained pressed against the golden-skinned man. But it was like punching a wall.

Crocodile's smile faltered.

'No… way.'

Riser's eyes gleamed with mockery.

"That was it?"

His hand rose.

Fwosh!

His fingers closed around Crocodile's arm.

The Shichibukai tried to pull back.

He couldn't.

Riser's grip tightened, the pressure mounting.

Crocodile gritted his teeth.

"Let go."

Riser tilted his head.

"Why?"

The grip intensified.

Crocodile clenched his jaw.

His bone creaked.

"I said let go!"

Riser smirked.

Crack!

The sound sliced through the square.

Crocodile screamed.

Pain exploded in his arm.

His elbow bent the wrong way.

His eyes widened.

No.

This wasn't happening.

His body trembled, his mind rejected reality.

But the pain was real.

Riser shoved him, sending Crocodile crashing to the ground.

The Shichibukai landed on one knee, clutching his broken arm.

His breathing was ragged.

Zoro watched in silence.

Alvida laughed.

Luffy blinked, wide-eyed.

"He broke his arm?! Shishishi! That's awesome!"

Crocodile gasped.

The sand swirled around him.

His gaze lifted, filled with fury and disbelief.

Riser only smiled.

"You thought you were a monster."

The wind blew, kicking up dust.

"But now you realize… you were never more than an ordinary human."

Crocodile gritted his teeth.

The humiliation burned worse than the pain.

He couldn't accept this.

He couldn't lose like this.

But in that moment, the truth was cruel and undeniable.

Riser was superior.

The illusion of the untouchable Crocodile had been shattered.

Along with his arm.

Mr. 1 watched in silence.

His usual cold demeanor hid a rare moment of hesitation.

Mr. 2, standing beside him, blinked rapidly.

"Ahhh, mon dieu! That was… brutal!"

Mr. 1's gaze slid toward him.

"Do something."

Bon Clay froze for a moment.

"Me?! But, darling, did you see what he just did?!"

"Now."

Mr. 1's tone left no room for argument.

Bon Clay scowled, stomping his foot.

"Fine, fine! But you owe me dinner after this!"

He vanished in a swift spin.

Riser noticed the movement.

His golden eyes gleamed.

"Luffy."

The Straw Hat blinked, distracted.

"Huh?"

"Handle him."

Luffy's eyes widened.

"What?!"

"Use Haki."

Silence fell.

Luffy tilted his head.

"Haki…? What's that?"

Zoro frowned.

"I was wondering that too."

Alvida crossed her arms.

"Whatever it is, I want to use it."

Riser's gaze swept over them.

His body radiated an invisible presence, something dense, something crushing.

But no one there knew what it was.

He didn't even need to explain.

Luffy felt a chill run down his spine.

Riser's words weren't a request.

They were a command.

Mr. 2 spun in the air, his leg gleaming with power.

"Kiki Kiki! Okama Kenpo – Swan Ballet Kick!"

Luffy felt the attack approaching.

His eyes widened.

Something inside him ignited.

He didn't know what it was.

But he knew exactly what to do.

Fwosh!

His fist glowed with a dark, dull hue.

Mr. 2's leg came down.

BANG!

The impact sounded like thunder.

Mr. 2 was sent flying backward, spinning through the air before landing heavily.

Luffy blinked.

"Whoa! That was weird!"

Zoro's eyes widened.

"What…?"

Alvida frowned.

"Did you see that?"

Riser smirked.

"Good boy."

Luffy looked at his own hand.

The skin had returned to normal.

But for an instant…

It had seemed different.

"I don't even know what I did!"

Riser closed his eyes, satisfied.

'You don't need to.'

His talent as a teacher was in effect.

No one there knew it.

And he didn't need to say it.

Mr. 2 got up, dusting off his clothes.

"Oh my, dear! That was rude!"

But his forehead was sweating.

"I think I didn't like that!"

Luffy grinned, excited.

"Shishishi! I don't even know what happened, but it was cool!"

Riser turned his attention to Crocodile.

The Shichibukai was still kneeling, clutching his twisted arm.

The desert seemed darker around him.

The sand trembled.

"This isn't over yet."

His eyes burned with silent hatred.

Riser chuckled lowly.

"Good."

The wind blew.

The battle was far from over.

But now…

Crocodile was no longer a monster.

He was just a man who had lost.

And Riser was going to savor every second of it.

Crocodile's fingers dug into the dry ground, the sand slithering around him. His arm throbbed, the twisted bone pulsing with each heartbeat.

'This is impossible…'

The memory came, sharp and cruel.

Whitebeard.

The fist colliding with his body, his existence being crushed effortlessly. The shame of falling before a true monster.

And now…

These rookie pirates were making him feel the same way.

'Not again.'

Hatred burned in his chest.

"You…"

His voice came out hoarse, laden with resentment.

"You think you've won?"

Riser walked toward him slowly, golden eyes glinting under the dim city lights.

"No."

He crouched slightly, looking straight into Crocodile's eyes.

"But I know you've already lost."

The sand hissed, spiraling in furious currents.

Crocodile gritted his teeth.

'I still have the desert on my side.'

He sprang up.

"Don't underestimate me!"

The storm exploded.

Fwosh!

The sand swallowed the square, engulfing everything. The wind roared, a golden wall rising between the combatants.

Zoro spun his blade.

"Damn bastard…"

His gaze shifted to Mr. 1. The steel warrior lay fallen, his body marked by a deep cut.

'That was… different.'

His hands tightened around the sword's hilt.

The last strike he had landed…

'Was that what Riser called Haki?'

He didn't know.

But he knew that, in that moment, his blade had cut something that once seemed impossible.

Alvida strode across the battlefield, her lazy eyes watching Miss Doublefinger lying unconscious on the ground.

"Weak."

She rested her club on her shoulder, dissatisfied.

"I expected more from an elite agent."

The sound of dry thunder echoed through the city.

The desert screamed.

Luffy stood firm against the force of the wind, fists clenched.

"Hey, Crocodile!"

His voice rang out strong, cutting through the chaos.

"You can try to hide in all that sand, but I'm still gonna punch you!"

Riser's eyes slid toward him, evaluating.

'He doesn't understand.'

But he didn't need to.

Luffy's strength didn't come from logic or strategy.

It came from something far more dangerous.

Instinct.

And in that moment, that instinct was awakening.

Luffy charged forward.

Fwosh!

The storm swallowed him.

Crocodile emerged from the sand, his hook gleaming with a deadly reflection.

"Die."

His arm shot forward.

BANG!

The impact echoed through the city.

Crocodile stumbled back a few steps, his eyes widening.

Luffy stood firm, his fist raised.

His skin…

Glowed dark.

He blinked.

"Whoa! That again?"

Riser smirked.

"Now you're learning."

The Shichibukai growled.

"You think that's enough?!"

The desert answered his call. The sand roared, rising like a colossal wave.

But this time…

Riser raised his hand.

Flames engulfed his fist.

"It won't work."

He struck the ground.

BOOM!

The fire erupted, devouring the sand.

Crocodile staggered back, disbelief growing on his face.

'No… This can't be happening!'

Riser advanced.

The desert was no longer a barrier.

Crocodile tried to retreat.

But there was nowhere left to hide.

Riser's fist gleamed.

BANG!

The Shichibukai was sent flying, the impact shaking the city.

Silence fell over Rainbase.

Crocodile lay on the ground, blood dripping from his mouth, his body motionless.

Riser took a deep breath.

And smiled.

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