Viltrumita vs. Shichibukai

The scorching sun of Alabasta reflected off the sand dunes stretching as far as the eye could see. The Viltrumite soared above the desert, his red eyes scanning the arid landscape and the small, impoverished villages dotting the horizon. He didn't care about human misery, but something about this place intrigued him.

"An island made entirely of sand... interesting," he thought as he landed at the entrance of the capital, Alubarna. The city was a stark contrast to the surrounding desert—full of life, colors, and movement.

As soon as he entered the city, he was greeted by two members of Baroque Works: Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek. They were clearly nervous but tried to maintain their composure.

"Welcome to Alabasta," Mr. 3 said with a forced smile. "Our boss, Crocodile, would like to meet you personally. He is eager to meet the man who defeated Miss Valentine and Mr. 5."

The Viltrumite didn't respond. He simply followed the two, ignoring the curious and fearful glances from the locals. They arrived at a luxurious casino, where Crocodile was waiting, sitting at a poker table with a cigar in his mouth and a confident smile.

"So, you're the famous Yellow Demon," Crocodile said, standing up and extending his hand. "I've heard a lot about you. Sit down, enjoy the casino. Food, drinks, women… all on me."

The Viltrumite looked at the outstretched hand but didn't shake it. He sat in a chair, observing his surroundings. The casino was filled with lights, laughter, and the sound of chips clattering on the tables. He didn't care about any of it but decided to play along—for now.

The Viltrumite spent hours in the casino, playing, eating, and drinking. The women Crocodile sent his way were ignored at first, but as time passed, he started having fun with them. He grabbed a dancer by the waist and slapped her butt, laughing loudly. She protested, but he only laughed more, shamelessly squeezing her breasts.

"Relax, doll, it's a compliment. If I didn't like you, you'd already be dead."

The girl trembled, trying to keep her composure. "Please, I… I'm just working."

The air grew heavy. Other casino patrons averted their eyes, pretending not to notice the scene.

The Viltrumite chuckled, leaning close to her ear. "And I'm just having fun."

She tried to stand up, but he pulled her back, his fingers squeezing her tighter. The murmurs in the casino faded. The atmosphere turned tense. But no one intervened.

For a moment, she disappeared under the table, and the silence that followed was deafening. When he finally let her go, she emerged with tightly pressed lips, teary eyes, and holding her arm where he had gripped her too hard. The Viltrumite went back to his game, indifferent, as the casino staff sighed in relief.

The other players and employees remained tense, but no one dared to confront him. After all, he was the man worth 500 million berries.

He continued playing and, realizing he was losing, shot a threatening look at the dealer. He grabbed a handful of chips and crushed them in his hand, reducing them to dust.

"I think there was a mistake here… wasn't there?"

The dealer swallowed hard and quickly "adjusted" the numbers so the Viltrumite would come out as the winner. He laughed, satisfied, grabbing his chips and taking another sip of wine.

At the end of the night, Crocodile invited him to his private room. The Viltrumite accepted, following the Shichibukai into a luxurious office with marble walls and a panoramic view of the desert.

"So, what do you think of Alabasta?" Crocodile asked, sitting behind his desk. "I'm the Shichibukai in charge of this kingdom. I hope you won't do anything to harm my reputation or my territory."

As he spoke, Crocodile used his Sand-Sand Fruit powers to grab a bottle of wine from a distant shelf. The sand moved like an extension of his body, bringing the bottle to him. He poured two glasses and offered one to the Viltrumite.

The Viltrumite watched the movement with interest. "So he controls sand... and that captain from Loguetown controlled smoke. I really need to learn how to defeat them," he thought, accepting the glass.

"I have no reason to destroy the kingdom of Alabasta," the Viltrumite said, sipping the wine. "But I can see the anger in your eyes. What did I do to you? Kill a loved one of yours in East Blue?"

Crocodile choked slightly but quickly regained his composure. "No, I'm like this with everyone. My apologies. I don't want to fight you."

The Viltrumite didn't believe him for a second. He threw the wine in Crocodile's face and, before the Shichibukai could react, delivered a powerful punch. Crocodile flew across the room, smashing through the office walls and crashing into the desert outside.

Crocodile got up, wiping the wine off his face. He was in shock. "You… how?"

The Viltrumite stepped through the rubble of the office, looking at Crocodile with disdain. "Well, sand solidifies with water, so why not? I thought I could hit you if you were soaked."

He crossed his arms, watching as Crocodile composed himself. "And even if I couldn't hit you, I'd just run away—just like I did with Smoker—and come back to kill you once I figured out how to fight."

Crocodile laughed, but it was a nervous laugh. He knew he was at a disadvantage. "You're smarter than you look, Yellow Demon. But don't underestimate a Shichibukai."