Chapter 42 – The Fall of Rainbase

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The morning sun cast a haunting glow over Rainbase.

Smoke curled into the sky from shattered towers. Streets that once bustled with merchants and corrupted marines now lay broken and scattered with debris. The rebellion's assault had worked. With Crocodile in retreat and his agents routed or captured, the city's heart was exposed.

At the center of it all stood Rael.

His cloak whipped behind him as he strode through the now-silent Rain Dinners Casino, which had become a husk of its former self. Walls had caved in. Gold and opulence lay buried under rubble and sand.

Behind him followed Kaya and Vivi, both still reeling from the intensity of the fight below.

"He really ran," Vivi said softly. "He left all of this behind…"

Rael didn't slow his steps. "He'll come back. Not because of pride. But because of Pluton."

Kaya looked around at the destruction. "We need to get the people out. This place is falling apart."

From the rear entrance, Koza and his rebel officers burst through with reinforcements. When he saw Rael, his eyes widened.

"It's done?" Koza asked.

Rael simply nodded. "Crocodile escaped through the underground. He's wounded. Not dead."

Koza exhaled, both relieved and frustrated. "Then it's time to let Alabasta know. Rainbase has been freed."

Outside, rebel flags were already rising. Crowds of liberated citizens were gathering, their expressions cautious, unsure. For so long, the casino had represented wealth, power, and cruelty. But now, its gates were open.

And at the front of the line, Vivi stepped forward.

She climbed a broken column and addressed the crowd, her voice clear and strong.

"My name is Nefertari Vivi. Princess of Alabasta!"

A hushed silence fell.

"I fought alongside these people—not as a ruler, but as one of you. Today, Rainbase is free. Not because of royalty. Not because of titles. But because we chose to fight back!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Baroque Works is not invincible. Crocodile is not a god. And together, we will take back our kingdom!"

Cheers erupted.

For a moment, hope returned to Alabasta.

Later that day, in a quieter corner of the ruined city, Rael sat atop a balcony overlooking the desert.

He held a canteen in one hand, and in the other, a strange black stone fragment he'd picked up from the battlefield. It pulsed faintly. Not magical… but something else. Something from this world's natural power.

"Haki. Devil Fruits. Ancient Weapons," he muttered.

This world was layered in mysteries, some deeper than the one he came from.

"Interesting," he said to himself.

Behind him, Kaya approached with a fresh bandage and water.

"Still thinking?" she asked gently.

"Always."

She sat beside him. "You're not worried, are you?"

Rael smiled faintly. "No. But I'm... curious. Crocodile's Logia ability. That power. It was beyond normal strength. If others like him exist... this world may prove more entertaining than I thought."

Kaya leaned into him. "You mean more dangerous."

"Same thing."

For a long moment, they sat in silence, watching the desert winds swirl.

Meanwhile, far underground, beneath the ruins of Rainbase...

Crocodile stumbled through an ancient tunnel lit only by flickering torches. Blood dripped from his arm. His coat was torn, and his breath ragged.

He stopped and slammed a fist into the wall, cursing.

"That bastard… What is he?"

He thought about how Rael had touched him. Hurt him. Dominated him in battle without hesitation.

If he's from the New World, he's unlike any pirate I've ever seen.

Crocodile looked down at his hand. The tremble he saw in his fingers wasn't from pain.

It was fear.

"He knows Haki… and not just barely. It's instinctual. Natural. Like he's always had it."

He turned to a Den Den Mushi on the wall and dialed.

"Cipher Pol?" he said into the receiver. "This is Crocodile. I need information… about a man."

He described Rael.

The line went quiet. Then, a cold voice responded.

"We know. And we're watching him."

Crocodile's eyes narrowed. "Then you better act fast."

And he slammed the receiver down.

Back on the surface, the rebels were preparing to move. News was already spreading across Alabasta. Villages were rising up. Baroque Works agents were fleeing or disguising themselves. And the people?

They were beginning to hope.

Rael stood at the ship's edge later that night, gazing into the stars.

Kaya joined him again, this time leaning on the railing beside him.

"What now?" she asked.

"We go to the capital," Rael answered. "We finish this. Crocodile's not dead. He'll try again."

"And you'll stop him?"

Rael didn't answer at first.

Then he said, "Only if he's in my way."

Vivi joined them not long after. Her gaze was tired, but her smile real.

"Thank you," she said to Rael. "You didn't have to help. You could've walked away. But you didn't."

Rael looked at her. "You remind me of someone."

"Oh?"

He didn't explain.

Kaya smirked. "Let me guess. Another woman?"

Rael actually chuckled. "Maybe."

Their ship began to pull away from Rainbase. The sun set behind them, casting gold and fire across the dunes.

They sailed toward destiny.

But in the shadows of the world, the storm was just beginning to stir.

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