Chapter 89: This Sand Crocodile Must Be Fake, So Weak!
"Needless to say, just kill him!"
The people Crocodile recruited were all Desperados, each showing their most ferocious and savage expressions. However, they still showed ample respect to their new BOSS, and no one dared to act without permission.
"BOSS, look?"
"Looks like another hunter targeting my Bounty Head. Go deal with him," Crocodile ordered calmly, narrowing his eyes.
"Hahahaha, understood!"
"Let's go! Finally, some fun!"
Seeing this group hear the Order, they became completely hyped up, shouting and yelling in Excitement, urging their Camels to charge downwards.
Among them, one person seemed to think the Camel was too slow. He jumped directly from the peak's back into the air, then quickly spun a few times. When he landed, he had already transformed into a tall, sturdy Beastman with two horns on his head.
"Here he comes, Big Brother Yilan's Animal System Sheep-Sheep Fruit Antelope Form!"
As soon as that person finished speaking, the Half-Sheep Person bent his Legs, his hard hooves digging into the Sand. The next moment, as his thick Leg muscles exerted Force, he leaped high into the air with a Loud Noise.
"This life is mine!"
"Watch my Magic Sheep Stomp----"
Yilan, his face covered in wool, cruelly watched his hoof rapidly stomp towards the White-clothed Person's forehead, his Pupils flashing with crimson Killing Intent.
[Clang!!]
The massive, Steel-hard hoof, wrapped in rolling Air Current, stomped heavily onto a raised white index finger, instantly letting out a deafening collision sound.
A surging Force erupted from the point of contact, compressing the air around the two into rippling waves like water. The Sand beneath them seemed to sink several centimeters as if under invisible pressure.
"H-how is this possible! Aaaah!"
An utterly miserable Scream emerged, startling the others rushing up behind them, who instinctively pulled back their Camels. They stared dumbfounded as Bone Spikes, covered in Blood, sprouted from Big Brother Yilan's body. In the blink of an eye, he demonstrated the meaning of cruel extremity.
For a moment, everyone was stunned by such a horrific and bloody scene. Only Crocodile's Expression remained natural.
"A Paramecia System Ability User... Hmm?"
[Splurt, Splurt, Splurt!]
But before he could finish speaking, another startling change occurred. Below the group who had already charged dozens of meters away, pale white Long Swords drilled out from the Sand Layer, instantly piercing through the bellies of the Camels and the Masters sitting atop them.
More than ten people, along with their Camels, fell dead without even having time to let out a Scream. Streams of warm Blood flowed from the wounds, staining circle after circle of Sand red.
[Whoosh----]
A Sandstorm swept across the Sand Sea, quickly passing between the White-clothed Person and Crocodile.
"This guy..."
At this moment, Crocodile looked at the pale white Long Swords floating in the air, occasionally dripping Blood downwards, and his Expression became solemn.
Previously, he hadn't used Observation Haki to sense the opponent's Aura because his two-year journey in Paradise had made him less cautious. He had grown accustomed to easily taking down anyone, regardless of who they were.
However, just now, his subordinates had reminded him with their lives. Only when he clearly felt the vast, suffocating Aura emanating from the White-clothed Person could he no longer remain calm.
"Who exactly are you?"
Crocodile transformed into a mass of Sand, leaving the Camel's back and reappearing about fifty meters away from the White-clothed Person. At the same time, his entire body tensed, ready to strike at any moment.
[Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!]
But the White-clothed Person gave no response. Instead, the thirteen pale white Long Swords in the air shot towards him. Their Speed was so fast that they left the Sonic Booms far behind.
Fortunately, Crocodile's Observation Haki was already prepared. Combined with his Logia System's Element Transformation Ability, he managed to easily evade the chaotic sword attack.
"Hmm?!"
The next second, a blurry White Shadow flashed within his sight. Crocodile's expression instantly changed in alarm. His right arm, already transformed into a mass of Sand, vibrated at high speed, emitting a buzzing sound.
"Crescent Dune!"
The massive crescent-shaped sand blade swept forward, colliding with the white sword blade chopping towards him. However, the former couldn't even last a second. The sword light, as fast as a white rainbow, directly cut through the sand blade and struck the latter's chest.
Although he quickly used Element Transformation to try and disperse his body to avoid the sword, he was ultimately a bit slow. When the mass of yellowish-brown Sandstorm he had transformed into reformed into a human shape a hundred meters away, a long, bloody cut indeed appeared on his chest.
"What a fast Blade..."
Crocodile clutched the wound on his chest, his face grim as he stared intently at the White-clothed Person. Cold sweat had already appeared on his forehead.
But in response to his words, the White-clothed Person stopped as if appraising him. He suddenly spoke, saying, "So weak. How can your Haki be this weak?"
This person was precisely the CP0 sent by the Five Elders. Furthermore, he wasn't just an ordinary CP0 Member, but a CP0 holding the title of 'Holy Shield'.
Simply put, a 'Holy Shield' is definitely CP0, but a CP0 is not necessarily a 'Holy Shield'. The 'Holy Shield' title signifies possessing Strength comparable to a Marine Admiral.
Originally, dealing with Crocodile, who was only 22 years old, shouldn't have required deploying Combat Power of such high caliber. Normally, they should have dispatched Admiral Candidates Akainu, Kizaru, or Aokiji, or a few ordinary CP0 agents.
However, because a certain supreme being had spread their influence too wide, the Marines, from top to bottom, were incredibly busy. There was no one left to send. They couldn't possibly have Fleet Admiral Kong mobilize just for this 'little Sand Crocodile', could they?
And it was similar on the CP0 side; most of their personnel had already been dispatched.
Furthermore, considering Crocodile, who had fought Bullet to a draw several times two years ago and even challenged Whitebeard (although he was defeated), his Strength surely couldn't be weak. He could be completely compared to Bullet.
The current Bullet, although only 21 years old, was no longer someone that ordinary Marine Vice Admirals or CP9 could handle.
Moreover, Crocodile had reached Alabasta, making it even more impossible to deploy a large number of Warships for an Encirclement and Suppression. Therefore, they had to find Combat Power with Strength capable of suppressing Bullet to capture him.
This was the result of the previous internal discussion within CP0. Thus, it was decided that he, one of the two Holy Shields, would take action!
The problem was, after the initial exchange just now, Crocodile's Armament Haki was too weak. It was practically like a rookie who had just recently grasped Haki.
To be honest, if it were just a Logia User who had just learned Haki and hadn't Awakened yet, sending any seasoned Marine Vice Admiral would have been enough.
But this wasn't right... How could Crocodile be this weak?
Although this kid wasn't very old, his Height of two and a half meters showed his extraordinary Aptitude. He couldn't be measured by the standard of ordinary people; his four or five years were enough to equal most people's ten or so years.
The White-clothed Person's Gaze under his Mask was full of doubt. Looking at the guy before him, he even suspected if he had encountered a fake 'Sand Crocodile'.
Crocodile, hearing this guy look down on him so much, was extremely angry. However, he wasn't someone who easily lost his temper. In fact, he also realized that his Haki had inexplicably become weaker, which filled him with even more shock and fury.
"W-why? What's wrong with my Haki?"
What exactly happened to my Haki...
This question was precisely what Crocodile, sitting cross-legged in the boiling water, was racking his brain over. It was also the question that had troubled him the entire way after being defeated by the CP0 and escorted here.
His current self was basically no different from two years ago. At that time, he had just set sail! It wasn't strange that his Strength hadn't improved much in the past two years since he hadn't trained extensively, but it shouldn't have decreased, especially not this drastically!
"Time's up, Crocodile. Come out and put on your Clothing."
At this moment, the Prison Guard outside the pot called out to him somewhat nervously.
He didn't know why he was nervous. The opponent clearly had Seastone Handcuffs on his hands and feet, his Shadow had been cut away, and he was wearing a Pet Collar around his Neck. By all appearances, he couldn't resist...
(End of this chapter)