Chapter 43: The Rain of Victory

Taking four quick steps to the side, Josh silently thanked God as sharp sand blades erupted from the ground, narrowly missing him and almost cutting him in half.

Josh didn't dare to stop. He quickly used Shave to move behind Crocodile, appearing 40 meters away. 

Attacking a Warlord who was a Logia Devil Fruit user directly seemed foolish to Josh. Physical attacks were futile against Crocodile, who could turn into sand.

Crocodile smirked at Josh, who had been evading his attacks. He turned to face Josh and opened his palm.

"What? Aren't you going to call for your mama? Maybe you need her shoulder to cry on?" Crocodile taunted, observing Josh's cautious approach despite his earlier bravado.

"I'm an orphan. Better luck next time," Josh replied, raising his middle finger at Crocodile, causing veins to bulge on Crocodile's face.

"Damn brat!" Crocodile cursed.

A small tornado of sand began to whirl in Crocodile's palm. He threw it, and the sand whirlpool grew larger, creating a powerful wind that lifted the surrounding sand.

Josh swiftly used Shave to change direction, only for Crocodile to unleash another Sand Storm. Crocodile smirked, confident in his experience and intellect. Shave? What's that technique?

Having lived through the Pirate King's era, Crocodile was experienced enough to handle opponents like Josh with ease. Josh had nothing on him.

Opening his palm again, Crocodile released a third sand storm. Josh manoeuvred between the swirling storms, dodging each one.

Realising the danger of continuing to dodge the sand storms, Josh came up with a desperate plan. He crossed his arms and focused on Crocodile's smirking face.

"I'm betting my life on this bluff and my healing factor," he thought.

Despite a rock hitting his face and body, leaving him wounded, Josh screamed and leaped into the tornado. The wind lifted him, and he was tossed about by the storm, rocks and debris pummelling him.

Crocodile shook his head in disbelief.

"I've met many fools who thought they could withstand my attacks head-on," Crocodile said, reaching into his pocket for a cigar. He lit it, aware of the darkening sky. He wanted to finish Josh before the rain started.

Rumble

Thunder rumbled as Crocodile exhaled a cloud of smoke. A raindrop fell on his face. He shielded his cigar from the water.

"It's over," Crocodile said, stopping the sand storms.

He planned to return to his base after dealing with Josh. As he turned his back, waiting for Josh's corpse to hit the ground so he could drain it, he was startled by Josh's voice.

"Where do you think you are going?" Josh called out.

"You survived falling from such a height and hitting rocks?" Crocodile was incredulous.

Josh lay on the ground, injured with blood on his face. His mouth bled from internal injuries caused by the fall.

"Yes…" Josh managed to push himself up. "That was tough, you know. Rolling around and getting hit by rocks… I felt dizzy."

The rain intensified, drenching both of them.

Rumble

A massive lightning bolt illuminated the sky, brightening it momentarily.

"Wait… You are!" Crocodile exclaimed, his eyes widening as he realised something.

Josh grinned widely, wiping the blood from his face. The rain had washed away the blood, revealing that there were no wounds.

"Sorry, I had to get you to drop your guard," Josh said with a smirk.

Thanks to his healing factor, he had healed from the injuries sustained in the sky. Despite some critical injuries, he had protected his head and endured the pain until the rain arrived, securing his victory.

"You…" Crocodile muttered, sensing something was amiss. He bit down on his cigar, breaking it. The raindrops on his face confirmed Josh's strategy.

"And here I thought you were foolish to throw yourself into the storm," Crocodile said, replacing his hook with a poisonous blade. He crouched slightly, declaring, "Although I'm vulnerable in water, I can still use my abilities and attacks to kill people like you."

Crocodile was determined not to let his guard down. A single touch from him would dry up Josh's body fluids.

As Crocodile prepared to attack, he noticed something was missing. Josh was no longer in front of him.

Josh had appeared behind Crocodile and quickly pulled out a 50 cm long dagger. He flipped in the air and sliced at Crocodile's arm, where the hook was attached.

Caught off guard by Josh's speed, Crocodile watched as his hook fell to the ground, leaving him with a severely injured arm.

Josh, still in mid-air, didn't stop. Although he hadn't reached master level in swordsmanship, he had acquired sufficient skill to cut through tough materials like wood and flesh.

Crocodile's other hand transformed into a wet sand sword, and he slashed upward. Josh narrowly avoided the attack by moving his head to the side.

Josh quickly flipped the dagger in his hand and delivered a sidekick to Crocodile's knee, causing him to bend slightly. He then stabbed the dagger deep into Crocodile's shoulder, piercing through to his chest.

Bending down and bleeding from his mouth, Crocodile lifted his face, trembling as he reached out to Josh.

"Just one touch," Crocodile thought, believing it would secure his victory. Until-

Woosh

Josh vanished and reappeared ten meters away, the dagger still in hand. Crocodile, now bleeding heavily from his shoulder and hand with severe internal bleeding, was on his knees, weakened by the rain.

Josh smiled. "Thanks for taking care of me, boss."

His smile faded as he grew serious. "However, you're disgusting, asking me to do your dirty work for the rebels and kill people who've done nothing to me."

Though Josh wasn't particularly concerned about strangers, he found the missions he'd been assigned troubling. Baroque Works had not always been noble.

"You bastard!" Crocodile roared, rising with determined willpower. "Do you think I care if you're disgusted? I don't regret anything. I did everything I could."

Crocodile took a deep breath and declared, "I will become the Pirate King."

"A Pirate King?" Josh said, eyeing Crocodile. He slightly tossed the dagger and held it by the blade's tip. Crocodile observed, curious about Josh's next move.

"Here's your crown," Josh said, stepping forward and launching the dagger with all his strength, its speed rivalling a bullet.

Crocodile looked down at his chest, where the dagger aimed. He fell to his knees, his eyelids closing.

Josh hovered above the body, placing his hand near Crocodile's nose and muttering, "Still alive. People rarely survive that!"

Josh contemplated killing Crocodile but hesitated. He was unsure of the consequences of killing a Warlord or if it might lead to trouble with the World Government. Additionally, he had yet to claim Crocodile's wealth.

Was Crocodile pretending to be dead?

Josh knew he had defeated Crocodile when he heard the notification.

[Ding, the Gamble is completed]

[The rewards are in the storage.]

In a good mood, Josh retrieved a snail from Crocodile's coat, which resembled Robin, and called it.

"Boss…" Robin's voice responded, bringing a smile to Josh's face.

"Ane (Sis)," Josh said teasingly.

"Hey… wait! Josh."

"Who else would call you that?"

"Are you calling from Mr. 0's snail?" Robin asked, confused.

"What do you think that means?" Josh lay on the ground next to Crocodile's body. "By the way, can you send me a ride and call the King of Alabasta, but not just yet…"

Josh contemplated the Golden Crocodile atop the casino. Crocodile's casino and greed had sparked Josh's ambition. He needed to take that Golden Crocodile.

"I need to melt that Golden Crocodile."

"For now, what do you want me to do?" Robin asked, noticing Josh's delay.

Shaking his head, Josh took a deep breath. "Just send me a ride. I'm 600 meters east of the casino."