Chapter 78: Preparing for Battle.

"But... but..."

"How could this happen? How—"

Facing the regretful, remorseful, incredulous, skeptical, and even despairing rebel officers, Roman calmly spread his hands.

"Accept reality."

"If I wanted to, I could replicate everything you experienced."

"Of course, the 'fake king' you encountered in Nanohana wasn't me. Not to mention, as Vivi's friend, I had no reason to do such a thing. At that time—"

As Roman wiped his hand, his clothes parted to reveal blood-stained bandages underneath.

"I had just fought the 'mastermind'. The result? I almost became part of Alabasta's sand."

Catching bullets barehanded... with Roman's severely injured body, it was still a bit challenging.

And these obvious new injuries are Roman's alibi.

"In any case, the facts are right in front of you."

Roman pointed to the tied-up guys nearby. — Thanks to the 'secrecy' of Baroque Works, low-level members have a winged skull mark tattooed on their right arm to avoid friendly fire. And now it has become their death warrant! After a chaotic scene, hundreds of Baroque Works combatants were rounded up:

"The information you obtained from the interrogation, combined with the information provided by Vivi, makes it easy to deduce the truth. — Unless you don't want to believe it yourselves."

"We... we..."

"We were just doing it for this country, so that everyone could survive!"

Several rebel leaders were filled with regret. If the situation weren't still ongoing, they might have already considered ending their own lives.

Looking around, the tens of thousands of rebels who were previously filled with anger and fighting spirit were now standing in a daze, with expressions of utter despair.

"Don't be so quick to give up, things are far from over."

Although the massive battle involving millions was successfully stopped, the mastermind behind it all still existed and was about to step into the spotlight.

"Since we are all fighting for Alabasta, we now have a common goal—"

"And having so many people stay here isn't practical either..."

Roman began to explain the 'plan' to the group.

The rebel leaders nodded in agreement, — at this point, they wouldn't even object to suicide, let alone joining forces to take down the mastermind.

So far, so good.

The rebels were dealt with, and the royal army was the simplest.

With the vice-captain of the royal guard, Pell, knowing the truth, the royal army had likely already completed their purge and was evacuating the civilians of Alubarna. Once the other battles were over, they would only need to face the approaching, now isolated Crocodile.

What? You're asking about Robin?

Isn't she one of our combat units...

However,

Roman stroked his chin. As he had said before, the key to this battle lay with Crocodile alone. If they couldn't defeat the Sand Crocodile, everything else was meaningless!

Tens of thousands of troops are impressive? More impressive than a giant sandstorm? If Crocodile really went all out, countless ordinary soldiers would just be cannon fodder.

Facing Crocodile, who possessed strong Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and had developed his Devil Fruit ability to the 'Awakening' stage, and whose Taijutsu was not weak either. — If they couldn't accumulate enough advantages, even Luffy...

They couldn't rely on a last-minute miracle, so:

The plan must succeed!

————————

"I'm not trying to discourage you,"

Mr. 1, with his fists clashing and emitting a cold metallic sound, coldly looked at the three-sword-style swordsman in front of him.

"Since I obtained the Dice-Dice Fruit, no swordsman has been able to hurt me."

"Ah, I see."

Zoro took off the bandana from his arm and tied it around his head.

"No matter how many swordsmen you've faced before, I advise you to forget all those battles."

"The reason you haven't lost is because you haven't met me!"

Facing the confident Zoro, the bald and burly Mr. 1 responded with indifferent words.

"I don't know if your swords are fast, but your mouth sure is sharp."

Bang!

With a step forward, Mr. 1 charged at Zoro with his bare fists! He leaped with one leg and followed with a fierce downward kick.

Clang!

In the ear-piercing clash of blades, Mr. 1's entire leg transformed into a massive blade! He firmly suppressed Zoro's two swords.

"Not bad, baldy!"

"Let's see how long you can last—"

Mr. 1 spread his fingers, transforming them into five short blades shaped like tiger claws, and slashed at Zoro!

"Control Slash!"

"Tch,"

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

Sparks flew, blades clashed, and the battle between the swordsman and the blade man officially began.

---

Kick—

"Ugh,"

"Ah,"

Boom!!

Sanji and Mr. Bon Clay simultaneously kicked each other in the face, sending both of them flying and crashing to the ground. Then:

"This is really annoying,"

Sanji dusted off his pants and stretched his limbs, "Why does that moss-head get to fight a senior officer with a bounty of 75 million Berries, while I have to fight someone like you?"

Even if he won, wouldn't that annoying guy still have the upper hand? Unless—

"Hmph, arrogant fool."

Mr. Bon Clay, dressed in a swan costume, also got up. He could feel that the blond, curly-browed man in the black suit in front of him was evenly matched with him, but:

"I've trained day and night to master this Okama Kenpo. A small fry like you can't possibly break it!"

"Oh, then go ahead and try. Let's see if I don't break your hands—"

In the midst of the clashing fists and feet!

——————

"Achoo!"

With a sneeze from a... dog? Gun? Cannon... this gun-cannon dog spat out a round baseball that whistled through the air! But Chopper, in his reindeer form, swiftly dodged the 'cannonball' with his four hooves, glancing back as he did.

The baseball missed, but it didn't matter, because in its trajectory, the burly Mr. 4 swung his 4-ton bat, instantly changing the baseball's path and sending it flying towards Chopper at supersonic speed!

Boom!!

The baseball exploded like a powerful shell, but:

Swish—

Chopper, with his four hooves on the ground, broke through the smoke and leaped out of the explosion.

"Too slow,"

"This dodgeball game is much easier compared to Mr. Roman's 'Dodge Puppet'."

"Oh~~~"

The chubby and clumsy Mr. 4 put down his bat, took out a cup of water, and took a sip, then:

Whack!

He got hit on the back of the head with a stick.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and finish off the opponent! You pig, pig—"

Is that his partner, Miss Merry Christmas?

She was a short, quick-tempered old lady, forming a stark contrast with her partner. She was very annoyed by Mr. 4's slow behavior, but it was said that they had excellent coordination in battle.

This old lady was a Mole-Mole Fruit user, and she was the one who kidnapped Vivi's father from the palace, causing a series of misunderstandings. But as long as this information was known, it wouldn't be difficult for the two deputy commanders of the Alabasta Kingdom to rescue their king.

So:

They had these two, plus an animal weapon...

Can he win?

Of course!

———————

"Ahhhh, help me~~~"

"Stop, you scoundrel!!"

If the other battlefields were still 'normal', then Usopp's side was...

As usual, Usopp was running away in tears, while Miss Doublefinger chased him furiously. She had eaten the Thorn-Thorn Fruit, turning her entire body into sharp spikes! She was definitely a close-combat expert, but:

After witnessing her fingers shatter a boulder, Usopp decided not to engage her in close combat at all, running like the wind! This made Miss Doublefinger so angry that her head was about to explode!

Though she already had a blue afro...

"Damn it, aren't you a man of the sea?"

"Get back here and fight me!"

Running so fast, are you a reincarnated running duck?!

————————

And the last battlefield.

'Nami, what's the situation?'

Having sneaked onto the pirate ship named 'Baroque Gustav', Nami avoided a pair of patrolling guards and whispered to the paper crane on her shoulder.

"Haven't found it yet, but it should be nearby, because I can smell—"

Slash,

A flash of a blade, and the cabin behind her was instantly reduced to splinters. An arrogant voice came from within.

"Look what I found, Mr. 10."

"Oh? What is it, Miss Monday?"

With another flippant voice, a man wielding dual pistols and a woman carrying a long sword emerged from the hole.

"Looks like we have 'work' to do."

...

'Need backup?'

Facing Roman's question through the paper crane, Nami, holding the "Thief's Ultimate Art," shook her head.

"No need."

'...Be careful.'

Crocodile should react soon, the outcome depends on you, Nami.

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