47
Seeing this, Crocodile trembled—not in fear, but in anger.
He knew that the chance to control the Arabasta Kingdom was slipping away, and all of it was caused by this kid, Tony.
Tony had disrupted his plans that had been in the making for years, and now even his Baroque Works organization was about to be exposed.
Crocodile quickly signaled his assassins to kill the king and the princess, Vivi.
"Mr.2, Mr.3! Hurry up and do it!"
"Right away, boss!"
…
"Flower Barrage, Slap Technique!"
Robin crossed her arms in front of her chest and activated her Hana Hana no Mi (Flower Flower fruit) ability. In an instant, dozens of arms sprouted from Mr.2's and Mr.3's shoulders, backs, and chests.
A flurry of slaps, so many that the human eye could barely keep up, pummeled the two men until they were unrecognizable, their faces swollen into bruised lumps as they passed out.
Tony winced at the sight. Robin's ability was hard to resist. If he weren't a Logia-type Devil Fruit user and if Robin had used Haki, he would have been beaten into a cripple that day.
Seeing that it was Nico Robin helping Tony, Crocodile's anger flared. He was so furious that he wished he could tear Tony apart.
"Robin, Mr.1 told me, but I didn't quite believe it. You really did betray me."
"You choose to be with a rookie? Aren't you afraid he'll betray you?"
"You've known him for only a few days. How can he be more reliable than me? Come back, Robin. Come back to my side. With my strength, I can give you anything you want."
Crocodile was clearly using both soft and hard tactics. On one hand, he was trying to stir up doubt about Tony's trustworthiness, and on the other hand, he was trying to pull Robin back to his side, to learn the whereabouts of the ancient weapon "Pluton," which he coveted.
But he underestimated the bond between Robin and Tony. Although they hadn't known each other long, Robin was certain that Tony was not the kind of person who would abandon or exploit his companions.
He was fundamentally different from Crocodile.
She also believed that Tony was the partner that Saul had spoken of, the one who would protect her.
With unwavering resolve, Robin rejected Crocodile's offer.
"Boss, I think I've met the person I'm supposed to meet in this life, and I won't be confused anymore. Tony is my most important partner!"
Robin's face was filled with determination.
Robin's words stirred something deep in Tony's heart: "The most important person in my life."
In that instant, he was swept into a daydream, imagining future adventures with Robin as they sailed the seas, taking leisurely trips… maybe even the occasional card game.
"Hehehe!" Tony couldn't help but chuckle in excitement at the thought.
Crocodile, watching from the side, couldn't stand seeing himself surpassed by a newcomer. His pride burned.
"Robin... Do you really think I, Crocodile, would lose to him? I don't accept this! I refuse to accept it!"
In a rage, Crocodile gathered the sands around his arms and let them sink slowly into the ground.
"Desert Great Sword!"
"Die, Robin! If you won't serve me, I won't let you become a threat. If I can't have that weapon, then no one will! Your knowledge can go down to hell with you!"
Boom!
Crocodile's attack tore through the cracked ground, as if nothing could stand in its way. A giant sand sword shot up from the ground beneath Robin's feet, aimed to destroy the entire level of the palace with enough power to split her in two. She had nowhere to escape.
Yet, her gaze held no regret from her previous words.
Swish!
Tony's Three-Tomoe Sharingan swiftly tracked the terrifying sword's trajectory. With his left hand, he swept Robin into his arms, and with his right, flames surged along the length of his Zanpakuto.
"Blazing Sky Ascension!"
The sword flared up with roaring flames, and the Armament Haki-enveloped blade shone with an obsidian-like gleam. With a powerful, blazing upward slash, Tony intercepted Crocodile's massive sand sword, stopping it in its tracks.
Fortunately, Tony had arrived in time. Otherwise, Robin might have met a grim end.
Even in this intense moment, Tony didn't miss the opportunity to savor the soft, gentle feeling of holding Robin. The sensation was, without a doubt, an exhilarating stimulant.
Robin closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling a familiar scent as he held her.
"That feeling again…"
"This is the second time… being held by this man."
"There's a warmth to it that I can't describe…"
Robin wrapped her arms tightly around Tony's neck, letting him get away with his playful touches. Yet Tony, though clearly thrilled, kept his behavior just respectful enough, knowing not to rush things—he would savor each step.
Then, looking perfectly serious, he carefully set Robin down beside Nami and Vivi, signaling for them to leave quickly. The palace was crumbling, and the assassins were scattering in retreat. They were no longer a threat to the girls.
Tony guarded their escape, taking on the sole remaining threat—Crocodile.
"Be careful, Tony! That guy's extremely dangerous!" Nami called out, her voice filled with worry.
Tony gently ruffled her hair, reassuring her with a confident smile, urging her to leave swiftly.
Without hesitation, Vivi, Nami, and the king quickly made their way to safety. As Tony watched them disappear into the distance, he finally felt unburdened. He rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension, his gaze sharpening as he faced Crocodile alone.
"Finally, a one-on-one battle with you!"
Tony could at last focus his full attention on Crocodile. With his companions around, he'd had to hold back to keep Nami and the others safe from any sudden assassin attacks. But now, that restraint was gone…
Tony's piercing Sharingan tracked Crocodile's every move, and in a flash, he released his full power. Flames roared to life around him, encircling Crocodile like a raging tiger.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed, his expression growing serious. He could tell that this Tony was nothing like the one he'd faced just moments before—the power and intensity radiating from Tony's flames were unmistakable.
"Kid! You're stronger than I gave you credit for," Crocodile sneered, his usual arrogance replaced by caution. He began to realize why Robin would choose this boy over him. For the first time, Crocodile felt a chill down his spine—an instinctive sense of danger that even he couldn't ignore.
"He's coming!"
~----------------------------------------------------------
T/N:
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