68. Al: I'm Just Playing For A While~

When given the ultimatum of life or death, Crocodile didn't waste much time before opting to bind his own hands with handcuffs.

Confronted by the monstrous Al, Crocodile found no shred of hope within himself.

Could anyone casually reduce an island to the size of a palm and tear it apart barehanded? How did this differ from the tales of legendary gods?

As Crocodile secured his own hands with cuffs, he softly inquired, "Are you truly human?"

Upon pondering Crocodile's query, Al shook his head and replied with a smile, "I'm just a regular human."

Crocodile's lips twitched slightly as he stared at Al with eyes akin to a monster's, unleashing a guttural roar from deep within his heart, "Do you comprehend the meaning of 'ordinary'?"

Sensing the shift in Crocodile's demeanor, Al hummed softly and followed up with another statement.

"I truly am just an ordinary human being," Al reiterated.

Crocodile remained momentarily stunned, then gestured towards the island behind him, inquiring, "Was your intention all along to use this island to kill me?"

"What are you imagining? Putting in so much effort just to kill you?" Al countered.

"Then why all the commotion!!!"

Crocodile felt nothing but humiliation. After all, he was one of the Shichibukai, a notorious pirate with a bounty exceeding 80 million!

To be met with such disdainful remarks from a newcomer to the Grand Line, whose bounty was merely 50 Baileys, stung Crocodile deeply. Yet, he could only seethe with anger inwardly, not daring to confront Al.

In the face of Crocodile's skepticism, Al didn't hesitate a moment before responding candidly, "Because it's amusing."

'I got Droopy's ability, how can i not show-off'

"Fun?" Crocodile exclaimed incredulously.

The notion of finding amusement in such a dire situation shattered Crocodile's mental health instantly.

To think a mere sentence could conjure the image of impending doom.

Gazing at Al's innocent smile, Crocodile released a long, weary sigh, feeling as though he had aged a decade in mere moments.

Collapsed on the sandy ground, Crocodile muttered weakly:

"You... are strong," Crocodile managed to utter between breaths.

"Stronger than... anyone I know!"

For a moment, Al hesitated, unable to fathom how Crocodile could still offer praise amidst their confrontation.

After pondering for a while, Al suddenly grasped the current state of Crocodile's mind.

"He was driven mad by Tom before," Al realized.

After the initial excitement subsided, it became evident that the other party was a wholly irrational entity.

In the end, it was revealed that behind an opponent seemingly impossible to defeat, lurked an even more formidable monster?!

All of Crocodile's efforts and audacity amounted to nothing more than a sideshow for their amusement.

A profound sense of powerlessness and despair obliterated Crocodile's final line of defense.

Even the entirety of his arrogance and self-assurance crumbled into nothingness!

Such an outcome is undeniably difficult for anyone to come to terms with!

However, Al's words weren't meant as a malicious attack on Crocodile.

He was merely driven by amusement, curious to explore the perplexing nature of Droopy's ability.

Tom had explicitly cautioned against interfering in the confrontation between Al and Crocodile, and Al held great respect for Tom's wishes.

Initially, Al had intended to assist Spike in dealing with the members of Baroque Works.

However, upon assessing the battlefield, they realized that these minor players posed no threat to Spike and the rest.

In fact, Spike and his comrades continuously dominated and subdued the members of the Baroque Works.

Feeling there was no opportunity for him to intervene, Al contemplated for a moment before teleporting to the sea's surface.

His intention was to seek out Sea Kings to hunt and later enjoy a satisfying dinner.

To Al's surprise, upon arriving in the sea, he found himself next to an island previously unseen by him.

Suddenly, a bold idea struck Al's mind.

Without hesitation, he resolved to test if he could replicate Droopy renowned feat—Plate Drift!

However, Al was not entirely certain of the extent of the extraordinary ability he had gained.

In an instant, the force proved overwhelming, lifting the entire island into the sky and hurtling it towards Arabasta.

Realizing he had overstepped his bounds, Al swiftly brainstormed a plan to salvage the situation.

However, the upheaval seemed to be of significant magnitude...

Unaware of Al's true intentions, Crocodile subconsciously dismissed Al's words as mere politeness.

Otherwise, he feared his mind would collapse under the weight of the impending disaster.

Meanwhile, at the Marine headquarters, in the meeting room...

Wide-eyed and breathless, everyone in the Marine headquarters meeting room struggled to comprehend the unbelievable events they had just witnessed.

A sense of strangeness and fear engulfed the assembled members like an overwhelming tide.

Several Marine Vice Admirals, unable to withstand the psychological strain, collapsed to the ground upon being terrified by the horrifying spectacle.

"What... just happened?"

"An island... it... it disappeared..."

"It... it was... compressed to the size of a palm, and then the entire island was torn in half!"

"Then the compressed island... it returned to its original state and merged with Arabasta island?"

"Is this truly... within the capabilities of humans?"

"Impossible... could it be a god...? No, no, no... Oh, what happened to you!"

For a moment, the meeting room was filled with a cacophony of incoherent sounds, ranging from shock, panic, to frantic shouts.

Even Sengoku and other formidable Marine executives couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat at the sight of this bizarre occurrence.

The CP member tasked with safeguarding the camera den den mushi was rendered unconscious by Tom's inadvertently launched mace during the skirmish with Crocodile.

The camera den den mushi itself was also sent crashing to the ground by the airborne weapon.

As a result, only a blurred outline could be captured, making it impossible to discern the individual's identity!

This dilemma left Sengoku and the others aware that the events were orchestrated by someone, yet they remained unable to ascertain the culprit's identity with certainty!

"Damn it, get in touch with those two CP organization agents immediately! I need to know who's behind this!" Sengoku bellowed, slamming his fist onto the table as he fixed a cold gaze on the large screen displaying two images of the clear sky.

A tense silence descended upon the conference room in the wake of Sengoku's outburst.

The only sound audible was the urgent calls for the CP organization members.

"Moshi, Moshi, do you copy?" came the voice over the communication device.

"Moshi, Moshi..."

The sound of rustling from the den den mushi sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

As time dragged on, the tension in the meeting room grew increasingly suffocating.

Suddenly, a frenzied scream shattered the eerie silence!

A Marine Vice Admiral convulsed violently, collapsing to the ground before emitting a manic, sharp laughter.

"I've had my fill of this madness," he declared, observing the complete breakdown of his colleagues' psychological defenses.

The atmosphere weighed heavy on everyone's chest, making it difficult to draw breath.

Garp let out a soft sigh before he swiftly and decisively rendered him unconscious with a single blow.

Turning to the guard attempting to establish contact with the CP organization members, he spoke:

"Keep going, don't falter, and don't forget what lies behind you!" Garp urged, his voice carrying a weight of determination.

"If merely because of an unknown enemy, the justice within your hearts wavers..." Garp trailed off, evidently reluctant to utter the remainder of the poignant sentence.

He understood all too well that the current circumstances had surpassed everyone's expectations.

Confronted by formidable and inscrutable foes, it was no small feat for their group of newly promoted Marine Vice Admirals to endure thus far.

However, despite Garp leaving his sentence unfinished, the group of Marine Vice Admirals understood the implication.

They hung their heads in shame, reflecting on the military uniforms they wore with a mixture of emotions in their hearts.

Witnessing this display, Sengoku couldn't help but interject, "Garp, you old rascal..."

But before Sengoku could finish his remark, Garp grinned mischievously, raising his fist in a playful manner before speaking earnestly, "Didn't we all start out like this back in the day?"

"No matter how formidable the enemy may be, we cannot allow them to jeopardize the peace of this world!" Garp declared resolutely.

"Old man," Sengoku responded, his tone reflecting respect and acknowledgement.

"I've always carried the weight of mortality in my heart, protecting this hard-earned peace," Garp continued solemnly.

As Garp's voice trailed off, a faint sound of breathing emanated from the den den mushi.

Instantly, all eyes were drawn to the source of the sound, and the atmosphere in the meeting room plummeted to an icy chill.

Each breath became shallow, as no one dared to contemplate the fate that had befallen Arabasta.

"Moshi, Moshi, do you copy?" came the urgent call over the communication device.

"What has occurred in Arabasta, and who is the mysterious figure?" The inquiries came in a flurry, laced with a hint of panic.

Despite their intense desire for answers, fear still gripped them tightly.

The guard persisted in repeating the question, growing more anxious with each repetition.

It wasn't until the tenth attempt that the den den mushi emitted a faint, panicked voice.

"Cowboy..."

"What's happening? Hurry up!" The urgency in the inquiry intensified.

However, after uttering the word "Cowboy," the weak voice fell silent.

"Cowboy?" Sengoku whispered solemnly.

At once, an air of disbelief and fear swept through the meeting room.

"Impossible... what just transpired... it's unbelievable!" one exclaimed in shock.

"Are you serious? How could a band of newcomers to the Grand Line possess such terrifying power!" another chimed in, incredulous.

The murmurs persisted throughout the room.

Yet, amidst the heated debates, many still couldn't fathom that Cowboy Pirates were responsible for these events.

However, given the staggering displays witnessed from Tom and his associates previously, one couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility.

In the midst of the contemplation, Kizaru, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up:

"Isn't Kuzan heading to Arabasta?"

"The specifics will become clear once that individual arrives."

Whether it was Shiki or Al and his companions, the terrifying abilities showcased on the screen had surpassed the limits of Sengoku's comprehension.

And contemplating the havoc those two monsters would wreak upon meeting in the New World only added to the weight of apprehension in Sengoku's heart.

Just as everyone grappled with the complexities of the situation, Akainu, the Marine Admiral, rose with a disdainful expression, and uttered with a snarl:

"I really don't know why you guys show such expressions."

But before he could continue, Sengoku snapped back, his voice stern:

"Refrain from speaking out of turn, Sakazuki! Can't you grasp the gravity of our current predicament?!"

In an instant, the conference room fell into a tense stalemate as a result of the clash of opinions between the two factions.

However, just as Akainu was poised to retort, a frantic voice cut through the tension.

"Marshal Sengoku, something's amiss!"

A sailor burst into the conference room, brandishing a newspaper, his expression fraught with urgency.

Noticing the sailor's distress, Sengoku huffed, disregarding Akainu, and turned to inquire about the matter at hand.

Without hesitation, he handed the newspaper to Sengoku, his expression fraught with anxiety.

"Marshal Sengoku, this is today's newspaper, detailing the events in Arabasta!" he reported urgently.

Taking the newspaper, Sengoku glanced at the headline, which read—

"Shichibukai,Crocodile, Set to be Deposed?"

Sengoku slammed his fist onto the table, his voice filled with anger:

"No matter the means, the events that follow must not make it into the newspapers!" Sengoku ordered sternly.

"Yes, sir!" came the immediate response.

Meanwhile, on an island somewhere in the New World, the news king, Morgans, eagerly clasped the photos one by one, his excitement evident as he erupted into wild laughter.

"More, more! Hahaha..." Morgans exclaimed gleefully, hungering for additional details about Arabasta.

"This shocking news is exactly the kind of headline I crave!"

"What an unimaginable battle!" Morgans marveled.

As Robin concluded, she transformed into petals and vanished on the spot.

When it reappeared, Robin found herself at the very heart of the island that Al had pulled over.

Standing atop the tallest mountain, Robin gazed down at the desert below where the two figures stood, her eyes reflecting deep admiration.

"What a formidable individual," she murmured softly.

As if sensing someone's presence, Al furrowed his brow, casting a vigilant gaze around him.

After a thorough scan, Al stroked his chin, pondering, "Could it be a mirage?"

"How much longer do you intend to toy with me? Just kill me already!" Crocodile bellowed, his body sprawled across the sand, his expression dark, emitting fierce roars.

In the brutal world of pirate battles, holding back against an enemy is undoubtedly a foolish decision.

Crocodile harbored no illusions that Al would spare him.

With a resolve to meet his end, Crocodile rose to his feet, bracing himself for Al's impending strike.

Al cast a fleeting glance at Crocodile, then swiftly rendered him unconscious, tossing him onto the boat.

Initially, when he found himself inexplicably targeted by the Baroque Works Agency, Al had indeed contemplated ending Crocodile's life. However, as he observed the EP prompts incessantly flickering in his mind, Al ultimately reconsidered.

A proud and haughty individual like Crocodile made for the ideal candidate to serve as a tool for accruing EP!

Having dealt with Crocodile, Al then retrieved the comatose Tom before joining Nami and the others.

"Captain Al, that was incredible! How did you do it?" Nami and Carina exclaimed, their eyes sparkling with admiration as they voiced their awe.

Just as Al was about to fabricate a response, the sound of hurried footsteps nearby diverted their attention.

"The remnants of the Baroque Works ?" Nami speculated, her gaze turning towards the source of the commotion.

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