Chapter 11: Dawn of the Golden Age of Mercenaries

Meanwhile above ground but still inside the temple, Luffy was fighting Crocodile using his own blood under the watchful eyes of the king.

"Thrust, buried and dried up, you have gone through it all and are still standing..." Breathlessly commted Crocodile. "... But this time, you wouldn't. This match is set, as poison is already spreading through your body."

Raising his clenched, blood smeared fist, Luffy simply replied. "You do not understand anything."

A few rounds of fighting later, Crocodile combed his disheveled hair back with one hand while whipping away some blood from his chin, as he asked winded. "You said I... understand... nothing?!"

But the only thing Luffy replied as he flexed his muscles was. "GUM-GUM MACHINE GUN!!"

Being unwillingly hit by half a dozent strikes of Luffy's, Crocodile asked mockingly with a superior smile on his battered face. "What don't you understand in me saying that you are already dying from poison? ... Don't you realise it?! Your body is already getting numb it. Also no matter if you win or lose, you will be stuck in this temple... So why do you still fight?!"

Clenching his teeth, Luffy replied calmly heavily breathing. "I guess you still don't understand... Vivi, even though she says no to death, she tries to throw away her life to save others..."

[...]

Meanwhile several feet underground nearly fully buried alive, Robin was still clinging to my corpse, just as I figured out a way to revive myself. As my corpse started glowing blue, the dagger still buried in my chest just evaporated into dust and the wound it left behind quickly closed up.

Still unconscious, since my consciousness was still separated from my body, I transformed my body into mental energy to teleport Robin outside the temple and away from certain death.

"NO!" She screamed, just as my body fully merged with time and space itself.

Arriving outside, she instantly heared the bomb safely detonate above the city, since me getting stabbed and dying messed up the flow of time past and present inside the tomb below as well as the temple above ground.

[...]

With Luffy collapsed on the ground, Crocodile stretched out his arms as if welcoming his victory. "This is it. It's over."

[...]

South Gate; Alurbana; Alabasta Kingdom

Outside the city, Vivi, Korza and Chaka together with all the soldiers both rebels and guards and everybody else in the vicinity of 120km around Alabasta, they all saw the fiery red explosions suddenly cave in on itself, as it turned first light blue, than deep purple/blue.

[...]

Palace; Alurbana; Alabasta Kingdom

Inside the city, the recovering Strawhats and Kuma were also looking up into the sky to witness history as red turned into purple. With the exception of Kuma, who somehow kept his cool and collected exterior, all their mouths were wide open in shock, unable to produce any sound what so ever.

[...]

Training Area; Marineford; Paradise Region

Overlooking the hard working recruits, Monkey D. Garp suddenly felt a cold and involuntary shudder run down his back.

"What the...?" Was all he was able to say, before all other words got stuck in his throat, as he noticed a faint light switch from orange/yellow into purple/black.

[...]

Secret Underground Lab; Future Country Baldimore; Karakuri Island

Deep underground and confronted with several reports regarding the event above Alabasta simultaneously pouring in, both Vegapunk and Ceasar Clow could be seen reading multiple reports simultaneously in a frenzy, like maniacs as if possessed.

[...]

Garden Eden; Mount Purgatory; The Afterlife

Sitting on a tree trunk, a small smile appeared on the face of a certain angle that lazed around in the heavenly lighy, a flaming sword beside her.

[...]

Approximately 15 km above Alurbana, Alabasta Kingdom

As numb, cold and detached existence gave way for unimaginable pain, I started to rebuild my body using the power of the explosion above the city.

Unconsciously following some kind of plan, I tapped into some innate /God given knowledge hiding deep inside my brain. Still unable, to fix my wardrobe problem, I found myself nevertheless capable to massively raise my new body's affinity to detect Space-Time.

In doing so, for only a moment, my consciousness ended up being stretched and distorted all over time. As such I found myself confronted with three distinct visions.

-I am swimming in a pool filled with relaxing hot water, my taught muscles unwinding, my skin deep purple. To my right, I find Robin bare to my view and touch, my fingers inside of her, playing her like an exquisite instrument as she intensly kneads her large breasts, while moaning out laude.

Just as I notice a leather collar around her neck with a golden coin with silver writing attached to it and I try to read what was written on it, I feel small but firm hands on my thighs and a mouth around my shaft. Looking down myself, I first only found a fush of red hair above my crotch. Pulling it with my free, I pull put a stunning but nameless woman with fair but defined feactures.

Wanting to speak out, I suddenly felt chains rub against my abdomen. Looking first to Robin, I discover an iron chain attached to her leather collar and a lewd/excited expression on her face. Following the chain to my left, I suddenly felt my mouth invaded by by a delicate but slippery toung and the tast of lemons. Ending the kiss, I learn the woman's identity. Kalifa?!-

-Standing above the planet, Nico, the unknown redhead and Kalifa beside me, we witness a devastating green beam descending upon the Red Line, Mary Geoise to be precise.-

-I stand in front of three graves that read 'Nico Robin; Our Light in the Dark; *Feb. 6th 1487 to + Aug. 22nd 1562' , 'Algaria; Anointed Pathfinder of the Shandia; *April 4th 1494 to +Aug. 22nd 1562' , 'Kalifa; The White Widowmaker; April 23rd 1488 to +Aug. 22nd 1562'.-

[...]

Royal Tomb; Alurbana; Alabasta Kingdom

Meanwhile as I was having visions of future events, Luffy's and Crocodile's fight entered it's final phase as the temple around the crumbled.

"As long as she hasn't given up... we will not stop fighting..." Stated Luffy exhausted beyond his means, unclear if he was talking to himself or Crocodile. "... It's just you against me... And you can not defeat me."

"You can barely say those words... he... that look suits you, you're just pathetic..." Mocked Crocodile, also exhausted beyond his limits. "... So how can you still say shit like that?!"

After taking some deep breaths, Luffy shouted will all his might. "Because I... WILL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!!!"

"If you knew how harsh the sea is, you wouldn't say shit like that!... I said it before, weaklings like you are all over the sea..." Rebuked Crocodile whole banishing his hook. "... Once you realise the level of Pirates in this world, you will stop having such foolish dreams!"

Sidestepping the attack, Luffy slammed his foot ontop of Crocodile's hoock, instantly crushing it into pieces. "Than I will just ... exceed you!"

That said, Luffy launched Crocodile into the sky with a single hit to his chin.

[...]

Central Plaza; Alurbana; Alabasta Kingdom

After what felt like an eternity but were unbeknownst to me just a few weeks, I finally completed my new and improved body. Disoriented at first I effortlessly shifted space around me and descended onto the central plaza, were hundreds of marines, royal guards, civilians, as well as Vivi, Koza, Chaka, Kuma, Smoker and Tashigi who appeared to be eagerly awaiting my arrival.

"It's been some time..." I greeted them unaware that my spectaclar rebirth would later be titled as the 'Dawn of the Golden Age of Mercenaries'.