69. Scaring Crocodile

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Daiki didn't take Crocodile's words to heart. Anos had briefed him on the importance of keeping certain truths buried, especially in a place like this the underground palace.

One of the Alabasta Kingdom's most secure and secluded locations. Very few knew of its existence, let alone its secrets.

Crocodile, perhaps feeling it was only his imagination, dismissed his earlier suspicion and said.

"It's fine. Let's move on!" He continued forward, though the nagging feeling of being watched lingered at the back of his mind.

Daiki had already reached the heart of the underground palace by then. This structure was massive, built as a hidden sanctuary from ages past.

The ceiling stretched high above him, supported by pillars adorned with ancient carvings depictions of past rulers, battles, and symbols of forgotten power.

The air was thick with age, carrying a heavy silence that seemed to amplify even the smallest sound.

In the grand hall, Daiki found exactly what Anos, had sent him to secure.

Before him stood an enormous square Poneglyph, towering five meters high, its dark stone surface etched with a mysterious, ancient text.

Though dust coated its surface, the carvings themselves were pristine, unaffected by centuries.

Each character was carved with precision, standing boldly in defiance of erosion and decay.

The Poneglyph held a powerful aura, its presence heavy and compelling, as if calling to those who approached with secrets from a forgotten era.

Daiki felt a shiver run through him, knowing the history embedded in this stone and the devastation it could bring if that knowledge fell into the wrong hands.

His thoughts were interrupted as footsteps echoed through the hall.

He quickly moved to a shadowed corner, concealing himself behind a pillar, and waited to see who had followed him down here.

Soon enough, Crocodile entered, leading Nico Robin directly toward the Poneglyph.

The intense look in Crocodile's eyes spoke of his desperation and his obsession with power and knowledge.

Daiki observed them, a calculating gleam in his eyes.

He knew that both Crocodile and Robin had their motives for seeking this ancient knowledge, but he wanted to understand exactly what they planned to do with it.

Crocodile walked up to the Poneglyph, his heart racing as he finally laid eyes on it. His fingers twitched slightly, betraying his excitement.

In this moment, Crocodile was not a calm, calculating warlord, he was a man obsessed, standing on the brink of the power he had long desired.

"Robin," he demanded, almost breathless, "can you read it? What does it say?"

Robin studied the inscriptions carefully, her fingers lightly tracing the ancient text as though she could feel its history beneath her fingertips.

She wore a calm smile, but Daiki noted the hint of awe in her eyes.

"I can't translate every word," she replied, her voice steady but soft, "but most of it is clear. It mainly describes the location of an ancient weapon known as the Pluton. However, there are phrases I haven't fully deciphered. To be thorough, I'll need more time."

Robin's fascination was evident. She seemed drawn to the Poneglyph, mesmerized by the weight of its history.

As she ran her hands over the stone, Daiki saw that she was savouring the experience of touching a piece of a bygone era.

To her, this was more than just a tool of power it was a link to a forgotten past.

Hearing her words, Daiki felt a surge of alarm and excitement.

The Poneglyph speaks of Pluton… His mind raced as he considered the implications.

If Pluton were to be unleashed, the balance of power in the world could shift drastically.

The Tru Kingdom would face unimaginable peril if Crocodile, or anyone else, managed to unearth this weapon.

His body tensed, his eyes narrowing as he continued to watch them from his hiding place.

These two don't know what they're playing with, he thought, feeling his fists clench involuntarily.

Daiki's usually calm demeanour began to falter, the gravity of the situation stirring a quiet fury within him.

If the existence of Pluton became public knowledge, it would spell disaster for the world, and especially for his homeland, the Tru Kingdom.

Suddenly, a sound escaped him a small, barely audible shift of his weight on the stone floor.

Crocodile's senses, honed from years of survival, picked up on the faint noise.

He spun around, glaring in Daiki's direction with a sharp, accusatory look.

"Who's there?" Crocodile barked, his voice echoing through the hall. "If you're bold enough to hide, come out and face me!"

Daiki, realizing he'd been discovered, abandoned his cover.

With a cold, red-eyed glare, he stepped out from the shadows, the dim light casting an ominous glow over his features. His gaze was locked onto Crocodile, filled with contempt and an unsettling calm.

As Daiki appeared, Crocodile's face twisted in shock and confusion.

He hadn't expected anyone else to be in such a secluded place, let alone someone radiating such an intense presence.

He scrutinized Daiki, his curiosity tinged with unease as he noticed the cold, calculating look in his red eyes.

"Who are you, and why are you here?" Crocodile demanded, masking his surprise with an air of authority.

Daiki smirked, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Before you question me, shouldn't you explain your intentions here? I'm surprised that someone like you, Crocodile, would be so careless."

His gaze shifted to Robin, acknowledging her briefly. "And you, young lady you can read the Poneglyph? Impressive."

Robin met his gaze, but Daiki could see the wariness in her eyes. He knew she wasn't someone who would be easily intimidated, but even she couldn't hide her surprise.

"You refuse to give your name?" Crocodile sneered, his patience thinning. He clenched his fists, preparing to use his Devil Fruit power. "Then allow me to—"

In a heartbeat, Daiki vanished, reappearing instantly before Crocodile and driving a powerful Haki-infused punch into his stomach.

The blow sent Crocodile flying back, crashing into the stone wall with a thunderous impact.

The force of the collision left a deep, human-shaped indentation in the wall, and Crocodile slumped, momentarily stunned.

The sheer strength of Daiki's attack was evident. Despite Crocodile's Logia powers, which usually allowed him to evade physical harm, the Haki-infused strike bypassed his sand body and landed solidly.

Daiki stood over him, his eyes cold and disdainful.

"Did you really think that having a Logia-type Devil Fruit made you invincible in the first half of the Grand Line?" His voice was dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but an open book. Anyone who knows your abilities could exploit your weaknesses easily."

Robin, still watching, was paralyzed with shock. She had seen Haki before, but witnessing it in action against someone like Crocodile left her unnerved.

Daiki's presence radiated authority and danger, a combination that left her feeling vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Crocodile groaned, wiping a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth as he forced himself to stand.

He'd never expected to encounter someone so powerful here, someone capable of striking through his defences with such ease.

In the early parts of the Grand Line, Logia's powers could indeed make one feel invincible, but Crocodile had underestimated his opponent.

In the Tru Kingdom, even the members of the Royal Guards could rival him, and Daiki, as the captain, was leagues above the average guard in strength.

"Who… are you?" Crocodile repeated, his voice laced with defiance and frustration.

Daiki's gaze hardened, his tone deadly. "You don't need to know who I am. Just understand this if you pursue Pluton, you'll bring destruction to yourself and everyone around you."

His words were cold and precise. Daiki had known the devastation Pluton could bring, and he understood why Anos had entrusted him with protecting the Poneglyph.

If Crocodile succeeded in his quest, it would end in endangering Tru Kingdom.

Crocodile's pride flared at being lectured, but his instincts screamed at him to escape.

Just as Daiki anticipated him to retaliate, Crocodile instead unleashed a sudden Sand Blade, a last-ditch effort to create distance before he turned and sprinted toward the exit.

He didn't hesitate. Abandoning Robin, Crocodile fled, racing up the stairs with all his speed.

Above ground, he could attempt to regroup, or so he hoped.

There, he might find a chance to escape from the palace and devise a new plan.

Daiki made no move to chase him. His priority wasn't Crocodile it was the Poneglyph and the information it held.

Besides, Robin, the only person there capable of interpreting the ancient text, had been left alone, paralyzed by fear.

Her expression was one of pure terror, realizing the implications of what she'd witnessed.

She had thought herself knowledgeable and experienced, but Daiki's strength and his ominous warning left her shaken to the core.

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