Chapter 87: The Final Battle, Crocodile's End.

How could this be?

Fists and feet clashed, swords and hooks parried. In the curtain of rain, two figures were engaged in a life-and-death struggle!

'Go, Luffy!'

'Captain, knock him out—'

'Go for it~~'

The annoying voices in his ears made Crocodile irritable, wishing he could use 'Desert Spada - Release' to cut down those Blue flies, but—

Boom!

An increasingly heavy fist smashed into his golden scimitar, making Crocodile's arm numb, almost losing grip of his Desert Spada, let alone dealing with those around...

"Gomu Gomu no-"

?

Focus! The opponent is attacking!

In an instant, Crocodile concentrated, staring intently at the jumping, punching Luffy in front of him. A blurry 'Luffy' figure appeared in his eyes, twisting his waist, body like a bent bow, power surging through his body, the direction of the punch was...

Left,

dodge!

Boom!!??

"Gatling!"

The next moment, a numbness spread from his left cheek, and Crocodile, stumbling backward, had only one thought in his buzzing mind:

-How could this be?!

Slap,

Standing in the rain, panting, Crocodile looked at his slightly trembling legs. He wanted to laugh, but his mouth only twisted into an ugly shape.

Ah, ah, so my body can't keep up with my mind...

So many years of comfort, and I can't even sustain a half-hour fight?

"Huff, huff, huff,"

The Straw Hat kid opposite was also panting heavily. It seemed that in this high-intensity life-and-death battle, his stamina was also greatly depleted... Fine, it's time to end this.

————————

"Straw Hat kid, I acknowledge you as a 'strong person.'"

Discarding the Desert Spada in his hand, his intact right hand removed the front part of the golden hook on his left hand, revealing a small hollow iron hook inside.

"Now, let me show you what a 'pirate' fight is."

"The hook is removed..."

After catching his breath a few times, Luffy regained some strength and looked at the hollow iron hook on Crocodile's left hand.

"What is that?"

"It's a 'poison needle'!"

Crocodile wasn't kindly warning Luffy; it was a form of intimidation! As long as his opponent's attention was on the poisonous hook, it would unconsciously tie up his hands and feet, making him hesitant.

"Is that so?"

However, Luffy just responded calmly, without fear or dread, as if Crocodile was merely:

Performing a monkey show.

!

"Very well, in a battle between pirates, anything goes."

"It seems you don't know what fear is, but this will be the last time—"

Whoosh,

Suddenly charging forward, the black fur coat behind him spread out like ominous wings, and the poison hook in his left hand was the key to victory!—Since his opponent was fearless, even better! Because this poison could kill a Sea King, just a scratch on a wound...

Boom

Smack!

The speed of the two combatants in the battlefield had gradually slowed down. It was no longer the high speed that even the 'small experts' around couldn't react to. In the exchange of punches and kicks, blood and sweat splattered continuously! And the silent encouragement of the onlookers, biting their lips tightly.

"Do you need my help?"

Everyone on this battlefield was injured, with broken bones and ruptured organs. The only ones with lighter injuries, Chopper and Sanji, were busy bandaging the wounded from the king's army and the rebels. As for Vivi... better not. The only 'expert' completely unscathed was:

Nico Robin.

Crocodile was already at his limit, and with Robin's strength and the Flower-Flower Fruit's abilities, she was qualified to intervene in the battle. With some luck, she might even take down the non-elemental Crocodile in one move...

"No!"

Roman, sitting in a wheelchair, focused on patching up Luffy's broken defenses, refused without turning his head.

"This is our 'Straw Hat Crew's' battle, we don't need your help."

"Is that so?"

Pressing the white cowboy hat on her head, the intellectual beauty named Nico Robin hid her face under the brim, her expression unknown.

"Don't forget your promise, Roman."

"Of course, the information I provided is enough to prove my sincerity."

————————

Puff,

"Luffy—"

"Damn it!"

"Doctor, call a doctor..."

"Don't panic!" X2

Roman and Zoro blocked the excited Straw Hat crew on either side. The battle had reached its most critical moment! Luffy had been scratched on the shoulder by Crocodile's hook, and although Roman kept covering Luffy with new paper, his own stamina was nearing its limit!

Don't forget, he had a big hole in his stomach just yesterday! Devil Fruit abilities also consumed stamina.

"Hahahaha, the winner is me!"

Even though Luffy had kicked him in the neck, Crocodile still laughed wildly.

"Soon, the poison will spread throughout your body, the battle is already—"

Smack!

A flying fist smashed into Crocodile's face, breaking his nose and sending him flying, making the enraged Sand Crocodile roar.

"Why? Why haven't you fallen yet?"

"Your goal isn't this country, right?!"

"For someone you've only known for a short time, you're risking your life? You're an idiot—"

"You still don't understand, Vivi is..."

Smack,

Supporting his knees with both hands, the poisoned Luffy gasped for breath.

"You tell others not to die, but you risk your life to help them."

"If I don't care about her, she'll definitely be killed by people like you..."

"So, if I just give up on this burden I've only known for a short time—"

Facing Crocodile, who was already 'scared' and trying to solve the problem with words, Luffy straightened up and roared to the sky!

"Because she is a companion,"

"I will never let her die!"

...

"Woo woo woo... Luffy..."

Seeing Vivi beside him covering her mouth, tears falling like broken pearls, Roman touched his chin. — Luffy, you still dare to say you don't know how to flirt woman?

"Even if it means dying?"

Facing Crocodile's question, the trembling Luffy seriously assumed a fighting stance.

"If it means dying..."

"I'll deal with it when the time comes."

Smack,

However, before he could throw a punch, his legs gave way, and Luffy suddenly fell to one knee. Crocodile was first stunned, then overjoyed!

"Hahahahaha!!!"

"No matter how pretty your words are, your body is still honest. — You can't stand up anymore, can you?"

Meanwhile, the artificial rain in the sky was getting sparser and gradually stopped.

Half an hour had passed!

"Hahahahaha~~~~"

"See? Even the heavens are on my side!"

Crocodile spread his arms and looked up at the sky, eager to enjoy the 'warm' sunlight.

"Soon, I'll bury all of you in the yellow sand and send you to hell to reunite! — You can't save anyone!!"

Clang,

As Luffy fell, Sanji silently took a step forward, and Zoro drew the Wado Ichimonji from his waist. But:

"Wait."

Roman, with a serious expression, reached out to stop them again because a familiar voice was echoing in his mind.

'Roman, help me.'

'This damn crocodile still has strength...'

?

Crocodile still has strength?!

It's not that Roman didn't believe Luffy, but both of them clearly looked exhausted... However, since Luffy said so, there must be a reason! After all, Luffy was the one fighting Crocodile, not Roman himself. Only the opponent in battle could best grasp the situation.

Damn, why hasn't it—

"Roman!"

With Luffy's shout, Roman, in the wheelchair, tilted his head to the side as if he had fallen asleep.

'Luffy, you...'

From the 'White Knight' attached to Luffy came Roman's voice.

Now he was personally controlling the 'White Knight,' and also—

'I only have a few punches left in me, please.'

'...Alright.'

Smack,

Luffy stood up again, his skin visibly pale, his face haggard, but his eyes still bright!

"How is this possible?... Wait a minute..."

A stunned Crocodile 'saw' two human auras on Luffy! Behind Luffy, there was another boy.

"Is it that paper kid?"

"Hmph, you need someone else's help to stand up... Do you think you can still win against me?"

"Of course!"

"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!!!"

Whoosh—

In a flash, with Roman's push, Luffy instantly advanced to Crocodile's front. Before Crocodile could react, Luffy's fist struck upward, smashing into his jaw!

"I will surpass you—"

!!??

—How could this be!?!

The poison must have taken effect. Even with that paper guy's control, this rubber kid should be out of strength...

"Who do you think I am?"

Facing Crocodile's roar and the swinging poison hook, Luffy, controlled by Roman, ducked his head and dodged the attack.

Damn,

With the two overlapping, their Observation Haki interfered with my judgment—

Boom!!

A fierce punch landed on Crocodile's chest, even lifting the black fur coat on his back with the force that passed through! After flying back and spitting out a mouthful of blood, Crocodile's eyes turned fierce!

"What will it take for you to fall—"

Swish, swish, swish!

In Crocodile's right hand, the flying yellow sand once again formed the shape of a scimitar! But this time, it was different from the original 'Desert Spada.' The blade was as cold as snow, the body like golden glass, and the sword had intricate patterns.

"Desert Vajra Spada!"

This was a sharp blade comparable to the 'Supreme Grade Swords,' Crocodile's ultimate move! It was the weapon he once wielded while roaming the New World! (Just the weapon itself, without Haki enhancement)

How many years has it been?

Since this sword was split in two by Whitebeard'ss 'Murakumogiri,' Crocodile had never used this move again, but that didn't mean its sharpness had diminished—

"Die!!"

'Danger!'

In an instant, even just attached to the 'White Knight,' Roman felt the illusion of facing a blade that could cut through gold and jade, about to be split in two!

'Dodge—'

"No!"

Facing the blade comparable to the 'Supreme Grade Swords,' Luffy unhesitatingly raised his fist to meet it!

"Gomu Gomu no - Punch!"

This punch had no changes, no techniques. It was just an ordinary punch! But within this punch, Luffy poured an invincible fighting spirit forged through battles with beasts, people, and the forces of nature.

This was a belief from the deepest part of the soul, the purest life force! As if it would not be swayed by anything, not stopped by any obstacle, the sky, the sea, steel mountains, all would shatter before this punch:

Break!

With a soft sound, the Desert Vajra Spada, said to be comparable to the 'Supreme Grade Swords,' silently shattered like a real sand toy.

Crocodile's final killing move was instantly crushed, shattered, and dispersed. The scattered sand had not yet flown apart when Luffy's fist pushed the yellow sand back, smashing it into its owner.

Crack!

The fist sank deeply into Crocodile's chest, and what terrified him even more was a spirit of disdain for the world, sweeping in all directions, with an air of supremacy. This mental impact, following the fist, rampaged through his body, paralyzing his nerves, like thousands of troops charging into Crocodile's mind!

"Conqueror's... Haki..."

—How could this be??!!

Without even finishing his last sentence, Crocodile turned into a cannonball, flying backward from the palace square! Crashing through buildings, houses, everything in his path!

After carving a crack hundreds of meters long in the city, he finally landed in a deep pit! But his white eyes and motionless body already indicated the result of the battle.

Seven Warlords of the Sea - Crocodile.

Defeated!

---

PS: I originally wanted to finish this in one chapter, but it almost turned into 4,000 words... In the end, Luffy unleashed 'Armament Haki' (temporary version - accumulated from being hit by his grandpa) and 'Conqueror's Haki' (not infused, just a normal mental shock, and only a small shock aimed at one target).

—This shouldn't be considered cheating, right... At least it's more reasonable than getting up after being poisoned and clashing a bloody fist with the Desert King Kong Scimitar... Hmm... Probably...

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