Poison? #162

Feeling the battle lust taking over him, Cedric grinned savagely and lunged at Crocodile. He was done with fancy techniques, and decided to resort to brute physical might and Haki to end the fight. As his trident gleamed with a black aura, Cedric coated it in Haki, enhancing its power, and thrust it forward, aiming directly at Crocodile.

The warlord scoffed at Cedric's straightforward approach and raised his hook, enveloping it in the powerful Haki. The clash of the two formidable weapons created a deafening shockwave, sending sand and debris flying around them, intensifying the already chaotic scene.

Crocodile raised an eyebrow as they pushed against one another, begrudgingly admitting, "You're not bad, brat..." The warlord's grin was laced with admiration for Cedric's strength as he added, "How about you join me? You'll be exonerated of your crimes as a warlord's subordinate, y."

Cedric chuckled, channeling his strength into his arms, pushing harder against Crocodile and managing to create a brief opening in their clash.

"I'll have to pass... though you're welcome to join my crew once I kick your ass," he retorted with confidence.

Crocodile scoffed at Cedric's words, "Now that's a joke if I've ever heard one..." He seemed amused by the idea that someone could challenge him in such a way. "Very well, if you want to die, then I'll give you your wish," he said, patting his golden hook with a malicious grin.

The tension between them escalated as they prepared for the next exchange. The air was thick with anticipation, and the ground trembled with their clashing wills. Each was determined to prove their strength, but only one would emerge victorious from this epic battle of fire and sand.

With a resolute expression, Cedric tightened his grip on the trident and steeled his resolve. He was ready to face whatever Crocodile threw at him. As the intense fight continued, they danced on the fine line between life and death, their clash of power resonating throughout the desert wasteland.

The fiery aura of Haki collided with the sand-infused Haki of Crocodile's hook, sparks flying as the two powers locked horns. Neither was willing to back down, and the sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, distorting the very air around them.

In the midst of the heated battle, Crocodile and Cedric exchanged a flurry of blows, each trying to gain the upper hand. Cedric demonstrated his agility, swiftly dodging Crocodile's sand-infused attacks and retaliating with well-timed strikes from his trident. In response, Crocodile displayed his mastery of sand manipulation, creating deadly projectiles that Cedric effortlessly avoided.

As the clash intensified and the two locked weapons again, Cedric saw an opening and lunged at Crocodile, aiming a powerful punch at the warlord's face. The impact echoed across the area, but to Cedric's surprise, Crocodile stood firm, a grin forming on his face as he activated his devil fruit power.

"Desert Girasole!" Crocodile exclaimed, and a swirling pit of quicksand formed beneath Cedric's feet. Sensing the danger, Cedric attempted to use Geppo to leap away, but Crocodile exerted all his strength through his hook, preventing Cedric from escaping.

The quicksand engulfed Cedric's ankles, slowing his movements and pulling him down. He strained against the force, trying to free himself, but the sand was relentless. As Cedric grunted in frustration, the golden exterior of Crocodile's hook suddenly detached from his arm, revealing a a hollowed hook coated in a purple liquid.

"Die, brat!" Crocodile declared, lunging at Cedric with the deadly weapon, aiming for his stomach. Reacting quickly, Cedric managed to catch Crocodile's arm, preventing the blade from striking its intended target. However, despite his efforts, the tip of the blade grazed Cedric's skin, drawing a thin line of blood.

In the heat of battle, Cedric's instincts kicked in, and he tightened his grip on Crocodile's wrist, using his strength to fling the warlord away. He then focused on freeing himself from the quicksand, using his Geppo technique to jump back, although he faltered slightly upon landing due to the venom taking effect.

Crocodile's grin widened as he saw the poison starting to work its way through Cedric's system. He taunted, "My hook can inject powerful scorpion venom... it's strong enough to melt rocks and kill anyone in an instant."

Cedric winced, feeling the effects of the venom, but he didn't let it deter him. He gritted his teeth and gripped the slash on his stomach, trying to endure the pain. Cedric's discomfort only seemed to fuel to Crocodile's amusment as he added, "You've been persistent enough, but the fight is already..."

Before Crocodile could finish his sentence, he noticed a change in Cedric's expression. The grimace of pain shifted to one of relief, leaving the warlord perplexed. Cedric removed his hands, revealing that the slight slash on his abdomen was miraculously gone.

Crocodile's frown deepened as he tried to make sense of the situation. Cedric's voice broke through the confusion, a smirk forming on his face, "I hate to break it to you... but I'm immune to poison in all its forms."

The revelation left Crocodile stunned. He couldn't believe that his potent venom had no effect on Cedric. The warlord shook his head in disbelief but soon realized that Cedric's fighting spirit remained undeterred.

With a newfound resolve, Cedric straightened his stance, ready to continue the battle. He chuckled at Crocodile's puzzled expression and declared, "The fight is just getting started."

The tension in the desert air was palpable as the two opponents squared off once more, each determined to emerge victorious. The clash of fire and sand continued as the battle reached new heights, and the desert bore witness to an epic showdown between two formidable adversaries.

...

As Ace continued his exploration of the forest on Sixis Island, his attention was suddenly drawn to an unusual sight. There, suspended between two trees, was a roughly made hammock with a young man lying on it. The man appeared to be around the same age as Ace, with striking light blue hair and a mysterious domino mask covering his eyes. The unexpected encounter left Ace momentarily frozen, trying to make sense of the situation.

Before Ace could gather his thoughts or say anything, the young man turned his head toward him and spoke in a calm tone, "Do you have a boat?"

Ace's confusion grew as he shook his head and responded, "No. I got shipwrecked onto this island..."

The young man let out a sigh, a tinge of disappointment in his voice as he said, "Then you better save your energy. There's no food to be found here..." He trailed off, adding, "Trust me, I've been scouring this place for three days now..."

Ace couldn't help but chuckle at the young man's words. Despite the situation, he remained optimistic, unwilling to give up hope just yet. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to double-check," Ace remarked, determination in his voice. He sized up the stranger before him and introduced himself, "I'm Ace, by the way... what's your name?"

The young man frowned at Ace's cheerful atitude. Ulitmately he shrugged and still replied, "I have no name... I'm just a drifter..."

Ace's frown deepened as he listened to the young man's response. "How come you don't have a name? Didn't your parents give you one?" Ace inquired, tilting his head curiously.

The young man let out a sigh, a hint of annoyance in his voice as he explained, "They did give me a name, but I wasn't particularly attached to it..." He shook his head slightly and continued, "I gave it up as soon as I decided to set sail and leave home..."

Perplexed but respectful, Ace scratched his head and pressed, "Then what should I call you?"

The young man met Ace's gaze with a blank expression, seemingly contemplating for a moment before responding, "You can go ahead and call me whatever you like.."

With a spark of creativity, Ace's eyes lit up as he observed the young man's appearance, focusing on the domino mask he wore. "How about Masked Deuce?" Ace suggested, a proud grin on his face.

The young man rolled his eyes in exasperation and replied, "Suit yourself. It wouldn't make a difference since we'll both starve to death here..."

...

Want more chapters? Then consider subscribing to my pat rēon. You can read ahead for as little as $1 and it helps me a lot!

-> (pat rēon..com / wicked132)

You can also always come and say hi on my discord server

-> (disc ord..gg / sEtqmRs5y7)- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)