46

Crocodile was bound by Tony's mysterious power, and a flash of threat appeared in his eyes.

He could clearly feel that he was unable to transform into sand to escape.

As a Logia Devil Fruit user, he couldn't become his element.

Fear gripped his heart. Without the ability to transform into sand, he was vulnerable to fatal blows. After all, a Devil Fruit user was just an ordinary human at their core.

Pinned to the wall, Crocodile roared, demanding answers from Tony.

"What have you done to me, you bastard?!"

Tony raised an eyebrow as he saw Crocodile unable to move. He realized the most valuable aspect of his Kido spells.

With Tony's mastery of Armament Haki, his Kido spells now carried the effects of Haki, meaning that not only could his Haki now hurt Logia-type Devil Fruit users, but even his Kido spells could achieve the same. This was incredibly exciting for Tony. Once his Kido reached the 100th level, those terrifying techniques could deal substantial damage to Logia Devil Fruit users.

Though Tony was secretly pleased with this discovery, he didn't let this opportunity slip by.

Holding his Zanpakutō, he charged toward Crocodile, aiming to sever his head.

Seeing Tony coming at him, Crocodile's veins bulged, and his face twisted into a snarl. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, being suppressed by a single newcomer was unbearable for him.

"Damn you, rookie! Don't underestimate me, Crocodile! I am the King of the Desert!"

Boom!

In an instant, a whirlwind of sand gathered at Crocodile's feet, engulfing his entire body. The wall around him corroded away, disintegrating like tofu. With a slight force, it turned into dust. Crocodile was surrounded by flying sand and stones, forming a barrier of sand.

Tony quickly retreated. He knew he couldn't rush in carelessly against this corrosive ability.

Crocodile's bloodshot eyes glared coldly, and his grim face spoke in a low, menacing voice. "Kid, you've really pissed me off. I'll make sure you die a miserable death to avenge this anger."

Flames erupted around Tony as he held his Zanpakutō, its sharp blade pointed directly at Crocodile. He sneered, saying, "You'd better be careful, or I'll knock you down, Mr. King of the Desert."

It was a provocation! Tony once again pushed Crocodile's limits.

"Oh!" Crocodile bellowed in fury.

"Desert Blade!"

A torrent of sand gathered in his hand, his arm transforming into a massive sand blade. He swung it mercilessly toward Tony's head.

Tony dodged quickly.

The sharp sand blade cut through the palace floor as if it were tofu, causing the entire palace to shake.

Whoosh!

Tony's footsteps were rapid. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of Crocodile.

Having trained extensively in physical techniques, Tony's speed was comparable to the Marines' Rokushiki technique, Soru.

With a swift motion, Tony swung his Zanpakutō, aiming for Crocodile's neck. Both were determined to end the fight with a fatal blow.

Bang!

Crocodile raised his golden hook to block Tony's Zanpakutō, while his other hand reached out to grab Tony.

"Invasive Reincarnation!"

Tony quickly retreated, barely avoiding the full impact, but his clothes were still corroded.

Crocodile's pupils narrowed, and a satisfied grin spread across his face.

"Hahaha, what a pity... Just a little more and you would have been finished."

Tony broke into a cold sweat. He had been careless, and if he hadn't dodged just in time, he would have been brushing death itself. Crocodile's Invasive Reincarnation was a unique attack of the Sand-Sand Fruit. It had a wide range and the ability to drain the moisture from anything it touched, even capable of turning rocks and tall buildings into sand.

Even though Tony was a Logia Devil Fruit user, this ability still posed a serious threat to him. Moreover, he could sense the presence of Armament Haki on Crocodile, meaning the sand could also be used to harm him.

"Robin! I am leaving Nami to you! I need to focus entirely if I'm going to defeat this guy!"

After Tony spoke, Robin slowly walked out from the main entrance.

"Alright, Tony. I've already led the outside guards here. I'm sure the army outside the palace will notice soon."

Robin's words reminded Tony. The more commotion they caused, the more it worked in their favor.

Crocodile was here to assassinate the king, and he had brought dozens of assassins with him. Now that there was clear evidence, if the Marines or the army heard the noise and arrived, Crocodile and his group would be sitting ducks.

"Well then, no need for pleasantries!"

"Hado #20: Bright Heaven Sphere!"

A bright spherical light suddenly appeared in Tony's hand, and he threw the Heaven Sphere into the sky.

Boom! The dark night was instantly illuminated. A glowing sphere shone brilliantly above the palace, almost as bright as day.

This was a type of flare from the Kido spells, designed to temporarily light up the dark night. Although it was brief, it was enough to attract the attention of the Arabasta army.

The guards stationed outside, immediately noticed the disturbance.

As one of the two great protectors of Arabasta Kingdom, a Devil Fruit user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Hugo Wolf rushed to lead the guards to the palace.

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T/N:

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