Chapter 1007: Kuro Isn't That Impressive!
Chapter 1007: Kuro Isn't That Impressive!
But he barely paid attention, for Crocodile, a man with immense pride and ability, naturally dismissed a mere 30 Million bounty pirate. Even if Kuro had personally acknowledged him, 30 Million was still just 30 Million. Crocodile had never even heard of this pirate's reputation.
A small-time pirate might have unique traits, but Crocodile wouldn't waste energy worrying about him. If they crossed paths, he'd eliminate him. If not, that was just the man's luck.
Unlike Joe Rudolph, who obsessively hunted pirates in his designated route to the point of drastically reducing active threats there, Crocodile operated differently. His base of operations occupied the midpoint of this navigational route—most pirates inevitably passed through. Mr.1 and the hippos recruited in the New World could handle most threats.
The reason he hadn't moved to the New World yet was simple: his influence wasn't fully established. His current influence was still fragile, forcing him to handle matters personally.
He still needed his position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. He understood Kuro's temperament well—if he abandoned this route before consolidating power, his status as a Seven Warlords of the Sea might become precarious.
Boom!
Suddenly, a shockwave rippled through the air. The floor cracked open, spewing jets of steam that blasted the marble ceiling, filling the grand hall with scalding white mist.
"Hmph?"
Crocodile's eyes narrowed. The mist swirling around him triggered instant alertness. "Water."
Steam contained moisture—anathema to his Sand-Sand Devil Fruit, neutralizing his elementalization.
"Just steam?"
Crocodile snorted. Palm outstretched, he activated a wispy suction. The moisture within the steam rapidly drained away, clearing the air.
While his Devil Fruit granted physical entity transformation, it wasn't limited to mere absorption techniques.
After draining the moisture, Crocodile transformed into a swirling sandstorm, bursting through the palace roof. Outside, the island was erupting with towering steam columns, shrouding everything in thick white fog.
"Boss, what now?" Mr.1 asked grimly.
"Hmph!"
Crocodile exhaled smoke, hand raised toward the sky. "Wither and Dry!"
The moisture in the steam violently surged into his palm, dispersing the fog. The Sand-Sand Devil Fruit wasn't just about sand—its true nature was withering! Withering could not be counteracted by water.
Under his suction, the fog scattered, revealing the island's surroundings.
In the harbor, new ships had appeared. In the sky above the half-greened terrain, a man hovered midair, his lower body erupting with steam.
Crocodile didn't recognize him, but his mind immediately supplied the answer. "Sam William?"
"Crocodile!"
William stared at Crocodile's sandstorm lower body, heart leaping.
'King of the Desert' wasn't just a nickname—this man was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user too?!
"So it really is you."
Crocodile's expression darkened. "I thought you'd escape quietly, but you've come charging in personally? A mere 30 Million pirate, daring to challenge a Seven Warlords of the Sea with just a Logia? Thinking you can defeat me—Crocodile?"
Wasn't that his only purpose for coming here? Otherwise, why attack directly? The attack earlier proved he knew Crocodile was here.
But why?! Among the Seven Warlords, why target him? Did this brat think he was weak?
"Hahahaha!"
Crocodile's high-pitched laughter carried both menace and mockery. "You actually made me laugh! A 30 Million pirate daring to challenge me? Let me show you the difference in our pirate ranks!"
He thrust his palm forward, conjuring a miniature sandstorm. With a flick, he launched it. "Sandstorm Slash!!"
The storm expanded rapidly, fueled by the desert terrain, morphing into a monstrous desert tornado racing toward William.
Here we go!
William clenched his teeth. This would test his true strength!
William dove downward, fists slamming into the ground. Eyes locked on the approaching tornado, he roared: "Overheat Steam!!"
Giant steam columns erupted from the ground, slamming into the tornado's core. The steam's impact countered the tornado's force, its moisture battling the desert's withering effect. The two forces collided, merging then dissipating like bursting bubbles.
"I did it!"
William's expression lit with shock and confidence. He laughed heartily. "My theory was right! The Seven Warlords of the Sea aren't that impressive! None of them are! They're all illusions—my illusions!"
Matching Crocodile's attack head-on solidified his resolve. This was one of the Seven Warlords! Crocodile himself! And he'd neutralized an attack without using full power. It wasn't a strength issue. Not caution either.
It was that childhood inferiority complex!
What had he been so cautious about all these years? Wasting time... If he'd started developing in the East Blue from the beginning, that entire region would already be his core territory. He might've become a Great Pirate already!
But better late than never. There was still time to correct this.
Whether Crocodile could defeat him remained uncertain, but his Observation Haki clearly indicated Crocodile wasn't someone who could solve him. Just having that strength was enough—it proved he possessed the might of a Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Crocodile, however, found this deeply offensive.
The Seven Warlords weren't impressive? If this fool targeted him specifically, it meant he considered Crocodile unimpressive!
"A 30 Million rookie straight out of the East Blue!"
Crocodile gritted his teeth. "How arrogant! I've made my decision—you're dead. Dead seriously dead!!"
"30 Million?"
William grinned confidently. "After I defeat you, it'll be more than that, Crocodile!"
"Sandstorm Slash!"
"Overheat Steam!!"
(No more updates today. Updating tomorrow. Too tired to sleep.)
(End of Chapter)
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