The explosion that turned the sky as bright as day blinded everyone for a short while.
Then the cool droplets falling from the sky knocked the swords from many people's hands, striking deep within their hearts.
"Rain... it's raining."
The droplets slid down their cheeks, tasting somewhat salty and bitter.
More than a million civilians burst into tears at the sight.
No one could truly understand the despair brought by years of unending drought.
Drought year after year, failed harvests year after year, people trading children for food—this was merely one corner of their misery.
The true source of every Alabastan's despair was that the drought had robbed them of all hope for the future.
The rain following the explosion seemed to wash away every conflict.
Looking at the man standing in the sky, nearly everyone recognized him.
He was one of the Navy's strongest forces, Marine Admiral Aokiji.
His arrival could be said to signify the end of the entire war.
Overwhelming strength could make even the most defiant people submit.
But there were always exceptions.
"Kill! Don't be afraid, everyone! For Lord Crocodile, what's a mere Marine Admiral? Charge!"
Among a million people, there would always be those who had been brainwashed into madness.
They had not been frightened by the explosion, nor had they been moved by the rain falling from the sky.
In their minds, Crocodile was the hero who had saved them.
Crocodile was worth continuing to risk their lives for.
Aokiji frowned slightly as he watched Crocodile's diehard followers pick up their weapons again, intending to continue the slaughter.
More and more people answered the calls and rose to join the fighting once again.
Using Observation Haki to scan the crowd, he saw civilians who had originally hesitated but were being swept forward by