The World Is a Desert!
The grass withered, the earth dried up, and even the hard rocks were affected by the power of the [Suna Suna no Mi], turning into sand.
This is the Awakening power of the Sand- Suna Suna no Mi!
A desolate power, like a natural disaster—
Erosion Cycle!
It's not just the earth.
Any non-living matter that comes into contact with the earth.
They all withered under the influence of the power of "Erosion Cycle".
And life forms that come into contact with the earth.
At this moment, the moisture in their bodies was also taken away by the [Suna Suna no Mi].
Originating from Crocodile's location, the surrounding area was rapidly assimilated into a desolate and ruined desert.
Buckingham Stussy, who was targeted by the Sand Crocodile, was the first to be affected by the power of "Erosion Cycle".
The dark red pointed leather boots that Buckingham Stussy was wearing were directly assimilated into grains of sand by the power of the Suna Suna no Mi.
"My designer leather boots!"
Buckingham Stussy immediately let out a scream.
On the other side, Edward Weevil also made a questioning shout.
"Mom! My shoes are gone! Have you seen them?"
The influence of Logia Devil Fruit is too vast.
Hawk Eyes Mihawk, not wanting to be affected by the Sand Crocodile's abilities, was planning to retreat a short distance to avoid the impact of "Erosion Cycle's" power.
Just then, Hawk Eyes Mihawk suddenly saw that Storm was still standing still, and the small patch of ground beneath his feet had somehow turned into a lump of white clay.
Awakening against Awakening!
Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi ultimately couldn't affect Storm's Clay- Clay Fruit!
Hawk Eyes Mihawk leaped and landed right next to Storm, standing side by side with him.
"What's wrong with Sand Crocodile? Why is he reacting so strongly to the name 'Buckingham Stussy'? Or is it because of... the Rocks Pirates?"
Compared to ordinary people, Hawk Eyes Mihawk certainly knew about the existence of the Rocks Pirates.
Great Pirate crew that once dominated the seas, but was ultimately destroyed by the combined efforts of Pirate King Roger and Hero Garp...
Hawk Eyes Mihawk, however, was unaware of why Sand Crocodile would react so strongly to the name of this pirate crew.
Everyone has a past they'd rather forget.
Storm turned to look at Hawk Eyes Mihawk and said calmly.
"Isn't that right?"
Storm could also see the Sand Crocodile's anger at that moment.
He did not use [Observation Haki], which allows him to "read people's minds," to probe Sand Crocodile's inner thoughts.
It's just speculation based on the intelligence we already have.
Without a doubt.
Crocodile's rampage is related to Buckingham Stussy and the Rocks Pirates.
To be more precise, it should be called the "Rocks Pirates"!
Very little is known about what the Rocks Pirates did in the past.
Even Storm only knew that the Rocks Pirates had been involved in the God Valley Incident, and then that was history...
Considering Crocodile's age and his intense reaction to the Rocks Pirates...
There's also a little secret between Ivankov, the Okama King, and Crocodile...
And the active role played by Ivankov, the Okama King, in the God Valley Incident...
Storm concluded that--
Crocodile was also involved in the God Valley Incident!
As for Crocodile's true identity...
Several possibilities flashed through Storm's mind, but he said nothing.
"Perhaps it's because... Sand Crocodile once had some 'interaction' with the Rocks Pirates?"
After uttering those words to Hawk Eyes Mihawk, Storm didn't offer any further explanation, instead turning his attention back to the field.
Crocodile continues to unleash the "Erosion Cycle".
The effects of "Erosion Cycle" extend far beyond just the surrounding environment.
Even living organisms will have their body water directly stripped away when they come into contact with the "Erosion Cycle".
Buckingham Stussy had only stood in the desert area shaped by the "Erosion Cycle" for a short while when her leather boots turned to sand and disintegrated, and the moisture on her feet was quickly drawn away.
Edward Weevil, on the other side, encountered the same situation, but because he was physically stronger, he didn't experience any problems for the time being.
"Weevil! Take me away from here!"
Having already sensed something was wrong, Buckingham Stussy immediately had Edward Weevil take her away from there.
Having received his mother's order, Edward Weevil, disregarding the search for the inexplicably lost boots, bent down, picked up Buckingham Stussy, and tried to run away.
But how could Crocodile let the mother and child leave so easily?
"Erosion Cycle" has another advantage: it creates deserts, forcibly transforming an entire surrounding area into Crocodile's home ground.
In this desert region, Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi power can be maximized.
The world is a desert!
"Desert Sunflower!"
Crocodile manipulated the completely sand-covered ground, creating a huge quicksand pit that resembled a blooming sunflower.
Edward Weevil and Buckingham Stussy, who were just preparing to escape, were right in the center of this quicksand area.
The tall and unusually heavy Edward Weevil's feet quickly sank into the quicksand.
"Mommy! Mommy!"
Edward Weevil was disoriented; he only felt that the more he struggled in the desert, the faster he sank. He could only follow his instincts and keep calling out for his mother, hoping she could help him escape.
"Shut up! You idiot! Don't move!"
Buckingham Stussy instantly realized that he couldn't let Edward Weevil continue to struggle.
If they were to sink deeper into this deadly quicksand, there would be only one fate awaiting them—to be buried alive!
The situation was critical.
Buckingham Stussy could no longer afford to hide his strength.
A pair of enormous, bat-like black membranous wings sprouted from Buckingham Stussy's back, and a layer of dark, fine down appeared on her face, making her look like an oversized bat spirit.
[Zoan -type Bat Fruit]!
This is Buckingham Stussy's special ability!
Having entered her half-human, half-beast state, Buckingham Stussy suddenly unleashed an astonishing power. Her two claws gripped Edward Weevil's chains tightly, forcibly pulling him out of the quicksand.
Buckingham Stussy, along with Edward Weevil, wanted to fly high into the sky to escape these three plague-like Shichibukai.
However, Crocodile was unwilling to release them.
He raised his right hand, forming a continuously spinning sand scroll in his palm.
Unlike the previous "Sables," this time the Sandstorm scroll presents a heavy black color.
This is an enhanced version of "Sables"!
"Heavyweight Sables!"
Crocodile threw the Salamander Scroll at Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil.
As the sand tornado flew into the air, it was affected by Crocodile and exploded, releasing a powerful shockwave.
Boom!
After a deafening roar, a powerful sandstorm swept in, engulfing Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil in a vast, sweeping mass of yellow sand.
In the super sandstorm that resembled a natural disaster, Buckingham Stussy, dragging Edward Weevil along, was unable to fly at all, and her flight path became erratic.
Just as it was about to be blown down by the sandstorm.
Whether Buckingham Stussy did it intentionally, accidentally, or intentionally accidentally, is unclear.
Her claws, which were tightly gripping the chains binding Edward Weevil's body, suddenly loosened.
"Weevil-- "
Watching Edward Weevil plummet downwards, Buckingham Stussy let out a piercing wail that sounded like the mournful cry of a cuckoo.
But whether it's Storm or Hawk Eyes Mihawk.
The two Shichibukai standing aside, observing coldly, could clearly see Buckingham Stussy frantically flapping her bat-like membranous wings, clearly wanting to leave as soon as possible.
The pitiful howls contrasted sharply with the frantic flapping of wings.
"Is this woman really the mother of 'Whitebeard the Third'?"
Hawk Eyes Mihawk's brow furrowed deeply, clearly seeing through Buckingham Stussy's sinister intentions.
"To abandon their own child in such a critical moment! They're worse than animals!"
Who knows?
Storm looked up at the sky.
Buckingham Stussy, now transformed into a bat, flew faster and higher, soon to be out of the Golden Island's range.
But just then, a Blue-Eyes White Dragon suddenly appeared in the sky.
Storm's mind stirred slightly.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon opened its gaping maw and roared at the old bat that was about to fly away.
[Dragon's Roar]!
"Roar--"
A dragon's roar that pierced through the clouds and split rocks, carrying an incomparably powerful explosive wave, descended from the sky at a violent sonic speed and crashed directly into Buckingham Stussy.
Boom!
A dazzling "firework" immediately burst forth in the sky.
Buckingham Stussy, who was hit squarely by the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's [Dragon's Roar], fell straight down from the sky like a bat with broken wings.
A plain-looking [Golden Trophy] appeared before Storm's eyes.
[Golden Trophy: Buckingham Stussy]
[Trophy Star Rating: ★★★★: ★★★★]
'This old Buckingham Stussy still retains strength comparable to Supernovas... tsk!'
'The Rocks Pirates back then were truly a hidden force of geniuses!'
Storm calmly put away the [Golden Trophy].
On the other side.
Edward Weevil, who was directly abandoned by Buckingham Stussy, has also fallen into the "Desert Sunflower" that Crocodile prepared especially for him.
This time.
Without Buckingham Stussy's help.
Edward Weevil was like a hyperactive child, constantly struggling in the "Desert Sunflower".
And then... that was it.
Edward Weevil was swallowed up directly into the quicksand.
Crocodile simultaneously unleashed the drying power of the Suna Suna no Mi, forcibly absorbing the moisture from Edward Weevil's body.
From beneath the quicksand came the sound of struggling.
As time goes by.
Edward Weevil, who had been drained of his life force by Crocodile, also lost the ability to resist.
Crocodile manipulated the surrounding yellow sand, releasing the mummy-like, withered Edward Weevil from the Desert Sunflower.
Meanwhile, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon also flew back here, carrying the completely defenseless Buckingham Stussy.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon released its Dragon Claws, and Buckingham Stussy fell from the sky, landing precisely next to Edward Weevil.
Edward Weevil, looking like a dried-up corpse, murmured something under his breath and finally stopped struggling.
"Mother..."
I didn't experience writer's block, but my mind was a bit blank, so I guess that counts as writer's block...
Second update, 7,000 words.
There will be more in the evening, around nine o'clock.