Win or Lose, It's All Part of War-Crocodile, Try Again!

Edward Weevil's physical abilities were indeed exceptional.

However, Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi is precisely what counters this kind of physically strong but simple-minded "Physique- based opponent."

Edward Weevil's body was completely drained of moisture by the sand, leaving him as withered as a wisp of straw, seemingly blown away by a gust of wind, and utterly incapacitated.

In a sense.

The Suna Suna no Mi does indeed possess the special effect of "one-hit kill".

After all, not everyone has mastered the special ability of "sit-ups." Even after being completely drained of water several times, they can still get up again and throw themselves into a new battle full of energy...

Crocodile defeated Edward Weevil.

Buckingham Stussy, who tried to escape, was caught and brought back by the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

The battle is completely over.

Crocodile then deactivated his Suna Suna no Mi ability, no longer allowing "Erosion Cycle" to spread its influence unchecked.

Even so, this area on Golden Island was still turned into a desert!

Logia Devil Fruit are just that powerful and special.

When Logia Devil Fruit is developed to a certain extent, its power, when unleashed, is highly likely to cause irreversible changes to the surrounding natural environment, thus having a permanent impact on it.

For example, the Magma-Magma Fruit or the Ice-Ice Fruit, these two Logia Devil Fruits, can permanently alter the climate of an island...

Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi hasn't been developed to the point where it can permanently alter the surrounding environment, but the "Erosion Cycle" he just released did indeed cause irreversible changes to the environment.

With Crocodile releasing the power of the Suna Suna no Mi, Storm no longer maintained that small area of clay ground.

"Crocodile."

Storm walked over to Crocodile's side and looked curiously at Edward Weevil, who was lying motionless beside him.

"Can your [Suna Suna no Mi] help people lose weight?"

Crocodile was still basking in the joy of defeating "Whitebeard".

Although Edward Weevil is not Edward Newgate, the difference in their abilities is like heaven and earth.

But who made Edward Weevil grow that iconic crescent-shaped mustache?

Crocodile defeated Edward Weevil.

Rounding up or down.

He was the one who defeated Whitebeard in his youth!

However, when Storm's question reached Crocodile's ears, he was taken aback.

"... What?"

"Lose weight."

Storm looked at Edward Weevil, who was as withered as a zombie, and gestured roughly.

"If I were to throw cold water on Edward Weevil now, would he revert to his old self?"

"Or perhaps, will he become a little 'thinner'?"

Storm knew that there was someone on the high seas who possessed the ability to cause a "weight loss" effect.

Coincidentally, the opponent was also a Logia Devil Fruit User, and could also extract water from the enemy's body.

[Logia: Woods-Woods Fruit].

Crocodile was somewhat speechless at Storm's inexplicable question.

After a long pause, he finally uttered two words in a very cold tone.

"Boring."

As soon as he finished speaking, Crocodile strode directly toward Buckingham Stussy and his mother.

At that moment, a heavy, black cross-shaped greatsword blocked his path.

Crocodile stopped in his tracks, frowning as he looked at the "former" World's Greatest Swordsman to the side.

"Hawk Eyes?"

I don't care how you deal with that woman.

Hawk Eyes Mihawk spoke calmly, simultaneously retracting his [Black Blade - Night].

"But don't kill that young Whitebeard yet; I'm somewhat interested in him."

Hawk Eyes Mihawk originally wanted to challenge Edward Weevil.

But Crocodile's sudden outburst caught him completely off guard.

Furthermore, the fact that he, Sand Crocodile, and White Dragon ganged up on Edward Weevil... was truly going too far.

Therefore, Hawk Eyes Mihawk has temporarily withdrawn from this sparring match.

However, at present...

Edward Weevil has been defeated by the Sand Crocodile.

Hawk Eyes Mihawk also wanted to test the true strength of this "Whitebeard the Third," who seemed to have inherited the power of Whitebeard in his youth.

"I'm equally interested in him, Crocodile."

Storm then continued.

"This person, I'll keep him."

The mighty Edward Weevil Whitebeard the Third, the Weevil.

In the mouths of Storm, Hawk Eyes Mihawk, and Crocodile, he was like a piece of pork waiting to be slaughtered.

However, none of the people present had any objections.

The only old woman who had a complaint hasn't come to her senses yet...

After being interrupted by Mihawk and Storm, Crocodile's idea dissipated considerably.

"Fine, you can have both of them!"

Crocodile, ignoring Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil, spoke calmly.

"I have no interest in such a weak enemy."

"Lie."

Storm sneered, directly exposing Crocodile's lie.

"Crocodile, if you weren't interested in Buckingham Stussy, would you have gotten so worked up fighting him just now?"

"White Dragon... you bastard!"

Crocodile's deliberately maintained calm expression instantly crumbled; several veins bulged on his forehead, and his right arm turned to sand, with strands of yellow sand flowing down from his body.

"Do you want to fight?"

I won't take advantage of you.

Storm wouldn't mind testing Crocodile's mettle.

However, the other side had just gone through a battle.

"I'll give you some time to rest."

"I don't need that kind of thing!"

Crocodile snorted coldly, abandoning Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil, and transformed into a whirlwind of sand, rushing towards Storm's location.

"Die, White Dragon!"

"Tsk!"

Storm clicked his tongue, two red lights flashing in his eyes as he used his Observation Haki to directly discern Crocodile's battle intentions.

"Let me see how much you've improved!"

Crocodile's right arm transformed into a massive, heavy sand blade. Dark [Armament Haki] mixed into the sand, "forging" the brownish-yellow sand blade into a huge "Black Blade."

"Desert Grande Spada!"

Laugh--

Enraged, Crocodile swung his Desert Grande Spada, seemingly about to sever the White Dragon's head in one blow.

"Wow, not bad, that's [Haki]!"

Storm's eyes lit up. He slowly raised his left hand, his left fist stained black with thick Armament Haki, to block the Desert Grande Spada that was slashing towards him.

Clang--

Storm's fist clashed with Crocodile's Desert Grande Spada.

The seemingly enormous and incomparably powerful Desert Grande Spada suddenly trembled violently.

In contrast, Storm's fist remained firmly planted, completely still.

"But it's still too weak!"

No sooner said than done.

Storm swung his right fist forward, and that jet-black iron fist, which was also wrapped in [Armament Haki] at some point, slammed heavily into Crocodile's abdomen with lightning speed.

Bang!

Storm's iron fist slammed solidly into Crocodile's stomach.

The latter's eyes bulged out, and his body involuntarily curled up as memories flashed through his mind.

In his childhood, he witnessed firsthand the destruction of the country by the Celestial Dragons and pirates in God Valley...

In his youth, he became famous as a pirate, and fought to a standstill with Douglas Bullet, the Devil's Descendant...

He ventured into the New World, challenging Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, only to suffer a humiliating defeat...

Shattered dreams and demoralized, he accepts an invitation from the World Government to Shichibukai, hoping to use external forces to exact revenge...

Fragments of memories flashed through Crocodile's mind like a revolving lantern.

The last thought that crossed his mind was--

'That bastard White Dragon... his punches were so heavy...'

Crocodile, you're a loser.

The Sand Crocodile was just moments ago so aggressive, wanting to sever the White Dragon's head.

He was punched in the abdomen by White Dragon and collapsed limply to the ground.

Before Storm's eyes, a brand new seven-star Big Trophy leaped out of the void.

[Star Trophy: Sand Crocodile Crocodile

[Trophy Star Rating: ★★★★: ★★★★★★★]

'Crocodile has already reached seven stars? That's a bit unexpected...'

Storm initially thought Crocodile's current strength level was only six-star, the same as when he first encountered him.

After all, Crocodile's power level hadn't changed much after the brief exchange; he had simply Awakening —or rather, "recovered"—his [Armament Haki].

There has been progress, but not much.

Storm hadn't expected that with just this small improvement, Crocodile's strength level would advance from six-star to seven-star...

Regardless, this benefited Storm.

"White Dragon."

Mihawk frowned involuntarily as he looked at Crocodile, who had been knocked down by Storm's punch.

"Aren't you on good terms with Sand Crocodile?"

"Won't you be hurting him too much by doing this?"

"What's so strange about that, Number Two?"

Storm put away his fist, glanced at Hawk Eyes, and casually gave an example.

"If you had the chance to defeat Shanks, would you hesitate?"

"Won't!"

Mihawk said decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

"However, the Red-Haired has lost his left hand now. A swordsman has even lost his dominant hand..."

"I've lost interest in that man."

In the past.

Mihawk often seeks out Shanks for sparring matches. The two are evenly matched and both find enjoyment in the battle.

But until six years ago.

Shanks lost an arm in the East Blue...

Mihawk never sought out Shanks for a sparring match again.

Because Shanks lost his left hand—the left hand he used to eat, drink, and wield a knife!

For a swordsman, losing his dominant hand would have a tremendous impact on his strength.

According to Mihawk...

Without his left hand, Shanks is no longer the Red-Haired worthy of Shanks' attention.

Therefore, at this time...

That's why Mihawk said he "had no interest in that man."

However.

"Really? I don't believe it."

Storm pursed his lips, then asked a question.

"Number Two, do you think 'one-handed Red-Haired's is more powerful, or 'two-handed Red-Haired '?"

Mihawk answered without hesitation.

"Of course, with both hands!"

"So here's the question."

Storm continued to ask.

Why is "Red-Haired with Two Hands" not one of the Yonko, while "Red-Haired with One Hand" is?

Six years after losing his left hand, Shanks to the top in the New World, becoming the fourth Pirate Emperor in the eyes of the world.

This is something everyone in the ocean knows.

"..."

Mihawk fell silent; he suddenly realized he couldn't answer the question.

Because that's reality.

With Red-Haired and two hands, he should be stronger, but he's not the Pirate Emperor.

One-handed Red-Haired, who should have been weaker, yet became the Pirate Emperor.

Mihawk fell into deep thought.

There must be something fishy about this!

I'm writing 10,000 words at midnight, please subscribe!

9:15 isn't too late, is it?

There will be more later, around 11 o'clock...