"Desert Sunflower!"
Crocodile fought cautiously.
After creating quicksand beneath his feet, he swiftly turned into a cloud of flying sand and darted away, occasionally turning back to conjure a Desert Greatsword from the ground.
He knew full well that he didn't have Kaido's physique. Even that monster had coughed up blood from a single hoof strike from the Goat Monster.
If he took one himself, it would probably punch a hole straight through him.
Imu's response was simple and brutal.
His Goat Hooves swept and shoved, treating the Desert Greatsword like a child's toy.
Only the quicksand beneath his feet hindered his movement somewhat.
For a moment, Imu and Crocodile actually seemed evenly matched.
Forget Joker's muttering—even Shanks looked at Crocodile with considerably greater respect.
But although the desert brought dryness, they were beneath a swirling ocean current, where moisture was abundant. The quicksand he created couldn't trap Imu for long.
Imu seemed to be deliberately letting Crocodile dart around.
He lightly lifted his hooves, showing utter disgust for the quicksand.
Crocodile was a veteran pirate, too. Naturally, he wouldn't pass up such an opportunity, and his sand-like figure landed on the ground.
He pressed his palm against the ground, about to unleash another Desert Greatsword, when the Goat Monster strolling through the quicksand suddenly vanished.
In the blink of an eye, Imu appeared above Crocodile's head.
His gray face was stiff, but there was an unexpected hint of amusement in his eyes.
He thought this was fun?
Crocodile had seen that same look in Joker's eyes and understood at once. But understanding was one thing; his body's reaction was another.
A Goat Hoof pressed down without making contact.
Pitch-black energy resembling Armament Haki erupted, completely engulfing Crocodile.
A roar filled his ears, and in an instant, his body was