The Sand Crocodile's Shock

Deep inside the prison.

The air was heavy.

Electric arcs wandered along the corners, making a faint sizzling sound.

Rock stood still, calmly watching Crocodile, who was chained to an iron chair.

Crocodile's upper body was charred, and burns still showed beneath his bandages.

Yet on his face—

That arrogant grin remained.

Rock chuckled.

"Looks like you're pretty sure you won't die."

Crocodile slowly raised his head. A sharp glint flashed deep in his golden eyes.

"Guhahaha..."

"Vice Admiral Azure Dragon personally ordered them to keep me alive."

"So I must still be worth something to you."

His tone was certain, without a trace of the fear a prisoner ought to have.

Rock gave a slight nod.

"You're not stupid."

The next instant, electromagnetic waves spread silently from his body.

Bzzzt—

The Seastone chains suddenly trembled.

The clasps sprang loose, and the chains fell away.

Clang!

They hit the floor.

The cell fell silent. Crocodile's pupils contracted.

His strength returned. The Sand-Sand Fruit's power flowed through him again, and yellow sand began to swirl around his fingertips.

His body was free.

He did not attack at once. He merely rose slowly, a dark smile crossing his face.

"You let me go that easily..."

"Aren't you afraid—"

"That I'll raise hell at Marine Headquarters?"

As he spoke, he studied Rock with deadly seriousness.

The man before him.

He could face Roger and Whitebeard head-on.

He had even killed the legendary pirate Golden Lion with his own hands. With him holding the New World, no pirate dared cause trouble.

Those feats alone proved that his fighting strength stood at the pinnacle of the world.

More frightening still, he was so young.

A complicated feeling rose within Crocodile.

Wariness.

Excitement.

Even... the urge to test him.

Rock did not retreat a single step.