Thirty-Six Years of Life, Like a Dream, Like an Illusion: The Fall of the Desert King

Across the vast, boundless desert plain, a sandstorm that blotted out the sky raged wildly. The world was a hazy yellow, and visibility was less than a few meters.

The fierce wind swept up grains of sand with ghostly howls, as though it would swallow the entire world.

At the heart of the storm, Dawn floated imposingly in midair, his robes snapping in the Yellow Sand. His tightly shut eyes suddenly opened, his gaze like two tangible beams of light piercing through the raging curtain of sand as he looked mockingly at the enormous human face formed from endless grains of sand within the storm.

"Old Sand, it looks like all your men are dead. At this point, are you still going to resist to the bitter end?"

"Don't call me that. We're not close!"

Crocodile's deep, hoarse voice came from within the sandstorm, carrying a hint of offended anger.

"I can get as many subordinates as I want. I don't care whether they live or die!"

Under his control, countless grains of sand condensed into Sand Blades flowing with Armament Haki. Like a torrential downpour, they shot at Dawn from every direction, slicing through the air with sharp, piercing wails as though they would tear space itself apart. Their might was terrifying.

"I'm sick of seeing your tricks. I won't play with you anymore. It's time to end this."

With Dawn's arrogant declaration, the sky above him suddenly darkened, as if covered by a massive black curtain that devoured even the sunlight completely.

Purple-black currents erupted wildly from him in all directions like a primordial beast awakening, surging out like a towering tsunami.

Everything in their path was utterly erased. The sand blades vanished the instant they touched the currents, leaving not even a trace behind.

The sand below