Pirates: Immortal, I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First

Xia Le sighed.

Vegapunk's importance went without saying. In their brief conversation, Xia Le had already struck up the beginnings of a friendship with him.

He turned to look at Crocodile, Rosinante, Evens, and the others, his expression conflicted.

"The strength I have still isn't enough!"

If he had enough money and a decent base of operations, abducting Vegapunk from the World Government could become part of his plans. If he succeeded, his forces would grow rapidly.

With his Marine identity as cover, he would build a powerful force hidden from the world, waiting for the day it could spread its wings and unleash a tremendous storm.

That day, T Bone received a call from headquarters ordering them to return to Marineford at once.

"Looks like headquarters is eager to get its hands on the technology for Seastone Warships!"

Xia Le smiled.

He handed the blueprint to Crocodile, who seemed to understand what he meant and turned away.

The Warship changed course and headed for Marineford at top speed.

Along the way, Xia Le considered what he needed to do next.

Do everything I can to master Armament Haki.

I need to improve my Six Powers further, too.

Once I've reached my limit, I'll go after the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

He also had a sense of what lay ahead. Not long after Roger became the Pirate King, he would reappear and turn himself in. His execution in Loguetown would shock the world and usher in the Great Pirate Era.

Xia Le stood at a turning point in history, just as the age was about to enter its most turbulent chapter.

Half a month later, the Warship arrived at Dressrosa to restock its supplies.

Standing at the bow, Xia Le studied the kingdom ahead and recalled what would happen there in the future.

"Rosinante, I heard this kingdom once belonged to your family?"

Rosinante froze. "Where did you hear that, sir?"

Xia Le smiled.

"As a descendant of the Twenty Kings, I wonder what potential you have hidden inside you."

After a pause, he added,

"From what I know, your brother has already made a name for himself and founded a family of his own."

"The Donquixote Family, wasn't it?"

Rosinante fell silent.

He had no idea where his superior had learned all this, but Xia Le clearly knew a great deal about him.

"Do you think you two might end up fighting each other in ten years or so?"

Xia Le asked.

Rosinante's face twitched. Then he sighed. "Sir, we're brothers!"

Xia Le only smiled.

Rosinante said nothing more, but a shadow settled over his eyes.

Crocodile and the others soon returned to the Warship laden with bags. They had bought daily necessities, along with plenty of meat and vegetables.

They also brought news that surprised Xia Le.

"I just heard something."

Crocodile lit the cigar between his lips and grinned.

"A powerful guy I've fought before just left this place."

Xia Le looked puzzled. "Who?"

At the same time, he felt Little Sand was acting more and more like the Pirate he used to be. Perhaps he had recovered more of his memories.

For Xia Le, though, this version of Crocodile was undoubtedly more useful.

"Douglas Bullet!"

Crocodile blew out a ring of smoke, his gaze sharpening.

"That guy?"

Xia Le paused in surprise.

Then he smiled.

"Do you know which way he's headed?"

Crocodile looked up with an understanding expression. "Of course I checked. They should be stopping at Punk Hazard."

After a pause, he smiled again.

"That guy would be a powerful ally."

"If you can bring him over to our side."

Xia Le narrowed his eyes.

He had fought Bullet two years earlier.

In that battle, Xia Le had knocked Douglas Bullet out with a single punch. But that didn't mean Bullet was weak. There were few people in the world who could withstand Conqueror's Haki Infusion head-on.

Even in his fight with Rayleigh, Xia Le had frequently relied on Observation Haki to evade attacks.

He also knew that Bullet revered strength above all else and would acknowledge and follow someone stronger than himself.

"He really would be a good addition."

Murmuring to himself, Xia Le looked out over the sea.

Come Be a Marine Under My Command

The Warship left Dressrosa. Slo spun the wheel hard and, after glancing at the Eternal Pose in his hand, steered toward Punk Hazard.

"Douglas Bullet is a terrifying man!"

"He's also the strongest opponent I've met since I went to sea."

Crocodile's voice grew low as he recalled their battle.

Despite his Logia Sand-Sand Fruit powers, Bullet had been the most difficult opponent he had ever faced.

Their fight had ended in a draw. In a sense, that battle with Bullet was what had made Crocodile's name known across the seas.

"Sounds like that fight left quite an impression on you!"

Xia Le smiled.

"If you can bring him over to our side, our team will be much stronger!"

Crocodile took a drag on his cigar, paused, and continued.

"Whatever you plan to do in the future, you'll need stronger people at your side."

As his fragmented memories came together, he had gradually realized that his superior, a Marine Rear Admiral, must be hiding enormous ambitions.

And over the time they had spent together, Xia Le's distinctive presence and immense strength had steadily won him over.

Xia Le was young, about Crocodile's own age, yet he had already reached the ranks of the world's strongest.

How far would he go in the future?

Crocodile could only guess, limited by the reach of his own imagination.

"You seem to have some idea what I want to do?"

Xia Le turned to him with interest.

"I can't guess exactly. But I don't think you'll settle for the way things are."

Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke and smiled.

"Little Sand, the way you've changed since your old memories came back..."

"It's quite a surprise!"

Xia Le sighed.

Before losing his memory, Crocodile had been a pirate through and through. He had dreams, but he could also be cold and ruthless. After losing his memory, he had become just, gentle, and kind.

Now the two sets of memories had merged, shaping an entirely new Crocodile—a Marine.

He held fast to his own sense of justice, but he was also ambitious about the future and willing to take drastic action when necessary.

This Crocodile would undoubtedly make many things easier for Xia Le.

"But for now, you need to play your part as a Marine."

Xia Le watched him and smiled faintly.

Crocodile took a drag on his cigar and slowly nodded.

They reached Punk Hazard five days later.

Punk Hazard was very different from what it would later become. It was an undeveloped island, thick with trees and full of wild animals.

A faint column of smoke rising from the island's center told them that people had gathered there.

"Little Sand, the two of us should be enough!"

Xia Le spoke up.

Crocodile nodded.

"After all, we didn't come here to fight."

Xia Le jumped down from the bow, left a trail of footprints in the sand, and headed inland.

Crocodile followed close behind.

The two entered the forest one after the other. Following the smoke, they soon spotted a group of grim-faced, silent pirates gathered around a campfire.

At their center sat a tall, muscular man. Motionless and imposing as an iron tower, he had eyes so fierce they looked demonic.

It was Douglas Bullet, known as the Devil's Heir.

Sensing someone approach, Bullet and the others looked up.

The pirates froze when they saw the two men, then their eyes turned cold.

"Sand Crocodile!"

"Word at sea is you became a Marine. Looks like it's true!"

Someone spoke coldly.

The other crew members fixed their eyes on Crocodile. Only Bullet looked at Xia Le. His pupils suddenly contracted, and a dangerous gleam flashed in his eyes.

Then his mouth spread into a grin.

"At last, I get to see you again!"

"Xia Le!!!"

At Bullet's shout, a violent, terrifying force of will erupted into the air. The space around him seemed to warp, and leaves rustled throughout the forest.

Crocodile's expression grew grave. The pressure was immense.

But it was unmistakably weaker than the Conqueror's Haki he had felt from Xia Le.

In both force and presence, Bullet's Conqueror's Haki fell far short of his superior's.

Bullet's eyes were bloodshot. Rage and resentment surged from deep within him, consuming him in an instant until he could see nothing but Xia Le.

He would never forget that battle. It had haunted him ever since.

Since first setting foot on a battlefield, Bullet had never suffered such a crushing defeat! Even when he had challenged Roger, he had not been humiliated like that.

One punch!