Grand Line, Alabasta.
Inside the Royal Palace in the Royal Capital.
The Resistance Army had already breached two gates, and the cries of battle were drawing closer.
Everyone in the Royal Palace could clearly hear the murderous clamor closing in.
This seat of the kingdom's highest authority was now steeped in blood.
Countless guards lay beheaded. The vast Royal Palace had been slaughtered to the last man, leaving only King Cobra and Princess Vivi, their arms spread and pinned to the wall.
There was also Robin, leaning in the shadows, and Crocodile, savoring it all.
After slaughtering everyone in the Royal Palace, Crocodile had not rushed to dispose of King Cobra and Princess Vivi. He had merely pinned them to the wall before walking over to the rampart.
From above, he surveyed the battles raging throughout the Royal Capital.
Crocodile took a drag on his cigar and slowly exhaled.
"Whew..."
His gaze lingered on the Resistance Army and the King Army as they fought for control of the Royal Capital.
"What an irritating swarm of flies."
"But they'll all disappear soon enough..."
He turned toward Cobra and Vivi, pinned to the wall, and walked over.
"The Alabasta Kingdom, with its thousands of years of history."
"And only two royals remain in this generation."
"Before long, even the name Alabasta will vanish from history forever."
"How pitiful."
With both arms pierced and pinned to the wall, Vivi struggled defiantly.
"What are you trying to do?!"
"Crocodile!"
"Attacking royalty as one of the Shichibukai is a capital crime!!!"
"The World Government and the Marines won't let you get away with this!!!"
Crocodile gave her an indifferent glance, then looked at Cobra.
"The education of Alabasta's royal family really is a failure."
"To think she would say something so stupid."
His gaze shifted