Deep in the clouds, a thousand meters above the Funeral Hall.
Three men stood on a massive cannonball, hovering there.
Sensing what was happening inside the ruins, Sote looked at Carol.
"Aren't we going to intervene?"
Carol remained composed as he looked down.
"There's still time."
Even if Crocodile's attack was only a centimeter away from Robin, Carol could use the Teleportation Fruit to appear instantly and take her away.
For now, Carol's gaze was fixed on the unexpected intruder.
"What an unexpected bonus."
He watched Snow Cloud rush toward the entrance to the ruins.
The Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, Sabo...
He had delivered himself right to their doorstep. It would almost be rude not to deal with him...
Inside the ruins.
Bzz-
Crocodile coated the Golden Hook on his left hand with Armament Haki.
He was about to strike Robin in the head.
A roar suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Blizzard Dragon King!!!"
Rumble-
A tremendous roar and violent tremors filled the ruins.
Almost instantly, endless snow filled the entire underground Palace. Amid the raging blizzard, Cobra was protected inside a dome of snow.
Crocodile and Robin were swallowed by the blizzard.
Amid the chaos.
Sabo took solid form, shaping his right hand into a dragon's claw and coating it with Armament Haki to clash with Crocodile's Golden Hook, while his left hand struck at Crocodile's arm joint.
Boom!!!!
Crocodile glared darkly at the man who had suddenly appeared. His body turned into swirling sand, rapidly absorbing and diminishing the snow.
His gaze shifted down to his right hand, which felt sore and numb. Robin, whom he had been gripping, was gone.
He looked up at Robin, now sheltered behind Sabo.
"No wonder you dared betray me."
"You'd already found someone else to take you in..."