Just as the rain clouds were gathering in the sky, Nami and Vivi finally found the clock tower where the cannonball was located. They worked together to get Vivi to the clock tower, but unexpectedly, there were still enemies guarding the cannonball inside.
When Weiwei finally managed to kill the guardian and extinguish the cannonball fuse, she discovered that the huge cannonball was actually timed. In other words, whether or not it was fired, as long as it remained there, it would still destroy the entire square and the tens of thousands of soldiers on it.
Meanwhile, Nami and the others below the clock tower were overjoyed, thinking the shelling had been abruptly interrupted! Then Weiwei informed them that the shells were actually timed, and their expressions of relief froze on their faces!
But with such a large shell and such a short explosion time, these people simply had no ability to move it away. Weiwei could only watch the timed shell in despair and anger, weeping bitterly, completely helpless!
Her resentment towards Crocodile had reached its peak. She never imagined that someone could be so ruthless for their own ambition, using so many lives as stepping stones for their own benefit!
However, there is always a way out. Perhaps the heavens sensed Weiwei's despair and prayers, or perhaps Weiwei's strong belief communicated with some powerful being. The seriously injured Pell arrived just in time!
After saying goodbye to Vivi, Pell transformed into his beast form, grabbed a timed cannonball, and flew into the sky. He decided to sacrifice himself to protect everyone below. He needed to fly high enough to prevent the royal capital from being harmed. At this moment, Pell was prepared to die!
"Your spirit is awe-inspiring! Your courage is commendable! But you really will die doing this! Such a vibrant life shouldn't end like this. You should live on and protect this country!"
Just as Pell was preparing to die for his country, a voice rang in his ears, and then he felt a numbness in his body, and his claws involuntarily loosened their grip on the cannonball.
Just before he was about to pass out from his severe injuries and complete paralysis, he saw a figure kick the huge timed shell away, just like a shot on goal in soccer!
The shell instantly turned into a tiny black dot in his eyes, its speed was unbelievably fast. Pell initially thought it was a hallucination or fantasy before he lost consciousness, but it was too late to take a closer look; his consciousness had slipped into unconsciousness.
The one who kicked it was naturally Vic. In the original work, Crocodile said that the diameter of this shell was five kilometers. Crocodile had prepared it to kill everyone in the square, so you can imagine the power of this shell.
Even if Crocodile's words were exaggerated, there was definitely a lot of truth to them; he genuinely wanted to wipe out everyone in the plaza. Yet, such a powerful cannonball, exploding at point-blank range, didn't kill Pell! Can you believe it?
This kind of scene only appears in comics. Even if Pell is a Zoan user with stronger regenerative and vitality abilities, he definitely wouldn't survive such an explosion!
Vic understood this point before he made his move, and he even applied the Speed-Speed Fruit's power to the cannonball. With only a few seconds left before the explosion, Vic's leg strength and Awakening fruit power meant that the cannonball would probably be in outer space by the time it exploded!
Vic caught Pell, who had returned to human form, and placed him on the roof of a building. Meanwhile, the soldiers on both sides, still fighting fiercely in the square, had no idea that they had just brushed past death.
Nami and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't heard the sound of an explosion, nor had they sensed any aftershocks from the massive blast. They had concluded that the timed shell was either a hoax or a dud; in any case, they believed the shell definitely hadn't exploded.
Vivi's despair vanished. She desperately wanted to know how Pell was doing. If the shell hadn't exploded, why hadn't Pell returned?
The shells certainly exploded, but they were too far from the ground, and the sky was covered by clouds, so they couldn't see the flashes of the explosions, let alone the aftershocks.
Inside the underground tomb, Crocodile, who had been severely injured by Luffy, looked on with resentment because the timed shell had expired but he hadn't heard it explode.
If anyone in Alabasta could do that, it would only be that bastard who had spoken to him earlier. If it were anyone else, he would at least hear a bang, but now... what happened to the promise that they wouldn't interfere as long as he didn't use Haki? Was that agreement just empty talk?!
Crocodile forgot that his agreement with Vic didn't just include the rule that those wearing Straw Hat couldn't use Haki; there was also a clause that he had to protect the country of Alabasta. How did he do that?
To actually plot to take this country for himself already violates the agreement with Vic. Vic can do whatever he wants without breaking the agreement.
Even if Vic really broke the agreement, so what? This world still believes that might makes right. It's just that Crocodile is not strong enough!
Despite Crocodile's immense anger, he dared not use his Haki on the Straw Hat Boy. He had not obtained any information about Pluton, and Nico Robin had not told him the information recorded on the stone.
He wanted to kill his partner, but he didn't expect her to be so well-hidden; she actually Observation Haki, and his fatal attack was dodged.
By the time he was about to make a move, the Straw Hat Boy he thought was dead had already caught up. He really didn't dare use his Haki on the kid; if he killed the Straw Hat Boy, he would definitely die at the hands of that bastard Vic.
However, if he doesn't use Haki, even if he is defeated by the Straw Hat Boy, he won't die. At most, he will be captured by the Marines outside and taken to Impel Down. As long as he is not killed by Vic here, he will have a chance to survive!
So after making his choice, Crocodile was nearly beaten to death by the Straw Hat Boy. Now, his backup plan, the timed cannonball, has also failed. He can only accept his fate. Being defeated is better than dying now!
He's Shichibukai. If the Straw Hat Boy don't kill him now, then only the World Government can judge him. He's Logia Fruit user, and the World Government won't kill him easily!
Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was defeated and sent flying from the underground tomb by Luffy. He didn't dare to use Haki or run away, and was knocked unconscious by Luffy. Whether he was really unconscious or not, only he and Vick know!
Meanwhile, the rain clouds in the sky gathered to a certain extent and began to drizzle. Feeling the raindrops on their bodies and faces, the soldiers fighting in the square finally realized something. Their movements slowed down, as if they were savoring the coolness and vitality brought by the raindrops!
Soon after, the raindrops in the sky intensified, and the rain poured down harder and harder, showing no sign of stopping. The soldiers below finally couldn't hold back any longer. They dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground, and burst into tears. This rain had come too late! The price they had paid was too high!
After the battle in the plaza ended, Nami and the others finally collapsed from exhaustion. Luffy, along with Cobra and Robin, leaped out of the collapsed tomb, but once on the ground, Luffy too succumbed and passed out.
Robin wasn't injured this time, but she still left, even though Luffy had a very good impression of her at this point!
Because Robin saved him again, and because Luffy was still poisoned during the battle at the tomb, the antidote was given by Robin. Crocodile knew he was going to lose, and since he couldn't use Haki, he could only use his last resort: poisoning Luffy.
However, he was unaware that his partner had already figured out his weaknesses and prepared an antidote. He was betrayed by Nico Robin completely and utterly, and he had no reason to complain about losing this grand scheme!