Chapter 49 - Episode 119, 120, & 121
Moving onto episode 119, where they skipped the opening, recap, and title to see Mr. 1 planning to take down Zoro a notch. Ever since he gotten the Supa Supa no Mi, he've never been scratched by a swordsman.
"Well, that ends today." Tokoyami smirked.
Well, he could store all those old tales away in an album. Zoro doesn't know how many swordsmen he've fought in the past, but they've never met before.
Mr. 1 can see that at least his tongue is sharp.
He sprinted forward until the two clashed blades, wanting to see how long they'll last.
For a moment, it seemed like Zoro flung back the swordsman. Mr. 1 nearly kicked him with a bladed leg, but Zoro managed to flip and somersaulted over him.
"Come on, you said you won't lose again." Katsuki murmured as the students themselves were worrying over the blows and clashes the two kept trading.
There seemed to be some sign of hope once Zoro kicked Mr. 1 in the gut, and then thrusted his blade forward, pushing the agent back. Using the distance between them, Zoro put the blade in his mouth, sprinting forward.
"Oni... Giri!"
Then he jumped up high. "Tora... Gari!" He slashed at Mr. 1, using the impact to land back on the ground.
"Did it work?" Denki asked, but they soon see Mr. 1's silhouette from the dust.
"Of course not!" Jiro shouted in frustration.
Zoro was a little shock to see him without a single bruise. Honestly, this is also the first time his opponent is still standing, but of course, they've never met before.
"I hate him for being a villain, but he's kind of cool..." Kirishima admitted.
Mr. 1 nearly was able to kick him with a bladed leg. Zoro managed to dodge that, and blocked another kick, reminding himself that his entire body is a blade, so his blades didn't have a front or back.
When Zoro rolled away from another sharp kick, Mr. 1 placed his hands wrist-to-wrist, lunging them out at the swordsman. "Sparkling Daisy!"
Students snickered at the name, as Zoro blocked til, til they saw it was able to slice the buildings into several clean pieces.
"Holy shit."
"I guess it was... sparkly." Aoyama let out a nervous laugh.
"Can I do that?" Kirishima wondered, looking at his hands.
Mr. 1 pushed Zoro back into the collapsing building, crumbling it even more than before. He waited as a heartbeat can be heard.
Zoro have done more training than anyone else, as well as being in difficult situations where he was on the brink.
The audience took in a deep breath, seeing Zoro's bloodied arm hang from in between the crumbled buildings. Aizawa harshly gripped onto his arm as Hizashi grew silent at the sight.
Still, what does he lack?
A memory of his youth at Kuina's dojo came to him; one where he asked his teacher if there are really men in this world who can cut anything, even steel, which his teacher claimed to be true.
He told Zoro to watch a piece of paper carefully. Throwing it in the air, he was unsuccessfully unable to cut it with his sword.
The students snickered at him for acting so ridiculously.
His teacher told him that there are swordsmen out there who are capable of cutting nothing, but they can also cut anything, even steel... using the same sword.
"But how?" Tokoyami asked.
"And can anyone do it?" Kirishima added on.
"The strongest swordsmen are able to protect that which they want to protect and cut that which they want to cut. Swordplay that harms whatever it touches... I don't consider it real swordsmanship." He asked if he understood.
After a long pause, Zoro just said that he wanted to be a swordsman who can cut anything, meaning he didn't really understood it.
"So... if you want to protect something, then you can do anything?" Kirishima guessed.
In the present day, Zoro was able to lift his way out of the rubble.
Mr. 1 told him to hurry up and try cutting him; he've been just defending, but Zoro admitted that he can show him his valiant figure cutting steel...
The audience s[uttered and gasped at the reveal of Zoro lifting half of a house.
...because when he cut steel, that's when he dies.
"...You're looking a bit scary there, Zoro." Mina nervously said.
Zoro threw the building half at him, and after the eyecatches, Mr. 1 thought it was pointless as he could cut everything into piece, but the swordsman thought back to his teacher's words which he didn't understood before.
"Atomic Spar!" The building piece in front of him was diced in an instant.
"Did he even touch it!?" Jiro exclaimed.
Zoro ran through the falling pieces, surprising Mr. 1 into another clash of blades. Then Zoro pushed him back and would had sliced him if Mr. 1's bladed kick haven't stopped him at first. With another attack, Mr. 1 skidded across the road, distracted enough for the swordsman to hold up a sword to his neck.
"Gazumi... Dori!" An image of a crab appeared behind the swordsman as all three blades clamped down on Mr. 1 in the middle.
The agent was sent flying, Zoro heavily panting, but the agent still managed to stand.
"Still nothing." Sero gritted his teeth.
Mr. 1 made sure to tell him to not consider him a swordsman, he has many weapons to tear him up with.
Circular blades appeared along his forearms, then spun them as if they were drills. "Spiral Hollow!"
Zoro thought he was an excavator.
While students definitely feared for Zoro's life at the new, painful-looking ability, there were some others who snickered at the fact that Zoro called him an 'excavator.'
Zoro's blades clashed with Mr. 1, and the swordsman was shock to see that Mr. 1's blade spun fast enough to create sparks... that were rebelling!
He was bounced back, giving the agent the ability to dig into him.
"Zoro!" The amount of blood flying out of him was frightening, especially the second time Mr. 1 stabbed through him.
Now that he's close, Mr. 1 sliced into him with his bladed hand, throwing Zoro into a pillar.
As Zoro bled on the ground, Mihawk appeared in his thoughts.
As Mr. 1 could see he's still breathing, Zoro trembled as he stood up, refusing to show his back to him.
"You can't fall against his power." Tokoyami whispered.
Mr. 1 asked if he's going to use his bare hands now as Zoro slumped against the pillar, saying that he wouldn't understand since he's not a swordsman.
"Spar... Break!"
Students gasped, seeing the silhouetted image of them as the white turned red. Crocodile impaling Luffy came to mind.
Blood flied as the pillar behind him was sliced into pieces. Without its support, it collapsed.
Mr. 1 walked away, telling him to rest in peace.
"No!" "Zoro!" They screamed and gasped once the stone pieces has fallen down.
Memories of earlier came to him.
Are they... all okay...?
Sharp intakes of breath came in at Zoro's reveal, seeing that she's still standing despite all that damage.
Will he continue to stand? Tokoyami thought.
Mr. 1 stopped and turned, shock to see Zoro still standing after all of that. He wondered if he dodged all those falling stones, and in all honesty, Zoro thought the same til he realized that he could tell the place where no stones would be falling.
"W-What?" Izuku gaped, confused. Students exchanged looks, wondering what that meant.
Somehow, he could tell that there's a sword underneath one of the stones. Mr. 1 was confused when he saw Zoro lift up the very stone to reveal the Wado Ichimonji.
The swordsman had experienced this before, back when he battled with Mihawk; a moment where it was awfully quiet around him... that he could hear his heartbeat very clearly.
He wondered if this is precisely what it feels like when close to death?
"I mean, there were several times where he was close to death." Jiro reasoned.
"I would appreciate it if he stops dying though." Toru said.
Zoro sensed a hint from the falling stones as if they're living things... No, it was clearer than that... It was more like rhythm... That everything has its own rhythm from the trees to the soil.
"Like... the vibrations?" Jiro wondered, but she knew that it doesn't make sense either. Zoro wasn't touching the stones, he somehow felt them though.
He remembered his teacher's words, wondering if 'cutting nothing' means... know the rhythm. That must be the ability to cut even steel.
Mr. 1 was confuse on how Zoro could even be alive, but as Zoro held his gaze on him, he couldn't hear his voice, but... the rhythm of his steel.
He could feel his will flowing into his sword, lifting it to a branch's leaves and swiped at it, leaving no cuts behind. Though, when he pointed his sword at one of the rocks, it was sliced cleanly.
"He's got it." Hizashi grinned as the students were in awe.
Mr. 1 decided to just finish him off, though Zoro questioned himself if he could cut steel. Still, he won't defend anymore.
He sheathed his sword, turning it upright. "Ittoryu Iai... Shishi Sonson!"
Mr. 1 approached him with bladed feet, like skates, swinging his bladed hand at the swordsman. "Atomic Spurt!"
Zoro was seen unsheathing his sword. A peaceful moment passed by til Zoro and Mr. 1. Once he've re-sheathed his sword, the agent fell down, blood coming out of him.
"I give you my thanks... I can become stronger still!"
A cheer came from the class, staring in absolute awe at the win.
Mr. 1 could tell he gotten stronger during the battle, asking him if he's going to cut diamonds next, but to Zoro, that would be a waste.
Finally, Mr. 1 was knocked out as Zoro ripped off his bandanna.
"Alabasta - North Block: Battle in front of the Mehdi Assembly Hall. Winner: Zoro."
"To Be Continued."
"That was amazing!" Denki shouted.
"That was manly!" Kirishima corrected him.
"Now all we need is to have Luffy beat Crocodile." Toru said.
"And stop the bomb." Momo quickly added.
"Hearing their 'rhythm.'" Izuku murmured to himself, wondering what does that mean.
Moving onto episode 120, they skipped the opening, recap, and title as usual to see the guard attacking Robin's disembodied hands, allowing them to enter.
"Yes!" Kirishima cheered.
Crocodile don't know who they ate, but Vivi could tell that they're the Kicking Claw Force; Alabasta Kingdom Elite Guard Unit.
"Are we really going to let a bunch of extras save the day?" Katsuki skeptically asked.
Cobra warned them to stay away from Crocodile, but the force were happy to die for him no matter what.
Seeing that they're popular, Crocodile would had spared them, but they refused, muscles bulging. Chaka could see that they drank the water that shortens their lives to boost their powers temporarily, so they only have a few minutes left to live. There's no way to save them.
"Goddamn it, people. Stop using life threatening upgrades!" Jiro shouted.
I feel like I'm being called out here. Izuku thought.
Honestly, Crocodile wan't too shock by this. As the force apologized to Chaka for doing this, they wanted to make Crocodile realize the pain he had caused.
Still, Crocodile was easily able to dodge their attacks, reappearing from above. He claimed that they should really value their lives, but that's too late for that. He doesn't even need to fight them if they're just going to die.
"You dumbasses..." Katsuki gritted his teeth.
Soon, the force started to collapse. Fueled with anger, Chaka turned onto a jackal from his Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal, and ran for Crocodile, despite Cobra's warning.
"Narikiba!" He jumped up and tried to swipe Crocodile with his sword, but of course, that has no affect on him.
"If only you knew..." Izuku murmured, hoping they would last.
With Zoro, he could tell that he bled too much, but he's lucky his wounds aren't deep.
"How?! He drilled into your chest!" Mineta exclaimed.
Still, it does hit him hard. He collapsed, wondering how the others are.
He remembered how it went; before the crew went out on their plan, Usopp complained about being paired with Eyelashes since he's so weak.
"Well, now you've survived a 4 ton baseball bat." Aizawa said.
"Most of us wouldn't be able to do that head on." Hizashi tried to compliment.
Sanji told him to give up already since he was just unlucky in the raffle.
Usopp asked if anyone is in a piece, he'll save them, but Sanji only saves the ladies.
"Don't sound like the camel now." Jiro cracked a smile.
Back in the present day, Chopper, Eyelashes, Usopp, and Sanji were running when Usopp started to cry. He remembered how that mole hag said Luffy's dead, and Chopper wondered if it's true, though Sanji doesn't believe it... and so do the others too.
Anyway, they need to go to the palace ASAP.
"Someone tell them about the bomb." Mina hoped.
"But keep believing Luffy's not dead." Kirishima called out.
Zoro could also remember Vivi thanking them with Nami saying she can thank them with some goods. He hoped she's okay as well.
Nami was surprised that the coo-coo birds was the all powerful attack Usopp mentioned. Hearing the wave of rebels around the corner, she went for the palace.
"Zoro, you big softie." Ochako smiled, seeing how he's worried for her despite the fact that he has a debt to Nami.
Zoro remembered Sanji telling Vivi that Luffy eats tons of food. He hoped she's okay...
...But Vivi screamed in horror for Chaka's downfall. She was in tears til she heard someone call to her.
"Koza?" Tsuyu hoped.
"Palace Square: 25 minutes to the explosion time."
"Okay, guys, we really need to make this quick!" Denki panicked at the reminder.
After the eyecatches, Koza appeared as Cobra realized that he came through the shortcut he used to use as a kid.
Koza couldn't believe what he's seeing. He thought he's persuade the Royal Army, but he could see the king's about to be killed by the country's hero.
"Well, he was never a hero!" Katsuki bitterly shouted, much to everyone else's agreement.
Crocodile laughed, finding this more interesting now that both sides' leaders are now here. Robin told Koza to imagine the worst possible scenario, and he realized what she meant.
He asked Vivi who took the rain away from this country. Vivi didn't even finished her answer when Crocodile admitted outright that it's him, that this was a trap made by this company, and they've fallen for it for two years.
The students gritted their teeth at the look on Crocodile's face, seeing how proud he was of just admitting all he has done.
Cobra shouted for Koza to not listen to him; there's still things he can do. Chaka warned him of the Palace Square blowing up in half an hour.
Seeing that he was still alive, Crocodile took him out as Chaka told him to hurry.
"No!" Students gasped at the sight.
Koza ran away, but Vivi stopped him, much to Cobra's shock. Vivi refused to turn the square into a battlefield, but she could see that Koza's still panicking, asking him what will happen if they realize that the Square'll be blown up. It'll be chaos with the war no longer able to stop; no one will be saved!
"She's right." Hizashi somberly said, which doesn't ease his students' minds.
As the rebellion head for the palace, Vivi knows what to do, and Koza has to do it! He grabbed her hand and sat up, though Crocodile wouldn't just sit there and watch.
The audience held their breath as Crocodile was going to attack them, but Chaka managed to block his attack, declaring himself to be the Jackal, Alabasta's guardian deity; the one who destroys the enemies of they royal family.
"Chaka, you're still alive!" Toru cried out.
Chaka told them to run away as he can only hold him back for a few more minutes. Koza could remember as a little kid, being trained by him, but still, he has to run away.
"Ah... That has to hurt." Denki winced.
The buildings of Alabarna can be seen as destroyed and on fire as the rebel army is currently passing through the Central Plaza and heading to the North Block to reach the palace.
Vivi ordered the royal army to surrender right now, much to their shock, but they soon saw Koza, who told them that they no longer desire victory as this battle was pointless. In order not to shed anymore pointless blood, they'll wave the white flag.
The rebel army ran towards the clock tower for the palace, but stopped once they saw the white flags. Koza ordered them to stop fighting.
There was a sense of relief at this, but at the same time...
This seems a little too easy. Toshinori nervously thought.
One of the rebel army members couldn't believe it, but Koza reassured him that the battle is now-
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Terrified screams and sharp gasps came out when Koza was shot three times. Anger flared once they saw the Baroque Works jolly roger tattoo on one of the royal army soldiers, but a sense of heartbreak was made when Vivi called out Koza's name.
"To be Continued."
"Goddamn it!" "No!" "Koza!"
"Why can't anything good happen to them?!" Jiro complained.
Quickly moving onto episode 121, they skipped the opening, recap, and title to see Koza was shot off his pedestal, remembering his dream to make the kingdom a better place. Even as he fall, he begged the rebel army not to fight, but his voice wasn't heard.
Fueled by anger, the rebel army want the battle to continue as Vivi could see the Baroque Works agent who did the shot, much to the irate of the royal army. Before Koza could say anymore, a sandstorm suddenly appeared.
A bullet hit one of the rebel army soldiers, convincing them to continue on the war.
"Goddamn it!" Mina cursed, especially when it was seen that the rebel army was infiltrated by Baroque Works too.
They were in disbelief when they saw that the rebel army believed that the white flag was used to launch a surprise attack, souring their views further.
"He truly thought of everything." Aoyama frowned.
Vivi screamed and begged for everyone to stop, but no one could hear her or Koza's voice over the sounds of war.
As Robin said, she fought well, but her voice will no longer reach them.
"Shut up!" Momo snapped at her, giving everyone a surprise. "S-She will be heard. Someone will."
But soon, she wilted, seeing Chaka collapse.
Still, Vivi refused to run by her father's warning. Instead, she faced Crocodile, demanding if he's the one who created the dest devil. She's sure if she stops the attack in 15 minutes, she'll reduce the number of casualties.
Grabbing onto her neck and lifting her up high, Crocodile told her to wake up, finding her idealistic theory to be annoying. He believes that she's not qualified to do so.
Still, even when she's hung over the edge, Vivi refused to give up on her ideals, as she's the princess of this country, and she refuses to give in to someone like him. Crocodile simply commented that she has no charm.
The students gritted their teeth, seeing how dire the situation is, but they don't want to give in to Crocodile's sorrow filled words.
Crocodile was certain that she could had saved many more lives if she did warn the Royal Army, seeming to mock her, telling her that he optimistic ideas have resulted in the deaths of all the citizens she love so much. Honestly, from start to finish, everyone in this country amused him.
"What?! Do you think that this whole thing was just a game to you?!" Iida can't stop himself from shouting, frustrated by this man.
Crying, Vivi could still remember Igaram's death as Crocodile complimented her on spying on his company for two years. She could remember meeting Toto after so long as Crocodile twisted the knife by telling her that her ideals has only created more unnecessary victims; she can't save this country.
"No!" "Vivi!" Students screamed once Crocodile dropped the princess to her doom.
It can't end like this. It shouldn't end like this. Toshinori tried to calm himself, even as he listen to Crocodile's cackling.
...Then he stopped. He saw a silhouette against the sun.
"Pell?" Tokoyami said, a small surge of hope swells in him.
"If Pell's here, then..." Izuku trailed off as the scene continued on.
A loud eruption of cheers cam through the moment Luffy appeared onscreen and screamed out Crocodile's name, and after the eyecatches, Luffy and Pell swooped in and saved Vivi from the war below.
"Yes, finally, Luffy's here!" Kirishima cheered over the other boom voices.
As they fly over the city, Vivi clung onto him, telling him that there isn't much time left before the Square is blown up, that everyone is down... that her voice no longer reaches anyone...
"Don't worry. Your voice is heard by us."
A soft smile spread over to some of the audience members; a sense of relief came over by Luffy's words aline.
"You better beat that Croc." Toru hoped.
Meanwhile, Zoro was carrying Nami, despite the fact that he's more injured than her, but Nami reasoned that her leg is injured, so she can't stand.
"And he was drilled into!" Mineta added on.
At the bottom of the palace stairs, Lufffy was rolling his arm. Pell told him to be careful, but Luffy ate a lot of meat, so he's got a lot of blood.
"That barrel on your back better be filled with water." Katsuki said.
"...Water?" Denki seemed to be puzzled.
"To defeat that Croc!"
Luffy is sure he won't be defeated again as Crocodile is confuse on how he was able to get out of the quicksand with those injuries.
"Well, apparently, not all your agents are not as loyal to you as you think." Hizashi teased.
"Though I'm still confused on the whole 'D' stuff she said." Sero said.
"All of use are." Mina sighed.
Before Luffy could launch himself, Usopp and Chopper discovered he's alive as Sanji was worried for Vivi's sake. Nami soon came in, hitting Usopp with the takt, as Zoro came along. Vivi was brought to tears from seeing that they're all safe.
"The gang's all here!" Toru cheerfully shouted.
Before Nami could beat Usopp for making her a party prop, she asked Vivi about what's going on.
As the war continued on, Luffy apologized to his crew for losing to Crocodile once, so he promised to not lose again, leaving the rest to them. As his crew cheered him on, Vivi's glad to still have friends.
Soon, Luffy launched himself over to Crocodile, but the Shichibukai is certain that he'll be skewered once again.
"Oh, but he'll definitely land a punch." Mineta smirked.
Luffy's muscles bulged, getting closer to him. There was a smile on Crocodile's face til he landed a hit in his face, knocking him off his pedestial.
"Wait." "What?" "Whoa!" "YES!"
"So, he've noticed." Aizawa mused.
Luffy landed on the ground as Cobra was shocked by who Luffy is.
"Gomu Gomu no..." Luffy stretched out his arms to grab Crocodile, and wind himself up like a blow gun, as Crocodile couldn't believe his eyes. "...Marunoko!" He launched himself to him, delivering a powerful headbutt.
"YES!" "He was able to hit Crocodile?"
Cobra was shocked while Robin seemed more amused about all of this.
"Seriously, what's your deal?" Katsuki wondered.
Luffy told Crocodile to get up. He remembered how water got on Crocodile's hand, which taught him that Crocodile can't turn into sand once he touched water. That's why he took the rain away.
"Oh! That's why!" Denki exclaimed.
And now their fight starts here.
"To Be Continued."
"...in the next episode." Ochako ad-libed, sighing.
Chapter 50 - Episode 122, 123, & 124
Skipping the opening, recap, and title of episode 122, the class could see Luffy ordering Crocodile to get up. He did so, chackling.
"Hey, don't act like this is funny." Kirishima gritted his teeth.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew were told of the bombing in ten minutes, shocked by the news. Zoro said to find the cannoneer, so they can stop the attack.
"In ten minutes?!" Mina voiced her disbelief.
The others were uncertain, but Vivi is sure that the cannoneer is probably near the Square. Usopp thought the cannoneer would also be blown up as well, but Nami pointed out that's how Crocodile is, leaving Chopper shock that he would leave his men to die.
"That's... how he is." Toshinori sighed, knowing how cruel villains can be.
Before they could run off, Zoro and Sanji attacked the man who was about to slice Vivi down, revealing that there are Billions surrounding them.
The swordsman and the cook believed they could take them down in two seconds.
"Two seconds each, or all at once?" Jiro said as Kirishima made his comment of "Manly..."
The others went on ahead, knowing the next ten minutes will decide this country's fate.
Back to Luffy, Crocodile continued to laugh as Luffy toss aside his straw hat. He's certain that he can beat him since he can't turn into sand. Crocodile is honestly impressed that he figured it out while being so close to dying, but he still believes that Luffy is nowhere near enough to put him on the same level as him, a Shichibukai.
If he's a Shichibukai, then Luffy's a Hachibukai!
A few snickers broke out, though there are a few groans.
"Luffy, you know what... never change." Hizashi snickered, shaking his head.
Cobra is still confuse on who he is, but Robin pointed out that he's a pirate, seeing that the princess has escaped death once again. Soon, Cobra realized that Luffy's the one who brought Vivi back to this country.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!" Luffy sent a punch Crocodile's way, but the man dodged it with ease, grabbing his arm.
"No!" Students squeaked out in fright, seeing Luffy's arm get dried up like before.
Luffy was launched into the air as Crocodile dissipated into sand. The rubber man drank water from his barrel to quickly restore his arm back to its glory by the time he landed.
Spraying water over himself, Luffy didn't forget what Crocodile had said to him before; that depending on how Devil Fruit powers are used, you can become stronger.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!" Like before, Luffy sent a punch Crocodile's way, but this time, he pulled at his arm, causing it to bounce everywhere. "Shotgun!"
The audience was amazed at Luffy's new technique as Katsuki said, "How come you're only creative when it comes to fighting?"
"Luffy had said before that he's not good at everything; that's why he has a crew." Toshinori answered. "It just so happened that Luffy's strong suit seems to be fighting."
"Desert Spada!" Crocodile managed to dodge Luffy's attack, delivering his own, which Luffy avoided as well.
"Gomu Gomu no..." Crocodile seemed frustrated at that he used the same technique til Luffy suddenly appeared before him, surprising him into a punch.
A loud cheer erupted once Crocodile's down.
Luffy threw his water barrel at him, but Crocodile used 'Sables' to blow him and his barrel up into the air, though the rubber man was able to catch his barrel when he landed.
"Come on, we had something here." Ochako hoped.
Crocodile could see he's struggling desperately, seeing that the rubber man can't do anything without that barrel around, so this fight isn't any different from the first.
"Hey, hey, he was able to hit you this time." Sero quickly defended.
Luffy agreed... but he drank all the water this time into Water Luffy.
Surprised laughter came around when the reveal happened, almost matching Robin's, thought others seemed to be a little more grossed out with how Luffy nearly threw up his water.
"But this might help him." Izuku could only hope.
Luffy declared himself to be always serious, stretching his arms back for a "BAZOOKA!" straight into Crocodile's gut, sending him flying into one of the structures.
"YES!" "He did it!" Students cheered for the moment.
"I doubt that it ends there." Aizawa sighed.
After the eyecatches, Cobra was clearly amazed by this, though Robin did feel the same, ripping out the stakes. She ordered him to show her the way to the Poneglyph.
"Hey, the battle isn't over yet!" Toru shouted at her.
"Doesn't really stop her from doing this." Ochako shrugged.
"But I don't want her to find it for Crocodile."
Cobra demanded on what she's going to do by looking at it, but she forced him to do it til she noticed Luffy looking at her. She simply replied that she wondered if his luck is running out; there isn't much time left.
"I'm confuse. Does she or does she not want him to win?" Denki asked. "What's with the whole saving him thing before?"
Crocodile ordered her to just go already unless she wants to get dried up too. He's losing his patience.
Cobra seemed to shocked by the mention of 'Nico Robin.'
"Well, apparently, she is worth seventy million." Ojiro reasoned.
"But... it doesn't feel right." Izuku mentioned.
Robin did as she was told. forcing Cobra to walk into the palace.
Slamming his fist down, Crocodile brought Luffy's attention back to him. He told him that every rock on the ground can be destroyed.
Students held their breathes, seeing the grass under him shrivel up, spreading to the walls and other plant life.
"Ground Secco!"
The earth under him broke apart as if an earthquake came through til Luffy fall through, though the rubber man managed to catch himself.
There were sighs of relief, but Izuku had to say, "I doubt that's it."
"Mizu Mizu no... Pistol!" Luffy spit up more water at him, but the water was swallowed right into Crocodile's hand.
"That's so much worse than I thought." Mina panicked, the anxiety spreading to the others quick.
Crocodile showed him the true power of sand; to dry. By simply placing his right hand down on the ground, sand burst through the earth's cracks, dissolving it, the surrounding buildings, and the statues into more sand. Hell, even Luffy's sandals are drying up into sand too!
The audience watched in horror, seeing how truly strong Crocodile is.
"Ground Death!"
The whole palace rumbled from the force, sand flying everywhere.
Students tried their best to suppress a shiver, seeing Crocodile's face fill the screen.
Meanwhile, the crew has eight minutes to find the cannoneer. Usopp and Zoro did find a cannon on top of a building. Usopp wasn't sure if they could reach up there in time, but Zoro was able to use the warring soldiers as platforms, leaving the sniper behind.
"Oh, suck quick thinking!" Iida admired.
"Not sure how those soldiers feel about that though." Sero lightly joked.
Zoro was able to reach the top to be met with a bloodied soldier who mistaken him for being in the Rebel Army. By the time Usopp reached him, Zoro already has beaten the man.
When they reached the cannon, Zoro kicked it broken, seeing that it's not the one.
"Ugh, where is it?" Mina groaned.
With seven minuted left, as they continued to find the cannoneer, Cobra and Robin can be seen walking. Cobra asked her if 'Nico Robin' is her real name. Robin could see that it's pointless, but Cobra pointed out that it'a the name known through the world 20 years ago. He asked why she's here, but she wanted him to show the way to the Poneglyph.
Soon, she was face to face with Tashigi and an army of Navy soldiers, though Robin didn't seem too worried, causally telling them to move out of the way.
"Great, they're here." Ochako said with some relief.
Tashigi refused, and since they did refuse, Robin might have to kill them. Cobra told the Navy to move, warning them of the cannonball going off at 4:30pm in the Palace Square.
Hearing this, Tashigi wants to save him and stop the explosion.
"There isn't much time left! You have to choose one or the other." Toshinori said.
"Treinta Fleurs! Strangle!" In an instant, Robin had several soldiers in a chokehold, signal Tashigi that she's a Devil Fruit user.
"Seriously, that's like totally OP!" Denki exclaimed.
One of the soldiers pointed out that's Nico Robin, having seen her bounty poster; that an eight year old girl had sunk six Navy warships. The Government declared her a first degree risk factor, and given her a bounty of 79 million Beris. After that, she suddenly disappeared.
"...No. That can't be right." Izuku stared, alarm bells setting off in his head.
The students stared in show, seeing that this woman had a bounty since she was eight.
"No way, she couldn't had done that when she was eight!" Katsuki declared, several kids agreeing with him. "Do you really expect me to believe she could had destroyed six ships?" He and Todoroki knew how destructive kids could be firsthand, but it felt wrong to believe that young Robin could had been involved with something like that.
"I know. Like the Government sucks, but to put a bounty on a kid." Kirishima said in disbelief, remembering 'dead or alive' on her poster. He thought back to how Gold Roger and Kuro's doppelgänger were executed, wondering if she would be treated the same. Hell, the Government wouldn't really be any better if they jailed her either.
The students murmured their disbelief and discomfort at this as their teachers stared suspiciously at the Navy.
Even if Robin had her Devil Fruit at age eight and had sunk six ships, shouldn't it be rather impossible that she would be willing to do it? Maybe someone is made her do it, or just putting the blame on her, and yet no one else found it suspicious that an eight year old could had done it.
Robin ordered them to move out of the way or else she'll kill them. Seeing that it's pointless to have so many soldiers against this woman, Tashigi ordered the sergeant to take everyone to the Square and stop the explosion. Despite their reluctance, they left Tashigi to Robin.
She pulled out her sword to make Robin let go of Cobra, but since she's in her way, Robin held her back, pointing her sword at Tashigi's throat.
A chill ran down their spines, turning away as Tashigi's glasses broke against the ground.
For Luffy, he managed to climb back up the palace, despite still being water bloated. He could recognize that Crocodile's right hand is going to be a problem, searching for where he is until the sand man himself appeared right before him.
"No!" A few students squeaked out, seeing how close he is.
Crocodile grabbed his neck, and though Luffy tried to spit at him, Crocodile simply have to move his head to dodge.
Under his hand, Luffy shriveled up right down to his core, going limp.
"You... lose again... Straw Hat Luffy..."
"To Be Continued."
The audience grew silent, staring at the screen in shock.
"NO!" Katsuki soon broke that silence in his frustration. "He can't keep losing!"
"It's only his second lost." Denki nervously chuckled to lighten the mood.
"Against the same guy!"
"With a quirk like that, it'll be understandable why Luffy couldn't win, even with that 'upgrade.'" Izuku sighed. He was suddenly reminded of a certain decaying quirked villain, and being so close to death.
After skipping episode 123's opening, recap, and title, they were met with a recap of Luffy's lost against Crocodile, though there was a bit of a focus on the water Luffy spit out.
Crocodile let him go, gloating over his victory as he left. Once he's gone, Luffy's water splashed on top of him, reviving him back to normal.
"...Wait, did he plan that?" Sero asked, finding that to be very convenient.
"No way, that was obviously a coincident." Katsuki brushed it aside, seeing how shock Luffy was.
"Though, in all honesty, I can't tell." Izuku said.
Luffy decided to chase after that gator.
Now, in the palace's mortuary temple, Robin described the royal tomb as where the bodies of generations of kings sleep. She demanded the Poneglyph's location, where Cobra approached a statue of a Sea Cat. Turning it caused hidden stairs.
"So it does exist." Tokoyami breathed out, as Hizashi whispered about how the Sea Cat made a return.
As they walked down the stairs, Cobra knew that people normally aren't aware of the Poneglyphs' existence, but Robin could tell that what's happening behind the scenes is deep, to the point that not even the World Governments' royalty would know everything. She can't even blame him since he probably didn't know there was someone in this world who can decipher them, much to Cobra's shock. Honestly, that's why she and Crocodile teamed up, so he can't kill her.
"It's that secretive?" Toru said.
"It could be dangerous to know what's on them if Pluton can actually help Crocodile have military might." Iida suggested.
"I mean, there must be a reason why it's a secret." Momo said.
"Then, why not destroy them if they're that dangerous?" Ojiro questioned.
"But she's really the only one who could decipher the Poneglyphs?" Izuku wondered, trying to piece this in some way.
Robin knew that it's most likely that the Poneglyph in this country tells where Pluton is, though Cobra don't know, explaining that Alabasta's royal family has been obligated to protect it. The mention of protecting it seemed to infuriate her.
Deeper in, Cobra guide her to the doors in the back, where Robin was delighted to see...
Back to Tashigi-
"Come on, we want to see it!" Mina complained.
"At least Tashigi's alive." Tsusu sighed.
-who's barely alive, she remembered hiw Robin broker her legs. She tried to stop Robin from going any further, but Robin choked her.
She couldn't even stand, resorting to crawling instead. At her feet, Crocodile appeared.
While he never thought the Navy would follow him to this town, he asked where her boss is. Since he wasn't given an answer, he instead mocked her, telling her that losers can't speak about justice, and how she should just go back to her base to devote her time to talk about it.
A flare of anger appeared within the students for what he said.
As the ware continued on, Usopp was mimicking Crocodile and his laugh til Zoro hit him. The sniper was just trying to put himself in Crocodile's shoes so he could figure out where the cannon is, but Zoro told him to just look for the cannoneer since they've got less than five minutes left.
"Just try to look for him!" Katsuki agreed with the swordsman, as someone shouted, "Oh God, five minutes!?"
Chopper ran along side Nami, who asked him if he could smell for the cannoneer, but he couldn't since the whole town smells like gunpowder. Nami really wants him to find that specific cannoneer, but Chopper has no clue what that would smell like.
"I don't know. Fancy gunpowder?" Denki suggested.
"And what would that smell like?" Tsuyu asked.
"I don't know!"
Meanwhile, Sanji ran all over the place, thinking of the cannon's location til he suddenly stopped in place, becoming frustrated with the probabilities if this.
Soon, he kicked a hole in a building, using it as a shortcut.
"You're lucky that you don't need to pay for the damages." Hizashi sighed, sounding almost jealous.
Now, with Vivi, she asked Pell if he sees anything, but he've searched every corner of the rooftops of the buildings near the Square, and there were no preparations for the cannon anywhere. The princess figured that it must be in a building, leading Pell to continue on his search.
...Could it be? Izuku silently gulped once he saw a shot of the clocktower.
As for Tashigi, she grabbed her sword, sitting up til she noticed Luffy in front of her, who asked where Crocodile is. She remembered the explosion, how she lost against Robin, and Crocodile's words to her.
Tell him. Tell him. Iida hoped, though he knows she would be against helping out a criminal in her eyes. I know you believe he's like a villain to you, but he could be your only hope.
Finally, Tashigi dropped her sword, pointing him to where the mortuary temple is.
There was a sigh of relief, but-
"What justice..."
They held their breath, watching Tashigi slam her head into the ground, heating herself up over this.
"The hell with Navy Headquarters..."
In all honesty they agreed, but to see someone, who once had this ideal, now faced with the reality of the situation...
"...She did assist a criminal." Iida whispered what it could had meant in their world, in her world, but everyone could still hear it.
"But no one else could helped in that moment. If she didn't let Luffy go, then Alabasta could had been destroyed." Todoroki pointed out. He could feel Aizawa's eyes on him.
"Still..." Momo trailed off, feeling sympathetic for the blue haired girl. The only reason why they have so much trust in Luffy is because they know what Luffy and his crew are like, and have seen the dark side to the marines.
Luffy tried to run, but soon, his wounds burst out blood, slamming himself into a building. He was confuse that he was getting tired, despite eating some meat, but he was able to get to the front of the tomb, faling asleep.
Students sucked in a deep breath, afraid that he won't be able to beat the croc soon.
After the eyecatches, Robin was face to face with the Poneglyph. Cobra asked if it told her what she wanted, just as Crocodile found the hidden stairs.
Meanwhile, there was four minutes left on the clock for the crew.
"This sucks!" Sero cried out.
As Crocodile traveled down, Robin doesn't seemed to be satisfy with it. By the time, Crocodile cam around, he claimed that she should expect it from a national secret; that no matter how desperately you search, it can't be found unless you know where it is.
Crocodile told her to read from the Poneglyph, but all she spoke was Alabasta's history, there was no location of Pluton.
"Ha! Look at all that trouble gave you... nothing." Katsuki spit back.
"...But then again, she seems to be the only one in the world who can decipher it." Toshinori pointed out.
"You think she's lying? Why?" Shoji asked.
"It's... a hunch, and she could pull it off."
Crocodile could only call this as unfortunate. He told her that she've been an excellent partner to him, but... he has to kill her here.
"What?!" The audience gawked, surprised just like the agent.
They made the agreement four years ago; that if she took him to where the Poneglyph is, she'd turn over the information on the weapon to him. She was a useful woman, but now, she broke her word at the end!
The students gasped when Crocodile swiped at her hat, obviously aiming for her head.
There were confusing feelings on Robin; on how she was on Crocodile's side, but saved Luffy, and possibly refused to give the information on the Poneglyph to Crocodile despite it. Still, it doesn't change the fact that she doesn't deserve to be killed like this.
Either the Poneglyph in this country doesn't show a clue about the Pluton, or was she not planning on telling him from the start?
Crocodile claimed that he doesn't fell anger towards her, but Robin know this would happen, throwing a vile of water at him.
She pulled out a knife, knowing he's vulnerable wet, but he dissipated before it could hit him.
Sharp, strangled gasps came out once the scene turned red. The hook through Robin's body reminded them of Luffy's first lost, wincing as Crocodile pulled it out.
He forgive her for everything... because he'd never trusted anyone from the beginning.
They looked on with sympathy, seeing her body lie there.
From Cobra's reaction, Crocodile could tell that the Pluton really does exist, and so, he'll find it on his own and the country will be his.
Bitterness came around, seeing that he will unnecessarily, that he still on this pursue for power.
Feeling the ceiling shake, he could tell that it's too early for the attack on the Square. He figure Cobra must had done something, and the king claimed that the underground sacred temple is built so that pulling just one small column out will cause the entire balance to be disrupted and then destroy the temple, so they'll die with him.
As the 12th king of the Nefertari Family, he can't give this sand kingdom to someone like him.
"But Vivi..." Momo quietly said. They knew that any death, especially her father's, will sadden Vivi.
"Crocodile can't get away with this." Iida said, though he understood what she meant.
Vivi tripped, crashing into the ground hard enough to cause her knee to bled, but her mind was still focus on the mission, seeing there were only 3 minutes left. She knew there weren't many places that could hold a cannon that big, but where?
...Then a memory came up. One in her childhood where Koza was hiding at.
"Could it be...?" Iizuku murmured.
Vivi stopped Usopp from doing any more fighting. She figured it out, so Usopp launched his Akahebi Boshi into the air to signal the others.
"Yes!" Kirishima cheered, seeing the red trail.
"Wait, why was Zoro in a jungle?" Ojiro pointed out.
"Zoro, I know you sometimes get lost, but this is just another level." Jiro said.
Meanwhile, Luffy woke up from his nap, and continued on his search for Crocodile... then discovered some hidden stairs that looked rather... croc-ish.
A few snickers broke out.
"Really?" Aizawa cracked a smile.
In the collapsing tomb, Crocodile mocked Cobra for trying to do this for his country, but it won't work. He can change all the bedrocks into sand, and escape.
"Goddamn it!" Mina cursed, much to everyone's disappointment.
"I though bedrock is unbreakable." Denki sighed.
He gloated that his country will be his, cackling as Luffy ran down the stairs.
"To Be Continued."
"Oh god, less than 3 minutes." Toru said, contrasting with the cheers for Luffy.
"They have to stop it somehow." Shoji said.
After skipping episode 124's opening, recap, and title, they were met with Luffy running down the tomb's stairs, while Vivi figured where the cannoneer is: in the clocktower.
"I knew it." Izuku murmured.
"Of course." Momo said.
Usopp and Vivi were soon found by some of the Baroque Works members, realizing the signal attracted them too.
Aoyama can't help but to keep his mouth shut at that.
Still, the red signal caught the crew's attention as Usopp managed to fend the agents off by using his "Usopp...! Noise...!"
There was a collective wince at the screeching noise he made with the chalkboard, but the worst to get it was Jiro.
"Give us a warning next time!" Jiro cried out, covering her ears.
As the two escaped, Crocodile gloated and bragged how this land is his... but soon, Luffy arrived on the scene, breaking a hole into the wall, much to Crocodile's shock.
"Third times' the charm!" Hizashi declared.
"Come on, he has to win this time." Katsuki hoped.
Crocodile was absolutely frustrated that he's still alive, and that he still stand against him. Even Cobra was confuse, wondering who he is, as Robin struggled to focus on the two.
Luffy wants him to return what he've took away, and Crocodile has to ask for which one from his long list: Money? Fame? Trust? Lives? Rain?
"The country."
Crocodile corrected him that he's about to take this country, but Luffy could tell that when they got to this island, her country was gone. If this is really her country, she should be smiling more!
"Young Luffy, you kindhearted boy." Toshinori can't help but to smile at this.
Luffy ran towards him, though Crocodile wasn't frightened since he doesn't have any water on him, but-
"WHAT?!" Students gaped when Luffy managed to punch him with ease.
Luffy stretched out another at him, and that's when Crocodile realized how he was doing this.
"Sand can be harden by blood too, can't it?"
"Of course!" Eyes widen at the reveal.
"So any liquid can help defeat him." Izuku said.
"Although, I believe blood is about 90 percent water." Iida claimed.
Still, a flurry of hope appeared within the students, seeing that this might be Luffy's last chance to beat Crocodile.
Crocodile was still confident in himself. Dodging a kick from Luffy, he revealed that his hook has a poisonous layer; a reward for being so prescient.
"Robin, you better have an antidote if he gets hit!" Denki demanded.
"And she would help?" Ojiro said.
"I mean, she helped out before."
Crocodile remind him that they're pirates; they fight for survival, and there's no such thing as 'playing dirty.' He is certain that this will be the last time they'll fight.
"I hope so too." Katsuki sighed. "And Straw Hat better win this time."
After the eyecatches, Zoro had trouble finding the smoke trail. So much so, that instead of fighting him, the marines he came across directed him to the Square, not realizing he was much worst at directions.
The audience let out surprised laughter at that.
"Okay, I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed." Ojiro let out a light laugh.
Zoro was confused by this as Vivi and Usopp ran away from the Billions, but they were soon saved by Tashigi and other marines, who will assist them.
"Tashigi." Iida said, feeling proud for the blue haired woman.
As the war continued, Vivi and Usopp ran through with the sniper telling her to not look aside; the attack can't be stopped by praying!
"Exactly." Aizawa nodded.
They only have a minute and a half with Nami and Chopper soon joining in. Vivi told them of her hunch, that the cannoneer is in the clocktower. She wished Pell was here so they could stop the attack...
But he was shot down by a ribbiting woman from the clocktower.
Students gasped at the tragedy, but Todoroki had to say, "Asui, how could your relative do such a thing?"
"Really? Right here and now?" Izuku facepalmed.
"We do not accept her as our own." Tsuyu bluntly said, feeling insulted for her family and all of frog kind everywhere.
In the collapsing tomb, Crocodile dodged a punch from Luffy, giving him a scratch on his retreating arm.
A couple of students gasped, hoping that's not enough to poison Luffy.
The two stared at each other, out of breath, but soon, Luffy launched a punch at him. Crocodile held out his hand, but at the last second, he threw a kick at him instead, though it didn't connect. Midair, Crocodile was able to scratch his leg with his poisoned hook, connecting with the giant boulder in the end.
Luffy landed on the wall, seeing the poison itself melt the boulder.
"That's a lot more potent than I thought." Mina said, looking a bit more nervous for Luffy.
A pillar collapsed in front of them, but that doesn't disrupt their stares from each other.
Luffy kicked through the pillar, landing a hit at Crocodile's face. Then he grabbed onto his wrist, using it to swing down another kick onto Crocodile's head and sent him through the wall.
Cobra was bewildered by this, seeing how Crocodile was able to beat the kingdom's warriors with ease before.
"Yeah, Luffy's sort of on a different level." Sero bragged.
Rising from the smoke, Crocodile is certain that Luffy, who came back from being skewered, buried alive, and dried up-
"You can say he bounced back from them." Denki joked, earning a collective groan from the others. "I had to make the obvious joke here!"
-will die from his poison, but Luffy could see that he doesn't understand.
Outside, Vivi can't see Pell anywhere, but Nami told her that they can't go up the clocktower within a minute by themselves. They can't use the stairs...
...and then Sanji revealed that he's up the tower already since Usopp's smoke signal left a message that said, 'clocktower,' so he's up there.
"It did?" Ojiro said in confusion.
Since he's in there already, he should go to the cannoneer up top, and beat him.
...Then it was revealed that Zoro was higher up in the clocktower since the Navy told him to go north, but Sanji had to tell him that 'north' and 'up' are totally different.
As the students laughed at the surprising development, Jiro said, "Yeah... this really confirms he's bad at directions if he thought... that."
"Bad at directions?! This is on another level." Katsuki exclaimed in disbelief.
"But it works in their favor." Toshinori was amused by this while Aizawa shook his head, sighing.
Usopp ordered them to destroy the clocktower, but Vivi told them no since they can't go inside the clocktower from where they are because, besides flying, the only way up is the stairs in the back on the first floor.
Usopp thought Zoro could destroy the tower wall, but they don't know if the cannonball can bear that kind of shock.
Vivi would had ran up the stairs herself, but Nami stopped her, saying she's got a good idea.
"How the hell are you going to climb up the tower within seconds?!" Mina panicked.
The clocktower's clock opened up to reveal Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day.
"To Be Continued."
"And that's it for today." Aizawa ejected the disk from the DVD player, earning a collection of frustrated groans.
"We ended on a cliffhanger!" Denki argued.
"I wanted to see more of Asui's evil aunt." Todoroki said.
"Well, I'm just glad that you didn't say she's my mom." Tsuyu said as Izuku could only let out a disappointed groan, writing in his ever growing collection of One Piece notebooks.
"You kids just watched 20 episodes today? Don't you want to do something else?" Hizashi asked.
"Well, I would like to see how the Clima Takt works." Momo murmured to herself, creating a pencil and a sketchpad for herself.
"That would be so cool!" Ochako cried out, peering over her shoulder.
As the students begin to do their own thing, Toshinori said, "Well, I'm glad the students were inspired."
"I have a feeling that it's more than that." Aizawa sighed.