Alabasta.
At the palace platform in the capital Alubarna, chaos reigned. King Cobra was mercilessly pinned to a door, blood slowly trickling down the wooden surface.
Princess Vivi stood on higher ground, screaming herself hoarse at the royal army and rebel forces locked in fierce combat below, desperately trying to stop the meaningless slaughter. But her voice was quickly drowned out by the clashing of weapons and battle cries.
Crocodile watched everything unfold with cold detachment, cigar smoke curling around the hideous scar on his face. Nico Robin stood gracefully beside him with her arms crossed, her wheat-colored skin glowing distinctively under the sunlight.
"You've done your best, miss," Robin said to Vivi, a complex emotion flashing through her eyes. "No one can hear you anymore."
"I can hear you." A teasing voice suddenly cut through the air.
Everyone turned to see a man and woman standing in the palace.
It was Ryan and Mikita. He stood tall with a faint smile playing on his lips, exuding an untamed aura under the sunlight.
Crocodile looked up, cigar in mouth, his gaze sweeping over Ryan before speaking in a low, raspy voice: "Some small fry dares to join the fun? Who the hell are you?"
Mikita trembled slightly behind Ryan. After learning from Ryan that Crocodile was the true mastermind behind Baroque Works, she had been uneasy. Now facing this terrifying figure directly, her fear intensified.
Nico Robin studied Ryan carefully before calmly stating: "That's the 60 million Belly bounty—the Wanderer, Ryan."
"60 million Belly?" Crocodile snorted, a mocking smile curling his lips. "A slightly noteworthy small fry. But who gave you the courage to show yourself?"
Ryan ignored him, his gaze passing over Crocodile to land on Nico Robin instead, his interest visibly growing as he scrutinized her.
Nico Robin wore a white cowboy hat with a white coat draped casually over her shoulders. Her tight denim outfit accentuated her curvaceous figure—especially the indigo tank top that strained against her ample chest. Her long, straight legs beneath high-waisted shorts exuded a mature, wild charm.
Quite the sight indeed.
"Wanderer—Ryan." Nico Robin noticed Ryan's brazen stare, a slight frown creasing her brow as displeasure flashed in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Of course I came to see you." Ryan's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
Back in his previous life, Ryan had always liked Nico Robin—he was particularly drawn to her intellectual, mature demeanor. Since he was near Alabasta anyway, he figured he might as well drop by for a visit.
Originally, their destination had been Rainbase. But upon arrival, they discovered Robin and the others had already left. So Ryan came to Alubarna instead, just in time for this scene.
As for why he went through all this trouble? Simple—he felt like it.
Nico Robin's frown deepened. She couldn't fathom this man's motives for seeking her out, but his undisguised gaze made her skin crawl.
"Hmph." A cold snort broke the tension as Crocodile flicked his cigar, ashes scattering to the ground. "Seems some small fry don't understand their place."
Crocodile's gaze bore into Ryan, clearly displeased at being ignored.
Just then, Princess Vivi suddenly turned around. Her blue hair fluttered in the wind, her delicate face dusted with dirt but unable to mask the urgency and determination in her eyes. Clutching her skirt tightly, she looked up and cried out: "Mr. Ryan! Please help me!"
Her voice trembled with unshed tears, yet carried an unyielding resilience: "Please stop this rebellion! I'll pay any price you ask!"
She had seen Ryan transform into a sky-obscuring dragon and effortlessly crush Mr. 5. That unfathomable power was her only hope against Crocodile now.
The palace pillars trembled from the battle below. Her father's blood still spread across the door. Vivi had no way out anymore.
Ryan looked down at Princess Vivi. The girl wore traditional Alabastan attire—a white shawl embroidered with delicate golden patterns draped over her shoulders, a dark long skirt hugging her slender yet poised figure. The ankles peeking beneath her skirt were delicate but planted firmly on the ground.
"My price is steep. Are you sure you can afford it?" Ryan tapped the hilt of his sword, his smile turning playful.
"I'm certain!" Vivi nodded immediately, her resolve unwavering. "As long as this ends, I'll bear any cost!"
She wasn't ignorant of what "cost" entailed—Miss Valentine was living proof. But compared to her bleeding nation and dying people, what did her body matter?
"Heh." Crocodile's laugh dripped with mockery as he blew a smoke ring that dissipated above Vivi's head. "To pin hopes on some random small fry—the little princess must truly be at her wit's end."
"But fine." His gaze swept over the battling crowds below, tone laced with cold amusement. "Facing reality sooner benefits everyone."
"So what do you want me to do?" Ryan acted as if he hadn't heard Crocodile, still smiling at Vivi. "Should I kill this annoying Sand Crocodile now? Or stop the rebellion first?"
"You're dead!" Crocodile's face darkened instantly, the air pressure around him dropping sharply as sand grains began trembling violently—clearly infuriated by Ryan's audacity.
"N-no! Not that!" Vivi hastily shook her head, urgency coloring her voice. "Please stop the fighting between the royal army and rebels first! They're all deceived countrymen—no more should die!"
Her gaze swept over the falling figures below. Her eyes reddened but she stubbornly held back tears. "As long as they stop, I—"
"Understood." Ryan cut her off, mildly surprised Vivi could prioritize so clearly.
Meanwhile, Princess Vivi's eyes scanned the collapsing figures below, reddening as she fought back tears. "As long as they stop, I—"
"Relax." Ryan interrupted again, looking down at the chaotic battlefield and flicking his sword hilt. "Payment received means business first."
Before the words fully left his mouth, Ryan's body suddenly expanded. Pale pink scales spread from his neck across his entire body as bones cracked loudly. Within moments, a hundred-meter-long peach-pink giant dragon towered over them.
The dragon's head hovered midair, golden vertical pupils surveying the dust below. Every scale shimmered under the sunlight while its whiskers swayed without wind, exuding an overwhelming majesty.
Nico Robin's pupils constricted sharply, her arms dropping from their crossed position as even her usual composure cracked. Vivi stared upward, blue hair whipping back from the dragon's breath, her eyes reflecting both shock and the faint light of hope.
The battlefield's clamor continued, the thick dust obscuring vision. But some noticed the massive dragon coiling in the sky. When they saw the sky-blocking draconic head, broken exclamations escaped their throats: "A d-dragon!"
The cries were quickly swallowed by clashing weapons—no one believed mythical creatures could appear here.
Ryan's dragon eyes swept over the chaotic crowd below, golden vertical pupils utterly devoid of warmth.
"ROAR—"
The next instant, Ryan opened his maw and unleashed an ear-splitting Dragon Roar infused with Conqueror's Haki. Like invisible thunder, it rolled across the plaza, dispersing all dust in its path. Both royal soldiers and rebels alike coughed up blood simultaneously before collapsing unconscious.
Nearby buildings reacted as if struck by a boulder—shop windows shattered explosively, glass shards raining onto stone streets like stars. The palace's carved railings trembled violently, weak arches crumbling into dust.
The chaotic plaza fell silent instantly, leaving only the clatter of dropped weapons and the dragon's breath stirring sand.
Simultaneously, the Dragon Roar echoed throughout every corner of Alubarna.
Zoro, leaning against a street pillar, snapped his eyes open at the sound, instantly falling into Three Sword Style stance before slowly sheathing his blades upon seeing the dragon. "So it's that guy..."
"Tch, that annoying bastard..." Sanji's cigarette fell from his lips as he looked up. "But that transformation's pretty flashy."
"A d-dragon?!" Chopper's round eyes widened comically.
"Don't be scared, Chopper! That's my friend Ryan—impressive, right?" Usopp patted Chopper's shoulder proudly. "I'm the man who fought alongside a dragon!"
Chopper alternated between gazing at the majestic dragon and Usopp's confident expression, stars of admiration sparkling in his eyes.
Back on the palace platform, Crocodile's cigar had long fallen. Cold sweat beaded his forehead, trickling down his scar as he stared fixedly at the peach-pink dragon, voice thick with disbelief: "Conqueror's Haki...and that form...how is it so similar to Kaido's?!"
He'd thought this Ryan kid was just somewhat capable—never expecting such a terrifying trump card.
A dragon transformation plus Conqueror's Haki...how could someone like this only have a 60 million Belly bounty as a "small fry"?
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