Inside Rain Dinners Casino.
The soft hum of ceiling fans echoed through the lavish but dimly lit chamber at the heart of the casino. Seated comfortably in a high-backed chair, Crocodile exhaled a plume of smoke from his cigar, eyes half-lidded as he listened to a report from one of his subordinates.
The news was good.
A slow, satisfied smile crept across his scarred face.
"So… the Nanohana operation went as planned," he said.
Across the room, Nico Robin stood with arms crossed, calm and unreadable as always. "The chaos is spreading," she said. "Shall we proceed to the next stage?"
Crocodile gave a low chuckle. "Naturally."
Before they could speak further, a new Baroque Works agent burst into the room, panting slightly. He dropped to one knee. "Sir! We have a situation."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"He's here."
The room fell silent for a beat.
Robin narrowed her eyes. "Who?"
"Monkey D. Zino. Captain of the Orca Pirates."
Crocodile leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "So they've finally arrived." He tapped his cigar against an ashtray. "How many did he bring with him?"
The agent hesitated. "Just… one. Only the captain himself."
A short silence followed.
"…What?" Robin blinked.
The agent nodded. "Yes. He came alone."
Crocodile stared at the man for a moment. Then, a slow laugh began to rise from his chest, low and amused. "He really is a bold one, isn't he?" he said, clearly entertained. "Coming here alone, walking straight into the lion's den."
He leaned back, exhaling another puff of smoke, his eyes gleaming with a predator's anticipation.
"Well, well, well," Crocodile mused. "This could be entertaining."
He turned to Robin.
"Go on. Invite him in. Let's give our guest a warm Rainbase welcome."
Robin gave a slight nod, then turned without a word and walked out of the chamber with the usual elegance in her stride.
Crocodile watched her go, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Let's see what you're made of, Monkey D. Zino…" he murmured. "Come show me how serious you are."
...
Outside the Rain Dinners Casino.
The sun was already high, casting sharp reflections off the golden dome of Rain Dinners, the most lavish building in the area. Gleaming under the desert sky, it looked both opulent and… ominous.
Zino stood across the street, his arms crossed as he eyed the building with mild amusement.
"What a flashy place… Looks more like a trap than a casino," he muttered. Then added with a smirk, "Should I just destroy it and save everyone the trouble?"
A calm voice answered from nearby.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't."
Zino turned his head slightly to see Nico Robin—Miss All Sunday—approaching from the side street. As elegant as ever, she wore her usual composed smile.
"Ah, Miss All Sunday," Zino greeted, offering a light, polite nod. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
Robin blinked, taken slightly aback by the gentlemanly tone. Then, she gave a soft chuckle.
"I wasn't expecting such civility. I've been well. And yes… we've been expecting you."
Zino smiled. "Of course you have."
Robin stepped closer. "Crocodile is inside, waiting. He's invited you to join him."
Zino tilted his head thoughtfully, his gaze returning to the casino's ornate entrance.
"Hmm. Tempting." He paused, then shook his head. "But no. I have a feeling he's not just 'inviting' me. He's set a trap, hasn't he?"
Robin's eyes narrowed just slightly, feeling surprised that the guy guessed Crocodile's plan.
"...You're perceptive."
Zino grinned. "I'm after all a pirate, Miss All Sunday. Walking blindly into enemy territory isn't my style." He turned and casually walked to a nearby boulder, sat down, and stretched his arms.
"Tell your boss this," Zino said, relaxing on the stone. "If he really wants to talk, he can come out and do it like a man. But if he makes me wait more than thirty minutes…" He glanced at the casino, his smile sharp. "…I'll blow this place sky high."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the threat."
"Only if he ignores it."
With a quiet sigh—perhaps of amusement or concern—Robin turned.
"I'll deliver your message."
As she walked back into the casino, her steps calm but alert, Zino remained seated, the breeze tugging at his coat. His eyes stayed fixed on the casino doors, waiting. Watching.
Inside, Robin stepped confidently through the halls, entering the chamber where Crocodile was seated atop his throne-like chair, a cigar between his fingers.
Without looking at her, Crocodile asked, "So, where is the brat?"
Robin's expression remained unreadable. "He's cautious. He won't come in."
Crocodile's brow twitched. "What?"
"He said he'd wait outside." Robin added smoothly, her voice calm. "Also… if you don't come out within half an hour, he plans to destroy the casino."
A visible tick appeared on Crocodile's forehead. He clenched his teeth around the cigar, smoke curling from his mouth.
"That punk dares to threaten me?" he muttered. Then stood. "Fine. Let's see what kind of fool walks into my desert."
With that, Crocodile marched toward the exit, his heavy coat billowing behind him.
...
The sun blazed down on the desert town. Sitting lazily on a rock, Zino was casually drawing Xs and Os in the sand, playing a game of tic-tac-toe… against himself.
The massive casino doors creaked open. Crocodile stepped out, cigar lit, eyes narrowed like a predator sizing up its prey.
Zino looked up, grinned. "Oh hey, you came out. That was faster than I thought."
Crocodile exhaled a long puff of smoke. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Now, tell me—why are you here? If your reason's good enough, I might just let you walk away."*
Zino stood up, brushing dust off his coat. His eyes met Crocodile's without a hint of fear.
"You don't have to spare me." He cracked his knuckles. "Because I didn't come here to talk… I came here to beat you up. Badly."
Crocodile's eyes went cold, his mouth forming a scowl. "Watch your mouth, boy. You don't know what you're dealing with."*
Zino tilted his head, then smirked. "I already said it. Which means I'll do it."
In the blink of an eye, Zino vanished from his spot, appearing right in front of Crocodile with a burst of speed.
Thud!
Zino's leg swung up, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick aimed straight at Crocodile's head. But—
Whoosh!
The kick passed through like smoke.
Crocodile's head exploded into a swirl of sand, harmlessly dispersing the moment Zino's kick should have connected. Landing a short distance away, Zino skidded across the ground, his eyes narrowing as he studied the Warlord.
"Logia…" he muttered, voice steady. "Thought so."
Crocodile's body reformed effortlessly, the grains of sand spiraling back into place as his face took shape. A smug grin stretched across his lips.
"Boy, you've overestimated yourself—"
He didn't get to finish.
A punch shot out from Zino like a bullet, landing square on Crocodile's cheek. Or rather, through it. The blow phased through his sandy face, scattering it again into a puff of grains.
Zino pulled his arm back and leapt away, expression unreadable.
Crocodile's grin twitched. He narrowed his eyes, voice now tinged with venom.
"You're getting bold. But I can see it now... you're afraid."
Zino didn't respond, simply shifting into a guarded stance.
Crocodile scoffed. "Let me punish you for daring to provoke a Shichibukai."
Without warning, his body collapsed into a stream of sand that surged along the ground like a serpent. In a blink, he reformed behind Zino, hook raised and gleaming under the desert sun, aimed to skewer him through the back.
But before the strike landed—
Wham!
Zino spun with perfect timing, a sharp roundhouse kick colliding with Crocodile's face, once again dispersing it into sand. He didn't stop there. A flurry of punches and kicks followed, each one tearing through Crocodile's body and scattering pieces of him into the air.
Crocodile's sandy form crumbled under the assault, chunks of him reduced to dust. And yet, moments later, his full body reformed several meters away, standing solid as ever.
This time, his smirk was gone.
His eyes sharpened, voice low and serious. "You… you know Haki."
Zino exhaled and cracked his knuckles. "So you noticed."
Crocodile's brow furrowed.
"Not just any skill can predict my movement like that. You're using Observation Haki, impressive." He paused, analyzing Zino's stance, the precision of his movements. "But no Armament? You can't touch my real body, can you?"
Zino chuckled, casually flicking some sand off his shoulder. "Well, you're not wrong. I haven't mastered that yet."
Crocodile let out a slow breath, some tension easing from his shoulders.
"Tch… reckless brat." Crocodile adjusted his coat with a sneer. "You really think you can beat me without even having a way to hurt me properly?"
Zino's smile widened, a glint of confidence in his eye. "Who said I don't?" he replied coolly.
Without breaking eye contact, Zino raised his palm to his mouth. A small grain-like substance rested in the center of his hand — shimmering faintly, unnaturally.
This grains of sand was taken when he launched a barrage of attack on crocodile's body. As soon as his body dispersed into grains of sand, Zino grabbed some of it. Now, opening his palm, the sand grains dropped down, and he swallowed it.
Suddenly, a glowing notification appeared in his vision.
[New Element Acquired: Sand]
[Second Nomu Touch Registered: Crocodile]
Zino's smirk deepened as he read the information.
"Now…" he said, flexing his fingers as the ground beneath him trembled slightly. "Let me prove it to you."
"Soru!"
In a blur, Zino vanished from his spot. A gust of wind marked his sudden movement. Crocodile's eyes sharpened, but he barely reacted in time.
"Hokokyaku!"
Zino's leg dropped from above like a guillotine, crashing toward Crocodile's head.
But the Warlord sensed the incoming danger. Something was different about this attack. His instincts screamed danger.
He leapt back just in time.
BOOM!!
The street erupted in a violent shockwave as Zino's heel struck the ground. Cracks split through the pavement in all directions. Dust and debris shot up, and the surrounding buildings rattled from the force.
Civilians nearby screamed and fled in panic.
"Someone's fighting Sir Crocodile!"
"He's strong—who is that guy?!"
"Get back! This isn't normal!"
From amidst the chaos, Zino stepped through the dust cloud, calm and composed, his coat fluttering in the wind.
"What's wrong?" he called out mockingly. "Why did you dodge? Are you scared now?"
Crocodile's eyes twitched. "Cocky little runt. Don't overestimate yourself!"
With a snarl, he lunged forward, swinging his gleaming golden hook with deadly force.
"Tekkai."
Zino's muscles hardened like iron. The hook slammed strong into his side. But—
Clang!
It bounced off harmlessly.
Crocodile's eyes widened. "What…?"
"My turn." Zino shifted his stance mid-spin, his eyes locked on his opponent.
"Rankyaku!"
With a sharp snap of his leg, a slicing wave of compressed air tore through the space between them, screeching toward Crocodile like a flying blade.
The attack struck true—Crocodile's torso was split in half, his upper body erupting into a violent burst of sand. But instead of falling, the grains hovered, swirling together in midair. His head and shoulders slowly reformed, fury burning in his glare.
"You…" Crocodile growled, his voice distorted as his body reconstructed. With a sneer, he slammed his hand into the ground.
"Desert Spada!"
A massive, jagged blade of sand erupted from the ground, tearing forward like a subterranean sword. The ground cracked and split in its path.
But Zino was already gone.
"Soru."
He vanished and reappeared at Crocodile's left, a blur of speed.
"Hokokyaku!"
Zino's descending kick smashed into Crocodile's side, launching him across the plaza. The Warlord slammed into a building with a deafening crash, rubble and dust exploding outward.
For a moment, silence.
Then, from the collapsed ruins, Crocodile emerged, scowling, his coat torn and body dripping with loose sand.
"What the hell are you?" he spat, brushing debris from his shoulder.
Zino stood tall amidst the swirling dust, his face calm, resolute.
"I'm the one who's going to bury your desert kingdom for good."