The desert storm had subsided, but the killing intent in the air was heavier than the recent gale.
Zoro's single slash that tore through the natural disaster completely shocked the entire Baroque Works!
The two thousand ordinary members of Baroque Works had pale faces, trembling bodies, and eyes filled with terror.
They had never imagined that human power could tear apart a natural disaster!
A swordsman, with just one slash, had cleaved Crocodile's "Sandstorm Funeral" into nothingness!
Could this... could this really be an enemy they could fight against?
The breathing of countless ordinary agents became rapid, cold sweat continuously dripped, their legs were trembling, and some even could no longer hold their weapons steadily.
They were wondering if they were dreaming... However, the Advanced cadres of Baroque Works standing at the forefront, despite a momentary look of horror on their faces, still had not lost their Battle Intent.
Especially Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, the Chop-Chop Devil Fruit User, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
His palm gently clenched, his knuckles making a "crack, crack" sound.
He slowly took a step, a cold smile playing on his lips, and whispered, "...Interesting."
He was already eager to fight this swordsman!
"Heh... heh heh..."
A low, cold laugh echoed in the air.
Everyone looked up, only to see—
Crocodile floated in mid-air, his body partially turned to sand, like a king presiding over the desert, looking down at the Straw Hat Pirates!
His cloak flapped in the wind, a disdainful smile on his face, and yellow sand slowly swirled around him.
His very existence was like a sandstorm that could devour everything at any moment!
The air seemed to solidify, a suffocating Aura swept across the battlefield, as if a king of the sea had descended.
The might of one of the Shichibukai, superior to ordinary pirates, was fully unleashed!
This Aura was chilling!
Below, the Advanced agents led by Mr. 1 stood in a line, each with a cold Battle Intent on their face.
They were the ace of Baroque Works, Devil Fruit Users, Crocodile's most trusted combatants!
Behind them, two thousand Baroque members stood in formation, even though they had been terrified by Zoro's blade light.
But under the oppressive feeling of the Shichibukai, they barely managed to maintain their formation.
Their numbers were two hundred times that of the Straw Hat Pirates!
Facing this overwhelming enemy formation, the Straw Hat Pirates did not back down in the slightest!
They stood in a line, with Luffy at the center, Zoro and Lin Ning on his left and right, and Sanji, Nami, Vivi, Usopp, and Chopper arranged in order.
Luffy stood at the very front, his fists clenched, his eyes burning, his face full of high Battle Intent!
His gaze was directly fixed on Crocodile in mid-air, a grin stretching to his ears on his lips.
"Heh heh... Crocodile."
"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!"
Zoro held his sword with one hand, the tip slightly lowered, but his entire being had completely entered combat mode, his muscles taut, his eyes flashing with a cold sharpness.
"A bunch of small fry... can't stop us at all."
Sanji had one hand in his pocket, a cigarette in his mouth, gently exhaling a puff of smoke, a hint of cool Battle Intent in his eyes: "Hmm... Young Miss Vivi, please watch me perform!"
Although Nami's face was a little tense, her hand was already gripping an iron staff tightly, with determination in her eyes.
Cold sweat seeped from Usopp's forehead, but he gritted his teeth and quickly pulled back his custom slingshot, ready to provide support at any moment.
Chopper swallowed, and despite being a little scared, he let out a low growl and entered Heavy Point form, ready for battle.
Vivi stood in the team, clenching her fists tightly. She knew that this battle concerned the fate of the entire Alabasta!
The battle was about to erupt!
Crocodile stood in mid-air, looking down at the young pirates before him, his eyes cold, a mocking smile on his lips.
He slowly extended the golden hook on his left hand and lightly tapped his palm, making a crisp "ding" sound.
"...Since you don't know your place, then don't blame me for being impolite."
He said in a low voice, with killing intent: "Kill them!"
—Boom!!!
At Crocodile's command, two thousand Baroque members roared and charged towards the Straw Hat Pirates!
The wind howled, and yellow sand swirled.
Two thousand members of Baroque Works, under Crocodile's command, surged like a tide towards the Straw Hat Pirates.
The shouts of battle on the field were deafening, countless dust clouds rose in the desert, and dense figures formed a black tide under the scorching sun.
The Aura was surging, seemingly wanting to completely engulf this group of pirates before them.
Facing this overwhelming numerical advantage, Luffy stood still, unmoving.
He slowly looked up, his wide grin receding, replaced by a rare murderous Aura on his face.
His eyes became sharp and cold, like a fierce beast about to tear its prey apart.
He stared at Crocodile in mid-air in the distance, took a deep breath, and then—
"Weak small fry... there's no need for you to be on the field!!!"
Boom!!!
With Luffy's roar, an invisible yet destructive Aura suddenly burst from his body, sweeping across the entire field like a hurricane!
Conqueror's Haki—Unleashed!!!
At this moment, the heavens and earth changed color!
The yellow sand seemed to be forcibly pushed away by an invisible force, spreading out a terrifying shockwave in all directions.
The desert ground even cracked into tiny fissures, and the air was filled with a terrifying oppressive feeling!
"Ugh ah—!"
The ferocious Battle Intent on the faces of the ordinary members of Baroque Works charging at the very front instantly froze.
Their pupils contracted violently, as if they had seen something terrifying and incomprehensible!
The next second—
Bang bang bang bang bang!!!
Two thousand Baroque members, as if swept by the Grim Reaper's scythe, instantly rolled their eyes, their bodies stiffened, and they fell to the ground with a crash!
The entire battlefield was deathly silent!
Amidst the vast yellow sand, only the fallen bodies, like fields of wheat, were swept by an invisible storm, instantly turning into a silent wreckage on the ground!
And Crocodile and his Advanced agents, standing at the very front, remained conscious, but their expressions had changed!
In the sky, Crocodile had been watching Luffy with a cold smile, anticipating his subordinates testing the strength of these kids from the East Blue.
But the next moment—
When he saw two thousand subordinates instantly collapse, and felt that suffocating Aura, his expression finally changed completely!
His pupils suddenly contracted, the disdain and indifference on his face instantly replaced by shock, and his eyes revealed an unbelievable astonishment!
He stared at Luffy standing amidst the yellow sand, his lips trembling slightly, an unbelievable light flashing in his eyes.
"It's actually... Conqueror's Haki?!"
Crocodile's heart pounded wildly for a moment, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.
Conqueror's Haki... this is Haki that only a very few true kings can Awaken!