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No one likes being told to their face that they're incompetent, and especially not someone as fierce as Crocodile, whose eye twitched at the words, as if he could explode at any moment.
"The ability of the Suna Suna no Mi (Sand-Sand Fruit) is actually extremely powerful. But your development of it…" Rojen said as he shook his head and smacked his lips. "Is absolutely disgraceful!"
"What did you say?!" Crocodile finally lost his temper and roared, causing the sand behind him to tremble violently.
But just as he was about to gather his power, Rojen's eyes narrowed. In the next instant, an overwhelming aura descended heavily upon Crocodile.
"Buzz…"
Crocodile trembled all over. His body shook violently, and he nearly fainted.
"It's the same as last night…"
Fear flashed through his eyes. Crocodile straightened his posture and stared hard at Rojen, gasping heavily.
He didn't know what this aura was, but a single surge of it completely robbed him of all ability to act.
"See? You can't even withstand a single look from me. So, you'd better behave and listen."
Rojen smiled faintly.
Looking at Crocodile's shaky body, he spoke again, this time with seeming thoughtfulness:
"If you can't hold out, just sit down. Heed my words, you hear?"
"Damn it…"
Crocodile gritted his teeth, but in the end, obeyed Rojen's words and slumped to the ground.
"A Logia-type Devil Fruit has immense power inherently. Any Logia allows a certain degree of immunity to physical attacks, though not absolute. Take your fatal flaw for instance, your weakness to water."
"Moreover, as far as I know, there are two more methods that can harm or even destroy a Logia-type Devil Fruit user!"
Rojen's words drifted through the air, instantly grabbing Crocodile's attention.
As a rookie pirate who had just entered the Grand Line, he was indeed not very familiar with this knowledge.
"What are the two methods?"
Casting a glance at Crocodile, Rojen explained:
"First, Seastone weapons. They can bypass your elementalization and strike your actual body directly."
"Don't think such weapons don't exist. In fact, the Marines have made progress in researching them. They may have even developed seastone bullets by now!"
Crocodile, seated on the ground and slowly regaining his awareness, was visibly shocked.
He knew very well that such weapons would be immensely dangerous to him.
"The second method is: Busoshoku!"
"Busoshoku? What's that?" Crocodile asked in confusion.
"Haoshoku, Busoshoku, Kenbunshoku, these are the powers wielded by the elites of the second half of the Grand Line."
"Busoshoku Haki, Armament Haki, can be coated on weapons or over the body to enhance both attack and defense. This power can counter Logia Devil Fruit abilities and strike their elementalized forms directly!"
Seated on the ground, Crocodile's eyes showed a trace of daze.
So… his supposedly "undying" body actually had so many vulnerabilities?
"So, in the first half of the Grand Line, your strength may seem unmatched. But if you step into the latter seas still like this…"
"Then…"
Rojen paused.
"What awaits you, without a doubt, will be death and defeat!"
Looking at Crocodile, who had fallen into deep thought and remained silent, Rojen smiled slightly.
"So, Crocodile… do you want to become stronger?"
"Huh?"
Crocodile suddenly raised his head and locked eyes with Rojen.
"You're willing to teach me?"
He asked in disbelief.
No one knew his own weaknesses better than himself. His Devil Fruit ability was undoubtedly powerful, but it was also his greatest weakness. If he lost that power, he would essentially have nothing left. His hand-to-hand combat skills were subpar, even worse than the average pirate. And when he had faced Jason and Rojen, the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed was nothing short of despair.
And just now, he had clearly seen the scene of the young man before him training Jason in martial arts.
"Why wouldn't I, Crocodile?" Rojen smiled and turned away. "Since yesterday, haven't we already become comrades?"
Hearing Rojen's words, Crocodile's body jolted slightly. He stared at Rojen's departing back, and a faint smile slowly formed on his lips.
"Comrades, huh? Interesting…"
He stood up and strode forward, catching up to Rojen with an aloof expression.
"Aren't you afraid that one day I'll surpass you through your own teachings, and take your position as captain?" Rojen glanced at him with a smile and replied calmly: "If you can, then go ahead and try."
That line made Crocodile pause for a moment, then he said, with a strange look:
"You're different from yesterday."
"All thanks to you!"
The two of them chatted as they walked. A little while later, they regrouped with the others and boarded the camel-drawn carriage.
As the camel bells rang, a shallow trail was left behind in the desert, and the traces of Rojen's group soon disappeared from sight.
Inside the carriage, the group fell into silence. Trens clutched his necklace tightly, eyes dazed, seemingly fantasizing about meeting the goddess, occasionally letting out a goofy smile. Jason kept moving his hands, forming fists, then open palms, as if he were digesting some kind of realization, his eyes reflecting occasional flashes of understanding.
Looking at the varied group around him, Crocodile curled his lips into a faint smile. Remembering Rojen's earlier words, "comrades", he found the term rather intriguing.
"Comrades, huh? Let's see if that word is actually worth trusting."
The journey continued uneventfully. After traveling for a day and a half, while the group was resting with their eyes closed, the driver's shout suddenly broke the silence.
"Wake up, everyone! We've reached our destination!"
Jason, the energetic one, immediately sprang up and jumped out of the carriage. Trens quickly followed.
Inside the carriage, Rojen opened his eyes and turned to Crocodile.
"Let's go. During this next period of rest, I'll help you develop your Devil Fruit ability more flexibly and perfectly, and train your fists and feet as well."
Crocodile was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.
"Then I guess I should thank you in advance… Captain!"
Hearing Crocodile call him captain for the first time, Rojen smiled and jumped out of the carriage.
No matter what kind of temper this guy had, at least for now, he was showing signs of change.
After all, humans are emotional creatures. When someone treats you well, you naturally remember it. Truly cold and ruthless people are the exception, not the rule.
The group entered the city and began exploring the area.
"We're finally here! Awesome! I'm finally going to see her!"
Trens said excitedly.
"Easy, kid. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Jason patted Trens on the shoulder like an older brother.
(End Of This Chapter)