Crocodile felt his entire body seized by an invisible force. Air wrapped around him like chains, freezing him midair — a helpless statue locked in place. No matter how hard he struggled, his limbs refused to obey.
He could only watch as his body was dragged forward, pulled toward Kaito, the man standing amidst the storm of sand.
Kaito's left hand remained raised, fingers flexed slightly — the subtle gesture maintaining the pull. His right fist clenched, the surface of his skin darkening with the sheen of Armament Haki.
Crocodile's body hurtled closer, upside down, the world spinning. Kaito didn't move. He simply thrust his fist forward, the motion smooth and effortless — no wild swing, no brute strength, just a light strike that seemed almost ordinary.
But the moment that fist connected, a chill ran down Crocodile's spine. His instincts screamed, Death. That single punch carried death itself.
"No… no! I can't let him hit me! I can't!"
Desperation surged through Crocodile. His veins bulged, his teeth clenched, every muscle in his body straining to resist the invisible pull. His sand form flickered erratically as he tried to scatter, to escape, to flee Alabasta itself if he had to.
But the gap in strength was too great — too vast to even measure.
"It's useless," Kaito murmured, shaking his head.
The black fist dropped like a hammer. A dull, almost unimpressive thud echoed through the air.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Crocodile blinked, startled. There was no explosion, no impact, no shockwave. Just silence.
"Ha… Is that it?" Crocodile sneered weakly. "Will this punch tickle me?"
Then it hit him.
Agony erupted from within. His vision blurred as searing pain tore through his body. It felt as though invisible blades were shredding his insides — organs splitting, bones cracking. A thick stream of blood burst from his mouth, mixed with bits of tissue.
"You… you…" he gasped, voice trembling.
Before he could finish, his eyes rolled back. His body crumpled lifelessly to the ground, the desert wind scattering sand over the corpse.
The mighty Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile, had fallen.
Kaito exhaled lightly. He lifted Crocodile's corpse effortlessly with one hand, stepped forward, and vanished in a blur.
High above the capital, Vivi and the others stood atop the palace tower, watching with wide eyes. When Crocodile's body hit the sand, tears filled her eyes.
"It's over…" she whispered. "Alabasta is free."
Without warning, a ripple of wind announced Kaito's arrival. One moment, the courtyard was empty. The next, he stood before King Cobra and his guards, Crocodile's body dropping at their feet with a dull thud.
"It's done," Kaito said flatly. "Now — hand me the Eternal Pose to Gaya Island."
Cobra's eyes widened. "This… this is Crocodile!"
"Your Majesty, he's dead," Pell confirmed after checking for breath. His face broke into a relieved grin. "Crocodile is truly dead."
Cobra stared for a moment, then his expression softened into joy. "He's gone… Thank the heavens!" He turned to his attendants. "Pell! Chaka! Spread the word — Crocodile is dead, Alabasta is saved!"
He then faced his general again. "You, prepare a grand feast — the finest Alabasta can offer! Our hero deserves nothing less!"
With swift orders, the courtyard erupted in motion. Servants and soldiers dashed off, spreading the news. Cobra turned back to Kaito, bowing his head slightly.
"Lord Kaito, you've done what none of us could. Thank you."
Kaito remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"The sun's setting," Cobra continued, gesturing toward the horizon. "Please, stay the night in the palace. You'll have the Eternal Pose by morning. It's the least we can do."
Kaito glanced skyward — the red sunset had faded, the sky now swallowed by night. He nodded once. "Fine."
Relief washed over the king's face. With smiles and gratitude, they led Kaito toward the palace. Vivi hurried off to thank Zoro and the Straw Hats, making sure her allies felt appreciated for their part in freeing her homeland.
Night fell over Alabasta.
The royal palace glittered with light and laughter. Music filled the banquet hall as tables overflowed with dishes and wine. The Straw Hats devoured food with reckless joy, the smell of roasted meat and fruit filling the air.
But elsewhere, in a quiet chamber apart from the noise, Kaito dined alone.
He had refused the king's invitation to the banquet. Crowds weren't his style. Cobra had respected his wish, arranging a private meal instead.
After a few bites, Kaito pushed the plate aside. He stood, walking toward the bed. Tomorrow, he'd be heading for Skypiea, and likely face Enel.
Just as he was about to rest, a gentle knock came at the door.
"Lord Kaito… are you asleep?" came a soft voice.
Kaito frowned slightly, then rose and opened the door. Princess Vivi stood there, her cheeks flushed.
"Come in," he said simply.
She nodded nervously and stepped inside, holding something close to her chest.
"I… I came to give you this," she said, producing a small glass sphere with three glowing pointers.
"The Eternal Pose to Gaya Island," she added, smiling faintly.
Kaito took it without hesitation. "Thank you."
She nodded again, her tone sincere. "You saved Alabasta. I can't thank you enough."
"It was just a deal," Kaito replied.
Vivi bit her lip, unsure what to say next. "Then… I won't disturb you any longer."
She turned and walked toward the door, her steps hesitant. Kaito watched her leave, then closed the door quietly behind her.
He understood her heart — her gratitude, her curiosity about him, perhaps even something more. But he had no time for attachments, besides this isn't the 2 Year time skip Vivi.
But for now, there were still two system missions left to complete.
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