Monet, well-versed and sharp-eyed, looked down toward the royal palace. She spotted a man with a long scar across his face, wearing a fur-lined coat and a golden hook in place of his left hand. With just a glance, she recognized him—
One of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea, known as the Desert Crocodile—Sir Crocodile!
"Alabasta? Crocodile?"
Whiteflame's eyes flashed with surprise.
In the next instant, he vanished and reappeared near the edge of the sky island, gazing down below.
Outside the palace, he saw not only Crocodile but also the king of Alabasta—chained to the wall, his arms nailed in place.
Opposite them stood a blond man wearing glasses, bandaged all over, looking battered and worn.
Koza.
Whiteflame instantly recognized him as the leader of the Alabasta rebellion.
Also present was a woman with sky-blue hair, clad in a white cloak. There was no need to guess—this was Princess Nefertari Vivi.
And standing slightly apart from the conflict, calm and unreadable, was a woman in a hat, with a graceful figure—Nico Robin.
"So we've arrived just in time to witness the war Crocodile started…"
Whiteflame's eyes narrowed.
At the same time…
The fierce battle raging below suddenly came to a halt.
Crocodile, Princess Vivi, the King, Koza, and Robin all looked up simultaneously, their eyes fixed on the massive floating island above them.
"A floating island… in the sky?"
"Don't tell me… it's him—the legendary Golden Lion?!"
Crocodile's heart skipped a beat. His eyes filled with dread.
There was only one man known to sail a pirate ship through the sky—the legendary pirate who once nearly conquered the entire Grand Line—
Shiki the Golden Lion.
But… why would a man like Shiki appear here, at the very start of the Grand Line?
Just One Kick!
"What the hell is that?!"
"A floating island just appeared out of nowhere! Is someone important arriving?!"
"My god! That massive island is floating… it's unreal!"
The people below froze, stunned into silence.
No one continued fighting—all eyes were fixed on the sky.
"W-What… what is that…?"
The King of Alabasta looked up at the island hovering over the royal plaza, speechless with awe.
"Hey!! Whoever you are!! Please… help us!!"
"I'm begging you! You can save this country, can't you?! Please, help the innocent people down here!"
Princess Vivi suddenly shouted at the sky with all her strength, her voice filled with desperation.
The civil war had already turned into a brutal slaughter.
But with Baroque Works pulling the strings, the Kingdom's army was hopelessly outmatched.
Once both sides were devastated, Crocodile would swoop in and seize Alabasta with ease.
"Mister Savior… that big sister is asking for our help. Shouldn't we help her?"
Rebecca asked sympathetically, touched by Vivi's plea.
"Rebecca, you've got to stop being so naive!"
Baby-5 said dismissively.
"If we helped everyone who cried for help, we'd never get anything done! This is their country's mess. Whoever wins, it doesn't concern us."
"I think… we should help."
Nami hesitated, then added softly,
"You're all incredibly strong, right? It wouldn't be hard for us to help…"
Monet said nothing. She simply looked at Whiteflame.
"Let's go."
Whiteflame spoke calmly and coldly.
With a wave of his hand, the floating island began to move away.
Nami and Rebecca both looked dejected.
They were sure Whiteflame could easily end the war—but if he didn't want to get involved, there was nothing they could do.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, a series of explosions rocked the Nine Dragons.
The massive island trembled slightly.
"Floating island? If we shoot it down, it'll be nothing!"
"Fire! Force them into the war! The more chaos, the better for us—hahaha!"
A group of soldiers, wearing royal army uniforms, aimed their cannons at the sky island and opened fire!
"What the hell are you doing?! Who gave the order to fire?!"
A royal army captain rushed over, shouting in fury.
"Hahaha! This kingdom is done for! Everyone here is going to die!"
The soldiers laughed maniacally.
In truth, they weren't royal soldiers at all—they were Baroque Works agents, planted by Crocodile to fuel the war.
Their job was to fan the flames, deepen the conflict, and make sure both sides tore each other apart.
Once both armies were weakened, Baroque Works would claim the prize—Alabasta.
"Idiots!!!"
Crocodile gritted his teeth.
He had immediately recognized the culprits—they were his own men.
His face darkened with fury.
"I told them to stir up war, not to provoke someone like him! Do they have nothing but sawdust in their skulls?!"
The Nine Dragons, which had just started to leave, suddenly stopped.
And then… everyone saw it.
A lone figure descended from the sky island—like a god descending from heaven.
He hovered in midair, high above the palace, looking down with cold, indifferent eyes.
"Kuro… go."
Whiteflame gave a quiet command.
Behind him, an IBM—a monstrous humanoid wrapped in bandages—materialized.
In an instant, it dived down like a hawk toward the ones who had just fired!
SHHHHK!
With a flash, razor-sharp claws like dual scythes slashed through the air.
The would-be saboteurs were instantly dismembered, torn limb from limb—blood and flesh spraying across the battlefield!
"WAAAH!!"
Panic exploded across the plaza.
Everyone stared in horror at the grotesque creature chewing on the remains, trembling with fear.
"Crocodile… this is your doing, isn't it?"
Whiteflame's voice rang out cold and clear.
He didn't raise his voice, but everyone could hear him perfectly.
As someone who had read One Piece, Whiteflame knew exactly who those soldiers were—they were Crocodile's spies, embedded within the kingdom's army.
And to dare fire upon his new Nine Dragons?
That alone was a crime worthy of death—ten thousand times over!
"So… you know my name."
Crocodile said grimly.
Despite the fear in his heart, he was a proud man.
He had once challenged Whitebeard—the world's strongest man—even though he lost miserably.
Even during the Marineford War, he hadn't hesitated to strike again.
This man standing above him now, floating on a sky island, was clearly not ordinary.
But if Whiteflame was coming for him, then he wouldn't back down either!
"I know who you are. One of the Seven Warlords. A Logia-type… Sand-Sand Fruit user."
"But more importantly, I know your true goal—you want this kingdom… and the ancient weapon, Pluton."
Whiteflame said coldly.
Crocodile's face twisted in shock.
How—how did this guy know all that?
"Who are you?!"
He demanded sharply.
This stranger knew everything. It was like Crocodile's thoughts were laid bare.
It made him feel dangerously exposed.
"You're not worthy to know my name."
Whiteflame replied flatly.
"Arrogant bastard!"
Crocodile couldn't take it anymore.
With a snarl, he lunged forward, swinging his golden hook, sand surging toward Whiteflame like a spear.
"Watch out!"
Vivi cried out in panic.
But Whiteflame didn't even flinch.
To him, this kind of attack was child's play.
He simply raised a finger. A bright glow gathered at the tip.
[Laser Beam]
A concentrated laser blasted out, slicing through the golden hook—then straight through Crocodile's abdomen, leaving a smoldering, charred hole!
"Gaaah!"
Crocodile coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He looked down in horror at the burning hole in his body, his pupils trembling.
A Logia user…
This kind of power… it was almost identical to the Glint-Glint Fruit used by Admiral Kizaru.
Don't tell me…
"You… You're… Whiteflame!"
Crocodile stammered in disbelief, fresh blood dripping from his mouth.
His voice trembled with fear.
"So you've heard of me."
Whiteflame's eyes gleamed.
Damn it…! It really IS him!
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