The king struggled, but he was all too aware of the overwhelming power Crocodile possessed.
"Give it up," Crocodile said with a cruel smirk. "Every soldier in this palace now answers to me. A dying king like you—what hope do you have of resisting?"
His words rang with dominance, and soon, he couldn't hold back his arrogance any longer. A deep, mocking laughter erupted from his throat and echoed throughout the palace halls.
The king had anticipated disaster and deployed his most elite forces in a desperate attempt to turn the tide. But before any strategy could take shape, a fierce tornado tore through the palace grounds, scattering troops like leaves in a storm.
Crocodile, the master of sand, had orchestrated everything to perfection. Alabasta was already in the palm of his hand.
Panic gripped the nation in an instant. Soldiers across the kingdom were paralyzed by fear, unable to act, unable to flee. Helplessness spread like wildfire.
"Struggling is useless. You've already lost," Crocodile growled.
With a wave of his hand, he hurled the king from his throne. The monarch hit the ground with a thud, unable to move. His body refused to obey him.
"You're no king anymore," Crocodile sneered. "You'd do well to remember your place."
With a flick of his wrist, Crocodile unleashed a violent gust of power that lifted the king like a rag doll. Moments later, the king crashed back down with bone-shattering force.
Bang!
The sound reverberated through the room. The once-proud ruler lay in ruins, bloodied and broken. All he could do was stare up at Crocodile with a twisted expression of pain and despair.
Crocodile's men approached, seized the king's limp form, and without hesitation, drove a blade deep into his chest. The king's scream pierced the air—a haunting cry that marked the fall of Alabasta.
Meanwhile, in the prison beneath the palace, a strange tension stirred.
"There's something wrong up there," Ace murmured from the shadows, leaning against the cold stone wall. "Feels like all hell just broke loose."
Before anyone could respond, the silence shattered. Dozens of figures appeared, surrounding the prison.
"Well, well," cackled an old man in glasses, his voice oily with amusement. "So this is Alabasta's little dungeon?"
His sickly grin twisted across his face as he crept closer, eyes scanning the prisoners with a grotesque delight.
Akira narrowed her eyes, instantly suspicious of the man's identity.
"My, my," he chuckled. "Quite the crowd in here. Seems Alabasta's had more secrets than I thought."
His gaze lingered on Akira a moment too long.
Ace straightened, his tone suddenly sharp. "You with Crocodile?"
Recognition flickered in the old man's eyes. "Fire Fist Ace? Hah! What a surprise. I never thought I'd find you here."
Ellie scowled and jabbed a finger at the man, her voice laced with contempt. "Is that how bottom-feeders like you greet people? Disgusting."
The old man flinched. For a moment, disbelief danced across his face.
"You foul-mouthed brat," he hissed. "You've got no idea what's coming. Maybe I'll turn you into my next specimen!"
Before he could move, Ace appeared in front of him, faster than a blink.
"So it's true—Crocodile's taken Alabasta?" Ace said, voice low.
The old man grinned again, his expression warping into something even darker. "Hahaha! That's right. Lord Crocodile has nearly claimed the entire kingdom. Soon, nothing will remain but his rule. Welcome to Lord Lockdale's territory."
Akira's stomach sank. The worst-case scenario she'd feared had already come to pass. If they'd arrived even a moment later, it might have been too late.
"Keep dreaming," Ace muttered.
But the old man just laughed again, still drunk on his delusions. "Give up, all of you. You're nothing but trash in Crocodile's world. You'll rot here like the rest."
Finally, in a blur of motion, Akira closed the distance in an instant. Her fist shot forward, slamming into the old man's face with devastating force.
Crack!
Ding! Resentment unlocked — 20 points earned!
The system's mechanical voice echoed in her mind.
Akira glared down at the man, her eyes cold with disdain. The old man clutched his cheek, howling in pain as he staggered back.
"You miserable brats! I'll show you what true regret feels like!"
Snarling, he reached for his weapon—a grotesque, mechanical monstrosity shaped like a snarling dog.
"Shoot her! Kill that arrogant little rat!" With a sharp bark of command, the dog-shaped machine gun opened fire, spitting out a barrage of bullets aimed straight at Akira.
Da-da-da-da-da!
Blue muzzle flashes lit up the room—but as the bullets struck, something strange happened. They didn't pierce Akira. They simply stopped, suspended in midair, before being sucked harmlessly into an invisible field surrounding her.
Even the strange beast-like machines near the old man began to falter, as if drained of energy.
The old man froze. "What… what are you? Why won't the bullets even touch you?!"
Akira didn't bother with a full explanation. Her voice was calm, resolute. "Because you've already lost."
The moment she raised her hand, the bullets that had been absorbed by her barrier reversed course, flying straight back toward the one who fired them.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
One after another, they pierced the old man's chest with pinpoint accuracy. He didn't even have time to scream.
He looked up at Akira, eyes wide in disbelief. Words trembled on his lips—but they never came out. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Ace, who had been watching the whole exchange, was stunned.
"Brother... how are you this strong?" he asked, blinking in disbelief.
Akira didn't answer. She tilted her head toward the prison doors, eyes narrowing at the thick chains.
"Don't waste time. Get out—now."
Ace understood. A slow smile crept across his face as he stepped forward. With a burst of fire, his fist ignited, and he smashed through the iron lock.
Bang!
The gate flew open. Chaos behind them, freedom ahead.
Without looking back, Akira led the group into the light.
... patreon Seasay for more chapters, I'd appreciate the support