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In the Alabasta Desert
Crocodile and Sabo finally came face-to-face.
One was Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a calculating figure infamous across the Grand Line. The other was Sabo, a rising star in the Revolutionary Army, soon to be named its Chief of Staff and a key force in the New World.
Their worlds rarely overlapped, making this meeting all the more unusual.
The two men stood silently, sizing each other up under the oppressive desert heat. Neither spoke first, the air between them thick with tension.
After several long minutes, Crocodile, clearly uneasy, broke the silence.
The uneasiness wasn't because of Sabo himself, but rather the Revolutionary Army he represented.
"The Revolutionary Army…" Crocodile began, exhaling smoke from his cigar. "What's your purpose in Alabasta?"
Crocodile's reason for meeting Sabo was simple: to ensure the Revolutionary Army stayed out of Alabasta.
His plan to overthrow the kingdom was nearly complete. While taking over Alabasta was his public goal, his true aim lay in uncovering Pluton, one of the three legendary Ancient Weapons.
If the Revolutionary Army learned of his ambitions, they would become a dangerous thorn in his side. Worse, their meddling could attract the attention of the World Government.
Pluton was a secret too volatile for either organization to ignore.
Sabo smiled at Crocodile's question. His calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the Warlord's growing impatience.
"We heard there's a revolution brewing here," Sabo said casually. "So we decided to take a closer look."
Crocodile took another puff of his cigar, narrowing his eyes. "Don't worry about it. I'm the one behind the revolution here."
His voice dropped into a low, commanding tone. "I suggest you don't interfere."
Crocodile's gaze bore into Sabo, his resolve clear. His plans for Alabasta were at a critical stage, and nothing could be allowed to jeopardize them. If the Revolutionary Army refused to back off, Crocodile was ready to eliminate Sabo immediately.
Sabo, unfazed by the threat, chuckled. Crocodile's blunt admission of guilt was almost too convenient, and it didn't take long for Sabo to figure out why.
'So he's trying to distract me with half-truths while hiding his real goal,' Sabo mused.
After a moment's thought, Sabo replied, "Alright, the Revolutionary Army won't interfere here, but—"
The moment Sabo said "but," Crocodile attacked. He wasn't about to let Sabo finish whatever conditions he might propose.
Without hesitation, Crocodile transformed his right hand into sand and swung it outward, sending razor-sharp Desert Swords flying toward Sabo.
Sabo, caught off guard by the sudden attack, reacted quickly. Pulling the water pipe from his back, he deflected the incoming sand blades with practiced precision, scattering them harmlessly into the desert wind.
Crocodile smirked at the sight of Sabo's weapon, his disdain evident.
"What's this? Is the Revolutionary Army so poor that its rising star has to fight with scrap metal?"
As he taunted Sabo, Crocodile's lower body dissolved into sand. Using his Logia ability, he propelled his upper body toward Sabo with lightning speed, swinging his golden hook at the Revolutionary's head.
Although the Revolutionary Army was undeniably resourceful, their lack of funds meant they rarely had access to high-end weapons. Still, Sabo had developed a peculiar fondness for his simple water pipe, which he wielded with surprising efficiency.
"Haha… It's true, we're not exactly swimming in riches!" Sabo quipped, grinning. "What about you, Crocodile? Care to make a donation?"
Crocodile's response came in the form of action. His golden hook, reinforced with Armament Haki, clashed against Sabo's Haki-coated water pipe, sending shockwaves through the sand and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
Taking advantage of the cover, Crocodile raised his free hand, manipulating the surrounding sand to create countless Desert Swords that floated ominously in the air. At this close range, dodging them was nearly impossible.
Sabo immediately recognized the danger. Fighting a Logia user like Crocodile in a desert was already a disadvantage, and being surrounded by the Warlord's Desert Swords only made the situation worse.
Quickly, Sabo shoved Crocodile back with a burst of strength, creating just enough distance to act. Raising his right hand high, he formed a claw-like posture—index and middle fingers together, ring finger and pinky together, thumb extended. Black Haki spread across his hand as the shape of a dragon's claw emerged.
"Dragon's Breath!"
With a powerful strike to the ground, Sabo unleashed a shockwave that tore through the sand, scattering the hovering Desert Swords into harmless grains.
Watching Sabo's move, Crocodile smirked disdainfully. "Waves of sand? Against me? How naive."
He slapped the sand with his palm, his Devil Fruit powers softening the ground beneath Sabo. The desert shifted into quicksand, threatening to pull Sabo under.
Sabo felt the sand begin to give way beneath his feet. Without hesitation, he sprang into the air using Moonwalk, narrowly avoiding being swallowed by the shifting ground.
Hovering mid-air, Sabo decided to shift from defense to offense. He propelled himself forward, his dragon claw gleaming with Armament Haki as he aimed a strike directly at Crocodile.
Crocodile didn't flinch. His golden hook, now coated with his own Haki, rose to meet the attack.
The clash was deafening. Sabo's dragon claw and Crocodile's golden hook collided with such force that cracks began forming on the metal prosthetic.
"Kak-kak-kak…" The sound of breaking metal filled the air as Crocodile's hook began to splinter under the pressure of Sabo's strength.
Realizing he couldn't overpower Sabo's Haki, Crocodile sneered and detached the prosthetic entirely, letting it fall to the ground. His body dissolved into sand as he maneuvered around Sabo, attempting a sneak attack.
If I can just touch him… Crocodile thought. His goal was simple: absorb the moisture from Sabo's body. While it wouldn't kill him outright, it would severely sap his strength and leave him vulnerable.
Sabo, however, had anticipated this move. He knew that Crocodile's greatest advantage was the terrain—battling a Sand-Sand Fruit user in the desert was a losing game. Even if Sabo managed to overpower him in combat, Crocodile could easily escape into the sands and regroup.
This fight wasn't worth continuing.
Sabo had already accomplished his goal: confirming that Crocodile's ambitions in Alabasta were about more than just overthrowing the royal family. There was a deeper purpose driving the Warlord's actions, and Sabo's next step was to uncover the details.
Deciding not to waste further energy, Sabo propelled himself into the air with Moonwalk.
As he ascended, preparing to retreat, a figure caught his attention in the distance.
His sharp eyes focused on a woman standing near the edge of the desert. Her calm, composed posture and piercing gaze were unmistakable.
"That's… Nico Robin?"