Croc-Like

The scene opens outside a grand temple or palace entrance lined with tall palm trees, as the roar of a crowd echoes in the background with a loud "WAAAAAA..." sound effect. In the next panel, Monkey D. Luffy lies face down on the ground, seemingly unconscious or completely exhausted. The perspective then shifts to the feet of three individuals walking with a steady "clack... clack..." sound. The bottom panels reveal the faces of the people walking: Nico Robin wearing her signature cowboy hat, King Cobra looking downcast and serious, and Crocodile walking forward with a stern expression.

Inside a dimly lit underground crypt, King Cobra sits on the floor, looking up at a massive, ancient stone block covered in Poneglyph text. He asks, "Is this everything this country is hiding...!?" Nico Robin and Crocodile stand before the Poneglyph, examining it. Crocodile replies to the king, "I showed you everything as promised..." Cobra questions him, "Why, dissatisfied?" Cobra continues, "You wouldn't be able to find this place without knowing where to look... A fitting place for a state secret." Crocodile glares at him, looking visibly annoyed by the king's remarks.

Crocodile and Nico Robin stand in front of the massive Poneglyph, with King Cobra sitting on the floor in the background. Crocodile asks, "...So is this a poneglyph, Nico Robin?" Robin replies, "...You arrived quickly." She then asks him, "So can you decipher it?" Crocodile looks at the ancient text and says, "It's rather... Hmm, I'm not quite sure how to describe it..." Cobra watches them nervously, sweating as they discuss the stone. Crocodile commands Robin, "Read this poneglyph... Then read it aloud." Robin simply answers, "...Yes."

Robin begins to read the ancient text inscribed on the Poneglyph: "In year 260, the Bitein Dynasty of Teima begins. In year 239 of the Heaven's Calendar... Alabasta is conquered by Kahira," Crocodile interrupts her, "Hold up! You think that's what we've been wanting to know!?" Robin ignores his outburst and continues reading, "Hey now... In 325, Mamudin, the hero of Orutea, is- In 306, the great Taf cathedral of Erumalu finishes its construction." Crocodile loses his temper, raising his hand and yelling furiously, "JUST TELL ME WHERE THE WORLD'S MOST FEARED WEAPON RESIDES IN THIS COUNTRY! I COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY!"

Robin turns to Crocodile and states calmly, "That is not recorded here. There is only history written here." Crocodile looks confused and asks, "What?" Robin clarifies her findings, "The name 'Pluton' isn't mentioned in this passage even once." Crocodile stares at the Poneglyph in silence for a moment, processing the information, before finally saying, "I see... What a shame."

Crocodile's expression turns dark and menacing as he glares down at Robin. "YOU WERE A MOST CAPABLE PARTNER, BUT I'LL BE KILLING YOU HERE." Robin looks shocked by his sudden declaration, exclaiming, "WHA!?" Crocodile explains his reasoning, "The arrangement made between us 4 years ago has now come to an end. Back then, you told me this... 'If you lead me to the poneglyph, then I will give you information on the secret weapon.'"

Crocodile continues speaking to Robin, "The work you've done for B.W. these past 4 years, Were invaluable thanks to your intellect and leadership. For me, that was enough. You were a highly useful woman." Suddenly, he swings his golden hook at her with a swift, deadly motion. "However! At the very end, you broke your promise to me...!" Robin barely manages to dodge the attack as Crocodile adds, "The poneglyph of this country failed to give me any leads on Pluton!" He then looks at her and says, "But I harbor not even the slightest ounce of anger towards you. Do you know why, Nico Robin...?"

Robin pulls out a small vial of water, smiling confidently. "Fufu... How foolish. I've been your partner for 4 years, you realize!? I expected all along for you to resort to this in the end!" Crocodile looks surprised, muttering, "Hm!?" Robin throws the water at him, and he dodges as she says, "Water?" She then draws a knife, declaring, "IF I POUR WATER ON YOU, I CAN STAB YOU, RIGHT!?" In response, Crocodile sprouts a hidden blade from his golden hook, ready to counterattack.

Robin lunges forward and stabs Crocodile with her knife, but his body instantly turns into sand, splashing apart harmlessly. Robin looks around in confusion, realizing her attack failed. "He disappeared!" Suddenly, Crocodile appears right behind her and ruthlessly impales her through the back with his hooked blade. As he strikes, he says, "I WILL FORGIVE EVERYTHING, NICO ROBIN. BECAUSE, YOU SEE..."

Robin coughs up blood, severely injured by the attack. Crocodile finishes his sentence with a sinister grin, "I NEVER TRUSTED ANYONE, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING..." He continues, "I've already verified Pluton's existence from Cobra's reaction earlier. I can find it myself without relying on this cryptic block of junk! It's all just a matter of time once I take over this country...!" Crocodile turns his back and walks away as Robin collapses to the ground behind him.

The underground crypt suddenly begins to shake violently with a loud rumble. Cobra looks around and says, "What's going on!? It's still too soon for the palace square bombing..." Crocodile looks back in alarm, demanding, "WHAT DID YOU DO...!?" Cobra explains calmly, "NOTHING MUCH, REALLY... THIS UNDERGROUND CRYPT HAS A CERTAIN FEATURE, THAT ALLOWS THE WHOLE CENTER OF GRAVITY TO BE SHIFTED WHEN A SMALL PILLAR IS REMOVED, BRINGING THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN... YOU AND I... WILL BOTH DIE HERE..." Cobra glares at Crocodile with determination, stating, "AS THE 12TH HEAD OF THE NEFERTARI ROYAL HOUSE, I SHALL NOT HAND OVER THIS COUNTRY TO THE LIKES OF YOU..."

Crocodile laughs mockingly at the king's sacrifice. "Ohh... The very model of an exemplary king... So you led me here to bury me below for the sake of your country, have you now!? But you cannot kill me... I can turn all the stone walls here into sand, And make my escape!" He spreads his arms wide as the crypt continues to crumble around them. "Just 3 minutes left now... After 3 minutes, this crypt, the palace square, And all my pesky annoyances will disappear at once! And from that moment on, this land... THIS COUNTRY WILL BE MINE!" Crocodile laughs maniacally, "KUHAHAHA! YOU WILL DIE A FUTILE DEATH, KOBRA!"

Outside, a large clock tower shows the time ticking down, with the sound effects "tic toc tic toc..." The roar of the chaotic crowd echoes through the city. Nefertari Vivi is running desperately through the streets, but she trips and falls hard, scraping her knees on the ground. She cries out, "AGHH!" and "OWW!" as she hits the dirt. Struggling against the pain and exhaustion, she tries to push herself back up, groaning, "NGH- MNN- UGH..."

Vivi thinks frantically about the impending explosion. "WHERE IS IT!? ONLY 2 MINUTES LEFT...! A CANNON BIG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BLAST DIAMETER OF 5KM... THERE SHOULD BE VERY FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN EVEN HIDE SUCH A WEAPON! BUT WHY CAN'T I FIND IT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I KEEP SEARCHING!? A PLACE BIG ENOUGH TO HOUSE A HUGE CANNON... A big, wide place..." Suddenly, a stray bullet grazes her arm, causing her to cry out, "GAHH! A STRAY BULLET!" Nearby, Usopp is hiding behind some rubble, yelling at unseen fighters, "THAT'S NOT FAIR, KOUZA! THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE HIDING!?" "YEAH, THAT'S UNFAIR!" He fires a smoke star from his slingshot, shouting, "HEY THAT WAS FREAKIN' DANGEROUS! YOU BASTARD! TAKE MY 'SMOKE STAR!'" Hearing this, Vivi has a sudden realization. "That's right. If it's that place, then... It's both big enough and not easily spotted by others... NO, WAIT! I'M NOT A REBEL!"

Vivi rushes over and grabs Usopp by his overalls. "USOPP!" Startled, Usopp asks, "What is it, Vivi!? Did you find it!?" Vivi urgently tells him, "I know where it is! It HAS to be there!" Usopp replies enthusiastically, "What, really!? Alright, great!" He then says, "Let me contact the others then! You're sure about this, right!?" Vivi confirms with a determined "YES!" Usopp aims his slingshot high into the air and fires a special projectile, shouting, "CERTAIN KILL! RED SNAKE STAR!" A massive red smoke flare shoots up into the sky with a loud noise.

The red smoke flare streaks high into the sky above the sprawling city of Alubarna, acting as a beacon for the rest of the crew. In various parts of the city, the Straw Hats notice the signal. Sanji looks up while running through a crumbling street. Chopper and Nami also spot the flare from their location. Finally, a battered and exhausted Zoro, holding his swords, looks up at the sky, acknowledging the signal.

Back outside the palace, Luffy is fast asleep on the ground, snoring loudly. His stomach suddenly lets out a massive rumble. The noise wakes him up, and he looks around in confusion, muttering, "KRR GAA!? Mn- Huh? Hm!?" He sits up, scratching his head, and says, "Ah, that was a nice nap." He then remembers what happened, realizing, "...That's right. My body couldn't move all of a sudden... And so I couldn't help but take a nap... And... Now that I'm all better..."

Fully recovered and furious, Luffy yells at the top of his lungs, "CROCO-DIILEE! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!" As he looks around the area, he notices a large, dark hole in the ground with stone stairs leading down into the depths. Luffy glares at the entrance with determination, stating, "That hole... It's Croc-like."

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