It Begins

A large impact SFX “ド” and “くっ” erupts as a robed figure with a long sword stands amid fallen Baroque Works agents outside a round tower. The figure declares, “Such a pity... You’ve rendered my precious employees unable to work...” In the lower panels, a masked man in a white cloak and star-patterned outfit snaps, “That’s absolutely unacceptable.” A woman with dark hair in a feathered collar replies, “Enough blather.” The robed swordsman asks, “Would that be acceptable with youI” while gesturing toward a seated blond woman in a dark cloak who states, “In any case, I’d like to invite the princess to our organization’s base but,”

Miss Wednesday glares and warns, “A princess should never resort to such brutish behaviour, Ms. Wednesday.” The robed man lunges with a massive sword swing, shouting “CRAP!” and “DON’T YOU UNDERESTIMATE ME!” while unleashing a flurry of slashes marked by large SFX. Igaram reacts with shock. Sanji glares intensely, declaring, “I WON’T FORGET WHAT YOU DID TO IGARAM...!” The masked man growls, “How hypocritical...!” as the robed figure continues attacking. A voice questions, “Oh you mean Mr. 8...” and another asks, “Was she the one who killed Igaram!I” while the masked man sweats and reacts with “...!I”

The robed swordsman is hurled backward through the air with a massive impact SFX, eyes wide in shock as “!!!!I” appears beside him. Below, Luffy’s face erupts in rage, shouting “PRINCESS VIVI!” with wide eyes and open mouth. Vivi stands with a neutral, serious expression. The masked Mr. 8 sweats heavily and utters “UGH...!” as the fight rages on.

High above a grand circular tower, a massive impact sends debris flying as a figure plummets. A furious voice shouts, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" Below, Nico Robin stands with arms crossed, her face calm yet intense. She declares "TRES FLEUR! (Three Flowers)" as multiple arms sprout from her target. A close-up shows her eyes narrowing while another voice threatens, "YOUR CORPSE SHALL DISINTEGRATE TO DUST!" The long-haired woman reels from the strike, crying "AHAHAHA!" as she crashes down with a heavy "THUD!" Impact lines and motion effects fill the panels.

Explosive motion erupts as a massive winged creature with multiple clawed limbs and a spiked collar thrashes wildly, wings spread wide. Sound effects ring out "BLOOM!" repeatedly while the beast attacks. Nico Robin reacts with "!!!" as the creature's limbs grab and strike. Close panels show grappling hands and wings with "がしっ!!!" SFX. The bird-like form lunges forward as Robin dodges, large motion lines and "がしっ!!!" effects emphasizing the fierce exchange. A shocked face appears with "WHAI" as the battle intensifies.

Princess Vivi stares in shock, coughing as she cries "PELL!" and "PRINCESS VIVII" while asking "ARE YOU HURT!I" Pell, armored and enraged, glares ahead. In the next panels Nico Robin gestures casually, saying "Oh, don't get so mad. It was just a little joke." and "Are you a devil fruit userI" A smirking woman with a headdress laughs "Fufufu... Did it look like I really killed herI Hahaha..." Robin then explains her power: "I can sprout any part of my body like a flower like so. This is my power." and "That's right, I ate the 'Hana Hana Fruit.'" A note reads "*Hana means Flower".

Nico Robin stands confidently with multiple sprouted arms posed around her, declaring "You can't run away from me." and "As long as I can sprout any part of my body anywhere I choose." Vivi responds with eyes closed, "I see... Well, I'm sorry to hear that." Pell shouts furiously, "I'LL AVENGE IGARAM'S DEATH RIGHT HERE AND NOW!" and "MeI Run away!I That's absurd!" Robin turns away, replying "I'm afraid I don't have any spare time. For you see, as much as I'd love to play with you," while Pell stands ready in the background plaza.

Nico Robin watches with a slight smile as a distant figure stands ready. "What a fool..." she remarks. The figure declares, "DON'T WORRY, I'LL END THIS QUICKLY!" Crocodile lunges forward with a powerful strike, shouting "GRIP!" as Robin counters with "SEIS FLEUR! (Six Flowers)". Multiple arms sprout and seize Crocodile mid-attack. "UGH!!!I" he grunts in shock. Robin remains unfazed, stating, "Such things are irrelevant against me." Crocodile struggles in the hold, reacting to her "Speed"... and "Power," as the narrator notes "A SUBMISSION HOLD!I"

Crocodile reels from the devastating clutch, arms flailing as massive impact lines and "CLUTCH!" explode across the panel. His body contorts violently under the pressure, stars and motion lines emphasizing the force. The scene shifts to chaotic follow-up strikes with heavy SFX "ドゴッ...!!" and "ザッ..." as the fight continues in a blur of limbs and desperate grabs. Crocodile is driven back, hands raised in a futile block while the assault rains down.

Robin stands over the fallen Pell, declaring, "It seems that the 'Strongest Warrior of Alabasta' isn't worth much." A voice cries "PELL! THIS CAN'T BE!" as Crocodile chuckles "Fufu..." Nearby, Robin tells a captive, "The boss and your companions are all waiting for you." The captive protests, "It can't..." Crocodile replies, "Now then, let's get going..." The final panel reveals Rain Dinners under a stormy sky, a massive creature perched atop the striped roof with the caption "Inside a cage, At Rain Dinners..."

Inside the cage at Rain Dinners, Usopp frantically asks Sanji, "Was it you who ate the meat!I" while Sanji retorts, "Look at me, I'm Sanji." Usopp panics with "WE'RE TRAPPED IN A FREAKIN' CAGE RIGHT NOW FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Sanji snaps, "WOULD IT KILL YOU TO BE A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS!I" The argument escalates: "WE COULD DIE LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW!" "YOU SHOULD BE SERIOUS BECAUSE WE'RE TRAPPED!" Sanji fires back, "Yeah, we know! But we've got nothing else to do BECAUSE we're trapped!" Water drips around the flooded interior as they bicker.

Inside the grand hall, Nami glares through the bars of a tall cage. "Quite a spirited girl, aren't you..." Crocodile remarks from outside. A small inset shows the Straw Hats trapped within. "What is it morning alreadyI IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MORNING!" Luffy yells from inside. Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp stand nearby as Crocodile continues, "He'll kick your ass all the way above the clouds! Because once this guy here busts out of this cage, Right Luffy!I YOU BET YOUR ASS!" Sanji retorts, "Oh, sure! Enjoy your little peace while it lasts!" Crocodile smirks in close-up, "Kuhaha! It appears you've got your crew's unwavering trust, Straw-Hat Luffy... Is there anything more useless in this worldI Trust..."

Crocodile's face fills the panel as he is identified: "CROCODILE!" Nami grabs the bars in panic, shouting, "H-hold on there, Nami! you'll really make him angry...! WHAT WAS THAT!I YOU THINK YOU CAN TREAT ME LIKE AN IDIOT!I" The vast ruined hall stands empty and flooded. Sanji glares with a cigar, while Vivi rushes to the cage bars, calling out desperately, "VIVI!I VIVI!"

Crocodile lounges at the long table with arms spread, addressing the room, "Or rather, Ms. Wednesday... Ah, welcome at last, Princess Vivi- You've done a splendid job avoiding my assassins and making it all the way here." Vivi stands furious, sweat flying, "IF IT MEANT SEEING YOUR DEATH, I'D COME ALL THE WAY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, MR. 0!" Crocodile leans in with a cold smile, "I'M AFRAID THE ONLY THING DYING YOU'LL SEE IS YOUR WORTHLESS COUNTRY, MS. WEDNESDAY..." Nami watches from the side with wide eyes.

Vivi leaps high with a massive Peacock String Slasher, the bladed hoop spinning as she shouts, "IF IT JUST WEREN'T FOR YOU, THIS COUNTRY WOULD STILL HAVE ITS PEACE!" Crocodile sits unfazed. Inside the cage, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper press against the bars, Luffy yelling, "NO, VIVI! OPEN THIS CAGE FIRST!" Crocodile raises his hook and declares, "STRING SLASHER!" as the attack clashes violently with Vivi's weapon amid flying debris and impact lines.

A massive ズパン!! rings out as a chain whips across the room, slamming into a seated figure in a black-and-white striped shirt who is hurled backward in his chair, wine glasses and plates scattering across the dining table. In the next panels a man with a cigarette mutters "It's useless." Luffy stares in shock, eyes bulging as he yells "OOHHH!" Below, Vivi, bruised and sweating, looks up and asks "Calmed down yet, Ms. Wednesday...I"

Crocodile looms in a massive close-up, hands transformed into coiling sand, gripping Vivi by the face and throat. "GRIP!" he snarls. "Would be well aware of the power of my 'Suna Suna Fruit'... I'm sure all who live in Alabasta, yourself included. *Suna means sand* SHALL I DRY YOU UP INTO A MUMMYI" Vivi strains, eyes wide. From off-panel Luffy roars "HEY YOU! GET AWAY FROM VIVI RIGHT NOW OR I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!" Crocodile's face twists in fury as someone gasps "H-HE'S A SAND-HUMAN!I"

Inside a grand, rain-soaked hall Crocodile strides forward in a long black coat. "It's time for the long-awaited party to begin... Or am I mistaken, Ms. All-SundayI" A side panel shows him turning sharply with "Ugh!" as an impact strikes. Luffy and Vivi stand together; Vivi replies calmly, "No, you're right on the mark..." The page ends on a black panel with the narration boxes: "The time is now 7 o'clock." "And the start of a very long day..." "And so begins Baroque Works' Operation Utopia,"

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