The Royal Crypt

A masked, long-haired figure is grabbed and hurled forward by a tall man in a fur coat and checkered shirt who declares, "WHAT A PERFECT WAY FOR YOU TO DIE...". The next panel shows a grand clock tower building as the man states, "This courtyard and the entire palace square will be engulfed by an explosion..." and "And in just 6 minutes," with ticking sound effects "tic" and "toc". Below, a scarred man with stitched face says, "Celebrate the coming of the new king of this sandy country... And celebrate...". A hand reaches upward as a voice adds, "Rest easy down here," while a small figure plummets from the structure.

The fur-coated man is struck and sent flying backward with a loud impact "!!...", replying "Sorry." to the protest "But I'm in a hurry...". A small panel shows the falling figure. The man stands and muses, "The royal crypt was West from here if I recall..." and "...Now then, I should get going too." with sound effect "サラ サラ...". The scarred man grins with "GRIN..." as the fur-coated man lunges in close combat; the scarred man yells "DODGE!" amid motion lines and impact effects "ドドド!" and "サラッ...".

A close-up shows the masked figure's face with the taunt "YOU MISSED..." in a radiant bubble. Smaller panels depict the falling figure near a large moon-like object, then the exterior of a domed palace. A massive explosion erupts from underground with the sound "ごくん!!" and debris flying as the multi-armed fish-man bursts upward. The final panel reveals the grand arched entrance of the royal crypt shaking violently under the blast "バシャシャシャ...!!".

Luffy's face fills the panel in shock, eyes bulging and mouth wide open as he gasps for air. "I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE FOR A SECOND THERE!" he yells amid massive impact lines and sweat drops. The scene shifts to a wide view of an ornate palace building. "He's gone..." someone notes. A small panel shows Luffy sitting on the ground in the distance. "Dammit!" he curses. In a close-up, Luffy grits his teeth furiously. "I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM GET AWAY!" he shouts. The final panel shows him sprinting away from the palace. "But I saw him flying that way!" he calls out as motion lines streak behind him.

A grand avenue lined with towering palm trees leads to an ancient stone gate. A caption box reads "West of the Palace: Royal Crypt". Below, a woman in a wide hat and fur-trimmed coat speaks to a tall man in a black coat. "The criminal world is far bigger than you might think. Even if you are the king of one alliance state in the World Government," she says. "Most aren't even aware of its existence." The man replies, "The poneglyph is housed deep down in an underground chamber." She notes, "A hidden staircaseI" She continues, "You're not the only one aware of such secrets." The man asks, "Can you... Read the poneglyphsI" She answers, "Yes... That is why Crocodile partnered up with me. And why he cannot kill me..."

Inside a narrow stone staircase, the woman gestures ahead. "I'm sure you hadn't the faintest idea that there were still people on this world who could decipher those runes." The man replies, "You're not at fault, however." In close-ups, he asks, "Am I wrongI" She responds, "I do not know..." She adds, "The poneglyph in this country most likely holds the location to Pluton." He questions, "Protect...I" She states, "That is all it means to us. It has been the duty of the royal family of Alabasta for generations to protect this thing." They descend the stairs together as footsteps echo.

The pair enters a vast underground hall lined with massive pillars and statues. "What a grand tomb this is," the man remarks. "...It's further back inside behind the doors," the woman replies. She walks ahead confidently. "Ah, yes..." she says as they approach the inner chamber. A bright flash erupts from the darkness ahead with a loud impact sound as something activates.

A massive explosion rocks the city as debris flies past a grand domed building, the sound effect "ドドドドドド" shaking the scene. In a close-up, a bandaged man with wild curly hair and a snake-like creature on his arm throws his head back in laughter, pointing forward. "YOU SMALL-TIME PIRATES!" he roars, followed by "KUHAHAHA!" Below, the search party argues urgently. "WE'VE ONLY GOT FIVE MINUTES!" one shouts. "SHUT UP AND START SEARCHING!" another snaps. A third voice reasons, "If I knew what it feels like to be him, then maybe I can figure out where he'd place the cannon!" "I'm TRYING to get into Crocodile's shoes!" A sudden strike sends one man flying with "GAA!" as the tiger-like man yells, "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!I"

Chopper, wearing his black top hat with an X, sniffs the air and declares, "No, the whole city smells too much of gunpowder for me to pick anything out." Nami, bruised and sweating, turns to him desperately: "CHOPPER! CAN'T YOU FIND ANYTHING WITH YOUR NOSE!I" A wide shot shows the ruined plaza as Pell flies overhead. "WHAT KIND OF SCENT IS THAT!I" someone exclaims. Chopper replies, "I don't know, just try it out!" Pell suggests, "Then... How about thisI Try looking for the scent of a cannon aiming for the center of the palace square!" Sanji sits on a staircase, thinking hard: "And trying to fire that with a cannon would mean... Very low accuracy...!" He concludes, "Then could it be that it's extremely close to the palace square...!I" A thought bubble adds, "Wait a sec... A bomb like that would be pretty damn big..." and "An explosive with a blast diameter of 5 km..."

Pell streaks through the streets at high speed, shouting "DAMMIT! I AIN'T GOT TIME TO GO AROUND ALL THESE BUILDINGS!" and "I'M TAKIN' A SHORTCUT!" with motion lines "ズバオオオオ!!" and "ドドド". He calls out while flying, "BUT I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING YET..." and "I'VE CHECKED EVERY ROOFTOP OF THE BUILDINGS AROUND THE PALACE SQUARE!" Nami, looking worried, asks, "SEE ANYTHING UP THERE, PELL!I" She wonders aloud, "Then is it inside some building...!I" Pell continues searching from above as Nami spots something below. "Got it!" she cries. Pell responds, "I'll keep searching!" as he soars past damaged buildings with "SWOOSH" effects.

Explosions continue to echo through the empty plaza with "アアアアアア" and "ドドド". A close-up shows a bloodied, exhausted man in a dark outfit crawling on the ground, reaching out with "CLUTCH..." as sweat and strain marks cover his face. In the final wide panel, the same man lies collapsed in the foreground, his hand outstretched, while a small figure of Monkey D. Luffy stands in the distance amid the ruined square. A large speech bubble from the fallen man reads "STRAW HAT...!" with sound effects "よぉ..." and "どんッ" emphasizing the desperate call.

Luffy stares in shock, sweat flying, eyes wide as he blurts, "WHERE'D HE GOI" A thought bubble reads "THE CROCODILE." Below, a rapid sequence shows chaos: a massive impact, debris flying, a close-up of Robin's intense glare, and a tall ornate clock with ticking SFX "tic toc." A brutal strike sends a figure flying with "GAHH!" Robin turns, glaring coldly as she demands, "HOW MANY TIMES WILL YOU COME AT ME BEFORE YOU'RE SATISFIED!I"

Crocodile looms over fallen marines, laughing "KUHAHA..." as voices question, "What happened to your bossI Did that puff of smoke run awayI" and "But to think you marines would come all the way here... It seems you were done in by that woman..." Crocodile retorts, "THAT'S THE KIND OF SEA WE LIVE UPON! WHY DON'T YOU SCURRY BACK TO YOUR BASE AND 'DISCUSS' YOUR JUSTICE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT THERE!I LOSERS CAN'T UPHOLD JUSTICE..." Luffy bursts forward, yelling "TELL ME!" while Crocodile laughs "KUHAHAHA!" A gloved hand reaches out; Luffy dashes through the street as Robin watches with a sharp "!I"

Robin points sharply ahead, declaring "TOWARDS THE ROYAL CRYPT THAT WAY...!" Crocodile's massive form looms as Luffy thanks her with "THANKS! THIS WAY!I" Crocodile mutters "WHAT A JOKE... MARINE HQ..." before delivering a crushing blow labeled "JUSTICE..." that sends Luffy flying with impact SFX.

Luffy rockets forward in a furious burst, fists clenched, face twisted in rage, huffing "HUFF" with motion lines exploding around him. He crashes through obstacles with "THROB" and "UGH!" impacts, then slams violently into a building with a massive "CRASH...!" and "AGH-" as debris flies.

Luffy lies sprawled on the floor of a grand palace hall lined with tall columns and palm trees, drenched in sweat and panting heavily. "THAT'S ODD... I ATE SO MUCH MEAT TOO..." he mutters, eyes wide. "I CAN'T MOVE..." A small "HUHI" escapes as his body refuses to respond. In the next panels his limbs tremble and give out completely. "PANT... PANT..." Large impact SFX "ドドドドドドドド" shake the page as Luffy collapses face-down on the stone floor outside the palace entrance, completely immobilized.

Inside a vast circular stone chamber, Nico Robin stands before a massive inscribed block while Crocodile sits nearby. Robin places her hand on a hidden mechanism on the wall. Crocodile, scarred face visible, remarks, "Is what you desire... Recorded thereI" Robin replies with a quiet "......." Crocodile then smiles and states, "I see. A hidden staircase..." The final panel shows Robin walking down a revealed staircase into the lower levels of the royal crypt as dust and debris fall around her.

Explosions rock the city. Nami, Zoro, and Robin react with alarm amid flying debris and smoke. Large SFX "ドドドドドドドド" fill the panels. Outside on the grass, Luffy remains collapsed and motionless. A large ornate clock dominates the bottom of the page, its hands ticking. Text boxes read "Time left until palace square explosion:" and "4 Minutes" as multiple "tsc tsc" sound effects mark the countdown.

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