1

The title page for Chapter 196, titled '1'. The cover story is 'Hachi's Ocean Floor Stroll Vol. 13 "The shadowy figure approaching Hachi who saved these two from almost being swallowed by a fish while already swallowed by another fish."'. The illustration shows Hachi, the octopus fish-man, underwater. He is smiling and shaking hands with a young mermaid named Camie, who wears a star-patterned top. Next to her is a starfish named Pappag, wearing a headband. In the background, a large, round fish lies unconscious with an 'X' over its eye. Further back, a dark, shadowy figure approaches them, with a speech bubble containing a question mark.

At the entrance to the royal palace in Alubarna, Crocodile and Nico Robin stand facing the courtyard. A voice shouts from off-panel, 'PLEASE WAIT! COMMANDER CHAKA!' Four large, imposing figures approach the palace gates, standing in a line. Robin looks back over her shoulder at them. One of the figures announces, 'KICKING CLAW GUARDS!' Crocodile, smoking his signature cigar, looks at the new arrivals with mild annoyance and says, 'YOU MEN ARE... Who is it this time?'

A voice from off-panel yells, 'DO NOT ATTACK THIS MAN!' Nico Robin, standing near Crocodile, looks back and says, 'NO, STOP!' A wide shot shows the four Kicking Claw Guards standing before the palace entrance, facing Crocodile and Robin. Behind the guards, the regular royal army soldiers cheer them on, raising their weapons. 'That's the elite guard for you!' 'Save the princess and king!' 'The gate's been broken down by the Kicking Claw!' A close-up focuses on one of the guards, who wears a mask covering his face. He speaks resolutely, 'I'm afraid we cannot just let this man be. Your highness... To protect you with our very lives is our highest duty...'

The four Kicking Claw Guards are shown in detail as they prepare to fight. A close-up of a guard with a winged helmet shows him saying, 'We shall not show cowardice.' Another guard, wearing a tall, pointed helmet, adds, 'If our enemy is to be one of the Shichibukai,'. A group shot displays all four massive, muscular guards wielding various weapons, including swords and axes. A caption box identifies them: 'Elite Guards of the Alabasta Kingdom "Kicking Claw Guards"'. One of them continues, 'We four,'. The masked guard says, 'To our kingdom's threat...'. The final guard, who has dark face paint around his eyes, finishes the thought, 'Shall put an end,'

Crocodile looks down at the guards, exhaling cigar smoke. He dismisses them, saying, 'So scurry off back home....My, aren't you popular... I'll specially overlook you just this once,' The guards stand their ground. One of them replies, 'That is not possible. For you see, we have a reason why we cannot withdraw!' Crocodile looks slightly curious, 'A reason...?' The guard with the tall helmet says, 'If you really are the mastermind behind this whole rebellion...' A close-up shows the muscular arm of one of the guards gripping his weapon tightly. His veins are bulging prominently, and there are distinct, dark striped marks appearing on his skin. Watching from a distance, Chaka looks shocked and horrified. He yells, '...THOSE MARKS! DON'T TELL ME YOU..!?'

Crocodile remains unfazed, telling Robin, 'They're nothing but flies to me.' Robin asks, 'Shall I?' but Crocodile replies, 'No, it's fine.' Suddenly, the four Kicking Claw Guards leap high into the air, their weapons raised to strike. They roar, 'RAHHHHH!' as they descend upon Crocodile, whose back is turned to the viewer. Nearby, Vivi watches in terror, screaming 'CHAKA!' Chaka, sweating profusely and wide-eyed with realization, says, 'Something's off about them! Did they...!?'

Chaka looks devastated as he realizes what the guards have done. He explains, 'Those fools... In order to gain more strength for one brief moment... They drank Gosui... The special water that takes away your life...! They... Now have only a few minutes to live... They cannot be saved!' Crocodile smirks cruelly, smoke trailing from his cigar. 'Kuku... I figured as much... So you threw away your lives just to challenge me...!' Vivi screams in despair, 'NOOO!' As the guards attack, one of them says, 'PLEASE FORGIVE OUR RECKLESS ACTIONS, COMMANDER CHAKA... BUT WE MUST LET THIS MAN KNOW... LET HIM KNOW OF THIS COUNTRY'S PAIN...' Chaka yells out, 'YOU FOOLS!' A panel shows a skull lying in the desert sand with a bird perched on a nearby ruin, symbolizing their impending death.

Tears stream down the face of one of the Kicking Claw Guards as he swings his weapon, yelling, 'AND THIS COUNTRY'S ANGER!' The four guards unleash a coordinated assault on Crocodile, slicing through him with their swords and axes. However, their weapons pass harmlessly through his body, which instantly turns into sand upon impact. Close-up panels show the shocked and desperate expressions of the four guards as they realize their ultimate sacrifice has had no effect on the Warlord.

Crocodile's body reforms from the sand. He looks down at the guards and says, 'That's not very smart of you men... Sigh... You should take better care of your lives... Though I suppose it's too late for that now...' He raises his hand, and his lower body transforms into a swirling vortex of sand. 'Kuhahaha! If you want to die so badly, Then I guess I don't even need to lend a hand, do I?' The guards are caught in the violent sandstorm, thrown backward and coughing up blood as they drop their weapons. 'GAHH!' Chaka watches the brutal defeat, trembling with rage and helplessness. 'He won't even, Let them fight...'

The defeated Kicking Claw Guards lie bleeding and broken on the ground. Crocodile stands over them, laughing mockingly. 'KUHAHAHA! This sight is the very meaning of stupidity!' Chaka, watching from the sidelines, grits his teeth in fury. 'How dare he... UGH...! CH... AKA...' Vivi screams from off-panel, 'CHAKA! CEASE THIS AT ONCE, CHAKA! YOU CANNOT DIE HERE AS WELL!' Ignoring her plea, Chaka throws off his cloak and transforms into a large, black, jackal-like creature. He roars at Crocodile, 'YOU VILE SCUM!' Crocodile observes the transformation calmly. 'Oh, a Zoan-user... Inu Inu Fruit, Model: Jackal!'

Fully transformed into his Jackal form, Chaka lunges forward with incredible speed, his sharp claws extended. He unleashes his attack, shouting, 'HOWLING FANGS! (Narikiba)'. He slashes viciously at Crocodile. However, Crocodile easily evades the strike, his body turning into sand to let the claws pass through harmlessly. Crocodile remarks coldly, 'I see... So you're the type to die for others too...'

The scene shifts to a wide shot of the damaged city of Alubarna, with smoke rising from the buildings. A voice says, 'Really...' Mr. 1 (Daz Bonez) is shown standing, bleeding heavily from a massive, deep slash across his chest. He reflects on his opponent, 'IN THE SHORT SPAN OF THIS FIGHT... HE GREW SO MUCH...!' Mr. 1 collapses backward, blood spraying from his wound. As he falls, he thinks, 'Cutting diamonds? That would be a waste...' He hits the ground, defeated, and mutters, 'I concede defeat...' Nearby, Zoro stands victorious but heavily injured, panting for breath. 'Huff... Huff... What's next...?'

Zoro sits on the ground, leaning heavily on his sword, completely exhausted and covered in blood. A caption box announces the result: 'Alubarna North Block, Fight along the Main Road of the Medi Diet Hall. Winner: Zoro'. A close-up shows Zoro panting, 'Pant... Pant... Dammit... I lost too much blood...' He looks down at his injuries, wincing. 'It's a blessing that the cuts aren't too deep but... Damn, does it ever hurt...' Looking up at the sky, he worries about his crewmates. 'I WONDER HOW THE REST ARE DOING... DID NAMI MANAGE TO RUN AWAY ALRIGHT? NO ONE DIED, RIGHT...? DAMN, I WISH I COULD FIND OUT...' Suddenly, a voice from off-panel yells, 'WHAT!? I HAVE TO TEAM UP WITH EYE-LASHES!?'

Sanji walks down a city street, smoking a cigarette. A voice calls out, 'Hey, Usopp!' Sanji replies dismissively, 'I only save ladies, dumbass.' Usopp, pointing angrily at Sanji, yells, 'ALRIGHT, FINE! But promise me one thing! If we're in major danger, your ass better come to save ours! Please!' Sanji calmly responds, 'We drew lots and them's the breaks, buddy.' Usopp, who is riding the camel named Eyelashes, complains loudly, 'ARE YOU GUYS MAKING LIGHT OF HOW WEAK I REALLY AM!?' Sanji looks back and notices Usopp's face. 'What the hell are you cryin' for?' Usopp, with tears streaming down his face, defensively shouts, 'I'M NOT CRYING! IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO ACCUSE OTHERS OF CRYING ARE USUALLY THE ONES CRYING!' Sanji looks serious and says, '...But it's just that... That mole woman...' Usopp, sobbing heavily with Chopper sitting behind him on the camel, cries out, 'SHE SAID THAT... LUFFY WAS DEAD!'

Sanji looks annoyed by the news. 'Really gonna believe that crap? Are you two idiots,' Chopper looks shocked and tearful, asking, 'C... Could it be true...?' Sanji exhales smoke and says firmly, 'If that's the case, then our job right now's to get to the palace ASAP! So stop sniffling already.' Usopp and Chopper immediately change their tune, yelling angrily at Sanji, 'YEAH, STUPID! I DON'T BELIEVE IT AT ALL! OF COURSE AS HELL NOT! DON'T BE STUPID!' Sanji sweatdrops, 'O-okay, calm down...' Meanwhile, Nami is happily talking to the citizens. 'That's right! And if you wanna say thanks to a pirate, it'll be with shiny goods, if you catch my drift!' A voice asks, 'How much are you planning to extort from this country!?' The citizens bow and thank them. 'THANK YOU EVERYONE.' 'IT'S STILL TOO EARLY FOR THANKS.' Nami looks towards the palace, her expression turning serious. 'At least, until the rumbles of this war ends...!'

Nami looks concerned as she surveys the area. 'The rebels have already penetrated this far into the city...' A wide shot shows the chaotic streets of Alubarna, with rebels and royal guards clashing violently. Sanji stands next to Chopper, holding a bundle of ropes or bandages. He says, 'So this is what he meant by an attack that can be only used once... Whew, I finally managed to untangle it.' Sanji then looks at Chopper and advises, 'And you'd do well remembering this one thing if nothing else... That guy eats a WHOLE CRAP-LOAD of food after a battle...!' Chopper nods, 'Yes, okay...' Sanji looks determined, 'The situation may have changed, But right now, I gotta get to the palace!'

A series of flashback quotes play over the scene. Chopper's voice says, 'OKAAAY! We'll be waiting for you at Alubarna!' Sanji's voice adds, 'We'll join up back at the palace! Time to take off! This is it, boys! Don't stumble now!' A panel shows the Super Spot-Billed Duck Squad running rapidly across the desert towards the city. In the present, Nami, Sanji, and Chopper (riding the camel) are shown rushing through the city streets, making their way towards the palace to regroup.

Back at the palace entrance, the royal guards are in a state of panic. They look towards the courtyard, shouting, 'Commander Chaka!?' The guards are terrified as the battle approaches. 'The rebels are pressing right behind us now!' 'This can't be happening...!' 'This has to be a nightmare...' In the courtyard, Crocodile stands over the defeated Chaka. Chaka has reverted to his human form and is bleeding heavily on the ground, groaning, '...NGHH!' Vivi watches the scene, tears streaming down her face as she screams in despair, 'CHAKAAAAA!'

Crocodile stands victorious over Chaka's fallen body, his hook dripping with blood. He looks down coldly and declares, 'TO BE WEAK... IS A SIN...' Vivi looks on, completely stunned and horrified, whispering, 'Huh?' A voice from off-panel urgently yells, 'VIVI!' The final panel shows a large, ornate clock tower. The hands on the clock face are ticking. A caption box reveals the grim reality: 'Time left until Palace Square Explosion: 25 Minutes'.

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