Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 153 The World is a Desert! (Two chapters, 7k words each, please subscribe!)

The grass withered, the earth dried up, and even the hard rocks were affected by the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, turning into sand.

This is the power of the awakening of the Sand-Sand Fruit!

A desolate power, like a natural disaster—

Erosion and reincarnation!

It's not just the earth.

Any non-living matter that comes into contact with the earth.

They all withered under the influence of the power of "erosion cycle".

And life forms that come into contact with the earth.

At this moment, the moisture in their bodies was also taken away by the [Sand Fruit].

Originating from Crocodile's location, the surrounding area was rapidly assimilated into a desolate and ruined desert.

Buckingham Stussy, who was targeted by the Sand Crocodile, was the first to be affected by the power of "Erosion of Reincarnation".

The dark red pointed leather boots that Buckingham Stussy was wearing were directly assimilated into grains of sand by the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit.

"My designer leather boots!"

Buckingham Stussy immediately let out a scream.

On the other side, Edward Weebull also made a questioning shout.

"Mom! My shoes are gone! Have you seen them?"

The influence of Logia-type Devil Fruits is too vast.

Hawkeye Mihawk, not wanting to be affected by Crocodile's abilities, was planning to retreat a short distance to avoid the impact of "Erosion Reincarnation's" power.

Just then, Hawkeye Mihawk suddenly saw that Storm was still standing still, and the small patch of ground under his feet had turned into a lump of white clay.

Awakening against awakening!

Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit ultimately couldn't affect Storm's Clay-Clay Fruit!

Hawkeye Mihawk leaped and landed right next to Storm, standing side by side with him.

"What's wrong with Crocodile? Why is he reacting so strongly to the name 'Buckingham Stussy'? Or is it because of... the Rocks Pirates?"

Compared to ordinary people, Hawkeye Mihawk certainly knew about the existence of the Rocks Pirates.

A powerful pirate crew that once dominated the seas, but was ultimately destroyed by the combined efforts of Pirate King Roger and hero Garp...

Hawkeye Mihawk, however, had no idea why Crocodile would react so strongly to the name of this pirate crew.

Everyone has a past they'd rather forget.

Storm turned to look at Hawkeye Mihawk and said calmly.

"Isn't that right?"

Storm could also see the crocodile's anger at that moment.

He did not use Observation Haki, which allows him to "read people's minds," to probe Crocodile's heart.

It's just speculation based on the intelligence information we already have.

no doubt.

Crocodile's rampage is related to Buckingham Stussy and the Rocks Pirates.

To be more precise, it should be called the "Rocks Pirates"!

Very little is known about what the Rocks Pirates did in the past.

Even Storm only knew that the Rocks Pirates had been involved in the God Valley Incident, and then that was history...

Considering Crocodile's age and his intense reaction to the Rocks Pirates...

There's also a "little secret" between Ivankov, the transvestite king, and Crocodile...

And the active role played by Ivankov, the transvestite king, in the God Valley Incident...

Storm concluded that—

Crocodile was also involved in the God Valley Incident!

As for Crocodile's true identity...

Several possibilities flashed through Storm's mind, but he said nothing.

"Perhaps it's because... Crocodile once had some 'interaction' with the Rocks Pirates?"

After throwing that question at Hawkeye Mihawk, Storm didn't offer any further explanation, simply turning his attention to the field.

Crocodile continues to unleash "Erosion Cycle".

The effects of "Erosion Cycle" extend far beyond just the surrounding environment.

Even living organisms have their body water directly stripped away when they come into contact with the "Erosion Cycle".

Buckingham Stussy had only stood in the desert region shaped by "Erosion Cycle" for a short while when her leather boots were instantly turned to sand and disintegrated, and the moisture on her feet was quickly drawn away.

Edward Weebull, on the other side, encountered the same situation, but because he was physically stronger, he didn't experience any problems for the time being.

"Weevil! Take me away from here!"

Having already sensed something was wrong, Buckingham Stussy immediately had Edward Weevil take her away from there.

Having received his mother's order, Edward Weebull, disregarding the search for the inexplicably lost boots, bent down, picked up Buckingham Stussy, and tried to run away.

But how could Crocodile let the mother and child leave so easily?

"Erosion Cycle" has another advantage: it creates deserts, forcibly transforming an entire surrounding area into Crocodile's home ground.

In this desert region, Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit power can be maximized.

The world is a desert!

"Desert sunflower!"

Crocodile manipulated the completely sandy ground, creating a huge quicksand pit that resembled a blooming sunflower.

Edward Weebull and Buckingham Stussy, who were just preparing to escape, were right in the center of this quicksand area.

The tall and heavy Edward Weebull's feet quickly sank into the quicksand.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Edward Weebull was confused about the situation. He only felt that the more he struggled in the desert, the faster he sank. He could only follow his instincts and keep calling for his mother, hoping that she could help him get out of trouble.

"Shut up! You idiot! Don't move!"

Buckingham Stussy instantly realized that he couldn't let Edward Weevil continue to struggle.

If they were to sink deeper into this deadly quicksand, there would be only one fate awaiting them—to be buried alive!

The situation was critical.

Buckingham Stussy could no longer afford to hide his strength.

A pair of enormous, bat-like black membranous wings grew out from Buckingham Stussy's back, and a layer of dark, fine down appeared on her face, making her look like an oversized bat spirit.

[Zoan-type Bat Fruit]!

This is Buckingham Stussy's special ability!

Having entered her half-human, half-beast state, Buckingham Stussy suddenly unleashed an astonishing power. Her two claws firmly gripped the chains binding Edward Weevil, forcibly pulling him out of the quicksand.

Buckingham Stussy, along with Edward Weevil, wanted to fly high into the sky to escape these three plague-like Shichibukai.

However, Crocodile was unwilling to release them.

He raised his right hand, forming a continuously spinning salon curl in his palm.

Unlike the previous "Sandstorm", this salon curl presents a heavy black color.

This is an enhanced version of "Sandstorm"!

"A heavyweight sandstorm!"

Crocodile threw his salon roll at Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil.

As the sand vortex flew into the air, it was affected by Crocodile and exploded, releasing a powerful shockwave.

boom!

After a deafening roar, a powerful sandstorm erupted, and swirling yellow sand engulfed Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weeble.

In the super sandstorm that resembled a natural disaster, Buckingham Stussy, dragging Edward Weebull along, was unable to fly at all, and her flight path became erratic.

Just as it was about to be blown down by the sandstorm.

Whether Buckingham Stussy did it intentionally, accidentally, or intentionally accidentally, is unclear.

Her claws, which were tightly gripping the chains binding Edward Weevil's body, suddenly loosened.

"Weebull—"

Watching Edward Weevil plummet downwards, Buckingham Stussy let out a mournful wail as sharp as a cuckoo's cry.

But whether it's Storm or Hawkeye Mihawk.

The two Shichibukai standing aside, observing coldly, could clearly see Buckingham Stussy frantically flapping her bat-like membranous wings, clearly wanting to leave as soon as possible.

The pitiful howls contrasted sharply with the frantic flapping of wings.

"Is this woman really the mother of 'Whitebeard III'?"

Hawkeye Mihawk's brow furrowed deeply, clearly seeing through Buckingham Stussy's sinister intentions.

"To abandon their own child in such a critical moment! They're worse than animals!"

Who knows?

Storm looked up at the sky.

Buckingham Stussy, now transformed into a bat, flew faster and higher, soon to be out of the Gold Island's range.

But just then, a blue-eyed white dragon suddenly appeared in the sky.

Storm's mind stirred slightly.

The blue-eyed white dragon opened its blood-red maw and roared at the old bat that was about to fly away.

[Dragon Roar]!

"roar--"

A dragon's roar that pierced through the clouds and split rocks, carrying an incredibly powerful explosive wave, descended from the sky at supersonic speed and crashed directly into Buckingham Stussy.

boom!

A dazzling "firework" immediately burst forth in the sky.

Buckingham Stussy, who was hit squarely by the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's [Dragon Roar], fell straight down from the sky like a bat with broken wings.

A plain-looking "Golden Trophy" appeared before Storm's eyes.

[Golden Trophy: Buckingham Stussy]

[Tournament Star Rating: ★★★★]

"This old Buckingham Stussy still retains strength comparable to a supernova... tsk!"

"The Rocks Pirates back then were truly a hidden force of geniuses!"

Storm calmly put away the Golden Trophy.

the other side.

Edward Weevil, who was directly abandoned by Buckingham Stussy, has fallen into the "desert sunflower" that Crocodile prepared especially for him.

This time.

Without Buckingham Stussy's help.

Edward Webull is like a hyperactive child, constantly struggling in "Desert Sunflower".

And then... no more.

Edward Weebull was swallowed up directly into the quicksand.

Crocodile simultaneously unleashed the drying power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, forcibly absorbing the moisture from Edward Weevil's body.

From beneath the quicksand came the sound of struggling.

As time goes by.

Edward Weevil, who had been drained dry by Crocodile, also lost the power to resist.

Crocodile manipulated the surrounding yellow sand to release the mummy-like, withered Edward Weevil from the desert sunflowers.

Meanwhile, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon also flew back here, carrying the completely defenseless Buckingham Stussy.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon released its claws, and Buckingham Stussy fell from the sky, landing precisely next to Edward Weevil.

Edward Weebull, looking like a dried-up corpse, murmured something under his breath and finally stopped struggling.

"Mother……"

(End of this chapter)