socalfunplaces Chapter 227 Crocodile vs. Straw Hat Crew
Chapter 227 Crocodile vs. Straw Hat Crew
Chapter 227 Crocodile vs. the Straw Hat Crew
In the open square of the capital of the Kingdom of Alabasta, the scorching sun poured down without reservation, baking the entire area to a sweltering heat.
A tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air as a thrilling and fierce battle was unfolding.
Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was standing in the center of the plaza, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
A hint of weariness flickered in his signature eyes, but more so in his disdain and contempt for his opponents. "You ignorant brats, you actually think you can defeat me? You're hopeless." His voice was deep and hoarse, as if it came from the depths of hell, carrying endless mockery.
"Take this, Desert Blade!"
With a furious roar, countless grains of sand suddenly surged up from the previously calm ground. As if given life, the sand quickly gathered and coalesced, forming a huge desert sword aura in the blink of an eye.
The sword energy exuded a chilling aura, and the sword blade shimmered with an eerie light, as if it could tear everything in the world apart.
The massive sword energy hurtled towards Luffy and his crew, tearing the air apart and creating a sharp whistling sound.
Seeing the approaching desert sword energy, Sanji's expression instantly darkened, and a solemn look appeared on his usually confident face.
"Hey, hey, hey, this seems pretty powerful?" He frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the fierce sword energy coming at him, his feet unconsciously adjusting their posture, ready to deal with it at any moment.
Zoro gripped his twin swords tightly, his expression equally grave as he stared at the desert sword energy ahead.
His eyes revealed determination and resolve. Despite knowing his opponent was incredibly powerful, he showed no sign of backing down. A gentle breeze stirred his hair, and he exuded an aura of fearless battle.
Luffy stood before the group without saying a word. He slowly pressed down his iconic straw hat, the brim obscuring his face and making it impossible to see his expression.
Under the shadow of his straw hat, Luffy's eyes were deep and calm, as if he were pondering something.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment, the surrounding noise gradually faded away, and Luffy was immersed in his own world.
Soon, he gently pushed his straw hat up again, revealing his true feelings.
It was an extraordinary calm and composure, and the white flashes in his eyes were becoming more and more numerous, and his gaze was becoming colder and colder, as if he came from the depths of a distant iceberg, without a trace of warmth.
At this moment, he seemed no longer the carefree and energetic Luffy of the day, but he still felt like the courageous captain.
Just as Sanji and Zoro were preparing to fight back against the desert sword energy ahead with all their might, they suddenly discovered a scene that shocked them.
Suddenly, Luffy appeared silently in front of the desert sword aura, standing there motionless.
He stood there quietly, as if isolated from everything around him, letting the powerful sword energy rush towards him.
This sudden turn of events left Sanji and Zoro extremely anxious, and they couldn't help but shout, "Luffy, watch out!"
"Luffy, what are you doing?!" Their voices were filled with worry and anxiety, as if they wanted to rush over and pull Luffy back immediately.
However, Luffy seemed not to hear Sanji and Zoro's shouts at all.
He stood silently before the desert sword energy, like a statue, showing no reaction whatsoever. As the sword energy drew closer, the surrounding air seemed to be compressed to its limit, making it difficult to breathe.
Sanji and Zoro grew increasingly anxious, their foreheads covered in sweat, their hands clenched into fists, yet they were powerless to do anything.
Just when they were almost in despair, Luffy finally moved. No, rather than moving, it would be more accurate to say that he slowly raised his right hand, facing the approaching desert sword aura.
Luffy's action surprised Crocodile, Sanji, and the others, who had no idea what he was going to do.
In their eyes, Luffy's behavior was simply unbelievable; faced with such a powerful attack, he actually chose to deal with it with only one hand.
However, Luffy's next move completely shocked the Straw Hat crew and Crocodile.
Suddenly, Luffy's raised right hand was enveloped in a mysterious black energy. This black energy, like flowing liquid, radiated powerful fluctuations, seemingly capable of devouring everything.
The moment the desert sword energy arrived, the black right hand collided with the massive desert sword energy.
With a loud "bang," like the ringing of a great bell, the entire square trembled slightly.
The sound was like sand hitting steel, dull yet powerful.
Immediately afterward, Luffy, his gaze icy, increased his energy once more. His eyes revealed unwavering determination, as if he wanted to utterly shatter all obstacles in his path.
In an instant, the powerful desert sword energy was shattered by Luffy's punch. Countless grains of sand flew out like fireworks, falling to the ground and turning into a pile of sand.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the entire square fell into a deathly silence.
All eyes were fixed on Luffy's solitary figure, as if he were the only person in the world at that moment.
Sunlight bathed him, outlining his resolute features. He stood on this battlefield like an invincible war god, receiving the attention of everyone.
Sanji looked at Luffy in front of him and for a moment didn't know what to say.
He slowly pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag, trying to calm the shock and excitement in his heart.
In fact, during the months they spent with Luffy, they had already noticed that Luffy was different.
Sometimes, Luffy is like an innocent, silly guy who just likes to laugh and only knows how to eat.
He was always full of energy and curiosity about everything around him, as if no troubles in the world could bother him. His laughter was like sunshine, warming the hearts of every crew member.
But sometimes, Luffy seems to become a different person, cold and ruthless.
Especially recently, when he learned from the newspapers that the entire Great Pirate Alliance had died and that the Marine Headquarters had suffered a devastating attack, Luffy's emotions fluctuated greatly.
From the initial sadness upon hearing the news, to the uncontrollable tears that followed, and finally to his utter coldness, Luffy's icy demeanor made the other crew members feel extremely uncomfortable.
His eyes were filled with pain and anger, as if the whole world was against him.
Fortunately, after a day, Luffy turned back into that silly, grinning goofball.
However, beneath his feigned smile, he couldn't hide the deep sorrow and pain on his face. And now, Luffy seemed to have become even colder, and stronger as well.
The scene of this punch shattering Crocodile's Desert Sword Aura is the best proof.
Compared to Sanji's complex emotions, Crocodile's face was extremely dark at this moment.
The scene of Luffy shattering his desert sword aura with that punch involuntarily brought back that scene to his mind.
There was another person who, with the same ease, shattered his prized desert sword aura. That person not only severely humiliated him but also cornered him, nearly costing him his life.
For the past three years, Crocodile has been tormented by that painful memory. He often wakes up in a fright from his dreams, where a cold-eyed figure stares intently at him, filling him with immense fear.
As for revenge, he had fantasized about it countless times, but the thought of that person's current strength filled him with utter despair.
His strength is already unmatched in the New World. Now, so-called pirates have no way out in front of him. It seems that the road ahead has been completely cut off.
Thinking this, Crocodile's gaze first swept over the rest of the Straw Hat crew. He saw that they also had shocked expressions on their faces, but he didn't pay any attention to it.
Then, he shifted his gaze to Luffy's cold appearance and said in a low voice, "Straw Hat Boy, your cold and aloof demeanor reminds me of a guy from back then."
His voice was filled with resentment and bitterness, “He was just as high and mighty, just as cold and ruthless.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Crocodile's face turned extremely angry. He suddenly roared, "But what makes you think you're so strong that you have the right to show me this sour face?"
His eyes were wide open, burning with furious flames, as if he wanted to devour Luffy.
Crocodile's words left the Straw Hat crew, except for Robin, looking at each other with utter bewilderment.
They couldn't understand why Crocodile suddenly got angry. In their view, Luffy's actions were simply to protect everyone and there was nothing wrong with them.
Robin, standing to the side, seemed lost in thought. She frowned slightly and muttered to herself, "Crocodile is talking about Minos, isn't he?"
A complex emotion flickered in her eyes. "I've joined the Straw Hat crew as you requested. But do you really still remember me, this nobody?"
"Am I really going to betray the Straw Hat crew?"
However, no one paid attention to Robin's words; their attention was focused on Luffy and Crocodile, the main characters on the battlefield.
The atmosphere in the square remained extremely tense, and an even more intense battle seemed about to break out. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the next moment to arrive.
……