In the illegal zone, pirate hunters and pirates hidden in the shadows all stared in shock at the one who had suddenly made a move.
"Hey, that guy!? This is going to be interesting. Hehehe!"
"You know who that is?"
"Are you stupid? Where's your brain? Didn't we just see his bounty poster the day before yesterday?"
"The day before yesterday… wait… is that Crocodile?!"
"Yeah! The guy with an eighty-million Belly bounty who also made a name for himself in Loguetown!"
"Eighty million Belly? That's it?"
"That's low!? Are you out of your mind?!"
"But the Sky Pirates, especially their captain, have a bounty of nine hundred and forty million Belly. Even their vice-captain is worth eight hundred million. They're not even in the same league. The gap is a full ten times!"
As soon as that was said, the initial excitement on everyone's faces faded when they thought about the sheer difference in numbers.
"When you put it that way… the gap really is huge."
"Idiot, you can't look at it like that. The Sky Pirates' bounties are that high because they killed Celestial Dragons."
"What?!"
"C-Celestial Dragons… are you serious?"
The pirate hunters who lived on the Sabaody Archipelago knew better than anyone just how terrifying Celestial Dragons were.
"Of course it's true. If you dared lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon, your bounty wouldn't be low either. And I heard they even destroyed a country."
"A country?!"
"A World Government affiliated nation. It was called the Drum Kingdom!"
"What the hell!? So those guys really are that crazy?!"
"Compared to the Sky Pirates, the pirates of this so-called new era are practically kind-hearted children."
"Don't underestimate them either. Take Crocodile right there. Just like the Sky Pirates' captain and vice-captain, he's a Logia Devil Fruit user. He even fought Douglas Bullet, the Demon's Heir, to a standstill."
"That strong? Looks like we're really in for a show."
"Still, the Sky Pirates really have some nerve. Killing Celestial Dragons and then swaggering into the Sabaody Archipelago like this!"
"Hehehe, haven't you noticed? The Marines and the World Government are getting more useless by the day. This is our era now."
In an instant, greed and ambition filled everyone's eyes.
At the center of all those gazes, sand and dust hung thick in the air.
The young Crocodile stood there with a cigar clenched between his teeth. He cast a disdainful glance at the surrounding pirate hunters before fixing his eyes on Yemu. Behind him stood a group of underlings who looked like nothing more than cannon fodder. Yemu recognized none of them. None of the future members of Baroque Works were present.
"If you want my life, that depends on whether you've got the ability."
It had to be said that Crocodile was strikingly handsome in his younger days. His face was unscarred, his features sharp and refined, with none of that unsightly golden hook. He was almost beautiful, like a girl.
"Captain, should I take care of him?"
Erik asked, gripping his twin blades, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"No need. Our goal today isn't battle, it's enjoyment. Besides, it would be a shame to damage such a beautiful island. Leave him to me. I'll end this quickly."
As soon as those words fell, Crocodile's brow furrowed despite himself.
"Being looked down on like this really pisses me off!"
Yemu ignored him and asked calmly instead,
"Are you ready to be cut down by me?"
Since the other side had already attacked first, the reason no longer mattered. A solid beating came first.
As he spoke, Yemu drew Tengoku from his waist. Scorching flames surged into the blade, and in an instant it was engulfed in raging fire.
Feeling the killing intent pouring off Yemu, Crocodile's pupils shrank.
No matter how his fight with Bullet had played out, the fact that he could trade blows with him meant Crocodile undoubtedly knew how to use Haki. Observation Haki, naturally, was no exception.
At this moment, through his Observation Haki, he could clearly sense the terrifying power radiating from Yemu's entire body.
"This guy… he's a swordsman too?!"
Even so, Crocodile showed no fear. After all, this was the young Crocodile who dared to speak of challenging Whitebeard. His confidence in his own strength was absolute.
"You all, get out of here and hide!"
Though he looked down on these useless subordinates, going to the New World alone was impossible.
As his men scattered in all directions, Crocodile formed a small sandstorm in his hand. He fixed his gaze on Yemu in the distance, a cruel grin spreading across his face.
"Let me see just what gives you the right to a bounty of nine hundred and forty-five million Belly!"
"Sables!"
The compact sandstorm was hurled toward Yemu. As it advanced, houses, ground, and stone were shredded to pieces. Absorbing more and more debris, the storm grew larger, faster, and more violent.
In an instant, the area where the pirate hunters and pirates stood was swallowed by yellow sand. The immense wind force dragged the unprepared straight into the sandstorm.
"S-So strong! Is this the power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit?!"
"G-Get out of the way!!"
"Someone save me!!"
Panic erupted everywhere.
Logia-type Devil Fruits were extremely rare. Even among the vicious criminals living on the Sabaody Archipelago, many were seeing the power of a Logia for the first time. This near weather-altering force left them trembling with fear.
Yet Yemu didn't move at all.
Only when the sandstorm was almost upon him did he raise Tengoku and bring it down in a single, vertical slash.
"Tengoku: Flying Flame Soothing Slash!"
In that instant, the fleeing criminals, their eyes stinging shut from the sand, felt an overwhelming wave of heat explode outward. The sandstorm abruptly stopped.
Looking up, they saw a dazzling slash of flame fly forward and strike the massive sandstorm. It wrapped around it like a gigantic arm, completely engulfing it.
Visibly, red-hot magma dripped from the flames, and the searing heat baked the surrounding air bone-dry.
The sight left every onlooker staring in shock.
"Is this the power of the Mera Mera no Mi?!"
S-So incredible…"
"The sand… it's actually melting!"
Crocodile, however, remained calm. Feeling the increasingly dry air around him, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"I should be thanking you. The environment of the Sabaody Archipelago wasn't suited for me to fight in. But now, that's no longer the case. Flames can melt sand, but they also vaporize all the moisture in the air."
With that, Crocodile placed his right hand on the ground.
"Ground Death!"
Before their eyes, everything around Crocodile began to crack and dry out, turning to sand and spreading outward. Earth and stone shattered alike, slowly sinking into flowing quicksand.
At that moment, Yemu's voice rang out.
"Hey, this is a beautiful island. Don't you think you're going a bit too far, wrecking it like this?"
Crocodile looked at Yemu with utter disdain, only to see him drive his long blade straight into the ground.
"Tengoku: Hellfire Burial!"
In the next instant, much like Crocodile's Ground Death, raging flames erupted outward with Tengoku at the center, surging forward like tidal waves as they rushed toward Crocodile…