Chapter 36: Rain
Yo! When this chapter is coming out, I'll be writing the start of 'Water 7', so if you have anything you want to see in that, let me know! The end of this chapter should give you a basic idea of what I'm going to do, but other ideas for inspiration always help!
GIVE ME POWER STONES TO CRAFT THEM INTO WEAPONRY TO DEFEND MYSELF FROM THE POLICE THAT ARE SWARMING MY HOUSE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON!!!
Enjoy the chapter! (^That wasn't me, I swear)
...
*PANT* *PANT*
*PANT* *PANT*
Luffy and Crocodile stared at each other as they caught their breath. Luffy suddenly covered his fists in a red coating of 'Advanced Armament Haki' and flames before he grinned, making Crocodile get ready before narrowing his eyes.
The Warlord covered his hand in 'Advanced Armament Haki' and turned it into a loose blade of fast-moving sand before stabbing it into the ground.
"Desert Spada!!!"
*FWOOOM*
The sand blade extended along the ground like a torpedo, splitting anything in its path, including the very ground itself, through extreme and focused erosion created by the sand blade. Luffy grinned widely at the sand blade that shot toward him.
*BOOOOM*
The rebel and Royal armies soldiers watched in shock as Luffy backhanded the attack that could easily kill any of them like it was a bug. They all heard the pirate taunt the Warlord as they tried to escape, as the battlefield was no longer safe for them.
"You should know by now that shit won't work on me!!"
Crocodile narrowed his eyes when Luffy stopped using his 'Advanced Armament Haki' and the flames on his fists covered his arm in 'Armament Haki' and bit into it. The Warlord charged him to stop his transformation, making Luffy grin at him before taking a large breath.
*INHALE*
"Since 'Power' wasn't enough to beat you for good, let's try 'Speed'!!" He shouted out before blowing air into his arm. Crocodile clicked his tongue when he was cut off by the cloud of steam formed around Luffy.
"Gear 4th: Snakeman!!!"
*CREAK* *CREAK*
Crocodile narrowed his eyes at the cloud of steam when he heard the familiar creaking sound. He started condensing sand in his right hand covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki' in preparation to counter the attack he knew as coming.
"Gomu-Gomu no..."
Crocodile's eyes widened when a fist covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki' shot out of the cloud of steam at an incredibly high speed. He could barely react in time to bring his arms up to block the attack, much less dodge it.
"Jet Culverin!!!"
*BOOOOM*
"Shit!!!"
Crocodile swore as he was sent flying back from the punch. He used the sand he condensed in his hand earlier to form multiple thin walls of sand.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
The thin walls of sand slowed Crocodile down little by little without causing him any damage before most of his momentum was almost gone, but that didn't mean he had any time to think or breathe.
"You can't get away!! Stretch, Python!!!"
*TING* *TING* *TING*
The Warlord couldn't slow down in time to sense how the attack that sent him flying had continued speeding up more and more as it kept changing directions.
"Gomu-Gomu no..."
Because of this, Luffy caught Crocodile almost completely off guard when he glanced down and to his right to see Luffy's flaming fist right about to hit his face.
"Jet Culverin!!!"
*BOOOOM* *BOOOOOOM*
The unbelievably fast punch smacked into Crocodile's right cheek and sent him crashing into the ground before the man could even register the pain from the punch.
*SNAP*
The extended arm snapped back to Luffy, who had appeared about ten meters away from Crocodile. He had a massive grin on his face as he watched Crocodile reform again out of the sand on the ground while he was breathing heavily.
Luffy's smile was mainly because of the busted lip Crocodile had after that attack. The fact that Crocodile could take a few punches from both his 'Gear 4th' forms helps a bit too.
"I'll admit it; I underestimated you, 'Straw Hat'. but you don't know what it means to be a pirate. You don't know the true horrors of the 'New World'." Crocodile declared as sand started kicking up all around him.
Luffy tilted his head in confusion when the sand kicked up much more than before, and Crocodile turned completely into sand and merged with all of the sand being kicked up.
"Empereur des Sables!!!"
Luffy let out a massive smile when he saw the massive giant made out of sand. It was about a hundred meters tall with a giant hook for a left hand that matched Crocodile's hook, samurai-like armor surrounding it, and a face that was essentially Crocodile's face carved in sand.
All in all, it made Luffy seem like an ant in comparison.
*BOOM*
Luffy shot toward the massive sand avatar when he saw how it started to bring its left arm back and clench its fist.
"Gomu-Gomu no..." *CREAK* *CREAK*
The sand avatar tried to punch down at Luffy, which made his smile grow wider. Luffy could sense Crocodile at the top of the massive avatar, so he thought that would be a good place to punch.
When Luffy felt like he couldn't compress his arm anymore, he threw it forward with all his energy.
*TING* *TING* *TING*
"Jet Culverin!!!"
*BOOOOM*
His fist bent right around the massive sand fist that was coming crashing down before it smacked into the head of the massive avatar, forcing it back and almost toppling it over.
Crocodile, who was struggling to calm his anger at being pushed to this extent by some upstart, threw his hands over his head with the massive avatar mimicking his movement.
*BOOM* *BOOM*
The Warlord had his sand avatar jump onto its hands into a back handspring to mitigate the damage from the punch that created a massive impact on the ground, but Crocodile would be lying if he said that attack didn't affect him at all.
'Fuck!! This damn brat is annoying!! Let's test his 'Observation Haki'' Crocodile thought to himself before both clapped their hands together.
*CLAP* *CLAP*
"Balles de Sable!!!"
Crocodile creates countless compressed balls of sand and sends them flying at Luffy at high speeds, to which he just grins before he dodges them and while he does so, he compresses his right arm in on itself, which makes Crocodile grit his teeth in anger.
*CREAK* *CREAK*
"Gomu-Gomu no King Cobra!!!"
*TING* *TING* *TING*
*BOOOOOOM!!!*
The unbelievably fast punch lands on the sand avatar's massive face after gaining speed by snapping in different directions. The punch sent the sand avatar onto its back which made Luffy smirk, which grew when he sensed Crocodile pop out near the head, completely enraged.
"Damn it!! Stop getting in my way!! Sables: Enorme Tsunami!!!"
*BOOOOOOM*
The Warlord turned the massive avatar into another massive tsunami towards both Luffy and the armies at the edge of the battlefield.
"Oh my god!!" "RUN!!" "SOMEONE SAVE ME!!!" "What the hell is that?!"
All of the soldiers saw this and either froze out of horror or started frantically running in the other direction. Almost all of them started screaming their heads off at what they were witnessing.
*CREAK* *CREAK*
Luffy just grinned wider when he saw the attack while he compressed both his arms in on themselves and shot towards it.
"Gomu-Gomu no Black Mamba!!!"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
Luffy landed countless punches covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki' and flames empowered by the speed they were moving at on the sand tsunami. He gritted his teeth as he realized his attack wouldn't be enough to stop the massive wave.
Crocodile, who was still up high up in the air where he was forced out of his 'Empereur des Sables', smirked as he felt the same thing Luffy did and pushed his advantage with all his effort.
Luffy tapped into that weird feeling he always felt whenever he used his flames, and immediately, the countless rapid-fire punches were covered in roaring flames.
*FWOOOOM*
"Gomu-Gomu no: Roc Black Mamba!!!"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
The countless rapid-fire punches covered in flames and 'Advanced Armament Haki' smashed into what was left of the sand tsunami.
*BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!*
There was a massive explosion of sand and flames that covered the sun for a brief second before it all lightly fell back down.
*SNAP* *PANT* *PANT*
Luffy let his arms snap back in place as he planted from exhaustion. He watched as the massive tsunami of sand fell harmlessly toward the ground before looking up at the irate Crocodile.
*CREAK* *CREAK*
Luffy started compressing his right arm in on itself again as he looked at the seething Warlord while covering it in as many flames and as much 'Advanced Armament Haki' as he could manage at the moment.
"Gomu-Gomu no..."
Crocodile was glaring down at his fallen 'Sables: Enorme Tsunami' in anger, not believing the fact that even that attack, one which could destroy some small countries, could be destroyed by this damn brat and that same brat is still ready to keep fighting.
*TING* *TING*
His introspection was cut off when he heard the familiar noise. Crocodile crossed his arms in front of his face while covering them in 'Advance Armament Haki' and just in time as Luffy's flaming punch came crashing into them.
"Roc King Cobra!!!"
*BOOOOOM*
The Warlord was sent flying uncontrollably up into the air while frantically trying to slow down.
*PANT* *PANT*
Luffy starts panting as he lets his 'Gear 4th: Snakeman' fall, but he isn't out of the fight yet! He smiled wide when he remembered a move his grandpa had shown him after Luffy showed him his first, albeit very weak, 'Galaxy Impact' as a reward.
*PANT* *PANT*
Crocodile was panting heavily as he stared into the massive cloud of falling sand and dust that shrouded Luffy from his view from above.
After he managed to slow himself down, he had his feet constantly shooting out sand, allowing him to stand in the air freely as he looked where he could sense his opponent. The Warlord smirked when he sensed him leave that transformed state that allowed for enhanced 'Power' or 'Speed', as 'Straw Hat' put it.
'Good he should be much slow-'
*GRAB*
Crocodile's thoughts were cut off when Luffy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his face hard with his hand covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki'. Crocodile's eyes widened as he saw Luffy's growing grin and sensed his 'Conqueror's Haki' suddenly erupt.
*ZIZIZIZ*
"You know, Croc, I said earlier that idiots like you who rely on strength that isn't their own, but you don't seem to get that. So, I'll pass on a lesson my gramps taught me. Listen carefully." Luffy said as Crocodile tried to pry the hand grabbing his face off with both hands covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki', but it didn't make Luffy's hand budge an inch.
"Stop living in the past and live in the moment, dumbass!! Those who falter on their path…" Luffy said as he brought his hand holding Crocodile's face up above him.
"ARE WEAK!!!"
"Blue Hole!!!"
Luffy threw Crocodile towards the ground as hard as he could with a massive smile on his face.
*BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!*
The attack left a massive crater in the middle of the battlefield which had been turned to sand. For the soldiers still close enough and brave enough, they looked down into the hole and were horrified when they realized they couldn't see the bottom.
*PANT* *PANT* *PANT*
Luffy could sense Crocodile was still conscious at the bottom of the hole and he tried to catch his breath. He grits his teeth while bringing his arm covered in 'Armament Haki' up to his mouth.
'I can use 'Gear 4th' for maybe another minute, so I gotta beat Croc before then. If I don't, then I won't be able to use 'Haki' for ten minutes!!' Luffy thought to himself in determination.
He never even considered the option of not using his 'Gear 4th' to conserve his 'Haki'.
After all, everyone knows you can't achieve your dreams without a little risk.
"Gear 4th: Bounceman!!!"
Crocodile pulled himself out of the massive hole Luffy had made with his attack and grit his teeth when he sensed Luffy's 'Haki' surging again and when he heard the familiar creaking noises.
He looked up to see Luffy back in his goofy-looking 'Gear 4th: Bounceman' form with his right fist inflated to the size of a giant and covered in flames.
Too bad he couldn't bring himself to be amused at the sight this time.
'That's the attack that he used to me through the ceiling!!' Crocodile thought to himself in alarm as he remembered how strong that attack was. He calmed himself down for a second before slamming his hands onto the ground.
Luffy watched as all of the stone pillars, houses, and even the ground turned into sand and was formed into countless sharp points of condensed sand.
"Sables de Destruction!!!"
Even though he knew sharp things were his weakness and that the massive amount of sand blades could hurt or even kill him, Luffy didn't hesitate at all.
"Gomu-Gomu no..."
When Crocodile saw the resolute look on Luffy's face even at the sight of hundreds if not thousands of blades made of sand converging on him, he couldn't help but scowl and shout out in anger.
"Why are you trying so hard to beat me, 'Straw Hat'?! The strong like us can do whatever we want, why are you getting in my way?!" The 'Desert King', Sir Crocodile shouted out in anger making Luffy laugh.
*CREAK* *CREAK* *CREAK*
"Shishishishi!! Why?!" Luffy asked as he smirked down at his opponent as he compressed his massive fist in on itself.
"Promise me you won't die," Vivi said with her voice almost breaking. Luffy smiled softly at her and put his free hand on his straw hat, which was still on Vivi's head.
"I promise I won't die. Keep that till I come back."
*SNAP*
Luffy's smirk turned into a massive smile as his flaming fist snapped in on itself.
"I made a promise to a friend that I'd kick your ass!! And I'm gonna keep it!!" Luffy shouted out and before Crocodile could say anything, Luffy shot in his direction.
*BOOM*
"Since 'Power' and 'Speed' didn't put you down for good, I'll just use more 'Power'!!! Gomu-Gomu no..." Luffy shouted out before throwing his massive flaming fist forward and decompressing it at the same time.
"Roc King Kong Gun!!!"
*BOOOOOOM*
*STAB* *STAB* *STAB* *STAB* *STAB*
Some of the sand spikes drilled into Luffy's fist, but that just pushed him on further. Crocodile saw as even though he was stabbed through his fist, he still kept forcing it right at him without a single care for his own safety.
'Stop living in the past and live in the moment, huh? I see.' Crocodile thought to himself as he watched the massive fist break through all of his sand spikes and head right at him faster than he could blink.
*BOOOOM*
The punch landed right on Crocodile's face and knocked him out as soon as it hit him. After the attack landed, everyone who was still around the battlefield saw how Crocodile fell towards the ground head-first and Luffy shrunk back down to his regular form while watching him.
Everyone was completely silent, which allowed everyone to hear Crocodile's impact on the ground and Luffy's laughing.
*BOOM*
"Shishishishi!! That'll teach you, you shitty Croc!!"
*BOOM*
They all heard and saw Luffy land on his back after finally letting himself fall unconscious. That was when the rain started falling.
*TAP*
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
"STOP FIGHTING!!!!!"
Everyone was broken from their trance they had been in since they saw the massive sand tsunami and the rain by the shouting.
They all turned to the screaming that seemed to come from the person's soul and were surprised to see their missing princess at the top of the clock tower. Everyone was so stumped at seeing her this way and at this time that they all fell silent.
Vivi clenched her fists hard enough for her nails to dig into her palms and draw blood.
*DRIP* *DRIP*
'They finally stopped, I won't have a better chance! Thank you so much, Luffy-san!!' Vivi thought to herself in determination before she took a deep breath before she shouted out what was the deepest desire in her soul.
*INHALE*
"EVERYONE, PLEASE STOP FIGHTING!!!! THE RAIN HAS FALLEN AS IT WILL ALWAYS FALL, AND OUR NIGHTMARE IS OVER, SO PLEASE, STOP FIGHTING!!!"
It took a few seconds for the crowd of over a million soldiers that had gathered in a circular pattern around the battlefield to process what was told to them by the princess they thought had been missing for the past two years. Once they all did...
*TING* *TING* *TING* *TING*
Every single soldier across the battlefield collectively dropped their weapons and stopped fighting.
Vivi watched as her wish was finally fulfilled and she couldn't help herself. She dropped to her knees in overwhelming happiness and relief as tears started overflowing.
'It's finally over...'
.
.
On top of the 'Red Line', inside 'Pangea Castle', five men could be seen inside a large, high-class room, all sitting at or standing around a couch and a small table in the middle.
"Those damn Ds are always getting in the way!! This was the perfect chance to get rid of those damn Nefertaris, but that idiot Crocodile couldn't even beat some brat!!" The bald man in the white robe said angrily. The younger-looking man with blonde hair hummed when he heard that.
*HMM*
"But, it doesn't affect much at the end of the day. All we need to do is find another Warlord to restore the balance." The man said getting nods from everyone else in the room. The man with a large white beard and holding a cane spoke up.
"Very true. After all, the Nefertaris aren't a threat at all. With Crocodile being one of, if not the weakest of the 'Seven Warlords', there isn't much to worry about." The man said getting nods of agreement.
"Wait." The bald older man with a large, white mustache made everyone stop and look at him.
"We all know very well what devil fruit that 'Straw Hat' has. We can't disregard him, even if there is a very small likelyhood if the true power of that fruit being awakened." Once the man mentioned Luffy's devil fruit, there was a hush in the room, like the five men were cautious about even talking about it.
The blonde man stood up and walked towards the window, stopping when he was right next to it.
"You're right. The potential held within that pirate is a cause for concern, even for us." The man said with a scowl on his face. The other four had to reluctantly agree to what he said.
The taller man with a long, white beard spoke up for the first time since the meeting began.
"Should we send Kuzan? 'Straw Hat' Luffy and his crew will most likely go to 'Jaya' and then 'Skypiea' if he continues to follow Roger's route." The man's scowl grew when he mentioned Roger's name, but he calmed himself down quickly.
The others in the room nodded and hummed in agreement to his words.
*BOOM*
The bald man holding the large katana slammed the sheathed blade on the ground.
"Then it's agreed, we cannot let 'Straw Hat' Luffy and his crew become real players in the world."
"Hmm." "Hmm." "Hmm." "Hmm."
After the other four hummed in agreement, the bald man nodded before giving out his order.
"Then, tell Aokiji to meet up with the CP0 we have stationed at 'Water 7'."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ntc15
ntc15 Yo! 36th chapter done! 'Alabasta' is done!! There will be a bit of a filler chapter next time, but after that, it's the start of 'Skypiea'!!! Can't wait to kick the shit out of Enel!!
Anyway, when this chapter comes out, I'll be starting to write 'Water 7' so let me know if you have any good ideas for it!!
Thanks for reading and hopefully see you next chapter!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone