Kapitel 73: Luffy vs Crocodile
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Crocodile's face twisted in anger. With a swift motion, he swung his arm, slicing through the stone pillars holding up the underground chamber. As the room began to collapse, he transformed into sand and flew towards the stairs. Water started to flood the chamber as the structure crumbled.
Luffy and Smoker, still inside the cage, had no time to escape as the water surged in. Luffy turned to Coby, panic in his eyes. "Coby, he can't get out—save him too!" He pointed at Smoker.
Coby nodded and leaped into action, grabbing both Luffy and Smoker as water rushed in. With Vivi clutching onto his back, he kicked off the ground, propelling them towards the surface with powerful strokes, navigating the flooded tunnel.
Once they breached the surface, they gasped for air, Coby hauling Smoker and Luffy onto dry ground. The chamber below collapsed completely, water filling the space Crocodile had just escaped from. Coby shook the water from his hair and glanced around, making sure everyone was safe.
Smoker coughed, water dripping from his clothes. "You saved me… why?" He lunged at Coby with his jitte, but Coby blocked it with his own, one he had swiped from Smoker in Logue Town. The two stood, weapons locked.
Coby looked at him. "Captain's orders."
Luffy, shaking the water from his hair, grinned. "You're not a bad guy, and I don't hate you, Shishishi."
Smoker's face turned red with anger, clearly frustrated. He shoved his jitte away from Coby's, stepping back. "Go!" he barked, though his tone lacked its usual bite. "Only for now, Straw Hat! I'll catch you, I swear!"
Luffy didn't waste any time. He dashed ahead, motioning for the others to follow. "Let's get going!"
Coby nodded, moving swiftly alongside Luffy and Vivi as they navigated the hallways of the crumbling casino. The sound of rushing water echoed through the corridors.
Just as they reached the exit, they spotted Nico Robin standing in the shadows. She tilted her head, watching them with an amused expression.
"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you?" Robin remarked, her voice smooth as always. She shook her head slightly. "You won't give up anyway. He went that way." She pointed west, towards the endless desert, the direction of Alubarna.
Luffy grinned wide. "Thanks!"
Coby quickly lowered his weight to 1 kilogram, grabbed Vivi onto his back, and bolted for the ship. The rush back to the Going Merry was swift—Coby practically floated across the sand with his weight reduced. Once they reached the ship, he gently set Vivi down, securing her safety with the crew. Without wasting time, he turned around and shot back towards the direction Luffy had gone, chasing after Crocodile.
With his speed enhanced by his weight manipulation, Coby soon caught up to Luffy. They could see the faint silhouette of Crocodile in the distance, not too far ahead. The desert stretched on endlessly, but they didn't let the heat slow them down. Every step brought them closer to the Shichibukai.
As they gained on him, Luffy shouted ahead, his voice booming across the sand. "Crocodile! Get ready for a beatdown!"
Crocodile glanced back, a smirk forming on his lips as he recognized the persistent Straw Hat. "You didn't die? But that won't change anything."
Without missing a beat, he turned and charged at Luffy and Coby, his body shifting into sand as he closed the distance. The air grew dry around him, the desert responding to his power. Coby moved to intercept, but Luffy shot him a glance.
"You promised, Coby. This is my fight," Luffy said, his voice firm as he kicked Coby away, making sure he stayed clear.
Coby landed a few feet away, dusting himself off with a shrug. "Do whatever you want," he replied, respecting Luffy's choice. He didn't make any move to interfere, but he kept a watchful eye on the fight.
Crocodile sneered, his eyes gleaming with disdain. "Are you really a pirate? You give away your advantage in numbers. Not that it would change anything."
Luffy scowled, his fists clenching. "Shut up and fight, stupid Banandile!" he shot back, charging forward with his signature Gum-Gum Pistol, his arm stretching as he aimed for Crocodile's face.
Crocodile effortlessly dispersed into sand, Luffy's fist passing through him harmlessly. "You still don't get it, do you?" Crocodile taunted, reforming a few feet away. He raised his hand, sand swirling around it like a deadly storm. "Desert Spada!"
A massive blade of compressed sand shot out from his hand, slicing through the air towards Luffy. The ground split open in its wake, leaving a deep chasm behind. Luffy jumped, narrowly avoiding the attack as it tore through the ground where he had just been standing.
Crocodile wasn't done. He extended his arm, the sand shifting into a giant claw that raked across the battlefield. Luffy dodged and weaved, his movements agile as he avoided Crocodile's attacks. But the more he dodged, the more frustrated he became. His punches and kicks kept passing through Crocodile's sandy form without doing any damage.
"Is that all you've got?" Crocodile mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. "You can't even touch me."
Luffy's jaw clenched as he ground his teeth in frustration. He remembered Coby telling him that the only way to hit Crocodile was with Haki or by getting him wet. Luffy had ignored it, but now it was clear Coby was right. So, without wasting more time, Luffy reached into his bag, grabbed a water bottle, and splashed it directly onto Crocodile's body.
Crocodile's eyes widened in shock as the water drenched his sandy form, solidifying parts of his body. "You! How do you know my weakness?" Crocodile growled, his voice filled with anger.
Luffy didn't bother responding. He charged at Crocodile with a powerful right hook. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" he yelled, his fist flying forward and connecting solidly with Crocodile's face, sending him staggering backward. The water had made Crocodile tangible, and Luffy's punch landed with a satisfying thud.
Crocodile spat out sand as he stumbled, his eyes burning with fury. "You little brat! You think this changes anything?" He regained his footing and swiped his hand through the air, sending a sharp blade of sand toward Luffy. "Desert Spada!"
Luffy dodged to the side, barely avoiding the attack as it sliced through the ground where he had just stood. He grabbed another water bottle from his bag, quickly dousing himself with it.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed as he saw Luffy's strategy. "So, you think you can keep up with this, Straw Hat?" he sneered, raising his hand again. This time, the sand around them began to swirl, forming a massive tornado. "Desert Encierro!"
The tornado of sand whipped through the air, threatening to engulf Luffy. But Luffy wasn't backing down. He leaped into the air, using his water-soaked fist to strike the center of the swirling sand. "Gum-Gum Bazooka!"
But that was a stupid move. Luffy got caught in the tornado and lost his balance, the spinning sand quickly stripping away the water on his body. He struggled to get back up, but Crocodile didn't waste time. His hooked hand glinted in the harsh desert sunlight as he lunged toward Luffy, ready to strike.
Just as Crocodile was about to pierce Luffy with his hook, a series of water darts grazed his arm. The water droplets sizzled against his sand, causing him to pull back. His eyes darted up to see Coby standing a few feet away, a water bottle in hand, droplets of water still dripping from his fingers.
"That is..." Crocodile muttered, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. He recognized the technique—a Fishman martial art that could actually harm him. Coby didn't give him time to react further.
"We are going," Coby said to Luffy, his voice direct. "Our fight will be in Alubarna."
Crocodile wanted to finish them off, but he was late, and Coby knew it wasn't wise to fight Crocodile in a desert. No matter how many moves he knew, in the end, without Haki, he couldn't take the risk. The sand around them shifted as Crocodile prepared to attack again, but Coby was already on the move.
"Luffy, we need to go!" Coby shouted, grabbing Luffy by the arm and yanking him back. Luffy struggled, still eager to fight, but Coby's grip was firm. "Now!"
Luffy growled in frustration but didn't resist further. They sprinted across the desert, putting as much distance between them and Crocodile as possible. Coby's focus was on getting Luffy and himself to safety, avoiding Crocodile's attacks as the sandstorm raged around them.
Crocodile, realizing they were slipping away, shot his hand forward, sending a wave of sand after them. The sand reached out like a tidal wave, ready to engulf them. But Coby was quick, using his ability to lighten his weight, he practically glided over the desert sands, pulling Luffy along with him.
The sandstorm whipped around them, Crocodile's laughter echoing through the chaos. He didn't bother chasing them; he didn't need to. The desert was his domain, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the sands claimed them. But Coby had no intention of letting that happen.
"Come on, Luffy!" Coby urged, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of shelter. He knew they couldn't keep running forever. They needed a plan, and fast. Up ahead, he spotted a cluster of rocks jutting out of the sand, offering some cover.
"This way!" Coby called out, dragging Luffy toward the rocks. They dove behind the largest boulder just as another wave of sand crashed down where they had been standing moments before.
Luffy panted, still fuming from the retreat. "I wanted to beat him!" he complained, his fists clenched in frustration.
Coby shook his head, catching his breath. "We're not ready for him here. We need to think this through."
Luffy didn't like it, but he understood. They couldn't win against Crocodile in the desert, not without a better strategy. Reluctantly, he nodded, agreeing to the temporary retreat.
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