Chương 66: 64. A Sensation At the Marine Headquarters!

"I'm in a bad mood, you troublemaker!"

A chilling, resonant voice emanated from Crocodile.

With those words, Crocodile transformed into a mass of yellow sand, sinking swiftly into the ground. In an instant, he emerged right before Tom's eyes!

"Gulp~" a sound of swallowing echoed.

Tom's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a deepening sense of danger creeping up from within him!

This sensation, it's something only Jerry's cousin could evoke!

As Tom gazed upon Crocodile's grim and formidable visage, he couldn't help but shudder, offering a strained smile and waving his hands.

"Hey, let's just forget about that, okay?"

But Crocodile had no interest in prolonging the banter with Tom at this moment!

He seized Tom by the neck, his eyes brimming with intense malice, engulfing Tom like a relentless tide!

Tom, struggling under Crocodile's grip, grimaced in agony, desperately attempting to pry himself free.

But with his short arms, he couldn't reach Crocodile no matter how hard he struggled.

Witnessing Tom's futile struggle, Crocodile sneered and uttered, "Rot in hell."

Before the words even left his lips, Tom's body withered into a lifeless husk in an instant!

Tossing Tom aside like refuse, Crocodile then turned his attention towards the distant battlefield.

"This is pathetic, you can't even handle such a simple task!"

Gazing at the distant battlefield, Crocodile's voice dripped with disdain, poised to make his move.

Suddenly, two Cipher Pol members materialized before Crocodile, their tone sharp: "Crocodile, have you forgotten the agreement with the World Government?"

"The orders were to capture them alive, not for you to execute them!"

Crocodile erupted into laughter, hooking his golden appendage around the neck of one Cipher Pol member, sneering as he spoke:

"What I choose to do is none of your concern. Are you here to lecture me, you two mice lurking in the shadows?"

Sensing Crocodile's volatile mood, the CP members wisely refrained from provoking further.

With a grunt, Crocodile turned away and departed.

Once the CP members had vacated the scene, Tom, now resembling a mummy, gradually rose to his feet.

As he became aware of the unusual state of his body, Tom stood frozen in bewilderment, his eyes filled with uncertainty and confusion.

After a moment of stunned silence, Tom raised his skeletal arm and erupted into laughter.

In his mind, this place should be paradise, yet here was Crocodile, seemingly resurrected. Did that mean Crocodile is also dead?

Witnessing him alive was more unsettling than facing death itself!

Despite Tom's mockery, Crocodile didn't feel anger, but rather disbelief at the surreal situation unfolding before him.

Crocodile gazed at Tom incredulously, muttering to himself, "What manner of creature is this fellow?"

"He has the water been drained from his body, yet he is still alive?"

If Al had been present, he would have made a wry comment.

"Tom possesses the essence of life within him. If he dies from this only, then he truly underestimates Tom!"

Tom, feeling as though he were already deceased, began to smile wildly, paying no heed to Crocodile.

In his perception, there existed no victors or vanquished among souls.

Without a second thought, Tom reached behind him and produced a slice of cream cake, hurling it towards Crocodile.

As the cake neared its trajectory, Tom couldn't resist taking a bite before releasing it!

Despite being thrown, Tom's weakened state limited the cake's momentum, causing it to hover momentarily before descending.

Observing the cake still halfway to Crocodile,

Tom, feeling embarrassed, clasped his hands behind his back, his toes fidgeting in the sand as he sculpted a delicate mini-castle.

Crocodile's frowned slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he remarked, "So what if you don't die? I can enjoy killing you again~.?"

Upon hearing Lao G's haughty words, Tom felt a surge of anger.

"We're all souls here, how dare you toy with me like this?"

Tom shook his head vigorously, his lips pursed in annoyance as he retrieved a halo from behind, placing it atop his head with determination, glaring at Crocodile.

In the next instant, Tom produced a glass of juice from his back, inhaling deeply as his body visibly began to revert to its original state!

As his body completed its transformation, Tom clenched his thumb and blew forcefully, morphing into a towering, muscular figure over three meters tall!

"Hee ha ha ha ha ~"

"Shorty, do you sense the dread?"

Tom swiftly removed the angel halo from his head, replacing it with a pair of devil's horns. Simultaneously, he brandished a devil's trident, emitting a sinister laugh.

Just as Crocodile was about to interject, a scorpion suddenly emerged from the intricate castle beneath Tom's feet.

It appeared that Tom had encroached upon its territory, prompting the scorpion to mercilessly sting Tom's foot with its venomous tail.

"Aw~!!!"

In the next moment, Tom's agonized cry echoed through the air.

Tom's body began to deflate as the venom from the scorpion's sting took its toll.

Seemingly disheartened, it fluttered back and forth in the air before finally settling, leaving a gap tens of meters long on the ground.

Witnessing this spectacle, the corner of Crocodile's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Could it truly be that this idiot before him was his enemy?

It was utterly disgraceful!!!

The members of the CP organization, who were on the verge of departure, couldn't help but halt in their tracks upon hearing the commotion stirred up by Crocodile.

As they turned around, what unfolded before their eyes caused them to blink involuntarily, doubt etched across their faces.

Tom rose to his feet, his expression contorted in anger as he observed Crocodile's arrogant demeanor. Without hesitation, he retrieved a cream cake from behind.

Marching directly towards Crocodile, Tom swiftly slapped the cake onto Crocodile's face.

In a swift motion, Tom seized the smoking cigar from Crocodile's mouth, snapped it in half, and discarded it aside.

Then, Tom extracted a large firecracker from behind and forcibly inserted it into Crocodile's mouth.

Observing Crocodile's apparent inclination to resist, Tom promptly hurled two more pieces of cream cake onto his face.

Snap--

Boom--

Upon witnessing this spectacle, the members of the CP organization were left utterly dumbfounded, their jaws dropping to the ground in disbelief.

"The cat...is..."

"You must be mistaken! How could that be possible? He's one of the Shichibukai!"

Just as they grappled with disbelief over Tom's actions, a den den mushi in one of their possessions suddenly rang.

"Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~"

The CP member answered the phone, speaking incoherently: "Moshi...Moshi, this is Kali from CP5."

As Kali's voice trailed off, a low and raspy voice echoed from the other end of the phone after a brief pause:

"How did the mission fare?"

Kali and another CP member straightened up abruptly, responding with utmost seriousness:

"Report, We have located the Devil Child Nico Robin in Arabasta.

Furthermore, Shichibukai,Crocodile, is currently engaged in a duel with Tom."

"Only... um..."

Kali hesitated, observing Crocodile being relentlessly pummeled by Tom without retaliating, leaving him at a loss for words.

"Only...?" pressed the suspicious voice from the other end of the line, causing Kali to break out in a cold sweat. He stuttered for a long moment, unable to articulate the next sentence.

"Just spit it out! What's going on?"

Kali trembled uncontrollably as he explained shakily, "Um, it's just that Crocodile is currently... encountering some resistance."

"And! he was... he was incapacitated by that monstrous cat until he couldn't retaliate!!!"

The final sentence erupted from Kali with a quivering voice, showcasing the extent of his shock in that moment!

As the words lingered in the air, ten seconds passed before a suffocatingly tense inquiry emanated from the other end of the line: "Are you certain?"

With just three words, Kali could sense an overwhelming aura of menace radiating from it!

Clearly, the individual on the other end of the line harbored doubts about Kali's report. If it turned out to be false, his life would surely be forfeit!

Kali's teeth chattered uncontrollably as he provided a grave response on the other end of the line.

After a few more moments of tense silence, a voice emanated from the other end of the phone:

"Activate the video projection and link to the Marine Headquarters. Let them handle this situation!"

"Inform the Marine Headquarters and, if deemed necessary, authorize a Buster Call on Arabasta!"

'Kachak...'

Upon hearing the mention of the Buster Call, fear flickered in the eyes of Kali and the other CP member.

"Buster Call... This can't be happening..."

"No way, no way!"

"Quickly, Kali, we must swiftly locate a suitable spot to document this confrontation!"

Before Kali could fully process the news of the Buster Call, he was whisked away to a sandy slope by another companion.

Skillfully arranging their equipment, another CP member affixed the den den mushi onto a wooden stick.

Standing with hands behind their back, they positioned themselves next to the den den mushi, shielding it from being toppled by the gusts of wind and sand.

Meanwhile, Kali dashed off to another battlefield, relaying the live feed to the Marine headquarters simultaneously.

At the Marine headquarters, upon receiving the directive, Sengoku promptly convened all Marine personnel to the meeting room, preparing to observe the unfolding battle!

"Garp, you're still lounging around here munching away. Get a move on to the meeting room!"

Observing Garp indulging in snacks in the corner, Sengoku grew exasperated, snatching all the treats away from him.

Following Garp's recent return, Sengoku had queried him about Tom's crew.

However, Garp's response to my inquiries was rather evasive, as if he hadn't said anything at all.

Despite having his snacks confiscated, Garp didn't seem perturbed. Instead, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sengoku, there's no need for me to delve into the affairs of those youngsters. I've got a good grasp of their capabilities."

"Garp! You may have a grasp, but we need concrete information. Come with me!"

Sengoku didn't afford Garp the opportunity to protest, swiftly dragging him along to the conference room.

However, as Sengoku pushed open the door to the meeting room, the sight that greeted him left him utterly incredulous.

Crocodile, enduring multiple cake assaults from Tom, reached his breaking point. With a swift Desert Spada (Desert Sword), he cleaved Tom in two.

Yet, what followed was a scene that sent shockwaves through all who witnessed it.

In a moment of sheer astonishment, Tom produced a fly swatter from behind just as the sand blade struck, separating his upper body from his lower half. With a resounding slap, he struck Crocodile squarely across the face.

Tom's slap sent Crocodile's head careening into a mass of yellow sand.

Then, without missing a beat, Tom retrieved his lower body and hoisted it up, seamlessly reuniting it with his upper half.

In the instant of their reunion, Tom reached behind him and produced a chocolate pie, hurling it at Crocodile, who had just begun to reform in the distance.

In just a matter of seconds, Tom's actions left all the Marine personnel in the meeting room utterly astounded, their jaws dropping to the ground in disbelief.

Even the Marine's Three Admirals couldn't help but furrow their brows upon witnessing this spectacle.

Only Garp threw his head back and erupted into hearty laughter.

[Received 9999 EP from Crocodile]

[...]

Al, who was sailing on the sea, was filled with doubt as he observed the continuous stream of EPs on his screen.

What in the world did that guy Tom do to roast Crocodile that much?

His swiping speed on that screen is faster than Spike's reaping on the battlefield!

[Obtain a can of Popeye's spinach.]

Hearing the prompt in his mind, Al was momentarily surprised, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

This is already his second delivery!

And Popeye's spinach, Al had already spotted it in the system mall earlier, with an initial cost of one million EP to purchase.

Its effect: [Temporarily grants various buffs exceeding one thousand percent of your own capabilities, with a duration of ten days.]

For instance, if a person's strength value is 10, consuming the spinach would allow them to break through their physical limits and increase their strength to 10,000!

Furthermore, the bonuses aren't limited to strength alone; they encompass speed, intellect, and other aspects, providing a comprehensive enhancement.

Removing the can of Popeye's spinach, Al extended his hand towards it without even glancing at the item.

In an instant, the can of spinach reappeared, now nestled within Spike's stomach!

As the spinach made its way into the intestines and stomach, Al withdrew his hand once more, the entire process taking no more than a breath.

Even Spike, amidst his shell-throwing frenzy aimed at members of the Baroque Work Club, remained oblivious to the spinach's ingestion.

"This ability truly defies belief!"

With a light clap of his hands, Al propelled the small bicycle forward with determination.

Then, he leisurely rested his feet on the front of the bike and sipped black tea.

Incredibly, even without Al's intervention, the little bike glided smoothly across the sea.

And the speed, starting from a leisurely pace, gradually accelerated to become as swift as a lightning bolt streaking across the waves!

In its wake, the small island behind him stirred up a colossal 100-meter wave, frightening all the Sea Kings lurking beneath the depths into a hasty retreat!

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