One Piece : I Became a Monster Just by Eating

The surrounding temperature dropped sharply as Crocodile slowly raised his right hand, sand beginning to condense into a vortex in his palm.

“It seems you want to taste what it’s like to be sucked dry.”

His voice carried a cold killing intent.

“Don’t be in such a hurry! Your opponents aren’t me, but them.”

Kaguya waved his hand toward Nojiko and the other two girls.

The three girls immediately assumed combat stances.

Crocodile’s gaze swept over the three of them, a contemptuous curve rising at the corner of his mouth.

“Just these little girls?”

He sneered and violently swung his right hand, sending yellow sand sweeping toward the three girls like sharp blades.

Nojiko’s eyes narrowed, and her figure vanished instantly; in the next second, she appeared behind Crocodile, her Yubashiri slashing straight down.

Crocodile reacted extremely quickly, parrying with his golden hook as sparks flew.

Tashigi attacked at the same time, her shigure aiming straight for Crocodile’s throat.

The three girls’ cooperation was fairly seamless, primarily due to the rapport between the two Sisters, Tashigi and Nojiko.

Since Nojiko knew Armament Haki and Observation Haki, she took the lead attacker position.

Tashigi provided support from the side.

As for the weakling Vivi, she could only use her Peacock Chain to harass from the sidelines, just to feel included.

While the three girls were besieging Crocodile, Kaguya approached Nico Robin.

“Well? Have you considered what I just said?”

Nico Robin glanced at Crocodile dealing with the trio’s assault, then at the relaxed and at-ease Kaguya, and smiled slightly.

“What value do I have to you?”

“Could it be that you also need me to help you translate poneglyphs?”

“I’m not interested in the secrets hidden by the World Government. To me, poneglyphs are just useless stone tablets.”

Kaguya said with great disdain.

A hint of suspicion flashed in Nico Robin’s eyes; if he didn’t need her to translate poneglyphs, why would this man come looking for her?

She didn’t think her meager bounty would catch this man’s eye.

“Then what do you want?”

Robin’s voice was filled with confusion.

“You.”

Kaguya gazed calmly at Robin.

Robin’s breath hitched slightly, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around her shawl.

For twenty years, this was the first time she had heard such a blunt answer.

The hot desert wind ruffled the hair at her temples as memories of being hunted by the world flashed through her mind.

“Me?”

She chuckled, but ripples of emotion appeared in the depths of her eyes.

“Is a ‘devil child’ wanted by the world worth making an enemy of a Shichibukai?”

Kaguya’s gaze passed her, looking at the figures fighting in the distance.

“Of course. What does a Shichibukai matter? Aren’t they being besieged by my three women right now?”

“I don’t have many hobbies; I just have a bit of a weakness for beauty.”

“As long as you follow me, you’ll never have to fear the World Government’s pursuit again.”

“I can also take you to find poneglyphs.”

“If there’s a chance in the future, maybe I can even help you get revenge.”

Robin’s pupils trembled slightly. The word ‘revenge’ was like a key, opening a long-sealed floodgate of memories.

The flames of Ohara flashed in her mind, and the dying cries of the scholars seemed to echo in her ears across time and space.

“Then you need to defeat Crocodile first to prove you have that strength.”

Robin stepped back slightly, crossing her arms over her chest in a watchful stance.

Her gaze drifted between Kaguya and the battlefield, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The nearby Millions were breaking out in a cold sweat as they listened.

These guys only just realized that their behind-the-scenes leader was actually Crocodile of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

But knowing who their secret boss was didn’t seem to matter much now; their boss was currently being ganged up on.

They wanted to show off and support their boss, but their bodies didn’t dare move an inch.

The pressure emanating from the man beside them was like that of an ancient beast; they felt that if they took a single step, they would be decapitated.

The battle in the distance grew increasingly intense.

Nojiko’s blade was wrapped in pitch-black Armament Haki, and every slash forced Crocodile to take her seriously.

Tashigi seized an opportunity, her shigure tracing a silver light and leaving a tear in Crocodile’s cloak.

“You damn brats!”

Crocodile roared, and a massive sand blade swept out.

Nojiko retreated quickly, while Tashigi dodged the attack with a roll, but Vivi’s Peacock Chain was unfortunately severed by the sand blade.

“I really underestimated you!”

“To think you actually know Armament Haki and Observation Haki.”

“But do you think knowing Haki is enough to defeat me!”

“This is the desert! This is my home turf!”

Crocodile’s aura erupted. Although he had been slacking off and his strength had regressed over the years due to his severed arm, the Sand-Sand Fruit’s power still held an absolute advantage in the desert.

He suddenly spread his arms, and the sandy ground beneath his feet began to vibrate violently. Countless sand pillars shot into the sky, forming a massive sandstorm cage that trapped the three girls inside.

“Sables: Grand Burial!”

In the violent sandstorm, Tashigi’s glasses were blown away, Nojiko barely managed to protect her vitals with Armament Haki, and Vivi had already collapsed to her knees.

At this critical moment, Kaguya moved.

His figure appeared instantly within the sandstorm.

Robin hadn’t noticed at all how Kaguya had vanished.

“Freeze!”

With a soft command from Kaguya, the raging sandstorm actually froze instantly.

The sand filling the sky was like it had been hit by a pause button, remaining stationary in the air in its wild, dancing state.

Crocodile’s pupils shrank, and his golden hook trembled involuntarily—this was the first time in twenty years he had felt fear.

“How is this possible…”

Crocodile’s voice was as dry as if all the moisture had been sucked out of it.

He could feel that the sand was still under his control, but no matter how he used his fruit ability, the sandstorm remained motionless.

Kaguya carried Tashigi and Vivi out of the sandstorm, leaving only Nojiko inside to deal with it.

As Kaguya left, the sandstorm resumed its rampage, but Nojiko showed an excited smile.

Crocodile was the strongest opponent she had met to date; she could use him to hone her skills.

Nojiko gripped Yubashiri with both hands, pitch-black Armament Haki wrapping around the blade like flames as she violently swung out a slash wave.

The sandstorm was forcibly torn apart, and Crocodile was forced back several steps, his face filled with shock.

Nojiko once again engaged in a fierce battle with Crocodile.

“Here, your glasses.”

Kaguya returned the plain-looking glasses to Tashigi.

Tashigi hurriedly took the glasses and put them on, gripping shigure as she prepared to rush back in.

“Forget it. You don’t know Armament Haki, so you won’t be able to cause any damage to Crocodile.”

“I should find a Zoan-type Devil Fruit for you.”

“Otherwise, your nearsightedness affects your combat strength too much.”

Kaguya stopped Tashigi and reached out gently to wipe the dust from her face.

…

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