One Piece: Starting From Picking Up Red-Haired's Arm

Clang!

The sharp clashing of metal reverberated, causing eardrums to ache.

Xiano's figure materialized mid-air, his right arm enveloped in a denser layer of Armament Haki, effortlessly blocking the lethal strike.

At this moment.

Their faces were mere inches apart.

After a brief exchange of glances, Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke, about to speak, when the sound of rushing wind reached his ears.

Meanwhile, Xiano muttered in a low voice:

"Storm Leg·Meteor!"

Boom!

A powerful downward kick, carrying immense force, sent shockwaves rippling through the air, crashing heavily onto Crocodile's shoulder. The crisp sound of bones shattering was unmistakable.

Even though Crocodile had reacted and tried to block with his golden hook, he was still slammed into the ground like a meteor, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Cough, cough…"

He struggled to his feet, coughing up a mouthful of blood, and when he looked at Xiano again, a trace of fear flickered in his eyes.

Such a fast kick!

This time, even his Observation Haki had failed to react in time. But what was even more astonishing was the sheer strength behind that kick!

Where did this monster come from?!

He couldn't remember the last time he had been so utterly overpowered in terms of strength. Perhaps it was that damned Hanafuda? But that was at least five years ago…

No, he had to bring out his ultimate move now!

"Desert Greatsword!"

With this thought, Crocodile's right hand suddenly turned into sand, condensing into a massive sand blade wrapped in Armament Haki, which he swung fiercely toward Xiano!

Swoosh!

The attack was swift and vicious, its momentum immense. Wherever it passed, the desert split in two, and purple sparks crackled along its path.

However.

What Crocodile didn't expect was that.

Instead of dodging, Xiano stood his ground, curiously examining the rapidly approaching sand blade, not even considering closing his eyes.

Idiot!

Crocodile sneered. This fool actually thought he could block it. If it were just a regular "Desert Spada," he might have believed it.

But this was a fully enhanced and upgraded version, a true ultimate technique he had developed just a few months ago. How dare he think he could withstand it with his bare body…

Huh?

The next moment, his sneer froze on his face.

The massive sand blade, which should have been powerful enough to split the entire desert, exploded into countless fine grains of sand the moment it collided with Xiano's chest, scattering harmlessly to the ground without even breaking the skin.

The grains of sand that flew into Xiano's eyes were deflected as if they had hit an impenetrable wall.

A few grains lingered on his lower lashes, but Xiano merely tilted his head slightly, letting them slide down his cheek…

"I gave you a chance, but you didn't make much of it."

Xiano flicked the last grain of sand off the bridge of his nose with his index finger, then looked up at the still-stunned Crocodile:

"Hey, snap out of it. From here on out, it's all my turn."

What does he mean?

Before Crocodile could process it, Xiano had already stepped into the air using Moon Walk, his right index finger thrusting forward at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye.

Each strike was imbued with the technique of Haki emission, precisely targeting various parts of Crocodile's body!

"Finger Pistol·Pear Rain!"

Not good! Crocodile's expression changed drastically as he frantically used his Observation Haki to dodge with all his might.

Some parts of his body managed to undergo Elemental Transformation in time, narrowly escaping disaster.

However, the speed of the Finger Pistol far exceeded Crocodile's expectations.

With a series of "thud" sounds, several bloody holes were pierced into his knees and shoulders, blood spurting out.

"Erosion..."

Crocodile endured the excruciating pain, his right hand slamming onto the ground as he activated another ultimate technique, "Reincarnation!!!"

Boom!

In an instant, the entire Whiskey Peak began to tremble violently, massive cracks rapidly spreading from the ground near the port, extending outward.

Huh?

Xiano's brow slightly raised. So the Sand Crocodile had this trick up his sleeve? By turning the surrounding environment into sand, he could quickly replenish his stamina and heal his wounds?

The abilities of a Logia user truly had some aspects that were downright broken.

Unfortunately...

He had encountered Xiano, who would never give him such an opportunity!

The corners of his mouth stretched to his ears as his figure flickered, charging toward Crocodile on the ground!

"You think you can do sit-ups?!"

"Stop him!"

Crocodile screamed hysterically, his golden hook slashing through the air!

If he could just buy a little more time, turning the entire island into sand, he could not only fully recover from his injuries but also unleash his Devil Fruit abilities with even greater recklessness!

Whoosh!

The moment his words fell, countless sand hands densely emerged from the ground, reaching out to grab Xiano's legs.

A significant portion of them were faintly wrapped in Armament Haki. If entangled, even Xiano would need some time to break free.

But...

At this speed, how could they possibly stop him!

A sand hand wrapped in Armament Haki directly pierced through Xiano's back, but in the next second, the "Xiano" who had just been pierced dissipated into a shadow in mid-air.

Moon Walk·Cicada Shell!

He continuously stepped on the air in mid-air, his figure shifting positions eerily at the whim of his thoughts.

While dodging all the sand hands reaching for him, his speed didn't slow in the slightest. Instead, due to the frequent changes in position, a series of afterimages resembling a cicada shedding its shell appeared in the air!

—This was the profound technique that could only be mastered after reaching the pinnacle of Six Styles training!

Most Moon Walk users, if they tried to mimic him, would only end up slowing themselves down due to frequent turns, becoming easy targets in the air.

In an instant, Xiano arrived before Crocodile without any hindrance.

In the latter's panicked gaze as he hastily looked up, Xiano grinned ferociously, delivering an uppercut that sent Crocodile soaring into the sky!

Whoosh!

Amid the dull thud, Xiano's figure flickered again, appearing in mid-air at the same height as Crocodile before he could land, his fist clenched and striking down with brutal force!

This scene repeated rapidly, Xiano's fists punching out at supersonic speeds, each strike either targeting the chest or smashing into the neck, all carrying overwhelming strength.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Crocodile's body was like a ragdoll, continuously twisting and deforming in mid-air, the sound of bones shattering resembling a series of popping beans.

With the final punch, Xiano pressed his fists together, channeling all his strength into his knuckles. The dense Armament Haki in that moment almost solidified into a tangible form—

"Six Styles Ultimate Technique: Golden Ripple Rush!!!"

This was a unique skill Xiano had developed after mastering the Ripple Fist, combining it with the ultimate techniques of the Six Styles.

Its power was immense, enough to flatten a mountain!

Boom!!!

The punch landed squarely on Crocodile's chest. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and Crocodile's expression was caught between terror and disbelief.

Then—

Boom!!!

A terrifying shockwave erupted from the two of them.

Crocodile's body was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through several stacked sand dunes before finally coming to a stop.

"Ugh, ugh…"

He lay slumped beside the crater in a pose reminiscent of Yamcha, his golden hook twisted and deformed, his once luxurious coat now tattered and torn.

His entire body trembled and struggled on the sandy ground, but with all his bones shattered, he couldn't even lift a finger.

Whoosh!

After finishing the entire set of punches, Xiano, feeling exhilarated, landed beside Crocodile and nodded in approval:

"Though you're as easy to beat as Vice Admiral Onigumo, I have to admit, the feel was great. That's the thing about Logia types—they're tough."

This bastard…!!!

Crocodile almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

But as Xiano approached, he chose to hide the venom in his eyes, speaking in a hoarse voice:

"I… I shouldn't have provoked you. Please… don't kill me…"

"It's too late for that now!"

Xiano grabbed his hair, lifting him up like a dead dog, and smiled while staring directly into his eyes:

"Originally, if you hadn't come after me, and considering you hadn't launched that despicable plan of yours yet, I might have spared your life and just kicked you back to the New World."

"But you just had to chase me on behalf of the Marines? Haha, it's already laughable enough that the Marines act as dogs for the Celestial Dragons, but then there's you, rushing to be a dog for the Marines?"

"...It was all just an act for them."

Crocodile grew even more resentful, but on the surface, he put on a look of someone who had struggled to make a decision, gasping with difficulty: "Cough… cough, hey… someone like you, a strong person like you, shouldn't you have ambition too?"

"Here's the deal! Spare my life, and I'll tell you an astonishing ancient secret, one that could help you dominate the entire sea, even challenge the World Government…"

(End of chapter)