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The Strongest Frost Loli (184)
🕑 Added 2025-01-29 17:00:16 +0000 UTCChapter 184 - One More Time
The Straw Hats, having each defeated their respective Baroque Works agents, converged along the path to the royal palace, just as Vivi, accompanied by others, emerged.
“Vivi! Are you alright?!”
“Who are those men with you?”
“My father, and Chaka and Pell, commanders of the royal guard.”
With no time for lengthy introductions, Vivi answered Usopp’s questions succinctly. Sanji and the others were understandably surprised to see Cobra, Chaka, and Pell.
There wasn’t a moment to spare. Vivi quickly explained the impending cannon strike targeting the plaza, emphasizing the urgent need to locate the artilleryman.
“The artilleryman?! But if it’s a cannonball powerful enough to create a five-kilometer crater, he must be at least two and a half kilometers away…” Usopp reasoned.
“No, I believe he’s much closer to the plaza,” Vivi countered.
“What?! But in that case…”
“I understand now. So that’s the kind of man Crocodile is.”
Vivi deduced that Crocodile had positioned the artilleryman within the blast radius, fully aware of the collateral damage.
Such a ruthless tactic was consistent with Crocodile’s character. He could easily manipulate the artilleryman with false promises of safety, even if it meant sacrificing him in the process. They had to find him quickly. If they failed, the cannonball would detonate, decimating not only the royal guard, but also the majority of the approaching rebel army.
Dust devils, likely conjured by Crocodile, whipped across the area near the Alubarna palace, further hindering their search efforts.
“We need to hurry.”
“Let’s split up and search!”
Pell, who could scan the area from above, took to the skies. Chaka, tasked with organizing the royal guard and redirecting the rebel army, began issuing orders. Igaram paired up with Junshi, left Cobra to search with him.
The Straw Hats dispersed to search for the artilleryman. While they were reluctant to leave Vivi unprotected, they needed every available hand.
They encountered a handful of Baroque Works Billions agents along the way. However, most of the Billions had already been eliminated by Twilight. The remaining few, who had infiltrated the rebel and royal armies, posed little threat to the Straw Hats and were swiftly dispatched.
“Crocodile’s made quite a mess for us.”
Junshi stepped over the unconscious Billions. He scanned the plaza with Cobra. A cannonball capable of creating a five-kilometer crater would require a substantial cannon. Junshi reasoned it must be positioned on a rooftop for optimal targeting, but Pell, circling overhead, hadn't found anything.
Perhaps Robin knew something. He pulled out a Baby Den Den Mushi and contacted her. He quickly explained the situation, but Robin, with a troubled expression, could only offer a helpless, “I don’t know.”
“He likely made these preparations without my knowledge. He probably intends to eliminate me after he acquires the information about Pluton,” Robin said over the Den Den Mushi.
Once Crocodile learned the location of the ancient weapon Pluton, Robin would become expendable. In fact, silencing her permanently would be the most efficient way to prevent the information from leaking. Such a ruthless tactic was entirely within Crocodile's character.
“Hmm… Gem would be ideal for handling the bomb…” said Junshi.
“He’s badly injured and resting. Even if he wasn’t, it would take too long for him to reach Alubarna,” Robin replied.
Gem, with his Bomb-Bomb Fruit ability, could neutralize the explosion. However, that option was unavailable.
Junshi mentally reviewed the criteria.
A tall building.
Indoors, not on the rooftop.
Large enough to conceal a massive cannon.
A clear view of the plaza.
As he eliminated each possibility, his gaze settled on a particular structure.
“King Cobra, I have a question.”
“Have you noticed something?”
“Yes. Is that clock tower… mobile?”
Cobra’s eyes widened as he followed Junshi’s gaze. Junshi focused his Observation Haki, sensing two presences within the clock tower. The artilleryman was there.
***
“Damn it… Biscuit Armor!”
Cracker, who had been fighting Lycoris, was startled by Bullet’s sudden arrival. He immediately decided to join forces with Jack. Facing a man whose strength rivalled even Big Mom and Kaido wasn’t a fight he could win alone.
Jack, in his hybrid mammoth form, was clad in Cracker’s Biscuit Armor. Cracker stood beside him, conjuring three more biscuit soldiers of equal size. He donned one himself, while the other two stood beside him, armed with swords and shields.
“Hahaha! What an interesting tactic!”
Bullet shattered the biscuit soldier’s shield with a casual punch and blocked Jack’s bizarrely shaped Shotel with one hand. The combination of Jack’s Zoan durability and Cracker’s armaments made for a resilient defense, a fighting style that piqued Bullet’s interest.
While the constantly regenerating biscuit armor was troublesome, it offered little resistance against Bullet’s overwhelming strength. He could simply shatter it repeatedly and crush Jack before it reformed. Even Jack’s relentless Shotel attacks, capable of unleashing devastating slashes, couldn’t penetrate Bullet’s defenses.
Jack’s attacks were ineffective, while Bullet’s defenses were impenetrable. The sheer disparity in their fighting strength was undeniable. A cold sweat trickled down Jack’s brow. He felt a chilling familiarity, reminiscent of his encounters with Kaido and Big Mom.
“What is this Haki…?! It’s monstrous!”
“You’re just weak! Get a grip!”
Bullet’s relentless assault continued. He punched through Cracker’s armor and, undeterred by the size difference, struck Jack’s right cheek, sending him flying. The two remaining biscuit soldiers attacked, but Bullet effortlessly blocked and countered their blows.
While the biscuit armor regenerated, its speed was finite. Against an opponent like Bullet, it offered little more than a momentary distraction. He could easily close the distance and crush them before they reformed.
“Found you.”
Three shields, three swords, layers of hardened biscuit armor – Bullet shattered them all and punched Cracker away. Even Cracker, despite his enhanced durability, was visibly injured by the Haki-infused blow.
He stood up, alongside Jack, and glared at Bullet.
“I understand why Mama and Kaido consider you a threat… You crazy bastard! What the hell are you doing here?!”
“Kanata told me Kaido would be here. But he’s not. Guess I’ll have to settle for you.”
“You refused to join Kaido-san, and now you’re taking orders from that witch?”
“Our interests align. That’s all.”
While Kanata was undoubtedly an opponent Bullet intended to surpass, she was also a convenient source of training. She provided food, alcohol, and any other supplies he needed. She could compile lists of powerful pirates and their approximate locations. Most importantly, she served as a benchmark for his progress.
Their relationship would end the moment Bullet surpassed her, but she always seemed to pull ahead just as he thought he had caught up. This cycle had continued for twenty years.
This arrangement benefited only Kanata. Big Mom and Kaido were mere obstacles, stepping stones on his path to becoming the strongest.
“I was hoping to fight Kaido… Oh well, there will be other opportunities.”
He figured the Headliners and Sweet Commanders would offer a decent warm-up. While they had been underwhelming so far, they had risen to their current positions for a reason. He expected them to show some resilience when pushed to their limits.
“Hahaha! Come at me, small fry! Make me use my ability!”
“Tch… Jack, what do you want to do?”
“Don’t be a coward! Kaido-san entrusted us with this mission! We’ll crush him, ‘Demon Heir’ or not!”
Even under the oppressive weight of Bullet’s Haoshoku Haki, Jack stood firm. He refined his own Haki and roared. Cracker, though reluctant, drew his sword and stood beside him. They were facing a Yonko-level opponent, a monster who could fight Kaido and Kanata head-on.
Still, they had a duty to fulfill. Their captain had given them an order.
***
Gulp! Gulp!
Luffy, having consumed the entire barrel of water he carried, had managed to soak Crocodile thoroughly, making his attacks effective. However, his waterlogged state made him slower and less agile, making it difficult to dodge Crocodile's attacks. Crocodile, still fuming at being reduced to such a ridiculous state, nevertheless regained his composure. The dry desert air quickly dried his clothes.
“You’re making fun of me…!”
Luffy attempted to spray Crocodile with water by pumping his arms, but his attacks missed their mark. Luffy lacked any talent for ranged attacks. The fact that he had managed to hit Crocodile even once, even by accident, was a miracle.
Crocodile, seeing Luffy’s frustration, kicked up the sand in the now miniature desert that was once the palace garden.
“Desert Spada!”
“Whoa!”
Luffy dodged at the last moment. The sand blade sliced through a nearby outer wall, the sheer force of the attack sent shivers down his spine.
Crocodile vanished into the dust cloud, then reappeared behind Luffy, undetected. Unlike Junshi and Lycoris, Luffy couldn’t use Kenbunshoku Haki. A simple smokescreen was enough to fool him.
“You’re underestimating me, Straw Hat Luffy!”
Crocodile grabbed Luffy by the throat and pinned him down. Luffy tried to spray water upwards, but Crocodile easily dodged. The water Luffy had initially soaked him with had already evaporated. His attacks were now useless. Crocodile drained the moisture from Luffy’s body, turning him into a mummy.
“You’ve wasted my energy… and just when I was about to finish off that old man. How irritating.”
He stood, took a few steps towards the palace exit, then, realizing the extent of his injuries from his earlier fight with Junshi, he sat down. Despite his age, Junshi was still a formidable fighter, capable of holding his own against a Yonko commander. Crocodile’s recovery would take time, especially after his subsequent battle with Luffy. He was nearing his limit. Just as he stood up again, determined to leave before the bomb detonated, he heard a splashing sound behind him.
“…No way…”
Luffy had fired the water directly upwards. If it had simply fallen back down due to gravity…
He dismissed the thought as absurd, but then he heard a distinct gulping sound. He slowly turned around.
“Gah! I thought I was going to die!”
“You’re… still alive?!”
Gasping for air, Luffy stood up again. Crocodile stared at him, dumbfounded. He had drained Luffy’s moisture completely, turning him into a mummy. He shouldn’t be alive. Yet, there he stood, the wound on his abdomen still bleeding, his fists raised. He still intended to fight, even after being seemingly killed twice.
“What… What are you?!”
Impaled, desiccated, yet still standing. Crocodile had never encountered anyone like him. Luffy, unfazed by Crocodile's bewildered question, simply replied,
“I’m going to be King of the Pirates!”
