Chapter 31: The End of Crocodile

Crocodile's rage echoed through the desert like an evil spirit rising from the depths of hell, his eyes fixed on Ace with a contorted visage. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, causing excruciating pain that mirrored the devastation of his shattered twenty-year plan. Every hope, every escape route had been cruelly severed by the young man before him. "Pluton" was forever out of reach, and his status as a Shichibukai was destined to be revoked. But beyond dashed dreams, there lay an unbearable humiliation—Ace had exposed him, revealing his manipulations over Alabasta and its people as nothing but puppetry. Until Ace intervened, everything had unfolded according to Crocodile's meticulous design. Now, not only had his ambitions crumbled, but he had also been outwitted and ridiculed, a humiliation even greater than anything inflicted by Whitebeard.

Crocodile gritted his teeth, blood slowly flowing from the corners of his mouth. The bastard in front of him had denied his twenty-year plan, denying the dream he fought for—Portgas D. Ace denied everything about him.

"Go to hell!" Crocodile, with blood-red eyes, roared angrily and slammed his right hand into the sand.

"Erosion of reincarnation!" In the next moment, a deafening explosion followed.

Although there was no moisture left in the desert sand, Crocodile's right hand absorbed all the remaining moisture, leaving the desert withering and seemingly dying—a testament to the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit.

"Bah! Boom!" Countless grains of moistureless sand erupted from the ground, casting a deathly pall over the battlefield. The sky filled with yellow sand, obscuring Crocodile's figure as he seemingly merged into the Lord of Dust.

"Quite capable, Crocodile," Ace observed, a slight quirk at the corner of his mouth. "He has indeed mastered the Sand-Sand Fruit to an impressive degree."

But Ace's expression abruptly hardened, his pupils flickering with a frightening purple-black hue. The eruption of Conqueror's Haki followed—thick black-purple lightning roared from Ace's body, shattering the sky-covering sand and dust as if erased by an unseen force.

The once-gloomy sky cleared as if torn open, revealing Crocodile's dust-covered form enveloped in terrifying black and purple lightning. Each flicker caused Crocodile to wince in soul-wrenching pain, his agonized roars echoing across the battlefield.

"Boom!" Crocodile crashed into the withered desert from mid-air under Robin's disbelieving gaze. The residual black and purple lightning pierced every cell of Crocodile, causing excruciating pain that made his body tremble uncontrollably.

Yet amid the torment, Crocodile lifted his head, pain etched on his face, and gazed at Ace with eyes filled with horror.

Ha, Conqueror's Haki!" Ace's declaration echoed through the air.

"You have Conqueror's Haki! There's even this application..." Crocodile's voice trembled with disbelief, his face contorted in shock. Slowly, he uttered a name of power that even made him quiver: "Conqueror's Haki-Coating!"

Crocodile gritted his teeth, cold sweat streaming down his cheeks as he spoke these words. His narrowed pupils betrayed his inner turmoil.

"How... how is this possible?! How can you wield Conqueror's Haki-Infusion?! Someone who can..."

Crocodile's mind fractured. He struggled to lift his head and stared at Ace, his voice rising in shock.

"Those who can use it...!" Images of Whitebeard, A legendary Emperor of the Seas, flashed through Crocodile's mind.

"That's it, an Emperor!" His words rang out like a challenge to the heavens. "Ruling over the New World, the second half of the Grand Line! Why do YOU possess such power?!"

Crocodile's emotions erupted uncontrollably. "Conqueror's Haki-Infusion...?" Robin murmured from a distance, bewildered by the scene unfolding before her.

It wasn't just loss of composure—it was fear. The power Ace wielded instilled genuine terror in Crocodile.

"What is this Conqueror's Haki-Infusion?!" Robin pondered aloud. "Can someone with this power reign like one of the Four Emperors in the New World?!"

Her mind raced with the implications of Ace's abilities—power that rivaled the notorious Four Emperors who held sway over the Grand Line. The World Government's Shichibukai system and Naval Headquarters were necessary to counterbalance such titanic forces.

Robin's hand covered her mouth as she watched Ace, tears welling in her eyes. Memories of their encounter at Whiskey Peak flashed in her mind—the enigmatic history surrounding the "Void Century."

"Could Ace truly bear the weight of that history?" Robin wondered. "Do I have a chance to uncover the true past?"

Ace raised his right hand, violet-black lightning crackling ominously. His gaze locked onto Crocodile, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Crocodile stared mutely at the swirling Conqueror's Haki in Ace's hand, confirming its overwhelming presence—Conqueror's Haki-Infusion.

Indeed, whoever mastered it wielded dominion akin to an emperor over the turbulent seas of the Grand Line.

Crocodile's disbelief deepened. "Why does Ace seem to command Conqueror's Haki better than even that man?"

"Huh? Have you given up resistance after witnessing The pinnacle of Conqueror's Haki, Crocodile?" Ace's voice cut through the tension, eyes narrowing as he observed Crocodile, unmoving on the ground like a fallen titan.

"Snort!"

"Hmph~"

"Hahaha!"

"Guhahahaha!!!" Crocodile's laughter started quietly, building into his trademark booming cackle. This time, it was more hearty and unrestrained than ever before.

Empowered by his laughter, Crocodile rose to his feet, locking eyes with Ace.

"Portgas D. Ace, how old are you now?" Crocodile's question startled Robin.

"17 years old," Ace replied calmly, withholding nothing.

"17 years old... Hahaha, guhahahaha!" Crocodile chuckled, his laughter erupting once more.

"Incredible, Portgas D. Ace!"

Under Ace's keen gaze, Crocodile slowly raised his right hand, coated in a jet-black aura.

"My Haki has returned," Crocodile murmured.

"At 17, you wield such power. You'll surely become the strongest in time, won't you?!"

"Hey, Portgas D. Ace!"

Crocodile's tone shifted to a triumphant roar.

"This era will be shaped by me."

Ace nodded knowingly, a hint of Haki's smile touching his lips.

"In this era, the most renowned title will be the Flame Emperor, hahahaha!"

At Crocodile's proclamation, he burst into laughter again, tears forming in his eyes.

"Whitebeard! Did you hear that?!"

"This will be known as the era of the Flame Emperor!"

"The strongest in the world? Just hearing that title makes me laugh!"

In that moment, Crocodile felt the return of his Haki, his hatred towards Whitebeard and his deep-seated fear fading away.

Now, he understood.

His Haki had deserted him not only because he had pinned all his hopes on "Pluton," but also because of the profound fear he harbored for Whitebeard, the strongest man alive.

But now, his Haki had returned.

"Haki is back!"

"Whitebeard?! The strongest in the world?!"

"This era will belong to Portgas D. Ace!"

"Not to that good-for-nothing, Whitebeard!"

"Come on, Portgas D. Ace! Show me how you'll become the strongest! Hahahaha!"

Crocodile looked skyward, laughter echoing around him, his face illuminated not by gloom, but by the resurgence of his Haki.

"Boom!"

The Sand-Sand Fruit reached its ultimate activation, channeling energy Condensed sand energy into crocodiles arm.

Countless grains of sand and dust swirled and condensed, forming a colossal sand blade before Crocodile.

A faint invisible force wrapped around it—Armament Haki-Coating! This was Crocodile's ultimate attack.

"Portgas D. Ace, behold my strongest strike! Show me your measure to become the strongest!"

Crocodile's legs transformed into sand as he pointed the massive sand blade toward Ace.

"My measure to become the strongest?" Ace murmured, his lips curling into a smile that soon erupted into laughter.

"For you, who once challenged the mightiest, Crocodile, I'll show you a tip of the iceburg."

Ace's Haki-infused laughter echoed. This was the Sand Crocodile who had once dared to confront Whitebeard.

"Call!"

Suddenly, Ace's laughter ceased. His gaze sharpened, hands crossing before him.

"Inflammation."

The words were faint, almost whispered.

"Whoosh! Boom! Buzz! Buzz!"

A torrent of terrifying flames erupted from Ace, swirling like a massive flame vortex engulfing him. The intense heat distorted the atmosphere, even causing white smoke to rise where death had once reigned under Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit power.

"Guhahahaha! Haki and the Devil Fruit's power developed to this extent? Remarkable!" Crocodile exclaimed, not in anger but in sheer delight. He looked skyward, laughter infused with Haki ringing out.

"Now, prepare to meet your end with my ultimate strike Crocodile!"

Ace smiled amid the endless sea of fire.

"Come on, Portgas D. Ace!"

Crocodile roared angrily, half his body turning to sand as he hurled towards Ace. The enormous sand blade in hand sliced through the air with a thunderous crack.

"Buzz!!!"

The deafening sound underscored the sheer force behind Crocodile's attack—the very essence of his formidable might, once tested against the world's strongest, Whitebeard.

"Great Flame Ring!!!"

"Boom!"

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"

Ace's thunderous shout seemed to compress the vast sea of fire in an instant. In the blink of an eye, all flames vanished.

"What... is this?!" Robin gasped in disbelief.

"Hoo! Sizzle!"

Ace's right arm revealed dark red cracks akin to a volcano's inner fissures. The fiery power simmering within the cracks sent shivers down Robin's spine.

"Desert Sword!"

Crocodile charged forward, his voice ringing with Haki, the immense sand blade descending.

"Clang!"

"!!!"

In disbelief, Crocodile watched as Ace's crack-laden right hand grasped the desert sword effortlessly, as though it were a mere toy.

"!!!"

Crocodile opened his mouth, words caught in his throat.

"Itto-Kaso."

Ace's calm voice broke the silence.

"Boom! Boom!"

Instantly, an endless torrent of flames burst forth from the dark red cracks in Ace's right arm. The violent blaze surged into a towering inferno, its searing heat fracturing the very atmosphere like glass.

In the face of this raging conflagration, it seemed as if everything in the world would be consumed by its fury.

This blazing blade, piercing the heavens, symbolized the reign of the strongest Flame King in the world.

"Great Flame Ring - Itto-Kaso!!"

The terrifying flames that had soared skyward, seemingly piercing heaven and earth, gradually dissipated after an unknown duration. Yet, the lingering high temperature in the atmosphere bore witness to the immense power of the blazing sword that had been unleashed.

"Hoo! Hoo!"

The air was thick with white mist due to the intense heat, and in Robin's astonished gaze, the sky was now blanketed by rain clouds stretching endlessly across the horizon.

"Ace!"

Nami, Vivi, Kaya, Nojiko and Tashigi rushed to the battlefield at this pivotal moment. The image of the towering flaming blade still etched vividly in their minds, leaving them awestruck.

"Boom! Click!"

As white mist continued to rise in the distance, thunder began to rumble.

The next moment,

"Crash!"

Countless raindrops, seeming infinite in number, cascaded down upon the parched land that had long awaited relief.

Vivi felt the deluge, her hand touching the raindrops, tears streaming down her delicate face.

"It's raining! Alabasta, it's raining!"

The downpour, spurred by Ace's awe-inspiring blade, brought a sense of elation throughout Alabasta.

Ace approached Crocodile in silence. Only half of Crocodile's body remained, the other obliterated by the blade's cremation, leaving not a trace of bone.

"Yeah, incredible power..."

Crocodile strained to raise his eyelids, his gaze fixed on Ace with what remained of his face, a faint smile touching his lips.

Such destructive and terrifying power was unprecedented in Crocodile's life. Even Whitebeard's Shock Fruit ability, rumored to be world-destroying, paled in comparison.

"Hey, Portgas D. Ace."

Crocodile's words were deliberate, as if recounting a memory. He focused his remaining eye on Ace.

"You will become the strongest, won't you? Your name will echo even in hell."

"The Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace..."

With his final breath, Crocodile affirmed his acknowledgment.

He didn't speak of heaven, nor did he care for it. For Crocodile, he knew his path lead to hell.

"Definitely."

Ace's lips parted slightly, a trace of Haki subtly emanating.

"Wait until you hear my name, Crocodile."

Silence enveloped Ace as he gazed at Crocodile.

"In your battle with Crocodile, you understood your true purpose and resolved to pursue the path of the strongest. Your powers have truly soared!"

"Your Conqueror's Haki has evolved!"

These thoughts resonated in Ace's mind.