The desert stretched endlessly in all directions, the soft winds carrying traces of last night's sandstorm as the crew trudged onward. Morning light painted the golden dunes, and the journey from Yuba had already begun.
Even though the desert was merciless, morale was higher than expected. Thanks to the underground water that Blizz had unearthed, the group wasn't dying of thirst. Canteens were sloshing full, skin damp from frequent sips — but the heat still beat down like a living thing.
Luffy walked ahead with a confident bounce in his step, still energized despite the heat. He kept shouting, "We're gonna find Crocodile and beat him up!" every ten minutes, like a motivational chant that nobody asked for.
"Can't you at least walk while not yelling?" Nami snapped, fanning herself with a folded map. "You're wasting energy, idiot!"
Behind them, Usopp dragged his feet dramatically. "I think… I'm melting. Tell my story… to the world…"
"Why do you always act like we're climbing a mountain of death?" Sanji groaned, adjusting the pack on his back.
"You're saying we're not?! We've been in the desert for days! DAYS!" Usopp whined.
Chopper hopped along beside him, panting slightly but still managing to smile. "You're exaggerating, Usopp! We only walked all day yesterday… and the day before."
Meanwhile, Blizz walked silently toward the back, his cloak catching the wind. He took in the terrain carefully, eyes flicking between dunes and the far horizon.
"Hey… wait," Nami paused suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Where's Zoro?"
Everyone stopped.
A silence passed.
"…Wasn't he behind me just now?" said Sanji, confused.
They all looked around.
"ZORO!!!" Nami yelled.
Far behind them, a lone green-haired figure was marching confidently in the exact opposite direction. Zoro squinted toward a distant sand dune, expression calm but clueless. He hadn't noticed he'd wandered south instead of north — again.
"You're going the wrong way, moron!!" Sanji roared.
"Left turn at the camel bones!" Usopp called out helpfully.
Luffy burst out laughing. "He really is lost again!"
Blizz smirked 'typical zoro'
Despite the heat and minor detours, they pressed on. The midday sun had turned the desert into a furnace, and sweat clung to their skin in thick layers. But now, something shimmered on the horizon — not a mirage, but something real.
"Look! Over there!" Vivi pointed, her voice lifting with excitement.
They all squinted into the distance. Rising from the golden sea of dunes was a city — walls, rooftops, and even the glint of water reflecting the sun.
"That must be Rain Base," Blizz said calmly, confirming what Vivi already suspected.
Usopp gasped, "It's real? I thought it was an illusion!"
"No, this is it," Vivi nodded. "Rain Base — the town of dreams. There's water everywhere here."
"WATER?!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"We're finally here," Chopper grinned.
"Time to get Crocodile!" Luffy declared, clenching his fists with fiery determination.
"You guys are so noisy," Zoro muttered, shielding his face with a cloth.
As they approached the gate of the city, the group began to break apart naturally.
Luffy and Usopp were already drooling at the smell of grilled meat wafting from a nearby street vendor. "FOOOOD!" they shouted, running off without hesitation.
"They're hopeless," Nami groaned.
"You better not get lost again!!" she screamed.
"They're already gone…" Sanji sighed, lighting a cigarette.
Sanji looked to Vivi. "We should secure a place to stay. Somewhere with shade, at least."
"Good idea," Vivi agreed.
Chopper followed close behind Nami, happily looking around at the buildings with bright eyes.
The city of Rain Base was alive with the hum of flowing water and the chatter of travelers. A small oasis paradise in the heart of the desert — canals ran between streets, bridges crossed glittering pools, and mist cooled the air in the shade of palm trees and colorful canopies. It almost felt like another world compared to the dunes behind the them.
Meanwhile…
Inside a modest restaurant near the water's edge, Luffy and Usopp were stuffing themselves full of food and gulping down cold pitchers of ice water.
"Man, this place is awesome!!" Luffy beamed, mouth full.
"I'm never leaving!" Usopp declared between bites.
But before they could finish their fourth pitcher, the entrance bell jingled.
Smoker stepped in.
His eyes locked on the two pirates at the same time Luffy's jaw dropped.
"…Ah." Luffy blinked. "Usopp. That's… that's—"
"RUN!!" Usopp shrieked.
Smoker's brow twitched, and a swirl of smoke burst from his fists.
"LUFFY!!!" he shouted as both of them crashed through a window in a panic, dashing out into the street.
The townspeople screamed and scattered. Marines were close behind.
The chase was on.
⸻
Elsewhere in Rain Base…
Back at the city square, Nami, Vivi, and Chopper were watching the commotion rise as civilians screamed and ran in every direction.
Sanji flicked his cigarette away. "That idiot must've run into trouble."
"Yeah," Nami growled"they are coming here we should prepare to run too"
"Let's go!" Vivi said quickly.
In the chaos, Chopper was separated, scrambling through alleys and ducking behind crates.
Luffy and Usopp rejoined the crew, sprinting like mad. "HE'S HERE! SMOKER'S HERE!" they shouted.
"Are you serious?!" Nami snapped.
"Split up!" Sanji shouted.
The group dashed toward Rain Dinners — not knowing it was a trap.
Marines chased after them. The casino doors opened just wide enough for them to enter, unopposed.
Inside the lavish, golden-drenched halls of Rain Dinners, everything was going exactly as Crocodile had planned — or so it seemed.
Luffy, Usopp, Nami, and Zoro rushed through the front doors of the casino, still catching their breath from the chase. Behind them, Smoker stormed in, a trail of smoke following his every step.
A well-dressed man with sunglasses and a slim mustache approached with a forced smile. "You're all most welcome," he said with an eerie calmness. "Please, right this way — the VIP room has been prepared for you."
Zoro narrowed his eyes. "VIP?"
Luffy blinked. "They're giving us free food?"
Nami sighed. "It's obviously a trap…"
"But we don't have time to argue!" Usopp whimpered, pointing at Smoker closing in behind them.
They ran through a red-carpeted hallway and into a grand door that swung open with ominous weight. The moment the last one entered — Smoker included — the door slammed shut behind them with a heavy, metallic clunk.
The walls shifted.
Hidden vents hissed.
A thick, transparent cage began to rise around them.
It was a trap.
⸻
Elsewhere in the casino…
Near the back, away from the chaos, where the clinks of coins and cheers of gamblers rang through the air, a lone figure sat at a slot machine.
Blizz, leaned back in his chair casually. His face was calm, but there was a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
He exhaled lightly.
Then, without standing up, he formed a swift hand sign, muttering under his breath:
"Suiton: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
A cold chill whispered through the floor.
And as the casino lights flickered, a strange mist began to roll silently across the plush carpet, hugging the ground and beginning to crawl its way toward the heart of Crocodile's den.
"Transformation Jutsu."
A ripple passed over his features. His face shifted. His clothing subtly altered. Now he looked like a certain Shichibukai — crocodile. With a calm stride, he moved toward the in charge of the casino.
"It's time to get my money back"
With a hand sign he removes the mist.
With a calm, measured stride, Blizz made his way deeper into the casino's inner halls.
He found the underboss — the man in charge of the winnings — a ratty-looking fellow hunched over a table covered in Berries, grinning at each stack like it was treasure plundered from heaven.
Blizz leaned on the wall beside him, arms folded.
"Hey. You."
The man jumped, turning quickly. "L-Lord Crocodile?!"
Blizz didn't blink. "I want all the money stored in here."
The underboss, still trembling under "Crocodile's" gaze, tried to compose himself. He gave a shaky grin. "O-of course, my lord. Please… wait in the private lounge while we gather everything. It won't take long."
Blizz gave a slow nod. "Make it quick. I'm not in the mood for delays."
He was escorted to a private room — dimly lit, draped in red curtains, a low couch and polished wood table at the center. He sat with legs crossed, silent, letting the mist thicken subtly in the corners of the room. The jutsu was still active — enough to distort movement, enough to buy time.
Blizz, arms behind his back now, watched it all with narrowed eyes beneath the shadow of Crocodile's hat.
"That's right," he murmured. "Let's see just how much fortune this den of crocodiles has stashed away."
He looked back, toward the entrance of the VIP chamber where his crew walked into a trap.
He gave a faint smirk.
"If it weren't for Luffy eating all my money…" he muttered, almost chuckling to himself.
"Sorry guys, but I'll join you soon. Just let me borrow Crocodile's wallet first."
Moments later, the door creaked open.
One by one, crates and locked cases of Berries were rolled in, some so heavy the staff had to double up to carry them. Coins clinked, notes rustled. Gold bars were even tucked into one chest like forgotten prizes.
The underboss stood proudly after it was all laid out. "Everything from the vault, just like you asked. It's… uh… around 230 million Berries."
Blizz raised an eyebrow. Jackpot.
"Very good," he said.
Then, without another word, he moved — smooth and precise. A flick of his wrist, and a sharp strike to the neck dropped the underboss like a puppet with cut strings. A quick seal followed.
"Binding Technique."
A thin chakra thread wrapped around the man's arms and legs, securing him behind the couch. He'd be unconscious for hours.
Blizz pulled out a scroll from inside his cloak and rolled it open across the table.
"Storage Scroll: Sealing Technique."
In a flash of chakra and wind, all the money — the crates, the bags, even the gold — disappeared into the scroll in waves of inked light. The scroll's surface pulsed faintly, then went still.
Done.
With a deep breath, Blizz performed Transformation Jutsu again, this time taking on the exact form of the underboss — crooked teeth, slicked-back hair, half-buttoned shirt, and nervous eyes.
He stood, adjusted his shirt, and walked casually out of the room. Just before shutting the door behind him, he muttered:
"No one is allowed to enter this room. Orders from Crocodile himself."
The staff nodded without question, intimidated by the aura he projected. No one dared speak.
Now outside, Blizz moved to the hallway that led to the VIP chamber — the trap Crocodile had laid. He leaned against a pillar near the ornate doorway, watching the corridor carefully.
He knew the moment was close.
Crocodile would step out any second now.
___________
Blizz waited calmly by the corridor, arms crossed and breath slow. Then, as predicted, Crocodile strode into view.
His presence chilled the air around him. Broad shoulders, heavy coat swaying, that infamous golden hook glinting in the light. Behind him followed the composed and unreadable Miss All Sunday — her gaze drifting, calculating every step.
Blizz, still in disguise as the casino underboss, dipped his head in a respectful bow as they passed. "Boss," he said curtly.
Crocodile didn't even glance his way — just kept walking with that air of menace, like the floor itself bowed beneath him. But the rest of the staff erupted:
"Crocodile-sama! Crocodile-sama!"
His name rang out through the casino like a chant, fear and admiration mingled together.
As Crocodile disappeared through the main entrance, Blizz watched the direction he was heading… then he looked toward the VIP room.
Blizz took one deep breath as he swiftly inside the corridor, and suddenly he heard some footsteps so he moved behind a decorative pillar and crouched low.
Through the shimmering heat of the casino corridor, Vivi came rushing in — panic and determination painted on her face. She ran past him, eyes focused, clearly searching for someone.
"Sanji… I need to find Sanji!" she muttered breathlessly as she darted around a corner.
Blizz remained perfectly still until she was out of sight. Then he stepped out and headed to the VIP lounge.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy — like the air had stopped moving. The floor was slightly slick now, and the faint sound of rushing water echoed around them.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Smoker were all trapped within the heavy Seastone cage, slowly being submerged as the water level rose steadily.
"Blizz!"
"Where the hell have you been?!"
"Oh man, are we glad to see you!"
Blizz landed softly with a thud, now standing on top of the water — his feet unmoving, balanced perfectly as if the surface were solid. The subtle ripples around his soles were the only sign of his weight.
Smoker's eyes widened. "Walking… on water?"
Blizz offered only a slight smirk.
Zoro shouted, "Don't just stand there—get us out of here!"
"I know, I know," Blizz said, brushing back his hair. "But your key's useless. The real solution isn't a key…"
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"It's Mr. 3."
Nami blinked. "What?! That guy?!"
"Where is he then?" Luffy yelled.
Blizz's gaze sharpened. "Inside one of those crocodiles."
The monstrous Bananawani in the chamber hissed, shifting restlessly in the water.
With zero hesitation, Blizz leapt into action, flipping through hand signs as he advanced.
"Let's wake them up."
He began battling the giant crocodiles — weaving between their snapping jaws, evading their tails, and striking pressure points with practiced ease. The water churned violently as each beast twisted and thrashed.
After a few intense exchanges, one of the crocodiles bucked wildly and vomited up a waxy sphere, the size of a barrel, bouncing and rolling across the floor.
It cracked open — and out tumbled Mr. 3, gasping, pale, and disoriented.
"Ugh… I was digesting for hours!"
Blizz grabbed him by the collar. "You're going to make a key. Now."
Mr. 3 stammered, "W-what? Key?!"
"NOW!"
The urgency in Blizz's voice cut through the chaos like lightning.
As Mr. 3 scrambled to mold a new wax key, the door burst open again.
Vivi and Sanji stood in the entry, both panting from their sprint.
Sanji blinked. "What the—Blizz?!"
Vivi gasped. "You're already here?!"
Blizz looked over his shoulder with a calm smile. "Told you I'd join you soon."
The wax key clicked inside the Seastone cage's lock, and with a final twist— the door burst open.
"We're free!!" Usopp practically flew out, arms flailing as he scrambled to the nearest dry ledge.
Zoro cracked his knuckles. "Finally."
Luffy stretched with a grin, "Thanks, Mister Candle Guy!"
Mr. 3 groaned. "You're welcome… never again…"
"Wait!" Nami pointed up. "The ceiling—"
CRACK.
A deafening rumble echoed through the chamber. The ceiling above trembled as chunks of stone and support beams started falling. Water surged in faster, rising now at a terrifying rate. In seconds, the floor was gone, swallowed under a roiling current.
"We won't make it out in time!" Vivi shouted.
Smoker gritted his teeth. "Damn it."
Blizz's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone — to me. Now."
The crew instinctively moved without question, forming a tight circle around him.
Blizz dropped into a crouch, forming rapid hand signs.
"Doton: Earth Dome!"
With a thunderous shoom, thick slabs of earth exploded up from beneath them, encasing the entire crew in a solid dome of reinforced stone, sealing them off from the collapsing ruin. The water smashed against the outside like a tidal beast, but the dome held firm, rooted deep into the ground.
Inside, the crew panted, stunned.
"Blizz…" Nami looked around, wide-eyed. "You…"
"I've never seen this kind of jutsu," Zoro muttered.
Luffy grinned. "So cool!"
But Blizz wasn't done. His fingers flashed again.
"Doton: Great Pillar Jutsu."
The ground trembled.
Beneath their feet, the center of the dome rumbled — then a massive pillar of stone erupted upward, launching the dome like an elevator, cutting straight through the debris and up toward the casino ceiling.
BOOM!
The dome shattered open at the top, bursting through the casino floor — sending rubble and water exploding in every direction as the Straw Hats emerged, soaring up on the rising pillar, now standing tall in the center of the small lake in the centre of the city.
The Straw Hats stood atop the pillar, panting but alive.
Smoker stepped out of the rising mist with a hiss of seastone-tipped jitte dragging behind him. "You saved me…"
The crew turned to him.
"Don't get me wrong," Smoker said, eyes sharp. "I didn't ask for your help."
Luffy gave a wide grin. "We're not the kind to let someone drown, even if you're a pain in the ass."
Zoro crossed his arms. "Besides, we've got bigger problems than you."
"Like an entire kingdom tearing itself apart," Vivi added, voice tense.
Blizz walked to the edge of the pillar. "It's started," he said quietly.
"The revolution…" Vivi whispered. "Koza must be marching on Alubarna already."
Zoro stepped forward, serious now. "Then we don't have time for this."
Usopp gasped. "Wait, wait! What about Crocodile? We just got out and we're leaving him behind?!"
Blizz spoke flatly. "He's not going anywhere. He's got what he wants — chaos."
Luffy clenched his fists. "We'll deal with him… but first, we stop the war."
Nami glanced back. "Take it up with the Marines. We've got a kingdom to save."
Smoker looked at them all, conflicted. "Go… just this once… i'll look the other way."
"But the next time I see you consider your life forfeited"
They all jumped down from the pillar, landing in the alleyways of Rainbase.
Suddenly— BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ground shook. A huge cloud of dust rose from the western gate of the city.
"What now?!" Usopp shrieked, hiding behind Zoro.
A massive figure loomed, charging into the street from the edge of town.
"GUYS!!"
It was Chopper, his fur covered in sand, running alongside a gigantic, rumbling crab — its pincers clicking furiously, its legs stomping over buildings and alleyways as it skittered toward the group.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Nami yelled.
"A CRAB?!" Zoro raised a brow.
"It's the Sandora Giant Crab!" Chopper called out. "I found him near the oasis — he's super friendly and really fast! He can take us through the desert!"
The crab raised its claws in triumph.
Blizz blinked. "Well. That solves the desert problem."
Smoker facepalmed in the background. "You people are insane."
Vivi ran up and hugged Chopper. "You found us just in time!"
Chopper beamed. "I knew you'd need a ride!"
Luffy bounced up onto the crab's back. "C'mon! Let's ride Scuttles to the battlefield!"
Everyone piled on, and with a screeching chitter, Scuttles reared up and charged out of Rainbase, sand flying under his giant claws.
The massive crab, Scuttles, tore through the sand like a drifting warship, wind snapping through everyone's hair as the Straw Hats clung to its back.
Luffy stood at the very front, pointing dramatically. "LET'S GOOOO! Time to end this war!!"
Vivi gripped the edge, eyes focused on the looming dunes ahead, where smoke and turmoil danced in the wind.
But just as the city walls began to fade behind them—
SHHHHLURRP!
A towering hand of sand erupted suddenly from the dunes, lunging straight for Vivi.
"VIVI!!" Nami shouted.
Luffy turned, eyes wide. "Crocodile!?"
From the crest of a building behind them, Crocodile stood tall, cape flowing, his eyes burning with cold fury. Beside him, Nico Robin watched in silence.
"Running already?" Crocodile sneered, his voice carrying on the wind. "You can't escape the desert."
But just as the sand claw was inches from seizing Vivi—
"Suiton: Exploding Water Shockwave!"
Blizz had already moved.
A roar of compressed water burst from his outstretched hands, spiraling with raw force and detonating in a violent surge. The sand hand was instantly flooded, its structure collapsing under the sudden moisture. The swirling blast launched the soggy remains back toward Crocodile, slamming at his feet and soaking the ground beneath him.
Steam hissed up from the sand.
Crocodile recoiled back with a snarl, his body tensing at the contact with moisture. Water — his greatest weakness.
He growled, clutching his soaked cloak. "You…"
Blizz stood at the rear of the crab, still crouched in his follow-through stance, his hand dripping with chakra-infused water.
His voice was calm. "Take that sucker, I knew you'd try something."
Crocodile's expression darkened, but he didn't follow. The threat of water clearly held him back.
Usopp leaned toward Luffy, stunned. "Did you see that!? He splashed Crocodile with his own hand!"
Luffy grinned, punching the air. "YEAH!! BLAZEEE!! That was awesome!"
Vivi caught her breath, eyes wide with relief. "Thank you… I didn't even—"
"You're not dying today," Blizz said, pulling his cloak back over his shoulder, eyes narrowing toward Crocodile. "Not before we stop this war."
Crocodile said nothing — just watched as they vanished into the desert, the sun setting behind them.
The wind kicked up, swirling sand through his fingers.
Robin glanced at him. "They'll be trouble."
Crocodile's jaw tightened. "Let them be. We'll crush them in Alubarna."
Else where…
Tashigi glanced at Smoker, clearly still processing what had happened. "Smoker, what the hell just went down? I didn't expect things to go like this."
Smoker's expression remained hard, though his cigar remained clenched between his teeth. "I didn't either, Tashigi," he muttered, his gaze drifting towards the city. "But I'll tell you one thing—that guy's not to be underestimated."
Tashigi looked at him, confused. "Who? Crocodile?"
"No." Smoker shook his head. "Blizz."
"Blizz?" Tashigi repeated, her brow furrowing. "Who's he? Another one of Crocodile's underlings?"
Smoker grunted in response, exhaling a thick plume of smoke. "No. He's a straw hats pirate."
Tashigi looked more confused now. "What are you talking about? What makes him so dangerous?"
Smoker snorted, almost as if the answer was obvious. "You didn't see him in action, did you? That guy—he's a Devil Fruit user, no doubt about it. But his powers are… weird. He controls the earth and walks on water. Two completely different abilities packed into one fruit. Doesn't make sense, does it?"
Tashigi blinked, clearly shocked. "What? A Devil Fruit that lets you control both the earth and water? That doesn't sound like any fruit I've ever heard of."
"Yeah, well, neither have I," Smoker said grimly.