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Seeing the entire Bird-Claw Force beheaded by Crocodile, King Cobra was overcome with grief.
These warriors were not just his subordinates—they were loyal ministers who had served him faithfully. Though they had doubted him when the dancing powder conspiracy came to light, their faith had been restored when they saw their king in danger. They had charged into the fray, disregarding their own lives, to defend him.
Tears streamed down Cobra's face as he stared at their lifeless bodies.
Nico Robin, standing silently nearby, glanced at Cobra's devastated expression. For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes—sympathy, or perhaps guilt. Without a word, she stepped forward and began pulling the nails pinning Cobra to the wall, freeing him.
Just as Crocodile was preparing to drag both Cobra and Robin to the royal mausoleum to find the Poneglyph, a sudden surge of telekinetic energy shattered half of Crocodile's sand body.
Crocodile turned sharply, his gaze locking onto a figure floating in mid-air.
It was an inhuman creature with two horns, a long tail, and golden armor, radiating an intimidating aura as it looked down at him.
The creature was none other than Mewtwo.
Crocodile's voice was low and menacing as he spoke. "So, you're the one who attacked Rainbase."
Sabo didn't answer. His glowing eyes shifted past Crocodile, focusing on Nico Robin and Cobra below.
Crocodile's expression darkened, his anger bubbling over at the blatant disregard. He raised his remaining hand, gathering sand into a swirling mass of energy. As the sandstorm grew larger and more violent, he flung it toward Sabo with a force that could engulf the palace itself.
Sabo prepared to counter with his telekinesis, but just as he extended his power, the sandstorm suddenly dissipated.
As the whirlwind of sand vanished, Ikki appeared, floating beside Sabo.
"You take Cobra and Nico Robin to safety. Leave Crocodile to me," Ikki said firmly.
Sabo's voice echoed in Ikki's mind. "Your crew doesn't know Haki. Without it, you can't defeat a Logia user like him."
Ikki didn't argue. He wasn't one to get into unnecessary fights, especially when someone else was better equipped to handle the situation. "Fine. I'll leave him to you."
Nodding, Ikki swooped down toward Cobra and Nico Robin. Grabbing them both, he launched into the air, flying toward Rainbase at high speed.
Seeing Ikki escape with his captives, Crocodile acted immediately. Without hesitation, he unleashed a volley of massive Desert Spada attacks, each one slashing toward Ikki's retreating figure.
Before the strikes could land, Sabo intercepted them, his armored hands glowing with Haki.
"Your opponent is me," Sabo said telepathically, stepping into the path of the attacks.
With precision, he crushed one Desert Spada into sand with his fists while flicking his tail, coated in Armament Haki, to deflect the others away.
The barrage neutralized, Sabo wasted no time. Wrapping himself in telekinetic energy, he rocketed toward Crocodile.
The last time Sabo had fought Crocodile, the battle took place in the desert. There, Crocodile had the advantage—his abilities were amplified in his natural element, making it nearly impossible for Sabo to land a decisive blow.
But now the battlefield had shifted. They were above the palace, far from the sands that gave Crocodile his strength.
On top of that, Sabo's new abilities as Mewtwo drastically boosted his power. This time, the fight would be different.
As Sabo charged toward him, Crocodile's confidence wavered. He remembered all too well how Sabo's telekinesis had scattered his sand body during their previous encounter. Though it hadn't physically harmed him, the sensation of his form being torn apart left a lingering psychological impact.
Seeing Sabo approach, Crocodile made the uncharacteristic choice to roll away in a frantic attempt to avoid the attack.
After narrowly dodging Sabo's attack, Crocodile slammed his hand onto the ground. Instantly, the palace square began to collapse, the stone tiles crumbling as they transformed into shifting sand with Crocodile at its center. The ground quickly turned into a miniature desert.
Crocodile, realizing he couldn't overpower the monstrous figure before him, sought to tip the scales by creating an environment favorable to his powers.
Sabo, however, immediately understood Crocodile's strategy and wasn't about to let it happen.
Standing firmly, Sabo suddenly launched himself forward with a series of rapid steps, each one propelling him faster than the last. Using Shave, he vanished from sight in a burst of speed.
While his telekinetic flight was convenient, it drained significant energy. For close-range bursts, his honed physical abilities were far more efficient.
Reappearing behind Crocodile in an instant, Sabo reached out with his Armament Haki-coated Dragon Claw, aiming for the warlord's neck.
Sensing the danger, Crocodile reacted swiftly. He manipulated the sand beneath him, creating a towering wall of hardened sand between himself and Sabo.
Simultaneously, he launched streams of sand from beneath Sabo's feet, attempting to ensnare him. If Crocodile could make contact, he could drain the moisture from Sabo's body and secure his victory.
It was a clever plan, but reality didn't favor him.
The sand wall shattered effortlessly under Sabo's attack, the Dragon Claw piercing through it as though it were paper. In the same motion, Sabo's claw seized Crocodile by the neck, lifting him off the ground.
Even as his neck was gripped tightly, Crocodile remained calm. His life was in Sabo's hands, but he was no stranger to peril. He prepared to make a desperate counterattack.
But before Crocodile could act, Sabo's eyes glowed faintly, and a pulse of energy emanated from him.
"[Petrification.]"
Crocodile's body froze in place, locked by an overwhelming telekinetic force. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't move a muscle.
Moments after Crocodile was immobilized, a squad of Alabasta soldiers stormed into the palace square, accompanied by a group of Marines. Leading the Marines was Smoker's lieutenant, Tashigi.
Tashigi's sharp gaze took in the scene: Crocodile, frozen and helpless, and a strange golden-armored figure standing over him.
Drawing her sword, she shouted, "Stand down!"
The Marines raised their rifles, aiming at Sabo, while the Alabasta soldiers, still shaken by the destruction, hesitated briefly before pointing their spears at the intruder. Their eyes darted between Crocodile, the Bird-Claw Forces lying motionless on the ground, and their fallen protectors, Bell and Chaka.
Sabo made no aggressive move. His calm voice resonated telepathically in the minds of everyone present:
"I'm not your enemy. Crocodile is under my control, but I need seastone handcuffs to restrain him properly."
Tashigi narrowed her eyes, her grip on her sword tightening. "Where is King Cobra?" she demanded.
"He's safe now," Sabo replied.
With his message delivered, Sabo turned and began to rise into the air, his body surrounded by telekinetic energy. The sudden movement startled the already tense soldiers, and they instinctively opened fire.
Bullets rained down on Sabo, but they harmlessly bounced off his telekinetic barrier. Ignoring the attacks, he flew away, heading in the direction Ikki had gone.
Sabo knew Crocodile wouldn't reveal anything useful, so if he wanted to uncover the warlord's true purpose, he needed answers from King Cobra or Nico Robin.