Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

Crocodile and Luffy stood in front of each other, neither making a move. The tension in the air felt thick, heavy with the promise of an inevitable clash.

"Your time has come, Straw Hat." Crocodile said arrogantly, a smirk playing on his lips.

Luffy remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing before he spoke. "Vivi's strength is her heart. She always tries to help others. She feels compassion for everybody, so she never stops fighting. She doesn't want anyone to die."

"No deaths? She's just a peace-loving fool. She's never been in a real fight. Don't you agree?" Crocodile asked, amusement lacing his voice.

"That's right. But as long as you're around, she'll kill herself trying to stop you. So I have to take you down, now!" Luffy's determination was palpable, his fists tightening.

Crocodile chuckled darkly. "How foolish. You'd give your life for a stranger? I've deserted dozens of fools like you!"

"In that case, you're the fool!" Luffy shot back, his anger boiling over.

Crocodile's expression darkened. He reached into his coat and threw an hourglass at Luffy's feet.

"I'll give you two…three minutes, but no more." He said, his voice dripping with malice.

Luffy furrowed his brow, confused. "Are you blind? I'm the only—"

"Luffy!" Ryomen's voice rang out as he rushed to his captain's side, breathless.

"Ryomen!" Luffy's expression lit up momentarily.

"What happened? Where are the others?" Ryomen asked, his eyes scanning the area.

"They left. Now we need to deal with this guy." Luffy said, his finger pointing directly at Crocodile.

"Alright." Ryomen nodded, taking his place beside Luffy, though concern lingered in his gaze as he eyed their formidable opponent.

Without warning, Luffy launched the first attack. "Gomu-Gomu no…Pistol!" His fist stretched out towards Crocodile, but the Warlord dissolved into sand, easily avoiding the strike.

Reappearing between the two pirates, Crocodile sneered. Ryomen reacted immediately. "Dismantle!" He shouted, slashing at Crocodile, but the attack missed. Ryomen's heart sank. 'He dodged them!?' He thought. 'Dammit, he has Haki!'

Crocodile countered, lunging with his hooked hand toward Ryomen. But Luffy intervened. "Gomu-Gomu no…Gatling Gun!!" Fists flew at Crocodile in rapid succession. Most passed through his sand body, but one struck the hook, diverting its course just enough to save Ryomen from harm.

"Damn sand monster!" Luffy growled, frustration boiling over.

"You're wasting your time. No matter how much you try, you'll never—" Crocodile was cut off mid-sentence as Luffy's fist drove through his face, the rubber boy snarling with fury.

"You trying to say something, Croc!?" Luffy shouted, his voice a mix of rage and challenge.

Crocodile's eyes narrowed, fury starting to bubble beneath his calm façade. "Playtime's over."

"I wasn't playing." Luffy responded, eyes fierce.

Ryomen glanced between them, sensing the shift in Crocodile's mood. He took a step forward, his voice biting. "You sure that wasn't you at your best? You seemed like the type to hide behind your inability to get hit." His words were laced with venom, and veins started to bulge on Crocodile's forehead.

Crocodile growled, raising his hook. "Desert Spada!!" A massive slash cut through the desert, parting the ground between them. Luffy and Ryomen barely managed to dodge, the force of the attack sending sand flying everywhere.

"What the hell!?" Luffy shouted, eyes wide at the devastation Crocodile's attack left in its wake.

Ryomen felt a knot tighten in his stomach. 'He's strong…Too strong.'

Crocodile's lips curled into a grin. "I've spent a long time developing my powers. Unlike some fools who are satisfied with their abilities as they are, I've pushed mine to the limit. I'll make you regret opposing me."

With a flick of his wrist, Crocodile touched the sand beneath his feet. "Desert Girasol!!" The ground where Ryomen and Luffy stood suddenly gave way, turning into quicksand and pulling them down.

"Aahh! What's happening!?" Luffy shouted, struggling.

"Stop moving! It'll only make it worse!" Ryomen barked, his voice strained as he tried to steady himself.

Luffy's face scrunched up in concentration before an idea hit him. "Hold onto me!" He yelled. Ryomen did so, and Luffy bellowed, "Gomu-Gomu no…Bazooka!" His fists blasted into the sand, launching both of them into the air.

Crocodile, unbothered, raised a hand, sending a stream of sand after them. "Don't you understand? It's futile."

Ryomen broke away from Luffy mid-air, twisting his body to kick at Crocodile, but his foot connected with nothing but sand. Crocodile's body reformed a few feet away, chuckling.

"Crescent Cutlass!" Crocodile slashed, his hook grazing Luffy's arm. In an instant, Luffy's flesh withered, leaving only bone and skin.

"My arm! Aaahh!!" Luffy cried out in pain.

"Luffy!" Ryomen rushed to his side, panic rising in his chest.

"I've absorbed the moisture from your arm. Soon, your whole body will be the same." Crocodile taunted, a wicked grin on his face.

Ryomen's eyes darted to Luffy's bag. 'Toto's water!'

"Here!" He threw the small barrel of water to Luffy. The rubber boy guzzled it down, and his arm slowly returned to normal.

Crocodile watched in mild amusement. "Ridiculous."

Luffy wiped his mouth, his resolve stronger than ever. "No, it's not! The old man worked all night for this water. He told me...Yuba won't lose to the sand!"

With renewed fury, Luffy launched into another attack. "Gomu-Gomu no...Axe!!" His leg came crashing down on Crocodile, destroying part of his body, but the Warlord simply reformed.

Luffy then lunged again, "Gomu-Gomu no...Munch Munch!" He bit into Crocodile's upper body, trapping him momentarily.

"Enough of this nonsense!" Crocodile roared, breaking free. "Die!!"

"Sables." The sandstorm he conjured surrounded them, tearing at their bodies.

"Luffy! We need to get out of here!" Ryomen yelled over the roaring winds, struggling to keep his balance.

…

Far off, Vivi and the others could see the storm forming. "There's a sandstorm heading for Rainbase! It's him, I know it!" Vivi exclaimed, fear in her voice.

"They'll be fine..." Nami mumbled, more to herself than anyone else, her eyes filled with worry.

While the others remained silent, trying to not let their thoughts distract them.

…

"The winds in this area always blow from north to south. If this sandstorm were to head south, growing stronger as it went…what would lie in its devastating path?" Crocodile questioned.

"To the south!?" Luffy shouted across the sandstorm in confusion.

"Yuba!" Ryomen angrily replied, grinding his teeth.

"Why!?" Luffy now yelled at Crocodile. "Stop it!" He then tried to grab the warlord, only for him to disappear in the sand.

"Stop!" Luffy shouted as he went toward the center of the sandstorm, just to be blown away.

"It won't work, Luffy!" Ryomen told him in concern.

Crocodile smirked, his voice barely audible over the howling winds. "You should listen to your partner. It will only gather more and more power! Yuba is doomed."

"Stop it! Right now!" Luffy went in front of Crocodile, not letting Ryomen hold him. "Sto–" Luffy was silenced, his face starting to pale.

Ryomen stared frozen in shock as the blood flowed down. "Luffy…" He mumbled with wide eyes, feeling tears threatening to fall.

"Who do you think…you're ordering around? You're a weakling. People like you are a dime a dozen…in the Grand Line." Crocodile stated as his hook impaled Luffy.

Ryomen's rage exploded. "Crocodile!!" He charged at the Warlord, but every blow missed, Crocodile's body dissolving into sand. Wave after wave of sand knocked him back, blood staining the desert.

"Stand down." Crocodile ordered, but Ryomen staggered to his feet, glaring at him through bloodied eyes. "I'll kill you!!" He screamed, bloodied and beaten, but still standing.

"There's nothing you can do. You two will die…Yuba will die." Crocodile stated as he knocked Ryomen down once more. He then turned toward Luffy. "You might've lived longer if not for your foolish compassion. You'll no longer feel any gratitude for this wate–" Luffy suddenly put his hand on Crocodile's soaked arm.

"Huh?" Crocodile exclaimed in confusion. Luffy then pushed himself off the hook, falling into the quicksand. "You're…still alive!?"

Ryomen's heart leapt with hope. "Luffy...!"

"Ack!" Blood sprayed from Luffy's mouth.

"You're in great pain now. But soon you won't feel anything! This hook is laced with poison. Not many had the honor to die to it." Crocodile smirked, then turned back to Ryomen. "I'm sure seeing your friend die while you're powerless to do anything would be better than killing you." He stated. "Goodbye." Then vanished into the sand.

Ryomen's body trembled with rage and fear as Crocodile disappeared into the storm, leaving the two pirates to their fate.

He rushed toward Luffy, desperation clawing at him as he tried to pull him from the quicksand, but their weakened states made it impossible to escape.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry for being so weak." Ryomen choked out, his voice breaking with tears.

Suddenly, several hands appeared beside them, lifting them from danger.

"What?" Ryomen mumbled, glancing up to see Ms. All Sunday approaching.

"Seems you got yourself in quite the impasse." She teased, a smirk on her lips.

"Why are you here? I don't have time for your games!" He shouted, clutching Luffy protectively.

"Thought you might need help. He's been poisoned, hasn't he?" She revealed a small vial, glinting ominously in the dim light.

"Then what are you waiting for? Give it!" Ryomen pleaded desperately.

"Hmm. But I don't really feel like it." She replied, amusement dancing in her eyes, shocking Ryomen.

"You…!" He was ready to attack, but a sudden voice stopped him.

"Impulsiveness won't solve anything."

He turned back to Luffy, seeing his condition deteriorate. Panic surged within him.

"Please, forgive us."

"...You're right! Forgive me! I was wrong! Please, call a doctor. Help our friend."

He gritted his teeth, dropping to his knees. "Please…Help him. I…I won't be able to live, knowing I couldn't save him." Ryomen begged, his desperation clear in his trembling voice. Ms. All Sunday stared at him in shock.

"So you're not just an idiot." She said, her smile softer now as she fed Luffy the antidote.

"Thank you!" Ryomen shouted, overwhelmed with relief, and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"L-Let go!" She protested, pushing him away in embarrassment.

"Found you!" A voice yelled from behind them. "What have you done to Princess Vivi!?" A man wearing a bandana, adorned with necklaces and wielding a sword, confronted them, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Oh, just in time." Ms. All Sunday exclaimed, her demeanor shifting as she addressed the newcomer. "You can chat with these two. They escorted the princess here, after all." She then left on an Accelegator, vanishing into the chaos.

"Uuh…Who's this guy?" Luffy weakly muttered as he struggled to focus on the man.

"Luffy! Are you feeling better!?" Ryomen asked urgently, concern etched on his face as he offered Luffy his straw hat.

"No…" Luffy replied, staring blankly at the wound in his stomach, dread filling his gaze.

'These two…escorted the princess?' The bandana-wearing man thought, doubt flickering in his eyes as he assessed the situation.