Chapter 212: Pluton and Nirvana

Below the Hall of Sacrifice.

Inside the secret chamber.

Xiang Keluo, Robin, and Cobra stood before the Poneglyph, quietly awaiting the result of Robin's deciphering.

Brrring—Brrring—!

A frantic ringing came from the Den Den Mushi in Xiang Keluo's arms, but with the Pluton right before his eyes, he had no mind for anything else and immediately slapped it silent.

The secret chamber instantly fell silent.

A few breaths later.

Robin turned her head; she had reached a conclusion regarding the deciphering of the Poneglyph.

Does the Poneglyph of Alabasta record the hiding place of Pluton, the most vicious warship in history?

But this location...

Thinking this.

Robin cast a subtle glance at Xiang Keluo, her eyes even carrying a hint of pity.

As Xiang Keluo's subordinate, years of association had been enough for her to understand the reason behind his such frantic pursuit of the Ancient Weapons.

Yet the more so, at this very moment, as Robin truly realized what price must be paid to obtain Pluton.

All of Xiang Keluo's schemes and actions had become a joke.

"There is nothing here that you are looking for."

Robin spoke with an expressionless face.

She was lying.

This was known not only by herself, but also by Cobra, and by Xiang Keluo as well.

Hoo~!

Xiang Keluo exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze suppressing violent rage as it fell upon Robin:

"My patience is limited; speak the truth."

"What is recorded here is the history of Alabasta, a history from before the World Government was created."

"Is that so?"

"Then that is truly regrettable!"

As Xiang Keluo's voice landed, the atmosphere around them turned cold in that instant; invisible killing intent permeated the air, making the hair on Cobra's body stand on end.

Cobra did not know what exactly the Poneglyph left by his ancestors recorded, but it absolutely would not be the so-called history of Alabasta.

Such a thing would not require such a grandiose effort, nor would it need to be crafted from a material that is completely indestructible.

They must be worried about something.

For instance, someone wishing to bury that history forever.

But what puzzled Cobra was why Nico Robin would deceive Xiang Keluo...

Why?

Cobra turned to look at Robin, and suddenly connecting this name with Ohara, which was destroyed twenty years ago, everything found its answer.

Just as Cobra was about to speak, the sound of a gunshot rang out beside his ear...

Bang!

Xiang Keluo pulled the trigger; the muzzle spat fire, and the bullet instantly pierced through Robin's chest, tearing out a spray of blood and flesh.

"Did you think your betrayal was well hidden?!"

"If not for the fact that within the Baroque Works, only you can decipher the Poneglyph, you would have died the moment you left Rainbase."

"Forget it."

Xiang Keluo turned to look at the Poneglyph, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes:

"Once the item is in hand, there will be ample room for maneuver."

"In this world, you are not the only one capable of deciphering the Poneglyph."

As he spoke.

Xiang Keluo reached out to touch the Poneglyph before him.

The moment Robin chose to conceal the truth indirectly proved that this item was genuine.

This Poneglyph truly recorded the whereabouts of Pluton.

Once that thing is in my grasp, no one, be it Knight Gao Wen, the Jin Shizi, or even... even Whitebeard, will be my match.

Only a monster can fight a monster!

There can be no mistake!

"Heh..."

A weak, faint laugh escaped from Robin's mouth.

Feeling the weakness overtaking her body, she now had few reservations left.

"So this is your tragedy."

"I finally understand why neither Knight Gao Wen nor Whitebeard has ever regarded you as a true threat."

"You are too weak."

The only reply to Robin was another gunshot, the bullet piercing through her body once more.

The mockery on Robin's face did not fade in the slightest; instead, accompanied by her increasingly pallid complexion, it grew ever more ferocious.

Yet in Robin's eyes, there was also an unspeakable regret.

After twenty years of exile, she had found no place to call home, no existence that could be called a companion.

I'm sorry, Saulo, it seems I have reached my end...

"Teh-hee-hee..."

A strange laughter echoed through the silent secret chamber.

This inexplicable sensation left Crocodile with nowhere to vent his fury; he raised his hand, pointing the gun at Robin, his finger pressing on the trigger, ready to end her life...

Boom!

A roar came from outside the secret chamber.

Crocodile's pupils constricted; he turned to look toward the entrance, and immediately, steady footsteps reached his ears...

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

"Ara."

"You've really given me quite a search."

"However."

"Crocodile, could you put down the gun first? That woman is a crew member I value; if she dies here, I will be in quite a troublesome situation."

The familiar voice sent shivers down Crocodile's spine, his expression growing as gloomy as dark water:

"Knight... Gao Wen?"

"You persistent ghost!"

In the battle that night, Gao Wen had ultimately suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Jin Shizi, but this did not mean Gao Wen was weak.

Quite the opposite.

Being able to clash with a top-tier powerhouse like Jin Shizi, who roamed the seas, and even escape unscathed, was in itself an utterly absurd feat.

Moreover, the wound on Crocodile's arm had not yet fully healed.

The situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse for him; he now faced a dilemma.

Taking a step back might mean missing the Pluton forever, while stepping forward meant fighting Gao Wen, which for Crocodile in this moment, was no different from seeking death.

Just as he hesitated, Gao Wen's mocking voice reached his ears:

"As a condition, I could tell you the location of Pluton."

"You know?!"

Crocodile was startled; he looked at the Poneglyph, then at Gao Wen, his brows furrowed tightly:

"You can read the Poneglyph?"

Gao Wen couldn't be bothered to explain, giving a vague response:

"Something like that."

"Deal. Where is Pluton?"

The corner of Gao Wen's mouth curled up:

"Wano Country."

"Wano Country?"

Crocodile paused slightly.

The first thing that surfaced in his mind was not Wano Country itself, a natural fortress in the New World, but a man.

A man known as the world's strongest creature, arrested dozens of times by the Marines yet escaping unscathed every time, who once rampaged through God Valley alongside Rocks, and was now one of the Four Emperors recognized throughout the New World.

Kaido of the Hundred Beasts!

"What kind of joke are you playing?"

Crocodile's first reaction was that Gao Wen was deceiving him.

But when he turned to look at Robin, he saw the same shocked expression on her face as on his own.

He realized Gao Wen was telling the truth.

Pluton was indeed in Wano Country.

Things seemed to have become simple at this point.

Now, he was only two steps away from obtaining Pluton and gaining the power to counter Whitebeard and Jin Shizi:

Defeat the Gao Wen before him to escape, and crush the Beasts Pirates of Wano Country.

But...

If I already possess the combat power to crush Kaido of the Hundred Beasts, why would I fear Whitebeard, who is already withered by old age?

"I..."

"So, do you understand now?"

Gao Wen's tone was indifferent as he slowly drew Guanshi Zhengzong from his waist, killing intent permeating his surroundings:

"To reach the summit of these seas, there has always been only one path: to crush every enemy standing before you!"

"Rocks was so, Roger was so, and even Whitebeard and Jin Shizi, who once neared the summit, were so; placing your hopes in external objects rather than in yourself is precisely the greatest difference between you and them."

"All along, the one who has had it too easy has never been me, but you!"

Crocodile's body trembled, and he took a step back.

Gao Wen seized that moment of hesitation, activating Shave, and a horizontal slash swept across Crocodile's chest...

Slash!

Blood sprayed.

Crocodile was instantly sent flying backward, smashing into the wall covering in the distance.

Even though he had reacted in that instant, mobilizing his Haki to protect his chest, he still could not block Gao Wen's slash.

A single strike was enough to deprive him of his combat ability.

Swish!

Gao Wen flicked the blood from his blade, turned to glance at Cobra, and said:

"It was your daughter who invited me here."

"Vivi?"

Cobra froze for a moment, then an expression of immense worry appeared in his eyes:

"How is Vivi?"

"She is fine; she is currently outside with Koza stabilizing the situation."

Hearing this, Cobra finally let out a sigh of relief; he struggled to his feet just as Gao Wen continued:

"If you can still move, take Robin with you as well; I want this woman."

"Very well, then this place..."

"There is no meaning in you staying behind."

"Mm."

Cobra gave a response, then walked over to where Robin lay.

Seeing that Robin still had a breath left in her, Cobra hurriedly tore off some of his own clothing to temporarily wrap her wounds, then with great effort lifted Robin into his arms and departed step by step along the secret passage's corridor.

It was not until Cobra's figure disappeared that Gao Wen turned his gaze toward the spot before Crocodile, and only then did he clearly see the extent of Crocodile's miserable condition.

That previous slash had nearly split Crocodile's torso open; through the wound in his chest, Gao Wen could even faintly see a heart beating continuously.

He was not far from death.

"Do you have any last words?"

"..."

"Truly unwilling to accept this!"

Crocodile let out a sigh.

Before his eyes floated scenes from his past, when he had been as unstoppable and invincible as Gao Wen was now.

Only now did he realize that what Gao Wen had said was correct.

The one who had always had things go too smoothly was never Gao Wen, but himself; the so-called similarities were merely his own wishful thinking.

"We were never the same; you, like Shiki and the others, are a monster born to stand at the pinnacle."

At this moment.

Crocodile had already lost everything.

Not only had the Baroque Works organization, which he had spent twenty years building, been destroyed, but even his dream regarding Pluton shattered in this instant.

Yet this gave him an opportunity to re-examine himself.

At this moment, Crocodile finally understood why neither Whitebeard nor Shiki had ever regarded him as a true opponent.

The weakness and hesitation rooted deep within his heart, when facing those strong ones who stood at the pinnacle and pressed forward without turning back, would expose his most fragile aspect.

"Tell me..."

"If I had not retreated back then, would things have been different?"

"If I could do it all over again, could it be me who becomes one of the Four Emperors, no, the hegemon who ascends to the top?"

Gao Wen responded indifferently:

"Such things, of course, one must try to know, but you no longer have the chance."

"Hahahahaha—!"

A dry, withered laughter erupted from Crocodile's mouth.

Accompanying this laughter, the Haki around his body surged, even stirring crimson Lei Guang in the void.

After twenty years, Crocodile once again felt the return of Haki, becoming even stronger than he had been in the past.

Crocodile struggled to his feet; the large movement aggravated the wound on his chest, and the assaulting agony caused beads of sweat to seep from his forehead.

Yet this could not hinder his will at this moment; he straightened his waist until it was perfectly erect, straight as an unsheathed sharp sword.

His edge was fully revealed.

"Such things, of course, one must try to know!"

"Interesting."

Gao Wen immediately took an interest:

"Why not join my crew?"

"What kind of foolish talk is that?"

The corner of Crocodile's mouth curled upward:

"The one who will become King is me!"

"That is true; what you did in Alabasta went too far, and I cannot tolerate you either."

As soon as the voice landed.

Crocodile let out a fierce shout:

"Desert Spada!"

Yellow sand surged, forming countless pitch-black blades that nearly filled the entire secret chamber, slashing toward Gao Wen in an instant!

"It's different!"

Gao Wen murmured.

Even without making contact with those sand blades, Gao Wen could already judge as much.

Whether it was the Armament Haki coating them or Crocodile's control over these sands, both far surpassed his previous capabilities by several notches.

Did he regain his conviction and grow stronger?

No!

This was his original power all along, combat strength sufficient to rival Barrett!

"Too late."

"Even if you have regained your former conviction and your combat strength has recovered, your body can no longer sustain high-intensity battle."

"What a pity."

Gao Wen sighed.

If Crocodile's body were still in its prime at this moment, he would indeed count as a worthy opponent.

He could even provide Gao Wen with a decent yield of Conqueror's Haki.

But he was already severely injured; being able to unleash even thirty percent of his full strength was already a desperate gamble with his life.

"Fierce Slash – Thousand Sword Mountain!"

Gao Wen raised his hand and swung his blade; sword qi crisscrossed, instantly scattering the sand blades within the secret chamber, and without losing momentum, sliced the entire chamber open.

Boom!

After a loud explosion, clouds of dust and smoke spread all around, the entire secret chamber gradually collapsed, yet Crocodile's figure had already vanished.

Gao Wen's brows furrowed slightly:

"Slipped away?"

"As if that would be so easy!"

He activated Observation Haki, locked onto Crocodile's presence, then leaped out of the collapsing sacrificial hall, chasing in the direction where Crocodile had disappeared.

……

A few minutes later.

The outskirts of Alabasta.

A figure slowly emerged from the endless yellow sand; it was none other than Crocodile, who had just escaped from the secret chamber.

After that recent burst of exertion, his injuries had worsened; at this moment, he could barely walk steadily.

"Fortunately, I barely managed to escape."

"Even if one aims to reach the summit, that does not mean one must become a brute who knows only reckless force."

"I—!"

Crocodile's words remained unfinished as he could speak no further.

It was only because, upon lifting his head, he saw a streak of golden light speeding toward him from the distant horizon.

"Hey, hey, hey..."

"This time, even Heaven isn't on my side?"

Boom!

A beam of laser landed beside Crocodile, triggering a violent explosion; the shockwave directly flipped Crocodile onto the ground.

"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea – Crocodile?"

"Ko~wa~i~ne~"

(End of Chapter)