Chương 29: Old Sand Breaks Through Defenses and Overpowers the Seven Warlords!

Crocodile only set up Baroque Works to make money and gather intelligence.

After all, considering that "Pluto" is an ancient weapon, it may have been dormant for hundreds of years in some corner of the world.

The more powerful a weapon is, the more energy it needs to consume. Moreover, "Pluto" is a super weapon that is said to be able to shatter an island with a single blow.

Considering future development and their own ambitions, sufficient funding is essential, hence the creation of Baroque Studio.

But if Crocodile really finds "Pluton" and forms a new pirate crew, then he won't even look down on the people at Baroque Works.

As a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and even wielding the ancient weapon "Pluton," why would I possibly look down on these trash from the first half of the Grand Line when recruiting crew members and officers?

Yang Cheng's strength, which he had just displayed, clearly caught the eye of Crocodile, who saw his potential.

That's why he decided to show mercy and make an exception for Yang Cheng, and then approached him to recruit him.

Upon hearing Crocodile's words, Yang Cheng couldn't help but smile and say, "I haven't had the chance to experience the charisma of the big shots in the New World yet."

But at least I think that you, Crocodile, are unlikely to become one of those so-called big shots in the New World.

If I had to explain why, it would be that, at least in my understanding, powerful people wouldn't use something like "Pluto" to achieve their ambitions and dreams.

A dream is called a dream precisely because it only has meaning if you achieve it yourself. When you try to compete with those great figures by relying on "Pluto," you've already lost.

"Perhaps as you said, I am like a frog in a well because I have not yet seen many strong people."

Even someone as ignorant as me dreams of one day crushing an island with a single blow through my own strength, rather than relying on something like "Pluto."

Yang Cheng's resounding words left Crocodile stunned for a moment.

However, after realizing what had happened, his expression turned ugly again.

Crocodile has roamed the seas for so many years, and he didn't even take Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, seriously. Yet now he's being mocked by some clueless brat.

And the key point is that, faced with Yang Cheng's mocking words, he couldn't find a way to refute them.

"A boastful brat who thinks he has some strength but doesn't know how vast the ocean is."

When I, Crocodile, set sail to make my fortune, you were still playing in the mud. Now it's your turn to teach me how to do things.

"Then I'll see if your skills are as sharp-tongued as your mouth!"

Yang Cheng's words immediately broke the Sand Crocodile's defenses.

And he showed no intention of holding back from then on.

It would be best if Yang Cheng hadn't died, but it wouldn't matter if he had. In any case, he had already obtained definite information from Yang Cheng that the Poneglyphs recording the whereabouts of "Pluto" were located in the country of Alabasta.

If he proceeds step by step, this kingdom will eventually fall into his hands, and at that time, he will also learn the secrets of "Pluto".

As for Yang Cheng, since the other party dared to mock him like that, then now he needs to let him know whether he is qualified to compete with those big shots in the New World!

"The Desert Diamond Sword—!"

Crocodile, his hands transforming into massive sand blades, swung them forward, unleashing four enormous sand blades that shot towards Yang Cheng.

Although it is a sand blade formed from sand, its sharpness is quite astonishing. When Crocodile swung the sand blade, the hard ground was easily cut open like tofu, leaving a deep trench.

Even the buildings and rocks along the way were instantly sliced in half as the sand blades pierced through them, just like a sharp blade cutting a cake!

"One-Sword Style: Bursting Blade—!"

Faced with four sand blades slashing at him like shark fins weaving across the ground, Yang Cheng simultaneously gripped his long sword and swung it forward, but missed.

People who eat the "Boom-Boom Fruit" can explode even the air they exhale.

Similarly, a famous sword that has consumed the "Boom-Boom Fruit" using energy conversion technology cannot explode simply by touching the blade.

Any slash can activate the power of the "Boom-Boom Fruit".

Therefore, when Yang Cheng's outward slash collided with Crocodile's Desert Vajra Blade, it immediately caused a violent explosion!

Although Crocodile's physical skills and Haki are lacking, his development of his Devil Fruit ability is quite outstanding.

As he said before, it's unrealistic to expect a swordsman's strikes to completely block the Sand-Sand Fruit's power.

However, Yang Cheng's slashing power is insufficient; he can make up for it with a nuclear explosion.

The shockwave from the explosion instantly dispersed the sand that had gathered together.

At the same time, using the shockwave from the explosion, Yang Cheng's body once again got close to Crocodile.

Given the Sand-Sand Fruit's excellent crowd control abilities, engaging in long-range combat would undoubtedly be foolish.

Moreover, only in close combat can one fully utilize their advantages in swordsmanship and physical skills.

"Crescent-shaped dunes—!"

After enlarging its arm to a gigantic size, it transformed into a crescent-shaped sand blade slash that roared towards them.

Compared to the Vajra Blade, the crescent-shaped dune has a shorter attack range, but the target hit will have all the moisture in their body instantly absorbed, turning them into a mummy.

Faced with this sand blade slash, Yang Cheng did not choose to back down, nor did he use his sword to block it. Instead, he clenched his other fist and punched it directly at the blade.

At first, Crocodile was undoubtedly mocking when he saw Yang Cheng dare to directly meet his crescent-shaped sand dune with his fist.

He could even see Yang Cheng's body completely drained of moisture, turning him into a dried-up corpse.

However, just before Yang Cheng's fist touched his sand blade, he saw that the surface of Yang Cheng's fist was actually coated with a layer of black substance with a metallic texture. His original mocking expression instantly turned into astonishment.

Sand flew up, and the Sand Blade Slash was directly shattered by Armament Haki. Crocodile's sand-transformed left arm was also directly knocked back to its original form.

Crocodile, still bewildered, hadn't yet figured out why Yang Cheng, a bounty hunter from the first half of the Grand Line, knew how to use Armament Haki when the long sword in Yang Cheng's other hand was already falling towards his dog's head.

After learning that Yang Cheng had mastered "Armament Haki", Crocodile dared not be so reckless as to use his natural ability to directly block Yang Cheng's long sword. Therefore, he could only raise the golden hook on his left hand again to meet the attack.

"boom------!"

The moment the blade collided with the golden hook, the power of the Boom Boom Fruit activated once again.

Amidst this explosive storm, Old Sha originally intended to repeat his old trick, using his natural abilities to create distance between himself and Yang Cheng through the shockwave generated by the explosion.

But the next second he discovered that chains formed from azure flames had somehow wrapped around his ankles, making it impossible for him to complete the natural transformation.