One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88 - [88] : Plundering Fortune! Haōshoku Coating! Admiral Level!

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BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A tyrannical crimson-black light flared violently in Rowen's eyes!

The next moment, it seemed to solidify, erupting into crackling arcs of crimson-black lightning that danced wildly through the atmosphere!

Under this overwhelming surge, Crocodile, who was in the process of elementizing into sand, froze mid-transformation!

Elementalization—failed!

Before Conqueror's Haki could be infused into attacks, it couldn't directly inflict fatal damage on Crocodile. However, by disrupting his mental state for a crucial instant, it could temporarily halt his elemental transformation.

And that momentary halt was all Rowen needed!

"Smoke Release——! Munch-Munch Release——!"

FWOOSH!

White smoke instantly enveloped Crocodile's body.

Then, from within the smoke, a large volume of seawater—which Rowen had previously 'munched' and stored—was forcefully expelled!

SPLASH!

The seawater completely drenched Crocodile's body!

A horrifying wave of weakness washed over him, his face contorting in horror.

"Th-This is seawater?! No way... How can your fruit contain seawater?!" Crocodile shrieked, his eyes wide with utter disbelief.

Devil Fruit users—in exchange for their mighty powers, were cursed by Mother Sea, becoming unable to swim—Seawater was the absolute bane of every devil fruit user! Contact with it nullified their fruit powers and sapped nearly all their strength!

Yet this man's fruit—somehow concealed seawater?! And this was the Smoke-Smoke Fruit's power, right? How could the Smoke-Smoke Fruit store seawater?!

Drenched and powerless, Crocodile was utterly bewildered.

"I'm under no obligation to answer your questions, Crocodile," Rowen replied with a chilling smile.

Although Rowen's current strength was more than enough to defeat Crocodile conventionally, this was Vivi's country. A full-blown Logia battle would undoubtedly cause massive collateral damage to Alubarna.

Combining the Munch-Munch Fruit with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit allowed Rowen to store seawater beforehand and then release it, instantly neutralizing Crocodile.

With such an efficient method available, why bother with a drawn-out fight?

Rowen was a pirate!

Maximizing profit—obtaining what he wanted—that was the pirate way!

"Alright, Crocodile. You can die peacefully now,"

Rowen stated, the tyrannical crimson-black light flaring in his eyes as he looked down at the completely helpless Warlord.

"W-Wait! Y-You care deeply about Alabasta, about Nefertari Vivi, don't you?! Otherwise, why go to such lengths to help her?! In Alubarna—there's a super-bomb! If I don't give the order to stop it within two hours—that bomb will detonate in Alubarna!" Crocodile, sensing overwhelming killing intent, paled and desperately played his final trump card.

"Super-bomb?" Rowen looked at Crocodile.

"That's right! That bomb is powerful enough to destroy the entire city and everyone in Alubarna! What do you gain by killing me?! The fame of defeating a Warlord? Your reputation is already massive; you don't need that! Instead, let's cooperate! We can transform Alabasta into a military nation! With us working together, the entire sea will be ours in the future! Aren't you—THE MAN WHO WILL STAND ABOVE ALL?!" Crocodile pleaded, attempting to tempt Rowen.

"Interesting... HAHAHAHA!" Rowen laughed.

"How about it?! Cooperate with me! Sky Sovereign Rowen—KUHAHAHAHA!" Crocodile, thinking he had swayed Rowen, let out his signature laugh.

"What I find interesting is... everything you just said... is being broadcast live, you idiot," Rowen stated, gesturing towards the numerous Image Transponder Snails strategically placed around them.

Crocodile's triumphant laughter froze instantly on his face.

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"Crocodile—is that kind of person!"

"Just like His Majesty said!"

"Damn you, Crocodile!"

...

In Alubarna's main plaza, the citizens of Alabasta, watching the live broadcast, erupted in outrage.

Before Crocodile's arrival, this area had been set up as a public viewing point.

During the past two days, Rowen hadn't just been waiting. He used his Observation Haki to locate and neutralize all Baroque Works agents hidden within the Royal Army and Alubarna.

Their distinct auras and emotional states made them stand out clearly from normal citizens and loyal soldiers under Rowen's focused Pale Gold tier Observation Haki.

Then, King Cobra revealed Crocodile's entire plot to the people of Alubarna.

Though some, influenced by Crocodile's carefully crafted hero image, were initially skeptical, Cobra simply requested they come and watch the broadcast.

The truth revealed itself, exactly as Cobra—and Rowen—had planned.

(The 'welcoming crowd' for Crocodile in Alubarna was, of course, composed of disguised Royal Army soldiers.)

"But where is that bomb?!" The citizens now erupted in panic.

"CITIZENS! LISTEN TO ME!"

A beautiful figure appeared on the clock tower, her voice amplified, "The bomb has already been dealt with!"

"PRINCESS VIVI?!" Seeing her, the crowd's panic gradually subsided.

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"BASTARD!" Seeing the Image Transponder Snails, Crocodile felt like he was being publicly shamed before all of Alabasta. He didn't care about that, of course—he was a pirate!

Even becoming a Warlord was just a means to obtain Pluton!

But this meant—this man never intended for him to live!

"Fine! If that's how it is—then this city can accompany me to hell!" Crocodile snarled savagely. Beg for mercy? Crocodile would rather die! But this city—would die with him!

"Alubarna Plaza Clock Tower. Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day," Rowen's calm words struck Crocodile like a thunderbolt.

"Y-YOU!" Crocodile stared at Rowen in utter horror. "How did you know?! Not even Nico Robin knew about that backup plan!" Crocodile hissed like a wounded beast, glaring at Rowen.

"You can ponder that question in hell," Rowen replied, slowly raising his Haki-coated fist.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Crocodile roared in defiance.

Then, the Haki-infused fist descended, engulfing him completely.

Crocodile—who had inflicted so much psychological torment on Vivi—Rowen would never let him live.

CRUNCH!

The lifeless body of Crocodile was broadcast live via the Image Transponder Snails.

One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile—has fallen!

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—[Iconic Pirate Faction figure, Warlord Crocodile, has fallen!]—

—[Faction Fortune (Apex Gold) activated! Plundering all of target's Warlord 'fortune'!]—

—[Conqueror's Haki immensely strengthened!]—

—[Tier Advanced! Upgraded to: Conqueror's Haki (Deep Gold)!]—

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VMMMM!

A horrible crimson-black light flared violently in Rowen's eyes!

Faction Fortune—after plundering and converting—massively boosted his Conqueror's Haki!

Conqueror's Haki—advanced to Deep Gold tier!

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Conqueror's Haki (Deep Gold): Initial mastery of Conqueror's Haki Infusion for attacks!

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CRACKLE! CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

Arcs of crimson-black lightning now crackled wildly around Rowen's entire body!

Compared to before, this manifested Haki lightning was incomparably more violent!

CRACK! CRACK!

The tyrannical aura even caused the ground beneath Rowen's feet to crack and splinter!

VMM!

Conqueror's Haki — Infusion! Haōshoku Coating!

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New Trait: Haōshoku Coating (Infused Conqueror's Attack) (Apex Gold): A devastating attack infused with Conqueror's Haki!

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Regardless, Rowen's offensive capability had now broken into the Admiral-level threshold! Before exhausting his Haōshoku Coating, Rowen was Admiral-level!

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"Plunder." Rowen commanded, looking down at Crocodile's unconscious form.

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