The Other Side.
Just as the clash of Conqueror's Haki between Kairos Flint and Shanks echoed through the air…
Crocodile felt it immediately.
As someone who had spent years in the New World and once dared to challenge Whitebeard, Crocodile was no stranger to this level of dominance. He recognized it instantly—this was Conqueror's Haki, and not just any display. One of these presences felt immature but already radiated an intensity rivaling the Four Emperors. The other was terrifyingly refined—greater even than the power he had felt when clashing with Whitebeard himself.
He didn't need to guess long to identify one of them.
He'd already been informed that Red-Haired Shanks was making his way to Alabasta. This overwhelming presence, so commanding it shook the air around him, could only belong to Shanks—famous for exuding dominance with every breath.
But the other one? That, he couldn't place.
Whoever it was, Crocodile realized one alarming truth—there were now two emperor-level powerhouses in Alabasta.
This threw his entire plan into chaos.
He had come here for one reason: Pluton, the ancient weapon. That was all he wanted. But now?
With two forces of that caliber in the same country, his schemes meant nothing. Strength of that magnitude could crush any conspiracy before it even took root.
He began to panic.
Even if Shanks had his reasons for coming, the arrival of this second powerhouse changed everything. His plans—his ambitions—they were unraveling.
He knew himself too well. After his humiliating defeat by Whitebeard, he'd slipped into complacency, allowing his Haki to fade. Now, the only thing he could truly rely on was his Suna Suna no Mi, the Sand-Sand Fruit. That worked fine in the first half of the Grand Line, where most pirates lacked mastery of Haki.
But here in Alabasta?
There were two Conqueror's Haki users. One of them was Shanks, who could probably kill him in an instant. The other… this mystery individual, whose presence was enough to clash with Shanks…
He'd be lucky to survive.
And then, it happened.
"Found you, Crocodile."
A calm voice rang out nearby.
Crocodile's gaze snapped toward the source. A young man stood not far from him, calm and relaxed.
"You sneaky little brat… are you looking to die?"
Crocodile spat in annoyance. The man didn't give off any threatening aura. Just another overconfident punk—he thought.
"Forgive my rudeness. Name's Kairos Flint. Bounty hunter by trade," the young man replied, smiling casually.
He was lean, but beneath that modest appearance was a perfectly built frame—one sculpted not just through ability crystals, but nourished and enhanced since his arrival in this world. The kind of man who looked slim in clothes but ripped underneath.
"Kairos Flint?! What happened to Mr. 1?"
At that name, Crocodile's expression darkened. He remembered now—the branch at Whiskey Peak had been obliterated by someone named Kairos. And not long ago, he'd sent Mr. 1 to deal with him in Alubarna.
And now here he was, standing right in front of him.
Which could only mean…
"You didn't think I'd ignore the nice gift you sent me, did you?" Kairos said lightly. "Don't worry—I'll be sure to deliver Mr. 1's corpse to the Marines and cash the bounty myself."
Crocodile's rage exploded.
Mr. 1 was more than a subordinate—he was a trusted right hand. And now this brat not only killed him, but came to gloat? The audacity!
"YOU'RE COURTING DEATH!!"
"You talk too much, Crocodile," Kairos muttered coldly.
In a flash, he appeared in front of Crocodile. His arm tensed—covered in hardened Armament Haki. His fist came crashing down.
BOOM!!
Crocodile didn't even have time to react.
The punch sent him flying across the street, smashing through a nearby building in a cloud of dust and rubble.
"Uncle Croc, I'm flattered you remember me," Kairos said, brushing off his coat. "But you really ought to watch your tone."
From the debris, Crocodile emerged—blood trickling down his face.
He now understood. Armament Haki.
That was how this kid had hit him—bypassing the natural intangibility of his Sand-Sand Fruit.
"There seems to be… some misunderstanding between us," Crocodile said carefully.
He wasn't above retreating when needed. After all, Pluton still hadn't been found, and this boy—who moved so fast and struck so hard—was not someone he could afford to fight right now.
"There's no misunderstanding," Kairos said flatly.
"I came here to kill you."
"You dared to cause chaos in my woman's homeland—my father-in-law's kingdom. So now, I'm here to bury you myself."
And truthfully… Kairos was also after Crocodile's Devil Fruit ability.
The Sand-Sand Fruit—a Logia-class Devil Fruit—was too valuable to ignore.
"Your woman… and father-in-law?"
Crocodile's mind flashed. The reports… Princess Vivi had been seen with Kairos Flint.
So that meant—
"You little punk! You think I'm someone you can just kill?! I'm a Warlord of the Sea!"
The thought of being disrespected like this—mocked by someone so young—was more than Crocodile could tolerate.
Desert Spada!
A massive sand blade extended from his arm, slicing forward with violent force.
Kairos didn't hesitate.
He drew the Sandai Kitetsu—the third-generation demon blade.
Armament Haki coated its edge. Conqueror's Haki burst around him. A freezing aura accompanied the swing of his blade, as if the heat of the desert fled his presence.
With ghostly silence, he vanished—then reappeared right behind Crocodile.
His blade fell like a judgment from hell.
SLASH!
Blood sprayed.
Crocodile staggered, nearly split in half. Ice crept along the wound. The cut wasn't just deep—it was unnaturally cold. A cursed chill emanated from it.
"Damn it…"
Crocodile gritted his teeth.
He had tried to elementalize—to turn into sand and avoid the blow—but he was too slow. The blade had already hit.
His Desert Spada was shattered. His plan, broken.
Kairos stepped forward silently.
"You put too much faith in Pluton. Do you really think true power comes from a weapon?"
"You should've trained. Should've grown stronger yourself. Not relied on something external."
"You're putting the cart before the horse, Crocodile."
And deep down, Crocodile knew he was right.
"Maybe… you're right," he admitted bitterly.
Years of laziness. Abandoning his training. Had he honed his Haki, his body, his fruit ability—maybe he would've stood a chance.
But now, he was just too weak.
"Remember my name: Kairos Flint, future King of Bounties."
And with that, Kairos drove his blade into Crocodile's heart.
It was over.
At that moment, a digital message flickered into his mind:
[Pickable items detected. Pick up?]
"Pick up."
[Ding! Items Acquired: 3 Legendary Body Crystals, 4 Legendary Soul Crystals, 1 Epic Talent Crystal, 3 Perfect Physical Skill Crystals, 1 Legendary Natural-Type Sand-Sand Fruit Crystal — stored in inventory.]
Not bad, for a kill.
High-quality loot. Especially the epic talent crystal—proof that Crocodile had once possessed the potential to become a Yonko-level threat.
But he'd squandered it. Lost his fire. His discipline.
Kairos studied the other crystals. Crocodile's physical skills were clearly lacking—but the Logia fruit crystal was a treasure.
With his stockpile of legendary ability crystals, Kairos could easily craft someone even more powerful than Crocodile ever was.
Someone emperor-level. In record time.
Then suddenly—
"You've been watching long enough. Don't you think it's rude to keep spying like that?"
Kairos turned his gaze toward a nearby corner.
The air fell still.
A moment later, Nico Robin stepped out, wearing a calm smile.
"Mr. Flint. We meet at last," she said politely.
But she didn't move closer.
She was cautious.
After all… she had just witnessed this man kill her employer with terrifying ease.
Fear lingered behind her calm eyes.
She knew it well—this was not someone to underestimate.