Demon Slayer Virgil [Isekai One Piece]

"As expected, you are too weak, Crocodile."

Behind his mask, Zavia looked at Crocodile as if he were a child. Honestly, he still couldn't understand why Crocodile, having been to the New World and knowing about Haki, refused to train in it.

Since he had been to the New World, Crocodile should have understood the importance of Haki, especially for Devil Fruit users. He should also have known how crucial physical combat became in the later stages.

In the New World, relying solely on Devil Fruit abilities without training in Haki and physical combat would result in a predictable outcome – even a low-ranking soldier could easily defeat such a person.

After all, Haki users were commonplace in the New World, even among the lower ranks.

Yet, despite knowing all this, Crocodile stubbornly clung to his Devil Fruit. Zavia couldn't fathom why.

"What?! Weak? You bastard! You only managed to escape the Marines by sheer luck! How dare you speak such nonsense! Desert Spada!" Crocodile flew into a rage upon hearing Zavia call him weak.

"Arrogant, easily angered... Sigh, Crocodile, you have too many weaknesses." Zavia shook his head slightly and then, with a shift of his foot, vanished from Crocodile and Robin's sight.

"What! A Devil Fruit can..."

This scene shocked both Crocodile and Robin, especially Robin. Although she knew from the black market that Zavia was a Spatial-type Devil Fruit user, she didn't expect him to activate his ability without any apparent time lag.

As Crocodile spoke, a cold sensation crept up his neck. A long blade rested against his throat, its sharp edge lightly touching his skin, drawing a thin line of blood.

"This, it can actually hurt... Tch, Haki..." Crocodile's face contorted in anger and frustration. He hadn't expected Zavia to possess Haki, making things much more difficult.

Robin wasn't a major concern, but Crocodile knew how effective Haki was against Logia Devil Fruit users like himself.

"I believe I mentioned, Crocodile, you are weak. Perhaps in this so-called 'Paradise' of the first half of the Grand Line, you are indeed nearly invincible. But if you intend to kill Whitebeard with your current abilities, I might as well end you now."

Standing behind Crocodile, Zavia's eyes were cold and indifferent beneath his mask, his voice sending chills down the Warlord's spine. He felt the presence of death looming over him.

"Why... how do you know about that..."

"Hmph, finding out about you is child's play. Don't forget, I was a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters. I have the authority to access the archives."

Crocodile fell silent at those words, his head lowered in contemplation.

"Hey, woman, where do you think you're going?" Seeing that Crocodile had calmed down slightly, Zavia turned his head towards Robin, who was slowly approaching an escape route.

Robin froze at his voice, her body tensing up, every hair on her body standing on end.

(As expected, should I have been gentler with her?)

Zavia thought to himself, observing Robin's rigid posture. He studied her carefully and concluded that she was even more beautiful than her anime counterpart. She truly was the goddess Nico Robin.

"So, what will you do?" Zavia turned his attention back to Crocodile, ignoring Robin for now.

"State your terms." Crocodile spoke slowly, suppressing his anger. For a man who had so much faith in his own strength, this was a humiliating situation.

"Changed your mind? Although I originally intended to kill you, I do admire you somewhat. Consider yourself spared. My terms are simple. Publicly announce your defeat at my hands and become my subordinate." Zavia removed the Yamato blade from Crocodile's neck and spoke calmly.

"Wh-you bas-"

"What? Do you think you can defeat me?"

"..."

Zavia's words silenced Crocodile. He was intelligent enough to understand that Zavia was stronger than him, and he still had his goal of killing Whitebeard. He couldn't afford to die yet.

However, he was filled with resentment. Becoming someone else's subordinate was worse than death to him.

"Rest assured, becoming my subordinate will be far better than your current situation. Besides, I don't need you to do much. Just gather information for me. As for Baroque Works, you can continue running it if you wish."

Seemingly sensing Crocodile's hesitation, Zavia offered his terms, which were undeniably beneficial for the Warlord.

"...Hmph, impossible. Why would someone like you offer me such favorable terms?" Crocodile scoffed, clearly not believing Zavia's words.

This was probably his last act of defiance.

"Well, believe it or not. But let me offer you a friendly reminder. If you accept my terms, you won't get hurt. You just need to publicly announce your defeat.

But if you refuse, I'll cut off one of your legs and then announce your defeat anyway. What will you choose?"

Zavia didn't give Crocodile any room for negotiation. It was a simple choice. Initially, Zavia hadn't planned on making Crocodile his subordinate. He had intended to cripple him.

However, after seeing Crocodile in person, Zavia changed his mind. He didn't know why, perhaps it was intuition.

"...I... accept your terms..." Crocodile's face twisted in frustration, his voice filled with reluctance.

"I see. Then congratulations, Crocodile. You have become the first subordinate of the future King of the World." Zavia sheathed his Yamato blade and declared with a hint of chuunibyou.

"King of the World... Hmph..." Crocodile scoffed mockingly.

"Laugh all you want. That is my dream, unlike you, who only seeks to reach the top through external means."

"..."

Zavia then turned to Robin, who was still standing there, and considered what to do with her.

"What's wrong? Have you taken a liking to that woman?" Crocodile looked at Zavia with a knowing expression, assuming he was interested in Robin.

"No, let her stay in Baroque Works. Two and a half years from now, a straw hat-wearing boy will pass through here. At that time, let her go with him." Zavia shook his head slightly, indicating he had no such intentions. Crocodile's expression returned to normal.

However, Robin looked distressed. Her future had just been casually decided by this man. "You're kidding! Do you think I'll just follow some straw hat-wearing person?!"

"Hmph hmph hmph, I'm afraid you don't have a choice, survivor of Ohara, Nico Robin."

Both Robin and Crocodile were shocked by Zavia's words.

"What?! Did you just say this woman is a survivor of Ohara?!"

"Yes, why?"

"No wonder she can read the Poneglyphs. I always thought... Hey, why give her to that straw hat-wearing person? Why give such a valuable asset to him?" Crocodile became agitated.

"No reason. I'm the boss now, you just need to follow my orders. As for capturing or harming her in secret, I advise you to forget about it. If she suffers any harm, you'll be held responsible!" Zavia ignored Crocodile's agitation and spoke coldly.

This instantly silenced Crocodile. Although he felt humiliated, he had no choice. He had a feeling that this young man would actually kill him if Robin were harmed.

And Crocodile's intuition was correct. Zavia would indeed kill him for that.

His admiration for Crocodile was solely based on the man's intelligence. Individuals capable of secretly controlling an entire country weren't unheard of, but such talents were rare.

"Alright, my goal is achieved. Get ready, we're going to Alubarna."

"Alubarna? What for?"

"First, we'll meet with Nefertari Cobra and tell him a few things. Then, we'll announce to the world that you've been defeated by me."

…

Alabasta, Kingdom Capital, Alubarna.

Zavia, Crocodile, and Robin stood in the palace throne room, before them the king of this country, Nefertari Cobra.

"That's how it is. You understand, right? Cobra?" Crocodile looked down at King Cobra with disdain.

"This..." Cobra was speechless with shock, unsure how to respond to what Crocodile had just told him.

"Allow me, Crocodile. Your Majesty, my name is Urizen. What Crocodile just said is what I intend to do. I hope you will comply, otherwise anyone or anything related to you may be in danger." Zavia stepped forward and patted Crocodile's shoulder, indicating he would take over as the villain.

"This... how could..."

"Father! Don't listen to that bad guy!" Suddenly, a voice filled with anger came from the doorway. It was Cobra's daughter, Vivi.

"Vivi! Why are you here?!" Cobra's heart skipped a beat upon seeing his daughter. Vivi was his precious treasure.

"I'm terribly sorry, Your Majesty! Alright, Princess Vivi, don't cause a scene. Please come with me."

Behind Vivi, a man wearing an Arabian-style headscarf with dark purple four-pointed star makeup around his eyes and dressed in a white robe rushed over, trying to take her away.

"No! Father, don't agree to it! He's with Crocodile! Don't forget what Crocodile did to our people!" Vivi resisted, refusing to listen.

"Hey, did you call her here?"

"..."

Zavia was slightly surprised to see Vivi. She should have been carrying out Crocodile's mission at this time. He glanced at Crocodile.

Crocodile didn't say anything, simply grinning with a mischievous look, as if enjoying the show.

(This guy...)

Seeing Crocodile's expression, Zavia roughly guessed his intentions.

"Vivi, Princess, is it? Nice to meet you. I am Urizen. As I just said, this country now belongs to me."

"Don't lie! My father will never agree! Right, Father?!" Vivi looked at Cobra behind Zavia with an agitated expression.

However, Cobra looked troubled, unsure how to choose.

Seeing her father's expression, Vivi had a bad feeling, a woman's intuition.

"I... I agree to your terms."

After a minute of hesitation, Cobra finally agreed. He didn't want to see his country and his people perish.

As for why he didn't resist? Putting aside the unfamiliar Zavia and Robin, Crocodile's strength alone was enough to make Cobra fearful. The man truly possessed the power to destroy this country.

"A wise choice, Cobra. So, the first step is complete. Now, let's head to the plaza." Zavia clapped his hands gently and then left the palace with Crocodile and Robin.

"This is how it is, citizens! This pirate, Crocodile, has been defeated by me, Urizen!"

Standing on the clock tower in the center of the plaza, Zavia held a Transponder Snail in one hand and placed a Visual Den Den Mushi beside him, addressing the people and reporters below while gesturing towards Crocodile.

"Crocodile has really been defeated?! I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Hey, pinch me... Ow! It's not a dream!"

"Crocodile is defeated! Will Alabasta finally be restored to its former glory?"

"This is big news! It seems that man wasn't lying!"

The chattering of the crowd below gradually grew louder.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Zavia's face beneath his mask. His plan had succeeded. Tomorrow, news would spread throughout the sea.

News that would make Zavia famous throughout the world!