The desert winds howled past as the giant orange crab surged forward across the sand, its thick legs kicking up a whirlwind of dust behind it. The full moon hung above them like a silent watcher, bathing the night in silver light. The tension was palpable — they were racing against time, against war, against fate.
The crew sat scattered across the crab's broad shell, clutching whatever they could to stay steady. Vivi leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the dark horizon.
"Just past the river… that's Alubarna," she pointed at the map. "The revolution should be starting any minute now. If we don't stop them in time—"
"We will stop them!" Luffy cut in firmly, a rare moment of serious resolve on his face. "We've come all this way for this."
Nami sighed, brushing sweat from her brow. "I still can't believe what just happened… Rain Base feels like a fever dream."
Usopp leaned back, still trembling a little. "More like a nightmare! That trap, the rising water, Smoker—and Crocodile!"
Zoro crossed his arms. "And somehow, we're still breathing."
Usopp grunted in agreement, while Luffy just grinned. "Let's take down Crocodile already!"
Vivi looked over at him, eyes grateful but conflicted. "Crocodile's not just strong. He's a symbol for the rebels. Even if we stop him, we have to prove he's the one who caused the drought."
"We'll find a way," Luffy said, with complete certainty.
They rode in silence for a moment, the sound of the crab's heavy movement beating rhythmically against the sand. The night air grew cooler as they neared the river.
Soon, the golden dunes gave way to a dark band — a wide, flowing river cutting across the desert like a black vein. The reflection of the moon shimmered over the surface. On the far side, lights flickered — torchlight, scattered fires, and the faint echo of distant drums.
"There it is," Vivi said, pointing. "That's the river separating Rain Base from Alubarna."
"Then we're almost there…" Zoro said, rising to his feet and squinting ahead.
"About time," Sanji said, lighting a cigarette. "Let's stop a war."
Blizz narrowed his eyes as he stared at luffy. He just prevented the fight between luffy and crocodile so Luffy didn't get to know his weakness and that's gonna be a problem.
"Hey, Luffy," Blizz said, breaking the quiet. "If you're planning on fighting Crocodile… there's something you need to know."
Luffy tilted his head back lazily. "Yeah?"
Blizz continued, calm and sharp. "He's a Logia-type — just like Smoker. He can turn his body into sand. Regular hits won't land on him."
Luffy's face twisted into frustration. "Tch… I hate that kind of power."
"But unlike Smoker," Blizz said, eyes narrowing, "Crocodile has a weakness. A big one."
That got everyone's attention.
"Think about it," Blizz went on. "Why do you think he stopped the rain from falling on Arabasta? Why is the whole island dry, a dying desert? All of it."
Nami leaned forward, blinking. "Wait… you don't mean… his weakness is water?"
Blizz grinned. "Exactly."
He bent down, scooping up a handful of loose sand and holding it out. "Watch closely."
He tossed the sand into the air.
"Luffy, punch it."
Luffy launched his fist through the drifting grains. His arm swept through it like smoke — no resistance. Nothing.
"See? Nothing," Blizz said. "Now…"
He reached for a water bag, dribbled water over a second handful of sand, soaking it thoroughly until it clumped together. Then, with a flick of his hand, he tossed the dampened mass into the air again.
"Now, punch."
Luffy threw another fist — this time, thwack — his knuckles met something solid.
His eyes lit up. "Whoa! I felt that!"
Blizz nodded, sealing the canteen. "That's the trick. Wet sand can't disperse. Crocodile's body becomes vulnerable when it's soaked."
Luffy stood up, grinning wide. "Alright! That means I can beat him!"
"You just need to use your head," Blizz added with a smirk. "And maybe a little water."
Nami leaned back, impressed. "Smart thinking. If we had known that earlier, we could've avoided a lot of trouble."
the crew finally arrived at the banks of a wide, glimmering river — the final natural barrier before reaching Alubarna.
"There it is!" Vivi pointed. "Just across this river is Alubarna!"
The golden walls of the capital shimmered in the heat on the other side, so close it almost looked within reach.
But Usopp groaned dramatically. "Oh, come on! Now we've got a whole river to cross?!"
His eyes slid toward Blizz, who stood silently as always.
"Wait…" Usopp muttered, narrowing his eyes in realization. "That's right… you can walk on water."
He threw his arms in the air. "Ugh! Why is he the only one who gets to walk on water? That's not fair!"
Blizz raised a single brow but didn't say a word.
The giant crab that had been carrying them scuttled forward, dipping a claw into the water to test it. Then, with all the confidence in the world… it marched into the river.
About halfway across, the crab gave a sudden glorp — and started sinking like a rock.
"WAIT, WHAT?!" Usopp screamed as the entire crew slid off the shell.
"WE'RE SINKING!" Luffy shouted, flailing.
"NOT AGAIN!" Chopper yelped.
Luffy and Chopper both began to dip beneath the surface, neither of them able to swim.
Just as panic set in—
Two strong arms shot out.
Blizz stood perfectly balanced on the river's surface, calmly catching Luffy by the back of his vest and lifting Chopper onto his shoulder.
"You're both heavier than you look," Blizz muttered as water splashed around his ankles.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Usopp hollered from the water. "YOU'RE STANDING ON IT?!"
"I told you," Nami said, clinging to Zoro as they kicked for the surface, "I'm starting to think I should've learned some of that ninja stuff too…"
Just then, a massive shadow surged beneath them.
Blizz's eyes flicked down.
"Everyone—hold on."
The water exploded upward as a massive fish monster erupted from the depths, jaws wide, aiming straight for the floundering Straw Hats.
Blizz throws Luffy for Zorro to catch and his hands snapped into motion, chakra swirling.
"Suiton—"
BAM!
A spiraling shell slammed into the monster's jaw, sending it tumbling back beneath the water.
Everyone turned to see several shapes closing in — round, shelled, and very familiar.
"The Kung Fu Dugongs!" Vivi gasped.
The martial-arts-savvy turtles had returned, riding the current like seasoned pros. With perfect coordination, they scooped up the flailing crew members one by one, ferrying them safely toward the opposite shore.
Even Blizz stepped onto one of the dugongs' shells, letting it carry him with silent grace.
They reached the far bank moments later, dripping wet and gasping.
"Thanks for the save!" Luffy shouted, waving.
The dugongs gave them a formal salute and then dove back into the water with impressive flair.
As the crew caught their breath, a familiar quack echoed from the dunes ahead.
"Karu!" Vivi lit up with joy.
Karu flapped over with a battalion of super-speed duck mounts behind him.
"The Super Spot-Billed Duck Corps," Vivi said proudly. "They'll get us to the capital fast!"
Karu let out a proud quack as he marched to the front of his squad — the elite Super Spot-Billed Duck Corps. Each duck stood tall and battle-ready, reins clipped tight, feathers shining under the desert sun.
"There are seven of them," Vivi said. 'Guess some of us has to share.'
"Sweet!" Luffy said, hopping onto his assigned duck like it was second nature. "Time to fly!"
Sanji gracefully swung onto his, giving a suave nod to Nami, who was already adjusting her reins like she'd done this a hundred times.
Zoro clumsily mounted his duck, muttering something about how he'd rather walk — but was promptly overruled by everyone.
Usopp, of course, flailed a bit trying to get on, then dramatically declared, "I'm ready for high-speed duck combat!"
Blizz glanced at the last duck, which was visibly larger than the others. Chopper blinked up at him, realizing the math didn't quite work out.
"Oh… right," Chopper said, shrinking down into his Tanuki form. "Guess we'll have to share."
Blizz gave a subtle nod. "Makes sense."
The two of them mounted the larger duck, Chopper riding in front like a tiny scout, with Blizz behind him — cloak billowing slightly, eyes scanning ahead.
"Ready?" Vivi called out.
The ducks all lowered into racing stances.
Blizz shifted slightly, settling into the rhythm of the mount. "This one's fast," he murmured.
"Of course it is," Chopper grinned. "We picked the big one."
With that, Karu squawked the signal — and the entire squad of ducks took off, kicking up sand and blazing a trail toward Alubarna.
Alubarna's outer dunes came into view, its majestic sandstone towers shimmering like a mirage. The walls of the great capital stood tall, hiding the chaos brewing inside.
Vivi's eyes narrowed. "This is it."
She tugged her reins, Karu squawking in protest, but obeying. "I'm going ahead alone. If I can reach the rebels before they enter the city, maybe I can stop this."
"Vivi!" Nami called.
She turned, offering a smile over her shoulder. "Trust me. This is something only I can do."
And with that, she veered off, kicking up sand as Karu bolted toward the cliffs where the rebel army advanced.
The rest of the crew sped toward Alubarna's gates — the city looming larger and louder by the second.
As soon as they crossed into the city gates, they were ambushed by Baroque Works agents. A flurry of chaos erupted, and the group quickly split up.
Zoro and Nami were chased down the western alleyways, finding themselves face-to-face with Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger — two lethal opponents already poised for battle.
Usopp and Chopper crashed in front of the city gate, only to land in the center of a plaza where Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas waited, grinning maliciously.
Sanji, darting through side streets with deceptive calm, ran straight into the flamboyant force of Mr. 2 Bon Clay.
Each Straw Hat was thrown into their own fight — their own trial.
Luffy, with Blizz guiding him from the rooftops, as he left his ride the moment they reached the gates, made a beeline toward the palace. The heat of revolution was boiling over, but Luffy's eyes were locked on only one thing: Crocodile.
"Go," Blizz called, stopping short on a rooftop above the main plaza. "This one's yours."
Luffy didn't look back. "Thanks!"
And just like that, he vanished toward the castle.
Blizz stood alone, wind stirring his cloak as he overlooked the unfolding chaos.
He didn't move to help Zoro.
He didn't leap in to save Usopp or Sanji.
"They all have their opponents… and I'd only get in the way of there growth," he muttered to himself. "Guess this one's mine."
He sat calmly next to it, inspecting it. The mechanism was set — and the time was ticking.
crossing his arms and leaning against the edge of the tower. His gaze turned to the city below — watching his friends, scattered, fighting their own battles.
Dust still lingered in the air. The fires of battle were settling across Alubarna.
In the shadow of the palace, Zoro stepped out, bloodied but still standing, his swords slick with sand and sweat.
"About time you showed up," he grunted, nodding to Sanji, who strolled up adjusting his tie, a scuff on his cheek and a slight limp in his step.
Nami appeared next, fanning herself furiously. "Ugh, I'm sweating salt out here!"
Then Usopp and Chopper stumbled in, both covered in bumps and bruises, Chopper riding piggyback on Usopp, who looked seconds away from collapsing.
They all turned as Vivi approached on foot, her expression grave.
"There's no time!" she shouted. "There's still a bomb!"
Everyone tensed.
"What?!" Sanji barked.
"I couldn't stop everything… The rebel army's calming down, but the bomb — it's still active! Somewhere in the city!"
Zoro clenched a fist. "Where is it?"
"I don't know… but it's big. Something that could destroy the whole square."
"Alright!" Usopp yelled, panic already setting in. "Split up! Look for something ticking, glowing, or ominously humming!"
They all scattered through the streets of Alubarna, shouting at civilians to evacuate and checking rooftops and alleyways.
Sometime later …
As they stood at the foot of the massive clock tower. There, scrawled in large, slanted handwriting across the stone base:
"Bomb's taken care of. Chill. — Blizz"
The crew blinked.
"Wait… what?" Nami tilted her head.
"He took care of it?" Vivi repeated, uncertain.
Zoro scratched his head. "What does he mean… 'chill'?"
Usopp squinted. "Is that his idea of a reassuring message?!"
They all looked at each other, unsure whether to be impressed or completely panicked.
Scene Shift – Blizz in the Desert
The screen wipes to the scorching, endless desert outside Alubarna.
Blizz was dragging the massive bomb by its handle, leaving a deep trench of disturbed sand behind him. Sweat streamed down his face, his cloak half-burnt from the sun, his breath heavy.
He huffed, groaning with every step.
"Stupid… heavy… oversized… doom-clock…"
He gave it another hard pull. The bomb thudded across a dune.
"I mean—seriously! Who builds a bomb this big?! What was Crocodile compensating for?!"
Another tug.
"I'm a ninja, not a delivery mule!"
He paused, wiping his brow, and stared at the horizon.
"…How far is far enough from civilization for this thing not to nuke the kingdom?"
The bomb beeped lightly.
"…Yeah, okay, maybe I'll drop it here."
He suddenly turned and sprinted away full speed, sand exploding behind him.
"RUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUN!"
A beat of silence.
Then—nothing happened.
He peeked over a dune.
Still nothing.
"Guess Alabasta's sand finally did something right."
"Good job, Mother Nature — I owe you one."
He exhaled, collapsing onto the sand.
"Yep. Totally… planned that."
He lay back, arms sprawled, staring at the sky with a lazy grin.
"…They better have lunch ready when I get back."