NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Chapter 20
The impact from Arthur's thunder beams caused Crocodile's upper body to explode into yellow sand, scattering in the air. However, he quickly reconstituted himself, albeit with an unsightly expression on his face.
Despite his inability to harm himself, Crocodile was clearly uncomfortable with the speed and power of Arthur's attack. His confidence in his own strength was shaken by his failure to react adequately.
"Little devil," Crocodile muttered angrily, summoning a sand tornado named "Lao G" on his right hand and hurling it towards Arthur.
The small tornado expanded rapidly upon release, growing into a massive whirlwind several meters in diameter. The strong winds tugged at Arthur's cloak as it approached.
"Thirty million volts, Blasting Hot!" Arthur countered, unleashing a powerful surge of lightning.
Arthur directed a surge of thunder and lightning into the heart of the sandstorm tornado, causing an instant burst of intense light and heat. The sudden rise in temperature heated the surrounding air rapidly, leading to an expansion and eventual explosion. Crocodile's Lao G, which had been thrown out and was growing in size, was swiftly obliterated from within by the scorching blast.
Crocodile's expression twitched slightly, surprised that his attack had been neutralized so swiftly by the young opponent before him.
Acknowledging Arthur's prowess, Crocodile remarked, "Your fruit mastery is impressive, kid!"
He then launched a large arc-shaped sand blade called "Half-Moon Sand Dunes." Arthur reacted instantly, vanishing from his spot and reappearing behind Crocodile.
"Ten million volts, Electric Puncture!" Arthur's superheated knife pierced Crocodile's body with searing heat and bright red light, causing Crocodile to explode on the spot.
Moments later, Crocodile reformed several meters away, visibly pained. "Damn it, even my elementalization was too slow," he muttered, nursing a deep wound on his back caused by Arthur's lightning-fast attack. Despite the injury, the high temperature had cauterized the wound instantly, preventing any blood from flowing.
Arthur's face showed a satisfied expression as Crocodile retreated. He understood that pushing the fight further would only lead to more challenges against Crocodile's elemental mastery.
Returning to his boat, Arthur's demeanor remained upbeat. He considered his victory over such a renowned figure as a significant accomplishment, giving him a clear sense of his capabilities.
Half an hour later, Arthur's expression turned mischievous as he unleashed a powerful attack.
"Hehe, 100 million volts, God's Verdict!"
Lightning surged from Arthur's smallest ribs, forming a massive beam that shot into the sky. One hundred and fifty kilometers away, Crocodile's rage became palpable, warding off any potential intruders.
Suddenly, a colossal bolt of lightning, ten meters wide, descended from the heavens and struck fiercely at Crocodile, who was still in human form, sending him crashing into the desert.
"Damn it! I'll kill you for this!" Crocodile's furious voice echoed across the landscape.
Crocodile reconstructed his body from the surrounding sand, his eyes filled with red rage as he frantically searched the area. He vented his frustration by causing captain havoc in the terrain before finally calming down.
"Such a long-range attack... Thunder Fruit is truly terrifying," Crocodile muttered to himself, still shaken by the powerful assault launched from over a hundred kilometers away.
Regret gnawed at him; he shouldn't have underestimated the Thunder Fruit's capabilities or tested his opponent's powers. Now, nursing a significant injury, he felt a mix of panic and unvented anger, making him unusually cautious.
Back at the harbor, the depleted lightning that had struck Crocodile went unnoticed by others. It returned to Arthur's boat, seamlessly integrating back into his body as two ribs.
Satisfied with the outcome, Arthur chuckled as he steered his boat out of the harbor, setting course for his next destination.