Reborn as crocodile before Luffy arrival, Run away with Robin

"Crocodile, get out." The boy in the straw hat roared, and the crew of the Dawn began to draw their weapons. Though they were only a dozen people, they had already surrounded the three main forces of the Straw Hats.

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stood back to back, ready to act at any moment. Although it was clear that this was a reckless and brainless decision, they were used to such decisions whenever Luffy was around.

Not far away, aboard the Going Merry.

"He and they will be alright..." Usopp trembled, hiding behind Nami. His excellent eyesight allowed him to clearly see the situation on the ship in the distance.

"What should I do..." The reindeer, Tony Tony Chopper, ran around fearfully on the deck of the ship.

"I have to help them," Vivi said firmly.

Nami was also scared, but she had to oversee the overall situation. Considering their limited options, besides using the only cannon, there seemed to be little they could do.

"Usopp, don't hide behind me..." Nami looked at Usopp hiding behind her and was speechless for a moment.

She too wanted to hide, but having followed Luffy for so long, she realized that some things were really impossible to hide from. Being with such a captain was great in many ways but also very tiring.

Understanding the basic situation and figuring things out before acting would have been ideal, but they never expected to encounter Crocodile and his associates at the port. Using binoculars, they observed the port situation.

Being a pirate ship, it was crucial to consider the vessel's position carefully. Observation was naturally indispensable, but no one anticipated that Vivi would actually spot Crocodile.

Luffy had instantly turned into his usual reckless self, stretching out his arm to launch himself onto the enemy ship. Zoro and Sanji, who were ready to stop him, were also brought over.

"It's them." Robin's heart wavered. She had never wanted to see these people eliminated by Crocodile, but some things were beyond her control.

"I'm not Crocodile, do you believe it?" Crocodile, feeling shocked and with his brain hurting, nonetheless remained calm. He tentatively stated this, hoping to avoid conflict if they believed him.

After all, fighting carried risks, and it was wise to be cautious.

But who would believe such a claim? No one was blind.

"Huh? Aren't you Crocodile?" Luffy was surprised, nearly believing Crocodile, as he didn't sense a particularly evil aura or any other malicious intent from him.

After all, this Crocodile was a fake.

"No, I have seen his previous bounty list. He is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile." Zoro's eyes sharpened, drew his sword, and prepared to fight. As a former bounty hunter, Zoro had undoubtedly seen Crocodile's bounty posters before.

"Just a few nameless youngsters. Leave them to me." Daz Bonez, also known as MR.1, stepped up blandly, not paying attention to the three uninvited guests.

"No, I will handle them myself..." Crocodile decided to face his destined opponent head-on, knowing MR.1 might provide Zoro with an upgrade experience.

Seeing Crocodile walking out alone, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji immediately adjusted their stances to confront him. Despite the imminent danger Crocodile posed, they couldn't underestimate him, especially not when he was being serious.

However, Luffy was the exception, immediately launching his arms: "Gomu Gomu no Rocket!"

Peng! His palms pushed through Crocodile, sending a ball of sand flying. Robin shook her head—it seemed impossible.

Without Robin's intelligence, the nature of Crocodile's ability made him seem almost invincible to them. Perhaps after a lengthy battle, they might discover his weakness, but would Crocodile give them that chance?

Clearly not, as Crocodile decided to go all out from the start to avoid problems.

"What?! The blow is useless. His body?!" Luffy and his crew were shocked—Crocodile's body had a hole, but all they saw were flowing sands.

"A Logia-type Devil Fruit user?!" Zoro's cold sweat dripped. It was their first time encountering this type of Devil Fruit user.

Crocodile concentrated, holding his breath. Around his body, violent sand started roaring, pushing his crew several meters away.

Peng! Crocodile's body exploded, yellow sand fluttering everywhere, leaving just his head. Within a ten-foot radius, sand was whistling and flying.

"Uh, uh..." Seeing Crocodile burst into yellow sand, Luffy was amazingly confused. He couldn't wrap his head around how someone would just explode.

However, Crocodile didn't rush to attack; he was gathering strength for a powerful strike, intending to leave no room for resistance.

In pure strength, Crocodile at this moment far exceeded Luffy, but Luffy wasn't weak. After numerous tough battles in the East Blue, Luffy's strength was rapidly growing, which could not be overlooked.

"Attack now, slash him!" Feeling the growing threat, Zoro charged instantly with his sword, Luffy didn't pause to think and attacked with a JET pistol, while Sanji kicked forward.

"Desert Spada." Crocodile activated the full potential of his Suna Suna no Mi, instantly strengthening the sandstorm. Before Luffy and the others could reach him, they were pushed back by the powerful sandstorm's repulsion, making each step forward increasingly difficult.

Crocodile's Desert Spada was a move crafted by him. Elementalizing his body, absorbing dust and sand particles to expand the elemental area, then forming a massive rolling sandstorm from above, a sand blade crashing down.

This move was serious, not a test attack; it was executed swiftly and with full effort.

"Boss, are you serious?" MR.5, Gem, was in shock, standing closer, feeling his skin would be peeled off by the sandstorm.

"Could it be that the boss is in a bad mood? This seems like overkill," MR.1 muttered. Facing a few small fry and going all out seemed excessive.

"The capability of those with nature abilities is extraordinary. But Crocodile seems very cautious, as if he's on guard. Can the Straw Hats withstand this attack?" Robin's insight was unmatched; she immediately saw Crocodile's genuine caution.

Indeed, Crocodile was very cautious, perhaps excessively so. His fear of the "halo" compelled him never to underestimate any situation.

"No escape." Sanji's face changed seeing the sandstorm fist diving down—there was no room to maneuver. At this stage, he had no skills for mid-air combat.

"Success." Zoro felt powerless against this blow. Fighting MR.1 could bring progression through struggle, but facing Crocodile was premature.

Peng! The sandstorm fist crashed down, like a ten-ton boulder, with sand flooding the three. The whole Dawn shook violently, its deck bursting open.

Fortunately, Crocodile refrained from going all out at the crucial moment, sparing the new ship.

"Desert Girasole." In the rolling sand, numerous sand blades formed, converging towards the dust's center.

The booming never ceased; each desert sword was incredibly powerful, akin to small sand bombs.

Crocodile's follow-up ensured his opponents were incapacitated, if not killed. He approached the situation with more caution than when facing Ace, respecting the "protagonist's" potential for unexpected success.

Watching the incapacitated Luffy and others, Crocodile thought he might have overdone it, but they would definitely survive with their vitality: "It seems I've done enough."