One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile

"It's impossible! How could such a small body withstand my slash?" A cold sweat broke out on Otores' face. 

"What's wrong? Out of strength already? Then let me have a turn," Rosen said, his right hand forming a fist, and with lightning speed, he struck Otores in the abdomen, sending him flying several meters away. 

"Fire! Kill him!" Otores spat out a mouthful of blood, then shouted orders to the crew around him. Gunshots rang out one after another. 

However, Rosen had already anticipated this. He waved his right hand, and a sandstorm whirlwind shot out from his palm. It grew massive as it hit the ground, and the bullets that flew toward him were swallowed up by the storm, losing their target. 

"Whether you survive or not depends on your luck," Rosen said nonchalantly, pushing his right hand forward, making the sandstorm accelerate violently. Before the mooks could even react, they were pulled into the storm. The storm carried them far into the distance, and when it reached a more remote area, like the desert, its power would grow even stronger. Rosen had no idea when it would stop. 

Just as Rosen had said, whether or not they survived was up to them—though the chances were slim. 

"Now, it's our turn," Rosen said, sensing that the man in front of him wasn't very strong. However, he still wanted to test the things in his experience package to enhance his practical skills, so the man still had some use. 

With a casual motion, Rosen pulled a cigar from inside his coat and lit it. He took a deep drag, savoring the smoke as he let it swirl out, fully enjoying it. 

"You bastard! How dare you look down on me! I am the Bloodblade with a bounty of forty-five million! I will tear you apart!" Otores roared, his eyes filled with fury as he charged forward once more with his large sword. 

The sword dance was relentless, with sword shadows piling up like a storm. 

Rosen was unfazed. He had initially planned to raise his left hand, the golden hook, to counterattack, but considering that the blade might be poisoned, he decided against it. If the poison were to touch him, it would be laughable. 

Instead, he activated the power of his Devil Fruit, turning his right arm into a blade made of sand. He swung it fiercely, sending a sand blade hurtling toward his opponent. The ground was slashed, and the attack aimed at the air didn't differ much in power. 

The key to true strength was in how one used their moves. 

Bang! The sword shadow collided with the sand blade, scattering into mist, and Otores was sent tumbling backward. If it weren't for his large sword blocking the attack, he would have been bisected. 

The sand blade, deflected by the sword, missed its target and flew past a nearby building, cutting off the top of the structure. The top section crashed to the ground with a deafening boom. 

"Indeed, people in this world have remarkable vitality. Even an ordinary person might survive a direct cannon blast," Rosen mused as he watched Otores, who had only suffered a slight scratch. 

"Get up. If you don't, I'll chop off your head with the next strike," Rosen said coldly. He wasn't one to speak kindly to someone who had threatened his life. 

"I will kill you, Crocodile!" Otores' anger was mounting, and he was convinced that his previous failure was just due to carelessness. He still had plenty of hidden tricks up his sleeve and believed that he would win in the end. 

However, mere moments later, fear began to take over him. He realized, for the first time, the vast gap between them, and he regretted his ignorance. But regret wouldn't change the outcome. 

Rosen simply experimented with controlling his Devil Fruit ability on this challenger. The sand's killing power wasn't as strong as lightning or fire, but it had the ability to absorb an enemy's moisture. If used well, this ability could instantly render an enemy incapable of fighting. 

As for physical combat, it was far more straightforward. Although skill was an aid, the real foundations were strength, speed, agility, and endurance. 

"No! Don't kill me, I'm willing to serve..." Otores cried, his body battered and broken. The proud warrior from before had vanished, replaced by a figure who collapsed on the ground, pleading for mercy. Crocodile was simply too strong; in his presence, he felt like a child, his confidence shattered. 

"Sandstorm." 

After getting a good grasp of the fighting method, Rosen sent out another sandstorm, sending this would-be challenger flying. Whether he lived or died was left to fate. 

The sandstorm continued to grow and increase in size. Now, no one could break free, and survival was almost impossible. 

"If I fought in the desert, my abilities would be greatly enhanced. However, from the map of the pirates, it seems that most battles happen at sea. Plus, I'm facing another Devil Fruit user. I can't afford to neglect physical skills. The Sand-Sand Fruit might not be strong enough by itself. I wonder if, like Blackbeard, I could acquire another Devil Fruit later on. I should also keep in mind the natural relationships between Devil Fruit powers—strength isn't the only determining factor. In actual combat, experience, mentality, adaptability, and strategy are all crucial." 

Rosen was somewhat unsatisfied with the Sand-Sand Fruit's power. Although many people said that there were no useless Devil Fruits, only useless users, he still felt that the strength of the fruit varied depending on the user and its stage of development. A good Devil Fruit could prevent many detours in the early stages, and with the right effort, one could achieve much greater success. 

To put it simply, the Glint-Glint Fruit was far stronger in the beginning than the Ox-Ox Fruit. Despite the Ox-Ox Fruit's sturdiness, facing the nearly invincible speed and damage of the Glint-Glint Fruit, the Ox-Ox user would be helpless. 

So, it was essential to recognize that some Devil Fruits were inherently more powerful from the start. In the early stages, they had clear advantages, and only later did individual development and usage come into play. 

"Forget it, I'll not think about it too much. Right now, the key is to master the Sand-Sand Fruit. If I can reach its awakening stage, that would be even better." Rosen thought to himself as he walked deeper into the desert, eager to test the limits of his newfound power. 

"Sandstorm!" Rosen spread his arms wide, activating his ability. Instantly, he felt his stamina draining rapidly. After testing some basic sand abilities, Rosen decided to go all out. 

He didn't just want to create a sand whirlwind, but was determined to see if he could summon a massive sandstorm, as powerful as a tsunami. The yellow sand filled the sky, and the desert trembled and flowed beneath his command. 

Rosen felt his power extend across a vast area, as the desert itself seemed to become a flowing swamp, surging and twisting. But, despite his efforts, the sandstorm he desired didn't form. It was extremely taxing, and in the end, he had no choice but to reduce the area of effect. He realized that his stamina and ability weren't yet enough to create a massive storm like the ones found in nature. 

If he could truly create a sandstorm like a natural disaster, his strength would rise to a new level, possibly making him one of the top Shichibukai. 

"Sandstorm surge!" Rosen pushed himself further. A vast section of the desert began to surge, and sand rolled in waves like a mighty sea. 

"Still not enough. This doesn't have much destructive power." He shrank the range again, and this time, the desert seemed to roar like a thunderous wave crashing down. 

The sandstorm was massive, a true spectacle, but still not quite as grand as the Sandstorm he could control. Yet, the scale of this sandstorm exceeded his expectations. It was his first time truly mastering such a destructive force. 

This power stirred something in him, a sensation of control, of being able to command the elements. 

"Such tremendous power. No wonder he's one of the Shichibukai." 

Just as Rosen released the sandstorm, a figure emerged from within, strolling calmly toward him. As the dust settled, Rosen's face grew grave. 

It was Portgas D. Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates' captain-level member, Luffy's brother, and the son of the Pirate King. 

Why was he in the middle of this sandstorm? And why was Rosen encountering him now? Was this good or bad? 

Thinking about it, Ace was probably around Alabasta at this time. Rosen hadn't expected to cross paths with him here, but now that he thought about it, the desert was vast, and Ace could be anywhere. 

"You weren't just sleeping in there, were you?" Rosen asked, eyeing Ace as he emerged from the storm. Without observation, there had been no signs of life in the sandstorm except for some large rocks. Normally, one wouldn't expect anyone to be resting in such heat beneath the stones. 

"Yep, hahahaha! You startled me there. I thought it was an earthquake!" Ace laughed heartily, though Rosen could tell he wasn't particularly fond of Crocodile, having heard rumors from the crew about the current Shichibukai being the one who had once been defeated by Whitebeard. 

(End of Chapter)