One Piece Chapter 202: The Royal Crypt

Crocodile stands triumphantly over the desiccated, mummified body of Monkey D. Luffy. Crocodile holds Luffy by the collar, saying, "WHAT A PERFECT WAY FOR YOU TO DIE..." The scene shifts to the large clock tower in the city square, ticking ominously. Text boxes narrate: "This courtyard and the entire palace square will be engulfed by an explosion..." "And in just 6 minutes," Crocodile looks down from the high palace wall, a cruel smile on his face. "Celebrate the coming of the new king of this sandy country..." He releases his grip, letting Luffy's lifeless-looking body plummet over the edge. "And celebrate..." "Rest easy down here," Crocodile says as Luffy falls towards the ground far below.

Luffy's shriveled body tumbles down the side of the massive palace wall. Crocodile watches for a moment, saying, "Sorry, But I'm in a hurry..." He turns his back on the falling boy, his large coat billowing. "The royal crypt was West from here if I recall..." "...Now then, I should get going too." Crocodile grins, confident in his victory. Suddenly, a massive geyser of water shoots straight up from below, narrowly missing Crocodile as he leaps back with a shout of "DODGE!" The water splashes harmlessly onto the palace balcony, leaving Crocodile startled by the unexpected eruption.

A close-up shows Luffy's desiccated, wide-eyed face as he falls. A voice echoes, "YOU MISSED..." As Luffy plummets, two large, spherical bubbles of water fall alongside him, having been launched into the air by the geyser. The water bubbles descend towards the palace grounds. Luffy hits the sandy ground, bouncing slightly, and a loud gulping sound is heard as he seemingly swallows the falling water. A massive splash erupts over the palace entrance as the rest of the water crashes down, flooding the area.

Luffy suddenly sits up, his body completely rehydrated and back to normal. He yells with wide eyes and a huge open mouth, "GASP! I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE FOR A SECOND THERE!" He looks up at the high palace balcony where he was dropped. "He's gone..." "Dammit!" Luffy sits cross-legged on the ground, panting heavily as he recovers from his near-death experience. His expression hardens into one of fierce determination. "I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM GET AWAY!" He jumps to his feet and turns to run. "But I saw him flying that way!" he says, sprinting off in pursuit of Crocodile.

A wide view shows the grand, ancient entrance to a temple. A text box reads: "West of the Palace: Royal Crypt". Inside, Nico Robin and Crocodile descend a long, dark stone staircase. Robin says, "The criminal world is far bigger than you might think. Even if you are the king of one alliance state in the World Government, Most aren't even aware of its existence." She glances back at him. "You're not the only one aware of such secrets." Crocodile follows her down the hidden staircase. Robin continues, "The poneglyph is housed deep down in an underground chamber." She looks over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "And why he cannot kill me... Yes... That is why Crocodile partnered up with me," Crocodile glares at her, asking pointedly, "Can you... Read the poneglyphs?"

Robin continues walking down the stairs, her back to Crocodile. "I'm sure you hadn't the faintest idea that there were still people on this world who could decipher those runes. You're not at fault, however." Crocodile looks serious and uncertain. "I do not know..." Robin asks, "Am I wrong?" She smiles confidently. "The poneglyph in this country most likely holds the location to Pluton," She then looks back sharply, her expression turning serious. "Don't make me laugh! Protect...?" She continues, "That is all it means to us. It has been the duty of the royal family of Alabasta for generations to protect this thing." Crocodile looks shocked, sweat forming on his face as he processes her words.

Robin and Crocodile reach the bottom of the stairs and enter a massive, cavernous underground chamber. The room is supported by enormous pillars covered in hieroglyphs, and large statues of creatures sit on either side of a grand doorway. Robin looks around, impressed. "What a grand tomb this is....It's further back inside behind the doors." She smiles, saying, "Ah, yes..." As they look towards the doorway, a bright light illuminates a silhouette standing in the entrance, waiting for them.

Back in the city square, the chaotic battle rages on with explosions and fighting everywhere. High up, Mr. 7 laughs maniacally, "KUHAHAHA! YOU SMALL-TIME PIRATES!" Down in the streets, Usopp and Zoro are frantically searching. Usopp yells, "WE'VE ONLY GOT FIVE MINUTES!" Zoro barks back, "SHUT UP AND START SEARCHING!" Usopp, wearing a makeshift hook on his hand and striking a pose, says, "If I knew what it feels like to be him, then maybe I can figure out where he'd place the cannon! I'm TRYING to get into Crocodile's shoes!" Zoro angrily punches Usopp in the head, yelling, "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

Chopper and Vivi are running through the chaotic streets. Chopper sniffs the air but looks frustrated. "No, the whole city smells too much of gunpowder for me to pick anything out." Vivi urges him on, "CHOPPER! CAN'T YOU FIND ANYTHING WITH YOUR NOSE!?" She suggests, "Then... How about this? Try looking for the scent of a cannon aiming for the center of the palace square!" Chopper is confused, "WHAT KIND OF SCENT IS THAT!?" Vivi replies, "I don't know, just try it out!" Elsewhere, Sanji is running hard, panting. He thinks to himself, "Wait a sec... A bomb like that would be pretty damn big... And trying to fire that with a cannon would mean... Very low accuracy...!" He skids to a halt, a realization hitting him. "Then could it be that it's extremely close to the palace square...!?" He takes off running again. "An explosive with a blast diameter of 5 km..."

Sanji kicks open a wooden door, shattering it. "DAMMIT! I AIN'T GOT TIME TO GO AROUND ALL THESE BUILDINGS! I'M TAKIN' A SHORTCUT!" High above the city, Pell in his falcon form soars through the sky. He calls down, "I'VE CHECKED EVERY ROOFTOP OF THE BUILDINGS AROUND THE PALACE SQUARE! BUT I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING YET..." Vivi looks up at him anxiously. "SEE ANYTHING UP THERE, PELL!?" She looks worried, thinking, "Then is it inside some building...!?" Pell swoops away, calling out, "I'll keep searching!" Vivi replies, "Got it!"

A wide shot shows the devastated city square, littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers and rebels. In the midst of the carnage, Tashigi is shown looking battered, exhausted, and covered in dirt and blood. She falls to her hands and knees, clutching her sword for support, struggling to stay conscious. Suddenly, she looks up in shock, her eyes wide. "STRAW HAT...!" Standing a short distance away in the ruined street is Luffy, looking serious and determined.

A close-up of Luffy shows him covered in dirt and scratches, his expression intense. "WHERE'D HE GO? THE CROCODILE." Behind him, the battle between the royal guards and rebels continues. Tashigi stares at him, speechless. The clock tower is shown again, the hands ticking closer to the deadline. A flashback panel shows a marine soldier being defeated by Robin's powers, crying out "GAHH!" Another flashback panel shows Robin looking coldly at the marines, asking, "HOW MANY TIMES WILL YOU COME AT ME BEFORE YOU'RE SATISFIED!?"

The flashback continues, showing Crocodile standing over the defeated marines. He mocks them, "It seems you were done in by that woman... But to think you marines would come chasing all the way here... What happened to your boss? Did that puff of smoke run away?" Crocodile looks down with disdain. "LOSERS CAN'T UPHOLD JUSTICE..." Back in the present, Luffy yells impatiently at Tashigi, "TELL ME!" Tashigi looks shocked and conflicted. She grips her sword tightly, trembling. Luffy stands waiting for her answer, his face serious. Tashigi struggles with her duty as a marine and the reality of the situation.

Tashigi makes her decision. With tears in her eyes and a pained expression, she points down the street. "TOWARDS THE ROYAL CRYPT THAT WAY...!" Luffy immediately sprints past her in the direction she pointed. "THANKS! THIS WAY!?" As Luffy runs off, Tashigi collapses forward, sobbing. "WHAT A JOKE... MARINE HQ..." She hits the ground in despair, her face buried in the dirt. "JUSTICE..."

Luffy runs as fast as he can, panting heavily. "HUFF HUFF" He sprints through the empty streets towards the crypt. Suddenly, his foot catches on the ground. "UGH!" He trips and falls forward, tumbling uncontrollably. He crashes hard into the dirt right in front of the grand entrance to the Royal Crypt. "CRASH...! AGH-" A cloud of dust kicks up around him as he hits the ground.

Luffy lies face down in the dirt, looking confused and exhausted. "THAT'S ODD... I ATE SO MUCH MEAT TOO... I CAN'T MOVE..." He lifts his head slightly. "HUH?......?" He looks down at his trembling, bloodied leg. "C'MON, THESE SCRATCHES AREN'T EVEN......HUH, MAYBE I'M JUST A BIT TIRED..." His strength gives out completely, and his head drops back down with a thud. A wide shot shows Luffy lying motionless on the stone path leading up to the massive entrance of the Royal Crypt.

Inside the crypt, Robin and Crocodile stand before a massive, glowing cube-shaped stone covered in ancient text—a Poneglyph. Robin reaches out and touches the stone. "Is what you desire... Recorded there?" Crocodile grins wickedly. "I see. A hidden staircase..." He turns and walks towards a dark staircase leading even deeper underground, leaving Robin standing by the Poneglyph.

Three vertical panels show the desperate faces of Vivi, Zoro, and Tashigi as the battle rages on around them, time running out. Below them, a wide panel shows Luffy lying completely still on the grass outside the crypt, unconscious or unable to move. The final panel shows the clock tower again, the hands ticking ominously. A text box reads: "Time left until palace square explosion: 4 Minutes".

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