In a remote corner of Port Nanohana, a warship over a hundred meters long sat moored along the shore. The ship was in terrible shape, pockmarked with bullet holes, scorched by fire, and slashed by blades. The mainmast flew a Jolly Roger: a white skull with dark brown wings and two crossed short-barreled pistols behind it.
Inside the cabin, a black-haired man covered head to toe in bandages slumped in a lounge chair, his eyes locked on a stack of bounty posters. Grinding his teeth, he muttered through clenched jaws, "Chris Pirates… just wait. I'll make you pay. I'll avenge the captain, even if I have to kill every last one of you!"
The blazing sun hung high in the sky, painting the land in endless shades of yellow. Not a single tree could be seen—only rock, sand, and deathly silence stretched as far as the eye could see. The desert's searing heat, soaring over 50°C, twisted the air into shimmering waves that made the horizon dance. Just looking at it too long could make your eyes ache.
Across the unforgiving sands, a small caravan of less than ten people trudged forward. Each rider wore a sunhat and straddled a camel, while a few other camels, unmounted, carried heaps of supplies. They were crossing the desert—slowly but surely.
"Hey, hey! Old Bart! How much longer 'til we get there?" Aeridar groaned, tongue lolling out, as he slumped over his camel.
"Not long, sir," replied the middle-aged man at the front with a grin. "We'll be in Rainbase by noon, give or take."
This modest party included nearly all the core members of the Chris Pirates: Captain Golden Ring Aeridar, Arlan, Oliver, Dimitri, Gorbo, Millie, and Mina. The only one left behind to watch the Chris was Backan. Alongside them was Old Bart, the guide Arlan had hired. That made eight people and twelve camels—some ridden, others loaded with supplies.
In Alabasta, a desert kingdom, every city is built around an oasis, and the journey between cities requires crossing perilous sand seas. Getting lost is easy, and danger lies in every dune. That's why you need professionals—locals called "pathfinders"—to lead the way.
This was their fourth day on the road, and their supplies of food and water were already more than half gone. Fortunately, they'd reach Rainbase today.
The journey hadn't been easy. The crew had encountered their fair share of threats—most notably the Sandora Lizards, massive predators that hunted in pairs, perched at the very top of Alabasta's desert food chain.
For ordinary people or run-of-the-mill pirates, they were a nightmare. But for Aeridar and company? Oliver dispatched one with just two slashes, and Gorbo had the thing skinned, gutted, and grilled in no time. They ate it for dinner that night.
Then there were the Warusagi Birds, desert-dwelling tricksters that feigned injury to draw in travelers, only to steal their luggage. Arlan fell for one, but the bird didn't get far. Arlan launched into Geppo mid-chase and blew it to feathers on the spot.
But the desert didn't just harbor beasts. Human threats roamed as well. One group of sand bandits had the misfortune of targeting them, only to be sent flying by Aeridar's Impact Wave. The survivors scattered like frightened beasts, vanishing into the dunes. Of course, the Chris Pirates didn't bother chasing them down.
Sure enough, just before noon, the group crested a towering sand dune, and there it was: a vast, crescent-shaped oasis.
Lush greenery sprang from the earth, trees, grass, flowers, all clustered around a clear lake that shimmered in the light. Even from a distance, they could see the bustling city nestled within the oasis.
It was a breath of life in the middle of death.
"Finally... Rainbase," Areda exhaled with awe in his voice.
"Hahahaha! We're here! LET'S GO, BOYS! I'm taking a long, cold bath!" Arlan whooped, spurring his camel into a gallop as he hurtled down the dune like a man possessed.
"YEAH! CHARGE!" Aeridar shouted, following suit.
Naturally, Millie and Mina weren't far behind, and neither were Dimitri or Gorbo. Camels screamed and sand kicked up as they all stampeded downhill like wild children freed from school.
"Ugh... this bunch," Oliver mumbled, still half-asleep as he stared in disbelief. Then his gaze fell on the supply camels beside him, and his face froze.
Those bastards had left him in charge of all the pack animals.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
"Heh... youth is a wonderful thing," Old Bart chuckled, patting Oliver's shoulder before trotting off after the others, humming contentedly to himself.
"SON OF A—" Oliver yelled, staring in horror at the four heavily burdened camels now blinking at him expectantly.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Rainbase stood its most opulent and iconic building, a golden, twenty-meter-high pyramid. Atop it was a massive statue of a golden banana-wielding crocodile. The body of the pyramid was painted in yellow and green stripes, with palm trees flanking the entrance. A lavish sign above the doors read: RAIN DINNERS.
It was the city's crown jewel—the Rain Dinners Casino.
On the lowest level of the pyramid, inside a grand, lavishly furnished chamber with floors paved in polished white stone, sat Sir Crocodile. He puffed on a cigar while watching the massive water tank before him. Inside, a Bananawani tore chunks of meat to shreds with terrifying ease. Several men in black suits stood guard nearby, unmoving.
Crocodile exhaled a plume of smoke and murmured, bored, "This tank's too damn small. Maybe I should dig out the surrounding floor, pipe in some underground water, and raise a few more."
The guards froze.
What kind of lunatic raises Bananawani, creatures that eat Sea Kings for fun, as pets? And not just one, he wants more?
Before anyone could speak, heavy footfalls echoed through the hall—thump, thump, thump—as another black-suited guard entered.
"Sir Crocodile, the Chris Pirates have arrived."
Crocodile sat bolt upright. "He actually showed up, huh? How many of them?"
"A party of eight. One's a local guide. The others include Golden Ring Aeridar and six of his core officers. Only Backan, former captain of the Mountain Pirates, is absent."
"Got it. You're dismissed," Crocodile waved him off.
As the footsteps faded, a dark glint flashed in Crocodile's eyes.
"So… he brought the whole damn crew. Is this a declaration of war? Or something else entirely…"
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