One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile

War is always cruel and bloody, and it shows no mercy—whether you are innocent or deserving of punishment, none of that matters on the battlefield. On the battlefield, there is only killing or being killed, a stark and simple outcome.

Corpses begin to fall, and hidden blades strike without warning. A warrior brimming with confidence one moment may not even know how they died the next. The ground is stained with blood, occasionally mixed with waves of zombie-like monsters.

The battle spreads, and the sounds of war echo for miles, but everyone knows that the outcome of the war ultimately depends on the leaders of both sides.

Often, aside from the leaders, most others are merely pawns in the game. Both sides understand that the most effective way to end a war is through a decapitation strike. However, this is also the most risky, as the death of a leader can cause even the strongest army to lose its soul and crumble. Therefore, both sides protect their leaders fiercely, and they rarely enter the fray directly. 

At the start, leaders will send troops for probing attacks and formations, hoping the enemy leader will reveal a weakness or opportunity to increase their chances of victory.

They do not immediately engage in a direct confrontation, as everyone wants to wait for the most opportune moment to strike. Acting rashly only increases the risk of defeat.

The consequences of a leader's fall are severe, so unless absolutely necessary, the leaders of both armies will not easily take the field. Instead, they probe each other, seeking opportunities, a process that often requires the sacrifice of many soldiers. 

However, Queen Hathaway is clearly different. Her approach is more akin to that of a warrior than a leader. She gambles from the start, launching the first attack.

To maintain the morale of the Marines on the battlefield and prevent them from succumbing to fear, Eric has no choice but to step in. Striking without knowing the enemy's full strength is extremely irresponsible, given the countless lives they carry on their shoulders. 

Though Eric and his forces have long blockaded Lantis Island, conflicts of this scale have never occurred there before, as the island is home to many civilians.

Eric has only engaged in distant skirmishes with the Scarlet Queen in the past. But sometimes, the battlefield is like a casino, where one bets everything from the start. Queen Hathaway doesn't care about her own life or the future. Her only thought is to kill all her enemies before she dies! 

Thus, the war quickly escalates into a white-hot, king-versus-king frenzy. Eric and Kuma confront Hathaway. The attacks they just launched are effortlessly shattered by her sword. Whether it's a finger gun shot or an air cannon, her blade cuts through everything. The three exchange glances, and without further ado, they clash. 

Queen Hathaway is not a Devil Fruit user, but her Haki and swordsmanship are exceptionally powerful. Her Conqueror's Haki is not filled with arrogance or charisma but exudes a bloody, murderous aura.

Many on the seas possess the qualities of a king, such as Doflamingo, whose Conqueror's Haki is marked by destructive madness, or Boa Hancock, whose Haki leans toward imperial arrogance.

Luffy's Haki is about turning enemies into allies and rallying companions. Each Conqueror's Haki user has their own unique "way of the king." Hathaway's Conqueror's Haki, however, is steeped in bloodlust, symbolizing her as the king of slaughter. 

Hathaway's strength surpasses that of either Eric or Kuma individually, but together, they manage to hold their ground. Her swordsmanship is devastating, her blade flashing like lightning, and her slashes are powerful enough to slice a mountain into pieces.

Eric's strength lies in his martial arts and Rokushiki techniques, which far exceed those of most. Kuma's power largely comes from his Devil Fruit abilities, which he has developed to an extraordinary level. 

The center of their battle is a no-man's land. Hathaway's sword grazes Eric, and even with his full-body Iron Body technique, he is nearly cleaved in two. Haki alone cannot fully defend against her strikes. Kuma initially hesitates to fight Hathaway, but her relentless, deadly attacks force him to go all out. 

Explosions, shockwaves, sword slashes, air blades, sparks, and electricity fill the area, turning it into a death zone. Even the six-armed, horned demons that appear are shredded to pieces. However, the three combatants remain locked in a stalemate. 

Hathaway is slightly stronger than Rosen in this frenzied state, and her situation is different. Rosen once faced five powerful foes at his worst.

Currently, Admiral O'Neill and Alice are locked in a fierce battle, and Rosen has already taken down Rear Admiral Reiser. While Eric and Kuma are strong, given time, they might gain the upper hand. But for now, Hathaway's relentless assault keeps the fight evenly matched. 

"Is this the leader of Lantis? How terrifying..." Pitas trembles, his voice filled with fear. This is not just strength—it's a force that inspires dread, like an ant facing a hundred-meter tsunami. 

Pitas and Law, caught near the battlefield, are dragged back into the fight. A Marine Rear Admiral is still targeting Law, preventing him from stopping Natalie. But Law realizes that with their ally dead, he has no obligation to protect the child. Still, a child shouldn't die on the battlefield. At least, since he's here, he should do something. 

"Damn it, stay out of my way, Marines!" Law growls, forcing the Rear Admiral back with a slash. He's anxious—children shouldn't die in war. If Crocodile is still alive, then... 

"Room, High-Frequency Scalpel." After a prolonged struggle, Law finally seizes an opportunity. He activates his Room, teleports behind the Rear Admiral, and delivers a charged slash with his sword, Kikoku, before kicking the officer away and moving toward the pit. 

"What about me?" Pitas panics, scurrying to a less chaotic area. But Marines recognize him as Crocodile's companion and attack. Reluctant to die, Pitas grabs a sword and fights back. 

War offers no choice—only active or passive killing. 

Meanwhile, the crack in the battlefield has been breached by Hathaway's elite force, the Blades. Strong Marine soldiers gather here, following Eric's orders. A scar-faced Rear Admiral barks commands: "Kill these savages! Don't let them free the cages!" 

Hundreds of Blade warriors, unafraid of death, are stronger and more resolute than ordinary Marines. While most would instinctively flinch or blink when a blade nears them, these warriors charge forward, allowing Marine swords to pierce their bodies as they decapitate their foes, dying together. 

For the Marines, death is an unacceptable outcome, but for the Blades, it's a form of liberation. Facing this fearless, albeit small, force, even the Rear Admiral feels fear. Are these devils? 

As the battle progresses, the battlefield divides into three zones: the king-versus-king area, the cage-encroachment zone at the crack, and the chaotic melee involving zombie Marines and Lantis natives. 

"Damn lunatics..." Ganoss watches the bloodthirsty Blades with fear, quickly ordering soldiers to activate hidden weapons buried nearby—unstable, deactivated Pacifistas. He keeps them on standby, as activating them prematurely is risky. 

Amid the chaos, everyone seems to have forgotten the earliest battleground in this war... 

(End of Chapter)

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