One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!-Chapter 229: Old Croc: Planting Trees on My Turf?

Alabasta, down in the southern part.

Instead of the usual dry desert with crazy sandstorms, rain was actually falling! It was something no one had seen in a hundred years. And get this - tons of plants were growing like crazy, all thanks to the rainwater.

Roya and Aramaki were the masterminds behind it. One was busy planting trees, and the other was making sure they got plenty to drink.

"Hahahaha, Aramaki, buddy! Doesn't sweat taste awesome?"

"You bet! A forest is way better to look at than a desert. And all our hard work is gonna make people happy."

"That's the spirit! And after sweating like this, a drink hits the spot!"

"La-ha-ha-ha, Black Hair, I can drink you under the table any day!"

Their laughter bounced across the desert.

As the sun started to go down, their energy started to fade.

Aramaki plopped down by the campfire, staring at the thick forest around him, lost in thought. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Something's not right!

I didn't come here to plant trees!

Roya also sat down near the fire and tossed a big barrel of wine - a gift from Little Pink - over to Aramaki. "There's still a big desert east of Alabasta. Wanna finish planting it before we head back?"

"This wine ain't cheap, you know!"

Aramaki's hand turned into branches that shot into the sake barrel, sucking all the wine right into his body.

Drinking the wine meant he agreed.

"Not bad!"

"I swiped it from the Royal Palace's wine cellar."

Roya took a big gulp.

Refreshing!

Aramaki smirked. "Black Hair, this country's climate is really harsh on me. Otherwise, I would've drained you dry by now."

"Changing the environment won't make a difference."

Roya chuckled. "You're just showing off your Devil Fruit power. Once I find a strong Devil Fruit, beating you will be a piece of cake."

"Hmm? You think you're funny!"

"Wanna try me?"

"Come on, I'll suck you dry!"

"Careful, or I'll kill you!"

"Boom!!!"

Dust exploded into the sky.

---

The next morning, the two who had been battling fiercely called a truce and went back to planting and watering. Slowly but surely, the forest started taking over the desert.

"Aramaki, buddy, how long will this forest last?"

"Don't underestimate me. The Forest-Forest Fruit is special - nothing like those ordinary Logia types. With enough water, this forest will be here forever."

Aramaki was super confident in his abilities. The forest he made wasn't like other Logia users who could permanently change things, but it had a powerful life force all its own.

Plus, this wasn't even his Awakening power!

Aramaki frowned. "But this country's weather is a pain. If nobody takes care of it, it'll eventually go back to how it was."

"La-ha-ha, even if that happens, it should last for over a decade. The people here better appreciate it."

Folks in the desert craved water and an oasis like nothing else. There was no way they wouldn't cherish it.

"Ha~ Ha~ Haha!"

Just as they were planting, a dark, angry laugh echoed from far away.

"Are you the lowlifes who turned this place into a forest?!"

"Hmm?"

They both turned toward the sound.

A sandstorm blew in, and when the dust cleared, Crocodile was standing right in front of them, his eyes burning with fury.

His perfect plan, years in the making, had been ruined by these two meddling fools! Rage barely described what he was feeling!

"Crocodile?"

Roya sat on Little Pink's head, looking down at the Sand Crocodile thoughtfully.

Planting trees on a whim seemed to have messed with his plan. The thing was, he hadn't done it on purpose.

He also didn't expect the CP0 Captain to be Aramaki. Planting trees and watering them was just a way for him and Aramaki to bond.

Or ... maybe talk about cute ladies?

Crocodile ignored Roya, glaring at Aramaki.

He didn't know who Aramaki was, had never even heard his name, but it was this guy's power that had ruined everything.

Kill him!

"Sandstorm!"

Crocodile stretched out his hands, and a sandstorm formed in his palm. He hurled it at Aramaki. The small sandstorm instantly grew into a huge tornado, dozens of meters high.

"Hey, what's your problem, you jerk!"

Aramaki was stunned.

He didn't think he'd done anything to provoke Crocodile. Why was this guy looking at him like an enemy, and attacking him out of nowhere?

Damn it!

"You think a little sand can take me down?!"

"Forbidden Grudge: Lush Forest!"

Aramaki exploded with fury. His body instantly transformed into a giant tree-man, over a hundred meters tall, and his huge hand swatted the sandstorm away.

"Looks like I ticked him off!"

Roya sat on Little Pink, enjoying the show.

Aramaki's transformation was insane. He was as big as a small mountain, like an Azure Dragon, and his vine attacks were weird and tricky, making them hard to defend against.

To fight Aramaki, you needed to be super quick.

"What is this monster?!"

Crocodile was caught off guard.

He'd never heard of such a thing!

"La-ha-ha-ha, pay the price for your recklessness, Crocodile!"

Countless thick vines shot toward Crocodile!

"Weight-Type Sandstorm!"

At the last second, Crocodile unleashed his power, creating an even bigger sand tornado than before.

"Ka! Ka!"

The spinning sandstorm engulfed all the vines, shattering them easily.

"La-ha-ha, not bad."

"But I am nature! A little sand can't beat me!"

Aramaki grinned. Sand Crocodile was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If he couldn't even block one move, that would be a problem.

"Eh!"

Just as Aramaki was about to attack again, his body suddenly felt weak.

"Ha~ Ha~ Haha!"

On the ground, Crocodile put his hand on the thick roots covering the earth, quickly sucking moisture from them.

Crocodile smirked.

"I don't know where you came from, you tree-man jerk, but my power just happens to be the worst thing for nature. Any plant will shrivel up around me!"

"Erosion Cycle!"

Not just the tree trunk, but even the ground was drying up fast!

"La-ha-ha, this could be a problem!"

Aramaki's eyes narrowed.

His nature power was definitely being held back by the Sand-Sand Fruit's dryness. If he lost moisture, the plants couldn't grow, and his own body might get drained.

The desert was nature's biggest enemy!

But the opposite was also true: nature could destroy the desert.

It would just take a bit more work.

Roya asked with a smile, "Aramaki, buddy, need a hand?"

"Don't be ridiculous. If I needed help dealing with a measly Warlord of the Sea, I'd never live it down!"

Aramaki jumped off the giant tree-man, landing on the trunk. He bent his legs, ready to spring!

"Boom!"

The tree trunk exploded!

Aramaki instantly crossed a hundred meters, appearing right in front of Crocodile. Before Crocodile could react, Aramaki's fist, covered in Haki, slammed into his face!

Even without using his powers, he proved he was a CP0 Captain!

Aramaki's eyes narrowed. He tightened his arm and dragged Crocodile's body, slamming him hard into the ground!

"Boom!!!"

The earth shook!

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[T/N:

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