Starting from the pirates, pushing the world.

Chapter 2445 Sand Crocodile: You've really been underestimated!
News of Edward Newgate's affair naturally reached Im as well.

Although this is just an interesting anecdote.

Nevertheless, the information about Whitey Bay collected by 'CP' still came into his view.

Born on the icy continent of the North Sea.

They are born with supernatural abilities similar to those of the Komajin, but instead of controlling fire, they control ice.

(This is a secondary setting in this book, and will be modified if further information becomes available.)

Therefore, she was known as the Ice Witch.

She also owns a 100-meter-long icebreaker, which now serves as the base of the 'Ice Maiden Adventure Team'.

According to the investigation.

Two years ago, Whitey Bay traveled to the magical city of Londel in District RL1001 of the Red Line to learn magic meditation and basic ice magic.

A year ago, she commissioned a magical weapon named 'Radiant Light', a rapier-style weapon, in the town of Famous Swords.

Recently, Ice Breathing has reached the True Technique realm, and the power of ice has been further enhanced.

His overall combat strength is estimated to be at the level of a major general.

Of course, if this were the military ten years ago, he would have been more than qualified to be a lieutenant general.

Besides.

Whitebeard also tamed a Frostwing Winddragon on the Ice Continent.

And these are just the important parts that CIPHER POL found.

Actually, there's a lot of other miscellaneous information.

For example, what tasks she has done over the years, and how many boyfriends she has had.

And what kind of alcohol, food, and underwear do they like?

Also included is information on the other members of the Ice Maiden Adventurer's Team.
pity.

Im glanced at it and then ignored it.

If it weren't for the fact that Whitebeard has a bit of Esdeath's style, I wouldn't bother with him at all.

His gaze returned to the list on the virtual screen in front of him.

These are the challengers and those being challenged in this application for the 'Battle at the Top'.

Said it before.

The "Battle of the Summit" has been changed from being held every four years after the Top 100 Tournament to being held every three years after the All-Army Combat Strength Assessment.

Army side.

Those who decided to take on the challenge included General Oni Spider, Doberman, and Charlotte Owen from the First Main Battle Legion.

General Charlotte Daifuku of the Second Main Army Corps and General Capone Becky of the Third Main Army Corps.

General Charlotte Cracker of the Fourth Main Army Corps, and General George of the Fifth Main Army Corps.

And Marshall D. Teach, who is still a brigadier general but has publicly announced his intention to fight his way up to general and challenge for the rank of general.

Kong, Raymond, and Zephyr believed he had a high chance of success.

There's also Merleona Vanmilian, who just joined the Army Headquarters, and Loki from Elbaf!

It is Loki, the son of Harald, the 'King of Giants', who was known as the 'Cursed Prince'.

He is already an army lieutenant colonel and has stated that he intends to pass this assessment and directly obtain the rank of general.

In other words.

The Army alone may have ten people applying for the Marineford War this year.

What Im found most amusing was...

In addition to Meleo Leona announcing her challenge against Sakazuki, who is also a fire-type,...

The other nine all expressed their desire to fight Crocodile.

It seems they have learned about the God of War and the God of Stars through various channels.

I wonder how Crocodile will feel when he finds out.

With nine challengers in line, he's got a lot to do now!
In fact, with the departures of Tiger, Newgate, and Aramaki, as well as Sakazuki, who is confirmed to be promoted to Field Marshal.

There are now four vacant general positions, and the military could directly promote four generals.

But Kong, Raymond, Sakazuki, Zephyr, and others held a meeting to discuss the matter.

Everyone felt that since it happened to coincide with the combat strength assessment and the Marineford War, they were all in a hurry.

Why not take advantage of this to assess the abilities of these generals and give ten people a fair chance to compete?

Let's look at the list from the Navy's side.

Im sighed inwardly; the navy still had too few talented people.

Charlotte Smoothie was the only admiral to request the challenge.

Originally, there should have been flying squirrel, burning mountain, and Jiaji.

But they all went out with Borsalino's First Space Fleet.

It's impossible for him to make it to the Marineford War.

The only candidates who have expressed a desire to challenge are Enel, Karas, and Bud, who are currently lieutenant generals.

Their challenger is 'Sable' Abelru.

Although the navy is destined to move towards a path of developing the fleet in a comprehensive manner, rather than relying on individual combat power.

But Im still hopes there are enough high-level combatants to support them.
Alabasta.

The desert territory that once belonged to Shukaku has now undergone a complete transformation.

Centered around an ancient castle with the style of Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village).

Rows of domed houses made of earth and stone, and massive pyramids.

Rising from the ground
There are also tall towers with floating discs at their tops, scattered in various corners, constantly absorbing the scorching sunlight.

And on the outermost edge.

A 50-meter-high earthen-yellow Great Wall encircles the entire territory.

On the city wall, soldiers armed with long spears and clad in armor stood guard silently in various places or patrolled back and forth in formation.

These are all products of Crocodile's recent combination of alchemy and the Sand-Sand Fruit's power.

Those pyramids were actually breeding grounds for Nether Crystal Dragons and Tail Crystal Scorpions.

In their constant-temperature internal environment, they absorb energy from the earth's veins daily, producing necromantic crystals and brilliance crystals.

Although 70% of it must be handed over to the World Government regularly, the remaining 30% is enough for him.

Furthermore, the World Government promised that any more Dark Crystal Dragons found in the wild would be sent here.

The key point is that this becomes a legal act, eliminating the need for secrecy and anxiety.

Therefore, in order to prevent anyone from coming in to steal or vandalize while he is away.

Crocodile created sand walls, sand towers, and sand soldiers and generals to guard his home.

Also.

He also exchanged two artificial human-human fruits from the 'Holy Land Treasury'.

This grants the strongest Nether Crystal Dragon and Tail Crystal Scorpion higher intelligence and the ability to transform into human form.

Their names are Desri Kristow and Akula Vahim.

The lynxes that had been there before continued to serve Crocodile within the city.

now.

Crocodile, sitting behind his desk, was examining a crystal-clear, ostrich-sized, scarlet gem in a white box.

This is the complete Philosopher's Stone.

Since the State Religion World began providing about ten Philosopher's Stones each year.

The world government gradually allowed officials at the ministerial level and above, as well as generals and marshals of the military, to apply for exchanges under certain conditions.

The so-called conditions are to clearly explain the usage method and to be subject to a certain degree of supervision.

For example, when to use it, where to use it, and what to use it for.

They must notify the Holy Land Treasury in advance to send someone to witness the entire process.

After all, a complete Philosopher's Stone is still a very rare and high-level resource.

The reason it's no longer called top-tier is...

Of course, it's because the heart of the highest-ranking demon appeared.

Crocodile didn't care at all; he had no intention of doing anything shady.

The reason given for exchanging them was to improve their alchemy skills.

However, I haven't really figured out what to do yet.

Is it to strengthen one's soul, or to be used as material to create something?
He actually leaned more towards the former, which is that he had some concerns in his heart.

After all, I have no experience.

The advice from the Holy Land Treasury was also used to create Logia-type Devil Fruits.

Or perhaps it's some kind of strategic Imperial Arms, or a powerful special being.

Just as Crocodile was immersed in the joy of studying his 'new toy'...

A message from headquarters instantly shattered his good mood.

This year, nine people have launched a challenge against me, wanting to step over me to take the position of general!

"They really underestimated us, those bastards."

Crocodile looked at the list that had been sent to him and laughed in exasperation.

He immediately clenched his right fist, which was adorned with various gemstone rings: "Then bring it on, none of them will last five days!"

(End of this chapter)