The VIP area of Rain Dinners was a stark contrast to the chaotic noise of the main floor. It was silent, dimly lit, and smelled of heavy sandalwood. In the center sat a circular table made of dark obsidian, polished so brightly that Kai could see his own reflection. Sir Crocodile sat across from him, his massive golden hook resting on the table like a sleeping predator. Nico Robin stood behind the Warlord, her eyes fixed on the violet soul-crystal Kai had placed in the center.
"The rules are simple," Crocodile said, his cigar smoke swirling around his head like a desert storm. "We won't use cards or dice. Those are for men who rely on luck. We will use a 'Will-Test'. We place our hands on this table, and whoever can maintain their spiritual pressure the longest wins."
Kai felt a chill. This wasn't a game of chance; it was a direct clash of souls. Crocodile, a Logia user and a veteran of the New World, had a spirit as vast and dry as the Sahara.
[Warning: Direct Soul-Clash Initiated!]
[Enemy Willpower: Rank S-.]
[System Analysis: Your current Soul Level is lower. Strategy is required.]
"Wait," Kai said, his voice steady despite the warning. "If we are gambling with souls, we need a dealer. Someone who can verify the trade." He looked at Nico Robin. "Miss All Sunday, will you act as the witness? If the Boss tries to take my soul by force before the game is over, the deal is void."
Crocodile chuckled, a low sound that vibrated the table. "Confident, aren't you? Fine. Robin, deal with the formalities."
Robin stepped forward, her hands sprouting from the table in a circle. "I witness this contract," she said softly. "The stakes are set. The life-essence of the Trader against the secrets of the Desert King."
Kai took a deep breath and placed his palm on the cold obsidian. Immediately, he felt as if a thousand tons of sand were crushing his mind. Crocodile's spiritual pressure was suffocating. It felt like being buried alive in a collapsing dune.
[Ding! Soul Friction detected!]
[Health: 98%... 95%... 92%...]
[Soul Coins: 410. (Consumption mode activated).]
"You look pale, boy," Crocodile sneered, his own hand glowing with a faint tan light. "Did you think defeating a few millions and a broken assassin made you a king? In this desert, I am God. Your soul is just a grain of sand under my boot."
Kai closed his eyes. He didn't fight the sand; he started to 'buy' it. Using his system, he began converting his Soul Coins into a protective barrier, not to block Crocodile's pressure, but to absorb it.
[Skill Activated: Market Absorption.]
[Effect: Converting Enemy Pressure into System Energy.]
[Notice: For every 10 seconds of survival, you gain 5 Soul Coins.]
The look of boredom on Crocodile's face slowly vanished. He expected Kai to break within seconds. Instead, the boy seemed to be getting stronger. The violet aura around Kai's hand grew brighter, pushing back the shadows of the room.
"What is this?" Crocodile hissed, leaning forward. "Your spirit... it's not resisting. It's consuming my power!"
"A good merchant knows how to turn a loss into a profit," Kai gasped, sweat dripping from his chin. "You're giving me your willpower, Crocodile. And my system... it's hungry."
[Ding! Soul Balance: 425... 440... 460 Coins.]
[Status: Target's Willpower is fluctuating!]
Outside the VIP room, the millions were whispering. They could feel the ground shaking. The glass ornaments on the walls began to crack as the two powers clashed. Vivi and Silas stood near the door, their weapons drawn, ready for the moment the deal turned into a bloodbath.
"Enough!" Crocodile roared, slamming his gold hook onto the table. The shockwave shattered the obsidian, sending shards of dark glass everywhere.
The game was interrupted. But Kai was still standing, his eyes glowing with a fierce violet light that made even Robin step back in surprise.
"The game isn't over, Crocodile," Kai said, his voice echoing with the power of the coins he had just absorbed. "But it seems the Desert King is afraid of losing to a 'nobody'."
Crocodile stood up, his coat billowing as if caught in a gale. "I am not afraid. I am insulted. You didn't come here to gamble; you came here to steal. Guards! Capture the princess and bring me the boy's head. I've decided I don't need a game to take what I want."
[Quest Updated: The Great Escape!]
[Objective: Protect Vivi and Silas while retreating from Rain Dinners.]
[Reward: Rank-Up for 'Soul Dagger'.]