"Saved!!!"
On the tattered giant battleship of the Krieg Pirates, nearly a hundred starving pirates tore into food like wild animals.
They had finally crawled back from the gates of hell, alive once more.
The crew erupted into cheers and laughter, raising their fists to the blazing sun and the endless sea, celebrating the man who had saved them, Captain Krieg!
"This is great! I didn't think we'd survive!"
"It's like a dream!!!"
"We finally escaped that nightmare!"
"Tch…"
Krieg sat upon his captain's throne, watching his men dance and shout with renewed life. A sinister grin crept across his face as he spoke in a chilling tone:
"That's right. Now that we're alive again…"
"…we'll return to the Grand Line!!!"
The instant his words fell, the pirates' cheers froze.
An eerie silence spread across the entire warship.
Faces once flushed with joy now twisted in horror as if recalling some dreadful memory.
"Hm…?"
Seeing their expressions, Krieg's brows furrowed, and his tone darkened with irritation.
"What's with those faces, huh!?"
"N-no… it's just… Boss, are we really… going back to that place…?"
A trembling pirate, wrapped in bandages, dared to speak.
And that would become the most foolish question of his life.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out.
Krieg calmly retracted the smoking barrel built into his armor and ignored the body lying in a growing pool of blood. He glared at the rest of his men, teeth gritted.
"Anyone else?"
"Anyone who wants to question my orders?!"
"N-no… no one!!!"
Not all of Krieg's hundred men were cowards, many still had dreams burning in their hearts.
Though his ruthless act had shaken them for a moment, it wasn't their first taste of Krieg's cruelty.
In fact, some followed him because of that cruelty.
They steadied themselves, and soon, following Krieg's lead, their bloodlust returned, their voices rising in unison, filled with savagery and killing intent that sent chills through the air.
Krieg raised his hand, signaling for silence. The pirates instantly obeyed, the atmosphere thickening with tension.
He drew the steel spear hidden within his armor and pointed it sharply toward the floating restaurant, Baratie.
"Listen up, boys!"
"Take a good look at that ridiculous-looking ship!"
"We'll seize it, steal Zeff's navigation log, and return to the Grand Line!
One Piece… will be ours!!!"
"OH!!!!!!!"
The pirates roared in frenzy, their passion ignited by Krieg's declaration.
========
Meanwhile, inside Baratie, chaos reigned.
Patty led a group of cooks through the secret operation room, frantically pulling levers and turning gears.
With a deep rumble, the entire restaurant began to transform.
On either side of the fish-shaped hull, two enormous decks slowly unfolded like fins, expanding outwards.
The cooks took their positions atop the decks, weapons in hand, eyes locked on the rapidly approaching Krieg Pirates.
Their faces were tense.
They were outnumbered ten to one, and their enemy was the feared ruler of the East Blue, Don Krieg.
Even these battle-hardened sea chefs, who usually found joy in a good brawl, couldn't help but tighten their grips on their weapons.
At this moment, only the edge of a blade brought them comfort.
"Mr. L-Luffy…"
"Shouldn't we… help them?"
Koby, whose eyes now held a glimmer of courage, watched the chefs charge out with fearless resolve. His heart trembled with emotion, and he couldn't hold back his words.
Luffy, finishing his meal with a satisfied grin, wiped the grease from his mouth and said calmly,
"No rush…"
"There are some things people have to experience for themselves before they can grow."
He cast Koby a meaningful glance.
Seeing the boy still looking torn, Luffy silently shook his head.
Just then, a faint, unfamiliar presence swept across their table.
In an instant, everyone who could sense Observation Haki froze mid-movement. A flicker of awareness flashed in their eyes.
Even Usopp, though not fully aware of what had happened, sensed something strange and looked around curiously.
"What was that…?"
Luffy's lips curved slightly as he muttered,
"They're here."
The Starry Sky Pirates exchanged puzzled looks.
They too had just felt a powerful Observation Haki probing in their direction.
Aside from Robin and Luffy, none of them were strong enough to pierce through that person's barrier of awareness.
All eyes turned toward Luffy.
But he only smiled faintly and tilted his head toward his first mate.
"Wanna stretch your legs a bit, Zoro?"
"Huh?"
Zoro blinked in surprise at the sudden question.
Robin, however, followed up softly, her tone calm yet weighty.
"Dracule Mihawk."
CLANG!!!
The blades at Zoro's waist let out a sharp, eager hum.
The three sword spirits seemed to tremble at that name, crying out to be unleashed.
Zoro rested his hand over them, his once-lazy gaze sharpening with determination.
Though he had been asleep for ten years, Robin had already told him everything, the powers ruling the seas, the great names he would one day face.
And now, he knew exactly where his first step lay.
"You really wanna try it, Zoro?"
Luffy's voice was soft.
This would be Zoro's first true battle since waking up.
All the small-time thugs before this weren't worth drawing his swords for. None had seen their edge stained with blood.
But now…
Luffy's tone dropped, still calm as ever:
"His strength… is equal to mine."
It was said so lightly, as if it were nothing, yet the words struck Zoro's heart like thunder.
He understood.
Luffy was telling him…
You'll lose.
Outside, chaos exploded as pirates clashed with chefs.
The sounds of battle filled the air.
"Ahhh!"
"Damn it!"
"Kill them!!!"
Cries of pain and fury echoed across the deck, a storm of steel and blood.
It was a one-sided war… yet shockingly, the chefs had the upper hand!
Sanji led the charge, his whirlwind kicks spinning like a living tornado through the crowd.
Any pirate who crossed his path was either dead or crippled, no exceptions.
Chef Zeff, the old man himself, was not to be outdone.
Though missing a leg, he wielded his peg leg like a steel lance, thrusting through pirate after pirate, leaving gaping wounds in his wake.
The name "Red-Leg Zeff" still carried its former glory.
Patty swung his massive iron fork like a bulldozer, plowing through enemies and clearing a bloody path. None dared approach.
The chefs fought with blades, axes, and spears, cutting down the pirates who screamed for mercy.
Watching his men being slaughtered, Krieg's face twisted in fury, his rage igniting the gold armor that wrapped his body.
"Damn chefs! I'll kill you all!!!"
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