A/N: Hello, I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading.
Review Answers:
DaLantis- I think I explained this early on in the story, but Luffy doesn't want to use the power he has that often. He feels he doesn't need to and knows that at some point he will beat his opponent without using all his powers. He thinks it would be considered cheating if he uses so much of his power against someone with so much less power than he holds. Plus, he really loves his Rubber Fruit Power, and just recently got it in this story. Luffy does not want to be like the Marines and Celestial Dragons that use and abuse their power constantly so that is another reason.
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Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or its characters nor do I want to
Chapter Fourteen: Luffy Vs. Krieg
Luffy's POV
I wondered what I could do as I panicked. *Clatter* Looking down there was a Gas Mask at my feet. There was a blinding white light when the Bomb hit the deck. Regardless of the fact that I knew someone gave it to me, I put it on before the gas was released.
When the gas cleared enough for me to see I was on my belly on the deck. "Gin! Sanji! Are you alright? Did the barrier work on the gas?" I asked them when I stood up.
When I looked behind me I sighed in relief. The barrier was still up and they were both okay. "What did you do, brat?" Krieg asked. He sounded furious before I threw my Staff through the rose-colored barrier. It made a thudding sound as it impacted with the ground.
"I don't want people dying for no reason, that's all" I shrugged slightly. "The man was supposed to die for his weakness" Krieg stated. Clenching my jaw, I fisted my hands at my sides. The Chefs were stunned and irritated that Krieg talked so badly about a subordinate. Gin was loyal and threw away his Mask as Krieg ordered.
"Don Krieg" Gin rasped, still in shock that he was alive after that. "It seems like you followed the wrong man, Gin" Sanji told him. Sanji was angry but he wasn't the only one. "It would be very funny if Gin wasn't protected" he started chuckling as if he could see it in his mindscape.
"So, you're sympathizing with a man who is still alive?" he asked Sanji. "What?!" the blonde asked, angered by this. "He is an idiot who lost sight of our goal and can't follow orders. He's no longer of value to me. There is no guarantee he wouldn't betray me again, so he is still no longer a part of my crew. It would have been out of love that I put him out of his misery" Krieg informed.
"I-I didn't think Don Krieg would actually kill the Chief Commander" one of the Pirates said. "T-That can't be right… he would never do that" another agreed.
I heard them say that Gin acted as the lone decoy when Fullbody attacked them straight out of the Grand Line. He was pretending to be Krieg when he did it to. Gin always risked his fighting for Don Krieg. I bit my tongue in anger over what I just heard from them. He is nowhere near a decent/suitable Pirate Captain.
"Go inside everyone" I told them. "How?" Sanji asked and it was righted since they don't know about my Staff's power. "The bubble follows wherever you go, take my Staff and hat with you to" I informed him as I tried to keep my anger hidden.
"Yes, flee into your shields of protection!" Krieg yelled. He was trying to bait them into attacking. It almost worked on Gin before I said something.
"Don't take whatever Krieg says to heart Gin! I won't let anyone here die today" I promised. "I will beat Krieg, protect Zeff's treasure, and keep all of you safe" I told them. I was determined to keep this promise. "You can't defeat him though" Gin told me.
"If I can't beat Cipher Pol Number 9's Rob Lucci in the Grand Line, then I can't beat Krieg here. And just like now that is not an option" I told him. "You can't beat him anyway, you'll die" Sanji told me. "Oh, I won't die. I'd likely have to beat Lucci in the Grand Line anyway" I rushed forward after I said that. "Shoot me as much as you like!" I challenged Krieg.
"Wait!" Sanji shouted but I didn't answer. "You're a fool. The easiest enemy to beat is the one in a frenzy" Krieg informed. "The sea is your perdition, you are headed for…" he threw four balls into the sea. "Your Graveyard!" Krieg finished.
A wall of water appeared in front of me before I heard the rapid launching of something. "Get out of there Luffy!" a Chef advised. A green and yellow striped Spear impaled itself in my left side, left shoulder, and just above my right knee. The shots stopped before the water dropped down. It revealed that I was still running.
"Gum-Gum…" jumping into the air I stretched out my right arm. A spiked blanket appeared around Krieg like a Shield. As soon as I touched the ground with a lone foot I pulled my arm around and pushed it forward.
"Pistol!" I yelled punching him in the cheek through the spikes. The punch was hard enough to knock him to the ground a meter away from me. The collision between Krieg and the ground sounded like a gunshot in the shocked silence.
The pain in my shoulder, side and leg wasn't enough to slow me down too much. It isn't too bad really.
"What is he?!"
"How was he able to punch something that is like a Porcupine?!"
"We haven't seen Don Krieg brought to his knees before" someone on the Pirate crew said. "He hit Don in the face! Through the Porcupine Cape!" so that was why they mentioned a Porcupine earlier. I heard my blood drip from my hand to the deck before I grabbed the Spike in my shoulder.
"So, this is my… Graveyard is it?" I asked as the *clank* of the Spike hitting the deck echoed. "Or your… Graveyard?" I asked throwing the Spike from my side at the Mast. *Ping* I heard when it hit the surface. "My… Graveyard you say!" throwing the Spike from my leg far away. You could still hear the *clang* that one made.
I bowed my head trying to catch my breath from the spray of sea water. "Don't think you can… send me there with things like that" looking to the bloodied Spike and cape near me. Raising my head, I revealed my angered expression and grin. "I won't die right here" it would be ironic if that were to happen when I reach my goal though.
Looking at Krieg I grinned, wondering when he was going to get up. I know he's not out just yet.
Sanji's POV
"He is insane…" I was astonished by the way he fought. "You see idiots like that from time to time…" I looked to Zeff for more details. He wasn't done talking yet. "Ones who fight to the death once they have their eyes on a target…" he finished.
"Fight… to the death…?" I asked wondering why Luffy is like that.
He is a Pirate, there is nothing that drives them besides greed. He will not get anything here that will be given up willingly. "You will be in quite the predicament if someone like him becomes your enemy" that intrigued me. "Win or lose though, I like guys like him…" Zeff said. Luffy, at that moment, looked like a great man.
Luffy's POV
I heard many people asking what was happening with the fight. Honestly? I am just waiting to see when he'll get back up.
"Get up already, Krieg! This is getting boring just standing around" complaining like he did earlier. He groaned making me grin. "'I won't die right here' that's what you said, right?" he asked still lying on the ground. "If you won't die here… then…" Krieg started.
"Who will?!" he yelled before punching me with his Shield. That's what I made people think anyway. I jumped before he could hit me diving down when there was an explosion, ruining my sandal.
I was able to hook my left foot on his right shoulder, pulling him down with me. This made him hit his head and I wondered when his other weapons are going to appear. Sakuretsu Shuriken, Daisenso, Kaen Hosha, Tetsu no Ami to name a few. He could have more, but I wouldn't know.
"What the perdition is he?!" a Pirate yelled making me smirk. Someone not many people know about is one possible answer. The Chefs were cheering me on which I didn't really need, but it felt nice. "Cease this nonsense!" Krieg yelled.
Looking back I saw that he brought out his Daisenso. Jumping up I avoided the Spear. It exploded when it connected with the deck making it shake as it is on water. Mighty Battle Spear, one of Krieg's strongest weapons.
Gripping the Mast that was tall and big enough to hide me I didn't say anything. "It will be a sight to see how long you can keep avoiding this, Anchor Boy!" Krieg challenged. "The tiny Spears from earlier still left you standing, but this is different. As soon as you touch it, you will be blown to smithereens!" Krieg shouted. Well he's furious, good.
*Boom* There was no more deck under my feet, so I panicked when I saw sea water instead. Looking around I saw somewhere I could stand. I stretched my arm out grabbing the railing, I went further than I meant to. I was glad I stretched too much actually. I was brought back with a *boing*.
I tried to stand but my knees were weakened from the explosion. "That's the price for overdoing it, you must be reaching your limit by now" Krieg said.
"With the foothold like this I can't use my full rubber powers. I've never done target practice on a rocking platform either so that is too risky. I'm stumped" I worried gripping the railing tightly.
Seeing Krieg in front of me I leaned back to avoid the swing. He swung again and I stepped back. Again, I hopped forward and to the right. I backflipped before hopping forward and to the right to avoid a second.
I smiled when I heard a Pirate say it is supposed to be super heavy. All in all, my Staff weighs one ton as well. If I remember correctly, it took seven Chefs to get it inside.
I kept using the dodging pattern I've been using but he was driving me back. When I flipped back again I hit the edge of the deck. It was the part where it was broken off and bending inward to. I was able to stop myself to not fall all the way off though.
"I have you now!" before the Spear could hit me again I jumped up. "Die!" he yelled when I was in mid-air. Stretching my arm out right when he was about to hit me I clung to the Spear's shaft. "Man, that was close!" wiping my forehead of some sweat. I was relieved that I didn't get hit, but Krieg was irritated.
"You… idiot… Caterpillar!" Krieg raised his Spear in the air before swinging it down. The wind when he pulled it down pushed me off the Spear in the process. "Waaahhh!" I exclaimed when I was flying. I started falling, head first, before he thrusted his Spear towards me when I was close enough.
The last thing I wanted was to be punctured and blown up, so I caught the blade in between my fists. The explosion made me fly off a ways. "Are you alright?!" a Chef asked. I was able to move so I stood up.
"Not done yet? You made me angry so you won't die so easily" Krieg chuckled darkly.
Sanji's POV
"He is bringing in one weapon after another, there is no way that Luffy can win" I said. I was worried for the geezer's treasure and for Luffy. "Even if a hundred weapons were built in, Krieg can still be beat by a Spear of blind determination" I was confused now.
I saw Krieg swing but Luffy jumped before swinging a punch. Seeing Luffy get up a second time I heard Zeff speak. "In a Pirate battle you will fall to pieces if you fear death" He started. It was confusing. "What do you mean?" I asked clutching my side. It still hurt from the fight with Gin. "At least…" he continued.
"That kid has zero hesitation!" Zeff finished when Luffy got up a third time. How does he keep doing that? He has lost so much blood already and was exploded three times now. He still finds a way to get up each time.
I could see the boy's white teeth in a burnt background when he smiled. After a fourth explosion Zeff asked a question to no one in particular. It sounded like he was just thinking out loud.
"Is it because of survival instinct? Or does he not fear death because he has faith in himself?" either of those could explain Luffy right now. The one that got me though was the second. 'Faith…" I wondered.
Luffy's POV
I was knocked back again, still smoking and burnt. I stood again when Krieg said it was too easy. "Now that makes it worth it to crush you" Krieg was impressed, and irritated. He was grinning the whole time with clenched teeth.
I was blasted a third time before I stood up, a pile of planks falling off my back when I did. This is a lot of fun. Krieg swung his Spear back, swinging it forward to hit me again.
"Waahh!" I screamed when I flew through the air from the hit. I was knocked pretty far back and landed on my stomach this time. I got up again, staggering only a little bit. Krieg was even more irritated now by the fact I keep getting up. I have a reason to continue getting up, and a 'D.' never seems to fear death. I smirked at his heated and uneasy expression, even when he cursed at me.
"Amazing!"
"You can do it, Luffy!"
"Get him Luffy!"
I smiled even wider when I heard the Chefs cheering me on. "This is where you die!" Krieg charged in anger and fury. Punching the Spear's socket when it came towards me, deflected it. The contact created yet another explosion. "I am the strongest man!"
As the smoke cleared I felt my foot twitch in the air. It was getting really annoying being constantly blown up. A weapon like that needs to have some sort of Shot Limit.
Getting up I stomped my left foot on the ground. The vibrations went to the top of the Spear, breaking its blade. "W-What did you do?!" Krieg stuttered in surprise. I just smiled before I answered.
"I just gave it five punches!" grinning from ear to ear. "Your Spear is done, I guess" I was growing even more determined when I saw his apprehension. "Now, get ready…" I was finally having fun with this fight again.
~East Blue Saga~
"Now, get ready…" I smiled in glee. "What?!" Krieg asked so I wondered if he was more of an idiot than I thought. "Isn't this a big enough foothold?" I wondered
"With the foothold at this size, I can definitely beat you" straightening my stance. "What?" he asked again. "That is just a Bomb on a stick now that the blade is broken. The power is cut by half now" smiling at him. "Is that so?" he asked, making me nod.
"Given the shape you are in, it is more than enough to deal with you. How your body is right now, everything you say sounds like a bluff" Krieg told me. "You don't know me too well, huh? Let me save you the trouble of finding out, it is not a bluff" I grinned.
Krieg lifted up his pre-Spear before talking again. "Just give up already! The moment you defied me, you signed your death warrant!" he stated. He was irritated but I don't know why he would be.
"Not gonna happen!" sticking my tongue out at him. I stretched my arms up when he swung at me. I pulled up on the Yard of the Mast, which holds the sail in place, to get out of the way. I hung from the Yard before taunting him. "Up here!" I spun around the Yard for the Top Mast Sail.
He swung his broken weapon at the bottom of the Mast I was holding onto, breaking it. When the Mast was broken and falling I broke the end of the Yard I wasn't holding onto. Pushing off I grabbed the broken piece. Pulling it back I treated it like one would a Javelin in a Javelin Throw. Flames came from the top of his right wrist. He used Kaen Hosha.
The flames disintegrated the piece of the Yard I threw at him. "Gum-Gum Gatling!" I called repeatedly pulling and throwing my arms forward at a rapid pace, creating the after images of my move.
Despite being high in the air, without a platform to stand on, I continually punched the fur-lined, Gold Armor he wore. It doesn't cover his face or below his waist, so my only reason for attacking it is that I just want it gone. It is another item he has that makes him 'strong'.
I want to show everyone that even a kid from the East Blue can beat him. That it isn't equipment that makes people strong, it is their technique and fighting ability.
"What is that?"
"I see a ton of arms…"
"Alright, Luffy!"
"Get him!"
When I stopped attacking I didn't even see a crack. Krieg thought it was funny apparently from his hearty laughing.
I am determined to show him that it wasn't because he didn't have enough information that he failed in the Grand Line. You need natural strength, will, ambition, and strength that you worked hard to achieve to make it in the Grand Line. He won't last in the Grand Line for a long time if he continues on with this illusion that he is strong enough for that sea.
"Your punches are feeble against Wootz Steel Armor! You won't even make a dent" he told me. His tone was prideful and arrogant. To me though, it sounded more like a challenge. One I have already accepted to.
Throwing my arm back I charged forward. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" I yelled bringing it forward to punch him in the gut. *Gong* I felt the Armor weaken before I was grabbed and collided with the Bomb-on-a-Stick. I was blasted backwards hitting a raised platform where the base of a broken Mast was perched.
"That was useless! This Armor won't break, even with a hundred Monkey punches!" Krieg yelled. Getting up to where I was on my hands and knees, I pouted. "Pretty close actually" I said, brows furrowing.
Looking up I saw that the foothold was barren. "Right here!" Krieg said behind me. Looking up I saw him at the very top of the broken Main Mast. "Listen to me" he said holding a fist in front of him, arm crooked, elbow towards the ground. His stance was strong and confident.
"The strongest force means the strongest weapons and the strongest power. The strong one is the one who survives!" Krieg ranted. "That will be me then!"
Rushing up the Mast I stretched my arms back. "Gum-Gum…" the explosion was too far away so it didn't knock me back this time around. "Bazooka!" pulling my arms forward and into his Armor.
Eight black balls were dropped again. As I breathed, two plumes of smoke exited the side of my mouth. Just because the explosion didn't knock me back, doesn't mean I wasn't affected by it.
"Not good enough, this is all you are capable of!" Krieg laughed. I heard cracking, like the crumpling of paper and the breaking of something brittle. "The strongest Armor is cracking?!" I smirked at this despite being tired from the sixth or seventh explosion. I wasn't even counting how many times I was blasted.
"It's a trap! Get out of there Luffy!" Sanji yelled, but I couldn't at the moment. There is nowhere I can go after all. The multiple explosions caused waves to roll and decks to break.
"Gum-Gum…" I jumped, relishing in Krieg's shocked expression. "Bazooka!" I pulled my arms forward colliding with the Armor. I got what I was hoping for to, the Armor broke. It sounded like glass breaking or shattering. I smirked as the Pirate Captain fell towards the water.
"Yahoo!"
"Great job!"
"You're the best, Luffy!"
I smiled at this praise, glad that I could help. "Yahoo! I won!" spreading my arms and legs out to make an 'X' in the air. "Don't get carried away, you brat!" Krieg shouted.
"Ah! He's conscious!" I was shocked by this. The next thing I knew I was caught in a Net of some kind. "Shoot!" it was Tetsu no Ami. Krieg was laughing manically as he was pulling me down.
"Can you get out?! It's a Steel Net!" Krieg questioned, clearly enjoying this.
"Iron, not Steel" I corrected. There was tons of information about the weapons, items, and people in the Book of Krieg. What the weapons were made of to. "I will be the one getting the last laugh, Anchor Boy!" Krieg is insane.
I was able to get my arms and legs out. "Since I can do this, the game is mine!" I told him. I stretched my legs out so they could catch Krieg's head. Twisting my body I made it so my legs were twisted in a corkscrew pattern.
"Now, it's over!" I said turning to dive down. I started spinning him as my legs started to unravel themselves. "Gum-Gum…" I whipped him towards the Baratie as I heard him scream. "Giant Gavel!" I yelled right before Krieg impacted with the deck.
Hearing the impact he had on the wood made me smile. I looked at his body, ecstatic to see that he was finally unconscious before I collided with the water.
"Bye Sanji!" I yelled happily. I wonder if he will realize why I said that. The water left me in a weakened state when I went under, the fact that not much metal floats didn't help my situation.
Sanji's POV
"Bye Sanji!" Luffy yelled
Why would he say that so happily? He wanted me to be his Cook so why even say bye to me at all? He landed in the water with a loud splash.
Looking at the boy's hat I heard footsteps, getting my attention. "Save the kid if you have the time to daydream. He said 'bye' for a reason" Zeff told me. "What?" I questioned. "He won't be floating up anytime soon" that was why he said 'bye'?
"Devil Fruit Users are hated by the sea, so they lose their ability to swim" he explained finally. "You should have told me that sooner, ya old geezer!" I yelled at him taking off my shoes. They won't help me get to him any faster. I took off my jacket to before diving in.
Finding the rubble of ships deep below, I stopped in the middle of the rubble to look around. 'Where are you?' swimming deeper when I didn't see him.
I turned a corner finding that the protection works under water to. I could breathe as long as I was in this bubble. Finally spotting the Pirate Captain I saw that the netting he was caught in was tangled in the torn pieces of the wood he was on.
Swimming quickly over to him I tried getting the Iron wire untangled from the splintered, wooded structure. It wouldn't work so I tried waking him up instead. "Wake up!"
'You said you wouldn't die! That's your faith, right?!' I thought in anger. I remembered him pulling the spindly Spears from his body without hesitation. 'I won't die right here' is what he said.
I was able to untangle the Iron wire. 'Honestly, you two' remembering that the Pirate Hunter/Pirate didn't want to be slashed in the back.
I pulled Luffy out of the Iron wire, putting his right arm over my shoulder. I swam up to the surface as quickly as possible. I don't need to get to the surface quickly for myself. The idiot didn't give himself any protection and he's been down here for a while already.
'They're both so…' remembering Zoro not moving away from the blade in his chest. 'I don't know why I'm not withdrawing… I do know that if I took one step back, all the important things from the past like pledges and promises will be shattered. I feel I will not be able to get back to where I am now if I stepped back either' Zoro had told Mihawk.
'Krieg can still be beat by a Spear of blind determination. An idiot I know is holding that Spear back right now, for a stupid reason to…' I don't know who Zeff was even talking about.
I saw a bunch of fish in front of me when I looked up at the sun. 'The… All Blue…' came to mind when I saw them as I continued swimming.
Reaching the surface I looked down at Luffy. "Hey Luffy! Don't die on me now!" treading water to the Baratie. When I got there I dragged him onto the deck.
"Can you hear me, Luffy?! You still have things to do, don't you?" I was shaking his shoulders to wake him up. Hovering my right hand over his mouth I checked to see if he was still breathing. He was breathing just fine. 'Why won't he wake up then?' my question was answered seconds later.
*Snore* He was just exhausted from the fight. I sat down next to him with a thud, relief filling me. "Idiot!" bonking him on the head for worrying me. "You are really something…" I smiled. "I am the strongest!"
Looking up at the commotion I saw Don Krieg stand up. He wasn't conscious though. He was up and about anyway worrying his crew.
"We have to hold him!"
"He's not even conscious!"
Many of the Pirates jumped on him but it wasn't working. When Krieg yelled/thrashed again almost everyone fell off of him. He kept screaming that he has to win. Hearing footsteps I saw Gin walking towards him.
His scream about being the strongest man was interrupted as Gin punched him in the gut. The Pirate Captain fell onto Gin's shoulder before Gin spoke. "We have lost, Don Krieg" Gin told the unconscious man.
The Pirates said the man's title in shock and sadness. "Let's retreat graciously and start again" Gin suggested.
"Thanks again, Sanji" he said, I nodded. "No problem, don't come back!" I shouted. Gin turned to me, speaking over Luffy's snores. "When he wakes up, tell him…" he started before finishing a second later. "I'll see you in the Grand Line" I was surprised by this. "Why…"
"When I go over what I'd want to do in my head, that is the only thing that comes up" he explained. "Don Krieg's ambition seems to have become mine as well, and I didn't even notice. It's odd that when I was supposed to have zero time left I finally had enough resolve" he started. "This time I want to do it my way and of my own free will though. There will be nowhere for me to escape, right?" Gin asked.
"To perdition with my loyalty towards Krieg, I have only been running away using his name as a Shield. When you are resolved you don't have to think about senseless things. Things like fearing your enemy or avoiding getting hurt. I learned that from him" Gin stated. I bowed my head, coming to a decision as well.
"Patty! Carne! Give Gin the boat we use for grocery shopping!" I ordered them. "What?! Are you insane?!" Patty questioned. They complained about the grocery shopping, but I have a feeling Luffy can fix that to.
"Just bring out the boat!" I yelled seeing them cry. They didn't seem to like me yelling at them. They ran inside saying they'll get it over and over again.
Time Skip: Half an Hour Later
"It is going to sink!" the Pirates yelled as the boat dropped in the water with their combined weight.
"Why did I hesitate? What could I have been so worried about?" Gin listed getting my attention. "Now that I think about it, I feel so stupid" Gin was interrupted by Luffy's loud snoring. "Huh?"
I looked at Luffy I found myself smiling softly at the boy. So innocent for a Pirate.
"We gratefully accept this boat" Gin said stepping onto its Bow. "We don't have to return it?" I nodded before elaborating. "If you have the courage to do that, try it. Weakling" I warned light-heartedly. I was serious about the warning though.
"He's right! Just keep in mind that this is the Sea Restaurant Baratie, where the Chefs fight!" Patty told him. I turned to see that the Chefs had weapons held up in front of them. Whether it be knives or fists.
Seeing the Sail fall I looked at Luffy when I heard his snoring. He was still sleeping so soundly.
A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 7:39 P.M. on May 23, 2017.
I finished rewriting this at 8:57 A.M. on September 6, 2018.
I do hope you like this chapter and story and will continue reading, see you next time.