Chapter 24

" FIRE PEARL ! " Cried Pearl, about to throw fireballs at Luffy and Raynare.

However, at the last moment, the tip of a tonfa hit him right in his armor, destroying it without the slightest problem.

" Gin ? " Wondered Pearl, recognizing him.

" I'm sorry, Pearl. " Gin apologized, while his comrade fell to the ground. " But leave me fight them. "

" Gin, what are you doing ? " Wanted to know Krieg. " Are you betraying me or what? "

"No, Don Krieg ! I just want to take care of these guys myself. "

Armed with two tonfas, he then began to look at Sanji, while affirming.

" In particular, for the one to whom we owe our life ! I will make sure he has at least an honorable death. "

" Oh ? It's too much honor. " Sanji said.

Finding that he barely feared him, Gin said.

" Sanji, for the last time, leave this boat, you and the other cooks ! Because of this deal with Mihawk, it is impossible to let Mugiwara go ! But you, the old man and the others, you can always leave. "

" I refuse. " Sanji retorted.

" What ? And why ? Look at your comrades who are on the ground ! Either they are injured or the strange attack of the waitress made them fall in the vapes ! You are only four against us. Do you really think that will be enough ? "

" A battle is like cooking ! No matter how many men you have on hand, the most important thing is the quality of the food. "

" Grrr ! Stop kidding me! Why do you want to save this raft so much ? I know what you're worth in the kitchen! Even if you get kicked out of over a hundred restaurants, I know many others will beg you to agree to work for them! Don't die unnecessarily, when you can find better elsewhere. "

" These other restaurants, I don't care ! I swore that I would only work in one of them! At Baratie ! I owe a debt to the old man, who saved our lives, Alice and me ! While he was a pirate attacking the ship we were in, he ended up jumping into the water when a storm broke out! He did it to save me when I fell overboard because of a big wave! He even cut his leg to help me! When I woke up, I was on a piece of rock, with him and Alice, while we were only the three survivors of the storm that sank the boats ! He then gave us all the food he could find, and used a bag of gold to make us believe that he had kept some for him too ! Despite this, we had had nothing to eat after twenty days and we survived for almost two months ! Do you understand that ? We were saved the day our last forces were going to let us go, showing that if the old man hadn't given us food, he would have been the only one to survive! This is why we owe him a debt ! And we will always fight for him, until our last breath! that's why we owe him ! And we will always fight for him, until our last breath! that's why we owe him! And we will always fight for him, until our last breath. "

" In that case, I will have to kill you. "

Realizing that his second could take matters into his own hands, Krieg taught him.

" Gin ! Take care of the account for this cook as well as this old Zeff ! I would take care of Mugiwara, as well as this raven girl ! She will pay first dare to stand up to me like that."

" Okay, Don Krieg ! "

Gin immediately towards Sanji, Gin began to exchange a few blows with him. Seeing them handle weapons and kicks to perfection, Raynare said.

" They are stronger than I would have thought. "

" Wow, Sanji is a really good warrior. " Affirmed Luffy, seeing this last release while Gin nailed him to the ground, before striking him a splendid kick.

However, suddenly striking in the sides, the blonde felt his ribs crack. Spitting from the ground, he didn't have time to pull himself together when Gin hit him again on the head. Continuing thus, his opponent hit him relentlessly, while Krieg sneered.

" Admire my right arm in action ! It is not for nothing that he is nicknamed '' the demon-man ''! He used to hit his opponents, mercilessly, until death followed. "

Finding himself on the ground, Sanji spit blood again. Still, he kept smiling, while questioning her.

" Are you satisfied now ? "

Grabbing the blonde then, at his neck, Gin pressed him to the ground to prevent him from moving. Then, turning his tonfa, he said.

" Move of mercy. "

" I'm exhausted ! " Sanji thought.

However, he couldn't hide his surprise, when he saw Gin hitting the ground, missing his head by several inches.

" Gin, are you blinded or what ? " Asked Krieg. " Aim better than that, damn it. "

However, unable to move, Gin ended up displaying a face covered with tears, while he affirmed.

" I can't, it's too hard ! I can't kill this man."

" Gin ? " Sanji wondered.

" I'm sorry, Don Krieg ! But ... But please spare this man ! I beg you ! He saved our lives! Please, give up taking possession of this restaurant. "

Opening his eyes wide, Krieg only showed anger as he raged.

" How ? Not only do you dare to disobey me, but you also dare to give me orders! Who do you think you are ? If there is something I hate, besides owing someone a debt, it's good to have a disobedient subordinate in my crew ! All right, if things have to be done even here. "

Brandishing a shield in front of him, he began to chuckle.

" Hey, Mihawk, admire the extent of one of my most dangerous weapons. "

" Oh no ! " Someone horrified, seeing the center of the shield open. " He will use his MH5. "

" The whole area will be filled with toxic gas. "

" To… Toxic gas ? " Sanji wondered.

" Krieg ! " Cried Zeff, pointing all the unconscious bodies on the pontoon. " Stop that right now ! I remind you that many of your men are here too. "

" No matter the sacrifices, what matters is the final victory! The law of the strongest is the best. "

" Quickly ! Your masks! "

" You have to protect yourself. "

And while the still-aware pirates put their masks on their faces, Gin was about to do the same when Don Krieg ordered him.

" Discard your mask, Gin ! From now on, you are no longer part of my crew. "

" What ? "

" Gin ! Don't listen to him. " Sanji ordered him.

Too late. Throwing his mask into the water, Gin surprised everyone, while the man said.

" I betrayed my crew ! I must therefore be punished accordingly. "

" You idiot. " Cried Sanji.

" And here is the toxic gas. " Cried Krieg, then fired.

Seeing the projectile sink on them, Luffy stretched out his arms to retrieve two masks, which he threw towards Sanji and Gin.

" Take it ! Raynare, fly away. "

" The old man, in the restaurant. " Sanji ordered him.

Rising in the air, Raynare began to put as much distance as possible between her and the gas. However, looking down, she saw horrified Luffy, while he found no other person to steal a mask from.

" But what an idiot. " She cried, flying towards him, to take him away.

However, as she was about to grab him, someone threw a mask at her captain.

" That ? "

Exploding then, Don Krieg's projectile released a powerful purple gas, which quickly invaded the whole scene, as well as Luffy, Raynare, Sanji and Gin. Seeing the cloud darken towards him, Zeff could only stay put, while he looked at the rest of the cooks on the ground, unable to do anything to protect himself from the gas.

"Out of the question that I run away, leaving them behind ! Maybe it's really my time. "

Suddenly jumping in front of him, Mihawk said, to Don Krieg.

" If you intend to kill me too, then it is normal that I intervene in this fight. "

Then making a simple movement with his sword, he created a powerful current of air, which cut the cloud in an instant, before expelling the gas which composed it.

" What ? " Krieg wondered, seeing his attack get swept away as if nothing had happened.

Disappearing then, the departure of the gas allowed everyone to see Luffy and Sanji, still alive, both having a mask on their faces.

" Phew ! " Rejoices Luffy, withdrawing his own. " A chance that this mask was found near me. "

" Hey, Gin. " Cried Sanji, looking for him. " Gin, where are you ? "

Sudden wing beats were heard suddenly, as Raynare descended towards them, with a stunned Gin, which she was holding by his hair.

" What, Gin ? What happened to him ? "

" He didn't want me to take it so I had to knock him out. " Raynare informed him.

" You ... You saved him ? " Luffy wondered.

" Yeah, but for one reason only ! The mask that you hold in your hand, it was he who threw it at you! Without him, you would be dead by now. "

" What is Gin's mask ? "

Ignoring them Krieg remained frozen, while Mihawk put away his sword in the simplest way in the world, before returning to his boat. Nevertheless, he said.

" Is that your secret weapon ? There is really nothing to be proud of. "

" How is it possible ? " Wanted to know Krieg, feeling his confidence disappear. " He made my gas disappear ... with a simple sword stroke ? So is there no limit to his strength ? "

" Krieg! " Suddenly roared Luffy, standing in front of him. " How could you dare to try to kill your own companion ? "

" Company, you say ? Sorry but I no longer consider him that way ! It is only a simple larva now that I would be happy to crush. "

" Sick bastard ! " Growled Sanji, glaring at him. " So you have no respect for the lives of others? "

" None ! Weak beings must die, and that's it. "

" I hate people like you. " Roared Luffy, clenching his fist. "I'm going to kick your butt. "

Seeing him suddenly running towards his opponent, Raynare flew away before depositing Gin's body on the roof. Then, from her perch, she could see Don Krieg firing several spiked projectiles which punctured Luffy in various places. However, continuing to run, Luffy swung his fist towards Krieg, who protected his head with a cape covered with spikes.

" No, stop Luffy ! " Sanji yelled at him.

Too late. To everyone's amazement, Luffy had no hesitation and smashed his fist against Don Krieg's jaw, while being pierced by the cape spikes.

Seeing that, Raynare smiled slightly, while Krieg found himself on the ground.

" Yes ! I know why I always hated Luffy. "

Getting up, Don Krieg used all weapons like machine guns or explosives, hitting Luffy each time. Nevertheless, despite the fact of taking them ones after the others, Luffy still remained standing and immediately counter-attacked to put Don Krieg to the ground.

"He's the kind of person I always wanted to be ! A strong person, on who you can count, and who is not afraid of dying."

Exploding, a projectile released a shock wave, causing Luffy to waltz back. However, catching a piece of mast, before falling into the water, Luffy was able to stretch his arm to the maximum, before using his momentum to shoot straight towards Krieg.

" GUM GUM ROQUET ! "

Hit in the stomach, Krieg felt himself falling backwards and crashed heavily on the floor of his old ship.

"That's why he's my captain. "

" Go ahead, mug … LUFFY ! " She then encouraged him.

" Don… Krieg ! " Cried a voice behind her.

Crawling until they find themselves next to Raynare, Gin, eventually sits down before watching the fight taking place in front of them.

" Mugiwara… is beating him ? "

Ignoring his question, Raynare asked him.

" Gin, why did you follow this guy's orders when he asked you to take off your mask ? "

Glancing at her, the pirate said.

" You too, you are a pirate ! So you know very well why! It was my captain who asked me, so I obey his orders. "

" In this case, you're just an idiot. " Raynare declared, while continuing to watch the fight. " It is true that it is the captain who gives the orders ! If you were a simple pawn, you would apply them without thinking ! Nevertheless, as a human, it is normal for you to disobey, when these go too far ! This is what creates a real respect between captain and crew ! If you blindly obey him, he will stop seeing you as humans, and you will have no value in his eyes, as Don Krieg just showed. "

" No respect ? "

" Dirty brat ! " Cried Krieg, then pulled out a huge spear.

" The explosive spear. " Cried Gin.

" The what ? " Raynare wondered.

At that moment, hitting Luffy with his weapon, Krieg detonated the spear on contact, sending him to the ground.

" This spear is capable of exploding. " Gin explained to him. " And the more it is launched with force, more powerful will be the explosion. "

Then getting up, Luffy got hit again and returned to the ground, his body completely charred.

" Face it, he has no chance. "

" Sincerely, compared to the Kuro's claws, I don't find this stick more dangerous. " Raynare said.

" What ? "

" Anyway, Krieg may use all the weapons in the world, he can do nothing against this kid. " Said a voice.

Startling, recognizing the newcomer, the two pirates saw Mihawk while the shichibukai in turn fixed the fight from a better point of view than on his boat.

" This kid is ready to fight with all his might, ... "

Luffy stood up again, before loading Don Krieg.

" … despite the fact of multiplying the defeats, … "

A new explosion was heard, sending Luffy back to his place.

" ... and having come close to death several dozen times. "

Perceiving Luffy straighten up again, and smiling despite his condition, Mihawk affirmed.

" It is not every day that we can see a boy with a determination like hims! If I were to bet on the winner, I would bet my sword on this kid. "

" What ? " Gin wondered.

" I'm invincible. " Cried Don Krieg, hitting Luffy again.

However, while Luffy managed to get back on his feet, Krieg's spear broke, much to Krieg's amazement.

" Ho … How did he do it ? " Gin wondered.

" He hit it five times in a row. " Raynare assured.

" GUM GUM GATLING ! " Cried Luffy, hitting Don Krieg all over his body.

Nevertheless, taking his attack without flinching, Krieg retorted.

" These are just tickling. "

" GUM GUM PISTOL ! " Cried Luffy, hitting him hard on the stomach.

Spitting saliva, despite his armor, Krieg looked angry before hitting Luffy. Pulling him back, he took the opportunity to go up a mast, immediately followed by Luffy.

" Where did you run away like that ? "

" I don't run away. " Retorted Don Krieg, throwing explosive balls all around him.

" Mugiwara sinks straight into a trap. " Mihawk noted.

Having no time to warn him, Raynare could see Don Krieg stop to hit Luffy with the rest of his spear. Then stepping back, jumping back, he laughed.

" Say ''hello '' to Satan. "

Exploding at that moment, the balls he had just thrown end up exploding, destroying the mast and Luffy.

" He killed the kid. " Cried Gin.

However, remaining calm, Mihawk only stared at the huge column of smoke, before finally smiling.

" Games are made ! Now I understand why Shanks bet on him. "

" Huh ? "

" GUM GUM … " Cried Luffy, coming out of the smoke.

" No, but it's not true. " Cried Krieg.

" ... BAZOOKA ! "

Hands pressed against Krieg's armor, Luffy managed to crack it, before destroying it. Then, using all his strength, he stretched his arms to the maximum, making Krieg fall until he crashed on the pontoon of the Baratie.

" Don Krieg ! " His crew horrified, seeing their captain lying on the ground.

" Good job, kid." Zeff said, seeing him brandish his fists in the air, as a sign of victory.

However overtaken by fatigue, he dropped, until him ran into the water.

" There is a problem. " Asserted Mihawk. " Demon fruit users cannot swim. "

" Don't worry. " Raynare assured, pointing to Sanji, while the cook jumped into the water to save her captain.

" Im… Impossible ! " Said Gin, just sitting there staring at Don Krieg. " He ... Don Krieg was beaten ? "

Rising at this moment, the cooks passed out because of Alice ended up looking at the unconscious pirate, being not far from them.

" But that … ? "

" Don Krieg was beaten ? "

" Mugiwara has really settled his account. "

" In this case, the Baratie is saved. "

" Out of the question. " Suddenly shouted Krieg.

Getting up at this moment, the half-conscious man started to shout loudly.

" I'm the strongest! I am the master of the oceans. "

" Don Krieg, calm down ! " Said a pirate.

" They will pay me ! I can't lose, I never lose. "

" This is why East-Blue is classified as weak. " Mihawk noticed. " Shabby people like him, there are so much in this ocean. "

Suddenly jumping from the roof, Gin dropped in front of his captain, before hitting him with a tonfa. Immediately spitting blood, his captain lost knowledge, before dropping on his shoulder.

" We lost captain ! Accept defeat ! "

Then reappearing on the surface, Sanji exhaled deeply, while carrying Luffy on his shoulder. Posing near them, Raynare noticed that Luffy remained motionless, eyes closed.

" That … ? He drowned ? "

Then giving him a heart massage, Sanji hoped to wake him up as well. However, to his surprise, he felt Luffy's heart already beating under his hand.

Finally, listening more closely, Sanji sighed in relief, finding that Luffy was just sleeping.

" What a clown. "

Immediately crushing the heel of her boot against his face, Raynare eventually wake up Luffy, who cried.

" Huh ? What ? Krieg ? "

" Calm yourself, you defeated him. " Sanji assured him, starting to find his jacket to take a cigarette. " I really owe you one. "

Putting his straw hat on his face, Raynare ends up affirming.

" Good job,… Luffy ! "

" Mugiwara ! " Suddenly shouted Gin, advancing towards them. " Thanks for what you did ! I would never have been able to forgive myself if this restaurant had sunk by my fault! I ... I ... You were really impressive against Don Krieg, and I wanted to congratulate you ! Thanks to you, I finally understood what it was like to have faith in your convictions ! From now on, I would take my own initiatives by myself. "

Getting up at that moment, Patty put his hand on his aching head, while Carne winced at his stomach injury.

" Oh, damn it ! I must admit that it was not a joke, these pirates. "

" Patty ! Carne ! " Suddenly called them Sanji. " Go get me the replenishment boat. "

" What ? Aren't you going to give it to that damn band of pirates ? He will not miss more than that. "

" Do what I tell you. " Sanji ordered, with a harsher tone.

Unable to fight him, the two men could only turn around sobbing while affirming.

" Yes, let's go right away. "