Chapter 23

" GUM GUM GATLING ! "

One after the other, many pirates found themselves in the water. Fighting them, however, slowed Luffy down enough for Raynare to overtake him. Flying towards Krieg, she gained altitude, before creating two spears in her hands.

" This time is the right. " She assured, spinning her weapons.

" Hum ? " Krieg wondered, looking up. " She ate too a demon fruit ? "

" Take this. " Cried Raynare, throwing her two spears.

Spinning between them, the two spears formed a perfect mini-tornado, which fall on their target without any problem.

" What … ? " Krieg said, stepping back.

" Finally." Rejoices the fallen angel, seeing her attack being on the point of hitting him.

However, at the last moment, the two spears separated again, to rush in two different directions. One just brushed against Don Krieg's armor, while the other disappeared into the ocean.

" Oh no ! Again missed. "

" Too bad. " Said Mihawk. " This is another show that we don't see every day ! With such an attack, Krieg could have been propelled into the water and his armor would have caused him to sink ! Too bad she doesn't know how to use her strength. "

" Hey, Raynare ! This is cheating. " Cried Luffy.

Grunting in response, the fallen angel had no other idea than to throw a multitude of spears at Don Krieg, who had no trouble stopping them with his armor.

" Ha ha! What is that ? It barely tickles. "

" Will die ! " Cried Raynare, concentrating all her energy to create a lance three times larger than the others.

Regaining his seriousness, on perceiving the weapon, the man brought out a mini-bazooka from his forearm and fired a projectile which struck the Raynare's attack. A large explosion was then felt, throwing men and debris on the side.

" AHHHHHHHH, what's going on ? "

" Help ! Even the angels are against us. "

Blinded, meanwhile, by the smoke of the explosion, Krieg only managed to see Raynare's foot rush towards his face at the last moment. Protecting is head with his arm, he managed to stop the attack of the fallen angel without any problem.

" So ? Is that all you got in your stomach ? "

Suddenly, he was surprised to feel Raynare's legs wrap around his neck and start to strangle him, while his face was now exposed to attack.

" I've got you. " Raynare assured, preparing to puncture his head with a new lance.

Immediately opening the plates of his shoulders, Krieg fired the best he could, with his machine guns, to kill Raynare. Because Raynare was in a blind spot, the weapons could only pierce her wings, injuring the wings enough, for Raynare to cry out in pain.

Feeling the pressure release, Krieg took the opportunity to free himself, before hitting Raynare in the face, until she crashed to the ground.

" Well done ! It was very well done. " Assured her the man. " Nonetheless, there was more to beat me, idiot. "

Preparing to shoot her, he ends up putting his arms in front of his face, in order to ward off a punch from Luffy.

" Raynare ! " Roared the latter, landing near her. "Are you fine ? "

Trying to straighten up, the poor girl had her wings folded while holes could be seen in the middle of these.

" My wings ! My precious wings. "

" You are no match for me. " Said Don Krieg. " I don't see what Mihawk was hoping to achieve by letting you fight me. "

" That is what we will see. " Luffy assured, beating his fists.

Suddenly, he felt the debris start to tremble, while a huge pontoon appeared around the Baratie.

" Wow, a pontoon. "

" Good idea ! We will be able to fight over it. " Sneered Krieg. " That way, my new boat will not have a scratch when I have won it. "

" This boat is not yours. " Retorted Luffy, launching Raynare towards the boat. " Sanji ! "

" I have her ! " He assured, grabbing Raynare in his arms. " You gorilla in armor! How dare you to hurt Raynare-sama ? "

" So what ? " Simply asked Krieg.

" Don Krieg ! Warning ! " Suddenly cried one of his men.

Turning around, Krieg barely had time to see a mackerel-shaped boat pounce on him when it began to fire three cannonballs toward him.

" Huh ? "

Being hit hard, it disappeared in an explosion, while Patty and Carne rejoiced inside the ship.

" And bam! Take it in the teeth, Don Krieg. "

However, still standing, when the smoke cleared, Kreig only showed an angry face in the face of this surprise attack.

" I have had enough of all this circus. "

Suddenly grabbing the boat, he lifted it with one hand before looking towards Zeff.

" Well, I think it belongs to you, Zeff. "

Nevertheless, delicately placing Raynare on the ground, Sanji then jumped into the air, before stopping the small boat by sending it crashing into the pontoon, using a simple kick.

" What ? " Wondered the pirates. " How did he do it ? "

" A boat, launched by Don Krieg, returned by a simple kick ? This guy is not normal. "

" Whatever. " Affirmed one of them, managing to get on the pontoon. " Guys, charge. "

" Push them away. " Ordered a cook, running towards them, followed by the others.

However, quickly being dominated, they were thrown back, under the amused looks of the pirates.

" Well ! Well ! What did you think you would do, facing us ? "

" We are the pirates of Don Krieg ! Don't think that we are not able to win against simple cooks like you. "

" Go, we kill them. "

Seeing them run towards them, Patty and Carne were the first to stop them. Nevertheless, under the numbers, they began to retreat.

" We won't let them do it. "

" Go, guys, get up! "

" Kill these cooks. "

Grinding teeth, seeing the scene, Alice saw cooks and pirates fighting until the enemy was down. Seeing a cook fall after being gutted, the poor girl tried to return to the restaurant. However, her paralyzed legs prevented her from leaving.

" Kill them all ! Kill them all ! " Sneered the pirates, continuing their carnage.

" Clear your boat; " Sanji ordered, hitting two of them hard enough to end up in the water.

However, not being able to be everywhere, he could see the other cooks being injured by the pirates, who arrived one by one on the pontoon.

" HEHEHE ! Perfect ! " One of them smiles. " It will be too easy. "

" Hey, look what we have there. " One of them cried, pointing to Alice.

The girl, having no one left to defend her, tried to back away when the two pirates advanced towards her.

" What is a little girl doing alone here ? "

Unable to answer, Alice started when Carne stood between her and the pirates.

" Don't touch her. " He shouted, directing a huge fork towards the pirates.

Dodging it without problem, the pirates ran towards him, before slashing him with their sabers. Spitting blood then, the poor man fell back, at Alice's feet.

" CA… CARNE ! "

" R ... Run ! " He ordered, as blood came out of his mouth.

" Go, let's finish him. " Cried one of the pirates, aiming his saber at the wounded man.

Seeing this, a click occurred at Alice's. Feeling it then, Zeff then ran towards her, while ordering her.

" Alice ! NOOOOOO ! "

Too late. Suddenly shouting, Alice ordered.

" GO AWAAAAAYYYYY ! Don't kill anyone. "

A draft then struck all the people on the pontoon. Then, one by one, most of the warriors lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Krieg cried out.

" But what happened ? "

" All these people … ? " Astonished Luffy, seeing that this had affected both the cooks and the pirates. " … Are they dead ? "

" What ... what was that? " Wanted to know Patty, feeling his knees tremble.

" Is it Alice who ...? " Sanji started, as surprised as he was.

Opening a surprised eye, Mihawk mumbled.

" Haoshoku… Haki ? "

Looking closely at the girl, he was surprised.

" Carmyna ? "

Remaining standing, Alice ends up losing consciousness, in turn, before falling to the ground. Catching up with her in time, Zeff gently took her in his arms, while sighing.

" I knew you should have stayed inside. "

" Hey, old man, what was that ? " Wanted to know Sanji, running up with Patty.

" How did she knock everyone out ? "

" HEHE ! There are only three enemies left. " Sneered a person, walking towards them.

" Huh ? " Said Patty.

At that moment, the cook took a violent blow on his face, causing him to crash into the pontoon.

" Patty ! "

To Sanji's surprise, he could see a man with a shield in front of him, as well as a dozen pirates trying to reach the pontoon.

" We were lucky. " Affirmed Pearl. " It seems that everyone in the water was far enough to resist this strange attack ! Now that our captain is taking care of Mugiwara, we only have a blond man and an old debris to kill ! It will be too easy. "

" And who are you ? "

" Me ? Finally, everyone knows me see ! I am the most handsome man in East Blue ! The only one able to fight without getting hurt thanks to my superb ... "

His arrogant air was transformed by fear, while the rest of the pirates began to back away. Throwing an intrigued look, Zeff didn't know what to do, when Mihawk was suddenly near him, while he looked at Alice's body. Crouching close to her, he examined her carefully, before finally taking her arm. Lowering her sleeve, he couldn't hide his astonishment when he saw a long scar there.

" So it was true. " He understood. " Hey, the cook! Where did you find this girl ? "

" On a cruise ship. " Simply taught him Zeff. " But it sank. "

" And what was his name ? "

Having no idea, Zeff turned to Sanji. The blond approaching Mihawk questioned him.

" So what ? What does this have to do with Alice-chan ? I saw your power but know that I will not back down from you if you take it out. "

" The name of the boat. " Mihawk ordered, staring at him.

Then began a look battle, which quickly found a winner. Indeed, growling as the shichibukai's eyes seemed to pierce his mind, Sanji asserted.

" Saint Goeland ! "

" I understand everything now. " Asserted Mihawk, turning his gaze to Alice. " So, you survived ... Carmyna ! "

" Carmyna ? "

" Hey, what are you doing ? " Wanted to know Pearl, while the rest of the pirates remained hidden behind him. " I thought you were not going to intervene in this fight. "

" That's what I said, indeed ! However, this is a whole other matter, if the family is involved. "

" Family ? "

Suddenly taking Alice in his arms, Mihawk affirmed to Zeff.

" I will put her on my boat ! There, at least, these pirates will not dare to go there to hurt her. "

Staring at him for a few moments, Zeff finally nodded.

" Heard, but I'm counting on you so that it doesn't have any knack her. "

" Hey, old man, are you kidding ? " Asked Sanji. " We're not going to let this guy take care of Alice ! We don't even know who he is. "

" Perhaps, but it would seem that this man knows Alice, and vice versa ! I don't know what connects them ! However, since he appeared, I immediately understood that Alice had already seen him before. "

Perceiving Mihawk then go, Pearl breathed a sigh of relief, before redirecting to Sanji.

" Well, it looks like this guy has pity only for women ! Great, the captain will take care of these two, later ! "

" Because you still think Krieg can take care of it ? "

" Yes, of course ! We are Don Krieg's armada ! The first time, this guy just surprised us, that's it ! But now that we know his way of fighting, we have nothing more to fear from him! We are the strongest. "

Suddenly getting up, Raynare tried to get up, while her wings still made her suffer.

" The bastard… " She began, staring at Don Krieg.

"Hey, my pretty. " Sneered a pirate, approaching her.

" You better stay here nicely, while we settle these guys. "

" Yes, and then maybe we will spare you ... in exchange for your company on our boat. "

" What ? " Raynare roared, giving them a dark look.

Seeing this, a pirate crushed her face under his foot, while affirming.

" You are weak, then you should stay in your place, poor shabby. "

" Raynare ! " Said Luffy, trying to jump towards her.

" Not so fast, Mugiwara. " Retorted Krieg, swinging a club towards him, which Luffy dodged in time. " It's a fight between you and me. "

Seeing, in turn, the fallen angel being hit, Sanji pretended to go and rescue her, when Pearl struck him with one of his shields.

" Hey, where do you think you're going, big boy ? "

Regaining his balance in time, Sanji groaned, feeling blood flow from his forehead, before sending his right foot to his opponent. Protect by his armor, Pearl only smiled, when he effortlessly blocked the kick from the cook.

" You have good reflexes ! But it will take more to defeat me. "

" You are only an underling. " Sneered a pirate, grabbing Raynare by the hair. " And you is weak. "

" Weak ? " Raynare wondered. " I am weak ? "

" WEAK ! WEAK ! WEAK ! " Did she seem to hear.

" You are weak Raynare. "

" You are Gregori's shame. "

" Who would like a lower being like you ? "

" So ? " Sneered the pirate, shaking her. " Have we lost our tongue ? "

Then spitting blood, he fell back, while a spear pierced his body.

" That … ? " Said the others, then stepped back.

Rising at this moment, Raynare remained with her head bowed.

" I am not weak ! I am … ! I will … ! "

Raising her head, her body ends up covering herself with a black aura, while she cried out.

" I will slaughter you. "

Being enveloped by the aura, her wings grew in size, while her wounds disappeared as if by magic.

" That … ? " Said a pirate.

" I will kill you all. " Raynare roared, while her pupils turned purple. " You are all warned. "

Suddenly creating a black trident in her hand, she flapped her wings, before flying straight towards the pirates. Immediately, one of them was pierced by her weapon and fell to the ground, under the frightened gaze of his comrades.

" But who is this girl ? "

" Take this. " Roared a pirate, shooting at him with two revolvers.

Flying towards him, Raynare performed various acrobatics in the air, in order to dodge the bullets, before finding herself facing the man.

" You … monster. " Cried the pirate, before being pierced.

Then sprinkled with his blood, Raynare began to smile cruelly while affirming.

" Yes ! That's it ! Fear me, all of you. "

" Run ! " Someone advised.

" Jump into the water. "

Seeing them flee, Raynare created a multitude of spears, which eventually pierced them.

" Hahaha! How good it is to be powerful. "

Seeing this carnage, Luffy began to shout.

" Raynare, stop. "

" Huh? " Wondered the angel, turning her gaze to him. " Who do you think you are, pathetic tadpole, to give me orders ? "

Then perceiving Krieg, close to her captain, her rage eventually increased tenfold, remembering what he had just done to her.

" You dared to draw on my wings ! I will annihilate you. "

Flying immediately, she gained height, before creating a magic shield in front of her. Then rushing straight at Don Krieg, she used her shield, like a ram, which struck Krieg with full force. Putting his hands forward, in order to stop her, the man made equal play with the enraged fallen angel.

" What is this force ? " Wanted to know Sanji. " She is level playing field with a person who has just lifted a boat with a hand. "

" No idea. " Confessed Zeff. " But, if you want my opinion, it is far from being controlled. "

" Don Krieg, what's going on ? "Afraid Pearl. " Hurry up and beat her. "

Still watching the show, Mikawk whispered.

" His strength keeps increasing, while she ignores the effects it can cause on her body! For now, she now seems to be the one who is most likely to surpass Don Krieg. "

And to prove it, while neither of the two opponents moved an inch, Krieg ends up frightened, feeling the wood under his feet start to crack.

" Oh no ! "

" Die ! Die! Flow ! I am the strongest ! I am the angel Raynare! I am … "

" Raynare ! Stop ! " Luffy ordered.

Hearing his voice, the black aura around Raynare disappeared at this instant, while she seemed surprised to find herself facing Krieg.

" What … ? "

" Disappear ! " Yelled Krieg, pushing the shield against Raynare, before hitting her.

Destroying him, in a single blow, he managed to grab Raynare around the neck, and threw her violently to the ground. Spitting blood, Raynare then widened her eyes, while Don Krieg struck her violently in the stomach.

" You will pay! Take this ! And that ! And that ! "

Feeling weak, Raynare could only take the blows, while Don Krieg continued to hit her mercilessly.

" I will kill you. "

" Stop that ! " Roared Luffy, running towards him.

Seeing him, Krieg smiled wickedly at him, before taking hold of Raynare's body. Being barely conscious, the young woman could only hear the laughter of Don Krieg.

" You want to protect your friends, you anvil ? Show me your determination. "

Then, with an arm movement, he threw Raynare's body to the side and dropped it into the water.

Despite knowing how to swim, Raynare felt unable to move her body. Thus, barely opening her eyes, she saw the light above her gradually diminish, while the darkness only surrounded her.

" I will die ? Am I really going to disappear like this ? Also stupidly ? "

Not even trying to rise to the surface, she continued to let herself flow. However, she suddenly sees a figure diving into the water, above her.

"Um? "

With puffy cheeks, and making disorganized gestures, Luffy had found nothing better to do than dive into the water, while only one of his arms was pulled out of the water.

"Mugiwara ? "

Seeming to have the greatest difficulty in simply moving in the water, Luffy took several seconds to see Raynare sink at the peak. From then on, he did not hesitate for a moment, to swing his second arm backwards, before throwing it towards the fallen angel.

Still surprised to see him in the water, Raynare felt his arm surround her. Despite his handicap, he managed to grab her.

"He jumped into the water ... to save me? "

Immediately, an outside force pulled Luffy out of the water, like Raynare. Both emerging from the water, the two comrades eventually fell not far from Sanji, who was holding Luffy's arm in his hands.

" Raynare? It's okay ? " Wanted to know the cook, while Luffy already spat water out of his mouth.

"These two saved me ? Why ? "

Suddenly, getting up, Luffy turned to her before questioning her.

" No, but what happened to you, you lost the reason or what ? "

Taking a few moments to remember what had just happened, Raynare said.

" What ? I gave these guys a beating ! So what ? "

" You lost your mind." Luffy replied. " You were ready to kill everyone. "

" And then, they are just our adversaries. "

" We don't need to kill them if it's not necessary. " Luffy roared, silencing her.

Grunting at that moment, Raynare was suddenly surprised to feel her body having trouble moving.

" That … ? "

" You too were killing yourself. " Asserted Luffy. " If you had dropped Krieg in the water, you would have used up all of your remaining energy ! And then, you would have sank too. "

" Huh ? " She wondered.

"He did that ... to protect me? "

Even more angry because of this, the fallen angel questioned him.

" What's your problem, damn it ? Mister always wants to protect me ! Mister thinks I'm weak ! I am not under your orders, and I never would be ! I am a real fallen angel and you know it very well ! I don't need your help, Mugiwara. "

Listening to her, while she displayed a hateful look at her gaze, Luffy ends up grabbing his hat, before putting it on her head, while affirming.

" You are my friend. "

These simple words then froze Raynare, allowing Luffy to yell at her.

" What do you not understand in the sense of a team ? We're all your friends, dammit ! Let it be me, Lucy, Zoro, Usopp and even Nami ! It is out of the question that I let only one of you die without doing anything ! We went on an adventure together and we will continue this adventure, all together. "

Raynare's gaze changed then, only to show astonishment.

" Friends ? But ... I never had friends! No one who ever really wanted me! I ... I have always been someone to reject ... since my wings went black! Fallen angels are always rejected, so why is he telling me this ? "

" Raynare ! " Suddenly called her Luffy. " Are we friends or not ? "

Hearing this question, Raynare remained motionless, while no word left her throat. She herself had no idea what to answer. She had hated Luffy since they met, only saw him as a simple pawn allowing her to reach Raftel. However, something in him had made her smile often during their trip, and even enjoyed some of their adventures.

Afraided Usopp amused her, arguing with Zoro and making him go crazy had become her favorite hobby, listening to Nami recount how she went about robbing pirates had always made her smile, Lucy's company had ended up becoming something she needed in some cases… and Luffy's strength had always amazed her.

Yet she refused to say it.

" Hey, midges. " Called them Pearl, arriving behind them. " You shouldn't forget me either. "

Sending a straight shield to Raynare's head, he got ready to strike her, when Luffy's fist came into contact with the shield, and stopped it without the slightest problem.

" What ? "

" So, are we friends or not ? " Wanted to know Luffy.

" I ... I ... " Raynare stuttered, hiding her gaze under Luffy's hat.

Then feeling her eyes tingle, she ends up clenching her teeth, before affirming.

" I don't know ! I do not know ! I do not know ! I ... I am a waste that nobody wants ! Even god didn't want me! So why would you want me ? "

" Because you're a great girl. " Simply assured her Luffy. " And my friend ! And for you ... am I your friend ? "

This time, looking at him, Raynare could only nod, while asserting.

" Yes ! We are friends,… Luffy ! "

Noting that she had just called him by his first name and not by "Mugiwara", Luffy ends up nodding, before throwing a powerful punch in Pearl's face, in order to make him back off.

Seeing the man fall not far from them, Zeff said.

" Look, Sanji ! Here are two who are ready to do everything they can to make their dreams come true. "

" Little shit ! " Roared Pearl, getting up while her nose was bleeding and missing his teeth! You dared ... hit my beautiful face? My beautiful face? "

Then knocking his shields against each other, he made them catch fire, while he affirmed.

" End to laugh! I will get rid of all of you, quits burning everything. "

" No, Pearl ! Stop ! " Don Krieg ordered him.

Noting that the man was deaf to his captain's orders, Luffy wanted to know.

" Ready to get rid of this investigator ? "

Smiling then, Raynare said.

" Ready, captain ! "