Author's Note: Apologies for the long wait! In real life business has gotten in the way of me continuing to write for this story. Luckily, I was able to finish 3 chapters and will be posting them together! I definitely plan on continuing the story so I hope you guys enjoy it! Also, I will be answering any questions or comments in the author's note for the last chapter.
Defend the Baratie!
"Damn…he got away…and damaged even more of my ship." grunted Don Krieg, irritated that Mihawk, the perpetrator of their troubles had escaped him. "No matter. We were planning on abandoning this ship anyways. So who cares if it's been destroyed?"
"Are we still planning on taking that goofy looking restaurant, captain?" asked Spike, standing in front of the remaining crew.
"Of course we are. If we have that boat, we wouldn't need to fear the grand line anymore." explained Don Krieg, grinning widely. "Having a ship like that will be more effective than just simply raising a white flag. It'll lower our enemies's guard and we'll be able to sneak more closely to enemy ships than ever before!"
"I see! Nobody would suspect there'd be pirates lying in wait if all they see is a restaurant." said one of the crew, his eyes widening in realization.
"Exactly. This era is teeming with pirates on every ocea around the world. Rebuilding our pirate fleet will be a piece of cake!" Don Krieg grinned and turned to his men. "First things first, we take this ship and take Red Leg Zeff's pirate log! That log holds the method of dealing with freaks such as Hawk Eyed Mihawk! Who knows, there might even be information on the One Piece in his log as well!"
Each of Don Krieg's crew smiled when contemplating his words. With the realization that taking the ship, as well as taking the log would make their lives much easier, and get them ahead of the other pirate crews sailing the blue, their fighting spirit was reignited.
"As expected from our Don Krieg! You're a genius!" One of his crew shouted.
"All we gotta do is get our hands on that log, and all the treasure in the world is ours for the taking!" Another one of his crew smiled widely.
Spike grinned, his eyes locked onto the restaurant. "Well said captain! Just give the word and the ship and Red Leg Zeff's log will be yours!"
"Excellent!" Don Krieg laughed, and then raised his voice into a yell to bellow his orders. "Go then! Kill every one that still was foolish enough to remain in that restaurant! Kill them all!"
A loud battle cry rose into the air once again. Swords, knives, clubs, and pistols raised into the air as each member of Don Krieg's deadly crew had every intention on taking their frustrations that they gained during their time on the Grand Line, onto the workers of the Baratie.
"Woah! Those guys are all fired up to!" Luffy shouted, seeing the battle cry from the Baratie ship.
"Is it really a hundred men like they said?" asked Ryuza, clenching his injured shoulder and walking up to the railing.
Luffy squinted his eyes and looked closer. "Errr, I'm not sure. Let's see…one, two, three four five—"
"Don't bother trying to count them all please." interrupted Sanji, shaking his head.
"But I want to know if it's really a hundred men!" exclaimed Ryuza with a look of disappointment.
Luffy nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Me too! That guys supposed to be a big liar, right? Maybe he was lying about having a hundred crew members!"
"Then just count them as you take them down!" yelled Sanji, irritated that they were even debating this. He then turned his gaze over to one of the cooks. "Hey, where's Carne and Patty?"
"They're busy making battle preparations!" The cook replied with a confident grin. "Those guys are sure reliable in times like these!"
"Only in times like these…" Sanji muttered to himself before speaking again. "You better go to the control room and open up the 'fins'."
"Huh? You sure?" questioned the cook. "That'll just give our enemies a foothold!"
"Doesn't matter." Sanji shrugged before glancing at Owner Zeff who was still surveying the territory. "The geezer won't shut up if we fight inside the restaurant."
Owner Zeff grunted and looked back at Sanji, an irritated look on his face. "Huh? You say something brat?"
"Yeah, I said you won't shut up." repeated Sanji, rolling his eyes at Owner Zeff.
As Ryuza let out a deep sigh and rolled his injured shoulder. The wounds he received from his duel with Mihawk were still fresh. He could still feel the blood dripping from the deep wound he received on his cheek. But it was a pain that he'd have to endure if he were to defend the restaurant. He'd have no pride left if he let a few sword wounds stop him.
"Most of his men are trying to board the ship, right?" asked Ryuza with a determined gaze. "Then I shall stay here and defend the deck from them as they approach."
"I'm not gonna bother arguing if you still want to fight." shrugged Sanji, blowing one last puff of smoke into the air from his cigarette. "Because here they come."
At the front of the ship, countless members of Don Krieg's crew hopped from platform to platform, inching closer to the ship. Some even dove into the water and swam toward the restaurant with their knives and swords in their teeth.
"Hand us over that ship you pathetic cooks!" They shouted in unison.
Luffy grinned and cracked his knuckles, welcoming the challenge. "Alright guys, let's get things started! Gomu Gomu…" he grabbed onto the railing and began to extend his arms by leaping back into the restaurant.
Ryuza stared at the long rubber arms at his side. He was still amazed by the ability that Luffy possessed. If he didn't know any better, it could have been the use of a devil fruit, the ancient fruit that grants abilities to those who consume them. Ryuza's master had taught him about their existence and Ryuza was aware that Yamato possessed one as well, consuming it at very young age.
"….ROCKET!" yelled Luffy one last time before catapulting himself forward and speeding right toward a group of enemies that seemed to scream in panic.
Luffy's body and outstretched arms collided with the large group, smashing into them like an angry rhinoceros, and igniting the flames of battle. A group of pirates leapt onto the deck of the Baratie, brandishing their swords, clubs and knives. Ryuza narrowed his eyes and as they made a rush for the cooks and workers.
"Come on you shitty cooks!" One of them yelled, grinning venomously.
"Just what can a couple of cooks do against the pirates of Don Krieg's crew?!" another laughed.
Despite the cocky words of the incoming pirates, the cooks and workers of the Baratie were eager to defend their ship. They charged in return toward the group of pirates and clashed with them, equipped with butcher knives, clubs, pitchforks and cleavers.
"Don't you dare look down on us!" One of the cooks shouted. "We are the cooks of the seas!"
"Just try taking this restaurant from us!" another shouted defiantly.
As the battle broke out, Ryuza narrowed his eyes and unleashed his sword from his scabbard with his thumb. He dashed toward the battle taking place in front of him, his eyes locked onto the Don Krieg pirates who were easy to spot through all the chaos as they were not wearing any chef garments. The young samurai was fully aware of his objective. And that objective was keeping the deck clear of any pirates trying to board.
With his blade gripped in hand, Ryuza was met with fierce adversity. One pirate from his right took a swing at his face with a metal club. Ryuza ducked the blunt attack and slashed through his chest with precision, sending his attacker crumbling to the floor. Another took a stab at from the left, thrusting a sword of his own. Ryuza sidestepped the blade and responded with an overheard swing of his sword, slicing through the pirate's shoulder.
Ryuza's eyes narrowed, focusing on the next adversaries who came charging toward him. With a sudden burst of agility, he leaped into the air, his sword glinting under the sunlight. Ryuza rapidly spun his blade in a circular motion around his body, creating a powerful whirlwind of slashes. The technique emitted a mesmerizing blue aura that left his enemies awestruck.
As he descended back to the ground, the flurry of cuts tore through the approaching pirates, who had no chance of defending against Ryuza's exceptional skill in swordplay. The pirate's body collapsed in a heap, defeated by the extraordinary power of Ryuza's Vortex Slash.
While Ryuza took care the group of enemies, a pirate had caught wind of his actions to his right. The pirate growled as his comrades were cut through by the young samurai's sword and aimed his pistol at him. Ryuza had caught a glimpse of the enemy at the last minute.
"Take this you bastard!" The pirate shouted, his finger pressing on the trigger.
However, before he could pull it, he was interrupted by the heel of Sanji's foot slamming into his jaw. Ryuza watched in shock as the power of Sanji's kick had sent the pirate spiraling into the air, blood flying out of his mouth in the process and flying overboard and into the sea water below.
Ryuza blinked then smiled widely in gratitude to Sanji. "Many thanks!"
Sanji's face remained blank as he blew another puff of smoke into the air. "Don't mention it." He replied. "Just watch your own back next time. I may not be able to lend a hand again."
Ryuza nodded his head and his expression turned serious. "These guys won't get the chance again."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of two pirates charging in. One raised his sword over his head, rushing toward Ryuza, and the other had an axe, ready to swing it at Sanji's neck. As the two enemies attempted to slay their targets, Ryuza and Sanji responded in their own way.
Ryuza lunged forward, his movements as fluid as the wind. In an instant, he closed the distance between himself and the pirate, delivering a swift intercepting slash across the pirate's torso. His sword cut through the air with deadly precision, slaying the enemy before he could even begin to bring his weapon down.
Meanwhile, Sanji nimbly evaded a pirate's attack, his instincts guiding him to duck just in time as an axe whistled past his neck. He weaved through the chaos of the battle, seamlessly transitioning between defense and offense. Channeling his incredible leg strength, Sanji raised his leg and kicked his attacker beneath his jaw, shattering his teeth and sending him flying into the air.
As the fight continued one of the cooks yelled out, "Opening the fins!" from below deck.
Ryuza felt a sudden, unsettling tremor underfoot, the ground quaking and groaning like some slumbering beast roused from its torpor. He wobbled for a moment, caught off guard, but quickly steadied himself. It took him a heartbeat to comprehend that the Baratie ship was transforming, metamorphosing before his very eyes. The "fins" that the cook had cryptically mentioned were now revealed as they rose from the murky depths, adorned to either side of the ship's hull.
As the ship's fins broke the water's surface, a spray of seawater caught the light like a thousand tiny, shimmering diamonds. Some of Don Krieg's crew, caught unaware by the sudden shift, were tossed overboard with little more than a strangled yelp, swallowed by the churning ocean below.
With the fins fully unfurled, stable battle decks flanked the right and left sides of the ship. The motley crew of the Baratie—cooks, servers, and staff alike—gathered in a ragtag formation on the starboard deck. Their gazes, once wary, now smoldered with determination that surpassed even their pre-battle intensity. In response, Don Krieg's men snarled and bared their teeth, rage contorting their faces as the tension ratcheted ever higher.
"You good-for-nothing cooks think you can ridicule us?" A pirate roared, his voice thick with rage. "Surrender your restaurant already!"
"Over our dead bodies!" A cook retorted, his knife gleaming dangerously in the dim light.
The deck exploded with the cacophony of battle cries, as the Don Krieg pirates scrambled onto the new platform, their eyes locked onto the cooks. The cooks braced themselves, then charged headlong into the fray. The two sides clashed like waves crashing against a storm-tossed shore, the sound of steel on steel ringing out.
Ryuza peered over the railing, his eyes following the chaos below, and a chuckle threatened to escape him. He suppressed the urge, grateful for the absence of any witnesses to his amusement. It was astonishing to think that the ship had concealed such secrets beneath its unremarkable exterior, even as he and Yamato had unknowingly spent days aboard, oblivious to its true nature.
What captivated Ryuza even more was the sight of the metal fish head, once a mere ornament at the ship's bow, now detached and mobile. The once-stationary figurehead now danced across the water's surface, its newfound agility a marvel to behold. It was a sight that reminded Ryuza of the unexpected twists and turns that life's adventures could offer, even in the midst of a heated battle.
The mouth to the fully mobile fish head opened, and instead of a tongue, like any normal fish, there were three barrels of cannons. The Don Krieg pirates cursed and shouted with anger, witnessing the fish head move toward their direction, it's guns pointed directly at them like a firing squad.
It was faint, but Ryuza swore he could hear the usual symphony of Patty and Carne arguing amongst themselves from inside the fish head. Whatever they had been arguing about mattered little, because the three cannons attached to the mouth of the fish head fired, the sound ringing out like a chorus of destruction. Numerous members of Don Krieg's men were caught in its path, the water rising into the air due to the impact, and shattering any remnants of the wreckage that remained intact.
"Okay…that is pretty cool." Ryuza laughed to himself, unable to maintain the stoic and serious samurai demeanor.
Ryuza's astonishment came to an abrupt halt as the cacophony of battle from the right deck crescendoed in intensity. The symphony of metal striking metal, enraged bellows, and pained cries reverberated across the undulating seas. He couldn't help but steal a glance over the deck, his eyes quickly drawn to the harrowing scene unfolding before him.
A chef from the Baratie lay on the ground, his face contorted in agony as he clutched his bloodied shoulder. Towering above him, one of Don Krieg's pirates sneered maliciously, basking in the chef's suffering. With a gleeful flourish, the pirate raised his sword high overhead, poised to deliver a fatal blow.
Ryuza's muscles tensed, adrenaline surging through his veins like a torrent. In a blur of motion, he vaulted over the railing, propelled by an instinctive need to intervene. As he descended upon the unsuspecting pirate, Ryuza's hand gripped his blade tightly and in one swift, fluid motion, he slashed through the pirates raised arm and torso, incapacitating him in a single stroke.
The pirate crumpled to the deck, his sword clattering to the ground, beside him as Ryuza landed gracefully on his feet. The injured cook, still covering his injured shoulder, looked up at the young samurai with a nod of gratitude. Ryuza gave him a nod of return and swiftly returned his eyes back to the fight. The young samurai felt that none of the cooks owed him any thanks, his samurai honor taking hold. He swore that he would protect this restaurant with his life, and it was something he planned to do.
The battle intensified on the seas just as much as it did on the battle deck. Carne and Patty, still piloting the mobile fish head, decided to take more drastic measures in defeating Don Krieg. With fierce battle cries, the two tore through the wooden debris with the fish head, and charged right toward Don Krieg who stood there on a wooden surface with his arms crossed. They had every intention to flatten him with their vehicle, and leave his remains for the fishes of the sea to eat.
The fish head collided with its target, creating a loud song of groaning metal. But instead of a crushing Don Krieg, the fish head had been stopped abruptly in its tracks. Don Krieg's hand had caught one of the barrels inside the fish head's mouth, his immense strength on display as he did not even so much as glance at it. Patty and Carne screamed in panic as their vehicle began to rock violently.
Don Krieg's voice transformed into a guttural snarl, reminiscent of a cornered and enraged beast. "I'm Don Krieg, the man who'll rule all the world's oceans!" In a staggering display of raw power, he hoisted the fish head from the sea with a single arm and launched it skyward, targeting the Baratie restaurant. "I ain't got time to play around with the likes of you!"
Ryuza's actions momentarily stalled as the gargantuan fish head hurtled toward the restaurant with terrifying velocity. Don Krieg's men, still engaged on the battle deck, succumbed to panic and dove headlong into the churning waters below. The cooks and workers scrambled, their minds racing to devise a solution to the impending disaster.
Ryuza drew in a sharp breath, his grip on his blade faltering with uncertainty. The fish head rocketed toward him at breakneck speed, and he doubted whether his sword would find its mark in time. His anxiety was suddenly assuaged, however, when Sanji burst into action. Propelling himself skyward with a powerful leap, Sanji's leg collided with the metal fish head, his preternatural strength on full display. Ryuza could only gasp in awe as Sanji's devastating kick redirected the fish head's trajectory, sending it careening back into the watery surface from whence it came.
Sanji touched down on the deck with an effortless grace, his cigarette still expertly clutched between his lips. His remarkable display of power arrested the attention of Don Krieg's men, their bloodlust momentarily supplanted by a gnawing uncertainty.
"That was amazing, Sanji!" Ryuza exclaimed, his astonishment impossible to conceal. "But what about Carne and Patty?"
Sanji arched a brow, his hands remaining nonchalantly tucked into his pockets. "Hm? What about them?"
As if summoned by their conversation, Patty and Carne burst through the surface of the sea, their faces contorted with a volatile blend of rage and annoyance. Ryuza discerned a hint of pallor beneath their reddened complexions, undoubtedly a result of their harrowing collision with the airborne fish head, first at the hands of Don Krieg and then courtesy of Sanji's bone-crushing kick.
"Sanji! You bastard!" Patty bellowed, laboriously hauling himself onto the battle deck, his sodden clothes dripping seawater.
"You trying to kill your own side?! Is that it?!" Carne roared, expelling a briny mouthful of seawater from his lungs. "You almost lost two powerful fighters, you spaghetti head!"
"Quit your complaining," Sanji retorted with a dismissive shrug. He inclined his head toward Ryuza. "If I hadn't kicked it, he would've sliced the fish head in two – and probably both of you along with it."
Ryuza's mouth formed a retort, but he paused as the truth of Sanji's words settled in. "I... err…now that you mention it, I probably would have... by accident, of course!"
"What is wrong with you two!?" Patty and Carne snarled in unison, their frustration palpable.
"Powerful fighters? You guys aren't powerful. Not even in the slightest." A voice called out.
Ryuza followed the trail of the voice and looked ahead at an unfortunate sight. More of Don Krieg's men had arrived in force, standing on the battle deck with smug and deadly expressions. At their feet lay many injured, unconscious, and possibly even dead staff of the Baratie. Ryuza could not resist the urge to narrow his dark eyes in anger and raise his sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight.
"Don't you dare compare us to other pirates you've crossed before, you shitty cooks!" said one of the pirates, crossing his arms with a smug smile.
"That's right." another one of the pirates said, his hands on his hips. "We're the pirates of Don Krieg, the ruler of the east blue!"
Ryuza narrowed his eyes, his face darkening into a deadly glare. "It doesn't matter what kind of pirates you are. You'll not spill any more blood today."
He took a step forward, ready to return to the heat of battle. He was stopped however, when Patty placed a hand on his shoulder and moved him aside. Ryuza was confused by the gesture, staring at him with a questioning glance until he saw the intensity in his stare. Carne shared a similar gaze, his hand gripped tightly around the wooden handle of the harpoon.
"Stand aside boy!" announced Patty, his hand finding the wooden handle of a pitchfork that had been lying on the floor. "It's time we 'shitty cooks' showed these pirates how cooks of the sea really fight! 10 years since I've been a cook! And 300 restaurants I've gone to! And each and everyone one of them refused to hire me…"
As he spoke, Ryuza could not help but listen, eyeing him as he approached the group of pirates along with Carne. With each step they took, their grips on their weapons tightened.
"After years and years of searching, we've finally came to this restaurant…" finished Carne, his black glasses trembling on his face. "Here, whether it be fighting, or cooking, we can do as much as we want!"
Like the ignition of a lit fuse bomb, Ryuza could feel the fighting spirit within the two cooks explode. A smile drew on Ryuza's face. He could tell within their voices that they were truly willing to lay their lives down to defend the restaurant. As much as he wanted to defend them, he wouldn't dare and try to stop them from fighting.
Patty and Carne charged at the group of pirates, swinging their weapons angrily and shouted in unison, "There ain't another place as good as this ship! As if we'd hand it over to you pirate scum!"
The group of Don Krieg's pirate crew stared in wide eyed bewilderment at the sudden burst of violence coming from the two cooks. A few of the members, lingering in front of the group, took a few steps back, fearing the speed the two cooks were running at. With an angry battle cry, Patty and Carne rammed into the first pirate they saw and begin swinging their weapons, cutting or stabbing at the any enemy that was unfortunate enough to stay in their way.
"Amazing! Their fighting spirit has grown exponentially!" laughed Ryuza, watching the battle play out.
Sanji chuckled, another cloud of smoke releasing from his lips as he spoke. "Heh, at least those two are actually good for something."
As Ryuza watched the two cooks fight on, he suddenly felt that something was off. His black eyes began shifting around him, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade tightly. He could not put his finger on it, but he could sense that he and Sanji were in danger. He turned body to look to the left, and then turned his body to look to the right. Once more, he turned around, only to find two sharp metal projectiles coming toward him and Sanji.
The spikes aimed for Ryuza and Sanji, soared through the air at high speed, nearly matching the momentum of a bullet from a gun. Ryuza quickly brought up his blade and deflected the projectiles with it. Nearly stumbling in the process as he had to move fast to stop the spike from hitting Sanji's back.
Sanji swiftly turned around at the noise, his hands still placed in his pocket. He spotted the two metal spikes a few feet in front of him. "Huh? What the hell are those?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"That coward tried to sneak attack us." growled Ryuza, his eyes honing in on his target.
On top of the Baratie restaurant, Ryuza spotted his attacker. Spike, the lieutenant of Don Krieg. His face was etched with anger, frustration filling him as his spiked projectiles were deflected a second time by a swordsman. He leapt from his position on top of the restaurant and landed onto the battle deck with a rumbling thud, crushing the wood underneath his heavy plated boots.
"That's the second time my spikes have missed their targets." He growled, his gray eyes trembling in frustration. "It's starting to piss me off! I ain't missing a third time!"
"This guy looks different from the usual lot we've been fighting." muttered Sanji, narrowing his eyes at the silver armor that gleamed on the pirate lieutenant.
Ryuza nodded his head in agreement, his eyes narrowed. "I agree." He said, taking two steps forward toward the lieutenant, his sword held in his left hand. "We must remain vigilant. His projectiles are dangerous."
"Yeah, I figured that." replied Sanji, blowing another cloud of smoke in the air.
Suddenly, the sound of Patty and Carne yelling in sudden pain forced Ryuza and Sanji to look behind them. The two cooks landed on the floor with a loud thud, wounds noticeable on their faces and bodies. They were still alive, but definitely injured. Ryuza glanced up to see a very strange man climbing onto the ship's battle deck.
A tall and towering man with a menacing and cocky smile. On his front and backside, were two large iron plates that covered up the entirety of his body, from his neck, all the way down to his thin and hairy ankles. Smaller iron plates were strapped to his kneecaps, as well as his elbows, and hands. On his head, was a strange iron helmet that gleamed a strange glow under the sunlight. The iron plated man stepped forward, his presence making the Don Krieg pirates more confident in their victory.
"Hahahah! Behold!" The man laughed, raising his fists to show off his iron plates. "My invincible iron wall! You cooks are idiots believing you'd be able to cut through me!"
"It's about time you got here, Pearl!" said Spike, scratching his long gray beard, glaring at the new arrival. "What took you so long? We've already lost more men than we should have, while taking on these shitty cooks!"
Pearl let out a loud and annoying laugh. "Hahaha! I just assume that our dear lieutenant would be able to take on such a weak group! But it looks like I'll have to step in!" He smiled smugly. "Not to worry! Now that I am here! This battle is as good as won! None of these guys will be able to withstand my lethal 'Pearl punch'!"
As second commander, and lieutenant of the Don Krieg pirates had their sights set on Ryuza and Sanji, the young samurai and blonde cook stood back to back. Ryuza had his eyes set on the Spike while Sanji had his eyes set on Pearl. The situation was clear to Ryuza. The fight would not be won until these two were taken care of.
"These guys really are annoying pests…" Sanji muttered, his leg raised slightly as he prepared for the engagement.
"It looks like that we cannot claim victory until these two have fallen." said Ryuza, narrowing his eyes. "I can take care of this guy in the armor. Will you be able to take care of the other one?"
Sanji raised one of his brows and smirked. "What kinda question is that?" His eyes then narrowed into a deadly glare. "I already said, anyone that tries to take this ship, I'll kill them."
Ryuza smiled, hearing the confidence in the blonde cook's voice. "Understood."
The young samurai stepped toward his new opponent. Spike, the gray bearded towering man, covered in silver armor narrowed his eyes at his approaching adversary.. To his right and left, a few of Don Krieg's men were rising to their feet, shaking off their injuries after being run over by the likes of Patty and Carne.
"You think you can take me on by yourself?" shouted Spike, pounding his chest with his armored fist. "I am lieutenant to the most deadly and fearsome crew in the East Blue! The Don Krieg pirates! Men! Show this fool what happens to those who oppose the great Don Krieg!"
Spike's rousing speech caused the members of Don Krieg's crew to shout and howl in agreement, their pain and dizziness forgotten, and replaced with murderous intent. Ryuza continued his walk toward his opponent and soon, he took off in a run, his sword gripped tightly in his hand.
The pirates of Don Krieg charged at him in return, brandishing swords and clubs. Ryuza narrowed his eyes, focusing on the incoming threats. As they closed in, he leaped into the air with incredible agility, performing a swift aerial spin that seemed to defy gravity. As he spun, his sword sliced through the air like a whirlwind, cutting down the first wave of pirates in a fluid, effortless motion.
Landing gracefully, Ryuza continued his relentless charge, his movements precise and lightning-fast. He dashed forward, leaving a faint trail of blue energy behind him, and effortlessly dodged the swings of the pirates' weapons. His sword seemed to move in a blur, its sharp edge effortlessly slicing through the air and finding its mark on the enemies surrounding him.
A group of pirates approached Ryuza, attempting to surround and overwhelm him. Unfazed, the samurai focused his energy and summoned a powerful shockwave that erupted from his blade. The wave tore through the pirates, knocking them off their feet and sending them sprawling across the deck.
Ryuza stood tall, his breath calm and measured despite the frenzied combat around him. The remaining pirates hesitated, fear written on their faces as they witnessed the samurai's display of power. He locked eyes with Spike, their gazes burning with determination and fury.
Seeing no other option, the pirates rushed at Ryuza once more, attempting to slow his advance towards their lieutenant. Ryuza's eyes flashed, and his blade cut the air in rapid, precise arcs, leaving a trail of defeated foes in his wake. As the last of them fell, Ryuza closed the distance between himself and Spike.
Leaping into the air, Ryuza aimed to deliver a single decisive blow to the lieutenant of the Don Krieg pirates. Spike clenched his teeth at the young samurai and suddenly bent his knees and placed his fists on each opposite arm as if he were hugging his own body.
In the split second before Ryuza's sword connected, an unexpected transformation occurred. With a metallic screech, Spike's armor expanded and extended, sending out a myriad of sharp spikes in every direction. The sudden, unexpected change in his opponent's form caught Ryuza off guard, stopping his strike in mid-air, mere inches from the lethal protrusions.
The Baratie's deck fell silent for a brief moment, tension hanging heavy in the air. An injured cook who had been watching the fight from the floor, his eyes wide with surprise, couldn't contain his shock. "What the hell?!" he exclaimed, the disbelief palpable in his voice. "That guy's armor just... changed!"
Regaining his composure, Ryuza nimbly backflipped to safety, narrowly avoiding being skewered by the spikes. His heart raced as he took in the sight of his opponent's new form, realizing that he'd have to reevaluate his strategy.
Spike smirked, reveling in the reaction he'd caused. He unfurled his arms and began rotating them in a menacing fashion, the spikes on his armor glinting dangerously as they caught the light. "You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you, brat?"
Determined not to be deterred, Ryuza steeled himself for another attack. The young samurai rushed at the lieutenant again, preparing to strike before his armor could protrude spikes a second time. Before he could reach him however, Spike raised his gauntlet and aimed it at him. Out of the barrel from the top of his gauntlet, a sharp spike shot out, and attached to it, was a long metal chain.
This time, Ryuza had no time to prepare for a defense. He attempted to stop himself from rushing any further, but by then it was too late. The metal spike pierced his right shoulder. The spot of the wound that Hawk Eyes Mihawk on him. Ryuza yelped in pain and dropped to one knee, his white gi stained with blood.
"Ha! That's the lieutenant for you!" One of Don Krieg's men shouted from the side with a confident smile. "No enemy is able to get close to him without being hit by one of his spikes!"
Ryuza gritted his teeth in frustration. If not for the sharp object lodged in his shoulder, he would have dashed over to send the pirate, who had just praised the effectiveness of his opponent's spikes, flying overboard.
"Can't you see you're outmatched, you brat?!" Spike bellowed, yanking on the chain. "You should have left when you had the chance!"
The chain stretching across the battle deck started to tug Ryuza forward. He swallowed hard as Spike gave the chain a powerful pull. Ryuza let out a scream as he was yanked forward and sent spinning around in rapid circles. The lieutenant swung him like a whirlwind, creating a cyclone in the center of the deck.
As Ryuza spun helplessly through the air, his vision blurred and nausea gripped him. He fought to maintain his focus, knowing that giving in to fear and panic would only seal his fate. The young samurai desperately tried to find a way to regain control of the situation, determined to stand his ground against the formidable adversary.
Before he could find a way to counter, Spike retracted his chain. Ryuza was sent flying off the battle deck, his momentum from the spinning still intact. He resisted the urge to vomit from the dizziness he felt while spiraling through the air.
To make matters even worse, he saw exactly where he was about to land. Luffy, who was preparing to face off against Don Krieg himself, cracked his knuckles as he prepared for a fight.
Just as Ryuza braced himself for impact, he collided with Luffy, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a heap.
"Ow! What the...?!" Luffy exclaimed, rubbing his head with a pained expression. "Where'd you come from, samurai guy?!"
Ryuza, still feeling dizzy from his wild ride, shot back indignantly, "It's not like I wanted to go flying into you! Blame that guy with the spikes!"
Luffy blinked in confusion for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha! Well, you sure made a flashy entrance!" he said, grinning from ear to ear.
"S-shut up!" shouted Ryuza with a bashful look after being thrown like a ragdoll. "He just caught me off guard is all!"
As if on cue, Spike landed on the wooden platform, and walked to the side of Don Krieg. The two towering men stood with each other. One wearing silver armor, and the other wearing golden armor. Ryuza guessed that Luffy's fight was no easier than his. With such bizarre armor, it would be difficult to get close to either of them.
Luffy chuckled, still grinning. "You'll get another chance, samurai guy. Just make sure you land your attacks this time!" With that, Luffy turned his attention back to Don Krieg, stretching his arms and legs, preparing for the showdown.
Ryuza, still slightly embarrassed but now more determined than ever, faced Spike once more. He gripped his sword tightly and took a deep breath. There was no room for error this time; he needed to find a way to penetrate his opponent's formidable defenses.
As Ryuza and Luffy squared off against their respective adversaries, Don Krieg turned to his lieutenant with a scowl. "Spike, why hasn't this samurai brat been taken care of yet? I thought you could handle him."
Spike gritted his teeth and responded, "He's tougher than he looks, Captain. But don't worry, he won't be standing for long. My next attack will finish him."
With that, Spike aimed his arm at Ryuza and launched a barrage of spiked projectiles at him. Ryuza's instincts kicked in, and he deftly dodged the deadly rain, moving with incredible speed and agility. In a daring move, he leaped onto the mast of the shipwreck leaning off the deck and onto the sea, using it as a precarious vantage point to evade Spike's attack.
Ryuza's heart raced as he balanced on the mast, feeling the ocean's waves crash against it. He knew he needed to keep his wits about him if he was going to defeat Spike and protect the Baratie.
Spike was relentless in his pursuit. He leaped onto the mast, trying to balance himself on it so he would not fall into the sea. Ryuza felt the weight of the mast nearly give way but Spike's pursuing of him was exactly what he wanted. Maintaining his balance, Ryuza dashed at Spike before he could fully control his footing. He lunged at his opponent, preparing to deliver a flurry of rapid swings.
Before he could, Spike took the familiar stance of hugging his body and the metal spears from his armor released. And this time, the blades did not miss their mark. Ryuza hissed in pain as he felt the sharp tips pierce the right side of his shoulder and the left side of his arm. If he had gotten any closer, the spikes would have pierced his knee and soon, his face.
Spike grinned, still showing signs of his balance not fully there. "Hah! Face it kid! You won't even be able to get close to me with that sword of yours. My spikes have pierced even the toughest of pirates and marines alike!" He boasted. "I've never once been hit in combat! And you sure as hell are not being the first to do it!"
Despite the pain, Ryuza narrowed his eyes. He didn't at all believe that this pirate had never once been hit in combat. But he knew those were thoughts that he'd have to ponder after the fight. While he struggled to maintain his balance despite the spikes piercing his skin, Ryuza saw a bright flame out of the corner of his eye on the deck of the Baratie. If he didn't know any better, part of the battle deck was caught on fire. The same spot where Sanji had been fighting against his opponent.
Ryuza shook his head and returned his focus to the opponent in front of him. He knew the situation could not be helped and that he would have to keep his sights on his opponent, and hope that the blonde cook had things handled.
"What will you do now, boy?" Spike continued to boast, his yellow teeth revealed as he smiled. "How can you hope to beat me if you're weak little sword ain't touching me?"
Ryuza's eyes shifted to the mast that they were balancing on and a smirk formed on his lips. "A savvy warrior would use their surroundings to beat their opponent if they can't get close enough."
Spike raised an eyebrow in question. "Huh? The hell are you talking about? Just shut up and die already!"
The lieutenant raised his hand, the spikes retracting back into his armor. His metal gauntlet clenched into a fist and he launched it, aiming to shatter Ryuza's jaw with a deadly punch. Ryuza leapt back, dodging the attack and then leaped into the air, flipping over his opponent. He maintained his delicate balance and then quickly used his sword to cut the mast with precise slashes of his sword. With one last flip, he landed back onto the flat wooden surface he had been on earlier.
Spike smirked, preparing to mock the young samurai for being so delusional that he resorted to swinging at the air. But before he could, he felt the mast beneath him begin to give way. Ryuza narrowed his eyes and slowly slid his sword back into its scabbard. Spike let out a cry of rage before the mast split in multiple pieces. He went spiraling into the ocean below, along with a few of the heavy debris above him.
Ryuza looked over the deck and saw no signs of the spiky lieutenant. A sigh escaped his lips. The battle had been won, at least for now. There was still Don Krieg, and the rest of his crew to deal with.
"Gomu Gomu…" Luffy's voice suddenly rang out.
Ryuza turned his head and nearly screamed when he saw Luffy in the air over the Baratie ship, his leg stretched out into the sky in a bizarre rubber like way. His foot lowered with a large burst of force and collided with the deck.
"Axe!" He shouted.
Ryuza's mouth lowered in shock at the display, he suddenly heard a thundering crash, accompanied by the splintering of wood and the terrified screams of those aboard the Baratie. The entire ship shuddered violently, and Ryuza quickly realized that Luffy was trying to destroy the Baratie ship.
Ryuza's eyes widened in disbelief as he narrowly dodged chunks of wood and debris that were sent hurtling through the air from the impact. In a desperate attempt to avoid being hit or falling overboard, Ryuza leaped from one piece of floating wreckage to another, his heart racing as he tried to make it back to the Baratie ship.
The chaotic scene unfolded around him, and Ryuza gritted his teeth in determination, using every ounce of his skill and agility to navigate the treacherous path back to the ship. As he finally landed on the ship's deck, his breath coming in short gasps, he couldn't contain his frustration any longer. When Ryuza looked up, he witnessed Luffy and Sanji arguing about something pertaining to repaying a debt. At that point, Ryuza didn't care.
He stormed up to Luffy, his face a mix of shock and annoyance. "What the heck are you doing, you crazy rubber man?!" Ryuza shouted, comically waving his arms in disbelief. "You could have killed us all!"
Luffy scratched his head and grinned sheepishly, seemingly oblivious to the chaos he had just caused. "Oops! I forgot you were still out there! My bad, I thought I could stop Don Krieg's plans by destroying the ship. Guess it didn't work out too well, huh?"
Ryuza's eye twitched and an angry vein was visible on the side of his forehead. "I'm gonna—" he paused when he saw Sanji bleeding from the wounds on his face. "What happened to you? Did that other guy best you?"
Sanji smirked despite the pain and wiped some blood from his lip. "Heh, don't underestimate me, samurai. That guy's tough, but I held my own. Let's just say it was a wild dance, and we both took a few hits. And look at you. It looks like some of your wounds have gotten worse. Spike guy give you trouble?"
Ryuza grinned confidently. "A bit, but I outsmarted him. He's probably at the bottom of the sea by now with the rest of the shipwreck." He explained, rolling his wounded shoulder.
Suddenly, Ryuza saw a burst of flaming light out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to his side and saw Pearl with two objects in his hand that were on fire. A crazy smile broadened on his face as he charged at the three.
"Now now! Don't you go getting distracted!" Pearl shouted. "I'll burn all three of you to death with my fire pearls! Sit still and it will all be over before you know it!"
Ryuza quickly reached down for his sword but before he could unsheathe the blade, he felt a burst of air suddenly brush past him. Gin, the man he saw earlier in the Baratie sniveling and crying about how deadly the grand line was, rushed at Pearl with great speed with two blunt weapons in his hands. There was a loud noise of something cracking, similar to the sound of iron being crushed under heavy weight. Gin had slammed his blunt weapons into Pearl's armor, shattering it into pieces and sending him flying backwards.
"What the—" Ryuza vocied, confused at the sudden turn of events.
Luffy and Sanji were both equally shocked. "Gin?!" They shouted in unison.
Due to Gin's attack, Pearl could only muster a small groan of confusion before falling flat on his face and into unconsciousness. The remaining men of Don Krieg's crew, who stood off to the side or hung onto remaining pieces of debris to keep from falling into the water, let out shouts and cries as to why Gin had just attacked Pearl.
Don Krieg was furious, his white eyes bloodshot with rage. "Gin! You dare betray me!?" He bellowed from his position on a flat surface of wood near the remains of the shipwreck.
Ryuza blinked in bewilderment. "I'm confused….is this guy on our side?" He asked, glancing at Luffy.
"Well he just took down that Pearl guy no problem!" Luffy answered with a grin. "So I think he might be willing to help us out!"
Gin's expression however, told a much different story. His eyes were narrowed and darkened as he spoke, "My apologies Don Krieg, but please allow me to put an end to our saviors with my own two hands."
Ryuza saw Gin's deadly gaze turn on him, Luffy, and Sanji. Ryuza narrowed his eyes and gripped the handle of his sword. There was no longer any doubt that Gin was in no way willing to help defend the Baratie. He was an enemy, just like the rest of Don Krieg's crew.
"Huh….not what I was expecting…" said Luffy tilting his head before grinning again. "But hey, he took out that Pearl guy! So I'd say it all worked out, right?!"
Sanji snapped his head over to Luffy, his voice carrying irritation. "Shut up, you liar! Your strategy was to destroy the ship!"
"And some of us could have drowned in the process!" Ryuza added, unable to keep his stoic demeanor why he yelled at Luffy.
Luffy laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, but you made it back to the ship alive, right?! And you took out that lieutenant guy—"
Before Luffy could finish his sentence, Sanji's eyes widened as he spotted two spikes hurtling towards Ryuza and Luffy. Acting quickly, Sanji launched himself at them, delivering a powerful kick to each spike, deflecting them away from his comrades with a resounding clang.
Ryuza and Luffy turned to see where the spikes had come from, and to their surprise, Spike was still alive. He stood on a piece of debris near the shipwreck, glaring at them with menacing anger.
"Did you really think that I'd die from falling into a little water?!" Spike bellowed. "I am the lieutenant of the Don Krieg pirates! You'll pay for making a fool out of me! Get down here and finish this fight, samurai!"
Ryuza's heart sank, and he gritted his teeth in frustration as he saw Spike was still alive. He knew the fight would be even more challenging now. As the weight of the situation settled on him, he realized that Sanji had saved his life by deflecting the spikes. Ryuza couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration, both at himself for not sensing the danger, and for the fact that he now owed Sanji a debt for saving his life.
But he'd worry about repaying him later. For now, he had to focus on putting down the lieutenant once and for all.