章 82: "Krieg's Fall and Sanji's Farewell"

The Baratie restaurant was a storm of chaos. Don Krieg's brutal pirate crew had overtaken the floating eatery, their sheer numbers overwhelming the cooks who struggled to defend their home. Amid the clamor, Raja stepped forward, raising his wand with a look of determination. With a powerful chant, he cast a protective barrier, encircling the restaurant's civilians and most of the chefs. Only Zeff and Sanji remained outside, ready to fight.

"Thank you, Raja," Zeff grunted, eyes never leaving the approaching swarm.

"Just make sure this place stays afloat!" Raja replied with a smirk.

As the pirate crew advanced, Raja leapt into the fray, calling out one of his new spells: "Magic-Magic: Flame Blaze!" A swirling wall of fire erupted around the pirates, forcing them to scatter. He cast another spell, "Thunder Clap!" summoning lightning bolts that crackled through the pirates' ranks. His strikes were precise and relentless, and the pirates fell one by one.

Raja tossed a pair of gloves to Luffy, adorned in red, blue, and gold, perfect for the battle. "Luffy, put those on!" he called, grinning. "They'll make this fight way more fun!"

Luffy slid them on, flexing his fists with excitement. "These are awesome, Raja! Now let's take down Krieg!"

Just then, a new figure entered the battle. The towering Pearl, Krieg's second mate, approached with a sneer, his body covered in reflective metal discs like shields. His loud, taunting laughter echoed as he clanged his shield-covered body like a drum.

"Let's see what you've got, you fancy cook!" Pearl jeered, stepping toward Sanji, who prepared to meet him head-on.

As the fight raged on, Sanji launched himself at Pearl, delivering a powerful kick that connected with the armored shields, sending a reverberating clang through the air. But Pearl merely laughed, striking Sanji with a brutal punch to the gut. Sanji doubled over but didn't fall back. He stood his ground, fighting through the pain and hurling another vicious kick at Pearl.

Sanji's kicks were unrelenting, but Pearl's shield-like armor absorbed every blow. Undeterred, Sanji continued his assault, his legs blurring as he delivered a relentless barrage of kicks. Pearl staggered back slightly, but in a rage, he retaliated with a series of heavy blows that left Sanji barely able to stand.

Suddenly, a pistol cocked. The next moment, Gin, Krieg's right-hand man, held Zeff at gunpoint, freezing both Raja and Sanji in their tracks. "Stop fighting," Gin growled, pressing the barrel against Zeff's head. "Or the old man dies."

Sanji, bruised and bleeding, stood frozen, glaring at Gin with a mixture of rage and helplessness. He dropped his fists, the look of fury in his eyes unwavering.

As Sanji struggled with the decision to surrender, a memory flashed before him — the memory of being stranded on a rock with Zeff, surviving by a thread.

Flashback: The Rock of Despair

Sanji was a young boy, an apprentice cook on the Orbit, a ship suddenly attacked by pirates led by Zeff himself. But fate twisted when a monstrous wave hit, crashing both ships against a jagged rock. Sanji barely survived, saved by Zeff, who pulled him to a nearby rock formation. The two were stranded, surrounded by endless ocean.

Days stretched into weeks, the hunger gnawing at Sanji's insides. Zeff had given him a small bag of food to survive, keeping a larger sack for himself. But when Sanji finally confronted Zeff in desperation, ripping open the sack, he found nothing but gold and treasure. Zeff had starved himself, even cutting off his own leg to endure, leaving Sanji the only food they had.

The memory was burned into Sanji's heart. Zeff had saved him, sacrificed for him. His life had meaning because of the old man's selfless act. And from that day, Sanji had vowed to fulfill Zeff's dream of a floating restaurant.

Back to the Present: Gin's Dilemma

Sanji glared at Gin, rage flashing in his eyes. But he couldn't risk Zeff's life. He stood down, enduring brutal hits from Pearl, refusing to fight back, each blow an insult to his pride.

Suddenly, Gin's hand shook. His gaze softened as he remembered the meal Sanji had given him, the kindness shown to a stranger. The internal conflict twisted his face with pain.

"Sanji… I…" Gin faltered, lowering the gun from Zeff. "I can't kill you. You saved me…"

With a surge of emotion, Gin turned and fired at Pearl instead, bringing the second mate down in a single, powerful strike. The move shocked Krieg and his crew, but Gin's loyalty was clear.

"Traitor!" Krieg roared, furious at Gin's act of defiance. He pulled out a canister and launched it into the air. Green smoke began to billow out, filling the battlefield. Poison gas.

"Get down!" Luffy shouted, snatching two gas masks for Sanji and Gin, who was already weak from battle.

But Gin handed his mask to Luffy, his resolve unwavering. "You're the one who should survive, not me."

Before the gas could spread, Raja aimed his wand and shouted, "Magic-Magic: Wind Blast!" With a flick of his wand, a fierce gust of wind sent the gas and its canister flying into the sea, leaving the battlefield safe once again.

Krieg scowled. "No matter. I still have my armor and arsenal." He stepped forward, donning his impenetrable steel armor and readying his massive shield.

Luffy tightened his new gloves, fists clenching with determination. "Raja, Sanji, stand back. I got this."

Krieg swung his spiked shield, but Luffy dodged with ease, his gloved fists moving in a blur as he pounded Krieg from all angles. The crew watched, eyes wide as Luffy's strength shook the battlefield. With a powerful punch, he sent Krieg flying, slamming him against the Baratie's battle fin.

But Krieg wasn't finished. Enraged, he threw a steel net over Luffy, dragging him to the water's edge. With the net weighing him down, Luffy began to sink beneath the surface.

"Luffy!" Sanji shouted, rushing to pull his captain out. But before he could dive, a hand clamped on his shoulder — it was Gin, who, despite his injuries, offered a nod of encouragement and stepped back, silently acknowledging that this was Sanji's chance.

Sanji leapt into the water, yanking Luffy up with all his might. In that brief, intense moment, Sanji's thoughts drifted to the All Blue, the legendary sea he had dreamed of finding. Zeff's words echoed in his mind, the promise of the endless flavors of fish from every ocean.

Back on the Baratie's deck, a coughing, spluttering Luffy looked up at Sanji. "Thanks, Sanji… I'm not done with Krieg yet!"

Raja grinned, casting a quick spell on Luffy's gloves to restore his energy. "Finish him off, Luffy."

With a final, fierce battle cry, Luffy hurled himself at Krieg, landing a powerful punch that shattered Krieg's armor, knocking the pirate captain unconscious. Krieg's crew panicked, retreating to a small boat as they carried their defeated leader away.

As they rowed off, Raja aimed his wand at Krieg. "Magic-Magic: Curse of Misfortune!" He sent a tiny spark toward Krieg's retreating figure, a non-lethal curse ensuring that any time Krieg tried to harm someone, bad luck would haunt him.

The Baratie fell silent, and then cheers erupted. The cooks hugged one another, some weeping, grateful for the defense of their home. Luffy turned to Zeff, who gave him a silent nod of approval, marking their debt as paid.

The air was thick with salt and the scent of fried fish as the Baratie restaurant settled back into its usual rhythm after the chaotic clash with the Krieg Pirates. The crew bustled around, cleaning up the remnants of the battle, but Luffy had something else on his mind. With his straw hat tilted jauntily on his head, he approached Sanji, the restaurant's talented cook, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Hey, Sanji!" Luffy called, his voice bright. "Now that those guys are gone, why don't you come with me on my ship? We could really use a cook!"

Sanji paused, a mix of emotions washing over him. The offer was tempting, yet he felt anchored to the Baratie, his home. "I can't just leave the Baratie, Luffy. I have my duties here," he replied, his voice firm. Still, Sanji mentions his dream of locating the All Blue, a mythical ocean where all four seas meet.

Unbeknownst to them, Zeff, the restaurant owner and a father figure to Sanji, stood at the kitchen door, his ears attuned to their conversation. He understood the weight of unfulfilled dreams and felt a pang of concern for the young cook.

Meanwhile, the restaurant staff gathered in the kitchen, their playful banter contrasting sharply with the seriousness of Luffy and Sanji's discussion. Patty and Carne, always up for a laugh, decided to taste one of Sanji's latest creations—a rich seafood soup. They savored a spoonful before launching into an exaggerated display of disgust.

"Ugh! What is this slop, Sanji? Did you lose your touch?" Patty exclaimed, feigning a dramatic collapse against the counter.

"Yeah! I thought you were the best cook in the East Blue!" Carne added, wrinkling his nose in mock horror.

Sanji's face turned crimson. Anger and embarrassment boiled within him. "You guys are just being idiots!" he retorted, wiping his hands on a towel. "I put my heart into that soup!"

"Maybe you should put that heart into sailing away with Luffy instead!" Patty shot back, unable to suppress a grin.

Fuming, Sanji stormed out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. He paced outside, his frustration bubbling over. It was then that he overheard Zeff speaking with Luffy, the older chef's voice steady yet filled with emotion. "You don't understand what it means to sacrifice for someone. Sanji has a dream worth chasing. If he chooses, let him go."

Sanji froze, his heart racing. Zeff's words pierced through his anger, revealing the depth of his mentor's understanding. This wasn't just about food or the Baratie—it was about dreams and the pursuit of happiness.

Taking a deep breath, Sanji stepped back inside the restaurant. "Luffy!" he called out, determination igniting within him. "I'll join your crew as your cook!"

Luffy's face lit up with a radiant grin. "Really? You mean it?"

"Yeah," Sanji replied, his heart racing. "But I'm not just going to be a cook. I'm going to find the All Blue! Nothing is going to stop me!"

The two shared a moment of understanding, their dreams intertwining as they prepared for the adventure ahead. Just then, a commotion erupted outside. A shark thrashed in the water, and Yosaku appeared, struggling to pull the massive creature ashore.

"Luffy! I couldn't follow Nami, but I have an idea of where she's headed!" Yosaku gasped, panting for breath. "But it's dangerous—there's a pirate crew out there that's not to be trifled with!"

Luffy's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Dangerous is our middle name! Right, Raja?"

Sanji, adrenaline coursing through him as he began preparing for their departure. He quickly gathered supplies, mentally gearing up for the journey ahead. This was the moment he had longed for.

As he walked past the kitchen, he felt Zeff's presence. The old chef stood by the door, his expression a mix of pride and sadness. "Don't catch cold out there, Sanji," he said softly.

Sanji's heart clenched at the simple yet heartfelt words. He turned back to Zeff, tears welling in his eyes. "Thank you for everything, Zeff. I won't forget your sacrifices." With that, he prostrated before his mentor, the weight of his gratitude spilling out in that humble gesture.

Zeff's stern demeanor softened, a proud smile breaking through. "Go find that All Blue, Sanji. And don't hold back."

With a final nod, Sanji stood tall and faced Luffy, determination radiating from him. "Let's set sail!"

As they readied the New borrowed ship, the horizon stretched out before them, filled with both promise and peril. The crew gathered around, excitement buzzing in the air. They were ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

As the Baratie faded into the distance, Sanji felt a mix of emotions—excitement, fear, and hope. Far away, the island ruled by a fearsome pirate crew loomed on the horizon, its dangers waiting to be confronted.