The pirates were swarming, but the Baratie stood firm.
"Sanji! Take the left side!" Zeff shouted.
Sanji's leg snapped out, BAM! sending two pirates crashing into a stack of crates. "Got it, chef!" His eyes glowed with focus.
Zoro gritted his teeth, blood trickling down his side. "Huh… a scratch won't stop me." He swung both swords, SHING! SHING! cutting through the incoming pirates.
Jonny blocked a pirate with a heavy strike, then kicked another off the deck. "Stay behind me!"
Yusaku parried two swords with one hand, "Don't let them near the kitchen!"
Usopp ducked behind a table, then shot a flaming slingshot. PEW! A pirate screamed as his arm caught fire. "I've got this covered!"
Even with Zoro's wound still bleeding, he moved like a storm. "Keep moving!"
The five of them—Sanji, Zoro, Jonny, Yusaku, and Usopp—moved as one. Every strike, every block, every kick was perfectly timed. The pirates had strength in numbers, but Baratie's defenders were sharper, faster, precise.
"Keep your guard up!" Zeff shouted, moving alongside the chefs. "Protect the Baratie!"
In the middle of all the chaos, Cry watched silently from the Merry's deck. Her blue crystal eyes scanned the fight. Curious… calm… She didn't flinch at the blood, the screams, or the flying pirates. She just observed, fascinated.
"Not so fast!" Sanji shouted, kicking a pirate high into the air. He spun mid-kick, sending another crashing into the railing.
Zoro, despite his bleeding side, swung his swords in a wide arc, SHWING! Pirates flew off the deck. "You can't stop us!"
Jonny and Yusaku cut through the last wave, breathing heavily. "This… this is insane…"
Usopp fired another shot, hitting a pirate in the chest. "I'm not dying here!"
Finally, the deck was clear of pirates… for now.
Then all eyes turned to the center of the chaos.
"Luffy! Take him down!" Zoro shouted. Blood dripped from his wound, but his gaze was fierce.
Luffy grinned, rolling up his sleeves. "Hehe… about time!"
Krieg roared, swinging his massive club. BAM! The deck shook.
"You think you can defeat me, brat?!" Krieg bellowed.
Luffy stretched his arm, WHOOSH! "Gum-Gum… Pistol!" The club flew from Krieg's hands, smashing into the mast.
Krieg growled, charging again. "I'll crush you, you little—!"
Luffy grinned wider, dodging effortlessly, "Shishishi! Not today!"
Zoro, despite his wound, glared. "Don't hold back, Luffy."
Sanji spat to the side. "Show him what it means to mess with us!"
Usopp peeked from behind the railing. "He's… unstoppable…"
Jonny and Yusaku just watched, awe in their eyes, as Luffy bounced, stretched, and struck Krieg again and again.
Cry tilted her head, curiosity unshaken. She observed the raw determination, the clash of strength and ambition. Her presence radiated calm, almost like the storm surrounding them was a play she was studying.
Krieg roared one last time. "You—won't—win!"
Luffy stretched his arms back. "Gum-Gum… Rocket!" BAM! Krieg was sent flying across the deck, crashing into the mast.
Zoro wiped blood from his mouth. "That's my captain."
Sanji lit a cigarette, kicking a pirate away. "Impressive… he really is something else."
Usopp gulped. "I-I can't believe what I just saw…"
Jonny and Yusaku simply nodded, exhausted but alive.
Cry blinked once, tilting her head, her curiosity still shining. She had no fear, no anger… just wonder.
The Baratie was safe. The pirates defeated.
And the goddess had been watching all along.
The dust settled on the Baratie deck. Broken crates, splintered wood, and groaning pirates littered the floor. Silence hung in the air—everyone catching their breath.
Luffy wiped his mouth, grinning from ear to ear. "Hehe… that was fun! Did you see that, Zoro? I sent him flying!"
Zoro, still leaning on his swords to steady himself, spat blood to the side. "Hmph… yeah… but don't get cocky. That wasn't over yet."
Sanji lit a cigarette, stepping over a fallen pirate. "Luffy… you really are reckless. One wrong move, and you'd be swimming with the fish."
"Reckless? Me?" Luffy waved his hands, still smiling. "Nahhh! That's just style!"
Usopp peeked from behind a railing, shaking. "I—I thought we were done for… That guy was huge! And Luffy… you just ran straight at him!"
Jonny wiped sweat from his forehead. "I… I didn't think he'd even last a minute against Krieg. But he… he actually did it."
Yusaku shook his head, still catching his breath. "Unbelievable… Luffy really is something else. I've never seen power like that."
Zoro's eyes narrowed as he watched Luffy, pride mixed with seriousness. "You've got guts, Luffy. But next time… don't rely on luck alone. Krieg's strong. Next time, you could die."
Luffy tilted his head. "Die? Nah! I'll protect everyone!"
Nami appeared at the edge of the deck, holding Cry's hand. She looked at the aftermath, then at her crew. "Everyone… are you hurt?"
Zoro shook his head, still bleeding but steady. "I'm fine. Just a scratch."
Usopp peeked out, whispering, "I'm fine too… mostly…"
Jonny and Yusaku exchanged glances. "We're okay," Jonny said quietly.
Sanji exhaled smoke, giving a low whistle. "I can't believe that was Krieg. And Luffy… you actually handled him."
Luffy laughed. "See? Told you! Shishishi!"
Cry tilted her head, still standing beside Nami, her blue crystal eyes scanning the deck. She observed everything—every movement, every emotion. No fear, no anger… just quiet curiosity.
Nami glanced at Cry and gave a subtle nod. "You did well staying calm, Cry."
Cry blinked, then whispered softly, "Safe?"
Nami smiled gently, hugging her hand. "Yes… everyone's safe."
Zoro adjusted his swords, blood dripping onto the deck. "Next time, stay sharp. You can't rely on just brute strength, even if he was sent flying."
Luffy slapped Zoro on the back. "Relax, Zoro! I said it was fun! We all survived, didn't we?"
Usopp peeked around, still trembling. "I… I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. Krieg… Luffy… it was insane!"
Sanji crouched, cleaning up the mess of pirates. "Hmph… That's the difference between fools and warriors."
Jonny and Yusaku simply shook their heads, both still trying to process the fight. "He… he actually defeated Krieg…" Yusaku muttered.
Nami turned her attention back to the sea. "We can't stay here too long. More pirates might have heard about this. Cry, let's head back to the Merry for now."
Cry tilted her head, then nodded obediently. Her gaze lingered on the defeated Krieg pirates before she followed Nami, still calm and curious.
Luffy stretched, yawning. "Ahhh… okay, okay… let's eat again!"
Zoro groaned. "Seriously, you never stop, do you?"
Usopp peeked out again. "I… I think I need to sit down…"
Sanji muttered under his breath, lighting another cigarette. "Brat… if you're not careful, you'll get yourself killed before dessert."
Jonny and Yusaku simply followed, silently amazed.
And as the crew gathered their things, Cry stayed near Nami, quietly observing the aftermath of the battle, her crystal eyes reflecting curiosity… and an innocence untouched by the chaos she had witnessed.