The Annihilation of Don Krieg

Struggling to his feet from the explosion, Don Krieg knelt on the shattered deck, his Golden Armor cracked and billowing with smoke and dust behind him.

His face was contorted with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, as he stared intently at the three figures standing silently in front of the restaurant in the distance.

"There are only three of them!! We have thirty ships!!"

Don Krieg roared furiously, as if he were insane, and swung his arm violently. "Fire!! Fire the cannons!!"

"Boom--!"

Thirty Pirate ships opened fire almost simultaneously, and hundreds of black cannonballs, like a dark cloud, roared as they crashed into the Baratie!

The sky was instantly obscured by black iron rain, and a huge shadow loomed over the restaurant as if the world were ending!

Ace's pupils contracted sharply in mid-air, flames erupted from his arms, and he suddenly spread his arms wide!

"Flame Net!!"

A wall of blazing fire rapidly unfolded in mid-air, transforming into a massive net of flames that blocked the sky above Baratie!

The shells exploded one after another, dozens of them engulfed in flames and charred in mid-air!

But dozens of shells still pierced through the gaps in the flames, carrying the force of death straight toward Baratie!

On the restaurant deck, Sanji gritted his teeth and barely managed to stand up, his face pale, but he still stubbornly stood in front of Zeff.

Zeff gripped his cane tightly, his eyes fixed on the incoming shells, and said in a deep voice, "Looks like this old man... is going to die here."

Just then--

"Snap."

A crisp snap of fingers rang out clearly amidst the sounds of battle.

Roy slowly raised his finger and snapped it lightly, his expression calm as still water.

"Whoosh--!"

The shells that were about to hit Baratie in the sky suddenly disappeared!

The next second--

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!"

Deafening explosions rang out one after another from within the Pirate fleet!

Those "disappeared" shells have reappeared on the deck of the warship that originally fired them!

The explosions spread like a chain reaction, and warships shook violently, burned, and disintegrated amidst the flames!

Flames soared into the sky, sawdust flew everywhere, and the sea boiled like hell!

"Ahhh--!"

The Pirates screamed in terror as they jumped into the sea to escape. Some didn't even have time to throw away their weapons, while others were engulfed in flames and turned into charred remains.

What was once a densely packed fleet of warships has now become a scene of explosions, ruins, and wailing crowds!

Don Krieg's face turned deathly pale. He knelt on the deck, trembling, his voice shaking. "Wh... what?! How could the shells...?!"

Gin lay in the deck pit of Baratie, his eyes fixed on the indifferent Marine Vice Admiral, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. "What kind of monster is that guy?!"

Seeing this, Ace grinned, and his fists simultaneously ignited with blazing flames as he leaped into the air.

"Fire Rain, Meteor Shower!!"

His arms transformed into giant fiery wings, and dozens of fireballs fell like meteors, streaking towards the remaining warships!

"Boom!! Boom! Boom--!"

Fireballs exploded in succession, and a sea of fire engulfed the entire ocean!

The remaining Pirate ships were powerless to resist, exploding and capsizing in the flames, with the Pirates crying out as they jumped into the sea to survive!

At the same time, Luffy on the restaurant deck also moved!

He transformed into Human-Beast Form, his body suddenly swelled, his entire body was covered in pink dragon scales, his pupils were golden-red, and his tail swung like a steel whip!

The ground cracked open in the next instant, and he charged into the remnants of the Pirate like lightning!

"Bang! Bang! Bang bang--!"

Every punch landed precisely on a vital spot of an enemy ship!

The mast snapped, the deck shattered, and the Pirates were sent flying by the force of the punches, tossed into the sea like kites with broken strings!

The burly, shield-wielding Iron Wall Balu roared as he blocked Luffy's Luffy: "Kid! Don't be so arrogant--!"

Before he could finish speaking, Luffy lashed out with his dragon tail, as if carrying the force of thunder!

"Boom!!"

Iron Wall Balu flew backwards like a cannonball, crashing through two decks and tumbling into the sea!

Just a few minutes later--

The entire sea was a scene of devastation; all thirty Pirate ships had sunk, their wreckage and flames floating on the surface, and the cries of agony gradually subsided.

The air was still thick with the smell of burning sawdust and gunpowder.

Don Krieg slumped on the wreckage of the Flagship, his Golden Armor shattered and falling away, his face deathly pale and his lips trembling.

"This... this is the 'real monster'...?"

"Just three people... wiped out my entire fleet?!"

His eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if he had aged overnight.

On the deck of the Baratie, Gin lay motionless on the ground, clenching his teeth and gripping the wooden planks tightly with his fingers.

His breathing was rapid, his back was soaked with cold sweat, and his eyes held an extremely complex expression.

"... So this is what 'true power' truly is."

Baratie, a restaurant on the sea

The battle ended, and the wind stopped.

The sea was filled with the thick smell of gunpowder and coke, and the lingering heat had not yet dissipated.

The restaurant was eerily silent, both inside and out.

Zeff, Sanji, and all the chefs and guests stared blankly at the distant sea, which resembled Purgatory.

More than thirty Pirate ships were completely annihilated by the two teenagers in just a few minutes.

There were no reinforcements, no gunboats.

Just two "kids".

Luffy hummed a little tune, picked up Don Krieg's tattered armor, and tossed him back onto the deck like a rag.

With a muffled thud, Don Krieg howled and rolled twice before collapsing into a puddle of mud.

The dragon scales on Luffy's body slowly faded, his Human-Beast Form dissipated, and he swaggered up to Sanji, hands on his hips, a smug look on his face. "Wasn't I awesome?!"

"My brother taught me!"

Sanji's lips twitched as he looked at the smiling boy in front of him, momentarily at a loss for words.

"What... what kind of monster is this?!"

Ace landed steadily from the air, the flames not yet completely extinguished, his footsteps leaving scorch marks on the deck.

He glanced at Don Krieg, who was lying on the ground like a rag doll, then looked at Roy not far away. "Roy, this guy... is he still alive?"

Roy stood quietly at the edge of the deck, his gaze indifferent, his cloak Hunting Roar in the sea breeze.

He glanced down at Don Krieg, his tone calm yet undeniably firm. "Staying in the East Blue is never safe."

"We're getting... a little close to Dawn Island."

The moment the words "Dawn Island" were uttered, Ace and Luffy's expressions changed instantly.

The two men composed themselves, their gazes darkening.

"Grandpa Rock... Grandma Airin..."

We must not allow them to be threatened!

Don Krieg seemed to sense the danger, struggling to his feet, his face filled with terror, his hands trembling. "Wait, wait! Don't kill me! I can surrender! I can--!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ace took a step forward and grabbed his tattered armor at the chest.

The scorching flames instantly wrapped around his arm and spread rapidly along Don Krieg's body!

Ace looked down at him, his eyes devoid of pity. "Trash, it's better to burn it all."

"Boom--!"

Flames erupted like a tidal wave, and Don Krieg was flung high into the air by Ace!

He struggled violently in mid-air, letting out a piercing and desperate scream, "Ahhh--!"

The next second, flames completely engulfed him.

The Golden Armor, along with his entire body, transformed into a fireball, exploded and burned to ashes in mid-air, leaving only charred remains that fell into the sea.

"Thump--"

Blackened ripples spread across the sea surface.

Inside and outside the restaurant, everyone held their breath.

The guests and chefs who witnessed all of this, even the veteran chefs who had sailed the seas, were all pale and covered in cold sweat.

They are not inexperienced in seeing blood.

But they had never imagined such efficiency and decisiveness in "cleaning up the trash".

On the deck of Baratie, Gin collapsed to the ground, his shoulders trembling, his face as pale as paper, and all the muscles in his body tensed to the limit.

He watched as Don Krieg was "burnt to ashes" before his very eyes, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

Breathing became extremely difficult; every breath felt like it was burning my throat.

"There's no escaping it..."

"This person... is too strong..."

The flames were still burning when footsteps sounded.

Ace slowly approached Gin, each step seemingly treading on Akin's heart.

He looked down at Gin, his voice low and deep:

"And you?"

How do you want to die?