Chapter 15: After the Hawk-Eyes – Nami's Plea and Krieg's Final Stand
Mihawk glanced at Sol beside the fallen Zoro. "You, kid—I remember you trailing behind Garp before. What, you're his crewmate now too?"
Sol met Mihawk's gaze calmly and admitted, "That's right. I left that old man's side a long time ago. Now I'm a pirate—vice-captain of this guy's crew." He jerked a thumb at Luffy, still stuck head-first in the deck planks nearby. "The captain's right there."
Mihawk's interest piqued. He looked down at Luffy, who was struggling to pull himself free, and asked with faint amusement, "And you? What kind of dream makes someone like him willing to be your vice-captain?"
"I'm gonna become the Pirate King!" Luffy yanked his head out with a pop, grinning wide.
"Pirate King, huh?" Mihawk let out a low chuckle. "That path is far harder than surpassing me. Incomparably difficult."
Luffy stuck out his tongue. "Bleh—I don't care! I'm definitely gonna make it!"
Under Sol's healing, Zoro weakly raised Wado Ichimonji, voice cracking with emotion. "L… Luffy… did you… hear that? I made you and Sol worry…!"
"If I can't even become the world's greatest swordsman… it'll trouble you, right?! I swear—I won't lose again! Until I beat him and claim that title… I absolutely won't lose anymore!"
"Got any objections… Pirate King?" Zoro clutched his forehead, tears streaming as he sobbed.
Luffy's face lit up with a brilliant smile. "Hehe—none at all!"
"Hmph. Not a bad crew," Mihawk said. He turned to Zoro. "If you want to grow stronger, ask your vice-captain. He's already walking far ahead of you on that path." With that, Mihawk leaped back onto his coffin boat, swung Yoru once, and raised a massive wave as he departed.
Behind him, Krieg—drenched in seawater and powerless to stop him—turned his fury on Luffy.
"I'm in a really bad mood right now… so could you just stand still and let me kill you to vent? Straw-hat brat!" Krieg raised his arm. Mechanisms clicked—countless bullets erupted toward Luffy in a deadly hail.
Against ordinary people, that barrage would turn flesh to paste. But Krieg's expectation shattered. The bullets struck Luffy's body—his back stretched like a pincushion. "No use—I'm made of rubber!" Luffy snapped his arms wide, sending every bullet ricocheting back.
The returned volley pinged harmlessly off Krieg's golden armor with metallic clangs.
"Devil Fruit user, huh? If bullets won't work—let's try blades." Krieg analyzed coolly and charged. "Men—kill everyone here! Take this ship and the logbook! We'll fight our way back to the Grand Line!"
"Ooooh!!" The remaining hundred pirates stormed the Baratie.
A dozen stepped onto the deck—only to be kicked flying by Sanji. "Sorry—this path is closed. Take a detour!"
"Kid, your kicks aren't bad—but they won't scratch me. I'm Iron Wall Pearl!" A man completely covered in shields glared at Sanji. "I've never shed a single drop of blood in battle—not one!"
"What's that guy even doing?" Luffy asked casually while toying with Krieg.
"Straw-hat—getting distracted mid-fight will get you killed," Krieg snarled, swinging a meteor hammer at Luffy. Luffy dodged with a Gum-Gum Rocket.
Sanji's repeated kicks were blocked by Pearl's shields. "Useless—my shields can even stop Marine cannon fire—"
Thud! Luffy flew in from behind, headbutting Pearl's skull. "Whoops—almost fell in the water. Time to stop playing." Luffy dusted off his pants.
"Blood! Blood!" Pearl stared at the trickle from his nose, then went berserk, hammering his shields. "I'm furious—furious!!" His body suddenly erupted in roaring flames. "I'll burn you all—Flame Grand Feast!"
Pearl charged like a flaming wrecking ball, igniting the deck planks as he barreled toward Luffy.
"Danger!" Sanji shouted, seeing Luffy stand motionless.
In the next instant, Sol appeared behind Luffy.
"Time to eat!" Sol declared—words that left Sanji baffled. Then Sol opened his mouth wide and inhaled sharply. The flames on Pearl and the spreading fire along the path were sucked straight into Sol's lungs.
"Eh?! Eh?! Eh?!" Everyone stared in stunned silence.
"What the hell was that?!"
"No way…"
"He just… ate the flames?!"
"Tastes so-so… but thanks for the meal. Healing Zoro earlier used up a lot of magic—this helped replenish it," Sol wiped his mouth and grinned.
Pearl couldn't comprehend it—someone eating fire like a legendary dragon!
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
Sol crossed his arms. Twin flames compressed in his palms into blinding white orbs, forming a massive fireball. He hurled it forward.
BOOM!!
The orb struck Pearl's shield. His body launched like a bowling pin smashed by a giant—crashing through wreckage. The shockwave blasted nearby pirates flying. A mushroom-shaped fireball cloud rose amid towering water pillars.
"Home run!" Sol cheered, then turned to Luffy. "Finish off Krieg quick. Zoro's wounds are mostly healed, but he's still out from blood loss. Let's wrap this up."
Sol headed back inside. Spotting the stunned Sanji, he slung an arm around his shoulders. "Come on—I'm hungry. Make me something delicious."
"Uh… sure, but what about Luffy? Leaving him alone against Krieg?" Sanji asked, half-dragged along.
"Don't worry—Luffy's strong," Sol replied.
Gin watched Sol casually wipe out over a hundred pirates in one move. He knew Sol was on Mihawk's level—far beyond them. And after the Baratie saved his life, he simply stood by, watching the final clash between Captain Krieg and Luffy.
Zoro, supported by Johnny and Yosaku, had already been carried back inside the Baratie and slumped in a chair to rest. Nami approached Sol quietly.
"Sol… after Luffy finishes with Krieg… can you all listen to what I have to say? I want to ask for your help!" Her eyes shone with hope. She had finally resolved to open up to Luffy and the crew about her troubles.
Usopp, curious, piped up. "Hey Sol—what did the flames taste like?"
"Kinda like sulfur. Not that great," Sol answered casually.
Then, together with everyone else, he turned to watch the final showdown between Luffy and Krieg. Zeff had already ordered the staff to start cooking. With his sharp eye, he could tell Krieg was no match for Luffy.
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