"Please...I would like some food and water…I can pay any price, Ghin…Please tell them." The giant man wheezed as he collapsed to his knees and begged the chefs to Ghin's chagrin.
"D-Don Krieg! Please don't grovel like this!" Ghin pleaded with the Don as he continued to weakly beg and prostrate himself in front of the guests who started laughing and Patty who was just maliciously demeaning the two.
"As if we would ever serve scum like you! In fact; since you've got a bounty on your head…the only thing waiting for you is a visit to the Marines and th-HEY SANJI! What are you doing?!" Patty gloated but quickly turned to anger when he saw Sanji push past him. In the sous-chef's hands were a pail of rice with mixed meat and vegetables and a large glass of water; both of which had the Don scrambling to grab at as he started to ravenously chow down on the bowl of food.
"Sanji, take that food away from him…he's a sneak and he doesn't have qualms about using any tactic he can think of." Carne would warn Sanji as the chefs kept a very watchful eye on Krieg while he ate; "He fights dirty and he won't hesitate to stab you in th-LOOK OUT!"
Sanji turned when he heard Carne's outburst but was too late to react; Krieg had gotten to his feet and drove his forearm into the chef's chest and clotheslined him into the floor. Now back to his full strength and in control, Krieg turned his gaze to the rest of the people; "This ship is nice…I think I'll take it since my old ship got broken down on the way here." Krieg grunted as he narrowed his eyes at Ghin who had grabbed on to him.
"D-Don Krieg! This isn't what you promised, you said you were going to talk it out!" Ghin pointed out but then yelled in pain as Krieg grabbed his arm and squeezed; filling the room with the sound of a haunting CRACK.
"I did but right now I have an extra request…My men are still on that ship and there are about 100 on board who are starving or already dead…so I'll need food and water made up for them." Krieg offered up his demands when he let go of Ghin.
"The only thing that you're getting is the hell out of this restaurant!" Patty would say as he pulled out a large gun and pointed it at Krieg who looked unfazed; "So take this dessert to go! MEATBALL OF DOOM!"
The resulting explosion blasted apart the Baratie's doors and exposed the guests to the outside however once the dust cleared; Krieg was standing exactly where he was but his cloak was gone and everyone could see the bright, gleaming armour underneath. "You call that nasty thing a dessert? I boast the strongest arms to conquer the East Blue and the strongest body comprised of Wootz Steel…you are nothing compare to my might as the Ruler!"
A loud THUMP was heard as a bag of food was thrown in front of Krieg and standing a bit away from it was none other then the head chef Zeff that handed it over; "Here, this should feed your men."
"H-Head Chef?!"
"HAVE YOU GONE NUTS?!"
"He's gonna kill us all!"
Zeff however wasn't going to listen; "Have any of you ever felt hungry? As in "Zero food on an island for several days" hungry?!" Zeff barked at them and turned to face them; "It doesn't matter if they're a Marine or a pirate, if someone comes to this restaurant then they have the right to eat!"
"Hold on…You're…You're Red Leg Zeff…You were a real famous name." Krieg mentioned when he recognised the chef; "I was wondering what had happened to a big name like you…Though I guess you can't really call yourself Red Leg if you got the one leg."
"I still have two hands to cook with so I'm content with that, so take that food to your men." Zeff would gruffly say as he then helped Sanji to his feet.
"I want something else…that logbook of your's…rumour has it you were able to sail the Grand Line without a scratch for a whole year before you went dark, I haven't been able to last there for longer then seven days…So give me the logbook and I might just let you and the chefs live." Krieg demanded as he stared down Zeff who barely even flinched while the rest of the crowd murmured amongst themselves at the revelation of Krieg's journey.
"Seven days?"
"Krieg's army couldn't handle it?"
"No." Zeff said as he glared back at the behemoth of a man; "That logbook means more to me than you could ever imagine, the memories and the struggles I went through with my men on the Grand Line make it more of a treasure to me then an asset to you."
"Suit yourself, I'll go feed my men and then I'll be coming back…to take this ship and that logbook, once I have information on the Grand Line; my forces, my weapons AND this ship will put me on the fast track to becoming what I truly deserve: The Pirate King!" Krieg announced as he hoisted the sack of food over his shoulder but was stopped by someone speaking up.
"The only one who's gonna be the King of the Pirates; is ME!" Morgan declared confidently with a thumb pointing at his chest and earned him a narrowed stare from Krieg. Though it was less of an intimidating sight and more of a funny sight when Morgan was wearing an apron.
"You think this is some kinda game? The Grand Line isn't a playground for an insolent little snot like you!" Krieg angrily rebuked Morgan; "Besides, if my forces couldn't handle it then a lone kid like you definitely can't."
Morgan grinned at having got under his skin but decided to fight back; "I still have my crew, I got five people already."
"DON'T LUMP ME IN WITH YOU!" Sanji yelled from the crowd as he was still intent on refusing.
"…I truly wish I could be as delusional as you if you think that you can sail on the Grand Line with just five people." Krieg smirked as he then walked off towards his own collapsing ship; "What happened out there was done by one person from the Grand Line, so you better watch out for when the Hawk Eyes land on you." Krieg would warn Morgan and the others; though the only person who looked affected by this warning was Zoro.
"Hawk Eyes?" Zoro mumbled as he started to feel his pulse start to race; "So he IS still around…I might be closer to my dream than I thought." He thought to himself as he watched Morgan tug off the apron and walk towards the doors outside.
"Hey, Kid…You really talk a big game, you think that you can follow through on that statement?" Zeff asked Morgan as he hobbled over.
"I don't think it, I know it…and I'm gonna put in every ounce of effort to make sure that I can do it." Morgan mentioned honestly as he watched Krieg climb up onto his ship; "Though who or what exactly is a Hawk Eyes?"
"He's a swordsman…The World's Strongest one." Zoro mentioned as he climbed down the stairs towards Morgan; "And he's the man that I'm looking for…To take his place."
Sanji was the one to speak up now as he looked to both Morgan and Zoro; "You know those are unfeasible, right? These are world class titles and you guys are barely even recognised as credible pirates!"
"You just had to be the party pooper…" Morgan grumbled; "You can't tell me that you'd never pursue your dream if you had the chance?"
Zoro nodded as he glared at Sanji; "Sure, we might be idiots if we dream a lofty dream but the only ones who can call us idiots if we die following them….are ourselves!"
The argument would have escalated but the sudden roar of 100 men emanated from Krieg's ship followed by a sound of a blade chopping wood, Morgan and the others saw the gigantic ship get bisected and slowly sink down into the unforgiving depths of the sea. "What the hell did that?" The captain would mumble to himself as the frightened cries of Krieg's pirates bellowed out and fell into the water below.
"A BLADE!"
"THE SHIP WAS CUT IN HALF!"
These were the biggest voices heard as nearly everyone on the Baratie and even Krieg could barely believe that the fall of such a ship was because of a cut, but the shock on the pirates' faces seemed to grow as from between the split hull of the galleon; sailed a macabre coffin lit up with candles and carrying a single man with a giant black sword strapped to his back.
"That's him…Hawk-Eye Mihawk!" Zoro would recognise as he climbed off the side and headed towards one of the damaged pieces of the galleon to confront his long time ambition; "I hear you're the strongest Swordsman." Zoro remarked as he took Mihawk's attention.
"I am…" Mihawk said before his eye glanced down to the swords on Zoro's belt; "If you're here to fight me, then you're wasting your time here, little fish."
"Far from it…Because I intend on treading down the path of the blade regardless of threat or danger." Zoro reinforced his claim as he then drew his swords with Mihawk then hopping aboard to confront him.
"Is it your pride or something else that compels you to demand this fight of me." Mihawk asked; his steely eyed gaze piercing through Zoro and the others who were watching.
"My ambition…" Zoro simply retorted as he got into his Three Sword Style stance, though he turned to surprise as Mihawk's hand didn't reach for the sword on his back but instead to his cross necklace; revealing a small knife and then began to examine it; "What are you…"
"I'm no savage that uses a cannon to hunt a rabbit, I fight with what I deem is appropriate for a little fish…unfortunately I don't hold anything smaller than this." Mihawk said with a disdainful look on his face and then saw Zoro rushing forward; ready to try proving him wrong.
"I'll make you take me seriously enough!" Zoro would yell at Mihawk as he lunged with his swords to prepare a triad strike but a well placed jab from Mihawk stopped all three blades in their tracks; leaving not just Zoro surprised but the others too.
"This is bad! Zoro-bro's gonna get himself killed if he keeps this up!" Johnny grimaced as he and Yosaku grabbed their swords at the ready to jump in, only to be stopped by Morgan who grabbed them by the backs of their shirts before they could move.
"Stop that! This is Zoro's fight, not your's." Morgan reprimanded them, despite the fact that he himself was restraining himself from jumping in.
Meanwhile; it looked like Mihawk was keeping Zoro on the ropes with his knife as he deflected, blocked and otherwise overwhelmed Zoro with quick jabs before finally getting a direct hit on his chest. With a raised eyebrow in surprise; Mihawk pulled away, "You are stubborn, I will admit but you must understand how out of your depth you are…why not step back?"
"Because I know that if I turn back, run or even take a step back…things like promises and ambitions will become meaningless, I swore to become The Strongest Swordsman in the world and I intend to follow that dream to the end!" Zoro growled between his teeth as he felt his convictions grow.
"You'll die if you continue…you know that, right? There is no shame in defeat for a warrior." Mihawk would point out as he reassessed Zoro, "What kind of weight does he carry through his blade?"
"I'd rather die…" Zoro confessed to Mihawk before raising his swords up into a position meant for his next attack.
"Death before Dishonor…Tell me your name." Mihawk said with a smirk on his face as he was finally starting to respect Zoro's attitude before sheathing the knife in his hand.
"Roronoa Zoro…and I will aim as high as I can!" Zoro complied before starting to twirl the two swords in his hands; "Santoryu Ougi!"
Mihawk nodded in recognition as he reached behind his back to pull his giant black sword free and gripped with both hands; "Then face me, big fish…I shall do you the courtesy and sink you with the world's strongest black blade!" Mihawk yelled as he rushed forward with a wide swing while Zoro similarly zipped towards his opponent.
"DIE!"
"SANZEN SEKAI!"
Time seemed to stop for just about everyone as the two swordsmen crossed swords…but only one was the victor in this fight as the two swords in Zoro's hands had shattered like glass but left his remaining sword intact; "I…Lost. This is the power of the Grand Line…" Zoro could barely form his thoughts before he dropped the two hilts and sheathed his one remaining sword.
"You fought honourably, strong one…you earned my respect in this fight…But now it is over." Mihawk grimly declared before raising his sword once more to strike him down.
However before Mihawk could swing; Zoro turned on his heel to face the swordsman with his arms outstretched to the sides, bringing Mihawk to pause briefly; "Wounds on the back are a swordsman's shame."
"Admirable to the end!" Mihawk remarked with pride at Zoro's dedication, he brought his sword down and slashed Zoro from his left shoulder to his right hip and letting free a spurt of blood while he fell backwards into the water, shocking everyone on board with Morgan being the most shellshocked.
"ZORO!" Morgan yelled out in grief as he rushed forward and sprang off of the platform's edge in a fit of rage, "YOU BASTARD!" The straw hat wearing captain would roar out as he tried to hit Mihawk with a flying kick, but was deflected with the large, flat of Mihawk's sword.
"So you must be the swordsman's friend." Mihawk remarked as he watched Morgan get to his feet. "I have to admit, it was commendable of you to watch the fight through to the end."
"Shut it, I won't let you get away with hurting him! As his capta-no…as his friend; I won't sit by and watch you do this!" Morgan snarled as he got into a stance, looking like he was ready for a fight.
"Do you truly wish to fight me as you are after you saw what happened to your friend? I understand your reason but regardless, I won't take your threats lightly." Mihawk would say as he narrowed his eyes at Morgan, flaring his killer intent at the captain.
Morgan was of two minds; on one hand, he was fuming mad and determined to get even for cutting down Zoro…but on the other hand: Morgan was not as blind as to ignore the man for what he was, the World's strongest and someone who dispatched a man like Zoro with ease. This alone put Morgan on edge and made him aware of the fact that even with all his Haki and his fighting skill, Mihawk would beat him just as easily. "Who wouldn't desire to face one of the strongest? I want to fight…but I know for a fact that I am nowhere near your level." Morgan would admit honestly.
"A Pirate Captain admitting to his own shortcoming so openly…I can assure you that your friend is not dead, I made sure not to kill him." Mihawk would assure him as the sound of a severely weakened Zoro wheezed while he was carried to Usopp on a nearby boat.
"M-Morgan…You don't need anything less then the World's greatest swordsman, right?" he mumbled as he was trying his hardest to stay conscious; "From now on…I promise that until I defeat him and earn his title…I won't let myself get defeated! Any problem with that, King of the Pirates?!" Zoro would bellow out in a fit of tears at his defeat and his renewed promise.
"Nope! None at all, Zoro!" Morgan yelled back with a happy grin once he realised Zoro was okay(?) but he then noticed Mihawk's own gaze on him.
"You think that you can become the Pirate King? Because I should warn you…that's a harder struggle than defeating me." Mihawk would challenge Morgan with an amused smirk.
"How should I know? I haven't done it yet." Morgan retorted in kind; "But even if I can't do it now, I'm still gonna keep going until I do."
Chuckling a little to himself, Mihawk began to make his exit; "You two make a good team, I hope to see you again some day once you've become strong-"
"HEY HAWK-EYE!" A briefly forgotten voice yelled out as Krieg made himself known; "You came after us to finish the job right?! Well, I'm right here!"
"No, I've had my fun for today so consider this finished…" Mihawk halfheartedly waved him off as he climbed back on his boat and sailed off.
"Why that…You…Utter…" Krieg was sputtering for words as he looked like he was ready to kill someone after getting snubbed like that.
"Hey, Mister…If I get him to leave, does that make us square?" Morgan asked as he eyed down Krieg.
"Heh…If you don't die, of course." Zeff remarked with a smirk