"Chii!"
Torchic, already poised and ready, suddenly emerged from behind Sanji, letting out an excited cry as it rushed towards him. Its orange-yellow wings fluttered in the wind, glowing like flames rising with the morning sun.
Upon reaching Sanji, as if it had rehearsed this moment countless times, Torchic took a deep breath and aimed its sharp beak at him.
Whoosh! A blazing flame erupted, instantly engulfing Sanji's body.
"What... what kind of trickery is this?"
Krieg and Gin were dumbfounded as they watched Torchic seemingly set Sanji ablaze. But the next moment left them utterly speechless.
The flames, which distorted the air around them with their intense heat, didn't explode upon contact with Sanji. Instead, they swirled around him like a protective spirit, dancing and flickering as if in a ritual. Finally, under Sanji's control, the flames condensed into an armor of fire, encasing him in a suit of searing heat.
Feeling the familiar heat surging both inside and out, a confident smile crept onto Sanji's face. With the reporters and sea birds circling above, capturing every moment, he struck a dramatic pose and shouted:
"Knight of the Balrog, let's go!!!"
Standing tall, Sanji covered half his face with one hand, looking ahead with a determined gaze, as if he could see the future.
"O sinful pirates, today, I, Sanji, the Fire Demon Knight, along with my righteous partner, Torchic, shall judge your crimes!!!"
A surge of flames erupted from Sanji's body, responding to his will with a terrifying intensity, majestic as though the God of Fire himself had descended.
…
The truth is, the flames Torchic unleashed were no ordinary flames. They were a special blaze, unique to Fire-type Pokémon, a manifestation of pure life energy rather than mere fire. Like the tail flame of a Charmander or the back flame of a Ponyta, this fire was a part of the Pokémon's essence, capable of burning enemies while protecting allies.
Sanji had stumbled upon this secret during a training session with Torchic. Ever since his blood factor awakened, he noticed he shared an extraordinary affinity with Torchic's life flame. Not only could he draw immense power from it, but he could also control it with surprising ease. If his bloodline powers grew stronger, he might even be able to combine them with Torchic's moves to unleash Pokémon skills himself!
This was precisely why Leo, always favored these plot characters, recommending high-potential Pokémon to them. Pokémon and trainers complement each other; a powerful Pokémon can elevate its trainer, just as a skilled trainer can unlock the full potential of their Pokémon. High potential doesn't guarantee reaching the top, but it certainly makes the climb easier.
The growth of a Pokémon isn't just about accumulating resources and energy. The traits of the trainer are also crucial in nurturing a Pokémon's development. Nami's talent, Usopp's intelligence, Zoro's resolve, Sanji's bloodline, Luffy's resilience—these are the qualities that made Leo bet on them.
Thus, in Leo's trade rules, even if a wealthy trader approached him, without the right characteristics, they'd only receive Pokémon that had already matured to a certain level of strength. All of this was to maximize the potential of each Pokémon!
…
Boom!!!
Sanji shot forward like a blazing fuse, exuding an aura of imminent danger.
"This…"
Watching Sanji, who now seemed like a living flame knight, Gin's face twisted with dread. He had a nagging feeling that this operation wouldn't go smoothly. Now, seeing Sanji's transformed state, he realized the power they faced far exceeded their expectations.
"Captain…"
Gin gritted his teeth, glancing at Krieg with urgency, and pleaded once more:
"Perhaps… we should retreat for now and rethink our strategy!"
He didn't want to confront an enemy of such overwhelming strength, especially one they knew nothing about. It was like fighting blind.
However, Krieg had a different plan.
"Retreat?"
Krieg sneered, his expression sinister, as if mocking Gin's cowardice. Seeing Sanji's flame armor, Krieg had only one thought: "That armor looks better than mine!"
"So…"
"I'll just take it for myself!!!"
Krieg, who had never known defeat, had developed an arrogant and overconfident personality. In his mind, if he could seize the Pokémon that forged such an impressive armor and combine it with his own golden armor, he would become the strongest man in the East Blue!
If he could defeat all the other notable pirate crews in the East Blue, the Krieg Pirates would undoubtedly reign supreme!
As these thoughts consumed him, greed flashed in his eyes once more. Ignoring Gin's plea, Krieg adjusted the weapons on his armor and set his sights on Sanji. His eyes were filled with nothing but raw desire.
"It seems today will be the day I, Don Krieg, make my mark on the East Blue!!!"
With that thought burning in his mind, Krieg charged toward Sanji, his heavy frame thundering across the battlefield. On the way, he snatched up the battle spear he had thrown earlier.
"Boy, prepare to die! I'll take care of your Pokémon for you!!!"
Krieg bellowed as he leaped into the air, bringing the battle spear crashing down toward Sanji.
Seeing Krieg descending from above, Sanji's fighting spirit ignited. This was his first real showcase, and with so many cameras on him, he wanted his most handsome image splashed across the newspapers, to attract as many young women as possible!
Even if he couldn't touch them… this was a man's vanity!
"Dream on, you fool!!!"
Sanji cursed, the flames on his body flaring up like a rocket booster, propelling him swiftly into the air. He deftly avoided the spear's attack, and before Krieg could react, Sanji spun mid-air and drove a fiery right foot into Krieg's abdomen.
"Diable Jambe: Premier Haché!!!"
Boom!!!
The scorching red flames burst through Krieg's body like a beam of light, leaving a smoldering footprint on the thick golden armor. The once-impenetrable armor now showed signs of melting under the heat of Sanji's blow!
"Cough—Ah!!!"
Krieg spat out a mouthful of blood, eyes wide in disbelief. He couldn't fathom how he had been struck down so easily.
Realizing the danger, Gin quickly shouted:
"Captain, be careful, I'm coming to help!"
As Sanji prepared to deliver a second kick, Gin, in desperation, hurled his hammer at Sanji's head.
However…
Before the hammer could reach its target, an orange blur intercepted it.
"Chii!!"
Torchic, who had been watching Gin closely, finally saw its chance to enter the fray, letting out an excited cry. As Gin threw the hammer, Torchic used the move *Feint* to see through the hammer's trajectory and launched a quick burst of speed to intercept it with a fiery charge.
Clang!!!
The hammer and Torchic collided, eliciting a pained squawk from Torchic. Before evolving into a Combusken, Torchic's physical strength wasn't outstanding. But fortunately, Gin hadn't put much force behind the throw, aiming more for speed.
After landing, Torchic quickly shook off the pain, raising its head to stare down Gin with bright, determined eyes, as if to say:
"Your fight is with me!!!"
…
Boom!!!
Unhindered, Sanji poured another surge of devastating power into Krieg's body. The intense force, far beyond Krieg's ability to withstand, left deep cracks in the golden armor, as though it were on the verge of shattering.
Crash!!!
Krieg's body hit the ground with a heavy thud, and he struggled to get up.
Sanji immediately turned his gaze towards Torchic. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and it was as if the air between them crackled with shared fighting spirit.
It was clear what they were thinking:
"Let's see who can finish this battle first!"
(End of this chapter)