Chapter 31 The so-called strongest in the East China Sea?Just as the bullets were about to strike, Zeff moved.
Zeff lightly touched the railing, and like a nimble eagle, he leaped down! He swooped down into the hail of bullets!
Even more astonishing was his precise, albeit slight, movement in mid-air, allowing him to dodge the vast majority of the bullets by the smallest margin!
The few that were unavoidable were precisely deflected by the thick-backed cleaver in his hand. The blade, covered in a dark red glow, clanged as it struck the bullets, deflecting the specially designed armor-piercing rounds!
"What?!" Krick was also astonished. His battle rifle, with its penetrating power enough to pierce ordinary steel plates, had been stopped by a kitchen knife!
Zeff landed, no more than five meters from Krick.
The old man pointed his cleaver diagonally at the ground, coldly staring at Krieg: "Is that all you have? You dare call yourself the strongest in the East Blue? You're a laughingstock!"
"Damn it!" Krieg went completely berserk, throwing away his empty battle pistol and pulling two spiked shields from his back—Shield Mountain!
Krieg roared, charging towards Zeff with the shields raised!
The spikes on the shields gleamed coldly, and combined with his immense strength, they were enough to crush any obstacle in his path into a bloody pulp!
Faced with this ferocious charge, Zeff neither dodged nor evaded. He even moved the cleaver to his left hand, freeing his right.
Then, just as Krieg reached him, the shield spikes about to touch his chest—
Zeff's left leg, clad in a special leather boot, moved.
A dense, dark red Armament Haki instantly condensed!
Bang—!!!
A deafening, muffled thud, like a hammer slamming into a solid steel ingot!
Krieg's frenzied charge came to an abrupt halt!
The crazed expression on his face froze, replaced by utter astonishment and pain.
His shield, the so-called invincible Sword Mountain, crumbled under Zeff's kick, hardened with Armament Haki, like a biscuit struck by a giant hammer, a clear boot sole denting into its center!
The terrifying force penetrated the shield, slamming into his arms and chest!
"Cough—!"
Krieg coughed up blood, a groan escaping his arms as his bones buckled under the weight. He was sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the ship's railing!
Silence.
The surrounding battle seemed to freeze for a moment, centered on the two men.
Krieg's men and Baratie's cooks watched in disbelief.
Admiral Krieg, clad in invincible armor, was actually kicked away by a crippled old man?!
"See that? Kids!" Zeff retracted his left leg, standing firmly.
Zeff swept his gaze over the stunned Krieg subordinates, his killing intent chilling: "Anyone else want to test if my leg is tough enough?"
"A monster!" One of Krieg's subordinates panicked, dropping his weapon and trying to run.
"Run? This is the old man's teaching time, so watch closely!" Sanji's icy voice rang out, his figure flashing, a precise kick sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Kill! Follow the boss! Slaughter these bastards!" Paddy roared, clutching his bleeding stomach, his eyes bloodshot. His warhammer swung with ferocious force, this time showing no mercy, smashing an enemy's head into his chest with a single blow!
Carne laughed maniacally, his twin blades becoming a meat grinder, limbs flying everywhere in his wake.
The Baratie chefs, having witnessed Zeff's stunning kick and heard his domineering declaration, seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant!
Hesitation and hesitation vanished, replaced by a fierce counterattack! The battlefield situation instantly reversed!
Krick struggled to his feet from the wrecked ship's side, watching the unstoppable advance of the Baratie chefs, fear finally appearing in his eyes.
His prized equipment and strength were utterly useless against the absolute power of his opponents!
"No...impossible! I'm Krieg, the strongest admiral in the East Blue! How could I be defeated by an old cook..."
Krieg muttered, frantically reaching for another piece of equipment at his waist.
MH5 Poison Gas Bomb! This was his last trump card, a desperate act of suicidal madness!
However, just as Krieg's fingers were about to touch the gas bomb's switch, a golden figure appeared like lightning.
It was Sanji!
"Your filthy hands won't touch anything again!" Sanji's eyes were icy cold. His right leg rose high like a battle axe, then, with a piercing shriek, slammed down!
Lamb Set Meal!
This kick landed squarely on Krieg's arm as he pulled out the gas bomb!
Crack!
A clear sound of bone breaking!
Krieg screamed, his arm bending at an unnatural angle. The gas bomb flew out of his hand, only to be kicked into the distant sea by Sanji.
"Get out of Baratie!"
Sanji landed, stomping on Krieg's chest, pinning him to the deck. Looking down at him, his eyes were filled with undisguised killing intent and contempt.
"Take your lousy fleet and get out of the East Blue! If I see you again, next time I'll kick your head off!"
Krieg looked into Sanji's eyes, then at Zeff watching indifferently in the distance, then at his crumbling crew. His last shred of courage vanished.
"Retreat...retreat...retreat now!" Krieg screamed hoarsely.
The remaining Krieg pirates felt like they'd been granted a reprieve. They scrambled back to their wrecked ship, not even bothering to retrieve their fallen comrades. They hastily weighed anchor and staggered away from the seas that had shattered their dreams.
The Baratie cooks didn't pursue. They simply stood on the blood-stained deck, panting, watching their enemy flee in disarray, a renewed sense of ferocity appearing on their faces.
Zeff, leaning on his cleaver, watched the wrecked ship disappear into the distance, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.
He turned to Sanji, looking at the boy he had raised, a relieved smile spreading across his face.
"Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded."
Zeff's voice regained its usual composure, but carried a hint of ruthlessness.
"Wash away the bloodstains. The restaurant will reopen as usual in an hour. The dead… receive a proper burial."
"Yes, sir!"
On the Going Merry.
"It's over?" Nami let out a long sigh, only then realizing her palms were sweaty.
Nojiko's eyes held a mixture of shock and contemplation: "Boss Zeff… he's incredibly strong."
Kaya clutched her chest, her face pale. "So many people are injured... Luffy, can we go help treat them?"
Luffy jumped off the bow of the ship and looked at the three girls. "What are your thoughts after watching?"
Nami spoke first: "Strength is the only true measure of victory! No matter how good Krieg's equipment is, it's just paper in the face of true Haki!
Also, being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to yourself! Paddy is a prime example of a fool!"
Nojiko nodded and added: "Tactics and psychology are also very important. Zeff didn't move at first; he was gathering his strength and observing, his final strike deciding the outcome."
Kaya whispered, "I saw many different wounds. I need to study medicine more diligently, so that in the future... if..."
Kaya looked at Luffy, not finishing her sentence, but her meaning was clear.
"Hmm, a decent summary," Luffy nodded, acknowledging their observations