Outside the restaurant.
The narrow deck was almost entirely occupied by Marco's men.
Krieg suddenly pulled out two pistols, and even his golden armor revealed ten gun barrels on either side.
"Die!"
A barrage of bullets erupted all at once, pouring down on Marco like a storm of steel.
Marco's lips curled into a faint smirk. In an instant, wings engulfed in blue flames burst forth from his back.
The bullets passed straight through his body, punching dozens of holes through him.
Just as Krieg thought Marco was as good as dead, the holes began to close blue flames searing over the wounds, restoring him as if nothing had happened.
Not a scratch on him.
Marco was a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, specifically the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix rarer even than Logia types. One of the only five known flying Zoan types.
His blue flames had the power to resurrect. They healed wounds and rendered physical attacks ineffective.
This ability not only regenerated his own injuries but could also enhance the healing speed of others. That was why, in addition to being a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, he was also their ship's doctor.
"Damn it! A Devil Fruit user?" Krieg's expression twisted with frustration as he realized his attack had been completely ineffective. He hadn't wanted to resort to this, but now he had no choice. "So what if you're a Devil Fruit user? I'm the one who will rule all the seas! Today, I'll show you the true extent of my power!"
As he spoke, Krieg detached the massive shoulder guard from his armor and pointed it straight at Marco.
"It's MH5... the deadliest poison gas weapon," someone muttered.
"Masks, get your masks on!"
"You lunatic! Do you have any idea what happens when you use that thing?"
Outrage erupted from the sea and from Krieg's own ship. His men shouted in protest.
But Krieg only sneered in contempt.
"Shut up, you idiots. War is war. Victory is all that matters. The means don't matter only power. That's what true strength is. Hahaha!"
"Poison gas?" Marco frowned and immediately launched himself at Krieg.
He knew the consequences. If that gas was released, many lives would be at risk.
He had to stop it before it spread.
Fortunately, they weren't far apart.
Before Krieg could launch the poison bomb, Marco reached him and struck the shoulder guard from his grasp.
Krieg's face twisted in shock.
He hadn't expected Marco to be so fast.
But he wasn't about to give up. He grabbed the still-spinning piece mid-air, joined it with his other shoulder guard, and pulled out a long handle. A sharp, deadly spearhead extended from the top.
It was his secret weapon a massive war lance weighing over a ton. Not only was it heavy, but its attacks also triggered devastating explosions.
"Die! You and this damned restaurant can go to hell together!"
Krieg roared, swinging the war lance down toward Marco with all his strength.
Marco dodged effortlessly with a leap.
Though the attack missed, it struck the front deck of the Baratie, splitting it clean in two.
Marco's crew quickly withdrew to their ship nearby, avoiding a plunge into the sea.
Inside the restaurant.
Lucas Moore's brow furrowed slightly. In a blur, he vanished using Shunpo and reappeared at the restaurant entrance.
Marco noticed him immediately.
"Kid, get back inside. It's dangerous out here."
But Lucas didn't seem to hear a word.
His eyes were locked on the shattered plank floating in the water the last bit of a small boat now submerged.
His boat.
He didn't care how Marco and Krieg fought.
But the moment it affected him even just a simple boat that was crossing a line.
Lucas's eyes grew cold as he stared at Krieg, who was charging toward Marco.
Marco instinctively moved to shield Lucas, trying to protect him.
But Lucas stepped to the side, unsheathing his wooden blade, Toya Lake, and bypassed Marco completely.
He stepped forward, directly facing Krieg's attack.
"Kid, get back!" Marco shouted in alarm.
A ruthless glint flashed in Lucas's eyes.
A powerful wave of sword energy surged outward from him.
With a single strike, without even touching Krieg's massive lance, his sword aura sliced it cleanly in half.
"What!" Krieg's eyes bulged.
"Eh?" Marco was stunned.
Even the spectators around them stared in shock, eyes wide.
Lucas remained calm. Another slash.
The second wave of sword energy struck Krieg directly in the chest.
Krieg's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a thud, unconscious.
His men froze in terror. They wanted to check on him but didn't dare move.
A woman from Krieg's crew trembled as she crawled over. She nudged him. No response. She reached for his wrist.
A moment later, her face turned pale. She gasped, hand covering her mouth.
"H-he's dead..."
"What? The boss is dead?"
"He was taken down by a kid?!"
"Who the hell is that kid? That was insane! He didn't just break the war lance he killed the boss in two moves. Is he really just a child?"
"This is bad! If we fight them, we'll all die. Run!"
In panic, Krieg's men rushed to set sail and flee.
The woman hesitated, glancing between Krieg's body and the escaping ship. In the end, she abandoned him and fled with the others.
Marco didn't order his men to stop them.
Instead, he stood thoughtfully, watching Lucas as he gazed silently at the sea.
"What are you looking at?"
"My boat."
"Your boat?" Marco paused, remembering that when they arrived, there had been a small sailboat tied to the outer deck.
Now, the sea was empty.
That boat had gone down with the broken deck.
No wonder the kid had acted.
It wasn't about Krieg. It was about his boat.
Marco chuckled.
"What's your name?"
"Lucas Moore."
"You look about... nine or ten?"
"Yeah."
"Your swordsmanship's impressive. Who taught you?"
Lucas glanced at him but said nothing. He turned and walked back into the restaurant, calm and detached.
Marco watched his retreating figure with a smile, then turned to his crew.
"Alright, boys, get ready. Time for dinner."
"Yeah!"
"That kid was amazing. Is he from this restaurant?"
"I don't know. He's not in uniform, and he's not dressed like a chef. Maybe not."
"If he's not, we should invite him to join the crew. That kid's something else, hahaha!"
Marco's men filed into the restaurant, cheerful and lively.
Zeff had several chefs push tables together and laid out fifteen plates of dinner.
Marco and his men gathered around, digging in with loud banter and laughter.
Lucas, on the other hand, sat quietly at a small table nearby, silently eating his meal alone.
Then
A few of Marco's crew called out to him.
"Hey, kid! Wanna eat with us?"
"You were awesome just now. Ever thought about joining the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Yeah, seriously! Come be part of the family. Pops is the best!"
Lucas ignored them, quietly finishing his dinner.