One Piece pirates salty life

Just as Luffy and his friends were starting to coax Sanji into pushing himself with tough daily challenges, an unexpected visitor shattered their moment of peace.

Bang!

Several delicate glass cups fell uncontrollably to the floor, shattering instantly. The crystal-clear wine spilled across the wooden floor, reflecting the shocked faces of those nearby—faces drenched in cold sweat, eyes wide with disbelief.

The clatter caught the attention of Luffy and his friends, who had been playing around in the Baratie restaurant. They turned toward the source of the commotion, only to see several other guests standing by the windows, staring out in stunned silence.

"What… what is that?!" someone whispered nervously.

From the distance, a pirate ship was slowly drifting closer.

The ship's prow was shaped like a black panther, menacing and dark against the sea breeze. The pirate flag fluttering above was even more terrifying: a skull flanked on both sides by two strange hourglasses.

A man's voice broke the stunned silence, filled with horror and disbelief:

"That's the pirate ship of East Blue's overlord—Admiral Creek! The Dreadnought Sabre!"

The name hit like a shockwave. No one in East Blue had expected Admiral Creek to appear here.

Known throughout East Blue as the most infamous pirate, Creek was arrogant, ruthless, and utterly despicable. Any pirate who had crossed paths with him knew his cruelty firsthand. His flag, a grim emblem of death and submission, warned all who saw it: You will surrender to me eventually—it's only a matter of time.

Hearing the fearful shout, the remaining guests in Baratie immediately grasped the danger. Fear quickly spread like wildfire, and decisive action followed.

"Run! Get out of here now!!"

"Hurry! Leave before it's too late!"

"Why would Admiral Creek come here? Isn't he supposed to be heading toward the Grand Line?"

Amidst the crying and shouting, the crowd scattered like leaves in the wind. Within minutes, the lively Baratie restaurant grew eerily quiet.

Only the Straw Hat Pirates and the original Baratie staff remained.

"Finally, it's here," Leo murmured from the doorway, his gaze fixed on the approaching ship.

At first glance, the pirate ship was huge and imposing—an unmistakable vessel of terror. But upon closer inspection, the ship looked battered and broken.

The sails were tattered, and a large hole was ripped through the bow. Even the pirate flag, once a proud symbol of power, was torn in half.

The Grand Line had clearly taken its toll on this once-formidable ship.

As the Dreadnought Sabre drew closer, those still aboard the vessel looked on in shock and confusion.

"How can anyone still be alive on a ship in such a state?" one muttered.

Ajin, a pale and gaunt figure who had been hanging off the side of the ship, looked more like a starving ghost than a member of Admiral Creek's crew.

Johnny and Joseph, standing nearby, exchanged uneasy glances.

"I heard Creek took his five Senju into the Grand Line," Johnny said quietly.

Joseph nodded, eyes narrowing. "Judging by the state of Ajin and the ship, they must have been through hell over there."

Their words hung heavy in the air. Everyone understood what that meant: Creek and his crew had faced something far beyond ordinary pirates. The Grand Line was unforgiving, and it seemed to have left them battered and broken.

Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly. "To damage a ship this badly? No human force could do that alone. They must have run into some kind of natural disaster."

Leo's eyes flicked toward Sanji with a slight smirk. So young, so inexperienced. If he only knew the truth—that just one man had driven them back—he'd probably be speechless.

Leo couldn't help but imagine Hawkeye, paddling furiously with a black knife on a coffin-shaped boat, chasing after Creek. The mental image made him twitch the corner of his mouth.

If someone caught him like that, Leo thought wryly, they'd want to chop me to pieces out of embarrassment.

"Look! That's the guy Paddy beat up before—he's helping Creek down the gangplank!" one of the chefs exclaimed sharply.

Luffy's eyes followed the figure descending onto the dock.

"Sanji, that's the same guy who ate your fried rice!" Luffy said with a grin. He still remembered Ajin's strange advice after their last meal.

"Of course! That's why Creek came here!" Sanji said, suddenly serious.

"Sanji, this is all your fault! Feeding him brought Admiral Creek to our doorstep! You have to take responsibility for this!" Paddy growled, glaring daggers at Sanji.

The chefs, now tense, brandished their weapons and cautiously watched the approaching figures.

Zoro, leaning lazily against a wall, removed his hand from his sword's hilt with a bored sigh.

He had overheard the rumors about East Blue's overlord and was curious to test himself against such a legend.

Judging by their current weakened state, Zoro thought, these pirates probably aren't even a match for that blond teddy bear.

Over the past weeks, Zoro and Sanji had clashed multiple times—each match ending in a near tie, fueling their rivalry further.

The nervous chefs gawked at Creek and Ajin. Creek struggled to move, leaning heavily on Ajin's support. He looked weak and vulnerable—nothing like the fierce overlord they had imagined.

Their confusion deepened. How could the fearsome Admiral Creek be reduced to this?

"Huff… huff… huff…"

Ajin panted as he helped Creek into the restaurant. His eyes were filled with desperation as he looked toward Sanji.

Before Ajin could speak, Creek interrupted weakly:

"Please… water… food… I have money… I will pay whatever you want…"

The once-mighty pirate captain now looked like a broken shadow of himself.

After uttering those words, Creek's body went limp. He collapsed to the floor, kneeling as if surrendering to death itself.

"Please… save the captain!" Ajin pleaded, panic etched across his face.

"If this goes on, he won't survive," he warned urgently.

---

The heavy silence inside the Baratie was pierced only by the faint sound of Creek's labored breathing.

Luffy and the others exchanged uneasy looks. This was not the mighty pirate overlord they had expected. Instead, before them lay a man battered beyond recognition.

Sanji crouched beside Creek, examining him carefully.

"Captain, you're in bad shape," Sanji said quietly. "What happened to you out there?"

Creek's pale lips trembled as he tried to speak. "The Grand Line… it… it's a nightmare…"

He coughed violently, blood mixing with the spit. His eyes, once fierce and commanding, now seemed distant and haunted.

Leo glanced toward the door, then back at the injured pirate.

"You're lucky you made it here alive," Leo said with a grim nod. "But you can't stay like this. We need to get you proper care."

Sanji nodded. "I'll get some water and food. We can't let him waste away."

Zoro stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Creek.

"So, Creek," Zoro said casually, "what exactly happened out there? The Grand Line beat you down pretty badly."

Creek lifted his head weakly, managing a bitter smile.

"You have no idea," he whispered. "The Grand Line isn't just dangerous—it's a nightmare made flesh. Our ship was torn apart by forces no man can fight."

Ajin shuddered as he looked away, his face pale.

"They attacked us… something worse than any pirate," Ajin muttered.

Luffy clenched his fists, eyes blazing.

"We'll help you get through this. No matter what's out there, we won't let it hurt you anymore."

Sanji returned with a bowl of warm broth and some fresh water. Gently, he helped Creek drink.

Creek's trembling hand reached for Sanji's.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Leo's eyes narrowed as he studied the pirate overlord's broken form.

"This is just the beginning," Leo said quietly. "If the Grand Line is this dangerous, then we're all in for a world of trouble."

---

The Dreadnought Sabre had sailed into Baratie's harbor with more than just wounds to its hull.

It carried a message—a warning that even the mightiest pirates of East Blue were not safe from the horrors lurking beyond the known seas.

And now, as Creek lay weak and broken in their care, Luffy and his friends prepared for the challenges that awaited them—challenges that would push them to their very limits and beyond.

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