CHAPTER 8 - BARATIE: SANJI'S SACRIFICE AND ADAM'S INSIGHT
The Baratie was a battlefield. Don Krieg, emboldened by Mihawk's departure, was now unleashing his full arsenal, including poison gas and explosive spears. Luffy, despite his previous exhaustion, was fighting with renewed vigor, fueled by his desire to protect the restaurant and its eccentric inhabitants. Sanji, his face grim, fought like a demon, his powerful kicks tearing through Krieg's subordinates.
Adam, meanwhile, focused his efforts on Don Krieg himself. He knew Krieg was relentless, but also incredibly susceptible to mind games and anything that threatened his self-proclaimed superiority.
"You know, Mr. Krieg," Adam shouted over the din of battle, dodging a flung spear. "For a 'Fleet Admiral,' you're remarkably bad at managing your resources! I mean, poison gas? Really? That's so... last century. Don't you have something more innovative? Like, perhaps, a giant inflatable rubber chicken that squirts mustard?"
Krieg roared in fury, launching a spear directly at Adam. Adam, with a burst of agility, dodged it, making it impale a rather expensive-looking chandelier.
"Oops! My bad! That's going to be a tough one for the insurance claim!" Adam yelled back. "You know, if you spent less time trying to blow things up and more time practicing your aim, you might actually hit something other than inanimate objects. Or, you know, me."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DON KRIEG][LIKE METER: 0%][HATE METER: 45%][ACQUIRABLE SKILLS: M.H.5 GAS (IMPROVED RANGE), BATTLE SPEAR (ACCURATE THROW)]
"Forty-five percent hate. We're almost halfway there! And 'M.H.5 Gas (improved range)'? So my fart clouds can travel further. Excellent. 'Accurate Throw' for spears? So I can actually hit things when throwing. My inner javelin thrower is singing. Very useful for... well, for throwing things accurately."
As the battle raged, Adam noticed Sanji's internal conflict. The chef was fighting for the Baratie, for Zeff, but the call of the sea, the dream of the All Blue, was a powerful siren song. Adam knew Sanji's backstory intimately – the shared ordeal with Zeff, the sacrifice of his leg, the dream they both held. This was the moment Sanji had to choose.
"This isn't about pranks anymore. This is about a man's future. And Sanji deserves a future where he can chase his dreams, not just protect someone else's. But Zeff… Zeff needs a nudge. A very Adam-esque nudge."
He spotted Zeff, who was surprisingly agile on his peg-leg, fighting off a few of Krieg's men. Adam moved closer, ensuring his voice would carry over the chaos, but sound like he was talking to himself.
"You know," Adam mused loudly, just loud enough for Zeff to hear, "it's funny how some people refuse to let go. They hold onto things so tightly, even when it means sacrificing their own dreams. It's almost as if they're afraid of being... alone. Or perhaps, they just don't trust the people they care about to actually achieve their own greatness. It's a sad thing, really. All that potential, wasted."
Zeff, mid-kick, froze for a split second, his good eye flicking towards Adam. Adam pretended not to notice, instead "accidentally" kicking a discarded cannonball towards a group of Krieg's men, sending them scattering.
"Of course," Adam continued, raising his voice slightly, "there are also those who, despite their gruff exterior, secretly wish for nothing more than to see the people they love fly. They just have a really, really terrible way of showing it. Like, if my dad had wanted me to be a lawyer, he probably would have just told me to go to law school, not set fire to my video game collection. Just saying. Communication is key, people!"
Zeff sent another powerful kick, sending a pirate flying. But Adam saw the flicker in his eyes, the subtle shift in his posture. He'd hit a nerve.
Meanwhile, Luffy was struggling against Krieg's Diamond Fist attack. Adam knew he needed to contribute more directly. He saw a pile of heavy wooden crates nearby.
"Alright, Adam. Time to put that 'Gum-Gum Pistol (stable)' to good use. And maybe add a little something extra."
He stretched his arm, grabbing a large crate. With a powerful tug, he sent it flying towards Krieg, who easily deflected it. But Adam wasn't done. He then activated his "Red Leg Kick (unstable)" skill, channeling a faint, flickering heat into his leg. He aimed a kick at a particularly sturdy support beam of the Baratie's upper deck.
"WATCH OUT BELOW!" Adam yelled, delivering a flaming (albeit small and sputtering) kick. The kick, combined with the instability, caused the beam to crack loudly, sending a shower of splinters and dust down onto Krieg and his men, momentarily disorienting them.
"What was that?! Fire?!" Krieg roared, looking up in confusion.
"Just a little... spark of inspiration, Mr. Krieg!" Adam called out, grinning. "Compliments of the chef!"
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DON KRIEG][LIKE METER: 0%][HATE METER: 60%][ACQUIRABLE SKILLS: FULL BODY ARMOR (TEMPORARY WEAKNESS EXPOSURE)]
"Sixty percent hate! And 'Full Body Armor (Temporary Weakness Exposure)'? So I can briefly make his armor vulnerable. Excellent! This is going to be incredibly useful for, say, finding the weak spot in a really stubborn jar lid. Or helping Luffy. Whatever comes first."
The distraction allowed Luffy to land a devastating Gum-Gum Gatling attack on Krieg. The battle continued, fierce and relentless. But Adam felt the tide turning. Sanji, invigorated by some internal decision, fought with renewed ferocity.
As the battle neared its end, Sanji confronted Zeff. Adam watched from a distance, respecting the privacy of their emotional exchange. He saw the tears, the raw emotion, the love that bound them. Zeff, finally, gave Sanji his blessing to leave.
"It's amazing what a little well-placed sarcasm and a hint of self-sacrifice can do. Who knew I was so good at emotional manipulation? Probably everyone who's ever met me, to be honest."
Adam also made sure to put his "Full Body Armor (Temporary Weakness Exposure)" skill to good use. As Krieg prepared his final, desperate attack, Adam focused his will, and for a fleeting moment, a small, glowing weakness appeared on Krieg's supposedly impenetrable armor, just above his chest. It was barely noticeable, but it was there.
"Hey, Captain!" Adam yelled, pointing subtly. "Looks like someone forgot to polish a spot on his armor! It's practically screaming 'hit me here, I'm vulnerable!'"
Luffy, surprisingly, saw the subtle cue. With a final, desperate surge of power, he launched a Gum-Gum Bazooka, aiming directly for the momentarily exposed weakness. The attack connected, sending Krieg flying off the Baratie and into the ocean.
The Baratie was saved. The fight was over. Sanji, now free to follow his dream, turned to face his new crew.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: SANJI][LIKE METER: 40%][HATE METER: 10%][ACQUIRABLE SKILLS: BLACK LEG STYLE (IMPROVED KICKS), CHIVALRY (UNDERSTANDING)]
"Forty percent like. And 'Improved Kicks'! I can probably break a wooden board now. Excellent. 'Chivalry (Understanding)'? So I can probably open a door for a lady without expecting a medal. Progress! Maybe I can even convince Zoro to try it."
Adam smiled. His role in this arc was complete. Sanji was in. And now, for the emotional fallout. And the inevitable next prank.