"Open the fins!"

Zeff watched as Alex and Krieg brawled inside the floating restaurant. It wasn't long before the front door — along with part of the wall — had been smashed apart. At this rate, the whole place would be wrecked. He quickly ordered the chefs.

The so-called "fins" were two massive deck panels designed so the restaurant could provide a fighting space without damaging the interior. They normally stayed hidden along the ship's sides, only being raised when needed.

"So that's how it works. This ship can even provide a temporary battlefield. That suits me just fine… now I want this ship even more!"

Seeing the two huge side decks rise, Krieg's desire to seize the ship burned hotter.

"I'm sure before you take this ship, you'll first get a taste of being robbed yourself."

Alex planted his staff on the ground, vaulted into the air, and landed a solid kick straight to Krieg's chest, sending him flying.

"He kicked Krieg away!"

"I heard he's a pirate too, but which crew is he from?"

"Their ship's outside. I saw their flag — a skull wearing a straw hat."

"Then he must be part of the Straw Hat Pirates… but I've never heard of that crew before."

Chefs and diners alike were shocked. Not only was Alex holding his own against Krieg — the so-called overlord of the East Blue — he was even pressing him back.

"He says he's just a fisherman… if even a regular crewmate is this strong, how powerful must their captain and the others be?"

With that thought, many glanced toward Luffy's group — only to see Luffy and Usopp rolling on the floor, wrestling over the last piece of meat.

Zoro, meanwhile, shook an empty bottle and, finding not a drop left, lay back in his chair with a sleepy look.

Their utter lack of concern for Alex's fight left the surrounding chefs and customers dumbfounded.

"Hey! Isn't that guy your crewmate? You could at least check on him!" Sanji called out to Zoro.

"He said he's got it handled. If we went over there, we'd just get in his way. Better to stick to what we're doing — works out for everyone," Zoro replied curtly, already losing interest in talking to Sanji.

Sanji fell silent. He'd seen plenty of pirates in his time at the restaurant, but never a crew like this — letting one member fight for his life while the others just ate and drank.

Meanwhile, Alex was locked in fierce combat. Krieg's Damascus steel armor was indeed tough, but Alex wasn't aiming to break it — his target was the four large diamonds set in Krieg's right-hand gauntlet.

"Kid, that weapon of yours is nice. I'm taking it!"

Earlier, Alex's extendable fishing rod had smacked Krieg in the face so hard his cheek was swelling. Realizing the weapon could extend and retract freely while being incredibly durable, Krieg's greed was piqued.

"If you've got the skill, feel free to try!" Alex leapt high, bringing his staff down toward Krieg's head.

CLANG!

Krieg blocked with his diamond-studded gauntlet — but before he could taunt back, Alex gave him no chance.

SWISH!

The fishing rod extended, planting in the deck as Alex used the momentum to close in. In a flash, he drove a fierce kick up under Krieg's chin, nearly making him bite his tongue clean through.

Blood spilled from Krieg's mouth as he let out a pained cry, but Alex pressed the attack.

As Krieg fell, Alex spun with his staff and hammered it against the diamond gauntlet yet again. This made the thirteenth time he'd struck it.

BANG!

The blow sent Krieg crashing to the deck hard enough to make the ship sway.

"He's so strong!"

"Against the East Blue's most feared pirate, and he's not even losing ground!"

On the Going Merry, Johnny and Yosaku were wide-eyed. They hadn't known Alex long, and this was their first time seeing him fight — the display left them stunned.

"That idiot… can't he keep a low profile?" Nami frowned. She'd planned to slip away from the crew today, but before she could act, Alex had gone and picked a fight with Krieg.

Worried for his safety, she decided to postpone her departure until the fight was over and Alex was confirmed unharmed.

"You've really pissed me off! I'm the strongest in the world! Don't think you can beat me!" Krieg roared, wiping the blood from his mouth. He drew a pair of pistols, and his armor shifted open to reveal an array of built-in weaponry — all aimed at Alex.

BANG! BANG!

Gunfire erupted as over a dozen barrels blazed.

"This won't work on me."

Alex spun his staff so fast it formed an impenetrable shield, deflecting every bullet. Compared to when he'd first set sail with Luffy, he had grown far stronger.

From the Going Merry, Nami recalled how Alex had once struggled against the Marines' gunfire in Shells Town. Now, he batted bullets aside without effort.

But then… her expression darkened. It still won't work… I can't drag them into this.

The image of a cruel, sharp-toothed fishman flashed in her mind, sending a chill down her spine.

"Bullets won't work on you? Then try this!"

Krieg detached the golden, skull-emblazoned shoulder shield from his right side and triggered its mechanism — firing more than a dozen short spears at Alex.

"This 'world's strongest' title of yours… is just a pile of cheap tricks, huh?"

Alex stepped back, extended his staff, and knocked every spear out of the air. Then, using Silent Step, he dodged a second volley and closed the gap to just a few paces.

"I'm bored. Time to take what I came for! This is the East Blue's strongest crew? With five thousand men? You're just relying on numbers!"

He drove his foot into the deck, planted his staff, and swung a full-power punch at Krieg.

"You dare underestimate me? You think your fist can match my unbreakable diamond gauntlet?!"

Krieg had no time to ready another weapon. He raised his diamond-clad fist to meet Alex's.

BOOM!

Their fists collided, neither yielding an inch — locked in a brutal stalemate.

"Heh… your hand must be hurting, right? But don't think you can regret this now. I'm going to take my time breaking you!"

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