Sanji vs. Pearl
- Major Chapters: 54-56
- Other Chapters: 59
- Manga Volumes: #7
- Victor: N/A
The Build Up
Patty and Carne valiantly fall in defense of Baratie to the "Iron Wall" of Don Krieg's armada, Pearl. Sanji, meanwhile, defeats a throng of pirates and declares that he'll do the same to Pearl. Pearl brushes the notion aside as he blocks a strong kick, claiming that a ship's cannonball couldn't hurt him. Naturally, Luffy by this time was doing something stupid, ending up by landing behind Pearl's shield, and (to the horror of the pirate armada) unknowingly giving the shield man a bloody nose.
The Action
Frightened and incensed at his bloody nose, Pearl whips up a fierce firestorm around him in defense. The pirates and fighting cooks all scatter, but Sanji leaps into action. His first blow fails to break the shield, but even so he delivers the famous line: "Fool. You can't be a cook if you're afraid of fire!" Pearl lunges and Sanji retaliates by sliding under the punch and nailing him in the face full force. Pearl launches an array of his fiery pearls at the galley, where Zeff stands defiantly.
One kick from his peg leg is enough for Zeff to null the fire from the pearls, much to everyone's surprise. Krieg apparently decides around here that it would be better to sink the fin, Pearl, and everyone else with his giant flail and so attempts it; Luffy bursts into the ring of fire and shoves the flail back with a Gomu Gomu Bazooka. The flail crashes into a mast on Krieg's ship and, you guessed it, the mast falls DIRECTLY on Pearl's head. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Gin takes a pistol to Zeff's head!
Zeff's leg has been broken and his kick rendered useless, as Gin calmly asks Sanji to leave. The response: "Get off this ship? I refuse." Gin is speechless, and even as a spiteful Pearl beats Sanji halfway to oblivion, the cook refuses to leave. Gin asks 'why,' and Sanji replies simply with a fierce glower, "This ship is the geezer's pride and joy!!" Pearl wastes no time in nailing him with a strong combination attack, and so Sanji flashes back to his past with the Owner.
Sanji is revitalized by his memories and stands, but takes another hit willingly. Luffy, having had enough, Gomu Gomu Axes the fin and shatters it to pieces. Sanji confronts him, and receives a harsh reality in his response. Pearl isn't willing to wait for a discussion forum, however, and charges with a confident air. He thinks that for as long as Zeff is at the end of a pistol, Sanji won't fight back. That changes when Gin drops the pistol AND Pearl with one slam of his tonfa.
The Aftermath
Gin has defeated Pearl with one blow, and decides that if he can't convince Sanji to leave then he'd bury him with his own hands. This leads only to more trouble, but I'll refer you to this battle page for more information.