The Straw Hats head to the ocean-going restaurant, Baratie, with the hopes of recruiting one of their cooks. In the meantime, hungry yet powerful forces gather to lay siege to the restaurant — all while a menacing swordsman from the Grand Line steadily approaches.
The Straw Hats happen across Zoro's former partners, Yosaku and Johnny, whose dietary dilemma reminds the pirates they still need a cook on their ship. Thus, they set sail for the sea restaurant Baratie, hoping to snag a chef.
Luffy is on hiatus from pirating to work as a cabin boy to pay off the damage done to the Baratie. While he tries to convince Sanji to join his crew, the pirate Gin brings the infamous Don Krieg and his starving forces to the sea restaurant.
Luffy's group has reached the island but are met with a shocking revelation. Unmoved by Nami's apparent actions and her insistence that he leaves, Luffy stubbornly sticks around.
As Nami steals the Going Merry, Hawk-Eye Mihawk, known far and wide as the world's greatest swordsman, arrives all the way from the Grand Line to finish off Don Krieg. However, Zoro challenges the deadly Mihawk to a duel in order to achieve his dream.
Mihawk departs after defeating Zoro, and Krieg continues his assault on the Baratie. Pearl, one of Krieg's strongest men, goes on the offensive with fiery attacks and multiple shields at his disposal, so Sanji reveals his unique fighting style.
Sanji continues to battle Pearl, but Gin cleverly holds Chef Zeff hostage, forcing Sanji an impossible situation. Sanji's childhood memories flood his mind, and he reflects on why Zeff means so much to him.
In a surprising twist, Gin finishes Pearl off himself, claiming Sanji as his own target. Though still wounded, Sanji rises to the challenge and faces off with Gin. As the battle draws to a close, Don Krieg unleashes a deadly toxin into the air.
The struggle with Krieg nears its end. Luffy's fighting spirit is unwavering, even after taking several hits from Krieg's Stalwart War Spear. Straw Hat's strategy shifts to smashing through Krieg's defenses and attacking the spear head-on.