A Man's Dream

Laughter erupts across the town as onlookers mock two figures on the ground. “AHAHAHA! LOOK AT’EM! THEY’RE STILL TRYIN’ TO STAND BACK UP!” someone shouts. A narration box states “Bellamy and his crew are showcasing a public lynching.” Another voice yells “HAHAHA HAHAHA HAHAHA!” while asking “What’s going onI” Bellamy’s crew member taunts “Show them that this ain’t a town for dreamin’ weaklings! Hahaha!” and “Hoho! Just kill’em! Spineless idiots are better off dead!” A long-haired woman with a chain collar says “These two are smarter than you think. They realized they were no match for us.” and “Avoiding fights with strong people… A sensible, but utterly spineless choice, I have to say!” while another replies “Haha… It’s no use, missy.” Luffy and Zoro lie beaten as a crewmate screams “What’re you messing around with these trash forI!” and “JUST KICK THEIR ASSES ALREADY!” Luffy shouts “LUFFY! ZORO!”

In the bar, a man in a fur coat remarks “The marines these days sure are generous, giving a pipsqueak like him a price of 30 million bell…” while another laughs “Hahaha… Looks like your captain ain’t got one shred of self-respect!” with “!!!” reaction. Luffy and Zoro sit slumped and bloodied. Nami asks “What’s wrong with you two…I” and “Why…” while Zoro mutters “ZORO… DON’T RESPOND AT ALL TO THEIR JEERS…” Luffy and Zoro stare forward with empty, defeated expressions and sweat drops, small “ポクI” sound effects floating near them.

The crewmate continues mocking: “And you can’t even fight back when it’s forced on you… And yet your head’s full of nothin’ but dreams…” while a large man drinks at the bar saying “Pacifism… Sure, that ideal might not sound so bad at first…” Luffy and Zoro remain silent and battered. The crewmate yells “You said it! …Just like a maggot.” Nami glares angrily. The large man stands and declares “Man, what a letdown! Worse than even my lowest expectations! Never seen someone THIS cowardly…” then turns away saying “I’m through, I’m through… I came because I was curious about the weak-looking pipsqueak who had 30 million for his head, but…”

A battered dark-haired man coughs violently with blood on his face, shouting, "Somebody get these losers outta my sight!" Nearby, another injured fighter stands amid debris as a large impact SFX "ブゥーッ!!!" erupts. A scarred, spiky-haired man with a torn shirt glares furiously in close-up and declares, "YOU'RE AN EYESORE." He then turns sharply with motion lines and impact effects, his expression twisted in contempt.

A massive strike lands with huge SFX "ギャシャアアア!!!" as a fur-coated fighter is slammed through debris. The dark-haired man coughs again while the fur-coated man in a cap labeled "ALLURE" laughs wildly, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LOOK AT 'EM!" A powerful downward blow follows with shattering impact SFX, sending the fur-coated man crashing amid flying wood and rubble.

Bloodied hands lie among scattered papers as "DRIP...!" echoes. The scene widens to a wrecked bar where a long-haired man in a fur coat offers, "How 'bout I buy you offI Name your price!" and adds, "Hey girl! You'll never get anywhere in the coming new age if you stick around guys like them!" Speech bubbles shout "ZORO!" and "LUFFY!" A woman with short hair turns angrily, retorting, "You think you can BUY meI...What did you just say!I" while a small panel shows Nami's shocked face with sweat drops and "......!!!" A bearded man in a white coat gestures, "That's right. You'll have more fun with us, y'knowI"

Nami smirks confidently and replies, "I'D BE WASTED ON YOU AND YOUR SMALL-TIME CREW!" and "HA! SORRY TO SAY THIS BUT..." The scarred man laughs mockingly, "HAHA! SO YOU THINK YOU'RE WORTH THAT MUCH!I" while background women react with surprise. In a wide shot of the chaotic bar, the long-haired man declares, "THE WHOLE CREW'S A BAG OF LOONS! They're beyond saving!" as the crowd erupts in wild laughter with massive SFX "どわっはっはっはっ" and repeated "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Close-ups show stunned reactions: a mustached man sweats with ellipsis, a bloodied fighter lies dazed, Luffy glares with ellipsis, and Nami sweats with exclamation marks as laughter echoes “ぎゃっ～～～ ははははは”. Luffy snaps in close-up, “TAKE THOSE TWO AND GET OUTTA MY SIGHT, WHILE THEY’RE STILL BREATHING…!” Nami stares in profile, thinking “SKY ISLAND EXISTS…”. The large seated pirate laughs wildly “GYAH HA HAHAHA!” and roars, “AND DON’T EVER COME HERE AGAIN, Y’HEAR ME!I” while townsfolk lie scattered amid debris and impact lines.

The large pirate looms laughing “ZEHA HAHA HAHA HAHA!” declaring “THE CHERRY PIES HERE ARE THE BEST!” as Nami recognizes him: “You’re… the man from earlier…”. Townspeople watch while one remarks “Those two won that fight just now.” The large pirate turns and asks “What’re you lookin’ annoyed for, sisterI”. Cut to close-ups: a grinning man with a skull necklace states “IS WHEN YOU’RE AT THE PIRATES’ TOP. THE NEXT TIME WE’LL MEET,” a straw-hatted man smiles “OH!I SO YOU WANT TO SURPASS US…!I”, Luffy glares with ellipsis, and Nami looks surprised “Wha…I”.

Luffy clutches his hat as Nami says “Luffy.” Zoro straightens replying “Zoro…” while the large pirate grins “Your comeback was sure somethin’ too! You’ve got some balls for a girl! ZEHA HAHA!”. The large pirate leans in declaring “The ‘new age’ those guys talk about. Is total bullshit.” He then bursts into laughter “ZEHAHA HAHAHA HAHAHA!” proclaiming “THE AGE WHEN PIRATES DREAM IS ENDING…!I” as the crowd stares in shock and Nami gasps “HUH!I WELL!I W-what’s with him!I”.

A dramatic two-page spread shows Luffy, Zoro, and Nami standing together on the left beneath bold text “NEVER ENDS!” while the large pirate sits alone on the right beside the title “A MAN’S DREAM,” with impact lines and debris flying between them.

A scarred man in a black hat leans forward with a fierce grin and declares, "I'M RIGHT, AIN'T II" Luffy stares back in wide-eyed shock, sweat flying, an ellipsis hovering above his head. In a lively bar, a blond man with sunglasses holds a mug and asks, "What’s with all the noise outsideI" Nearby patrons laugh mockingly: "AHAHAHA! How pathetic!" and "Just ignore it. It’s probably those losers lettin’ off steam from their humiliation." Outside, Blackbeard sits sprawled on crates, roaring with laughter, "AHAHAHA HAHAHA!" He bellows, "THE ROAD UP TO THE TOP AIN’T EASY!" then stammers through a fit, "A man’s... A man’s dr... PFFT!" A crewmate yells, "I think he’s lost it!" while another snaps, "What kinda crap are you suddenly yellin’ about!I" and "Hey, hey now!"

Blackbeard looms with a wild grin, shouting, "YOU’RE BOUND TO COME ACROSS LOSERS WHO AIN’T EVEN WORTH YOUR FIST!" and "LET’EM LAUGH! WHEN YOU’RE AIMIN’ FOR THE TOP," On a street, Luffy turns and says, "Let’s go..." Nami replies, "Right..." while glancing back with concern, "Luffy...I" Blackbeard’s laughter echoes, "ZEHAHA HAHAHA HAHA...!" Close-ups show Blackbeard still grinning, Nami looking worried with sweat drops, Luffy’s face tense with "LuffyI" and "!!", and a spiky-haired man reacting with shock.

Nami glances back as Blackbeard approaches with a bottle, asking, "Were you in a rushI" He adds, "Ah, it seems I held you up." Luffy, facing away, states, "To Sky Island, that is." Blackbeard replies, "Hope ya make it." Luffy’s eyes widen in surprise. Blackbeard grins widely. In the street, Luffy walks off with clenched fists, Nami following, while Blackbeard lies collapsed on the ground with "Ah-" and "!!" sound effects around him. Luffy laughs, "ZEHA HAHA HAHA!"

Nami asks, "HuhI Not himI" Luffy answers, "Dunno..." and "But it’s not him..." Nami presses, "Then... WhatI" She wonders, "He knows something about sky islandI" and "Hey, do you think..." while Luffy muses, "I wonder who he was..." Zoro states firmly, "It’s “them”..." and "Most likely." Blackbeard’s voice rings out, "ZEHAHAHA! THE RUM TASTES ESPECIALLY GOOD TODAY!" Nami turns sharply, asking, "Where!I" and "Did that guy just now... Have friends or crewmatesI" while Luffy wonders, "What’s that supposed to meanI"

On the docks beside a damaged ship, Usopp and Chopper work on repairs. Hands pass tools from off-panel with calls of "Here." "Nail." "Plank." and "HAND!" Usopp grins and declares, "I AM, AREN'T I!I THAT'S ONE OF MY STRONG POINTS." Chopper, holding a plank and hammer, snaps back, "I ain't no shipwright!...Jeez. How many times do I gotta tell 'emI" Luffy leans in and says, "But you're so good with your hands, Usopp." Usopp replies, "That's why I'm repairing it! You help too!" Chopper protests further, "But even so, it's dangerous to keep sailing with the ship in this state." In the next panel, someone yells, "ARE YOU CRAZY!I DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WE GOT THIS SHIP IN THE FIRST PL-" while another voice answers, "Yeah, you told me a thousand times. A gift from some pretty girl from your hometown, rightI" A final voice concludes, "We oughta just buy a new ship."

Luffy and Chopper burst into laughter, slapping their knees as they shout "AHAHAHA HAHAHA HAHAHA!" and "SHADDUP!" repeatedly while reacting to the repairs. Sanji stands nearby with a cigarette, asking "What's with that ship...I" and "You call these repairs...I" In a separate panel, Sanji turns away and muses, "Hmm, I wonder how my seagull soup is coming along..." while two small voices beg, "NO, WE WANT IT, WE WANT IT! PLEASE LET US EAT IT!" and "Oh, you don't want it!I" The seagull cries "Saalvaage! Saalvaage!" Sanji reacts with "Huh!I" and "HmI" Suddenly Luffy's eyes widen in shock as he yells, "THAT SONG...!" Chopper freezes beside him with the same stunned expression.

No description for this page.