Curse of Mato Mato

The chapter title page displays the bold heading "Curse of Mato Mato" at the top. Below it unfolds a lively scene inside a wooden tavern where a large woman with curly hair and a pearl necklace sits behind a crate labeled "COLUBO APPLE," surrounded by stacks of newspapers. A swordsman in a dark coat leaps forward dramatically while waving a paper, and background patrons cheer and raise their fists. Multiple papers and a banner prominently display "LUFFY!!!" and "LUFFY." The bottom caption reads "From Shipdecks Around The World Vol. 3: Mount Colbo."

Luffy clings to the back of the shark Megalo as it rockets through the water, shouting "HOLD IT, MEGALO OOO!!!" Shirahoshi cries out from behind, "WAIT A MOMENT, LUFFY-SAAN!!!" Megalo twists in panic, yelling "WHERE ARE YOU GOINGI!!!" while bubbles and debris trail behind. The shark lets out a strained "ROOH HH!!!" In the lower panels Luffy beams with excitement, "LET'S GO FOR A WAAALK!!" Shirahoshi pleads with tears, "I AM GOING OUT WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION....! I WILL BE BACK IN TIME FOR DINNER!!" Nearby mermaids react with worry: "EVERYONE... PLEASE FORGIVE ME....!" and "FATHER... BROTHERS....!"

Panic erupts inside the palace. A guard shouts "!!!I" while another yells "COULD YOU BE A LITTLE LESS ROUGHI!!" Skeleton soldiers rush forward: "HURRY INSIDE, SKELETON!! WE MUST CHECK ON THE PRINCESS' SAFETY!!" and "SIMPLY OPENING THE DOOR OF SHELL TOWER AND LEAVING....!! WHAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO THE PRINCESS...I!!" A fish-man guard demands "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MEGALOI!!" The grand curtained chamber stands empty. A massive sound effect "ばーん!!" echoes as voices scream "PRINCESS SHIRAHOSHI... IS GOOOOO OONE!!!!" and "SHE'S GOOOOO OOOOOONE!!!" A guard cries "EHHHHI!! THE MERMAID PRINCESS ISN'T HEEE EREI!!" while another exclaims "WHEN DID THIS HAPPENI!! WHO IS RESPONSIBLEI!!...THIS IS A KIDNAPPING WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!" and "AHHHHH, THIS IS TERRIBLE!!! THIS IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY!!!"

Chaos spreads through the corridors. A skeleton guard questions "WHAT EXACTLY WAS THAT FOR, HMM MMI!!" while another shouts "HE HAS TO HEAR THIS SITUATION AT ONCE!!" and "SKELETON!! WE MUST HURRY BACK TO KING NEPTUNE!!" Brook reacts with "HMMI! SWITCHII!!" and "GYAH HHH!!" A guard urges "TELL US THE LOCATION... OF THE SWITCH TO LOWER THE CONNECTING WAY......THAT LINKS THE PALACE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD....!!" In the lower section a guard panics "!!!! IF WE DON'T FIND OUT, THEY'LL KILL US....!!!" while another demands "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUTI!!" Brook yells "SO HURRY UP AND ANSWER...." as surrounding guards cry "HAA" and "WE'VE GOTTA DO... AS WE'VE BEEN ORDERED... THERE'S NO OTHER WAY....!!" and "IF WE DON'T DO AS THEY TOLD US... WE'LL NEVER SURVIVE...."

In Fish-Man Island's Coral Hill, Sanji stands amid a tense crowd as locals stare with cold eyes. A voice complains, "Ughhh... These guys were our ticket to the royal palace... but then they had to start trying to handcuff us..." Another shouts, "Why did you beat up all the soldiersI!" Sanji snaps back, "Hey, Sanji!!!!!!" Someone yells, "Look around!! Everyone's staring at us with cold eyes!! Colder than a deep-sea fish!" Sanji retorts to a fallen fish-man, "You took out half of 'em yourself, didn't youI! With that kung fu stuff!!!" The fish-man groans, "That was actually kind of impressive..." A small figure adds, "Th- that doesn't make me happy at all, you idiot!" Chopper reacts with surprise, "HmII" as panicked voices cry out, "Someone's coming from the shore... covered in blood...!!!" "The voice of a lady!" "AAAHHHHHHHH!!!" and "Someone call a doctor!!" Chopper declares, "I'm a doctor!"

Hatchan bursts onto the scene covered in arrows and wounds as Sanji yells, "Hey, Hachi!!! It's us!" A shocked voice cries, "Wha-I! HachiI!" Sanji demands, "What happened to youI!!!" Hatchan gasps, "What happenedI! Why are you covered in woundsI!!!" Sanji's group reacts with alarm. Hatchan pants and warns, "Gather all your crewmates... you have to hurry..." He continues, "He's not with us right now! Hang on a minute - we'll fix you right up!" Recognition hits: "Is Straw Hat here...I" "It's you... I'm glad I found you..." A massive splash panel reveals chaos as Hatchan shouts, "The New Fish-Man Pirates... are about to invade the island!!!" and "The Ryugu Kingdom... is going to fall!!!" Sanji reacts in shock.

A few hours earlier in the Fish-Man District, Hody Jones addresses a crowd from atop Noah: "Listen and rejoice!! Because you all get to be a part of this historic operation!!" "Listen up, allies of Hody Jones!!!" Vander Decken IX steps forward dramatically, declaring, "I'm a fish-man who can't swim...! But this 'Mato Mato' curse has also granted me a demonic power!!" He continues, "But I am cursed, just like my ancestor!!" The crowd reacts as he boasts, "Bahohoho hohoh!! Don't you worry... I'm his descen-dant!! Not some kind of ghost...!!!" "As in, the captain of the Flying Dutchman...I!" "...Vander Decken...I" He gestures and says, "Allow me to demonstrate...!!!" Hody calls out, "Hordy!!!" and a fish-man asks, "Let's see... how about youI! Human! Step forward!" Someone replies, "Eh..."

Hody Jones towers over the crowd with glowing eyes and spiked hair, shouting, "Hachi-san..." Voices call out, "It's Hacchi-san!!" "It's Hacchi-san!!" Hachi pleads, "Stop this crazy talk!!" "Nyuul!! Are you serious about thisI!" Hody growls, "Don't underestimate the great warrior Neptune!!" and "And why would a fish-man want to destroy Fish-Man IslandI! Energy steroids are good for nothing but self-destruction!" He confronts Hachi directly: "Hachi-san...!! Would you please spare me your whining...I" Hachi replies sadly, "It's hard to believe you were once a member of the Arlong Pirates I so admired..." Hody retorts, "I'm tired of hearing your opinion. You've grown soft...!! It's time for a new generation to take over...!!!" An enraged fish-man yells, "You never responded when Arlong called for your help!!" Hachi fires back, "But Arlong-san was defeated!! Nyuul... Decken!! Hyouzou!! Are even you going to listen to this madnessI!" Hody declares, "We're going to put the humans in their place. For that, we need Fish-Man Island, and Neptune is in our way!! It was your crew who preached that our race stands above all others!!!"

A fish-man with a tall hat and ornate coat snarls, "THAT CAPTAIN OF YOURS TRIED TO MAKE ME ONE OF HIS OWN MINIONS!! THE NERVE OF IT ALL!!" Another voice laughs, "BAHOHOHO!! HACHI OF THE ARLONG PIRATESI! NOW THAT'S A NAME I HAVEN'T HEARD IN A WHILE!!" Hachi, bloodied and distressed, replies, "YOU'VE NEVER HAD A HOPE OF MATCHING ME, EVER SINCE YOU WERE A KID... ARLONG WAS ALWAYS TOO TIGHT WITH HIS CASH. HE NEVER MADE US THE RIGHT OFFER... HELPINGI WE'VE BEEN HIRED, THAT'S ALL. THEY PAY US WELL..." He continues, "I DON'T SERVE UNDER ANYONE BUT MYSELF!! HORDY'S THE KIND OF MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT!!" The speaker retorts, "I FELT SORRY FOR ARLONG, HAVING TO MAKE DO WITH A SWORDSMAN OF YOUR LEVEL..." In a flashback panel, the same man declares, "...ARLONGSAN HAD AN AMBITION AND DRIVE THAT WERE WORTHY OF RESPECT... BUT HE WAS TOO BARBARIC. HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CUNNING... BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN YOUR CREW WERE STORMING THE SEAS, WE WERE STILL KIDS. WE WEREN'T READY TO BECOME PIRATES, NO MATTER HOW WE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO." Hachi stands before a wooden gate, saying, "STRAW HAT LUFFY CALLED ME HIS FRIEND, DESPITE THE CREW TO WHICH I ONCE BELONGED... IN FACT, I OWE HIM MY LIFE!! I WOULD GO TO MEET HIM RIGHT AWAY..." The large fish-man with a scar over his eye looms forward, "WHY, FROM WHAT I HEAR, THE MAN WHO CRUSHED THE DREAMS OF YOUR OLD CREW, STRAW HAT LUFFY......IS ON FISHMAN ISLAND AS WE SPEAK...! DOESN'T THAT STIR ANYTHING IN YOUI! I AM THE MAN WHO HAS INHERITED THE WILL OF THE ARLONG PIRATES...!! AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART......TO SEE A FORMER MEMBER OF THAT GLORIOUS CREW OBJECTING TO MY GRAND SCHEME...!!!"

The scarred fish-man roars, "I'VE LOST ALL THE RESPECT I EVER HAD FOR YOU!!! YOU CALL A HUMAN YOUR FRIEND...I YOU'RE AS BAD AS THAT FILTH NEPTUNE..." His face twists in fury as he thinks, "...BUT HOW COULD I FACE HIM IN THE KNOWLEDGE......THAT ARLONG'S WILL STILL LIVES ONI!!" The tall-hatted fish-man laughs, "BAHOHOHOHOH... HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PIRATEI" He points and declares, "LOOK ON. YOU'RE IN MY SIGHTS NOW, HACHI..." and adds, "IF YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH US, WE SETTLE IT THROUGH VIOLENCE!! I KNOW IT!!" Hachi reacts with shock, "!I" A knife suddenly flies through the air. Hachi cries out, "A KNIFEI" as it strikes him, "ARGH HHH!!" The scene shifts to a wide view of Fish-Man Island's bubble dome and distant figures running.

The tall-hatted fish-man explains, "...WILL SOAR LIKE A BIRD STRAIGHT TOWARDS MY TARGET - YOU!!!" as the knife changes direction midair. He continues, "...FROM THE MOMENT I TOUCHED YOU JUST NOW, YOU BECAME MY "TARGET". ANY PROJECTILE I LET FLY, NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION I THROW IT......BUT IT LANDED STRAIGHT IN THE OCTOPUS' BACK!!! THE "MATO MATO CURSE"...!!!" Hachi lies wounded while the scarred fish-man panics, "HORDY!! DECKEN'S GOING TO KILL ME!! I'VE HEARD RUMOURS OF THAT ABILITY OF YOURS!!! STOP!! ALL THOSE ARROWS...!!!" Hachi shouts, "YOU HAVE TO STOP HIM!!!" The scarred fish-man yells, "WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT A TRYI NATURALLY, THERE ARE WAYS TO BLOCK IT." The tall-hatted fish-man, now revealed as Vander Decken, sneers, "YOU FILTHY COWARD!!! I'M SICK OF HAVING TO LOOK AT YOUR FACE!!" A large fish-man lounges and states, "THE TWO OF US ARE EQUALS IN THIS PIRATE ALLIANCE. VANDER DECKEN ISN'T MY SUBORDINATE. AND BESIDES... I TOLD YOU ALREADY, HACHI-SAN."

Vander Decken unleashes a barrage, "FLYY YYYY YYYY!!!" while Hody Jones blocks with crossed arms, "OFF YOU GOOOO!!" Arrows rain down as Hachi screams, "UGHAA...!!! NYUUUUU!!!" Hody yells, "...THEY'LL NEVER STOP CHASING AFTER YOU!!!!! NO MATTER WHERE YOU RUN..." Vander Decken laughs, "BAHOHOHO HOHOHO HOH!!! JAH AHAHAHAHA AHH!!!" Hody continues, "BUT NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU GO...!!! THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!! RUN!!! RUN ALL YOU LIKE!!" Hachi flees in terror, "AAAAAR RRGHH HHHHHH HHH!!!" while arrows pursue relentlessly. The final panels show arrows still flying through the dome interior with the sound effects "KYUN!!" and Hachi's desperate cry, "UGHAAH... EVEN WATER DOESN'T SLOW THEM DOWNI! THEY'RE STILL COMING...!!"

Vander Decken raises both hands and declares, "I CAN STORE ONE TARGET FOR EACH OF MY HANDS... SO, A MAXIMUM OF TWO!!!" He laughs wildly, "BAHOHO HOHOHO HOH...!!!" The scene shifts to the massive dome interior where a crowd stands in stunned silence. Decken continues, "YOU GET IT NOWI! WHETHER IT BE LOVE OR DEADLY WEAPONS, WHATEVER I CHOOSE TO THROW WILL CHASE MY TARGETS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!! THIS IS MY POWER!!!" A close-up shows his face as he adds, "IT'S STILL FRESH WITH THE MEMORY OF THE TIME I TOUCHED SHIRAHOSHI, PRINCESS OF THE RYUGUU KINGDOM!!! I HAVEN'T EVEN WASHED THIS RIGHT HAND OF MINE FOR TEN YEARS..." The crowd reacts in horror: "CREE-PY!!", "WHAT AN OUTRAGEOUSLY CREEPY GUY!!!", "BAHO HOHO HOHO HOH!!", "SO THAT'S HOW HE'S MANAGED TO STALK HER FOR ALL THESE YEARS, WITHOUT EVER SHOWING HIS FACE OR BEING CAUGHT BY THE NEPTUNE ARMY!!!", and "WOOO OOW!!!"

Vander Decken's crew discusses the plan. One states, "BUT ONE MAN HAS SUCCEEDED IN THROWING MANY THINGS INSIDE ITS WALLS FOR TEN LONG YEARS... AND THAT MAN IS VANDER DECKEN!!" Another adds, "THE RYUGUU PALACE IS SAID TO BE IMPENETRABLE... THAT BRINGS US... TO THE FIRST STAGE OF OUR PLAN..." Decken turns to the human pirates and says, "...WELL THEN, MY HUMAN PIRATE GUESTS!! YOU ALL UNDERSTAND DECKEN'S ABILITY NOW, DO YOU NOT......I!" The pirates react with shock. Decken explains that they will be thrown at the palace walls, and from there they can open the gates from inside. He threatens, "WHOEVER SURVIVES THE JOURNEY IS TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION!! IF YOU SUCCEED, THEN I WILL SET YOU FREE!! IF YOU REFUSE, I'LL HURL YOU OUTSIDE THIS BUBBLE MYSELF RIGHT NOW, YOU FILTHY INFERIOR BEINGS!!! IN THESE WATERS, YOU'RE WORTH LESS THAN SLAVES!!!"

Outside the Ryuguu Palace northeastern shell tower, Hody Jones and his men panic as they report, "HORDY IS GOING TO KILL US ALL...!", "PANT... PANT... WAIT... IF WE DON'T OPEN THE PATH INTO THE PALACE...", "HOOO OOOLD IT!!", and "HURRY, SKELETON!! WE MUST REPORT TO THE KING!!" A guard shouts that pirates are attacking the tower and that the princess has been kidnapped by an unknown individual. Inside, Sanji stands with a serious expression while a mermaid cries out in panic. A fish-man yells, "WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE NOW!! THEY JUST HAD TO ATTACK WHILE WE'RE OCCUPYING THE PALACE...!! WH... WH... WHAT DO WE DO NOWI! NO!! WAIT!! DON'T ANSWER THAT!!!" Another voice says, "AN ENEMY ATTACK AT A TIME LIKE THIS...!I WHAT'S UP WITH THAT...I" A fish-man screams, "SHIRAHOSHI IS GONEEE EEP!! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THISI!!! KIDNAPPED, YOU SAA AAAY!!!"

Shirahoshi rides inside Megalo the shark through the Ocean Forest. She says nervously, "RUEO HH... N... NO... I STILL FEEL A LITTLE SAFER IN HERE... DON'T YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF THE SHARK NOWI RUOH HH!!" Megalo replies, "...SO HOW IS ITI BEING OUTSIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEN YEARS!...MY HEART IS BEATING SO FAST... I REALLY... SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS..." Luffy, riding alongside, responds enthusiastically, "IF IT MAKES YOUR HEART RACE, THAT'S AN ADVENTURE ALL RIGHT! SO, THIS 'OCEAN FOREST' YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT... WHAT IS ITI IS THERE FUN STUFF THEREI" Shirahoshi answers, "WOULD THIS BE WHAT THEY CALL... AN ADVENTURE...I THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT! YOU'RE JUST GOING OUTSIDE! MAN, YOU'RE SO WEIRD SOMETIMES..." In a close-up, Shirahoshi continues, "I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO VISIT THAT GRAVE EVEN ONCE, SINCE IT WAS FIRST ERECTED... FOR ALL THESE TEN LONG YEARS... I HAVE WANTED TO VISIT IT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE... THERE IS A GRAVE!"

In the depths of Fish-Man Island, schools of fish swim past a solemn underwater memorial marked by a grand structure. Narration recounts the events: "...SINCE THAT ASSASSINATION TOOK PLACE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, AND SHOOK FISHMAN ISLAND TO ITS CORE......!!" "IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED......TEN YEARS ALREADY..." "...LONG ENOUGH FOR THE PRINCES TO GROW INTO FINE WARRIORS... THOUGH SHIRAHOSHI IS STILL LOCKED AWAY IN HER TOWER..." A large fish-man with a striped headband and fierce expression shouts passionately, "QUEEN OTOHIME....!!" while another voice adds, "BUT NONE OF US HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR PRECIOUS DREAM..."

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