The title page shows the chapter title "Chapter 298 'Love Song'". The cover story is titled "ACE'S GREAT SEARCH FOR BLACKBEARD VOL. 23 'ALMOST FORGOT.'". Portgas D. Ace is sitting on the shoulders of a large, surprised-looking man with a mustache, wearing a white coat and tie. Ace is smiling, holding a letter in one hand, and has a small flame igniting on his other hand. They are surrounded by a group of men in matching uniforms, all pointing guns at them. A large barrel-like structure is in the background.
Portgas D. Acelarge man with mustachearmed men
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A massive, dark cloudscape dominates the sky, with debris falling from it. A long, echoing sound effect "OOOOOHHHH" descends from the clouds, indicating something massive is happening above. Below, Nami looks up in awe and concern. Conis also looks up, murmuring "Ah...". Pagaya stares upward, sweating profusely, with a thought bubble "......!!?". A Shandian warrior looks shocked, asking "What just happened...!?". Another Shandian points at the sky, exclaiming, "The condensed ball of lightning just... disappeared!". On the white sea below, Wiper yells "LUFFY!" with intense emotion. A pirate on a ship cheers, "HELL YEAH!". The Going Merry and other ships are visible floating on the sea, waiting for the outcome of the battle.
NamiConisPagayaShandian warriorsWiperpirate
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Enel's face is shown in close-up, looking shocked and sweating, with a thought bubble showing "......!!". The giant beanstalk, Giant Jack, is shown with debris raining down around it from the destroyed Raigou. In the center of the page, Luffy is falling through the air, covered in shadows and debris, yelling loudly with his mouth wide open. Large, bold text surrounds him: "LIGHT THE FLAME OF SHANDORA! RING IT! STRAW HAAAT!!!". Below on the clouds, Gan Fall looks on intently, saying "LET US HEAR THE SONG OF THE ISLAND!". A Shandian warrior stands next to the young girl Aisa, looking up at the sky and saying, "Let us hear it, boy...".
EnelMonkey D. LuffyGan FallShandian warriorAisa
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Luffy propels himself rapidly upward towards Enel's flying ship, the Ark Maxim. His right arm is twisted tightly like a coiled spring, with the giant golden ball firmly attached to his hand. Sound effects "TWIISST..." and "VWOOSH" accompany his flight as he spins through the air. In the bottom panels, Luffy smiles confidently, his eyes wide and full of determination, and yells, "ALRIGHT, THEN! IT'S TIME TO RING IT UP ALONG WITH YOU!". Enel glares back at him, his face tight with anger, sweat dripping down his face as he realizes Luffy is still coming.
Monkey D. LuffyEnel
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Enel's face is heavily shadowed with fury, his eyes wide and veins popping as he says, "YOU IMPUDENT MONKEY FROM THE BLUE SEAS! RUIN MY RAIGOU...! HOW DARE YOU...". In a massive, page-filling display of power, Enel transforms his entire body into a colossal, monstrous entity made of pure lightning. The transformation is accompanied by a booming sound effect "DOOOM" that surrounds him. His new form is giant, with a demonic face and crackling energy radiating from him. He roars his attack name, "200 MILLION VOLTS! AMARU!", preparing to unleash his ultimate power against Luffy.
Enel
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Enel, now a giant lightning monster, wields his trident. He taunts Luffy, "THAT WHEN THE BELL RINGS AGAIN, IT'LL SOUND THE END OF THE WAR!? DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE CLINGING ONTO THAT STUPID RUMOUR, WON'T EVEN SAVE ONE THING!?". Luffy dodges, looking shocked, "W-WHAT'S THE HECK IS THAT!? YOU'LL RING THE GOLDEN BELL!?". Enel strikes with his trident, missing Luffy with a "ZAAP!". Enel boasts, "I AM A GOD! YOU'RE JUST A MEASLY PARAMECIA ABILITY USER! WITH MY LOGIA POWERS, THE STRONGEST CLASS OF DEVIL FRUIT ABILITIES, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD EVER LOSE TO YOU!". Luffy manages to dodge another strike. Enel notes, "YOU MANAGED TO AVOID BEING SKEWERED... OH... NICELY STOPPED...". Luffy grits his teeth, "NGHH!". Enel asks, "WHAT KIND OF GOD...". Luffy dashes forward, annoyed, "God this, God that... GOD, you're annoying! I told you before that won't work!".
EnelMonkey D. Luffy
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Enel successfully stabs Luffy with the trident. Luffy cries out, "NGHH! GAHHH!!", as blood drips from the wound. Enel laughs sadistically, "YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARM IS ONLY DRIVING THE TRIDENT DEEPER INTO YOUR BODY! HOOOTTT! AGHHHH! YAHA HAHA!". Nami watches in horror, screaming "LUFFY!". Enel continues to taunt, "WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW, RUBBER MAN!? THERE'S NO PLACE TO RUN! AS WELL AS THIS COUNTRY! I CAN ALWAYS MAKE ANOTHER RAIGOU!". Luffy growls in pain, "GRR!". Enel pushes Luffy towards the edge of the ship, saying, "YOU'VE DONE WELL IN COMING ALL THE WAY UP HERE... BUT IT'S THE END FOR YOU, BUT IF YOU TRY TO RUN, THEN YOU'LL ONLY FALL TO YOUR DOOM!".
EnelMonkey D. LuffyNami
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Conis cries, tears streaming down her face, asking, "IS SKY ISLAND... GOING TO DISAPPEAR?". Luffy's face is shown in close-up, looking intense, focused, and sweating. Conis continues to cry, "I'M SO SORRY! IT'S THE DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY...". Suddenly, Luffy falls backward off the edge of the Ark Maxim, pulling the trident out of Enel's grasp as he goes. Enel looks surprised but then smirks, saying, "AHH, SO YOU CHOSE TO FALL, DID YOU?". Luffy yells "GAHH!" as he plummets backward. Nami screams "LUFFY!" in panic. Enel laughs maniacally, "YAHAHA HAHAHA!". Luffy falls through the air, the heavy golden ball still attached to his arm, pulling him down towards the white sea below.
ConisMonkey D. LuffyEnelNami
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As he falls away from the ship, Luffy yells urgently, "GET AWAY FROM THERE! NAMI!". Enel looks down over the edge, confused by Luffy's action, saying "WHAT!?". Luffy continues to fall rapidly, but his arm, attached to the heavy golden ball, stretches out behind him. The golden ball has caught on the ship or the beanstalk, acting as an anchor. The tension builds as his rubber arm stretches further and further, creating a massive slingshot effect. Luffy glares up at Enel with fierce determination and yells, "DON'T GET COCKY, EARLOBES! GOMU GOMU NO...".
Monkey D. LuffyEnel
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Using the extreme tension of his stretched rubber arm, Luffy launches himself back up towards the ship like a massive slingshot. A sound effect "TWIIRRLLL..." accompanies his rapid ascent as his arm begins to untwist. He yells "ROCKET!". Nami looks up, her expression changing from fear to surprised relief. Luffy flies past the Ark Maxim, his arm still twisted tightly with the golden ball trailing behind him. He continues his attack cry, "GOMU GOMU NO...". Enel looks shocked and frustrated, exclaiming, "STILL WON'T GIVE UP!?". Enel readies his trident again, crackling with lightning, and says, "I'LL SKEWER YOU FOR GOOD THIS TIME... YAHAHA! FINE, I'LL TAKE YOU ON AS MANY AS IT TAKES!". Luffy, his face full of determination, yells back, "I RING THAT BELL! NOT UNTIL,".
Monkey D. LuffyNamiEnel
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Luffy unleashes his massive attack. The giant golden ball, propelled by the rapid untwisting of his stretched arm, spins furiously like a drill. He roars the name of his attack, "GOLDEN RIFLE!". Enel, still in his giant lightning monster form, looks terrified as the attack hurtles towards him. He screams in panic, "NGHHHRR- RAHHH!". The spinning golden ball strikes Enel directly in the chest, shattering his lightning form and creating a massive, explosive impact. The force of the blow is immense, completely overwhelming Enel and pushing him backward with incredible speed and power.
Monkey D. LuffyEnel
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Conis and Pagaya look up at the sky. Pagaya says, "WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OF GOLD OR SKY ISLAND, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PERSON WHO'S PROVEN THEY DON'T EXIST!...SOME DAY FOR SURE. YES, THE HOLY LAND WILL SING ONCE AGAIN. BUT NOT FIND US HERE...?". Down on Jaya, Mont Blanc Cricket looks up, saying, "WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOU WERE TO COME BACK TO JAYA,". He yells passionately, "ISN'T THAT FANTASY PRECISELY WHAT MAKES IT ROMANTIC!?". The monkey-like men look confused, one saying "Ugh...!", the other asking "MN...? PICH? What're you yelling for?". Cricket screams, "COME ON! LUFFYYYY!". Back in the sky, Aisa cries, "Luffy... STRAW HAT...!! THAT WE ARE STILL HERE! I'LL TELL YOU SOON ENOUGH, PLEASE WAIT A LITTLE LONGER,". A flashback shows Mont Blanc Noland declaring, "I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THE CITY OF GOLD EXISTS. ON THE ISLAND OF JAYA IN GRAND LINE, I SAW AN IMMENSE CITY OF GOLD.". Wiper cries, tears streaming down his face, "CHULALA? It's been 400 years, Since the war in the skies began... OF SHANDORA! LIGHT THE FLAME, What we've sought since then... Was to ring it just one more time...".
The immense force of Luffy's "Golden Rifle" attack pushes Enel all the way into the giant golden bell of Shandora. The spinning golden ball on Luffy's arm strikes the side of the massive bell with tremendous power, crushing Enel between them. Luffy, his face stretched in a wide, triumphant yell, screams at the top of his lungs, "LET IT RING ALL THE WAY DOOWWN!". Large text bubbles resonate with the impact, carrying Luffy's message: "FOR 400 YEARS... THE CITY OF GOLD EXISTS! MISTER DIAMOND HEAD! CAN YOU HEAR IT!?". The impact sends shockwaves through the air, shattering debris around the bell.
Monkey D. LuffyEnel
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The giant golden bell of Shandora finally rings out with a massive, echoing sound. A huge, bold sound effect "KRAAANNG!!!" fills the sky, visually representing the deafening toll of the bell. The sound waves part the thick clouds, revealing the clear sky above the white sea. Large text bubbles continue Luffy's declaration from the previous page, echoing across the sky: "WAS HERE IN THE SKY! THE CITY OF GOLD!". The scene is peaceful and triumphant as the long-lost bell finally sings its song.
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A single, large panel focuses entirely on Luffy's face. He is smiling broadly, his mouth wide open in a joyous, triumphant laugh. His eyes are closed in pure happiness and relief, having finally fulfilled his promise to ring the golden bell and prove the existence of the City of Gold to Mont Blanc Cricket.
Monkey D. Luffy
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End of chapter16 pages
Discussion
Nami watches the fight with visible shock.
p10Long-eared opponent lands multiple spinning strikes on Luffy.