MIZAKI, THE CITY OF PROMISE

Inside the whale's massive interior a ship rests on the water under an arched ceiling with a palm tree. A voice states HE HAS A BIG HOLE INSIDE HIS BODY, BUT HE'S STILL ALIVE. ISN'T THIS BECAUSE HE IS PLAYFULI THIS WATER WAY IS VERY GOOD. Luffy grins widely on a railing and asks CAN YOU BECOME OUR DOCTOR, THENI An old man with a hat replies A DOCTORI WHEN I USED TO STAY AT MIZAKI, I WORKED ON A SHIP FOR 2-3 YEARS. IT'S JUST MY FUNNY IDEA, BUT I AM A DOCTOR. The old man continues YES, BECAUSE HE'S GETTING TOO BIG FOR OUTSIDE TREATMENT NOW. A girl with short hair stands by a large wheel and says YOU ARE A DOCTOR, SO YOU ARE GIVING THIS WHALE MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM INSIDE HIS BODY, RIGHTI The old man answers I AM NOT AS STRONG AS I USED TO BE NOW. DON'T BE STUPID. HERE I OPEN THE DOOR FOR YOU.

The ship bursts upward through the whale's blowhole with a massive splash and skull figurehead visible. A voice shouts I SEE THE REAL SKY!! HA! Below, Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 tumble in the surf as a large SFX erupts. Miss Wednesday cries UGH! WHAT'S THISI IS THIS GASTRIC LIQUIDI Mr. 9 asks WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THESE TWOI JUST THROW THEM OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE. Miss Wednesday replies NO, IT'S SEA WATER, MS. WEDNESDAY. IT SEEMS THAT THOSE PIRATES ARE LETTING US GO, MR. NINE.

Miss Wednesday warns THAT'S RIGHT, MR. NINE. IT REALLY INVOLVES OUR COMPANY. YOU'D BETTER BE PREPARED! Mr. 9 adds WAIT, MS. WEDNESDAY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NONE OF HIS BUSINESS, WE STILL HAVE SOME RELATIONSHIP WITH PIRATES. From the ship Luffy asks SO, WHO ARE YOUI IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. A massive explosion erupts with CLAUDIUS! ONE DAY, WE WILL TAKE THAT WHALE FOR SURE! WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON, YOU COUNTRY-SIDE PIRATES! On the deck the old man says IF WE HOLD THEM HERE, THEY WILL SEND NEW GUYS TO KILL THE WHALE ANYWAY. IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO LET THEM GET AWAYI THEY CAN COME BACK TO KILL THE WHALE. Luffy stands surprised as a voice asks WHOSE IS THISI HER NAME IS MS. WEDNESDAYI WOW! WHAT A MYSTERIOUS GIRL SHE IS.

At the cape, Laboon floats in the sea with a massive scar on its head, letting out a long mournful cry: "ブォオオオオオオオ". A voice wonders, "HE STILL BELIEVES THAT HIS FRIENDS WILL RETURNI" Sanji sits smoking, replying to unseen listeners, "BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN 50 YEARS. THEY SAID THAT THEY'LL COME BACK IN 2-3 YEARS. IDIOT! DO YOU REMEMBER THIS IS GRAND LINEI THOSE PIRATES MADE THIS WHALE WAIT FOR THEM FOR A REALLY LONG TIME." The scene shifts to the lighthouse as Crocus states firmly, "NO MATTER HOW LONG HE WAIT FOR THEM, THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK. THEY ARE ALREADY DEAD!"

Crocus continues, "BUT THE TRUST IS MORE CRUEL THAN THE DREAM." He tends a small fire while explaining, "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO THINK THAT THIS WHALE IS STILL KEEPING HIS PROMISE. MAYBE THEY ARE COMING BACK. WHY ARE YOU SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THATI WHO KNOWSI" Luffy bursts in angrily, "WHAT DID YOU SAYI WHATI THEY'VE ALREADY LEFT FROM GRAND LINE." Crocus answers gravely, "THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I HAVE CHECKED ALREADY. THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK. NO ONE WANTS TO STAY IN THIS CATASTROPHIC ATMOSPHERE." Nami asks in shock, "SO, THIS WHALE WAS ABANDONEDI BUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO ESCAPE FROM HERE, THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH CALM BELT."

Crocus explains, "BECAUSE ONCE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THE FEAR OF GRAND LINE, YOU WILL BECOME WEAK. IF YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH, YOU CAN'T SURVIVE IN THIS SEA." Luffy reacts with horror, "THIS IS TOO CRUEL!!" Crocus adds, "THOUGH HE HAS BELIEVED IN THEM FOR 50 YEARS! THIS WHALE HAS BEEN ABANDONED EVEN THOUGH THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT THINKING OF THE PROMISE. THIS MEANS THAT THEY WEREN'T STRONG ENOUGH AND FEAR OF DEATH." He turns to the whale, "LABOON, LISTEN TO ME. DIDN'T LISTEN. I'VE ALREADY TOLD HIM EVERYTHING. BUT LABOON. THIS WHALE CAN UNDERSTAND HUMAN LANGUAGE, RIGHTI SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY KNOWN THE TRUTH, WHY DON'T YOU TELL HIMI"

Laboon surfaces near the lighthouse as Crocus's words echo, "ALREADY LEFT GRAND LINE. THOSE PIRATES, WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. BUT THEY WILL NEVER COME BACK. AND THE PROMISE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM CAN'T BE A LIE. YOU ARE FRIENDS." Laboon lets out a thunderous cry "オオオオオオオオ" and charges forward, smashing into the lighthouse rocks with a massive impact "BO!" sending debris flying as the whale's rage shakes the cape.

Crocus stands before the massive whale Laboon, gripping his head in frustration as he shouts, "LISTEN TO ME, LABOON!" Laboon charges forward and slams into the Red Line with a thunderous "BO!" and "LA BO ON." Crocus continues yelling as the whale repeatedly bashes the mountain, creating massive impact craters and debris. "THEY'VE ALREADY..." Crocus pleads desperately, "PLEASE LISTEN TO ME, LABOON!" while Laboon keeps ramming the rock face. In the distance, a small figure watches the scene unfold. Laboon's cries echo with "LA-BO-ON!!!" and more "BO!" sounds as Crocus begs the whale to stop, "...LEFT THIS PLACE!"

Laboon continues ramming the mountain with loud "BO!" impacts. Crocus, looking weary, mutters "YOU..." as he watches. Nami stands nearby with a concerned expression, noting, "AND HE HAS HIT HIS FOREHEAD TO DESTROY THE RED LINE..." Usopp reacts with shock. Crocus explains, "...LABOON ALWAYS FACES THE LOOSE MOUNTAIN AND CRIES... AS A SIGN THAT THEY WILL COME BACK HERE." He adds, "I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH LABOON MANY TIMES, BUT LABOON STILL DOESN'T ADMIT THE TRUTH." The lighthouse stands tall in the background as the group listens to the story.

Luffy sits listening intently while Crocus continues the tale. "WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME. HE'S AFRAID OF LOSING THE MEANING OF WAITING." Crocus explains that Laboon lets down the promise because he will have nothing left if he admits the truth. "EVEN THOUGH IT'S WORTHLESS TO WAIT, HE'S STILL WAITING." He reveals, "LABOON'S HOMETOWN IS IN WEST BLUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RED LINE." Pointing to the scars on Laboon's forehead, Crocus asks, "LOOK AT THOSE SCARS ON HIS FOREHEAD. GET INVOLVED WITH HIMI WHY DO YOU STILL... HE IS SURELY POOR, BUT YOU WERE BETRAYED, TOO." Sanji and the others react quietly to the story.

Crocus declares firmly, "I CAN'T LET HIM DIE. I'VE BEEN WITH HIM FOR 50 YEARS, HE'S BECOME PART OF MY LIFE." He warns, "IF HE CONTINUES HITTING HIS HEAD, HE WILL DIE." Luffy reacts with shock, "EH!I" and then stretches dramatically, shouting "RUBBER..." as he launches himself toward Laboon. Nami stands surprised nearby. The crew discusses the situation: "I'VE ARRIVED AT YOUR NEW SCAR MUST BE OVER THERE! MAYBE HE WANTS TO HIKE ON THE WHALE. WHAT IS THAT MORON GOING TO DOI WE CAN'T LET HIM OUT OF OUR SIGHT."

A massive impact shatters the upper structure of the lighthouse tower as debris flies outward. Someone yells, "...ARRANGING FLOWER!!!" Below, a distant view shows the ship near the lighthouse with a bright flash and rising smoke. A cracked stone archway displays the sound "ブチッ...". Three men stand on a platform; one points and asks, "ISN'T THAT A SHIP'S MASTI" Another confirms, "FROM OUR SHIPI ABSOLUTELY RIGHT." A huge vertical "BO!" erupts beside a circular target-like object amid falling droplets and motion lines.

Laboon's massive head bursts from the water, eyes glaring with crisscross scars, accompanied by the enormous sound "オオオオオオ" and "BO!!". The whale's jaws open wide in the next panels. Crew members on the broken ship scream in panic: "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT MORON DOING!!!" "HE BROKE OUR SHIP'S MAST!" Loud cries of "ああああああああ" and "AHHH!!!" fill the air as the vessel tilts violently amid flying debris and impact effects "ゴオオオオ".

Laboon swims toward the lighthouse with a close-up of its scarred head and the sound "C". On the tower, figures shout in alarm: "HE'S COMING THIS WAY!" "HE'S GOING TO HIT THE FLOOR!" A massive crash sends dust and rubble exploding outward with "オオオオ" and "オオオオ". Someone yells "AHHH!!!" as the whale's body slams into the structure, marked by "SPLAT" and impact lines.

Laboon surfaces again with "オオオオオオ" and "BO!". A young girl with a horned helmet cries out, "THAT KID!!" while an older man reassures her, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM, HE WON'T DIE!" Luffy laughs "HA HA" as someone calls him an "IDIOT!" Luffy leaps into action shouting "HERE!" amid "CAN-GRY BO!" and "オオオオオオ". He lands with "UGH!" and "OOP!" while a voice wonders, "WHAT IS HE THINKINGI" Final impacts echo with "BO!" and "ドゴオオ" as Luffy moves through the chaos.

Luffy stands on the rocky shore glaring at the massive whale Laboon, whose head is covered in fresh cracks and impact lines. Crocus shouts from the lighthouse area, "Luffy, what do you think you are doingI" Laboon's enormous body looms as the whale crashes forward. A large speech bubble declares, "WE ARE EVEN NOW!" Luffy's face fills the bottom panel, eyes wide and teeth bared in a fierce grin as he yells, "I AM VERY GOOD, RIGHTI" while motion lines and the sound effect "BO!" emphasize the impact.

Laboon floats in the water with cracks across its head as narration continues the exchange. A voice states, "So we have to fight again in the future." Another replies, "But we still don't know the result of this fight." In the next tier, Luffy sits inside a stone structure saying, "We will travel around Grand Line." Crocus answers, "But I am still alive. Your friends already died," while a young woman with short hair and another figure stand nearby. The final panel shows Laboon's tail and the words, "And we will come back to see you again."

Luffy's face bursts forward with intense eyes and an open mouth as he shouts, "LET'S FIGHT AGAIN NEXT TIME." Below, the group watches: the checkered-dress woman, a seated figure, and Crocus with a serious expression. Laboon's massive form rises from the sea once more, the sound effect "BO!" exploding outward with impact lines as the whale breaches near the rocky cliffs.

Crocus stands with arms crossed, stating, "It's been so years now." Nearby figures react with surprise. The checkered-dress woman points upward while a man climbs a palm tree. Crocus continues, "That's why he's crying for them and hitting his head against Red Line. So he can get to another side." A large "BO!" erupts as Laboon slams its cracked head against the Red Line cliffs. The final bubble reads, "He still believes that his friends are still alive."

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