The War Front

The title page for Chapter 167 'The War Front' features a large chaotic illustration of a crowded scene with people dancing and fighting on a raised platform. Jango is prominently shown in the foreground with a wide grin, wearing a Marine hat. Other figures include men in black suits swinging weapons, a crowd below with raised arms, and various characters in motion. The caption at the bottom reads 'JANGO'S DANCE PARADISE VOL.32 "SHOW YOUR MOVES, COURT!"'.

Nami stands with a serious expression, stating 'All we really have to do is head North from Yuba.' and 'The oasis town of Rainbase where Crocodile is currently at is here.' A detailed map follows, labeling Rainbase as 'The Town of Dreams', Yuba as 'Our Present Location', Spiders Cafe, Erumalu 'The Dried-up Town', Nanohana 'Port Town', Alubarna 'Alabastan Capital', and Katorea 'Current Rebel Base'. An arrow marks Carue's Route. Nami points to the map and notes 'It's a day's walk away from here.' In the lower panels, a group discusses: 'So there are some towns unaffected by the rebellion...', 'Don't get any strange ideas now...', 'Casinos, you sayI!', 'Yes, don't worry. Despite the ongoing chaos in other parts of the country, Rainbase is a vibrant casino-town.', and 'Will there be water thereI'.

In the scorching desert, Luffy desperately clings to a wooden barrel of water, sweat pouring down his face. "C'MON... JUST ONE GULP... WE FINALLY HAVE SOME WATER NOW SO GIMME SOME..." he pleads. Nearby, hooded companions watch the struggle. "Are they still goin' at itI" one asks. "HmI" another replies. Luffy stretches his arm dramatically, shouting "GOMU GOMU... NO WAY!" A bearded man in a turban blocks him fiercely: "I'm not gonna let you or anyone drink it away that easily!" Luffy yells back, "This is all the water," while the group notes, "That old man spent all last night digging up!" The argument escalates into a wild tug-of-war as Luffy declares "GOMU GOMU NO WAY!" and others shout "NO! GIVE IT! NO!" with impact lines and motion effects filling the panel. The fight ends abruptly when someone points ahead: "Yo, North is this way." The group agrees, "Alright, alright. Let's get a move on." Luffy protests, "HOW RUDE! OF COURSE I DO!" as a companion retorts, "Oh, so you do have some self-restraint." Sound effects like どん and ぐるる punctuate the scene as they begin marching across the dunes.

The desert trek continues under the blazing sun. Luffy and a long-tongued companion both groan in exhaustion, "UGH..." with sweat drops and motion lines. A massive sound effect てりっ!! dominates the sky as the group trudges forward on camels. Voices call out: "Camel-girl!" "Yeah, that's right! Let us on too," "Easy for you to say when you're riding a camel..." "CUT THAT OUT, YOU TWO!" "Nami-camel!" "I SAID SHUT UP!" The caravan presses on across endless sand dunes. In a close-up, Sanji smirks while lighting a cigarette, "Heh heh." Chopper, riding a camel, responds cheerfully, "Yup! I'm going to be tough today!" A hooded figure notes, "You're truckin' along pretty well today, Chopper." The Straw Hats and their allies continue their march through the harsh wasteland.

Luffy lies bandaged on the sand, eyes half-closed. "PardonI" a voice asks. "Well, just feed me," Luffy replies weakly. A hooded woman states, "I alone could never make the decision to go to Rainbase..." as Luffy answers, "Thanks..." Someone murmurs, "HmI" and calls, "Luffy..." Luffy's face fills the panel in close-up, teeth gritted with intense determination: "Once I kick Crocodile's ass, feed me until I explode." The woman smiles warmly, declaring, "It's a promise!" A smaller panel shows her gentle expression as she confirms, "Sure." The group rests briefly amid the dunes before resuming their journey toward the looming conflict.

A dramatic close-up introduces a frantic man with tools strapped to his back, shouting "PLEASE!" A sign identifies him: "Kappa, a shoeshiner from Nanohana." The scene shifts to a stern man with glasses who flatly responds, "No." In a bustling rebel camp filled with tents, weapons, and townsfolk, a striped-robed figure commands, "Falafra, show him..." A voice pleads desperately, "Falafra, show him... SO LET ME JOIN YOU! I HATE THE KING TOO! WHY NOT!I I HAVE A RIGHT TO JOIN THE REBELS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!" The reply comes, "Ok, boss." The camp bustles with activity as the war front draws nearer.

A scarred man with glasses speaks earnestly to the group. "This man here received that wound during a battle, while trying to cover me...! There's also the hospital and cemetary that I can show you..." Nearby, a bandaged fighter cries out in pain, "GAHH!" as impact lines flare. The large, muscular rebel leader with a fur collar and chains roars, "I'M NOT SCARED OF THAT STUFF! I'M... SO I WANT TO FIGHT TOO! THINGS LIKE INJURIES OR DEATH ISN'T GOING TO SCARE ME AWAY!" In the background, rebels stand before tents in a desert camp. One declares, "This is all because he stole our rain! And I know it won't be long before his town also dries up like Erumalu! My friend who lives in the town beside Erumalu is sick right now!"

Koza sits with arms crossed as the large rebel looms behind him. A voice states, "If that's the case, then go home, because we're of different opinions." Koza replies firmly, "All of us here are scared... None of us want to fight." The large rebel growls, "None of us 'want' to fight, but we have no choice but to fight...! The country wished this upon itself... Because the war's already begun..." Koza snaps back, "WHAT!I Then why the heck are you fighting! That doesn't make any sense! Whether or not you can understand that is irrelevant... Now go home!" The large rebel shouts, "THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A KID! I SAID GO HOME!"

In the rebel camp, Koza questions a companion, "It ain't like you. To go venting your frustrations at a little kid... What's wrong, KouzaI" Rebels discuss logistics: "Send a message out to all of our forces... Not as much as we'd like to have......Did you get the weaponsI I just couldn't handle how much he reminded me of my own self when I was a kid... Guess I haven't changed at all... The Royal Army prevented us from taking their armoury..." Koza stands and declares with determination, "WE WILL AMOUNT A FULL-SCALE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL! AS SOON AS WE FINISH EQUIPPING OURSELVES WITH WEAPONS,"

At the Royal Palace at Alubarna, a sign reads "Royal Palace at Alubarna." A fierce man with slicked-back hair shouts, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NO ALREADY!I THIS ISN'T A FIGHT BETWEEN CHILDREN WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE! YOU WANT TO GET BACK AT THEM FOR ATTACKING USI SO WHAT IF IT DOES!I YOU WOULD USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO KILL OUR PEOPLE!I BUT YOUR MAJESTY! IF WE DO NOT ACT SOON, OUR KINGDOM MAY VERY WELL FALL!"

In a grand hall, the king sits on his throne and declares firmly, "Listen well! The country is its people!" A voice counters, "DOING PRECISELY THAT WOULD BE THE DOWNFALL OF THE ENTIRE KINGDOM!" Nearby, Chaka and Pell stand together. Pell states, "Ever since that 'Dance Powder Incident,' there's been a group of people instigating trouble." Chaka replies, "It's THAT group of people we should be fighting!" The king leans forward with a stern expression, telling them, "Get that through your head..." Chaka answers, "Absolutely not..." Pell pleads, "So please, your majesty!" The king continues gravely, "But the fact remains that we don't even have the faintest idea who this 'shadow' is! And it'll be too late to act once this shadow envelops our entire kingdom!"

On a palace balcony overlooking the city, Chaka and Pell stand side by side. Chaka says, "All we can do is wait and suppress whatever revolt that keeps popping up..." Pell adds, "With the King's mind set on forbidding even the mere idea of an offensive." Large impact lettering erupts as Pell continues, "Just trying to keep our own soldiers in-line..." Chaka responds, "And we're already at our limits." Identification boxes label them clearly: "Vice-Commander and Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Alabasta Royal Guards 'Chaka the Jackal'" and "Vice-Commander of the Alabasta Royal Guards 'Pell the Falcon'."

Chaka turns away on the balcony, saying, "Enough with that talk, Pell..." Pell looks concerned, thinking, "If only Igaram could be here in this crucial time to help us..." In another scene, three figures discuss: "The same goes for Princess Vivi..." "He must have left with some sort of plan." "That man would never betray his kingdom...!" A close-up shows Igaram declaring, "I shall bring light to the Kingdom. -Igaram-" A frantic messenger bursts in shouting, "CARUE HAS JUST RETURNED TO THE PALACE!" Chaka and Pell react with surprise as voices ask, "COMMANDERS CHAKA AND PELL!" "...Yes, it must be so." "Or is that all a part of his plan too...!I" "He could've at least told us about it before leaving...!"

A dramatic impact panel shows a helmeted figure reacting with shock, sweat flying, as large stylized sound effects burst around them. In the palace, Chaka and Pell examine a letter. Chaka exclaims, "It's Vivi's handwriting without a doubt...!" Pell confirms, "Yes..." A servant announces, "Your majesty, this letter...!" A close-up reveals a sweating, wide-eyed man realizing the truth: "Then that means...!" The narration continues from the shocked figure, "I naively thought he was on the same side as the World Government and let my guard down... But to think Crocodile would be planning to take over the entire kingdom...!" Another voice adds, "Yes, it came as quite a shock to me too..."

In a quiet room, Carue the duck stands proudly as a voice praises him: "Well done, Carue. It also said in the letter you fought bravely." Nearby, Igaram kneels bandaged and exhausted while another figure reflects, "That's just the kind of man he was... He gave his life for Alabasta..." A shocked voice cries, "And Igaram...!I" Carue suddenly panics with a loud "QUACK!" as a fist strikes him, sending him flying with "ビシッ" and "QUACK!" effects. "W-wha!I" someone exclaims. A concerned figure asks, "Is your left arm injuredI Here, let me have a look..." The scene shifts to a grand hall where King Cobra stands with Chaka and Pell. Cobra declares, "We've found our enemy at last. Have the army prepare to move out at once!" Chaka responds, "Chaka."

Cobra stands tall and orders, "ATTACK CROCODILE AT RAINBASE IMMEDIATELY! WE CANNOT ALLOW VIVI'S DETERMINATION AND IGARAM'S SACRIFICE GO TO WASTE!" Chaka warns from the side, "EVEN MORESO THAN YOUR MAJESTY RIGHT NOW, I'M AFRAID! Moreover, Crocodile has the support of the people behind him!" Pell adds, "Please hold on a moment, your majesty! It's quite a distance from here to Rainbase. Crocodile will easily know we're coming and should he wish to, he can simply avoid a fight." Cobra clenches his fist and replies, "The rebels will no doubt use the opportunity to capture the Royal Palace. While our armies attack Rainbase...! If we move in to attack Crocodile now, That would be pouring oil on fire!"

Cobra's face fills the panel as he states firmly, "Haven't I told you already that the country is its people!I So what if the rebels take the palace...!I" He continues with intense resolve, "BUT IF WE INSTEAD HAVE OUR ARMY FIGHT THE REBEL FORCES, THE ONLY ONE LAUGHING AT THE END WILL BE CROCODILE! EVEN IF THE ROYAL ARMY WERE TO BE DEFEATED, AS LONG AS CROCODILE IS TAKEN OUT, THE COUNTRY WILL BE REBUILT BY THE HANDS OF ITS PEOPLE!" Chaka bows his head and says, "It does not matter even if stopping the rebels is impossible... Our only target is Crocodile! Forgive our short-sightedness..." Pell adds quietly, "Your majesty..."

In the vast hall, Cobra addresses the group: "It won't be one that can be won without sacrifices! Our enemy is a member of the Royal Shichibukai...! This will be no easy battle..." He turns to Pell and Chaka, saying, "WE'VE UNDERESTIMATED OUR MAJESTY'S FORESIGHT... WHAT SHEER FORCE OF WILL! Pell, you are to go ahead and scout the enemy base. Chaka! Call all officers for an emergency battle meeting!" The two salute and respond, "YES, SIR!" Cobra then roars with dramatic impact lines, "SEND ALL TROOPS TO RAINBASE! FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING," as attendants bow deeply.

A map of Arabasta displays key locations including Rainbase (Crocodile), Yuba (Straw Hat Pirates), Erumalu, Nanohana, Alubarna (Royal Guards), and Katorea (Rebel Forces). An arrow points upward from Katorea toward Alubarna. A narration box states, "The Rebellion's goal: To crush the Royalist Army at the capital." Below, another map shows an arrow from Rainbase toward Alubarna with a crossed-out symbol at Rainbase. A stern man with a scar and glasses appears beside the text, "The Royal Guard's goal: To crush Crocodile at Rainbase." A third map highlights positions with a large central illustration of Luffy in his straw hat and black coat gripping a staff, mouth open in a shout, surrounded by cheering figures and a camel. A box reads, "Luffy and the Straw-Hat crew also aim to defeat Crocodile at Rainbase." A separate box notes, "Remaining Time before B.W.'s Operation Utopia: 17 hours."

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