Color chapter cover for Chapter 401, "Pirates vs CP9." The Straw Hats charge through a bright adventure scene with a giant mammoth-like beast behind them. The banner reads, "Have your dream big! Have your game big!! Pirates that exceed the standard subjugate enemies that exceed the standard!! Whoa~!!"
Monkey D. LuffyRoronoa ZoroNamiUsoppSanjiTony Tony Chopper
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Luffy reaches the room where Robin had been held, panting from the climb. "Haa..." he breathes. "I'm finally here. I wound up climbing up and down the stairs." But the room is empty, ruined from the earlier crash and battle. He calls, "ROBIN!! HEEEY!! I'M HERE--!!!" then realizes, "They were probably in this room earlier... but nobody's here anymore...!" He decides to head straight for the Gates of Justice. Remembering Lucci, he mutters, "Damn that pigeon guy...!!" and then, "... Oh yeah! I know where they are heading to...!!"
Monkey D. LuffyNico RobinRob Lucci
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In another room, Zoro faces Kaku. Zoro asks bluntly, "You have... the key to Robin's handcuffs, right? Why don't you give it to me before you get killed?" Kaku calls that a silly question. Seated calmly, he says, "I've been regretting... that I didn't get to see your real skill in Galley-La Mansion. And I wouldn't have imagined that pirates would come all the way here..." Zoro warns him, "I'm many levels stronger than I was before... so be careful." Kaku answers that he can feel Zoro's spirit, "an ominous beast-like spirit," and says, "Likely so."
Roronoa ZoroKakuNico Robin
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Kaku sees Zoro's sword style and remarks, "Nitoryu*, huh?" Zoro answers, "You're a scary man... But... my swordsmanship is the best in CP9... don't underestimate me." The note marks it as "Two Swords Style." Kaku leaps from his chair and attacks with "Rankyaku," sending a slicing kick through the room. Zoro meets the attack head-on, and the room explodes into flying furniture and shattered stone.
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Kaku corrects Zoro's assumption with a grin. "Sorry, but actually, Yontou*." The note explains, "Four Swords." Zoro bites down on his third sword and answers, "No problem. Now I remember that your whole body is a weapon." Kaku grips his two swords while using his legs like blades, and the duel shifts into a four-sword assault against Zoro's three-sword stance.
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Zoro and Kaku trade slashes in a blur, the fight turning the elegant room into a storm of blades and footwork. Kaku uses his legs like extra swords while gripping two blades in his hands, raining attacks from above and below. Zoro braces with three swords and counters from the floor, sparks and slashes cutting across the panels. As they close in again, Zoro prepares "72-Pound" while Kaku prepares "Rankyaku," the two attacks crossing at the same instant.
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Zoro's "Cannon" and Kaku's "Hakurai" collide in a burst of force. The note calls Hakurai "White Thunder." Kaku vanishes with "Soru," and Zoro barely tracks the movement as Kaku reappears and attacks again. Zoro catches the strike, but Kaku is impressed rather than shaken. Zoro asks, "Are you trying to make a fool of me?" Kaku replies, "No... I'm impressed... If you're in such a hurry, then allow me to show you my new 'ability.'"
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Kaku begins his new transformation, and Zoro watches warily as the shape of his opponent changes in the middle of battle. The room fills with motion: long, dark limbs, sweeping kicks, and slicing arcs tear across the floor and walls. Zoro dodges and braces through the chaos, trying to read what Kaku has become before the next strike lands. The fight no longer feels like a simple sword duel; Kaku's whole body is becoming a weapon in a new and unpredictable way.
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Kaku continues pressing Zoro, sweeping across the room with the strange reach of his changing body. He laughs, "... Wahaha! This is fun!" but Zoro refuses to treat the duel like play. "I have no time for games." Kaku answers with another "Rankyaku," sending a slash tearing toward him, and Zoro challenges him directly: "Then why don't you come and get me?" Their fight keeps ripping up the striped floor and walls as Kaku's new power begins to show, stretching the distance and angles of every attack.
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Kaku unleashes "Ran*!!!" and the note identifies it as "Chaos." The attack fills the room with wild, intersecting slashes. Zoro is forced back and asks, "How can he control that slashing technique so easily...!?" Elsewhere, a blast shakes the tower and someone cries, "OOOOOOH WAAAAH!!!" A startled observer asks, "WHA!? WHAT IS IT!?" Kaku, still calm, says, "No... I'm impressed... If you're in such a hurry, then allow me to show you my new 'ability.'"
Roronoa ZoroKaku
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Chopper enters a strange room that feels almost outdoors, with trees, rocks, grass, and a sleeping Jabra at the center. He thinks, "This room has... far too much gardening...!! It's almost like being outside here." Then he catches himself: "No, no, this isn't the time! Concentrate on the key to Robin's handcuffs for now..." He notices Usopp already creeping through the grass toward the sleeping CP9 agent and calls in his mind, "Over there!!" Jabra snores, "SNZZZ SNZZZ," while Usopp inches closer.
Tony Tony ChopperUsoppJabraNico Robin
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Usopp tries to steal Jabra's key without waking him. He tells himself, "No need to hesitate!!" and, "If I can just grab it quietly and run away quietly, then I've accomplished my goal. It's a win without casualties!! Yes!! I'm the lucky king!!" But a rooster appears, and Usopp panics: "A rooster...!!" He thinks, "This isn't good!! How could such a noisy bird just happen to be here!?" If it crows, Jabra will wake up and Usopp will be killed. He begs it silently, "Hey, why're you looking at me... and preparing to crow? Stop it." "Don't crow, doooon't." "I beg you, don't."
UsoppJabra
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The rooster crows loudly, "CHIRP," and Usopp screams, "ROOSTERS DON'T CROW LIKE THAT!!!" Jabra wakes and notices him. "Hm?" "Ah." Then, smiling, he says, "... Oh. You've come, pirate." Usopp realizes the danger: "That bastard rooster...!!" Jabra asks, "... Now then, shall I wreak havoc?" and launches at Usopp with frightening speed. Usopp screams, "HIBEEE!!!" and "TOAH!!!" as the wolf-like CP9 agent strikes.
UsoppJabra
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Usopp is hurled through the garden room and realizes, "He's strong...!!!!" Jabra laughs, "Ha ha... Gyahaha, it's just you." He recognizes Usopp as the one who shot the Government's flag and says, "I guess your sniping skill is the real deal. Wahaha..." Usopp tries to recover, but Jabra suddenly apologizes with eerie politeness: "I'm sorry for attacking all of a sudden. That was painful, wasn't it...!?" Usopp understands too late, "Th-that was his power right after waking up...!?" and stares in fear.
UsoppJabra
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Jabra reveals the nature of his power. "Despite my appearance... torment isn't how I do things." He tells Usopp, "I'll just slit your throat... and that's the end!! You don't need to suffer before you die... agreed?" Usopp realizes, "A wolf..." and Jabra's ability is revealed: "Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Wolf." Chopper rushes in, yelling that he came all the way here to rescue Robin, but when he sees Jabra's true form, he stammers, "What...? Are you up to it? You don't look that strong..." before forcing himself to shout, "Shut up! I'm up to it no matter what...!!!" The ceiling begins caving in as Usopp and Chopper face the wolf.
JabraUsoppTony Tony ChopperNico Robin
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The chaos from above crashes into Jabra's garden room: Kaku has transformed too, but not as expected. He says, "I was trying to go to 'human-beast form'... but I went all the way to giraffe!!" A massive giraffe body drops through the ceiling. Zoro shouts, "Whoa!! Crap!!" while everyone below reacts in disbelief: "A talking giraffe is falling!!" "A giraffe!!?" "A wolf!!?" "A frickin' zoo!!?" Jabra laughs, "Kaku!! I love your ability!!! Gyahahahaha!!" while Kaku, embarrassed and dangerous, crashes into the room.
KakuRoronoa ZoroJabraUsoppTony Tony Chopper
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SBS bonus page. A reader opens with a joke-filled hard-to-read greeting, and Oda responds by reading it aloud before realizing the reader started the SBS ahead of him. Another reader asks whether Captain Kuro's "Shakushi" is faster than CP9's "Soru." Oda explains that in terms of speed they are about equal, but Kuro moves so fast that even he does not know who he is attacking, while CP9 members can control themselves at that speed, so CP9 would win overwhelmingly. A final reader asks why writing "instrumental" on a test did not earn credit, and Oda jokes that the result does not matter; the real treasure is the courage gained by taking that step forward.
Eiichiro OdaCaptain KuroCP9
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End of chapter19 pages
Discussion
p8Swordsman with pistol evades and counters with sweeping slash.
p9Masked CP9 agent and swordsman clash inside Enies Lobby building on striped floor.
p9Swordsman uses flying slash technique called Rankyaku.
p10Swordsman is sent flying by masked CP9 agent's spinning blade attack.
p10Enies Lobby tower appears in background during the fight.
p11Scene takes place in large indoor garden room inside Enies Lobby.
p11Characters discuss Robin's handcuff key while in the garden area.
p12Cloaked man encounters a rooster named Funkfreed while sneaking outdoors.
p12Rooster attacks and sends cloaked man flying during the encounter.
p13Funkfreed rooster produces enormous crow that physically shakes targets.
p13Jabra identifies cloaked figure as a pirate upon arrival.
p13Jabra fires long-range weapon at the cloaked man.
p14Jabra confirms the cloaked man shot the government flag.
p14Cloaked man acknowledges Jabra's sniping ability.
p14Jabra decides against prolonged torment after the attack.
p15Jabra transforms into wolf-man using Devil Fruit power.
p15Cloaked man is revealed as long-nosed man in black outfit.
p15Long-nosed man states his goal is rescuing Robin.
p16Kaku unintentionally transforms into full giraffe form.
p16Giraffe Kaku crashes through a building.
p16Jabra remains in wolf-man form nearby during the event.
What is said, page by page
p0Large bold text at top declares motivational slogan about big dreams and exceeding standard enemies.
p2Luffy states he climbed many stairs and finally arrived at destination.
p2Luffy shouts Robin's name loudly while searching ruined hall.
p2Luffy concludes room is empty and decides to head straight to Gates of Justice.
p2Luffy realizes group is heading toward specific location and curses pigeon guy.
p3Sanji demands key to Robin's handcuffs before killing opponent.
p3Sanji regrets not seeing opponent's real skill earlier at Galley-La.
p3Seated man calls Sanji's question silly and notes surprise at pirates arriving.
p3Masked man senses ominous beast-like spirit from Sanji.
p3Sanji declares he is many levels stronger than before and warns caution.
p4Zoro notes opponent uses two-sword style.
p4Unidentified swordsman claims best swordsmanship in CP9 and warns not to underestimate.
p4Unidentified swordsman calls Zoro a scary man.
p4Unidentified swordsman shouts Rankyaku while unleashing flying slash.
p5Zoro states he now recalls the opponent's body is a weapon and declares no problem with determined tone.
p5Jabra announces Yontou technique with grin and corrects himself saying sorry but actually.
p6Jabra calls out 72-Pound technique during sword clash.
p6Zoro counters with Rankyaku technique name while crossing blades.
p7Jabra roars Haku-Rai technique while leaping in wolf form.
p7Zoro shouts Cannon technique name during upward counter.
p7Jabra utters Soru with small sound effect after reverting.
p8Masked CP9 agent mutters HMM while observing strike.
p8Swordsman counters with visible !!! reaction during leg swing.
p9Masked CP9 agent taunts swordsman to approach while grinning widely during combat.
p9Swordsman replies coldly that he has no time for games while blocking attack.
p9Masked CP9 agent laughs loudly declaring the fight is fun amid mid-air clash.
p10Masked CP9 agent offers to demonstrate new ability to the hurrying swordsman.
p10Swordsman states he is impressed by the masked agent's technique.
p10Masked CP9 agent angrily accuses swordsman of trying to make a fool of him.
p10Wide-eyed man screams in shock asking what is happening.
p11Grotesque masked figure states the room has something notable.
p11Voices urge focusing on the key to Robin's handcuffs.
p11Characters complain that the garden feels too much like being outside.
p11Masked CP9 agent shouts over there while pointing at disturbance.
p11Sleeping figure emits snoring sounds before being startled awake.
p12Cloaked man thinks about grabbing the object quietly and running away.
p12Voice declares no need to hesitate as cloaked man approaches object.
p12Cloaked man declares himself the lucky king after surviving the encounter.
p12Cloaked man notes a win without casualties after being attacked by rooster.
p13Cloaked man yells in shock that roosters do not crow like that.
p13Jabra notes calmly that the pirate has arrived.
p13Jabra shouts battle cry while firing massive weapon blast.
p14Jabra accuses cloaked man of shooting the government flag.
p14Cloaked man admits the act while praising Jabra's sniping skill.
p14Jabra laughs and states the attack was painful but offers no further torment.
p15Jabra states he does not use torment despite his appearance.
p15Long-nosed man recognizes the wolf form and questions the intent.
p15Long-nosed man declares he came to rescue Robin and resists dying.
p16Kaku yells that he overshot into full giraffe form instead of hybrid.
p16Marines shout about a talking giraffe falling from above.
p16Masked CP9 agent expresses love for Kaku's ability.