Symbols - One Piece Chapter 203, pages 8-15

00AI-written

Chapter 203 “Croc-Like”. The cover shows Octopako, an octopus fish-woman with goggles, striped hat, and striped skirt, standing with one hand on her hip and the other raised while sticking out her tongue. Money and a broken-heart speech bubble float around her. Below her, Hachi lies on the ground with a dazed, lovestruck expression, hearts in his eyes and mouth open. The caption reads: HACHI'S OCEAN FLOOR STROLL VOL. 18 "PROPOSING AGAIN TO HIS BELOVED OCTOPAKO".

OctopakoHachi

A vast stone plaza leads to an ancient temple lined with palm trees and massive striped pillars. A man in a dark suit lies face-down on the ground. Close-ups show Nico Robin in profile wearing her wide hat, followed by Crocodile seated with a grim expression. Sound effects mark movement and tension as Crocodile stands and walks forward.

Nico RobinCrocodile

Inside the temple, Crocodile kneels before a towering stone Poneglyph covered in ancient script. Robin stands nearby. Crocodile asks, "Is there nothing else...!I" Robin replies, "I see." Crocodile continues, "I showed you everything as promised... Why, dissatisfiedI" Robin answers, "You wouldn't be able to find this place without knowing where to look..." Crocodile declares, "A fitting place for a state secret." Sound effects punctuate the exchange.

Nico RobinCrocodile

Crocodile stands tall in the temple corridor and says, "...So is this a poneglyph, Nico RobinI" Robin replies, "...You arrived quickly." Crocodile asks, "So can you decipher itI" Robin answers, "...Yes." Crocodile orders, "Read this poneglyph... Then read it aloud." Robin stands before the carved stone as Crocodile watches intently.

Nico RobinCrocodile

In a vast archive lined with towering bookshelves, narration boxes recount ancient history: "In year 260, the Bitein Dynasty of Telma begins. In year 239 of the Heaven's Calendar... Alabasta is conquered by Kahira." Nico Robin stands before the shelves, reading intently. Crocodile looms behind her in his black fur coat. "Hold up! You think that's what we've been wanting to knowI" he growls. Robin replies calmly, "Hey now..." More narration continues: "In 325, Mamudin, the hero of Orutea, is- In 306, the great Taf cathedral of Erumalu finishes its construction." Crocodile erupts in fury, eyes wide and teeth bared, pointing aggressively with ringed fingers: "JUST TELL ME WHERE THE WORLD'S MOST FEARED WEAPON RESIDES IN THIS COUNTRY! I COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY!"

CrocodileNico Robin

Robin turns slightly, her wide hat casting a shadow, and states, "That is not recorded here. There is only history written here." Crocodile reacts with shock, "WhatI" as he leans forward in the domed chamber. In smaller panels below, Robin's face shows surprise with "!I" while Crocodile mutters, "I see... What a shame." A long ellipsis lingers. Robin concludes, "The name 'Pluton' isn't mentioned in this passage even once."

CrocodileNico Robin

In close-up, Crocodile's scarred face fills the frame as he declares, "YOU WERE A MOST CAPABLE PARTNER, BUT I'LL BE KILLING YOU HERE," with large SFX "ゴォォォ." Robin recoils in alarm, sweat flying: "WHA!I" Crocodile continues, recalling their past: "If you lead me to the poneglyph, then I will give you information on the secret weapon." Robin responds, "Back then, you told me this... The arrangement made between us 4 years ago has now come to an end." Crocodile glares, a vein pulsing on his forehead.

CrocodileNico Robin

Crocodile speaks with cold finality: "You were a highly useful woman. For me, that was enough. Were invaluable thanks to your intellect and leadership. The work you've done for B.W. these past 4 years." He lunges forward in a violent blur, coat flaring, striking Robin with a heavy impact SFX "ズッ!!!" as she cries out. "However! At the very end, you broke your promise to me...! The poneglyph of this country failed to give me any leads on Pluton!" In a tight close-up, Crocodile asks with a menacing grin, "Do you know why, Nico Robin...I" Robin is sent flying backward in the final panel, body twisting from the blow.

CrocodileNico Robin

Crocodile grabs Robin from behind, blade in hand. "Hm!I" Robin reacts in surprise. He speaks coldly, "I expected all along for you to resort to this in the end. I've been your partner for 4 years, you realizeI Fufu... How foolish." Robin twists free as Crocodile's hook swings. "WaterI" she gasps. Crocodile dodges the strike. In the next instant Robin draws her blade and declares, "IF I POUR WATER ON YOU, I CAN STAB YOU, RIGHT!I" Crocodile recoils with a pained "AGH!" as the water splashes across him. He counters by spraying a burst from his hook, "SPROUT!" Robin is struck and sent flying.

CrocodileNico Robin

Robin is hurled backward by the impact, "!!I SPLASH!" Crocodile's hook slices through the air with a "SWISH!" Robin lands, wide-eyed, thinking "Where'd he... He disappeared!" Crocodile reappears behind her in a powerful stance, hook raised. He declares, "I WILL FORGIVE EVERYTHING, NICO ROBIN. BECAUSE, YOU SEE..."

CrocodileNico Robin

Robin lies on the ground, bloodied and gasping. Crocodile towers over her, eyes narrowed. "FROM THE VERY BEGINNING... I NEVER TRUSTED ANYONE," he states. A close-up shows his scarred, menacing face. He continues, "I can find it myself without relying on this cryptic block of junk! It's all just a matter of time once I take over this country...! I've already verified Pluton's existence from Cobra's reaction earlier." With a sudden violent motion, Crocodile strikes Robin again, sending debris flying as she cries out in pain.

CrocodileNico Robin

In the underground chamber beneath the palace, Crocodile stands amid the ancient ruins. A guard reacts in shock, "AH, IT MUST BE YOU... WHAT DID YOU DO...!I" Another voice notes, "What's going on!I It's still too soon for the palace square bombing..." Crocodile replies calmly, "NOTHING MUCH, REALLY... THIS UNDERGROUND CRYPT HAS A CERTAIN FEATURE, THAT ALLOWS THE WHOLE CENTER OF GRAVITY TO BE SHIFTED WHEN A SMALL PILLAR IS REMOVED, BRINGING THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN. YOU AND I... WILL BOTH DIE HERE..." The guard sweats in terror. Crocodile finishes with cold resolve, "I SHALL NOT HAND OVER THIS COUNTRY TO THE LIKES OF YOU... AS THE 12TH HEAD OF THE NEFERTARI ROYAL HOUSE," while the massive pillar structure looms above them.

CrocodileNico Robinpalace guard

Inside the vast palace hall, Crocodile stands amid the stone pillars. "I can turn all the stone walls here into sand. And make my escape!" he declares. A voice questions him: "So you led me here to bury me below for the sake of your country, have you now!I But you cannot kill me..." Crocodile smirks, replying, "Ohh... The very model of an exemplary king..." In a massive spread, Crocodile spreads his arms wide as the walls crumble around him. "And all my pesky annoyances will disappear at once! And from that moment on, this land... THIS COUNTRY WILL BE MINE! Just 3 minutes left now... After 3 minutes, this crypt, the palace square." On the ground, bloodied Koza glares up in fury. Crocodile laughs triumphantly, "KUHAHAHA! YOU WILL DIE A FUTILE DEATH, KOZA!"

CrocodileKoza

A massive clock tower looms as its hands tick forward with loud "toc toc" sounds. Below in the streets, chaos erupts. A small figure is blasted backward with a pained "AGHH!" as debris flies. Vivi is struck hard, sent tumbling across the ground with a cry of "OWW!" Impact lines and dust clouds mark the violent blow. She struggles to rise, gritting out "NGH-" and "UGH..." while clutching her side. The relentless assault continues as she is knocked down again amid swirling smoke and rubble.

Vivi

Vivi thinks desperately while scanning the area: "A PLACE BIG ENOUGH TO HOUSE A HUGE CANNON... THERE SHOULD BE VERY FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN EVEN HIDE SUCH A WEAPON! BUT WHY CAN'T I FIND IT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I KEEP SEARCHING!I WHERE IS IT!I ONLY 2 MINUTES LEFT...! A CANNON BIG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BLAST-DIAMETER OF 5KM..." She spots a large structure and gasps, "A big, wide place..." Suddenly a stray bullet whizzes past, grazing her as she shouts, "GRAZE! GAHH! A STRAY BULLET!" Usopp fires back with his weapon, yelling, "NO, WAIT! I'M NOT A REBEL! It's both big enough and not easily spotted by others... HEY THAT WAS FREAKIN' DANGEROUS! YOU BASTARD! TAKE MY "SMOKE STAR"!" Vivi realizes, "If it's that place, then..." Koza adds, "That's right. THAT'S NOT FAIR, KOZA! THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE HIDING!I"

ViviUsoppKoza

Usopp reacts with shock, "What, really!I Alright, great!" Vivi confirms urgently, "I know where it is! It HAS to be there!" Usopp calls out, "What is it, Vivi!I Did you find it!I USOPP!" He loads his weapon with a loud "CRAB!" and fires the powerful "RED SNAKE STAR!" The projectile streaks forward with a fiery explosion. Vivi shouts, "CERTAIN KILL!" Usopp yells, "Let me contact the others then! You're sure about this, right!I" as he opens a small Den Den Mushi, "OPEN!" The blast erupts violently in the distance, scattering smoke and debris while soldiers react in alarm.

UsoppVivi

A massive cityscape stretches under a clear sky, dominated by a tall clock tower. From high above, a thunderous laugh echoes across the rooftops: ゴオオオオオオオオオオオオ.... In the streets below, a violent explosion erupts, hurling a figure in a black coat and top hat through the air amid flying debris and shattered stone. Nearby, a man in a black top hat lunges forward with arms outstretched toward a blond figure who raises his fists defensively. On the ground, Roronoa Zoro stands with swords at his side, staring upward with a grim expression as a large black shape lies motionless in the grass. In the distance, a massive winged form crashes through buildings, sending up clouds of dust while tiny figures scatter across the rooftops.

Roronoa Zoroman in top hatblond fighter

Luffy lies sprawled on the grass, snoring loudly with bubbles forming at his nose: SNORE... ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ.... He suddenly sits up, stretching and yawning. "Ah, that was a nice nap." His eyes snap open in confusion. "Hm!I HuhI Mn- GRR! KRR!" His body begins to tremble violently as he clutches his stomach. "And... Now that I'm all better......That's right. My body couldn't move all of a sudden... And so I couldn't help but take a nap... Ah-" He stares ahead in shock as the trembling intensifies: ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ.... In the background stands a grand building labeled "THE FORMER ALABASTA KINGDOM ROYAL PALACE" with palm trees lining the path.

Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy's face fills the page in a furious close-up, eyes blazing and mouth wide open as he points straight ahead. "I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS! CROCODILE!" Impact lines and sweat fly around him. Smaller panels show his body still shaking: ゴゴゴゴ... ゴゴゴゴ... ギキキキ...!! He stares at a distant chained gate, sweat pouring down his face. In a final intense close-up, Luffy grits his teeth and declares, "It's Croc-like. That hole..."

Monkey D. Luffy

This is an SBS page filled with fan letters and Oda's replies. D: Ding-dong. "Ah, OdacchiI I know this work must be tough, so today I brought 8th grade Megu-chan to help you with your manuscript! No no, it's okay!! 8th grade Megu-chan has a '5' in art class, so... PLOP (ink spilling)........ Oops, sorry! I'll be leaving now!!" -by 8th grade Megu-chan- O: WHAT ARE YOU DOINGI!! HEY!!! GET BACK HERE!!!...WAIT... AT LEAST... USE SOME WHITE-OUT TO FIX IT... (WEAK) D: If you look closely at the legendary Moving Crab in volume 19, you'll see that, in order to get it to run, Chopper seems to be pulling the sides of its mouth. Why is thatI Please tell meeeee!! -by Moomin- O: That's right. The hard-to-master skill of manipulating a Moving Crab is to fully expose his right gums when you want to go right, and fully expose his left gums when you want to go left.... D: ODA EI-DONO. WHAT DOES THE "RAN" IN "GAKURAN" MEANI (a gakuran is a kind of school uniform) O: SHIRAN(I don't know). HuhI!... shiRANI maybe... that "ran"... nah. Maybe... ra... ranou (egg yolk)... that... "ran"...oh!! Ranpaku (egg white)!! How's thatI!! A small panel shows the Moving Crab with a wide grin.

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End of chapter21 pages

Discussion

00AI-written

OctopakoHachi

Nico RobinCrocodile

CrocodileNico Robin

CrocodileNico Robinpalace guard

CrocodileKoza

Vivi

ViviUsoppKoza

UsoppVivi

Roronoa Zoroman in top hatblond fighter

Monkey D. Luffy

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End of chapter21 pages