Stalemate

A vibrant color spread opens the chapter. Boa Hancock reclines at the center, chin resting on her hand with a confident smile, her long black hair framing her face. Around her, the Straw Hat crew appears as oversized chess pieces on a massive checkered board. Luffy is the white king piece, mouth open in a shout as he is kicked by a giant foot. Zoro, Sanji, and other crew members stand as knights, bishops, and pawns in armor. A black knight on horseback and a white unicorn flank the scene. Text reads "The king is a fighting piece" and "ONE PIECE". At the bottom, a note states: "ADAPTED COVER REQUEST BY A MAN WHO LIKES PIRATES: 'ROOM PLAYING CHESS WITH THE OTHER STRAW HATS AS THE PIECES'". Oda Eiichiro is credited in the corner.

A wide establishing shot shows the massive laboratory structure of Egghead labeled "PUNK RECORDS" amid clouds, with the narration "The world's largest brain..." and "The mind of a geniusI" A close-up reveals a stern, bearded man with a scar, stating "It's probably safe to assume that we've given people sufficient time..." Nearby panels show the lab exterior with "PUNK RECORDS" signage. A small robot-like figure and a snail creature appear. Dialogue continues: "Now then... while my coffee could use more time to cool..." A long-haired man with a serious expression asks, "Is this your true self......VegapunkI" A small device replies, "I'm getting nervous. We'll be broadcasting to the entire world!" Another voice says, "T-minus 30 seconds, Stella." A final panel shows a wide-eyed snail creature marked "SSG" exclaiming as it prepares: "...to set up their video transponder snails. It continues to live even after your death..."

Inside a vast mechanical chamber labeled PUNK RECORDS, a towering cylindrical structure hums with energy, pipes, and glowing data streams. On the left, smaller panels show a curly-haired figure in a dark coat with a fur collar standing before a screen displaying a cityscape and the SSG logo. The figure muses, "I TAKE ODDS IT AIN'T CONNECTED." Another voice replies, "BUT SHARING THIS IS ALSO A GREAT BURDEN." A small robot-like entity adds, "REACH THE ENTIRE WORLD." The curly-haired speaker continues, "WE THOUGHT YOU'D BE THE ONE PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD... NO WAY! YOU DON'T MAKE ONE KAN-DAN-GIANT!" Below, the same figure questions, "DO YOU REALIZE HOW BIG VEGAPUNK'S TRANSPONDER SNAILS AREI" while a sign reads "SYRUP VILLAGE (NOBODY'S HOMETOWN) EAST BLUE." On the right, the massive PUNK RECORDS core dominates as bubbles rise and machinery whirs. A voice wonders, "THEN AGAIN, WHAT'S DEATH TO SOMETHING LIKE THISI" Another asks, "IS YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS EVEN HOUSED HEREI"

In a cozy room, a blonde woman in a dark top smiles while seated at a table. A pumpkin-headed figure with goggles laughs loudly beside a small child with a star clip. The woman says, "DR. VEGAPUNK IS A LEGEND IN THE MEDICAL FIELD TOO, Y'KNOW." The pumpkin-headed one retorts, "PIMAN, NINJIN!! YOU SHOULD TAKE DR. VEGAPUNK'S RESEARCH MORE SERIOUSLY!!" A voice mocks, "AS IF, YOU BIG LIAR! I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT!" The woman adds, "IT'S RATHER LARGER THAN YOUR AVERAGE HOUSE PET... NOW, ALLOW ME TO FETCH THE TEA." A maid-like figure stands by the door. Below, panels shift to Twin Cape where a massive mechanical shark-like structure labeled "TWIN CAPE" roars "BWOO!" A man with a scar and tank top says, "I'LL BE STARTING SHORTLY." Crowds discuss in Baldimore: "HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN NOW, VEGAPUNKI" "WASN'T HE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NIGHTMARE OF BALDIMOREI" "YOU BETCHA! HE'S BALDIMORE'S PRIDE AND JOY!" "YOU MEAN HE WAS REALLY BORN HEREI" A sign reads "THE FUTURISTIC ISLAND OF BALDIMORE (VEGAPUNK'S HOMETOWN)."

A large bearded man in a feathered hat and necklace declares, "A KING OF MODERN SCIENCE, BUT HIS SMARTS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO MAKE MANY WEAPONS..." Nearby, a bird-like figure with a massive beak reacts with "GOOAAA!!" A panel notes "BIRDIE KINGDOM (WHERE CHOPPER STUDIED), SOUTH BLUE." In another scene, a woman in a revealing outfit and a tattooed man argue with an older figure holding a gun. The tattooed man shouts, "SO WHATI YOU CROSSED ME EARLIER! I AIN'T LISTENING TAHT SLIDE JUST TO LISTEN TO SOME OLD FOSSIL, MATEY!" The older man retorts, "THAT VEGA-FELLOW IS GONNA SPEAK!!" A voice yells, "QUIET DOWN, YA SCALLYWAGS!!" A sign reads "HACHINOSU - THE PIRATE ISLAND, NEW WORLD." Further panels show Egghead with "TESTING, TESTING..." and "EGGBEAD, NEW WORLD" as a dragon-like creature flies and a voice calls, "CAN YOU HEAR MEI"

Close-ups reveal a stern face with an intense glare and a massive boot stepping down amid rubble and a snail-like transponder. Text reads "ATTENTION WORLD..." and "THIS IS VEGAPUNK..." A voice exclaims, "THAT MEANS THIS IS NO MERE HIDING PLACE THENI YOU WANTED TO FOOL ME WITH A DECOY!" and "AN ORDINARY TRANSPONDER SNAIL...I!" A dragon-like creature with wings and a long snout bursts through debris, roaring as a small figure is sent flying. Voices shout, "HELLO OUT THERE!" "STELLA, WE ALREADY HAD AN INTRODUCTION WHEN WE DID THE SIGNAL JACKING PART." "I KNOW THAT!" "CURSE YOU, VEGAPUNK!!" The page ends on a dramatic close-up of a wild-haired, mustached man with wide eyes declaring, "...WITHOUT FURTHER ADO!" and "FINE THEN, WE'LL GET STARTED..."

In a quiet room a woman tells a child, "A VERY IMPORTANT MAN IS MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT. JUST GO BACK TO BED, DEAR." The child asks, "WHAT'S UPI" Outside, an excited crowd shouts, "WHO KNOWS WHAT'S COMINGI!" and "ALL RIGHT! LET'S HEAR IT ALREADY!!" A massive dragon-like figure appears in the sky, apologizing, "MY APOLOGIES. THAT WRETCHED VEGAPUNK.....!!" Another voice demands, "IT HASN'T STOPPED YET!! MARS, WHAT ARE YOU DOINGI!" The broadcast from Punk Records continues relentlessly: "THERE IS CURRENTLY NO STOPPING THE BROADCAST!!" Observers note, "HE WAS MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS THAN WE GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR." Further narration states, "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH HE ACTUALLY KNOWS OR WHAT HE INTENDS TO SAY NOW..." and "BUT YORK TOLD US HE WISHED TO CARRY THE TORCH OF THE OHARAN SCHOLARS!"

A stern face declares, "HE MEANS TO FINISH WHAT OHARA STARTED!!" Another warns, "THIS WON'T BE A REPEAT OF CLOVER." Silhouettes clash violently. A voice recalls, "IT WAS A SWEET GIRL CRYING OUT!" Someone asks, "DID YOU HEAR THATI!" A frantic figure yells, "BONNEY-CHAN NEEDS ME!" while another shouts, "VEGAPUNK!!" Close-ups show intense expressions and a massive creature reacting with shock.

Amid chaotic combat, someone orders, "GET BACK, BONNEY!" A Marine voice insists, "WE WILL NOT SURRENDER OUR MILITARY MIGHT TO YOU—" Jewelry Bonney is addressed directly as explosions erupt. A voice wonders, "WHAT IS THAT THINGI!" Franky reacts with "HUHI" and charges, "OUTTA THE WAY, FRANKY!!" Another figure declares, "IF ANYONE'S GONNA PULL OFF AN IMPRESSIVE RESCUE OF BONNEY......IT'LL BE ME!!" The attacker taunts, "THIS IS A PIRATE'S FIGHT, YOU GEEZER!" and "WE'RE NOT GONNA CUT YOU SLACK JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE SENILE...!!" Massive impacts and smoke fill the battlefield.

A brutal strike lands with the sound "CRUSH SNAP" as a victim screams, "UWAAAH!!" Elsewhere the narration states, "IT'S STARTING!!" A cloaked figure confesses, "...I'VE COMMITTED TWO GRAVE SINS..." Sanji is called out with "SANJI!!" while another commands, "OIMO! HOLD HIM DOWN!!" The reply comes, "WITH PLEASURE, KASHIII!!" A shocked voice asks, "WHAT'S THATI!" as the fight intensifies with heavy smoke and motion lines.

Shocked voices cry out across the battlefield: "...IS THAT JEWELRY BONNEYI!" "WHAT THE HECKI!" "DISTORTED FUTURE!!" In a small panel, a childlike Bonney leaps forward desperately, shouting "STELLA!!" with a loud impact sound. The scene explodes into a massive central panel where the adult Bonney, clad in a tight black outfit, launches a powerful flying kick while yelling "GIMME A GIANT-ISH FUTURE!!" Her distorted future attack sends debris and shockwaves flying as enemies below react in terror. At the bottom, an elderly Vegapunk watches grimly while narration boxes state: "...THE SECOND MY HEART STOPS BEATING." "SO THIS MESSAGE WILL BE PROGRAMMED TO BROADCAST..." "I BELIEVE THAT I WILL SOON BE EXECUTED FOR MY TRANSGRESSIONS..."

Panic spreads through the crowd as people shout: "THEY SAID HE'S BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THE STRAW HAT PIRATES...!!" "IT CAN'T BE! HE WAS ALL OVER THE PAPERS JUST THIS MORNING!" "...HE'S ALREADY DEADI!" "WAIT, DOES THAT MEAN..." "HE CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!" A man with a massive weapon panics while another figure reacts in horror. In the next sequence, voices yell: "IS HE TRYING TO KILL PRINT MEDIA...I" "HEY! HEY! HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA WITH THIS MASSIVE BROADCASTI!" "EVEN SO...!!" A furious man with a scar roars: "YOU'RE LYING, YOU BASTARD!! YOU CAN'T JUST DIE. WE JUST TEAMED UP SO WE CAN SURPASS YOU...!!" The page ends on a close-up of a long-nosed man declaring: "REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY SEEM TO BE. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE ONES WHO STRIKE ME DOWN ARE EVIL... I WANT TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR, AND I PRAY YOU UNDERSTAND THIS..."

A close-up of a reptilian face labeled "VEGA-PUNK!!" declares: "I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO JUDGE SUCH THINGS... AND I DO NOT KNOW NEARLY ENOUGH ABOUT HIM IN ANY CASE..." "...I DO NOT INTEND TO DISCUSS RIGHT AND WRONG HERE." Nearby, a figure screams "LEAVE US ALONE!!" as another roars "GIIAAAH!!" In a chaotic wide panel, a massive mechanical serpent-like weapon erupts amid explosions while a woman runs and a small robot-like figure shouts "STEP ASIDE! I HAVE NO TIME TO DEAL WITH VERMIN LIKE YOU!!" A voice cries "!I" with impact SFX. The bottom panels reveal close-ups of a sweating woman and a small creature as they react: "THAT IMPOTENT FOOL... THE WOMAN AKAINU LET SLIP THROUGH HIS FINGERS. YOU MUST BE NICO ROBIN..." "THAT IS QUITE AN AUDACIOUS HYPOTHESIS." "THAT VOICE..." "HE'S ONE OF THE FIVE ELDERSI!" "I SEE..."

Explosions rock the laboratory as voices shout: "SOME OF YOU ALIENS ARE A NUISANCE OR EVEN AN ISSUE..." "!!!!" "I'M SURE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY WILL BE HARD TO ACCEPT." "PROTECT ROBIN!!" "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUTI!" A massive dragon-like creature looms while a woman with goggles yells "THIS IS FUTILE." A bear-like figure in a lab coat states: "I'M A VEGAPUNK, TOO! SO WHERE WOULD I HIDE ITI" "THINK! THINK! IF THIS KEEPS UP THEY WON'T LET ME BE A CELESTIAL DRAGON!" The giant creature bellows "MOVE, YOU FILTHY INSECTS!!" as another voice replies "THAT SAID..." A final panel shows the woman declaring "WE'LL KEEP YOU SAFE NO MATTER WHAT!!" amid flying debris and impact effects.

A vast ocean view shows an island under heavy attack, with massive explosions and smoke rising as the landmass begins to crumble. Large narration boxes declare "...IS GOING TO SINK INTO THE OCEAN!!" and "OUR WORLD...". Smaller panels depict Marines and agents debating strategy: one suggests "PERHAPS WE SHOULD CONSIDER DESTROYING THE POWER STATION TO STOP THEMI" but another counters "THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE NEARBY MARINES THERE, AND EQUIPMENT AGENT ARE ONLY THINGS WE BRING TO LOSE IN THE BLAST...". A further voice adds "WE WOULD ALSO BE ABANDONING OUR ONE AND ONLY MEANS OF REPLACING OUR SUCCESSES WITH THE MOTHER FLAME!". The sequence cuts to a close-up of a large spiky-haired man with a wild beard who declares "I'LL CUT TO THE CHASE...". Nearby figures react in shock with "WHATI!". At the bottom, a small inset panel shows debris and a figure amid the chaos with the caption "A CONFESSION RACKS SHOCKING CREDULITY!!" alongside the "ONE PIECE" logo and the fragment "...OH, IT'S / END." Impact lines and motion effects emphasize the sinking island and urgent discussion.

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