Catch the Southbird!

A tall ruined tower stands on a tropical shore as voices cry "NOLAND! NOLAND!" A narration box reads: "The day we arrived at Jaya! May 21, 1122." The man with the topknot and cigarette shouts with hand raised: "Upon arriving at the island. We were immediately greeted with a cry from a most unusual bird from the forest." Below, the enormous golden bell rings loudly with a dark bird silhouette flying past it. Narration continues: "The sound from this enormous golden bell, And a loud bell-ring."

Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp listen intently. Narration explains: "When reminded of the civilizations that have risen and fallen throughout the ages across this vast sea. The former glory of its ancient city. As if proudly proclaiming. Reverberated throughout the entire island." Hearts float around the topknotted man as he and others react emotionally to "Noland!" Luffy munches food while Sanji smiles and Usopp holds a bottle. In a lively bar scene the topknotted man raises his fists shouting amid "うおおお" and "キャキャキャキャ!!" sound effects. Speech bubbles read: "And so we simply stood there, silently listening to the bell ringing... What a poet, that Noland! Amazing, a giant bell made from gold! Were too awestruck to utter even a single word. We, who barely live a few decades and yet act as if we know all there is to this world." A woman asks, "Ha, so you do like Noland after all, don'cha, mister!I" Laughter erupts: "はっはっはっは"

A massive striped golden bell gleams as someone exclaims, "WHOA! IT'S THE GOLDEN BELL!" and "Take a look at this!" In the bar the topknotted man laughs "はっはっはっは" while holding a large gold ingot. Sanji remarks, "Haha, this isn't the actual golden bell. This is just a gold ingot in the shape of a bell. I found 3 of these at the bottom of the ocean here!" A woman with a headband sweats, "Umm... What's so enormous about thisI" Narration notes: "This is enough proof that a civilization existed here in the bottom parts. Still." Luffy, now wearing a hat, questions the ingot while the topknotted man explains its use for weighing metals. Others react with surprise at the revelation of the ancient city's gold.

Inside the library, the crew examines several strange artifacts. Masira holds up a large bird-like object and declares, "Show 'em, Masira. That's right. And the bird that Noland talked about in his log is..." Luffy leans in excitedly, "Whoa, there's moreI" Usopp adds, "Yup." Nami points at another piece, "This one's big!" Sanji remarks on its size. They then uncover a gleaming golden relic. Nami gasps, "Ooohh... It's so pretty...!" Usopp asks, "What is it, a penguinI" Masira explains, "This is the last one. Hahaha...! May not be much for 10 years of diving but..." Zoro studies the fragments and concludes, "I think this was only a part of a larger piece. I don't know for sure, but... So these are the two symbols of Jaya's ancient civilization, huh... A golden bell and a bird..."

The Southbird cries out with a distinctive "うっり" sound and sparkling eyes. Nami asks, "Is its cry really that strangeI" Luffy replies, "Yes, it's just as Noland's log said." Masira confirms, "This is a real bird known as the Southbird, which still exists on this island." The two ape-like brothers grin widely and explain, "For ages, sailors have- Speaking of the Southbird." Suddenly, a massive crash erupts outside. The tower structure topples with a huge "ギャザーン!!" impact. Everyone reacts in shock: "OH NO!" "WHAT'S WRONG!I" "!!I"

The crew reacts in panic. Luffy shouts, "WHAT!I WHY!I" Masira yells, "You've gotta go and catch this bird! Right this instant!" Zoro demands, "HuhI What're you talking about all of a sudden, misterI" Nami cries, "Why the bird...I" Masira insists, "THE FOREST TO THE SOUTH! THIS IS BAD! YOU NEED TO GET TO THE FOREST NOW!" They gather around a map of Jaya. Luffy states, "By sailing South, duh. THIS IS THE GRAND LINE! ONCE YOU SET OUT FOR THE SEAS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHICH DIRECTION IS WHERE!" The brothers explain the knock-up stream and compass. Nami realizes, "So how do you think we'll get there!I Is directly South of this cape! Listen closely! The knock-up stream that should form tomorrow... That's where this bird comes in! But then... Just how can we sail South!I The log-pose won't be of any use!...Ah, that's right! Since we're not heading for an island but some point in the open seas."

Zoro snaps at Luffy, "AS IF YOU CAN TALK! Guess that makes you worse than even an animal, Zoro!" Luffy laughs heartily, "うはははは." Nami and the others discuss animal navigation: "Right... I've heard that pigeons and salmons have that ability. There are some animal species which have a way of accurately perceiving magnetic waves to orient themselves." The brothers warn, "Forget about going to sky island, you won't even be able to have the chance of going there! IN ANY CASE! WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THIS BIRD! Even if you were to throw it out into the middle of a featureless ocean or desert, it'll accurately point South. The Southbird is the keenest of such animals." Outside, urgency builds as the tower continues to collapse. Someone yells, "WHAT!I" The crew is told, "Come to think of it, we really shouldn't have been partying at all! As for us three, we're gonna be busy fixing your ship! STOP WHININ'! THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT! IT'S ALREADY THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND YOU WANT US TO GO INTO THE FOREST!I Why'd you tell us so late!I GOD! WHAT'S THE USE OF SAYING THAT NOW!I"

A massive angry face fills the top panel, glaring down as he growls, "BY THE TIME THE SUN RISES...!" and "YOU BETTER HAVE CAUGHT ONE SOUTHBIRD." In the dark forest below, the Straw Hats stumble along a narrow path. Luffy adjusts his hat and says, "IT'S PITCH BLACK IN HERE!" Usopp complains, "Why'd things have to come to this all of a sudden!I" while holding a net. Sanji snaps, "Stop holding onto me!" as Chopper clings to his leg, groaning, "UGHH... I THINK I ATE TOO MUCH..." Someone in the background mutters, "Well, let's catch this thing quickly so we can go back and drink some more..." A voice exclaims, "WHOA..." as the group presses forward through the dense trees.

The crew continues searching the jungle at night. Usopp gripes, "If we knew where it exactly was, we wouldn't have come here looking for it!" Luffy looks annoyed while holding his net. Sanji questions, "Does a bizarre-looking bird like that really even existI" and notes, "What do they even mean by a 'peculiar cryI' It's way too vague!" Zoro adds, "Our only two hints are its peculiar cry. And that it looks like the gold figure we saw earlier." From deeper in the trees a strange cry echoes, "Jooeee~" Usopp reacts sharply, "What kind of queer-ass cry is thatI" Nami declares, "THAT'S IT FOR SURE..."

Luffy shouts with determination, "NOW THEN... IT'S TIME TO KICK THIS BIRD'S ASS!" while raising his fist. Usopp reminds him, "We're here to catch the bird alive, Luffy." The group decides to split up. Luffy agrees, "Alright..." A sign appears reading "Shot 1 Team Sanji, Usopp, Nami." Sanji tells the whining Usopp, "Stop whining and get a move on already! Like I give a rat's ass about you!" Usopp retorts, "WHAT ABOUT ME, SANJI!I" Nami says, "Yeah, let's catch this bird as soon as possible and get outta here." Sanji reassures her, "Don't worry! I'll protect you no matter what pops up in this forest, Nami!"

The team moves through the forest listening for the bird. Voices call out, "SON OF A...!" "Come out!" and the cry "Jooeee~" echoes again. Nami hears a sound and gasps, "Ah! That sound-" Sanji cups his ear and says, "Alright, let's cup our ears and try to find out where the cry is coming from." Usopp asks Nami, "Get whatI" while she stares in surprise. Usopp then spots something and blurts, "Ah, Nami! Nice catch." Suddenly Nami screams in terror, "EEEEEKK! A SPIDER!" as a large spider clings to her back; she flails, "CLINK..." with motion lines and impact effects surrounding her.

Spiders rain down from the trees as the crew panics in the jungle. "GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF OF ME!" "AGHHH! THEY'RE FALLING DOWN FROM THE TREE!" "Get away from it, Usopp! That's definitely a venomous spider!" "It's BECAUSE it's a spider that we're grossed out! Throw it away somewhere!" "What, it's just a spider." Plop sounds echo as bugs fall. Usopp, wearing his goggles and bandana, grins while holding a large spider on his palm. "ME NEITHER! I HATE THEM ALL!" "Well I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THOSE KINDS OF CREEPY CRAWLIES!" "I used to do stage a lot of spider-fights back in the day..." "It's probably a type of tarantula." "Don't worry, it won't bite as long as you don't hurt it." "CRAWL..." The others recoil in terror. A massive outburst follows: "MOTHS AND CENTIPEDES ARE NOT OKAY EITHER!" Two crew members scream in horror as insects swarm, "あぁぁぁぁ" with flapping sounds.

Robin stands calmly among the trees. "Whatever." "It's crying out in pain..." A sign reads "Shot 2 Team Zoro, Robin". Sanji examines a huge centipede with a small monkey-like creature. "Sure is freakin' huge for a centipede..." "EEP EEP". Zoro swings his swords, "CLANK!" cutting through massive centipedes with dramatic sound effects. Close-up on Sanji's serious face: "Don't forget that... Moreover... it seems like you've yet to reveal your true nature and I sure as hell don't trust you." Robin replies with hands on hips, "Hey, it's his fault for coming at me in the first place. So mind your own business." "Don't you feel sorry for it...I" "You don't have to beat down every single one."

Robin glances back, "What is it nowI" "...But-". A distant figure stands among rocks. "It's the bird-cry." "Jooooo~" A panel shows the path they came from with sound effects. Sanji sweats nervously in the swampy area, "Hey! W-wait up..." with splashing sounds "SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH KAPLUNK!" "AGHH!". Robin points ahead, "That's the way we just came from." "This way. And watch out for the bog over there."

Luffy shouts triumphantly with a huge open-mouthed panel, "CAUGHT IT!!!" A sign reads "Shot 3 Team Luffy, Chopper". Luffy holds up a large beetle while struggling, "NGHHH...! HARD TO SAY...!" Chopper stands nearby. "Then what's a greater, an Atlas beetle or One PieceI" "That's right! Atlas and Hercules beetles are every child's dream in this world!" "An atlasI" "LOOK, CHOPPER! AN ATLAS BEETLE!" "What, these rhinoceros beetlesI" "WIGGLE WIGGLE". Usopp reacts excitedly to a large bird on a branch, "Jooooo..." "WHOAAA! IT'S A STAG BEETLE!" Luffy grins while holding another beetle, "Luffy, there's one here too!" with a heart effect.

Luffy's group frantically chases the escaping Southbird through the dense jungle. Voices shout, "CHASE IT! WE CAN'T LET IT ESCAPE!" "AHH! IT'S FLYING AWAY!" A giant spider blocks the path as someone yells, "AHH! A GIANT SPIDER! IT'S IN OUR WAY! KICK IT!" The bird cries "Jooeee..." while fleeing. Suddenly a massive wasp hive erupts, sending swarms everywhere. Luffy and Chopper scream in terror, "AAAAA AAGH HHHH HHHH!" and "A WASP HIVE! RUN FOR IT!" as they flee in panic. The scene ends with both characters exhausted, panting heavily amid the trees: "HUFF... HUFF..." "PANT... PANT..." while Chopper mutters "HuhI"

The chaos continues as the Southbird drops the wasp hive directly onto the group. Luffy yells "AH! LUFFY, LOOK!" while the swarm attacks. The bird repeatedly cries "Jooeee JOE JOE JOOEEEE!" Someone shouts, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS FOREST!I" Chopper panics, "Why, did I say something!I" and "...What!I" The group realizes, "All! It's the bird we're looking for! A birdI It must have dropped the hive on us!" The Southbird perches and declares in a deep voice, "It said it will kill anybody, That dares harm this forest...!"

Elsewhere, a confrontation erupts. A man with goggles snarls, "You think you can just barge in here in the middle of the night and demand our goldI UKIKIKI! Beat it, punks!" A large round-headed man retorts, "Whoa, whoa there. You don't wanna make us mad now, brother." Another figure laughs, "OHOHO..." A stern man with a scar growls, "Hmph! And shed some tears..." while a background scene shows a mansion. A wild-haired man with a long tongue leans forward menacingly and roars, "...Should I tell ya what they call meI THE HYENA! AHAHAHA HAHAHA! Taking away someone else's hard-earned treasure has... Got such a distinct flavour to it, y'knowI"

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