The chapter title page displays Chapter 289 “Full Moon”. A large banner across the top of the meeting room reads ゆきりある正義. Inside the room, several men sit around a long table covered with documents and coffee cups. At the head of the table, a wild-haired man in a coat grips a cup while others react with open mouths and tense postures. One man with a topknot leans forward, another in a spotted jacket holds a cup, and a figure on the left gestures with an open hand. Wanted posters and maps hang on the wall behind them. Below the panel, text reads: ACE'S GREAT SEARCH FOR BLACKBEARD VOL. 15 “THE COFFEE AT THE MEETING IS TERRIBLE”.
A massive impact strikes a man with a topknot, sending him flying backward with blood spraying as he yells “NGHHH!”. In the forest below, a small figure runs while shouting “Ahahaha! DAMN IT!”. The injured man coughs violently on the ground, gasping “HUFF... HUFF... COUGH! AGHH!”. Narration states: “THE TREE FEVER AFFLICTING THE VILLAGE CAN NOW BE COMPLETELY CURED...! IF ONLY I COULD RETURN TO THE VILLAGE, I COULD PROVE IT TO THEM...”. A spear-wielding warrior with spiky hair stands over him and declares, “Truly, only God could have managed to ensnare you so perfectly. I'm surprised you're still even alive...”. Another figure with wild hair adds, “You've been trapped perfectly between the shifting grounds.”
topknotted injured manspiky-haired spear warriorwild-haired observerrunning small figure
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As the sun sets over the western horizon, narration continues: “Once the sun sets over the western horizon and night falls... The sun is already setting...”. A wide view of the ruined, cracked landscape shows massive impact effects. Speech bubbles declare: “Will be offered up to the gods. You and your men.”. The spiky-haired warrior stands with his spear planted as voices accuse him: “The earthquake just now was god's punishment. There is nothing you can do now! Your pitiful state right now is proof of god's fury. That you've unleashed god's wrath upon us! It's all because you've messed up our ritual.”
In the village, people gather near stone structures as voices say: “Hopefully god's wrath will be assuaged for the time being... If the god-slayer is killed, Kalgara headed into the forest.”. A warrior runs desperately while children cry “PAPAPA! PAPA!”. Near a large urn, a man in ornate clothing shouts amid falling debris: “FALL! Curses... With so many people dropping like flies, it's impossible for me to keep up. There are still plenty of corpses waiting for their urn! Have you finished with the funerary urn yetI”. In close-up, the spiky-haired warrior and the long-haired man clash as the latter yells: “IF YOU PEOPLE HAD NEVER INTERFERED WITH THE RITUAL, EVERYONE WOULD BE- EVEN THAT EARTHQUAKE JUST NOW COST US DEAR CASUALTIES! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS LIGHTLY! IF YOU LOT HAD NEVER COME TO THIS VILLAGE, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE-”. The spiky-haired warrior interrupts with “WAIT! WAIT! RUSH INTO THINGS!” while impact effects and “WHAT!I” fill the panel.
Panic erupts in the Shandia village as armed warriors charge forward. "WHY YOU-" one man roars while another shouts, "WE STILL HAVE SOME TIME LEFT! STOP!" A desperate voice cries, "HEY, WAIT! THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU PROMISED!" An attacker yells "AGHH!" as another declares, "YOU'RE THE EVIL SPIRITS PLAGUING OUR VILLAGE! WE WILL KILL YOU NOW!" Seto sits cross-legged in the center, arms crossed, while a frantic figure pleads, "W-W-WAIT!" Villagers brandish weapons amid flying debris and impact lines. In close-up, an elder growls, "Much more honourable than how you're acting now!" A young woman with dark hair replies tensely, "Were much," as a grieving man bellows, "SETO! MOVE OUTTA THE WAY! MY WIFE DIED LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF THESE BASTARDS!" Below, the same woman watches quietly while two onlookers exclaim, "It's that kid..." and "...The proud Shandora warriors that I had always looked up to," as distant figures gather near wooden structures.
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A massive explosion rocks the forest. Seto, helmeted and sweating, is hurled backward with motion lines and "7 7" impact effects. Nearby, a wild-haired warrior glares with intense eyes. The ground erupts violently; Seto is shown mid-air, shouting "ARGGH!" as blasts marked "ズドン...!!" and "ズドン...!!!" tear through trees and earth. A voice cries "NGHH!" while another yells "SQUIRM!" The warrior's face fills a panel with fierce determination. A massive detonation follows, the ground heaving as someone shouts, "THE WHOLE GROUND IS...!I" Seto plummets screaming "GAAAA AAAHH HHHH!" while the spiky-haired fighter sweats and grits his teeth with "HNGHHH-".
Setospiky-haired Shandia warrior
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A colossal blast labeled "ズドン.....!!!!" shakes the forest, sending clouds of smoke and debris flying. Close-ups show Seto recoiling with "カアッ!!" and sweat flying, his face twisted in pain. The spiky-haired warrior stares with sharp eyes amid "メリ..." and "ズド..." sound effects. Both fighters are thrown violently; Seto tumbles through smoke with "HUFF HUFF" while the warrior is slammed back. The spiky-haired man roars "AARGH HHHHH!" as the other grunts "HNGHH-" amid swirling dust and impact lines.
Setospiky-haired Shandia warrior
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At a ceremonial site, warriors carry spears and a striped banner. A voice commands, "Take these sacrifices to the altar!" Another orders, "Prepare for the ritual!" A tall figure with a staff announces, "Our admiral will surely be here in a bit!" while a helmeted man pleads, "Give him... 2 hours! No, 1 hour! That's all we ask!" A crowd of Shandia villagers in feathered headdresses and armor gathers near a large wooden structure. One shouts, "Hey! Wait! W... Wait! C'mon, just wait a little longer!" A dark-haired woman turns with a concerned expression as voices cry, "Why do we have to die!I" and "I don't wanna be turned into a human sacrifice!" Someone begs, "Hey, kid! Do something to stop them! Please!" Below, exhausted figures lie on stone; one pants "PANT... PANT..." while another notes, "The sun is now setting..." A bound captive is told, "Please hang on until then!" as a robed elder declares, "The ritual will begin soon."
Nico RobinShandia warriorsShandia villagersShandia elderhelmeted Shandia man
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High above the ritual grounds, a voice sneers at the fallen warrior: "What a pathetic sight... The wretched fate of a man who foolishly tried to defy God... Hmph... The ritual will soon begin. The sun is now setting... Your futile struggle has lasted all day." Below, the defeated fighter lies face-down in the dirt, hand outstretched, breath ragged as "ハッ... ハッ..." escapes him. Nearby, the Pantori watches coldly. In close-up, Kalgara's eyes blaze with fury. "WhatI" he growls. Another figure demands, "JUST WHAT THE HELL... ARE YOU BASTARDS... SO AFRAID OF..." as the Pantori retorts, "COWERING FROM A TERROR THAT DOESN'T EXIST... BEING ONLY TOO WILLING TO OFFER HUMAN LIVES IN EXCHANGE FOR A PEACE OF MIND..."
KalgaraThe Pantoricollapsed Shandia warrior
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Kalgara roars back, "ALL YOUR HUMAN SACRIFICES ARE MEANINGLESS..." The Pantori counters, "THAT'S RIGHT... THAT'S ALL IT IS... A BARBARIC WAY... TO CREATE PEACE OF MIND..." Kalgara snaps, "Peace of mind!I" He lunges forward in a massive strike, impact lines exploding as he shouts, "DON'T TALK AS IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING!" The Pantori stands firm amid debris. "HUFF... I DON'T... CARE HOW GREAT... YOUR GOD IS..." Kalgara yells, "SHUT UP, OUTSIDER!" The Pantori declares, "THAT'S...! Irrelevant to whether your customs are correct! THESE ARE THE WAYS MY PEOPLE HAVE LIVED ON THIS LAND FOR CENTURIES!" Kalgara answers, "BUT HUMAN LIVES... ARE FAR MORE SACRED!"
KalgaraThe Pantori
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Kalgara continues, "HUFF... HUFF... AS AN INNOCENT YOUNG GIRL IS KILLED BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES... PEOPLE LIKE YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE!" The Pantori watches from afar, unmoved: "WATCHING INDIFFERENTLY..." Kalgara's face twists in rage. "NONE OF YOU ARE RIGHT IN THE HEAD!" The Pantori retorts, "You think I was watching indifferently as the girl was offered up as sacrifice...I IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY THINK...I EVEN IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE GIRL YOU SAVED YESTERDAY... IS MY OWN DAUGHTER!I" Kalgara's eyes widen in shock. "WHAT YOUR PEOPLE DO! IS BENEATH HUMANS!"
KalgaraThe Pantori
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The Pantori's face fills the frame, eyes bloodshot, teeth bared: "IS MY OWN DAUGHTER!I" He continues, "The words of a pantori, the only one who can listen to the voices of gods! You have no idea how absolute we consider, The pantori's words are god's words." Kalgara stands alone in the ruined clearing, staff in hand. The Pantori's voice carries: "You're despicable... How could you... Tell your own daughter to take her life...!" Kalgara answers quietly, "I COULD NOT BEG TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE! OBEYING THEM IS AN IRON-CLAD LAW OF OUR VILLAGE! TURNING ONE'S BACK ON GOD'S WORD IS TO PROVOKE DIVINE JUDGMENT!" The Pantori growls, "CRUNCH CRUNCH...!"
KalgaraThe Pantori
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On a stone altar platform surrounded by jungle, villagers chant and drum while carrying bound sacrifices toward the steps. "Burn them up to the heavens!" "Take the sacrifices up to the altar!" they shout as the drums pound. "ADMIRAAAA! ADMIRAAAA!" Panic spreads as people scream "ADMIRAAAA! WE'RE GONNA BE BURNT ALIVE!" A dark-haired woman with earrings watches silently from the side. An older villager yells, "This is a clear sign of god's work!" Another retorts, "Do you really think misfortunes would befall one after the other so easilyI" A sweating man on the ground cries out, "NO, IT CAN'T BE..." as the ground cracks with loud SFX "バキバキバキ".
dark-haired woman with earringspanicked Shandia villagerssweating bald villager
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A massive serpent with spotted patterns lunges forward, jaws open. A feathered warrior shouts, "Lord Kashi's child... Has come to sentence divine judgment!" Observers react: "He's a little smaller..." "Could he be Lord Kashi's child...!I" "WHA...!" A bald man stares in shock. Elsewhere a figure yells, "DIVINE JUDGMENT!I WHAT A FARCE!" The serpent flicks its tongue with a "LICK" sound while the jungle backdrop shows trees and distant figures.
A bearded man with a wild expression gestures dramatically while holding tree bark. "JUST WHAT WILL THE VILLAGE BE DESTROYED FROM!I AN EVIL CURSE!I OR AN EPIDEMIC!I" he demands. He continues, "60 years ago... My homelands too suffered from the same tree fever destroying your village now! 100,000 lives were lost to it!" Explaining further: "But now, barely 3% of all people infected die from this former deadliest of diseases! That's because a botanist from South Blue found a cure after years of research!" He holds up the bark and declares, "In my right hand is the tree bark! If I could just return to the village, I can make the medicine." "AND SAVE YOUR VILLAGE!" "And that cure called Konine, a substance that can be extracted from the bark of the Kona tree!"
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The bearded man continues his plea amid the jungle ruins. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY DEATHS ACCOMPANIED THIS ENDEAVOUR!I" and "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA... ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OR THE IMMENSE TIME INVOLVED IN SEARCHING FOR A CURE!I" He confronts the feathered warrior: "THAT IS WHY I SAID YOUR RITUALS ARE AN INSULT TO THEM!" "BUT HERE YOU ARE, TRAMPLING ALL OVER THEIR HARD-FOUGHT PROGRESS!" "CAN IT NOT BE SAID THAT YOUR ANCIENT IRON-CLAD LAWS ARE THE EVIL SPIRITS DESTROYING YOUR VILLAGE!I" The warrior stares back tensely. "ARE YOU TERRIFIED OF GOD THAT MUCH!I" The serpent looms nearby as water splashes with SFX "ジャアアア!"
A close-up shows a determined face as narration reads, "OF A MAN DETERMINED TO RISK HIS LIFE..." The Shandia warrior with wild hair and feathered cloak shouts, "I CAN AT LEAST HEAR THE VOICE..." and continues, "BUT, I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO LISTEN TO GOD..." In a wide moonlit scene, the warrior stands tall on ancient stone ruins holding a staff, facing a small hooded figure in the foreground who asks, "WHAT DID I..." The warrior demands, "ANSWER ME..." Below, a forest path reveals a massive snake; the warrior, sweating and fierce, questions, "SLAY JUST NOW...I"
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The warrior continues passionately, "Is nothing more than a disease...! And that the 'curse' killing my fellow warriors and villagers..." Another voice retorts, "And yet you say... That I've killed only a snake. No! I broke my people's law and murdered a god..." In an intense close-up the warrior cries out with tears and sweat, "CAN THE VILLAGE... REALLY BE SAVED!I" and "CAN YOU REALLY... SAVE MY DEAR VILLAGE!I" A final determined close-up shows the small hooded figure answering firmly, "YES!"
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Wide establishing panels reveal a lush jungle valley with waterfalls and dense foliage under a bright sky. A circular stone ruin with tall walls and ceremonial gates stands empty beneath a full moon. Smaller inset panels show the moon rising over the ancient structure and close details of weathered wooden debris and a broken stone altar inside the ruins.
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Inside a lively stone hall, villagers celebrate. A young girl with a headband smiles beside a shirtless man with tribal markings. The feathered warrior Kalgara laughs heartily with friends at a table. Children peer through a window at silhouettes dancing outside. Women and children relax together on bedding. Kalgara appears emotional and tearful in close-up. In the final panel he embraces a woman in a long dress while a young girl watches nearby.
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Under a bright full moon, a fierce Shandia warrior with an elaborate headdress and spotted cloak bares his teeth in a savage roar. Nearby, a bandaged bald man smiles peacefully with eyes closed. In a circular pit, several Shandia tribesmen and a long-haired figure gather around a bound captive lying on the ground; one muscular warrior leans in close while others watch intently. Close-up panels show shocked and laughing faces reacting with wide eyes and open mouths. The scene shifts to a wide view of the Shandia village at night, where a large crowd gathers amid wooden totems and buildings. In the foreground, a warrior hoists a massive barrel overhead as others raise fists and weapons in celebration or battle under the glowing moon.
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SBS page 86. Reader D asks about a Chopper illustration: "Chopper's antlers shouldn't be attached to his hat! They should be attached to his head!" Oda replies that not everything seen by the eyes is literal truth, explaining Chopper was so surprised his antlers seemed to jump out, possibly his own "rock" style pose. Another reader complains about a smoking dog on chapter 284's cover, calling it unhealthy. Oda apologizes and says he will scold Sanji. Small inset images show Chopper's surprised pose and the smoking dog.
Eiichiro OdaTony Tony ChopperSanji
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No description for this page.
End of chapter23 pages
Discussion
p7
Robin is present among the gathered Shandia villagers and warriors.
p8The ritual is about to begin at sunset.
p8Kalgara has been fighting throughout the day and is now collapsed.
p8Pantori refers to the fallen warrior as having defied God.
p9Kalgara physically attacks Pantori during their argument.
p9Pantori claims his customs predate the current conflict.
p10The girl Kalgara saved is Pantori's daughter.
p10Kalgara questions the sanity of those who accept sacrifices.
p11Pantori is the only one who can listen to the voices of gods.
p11Obeying the pantori's words is an iron-clad law of the village.
p11Kalgara refused to make an exception even for his own daughter.
p12Scene takes place on a stone altar platform in the jungle.
p12Villagers are performing a ritual involving bound sacrifices.
p12Dark-haired woman with earrings observes silently from the side.
p13Large spotted serpent appears in the jungle near Shandia villagers.
p13Feathered warrior identifies the serpent as Lord Kashi's child.
p14Bearded botanist holds tree bark while addressing villagers.
p14Story references a past epidemic called tree fever that killed many.
p15Bearded botanist confronts feathered warrior about rituals during serpent appearance.
p15Argument occurs in jungle ruins with serpent present.
p16Scene takes place at night on stone ruins overlooking forest.
p16Kalgara holds a long staff during the confrontation.
p17Kalgara is crying and sweating heavily during the plea.
p17Conversation occurs in close-up panels emphasizing emotion.
p18The ruins are located in a lush jungle valley with waterfalls.
p18The circular stone structure is shown both during day and under moonlight.
p19Celebration occurs inside a stone hall at night.
p19Kalgara transitions from laughing to crying during the gathering.
p20Scene occurs at night under a bright full moon in the Shandia village.
p20A bound captive lies inside a circular pit during a gathering of Shandia tribesmen.
What is said, page by page
p0Bottom caption describes terrible coffee at the meeting during Ace's search.
p1Injured man yells in pain from impact.
p1Small figure laughs and curses while running.
p1Injured man gasps and coughs on ground.
p1Narration states tree fever can now be cured if he returns to village.
p1Spear warrior declares only God could manage the feat.
p2Narration notes sun setting and night falling.
p2Voices state the group will be offered to the gods.
p2Accusations claim earthquake was god's punishment and proof of fury.
p2Spear warrior states only God could ensnare so perfectly.
p3Villagers hope god's wrath is assuaged by killing god-slayer.
p3Kalgara heads into forest.
p3Ornate-clothed man complains about corpses and funerary urns.
p3Argument over interference with ritual and god's wrath.
p4Angry Shandia warrior shouts accusation that targets are evil spirits and declares intent to kill immediately.
p4Desperate villager pleads that the attack violates a prior promise and demands they stop.
p4Elder states the current actions lack the honor expected from Shandia warriors.
p4Grieving man calls for Seto to move aside while referencing his wife's death caused by the targets.
p4Frantic figure repeatedly begs the attackers to wait before the violence escalates.
p5Seto cries out in pain while being thrown by the blast.
p5Spiky-haired warrior commands the target to squirm during the attack.
p5Voice expresses shock that the entire ground is being destroyed.
p5Spiky-haired warrior roars with intense determination amid the explosions.
p6Seto grunts in pain while recoiling from the blast force.
p6Spiky-haired warrior shouts loudly while being thrown by the explosion.
p6Fighters exchange strained sounds during the violent exchange.
p7Command given to carry sacrifices to the altar for the ritual.
p7Order issued to prepare the ritual immediately.
p7Helmeted man requests one or two hours delay for the admiral's arrival.
p7Villagers plead for more time and ask the kid to stop the attackers.
p7Concerned voice questions why they must die as human sacrifices.
p7Elder announces the ritual will begin soon as the sun sets.
p8Pantori sneers at the fallen warrior describing a pathetic sight and wretched fate of defying God with cold disdain.
p8Pantori states the ritual will soon begin as the sun sets after a full day of futile struggle.
p8Kalgara reacts with shock and fury shouting 'What!' in close-up.
p8Pantori questions what the Shandia are so afraid of while coughing from exertion.
p9Kalgara declares all human sacrifices are meaningless with intense anger.
p9Pantori replies that sacrifices are merely a barbaric way to create peace of mind.
p9Kalgara reacts with disbelief shouting 'Peace of mind!?' before attacking.
p9Kalgara warns Pantori not to talk as if he knows anything while striking.
p9Pantori states he does not care how great the Shandia god is.
p9Kalgara yells 'SHUT UP, OUTSIDER!' during the assault.
p9Pantori insists his people's ways have existed for centuries on the land.
p10Kalgara accuses Pantori of watching indifferently as an innocent girl is sacrificed.
p10Kalgara claims people like Pantori cannot understand the sanctity of human life.
p10Pantori retorts that Kalgara thinks he was watching indifferently.
p10Pantori reveals the girl saved yesterday is his own daughter.
p10Kalgara shouts that none of them are right in the head.
p11Pantori screams that the sacrificed girl is his own daughter.
p11Pantori explains that a pantori's words are considered god's words and absolute.
p11Pantori calls Kalgara despicable for telling his own daughter to take her life.
p11Kalgara replies he could not beg for an exception and must obey the iron-clad law.
p12Crowd chants Burn them up to the heavens and Take the sacrifices up to the altar with ADMIRAAAA calls.
p12Panicked villagers scream ADMIRAAAA WE'RE GONNA BE BURNT ALIVE.
p12Older villager declares This is a clear sign of god's work.
p12Bald villager retorts Do you really think misfortunes would befall one after the other so easily and NO IT CAN'T BE.
p13Feathered warrior shouts Lord Kashi's child has come to sentence divine judgment.
p13Observers react He's a little smaller and Could he be Lord Kashi's child.
p13Bald man exclaims WHA.
p13Distant voice yells DIVINE JUDGMENT WHAT A FARCE.
p14Bearded botanist asks Just what will the village be destroyed from an evil curse or an epidemic.
p14Bearded botanist explains 60 years ago my homelands suffered the same tree fever and 100000 lives were lost.
p14Bearded botanist states now barely 3 percent die because a South Blue botanist found a cure.
p14Bearded botanist declares in my right hand is the tree bark and if I could return I can make the medicine.
p15Bearded botanist asks Do you have any idea how many deaths accompanied this endeavour.
p15Bearded botanist states that is why I said your rituals are an insult to them.
p15Bearded botanist accuses But here you are trampling all over their hard-fought progress.
p15Bearded botanist challenges Can it not be said that your ancient iron-clad laws are the evil spirits destroying your village.
p15Feathered warrior asks Are you terrified of god that much.
p16Kalgara declares he can hear the voice but lacks power to listen to god, in determined tone.
p16Small hooded figure begins question 'What did I...' with uncertain mood.
p16Kalgara demands 'Answer me...' with commanding intent.
p16Kalgara questions whether to slay the snake now, showing hesitation and sweat.
p17Kalgara states the curse killing villagers is nothing more than a disease, in anguished tone.
p17Kalgara cries that he broke his people's law by murdering a god instead of a snake.
p17Kalgara desperately asks if the village can really be saved and if the listener can save his dear village.
p17Small hooded figure answers firmly 'YES!' with resolute expression.
p20Bandaged bald man expresses calm peaceful mood while observing events.
p20Shocked and laughing Shandia tribesmen react with surprise and amusement to the captive scene.