The Zombie

In a dark, twisted forest, a large ornate carriage moves along a broken stone path as eerie sounds echo: "Rrr Rrr Rrr" and "Haa Haa". A voice remarks, "IT MUST BE YOUR IMAGINATION... HEE HEE HEE." Another asks, "BUT THEY AREN'T THEY A LITTLE... DIFFERENTI" From the carriage, someone says, "HEE... I COULDN'T REALLY SEE THE HORSES THAT ARE PULLING THIS CARRIAGE VERY WELL..." A skeletal figure in a top hat stands nearby, replying, "IF THAT'S THE CASE..." while a monstrous creature with a wide grin emerges from the shadows. In the final panel, the top-hatted figure questions, "IS THAT SO...I"

Inside the carriage, Nami and others discuss the dangers: "THIS FOREST HAS MANY STRANGE ANIMALS, SO EVEN WALKING AROUND IS DANGEROUS." A voice offers, "HERE, HAVE SOME WINE." Another replies, "NO, NO..." The group thanks their rescuer: "ANYWAY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR RESCUING US FROM DANGER." A small creature exclaims, "YUP, I'M SURPRISED!! I ALWAYS THOUGHT CERBERUS WAS AN IMAGINARY CREATURE." Further panels show excited chatter about meeting Dr. Hogback, with lines like "MAYBE I CAN MEET DR. HOGBACK, TOO!! OH YEAH!" and "IF YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR YOUR NAKAMA, THE MANSION WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET." Praise for the doctor follows: "HE HAS ACQUIRED ALL THE FAME AND RANK THAT HE COULD ACHIEVE AS A DOCTOR, AND..." "HE HAS SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES USING MIRACULOUS OPERATIONS!!" and "THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DOCTOR THAT DOESN'T KNOW HIS NAME! HE'S A 'GENIUS SURGEON'!!" A small creature cheers, "IS HE THAT FAMOUSI"

Narration continues about Dr. Hogback's mysterious disappearance: "BUT NO ONE HAD ANY CLUES, AND THE NAME 'HOGBACK' BECAME A LEGEND. IT CAUSED A BIG COMMOTION IN THE MEDICAL WORLD, RUMOR HAD IT THAT IT WAS A DISAPPEARANCE CASE... OR AN ABDUCTION CASE. HE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED. BUT ONE DAY..." Nami reacts with surprise, "..." In the forest, she asks, "I THINK THAT'D BE FINE. CAN I GET HIS AUTOGRAPH!!I" while a small creature responds, "..." and "OOOO..." Inside, the group confirms, "IS HE STILL SPENDING HIS TIME RESEARCHING BEYOND CURRENT HUMAN KNOWLEDGE. YES, WE ARE. THE DOCTOR AND IT'S THE HOGBACK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, RIGHTI" Nami stares into the dark woods, noting, "THIS FOREST... EVEN HAS LIONS!!" A shadowy lion-like figure appears as she gasps, "NO...!!"

A terrified close-up shows wide eyes and sweat as someone mutters "........II". A wild-haired, bandaged man with a massive grin looms forward amid heavy impact lines and "GRIN", prompting shocked reactions of "!!!I". In the next panels a top-hatted man and a short-haired woman stare in panic at a distant carriage while the woman stammers, "B-BUT I... JUST SAW A L-LION OUT-SIDE..." The man snaps back, "DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!! WHAT'S WRONG!I" and another voice cries "... WHAT THE!!!". Two terrified figures scream "GYAAA AAH!!!" and "KYAA AAH!!!" with a loud "BACH". The top-hatted man points insistently, "SEEI THEN CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF." The woman stares at a crude lion-face drawing and gasps, "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!" while an unseen speaker adds, "SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS."

A massive splash panel reveals a horde of grotesque zombies and monsters bursting from the forest toward the carriage, accompanied by the musical SFX "エモい!! エモい♪ イケメン!!" and the caption "*It's prey ♪ It's prey ♪ kekekekeke ♪". Below, the short-haired woman shouts in alarm, "THERE WAS SOMETHING!!!" while another voice echoes, "THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING OUT THERE!!!". The top-hatted man and woman stare in shock at the carriage interior as smaller panels show the zombies snarling with cries of "はっ!!", "はっ!!!", and "はぁ!!". Impact sounds "パカパカ" and "ダラ ダラ" accompany the carriage wheels as the panicked pair inside react with "!I" and "ヒレ ヒレ ヒレ".

Inside the jolting carriage the short-haired woman and top-hatted man argue with the bat-like zombie Hildon. She insists, "I AGREE. THIS FOREST IS A LITTLE STRANGE." Hildon replies, "SOME-THING'S DEFINITELY STRANGE IN THIS FOREST!!" and the man adds, "THAT WASN'T A HALLUCINATION!! THERE WAS SOME-THING OUT THERE!!" Hildon questions, "DID YOU SEE A HALLUCI-NATION OR SOME-THINGI WHAT'S GOING ONI YOU SEEM TO BE IN A FLURRY..." The woman pleads, "PLEASE STOP, HILDON-SAN!! CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THE CAR-RIAGE FOR A MOMENT!I" Hildon continues explaining the fog's effects while the man panics, "NO, NO...!!! HALLUCINATION!I... NO... IT WAS TOO CLEAR TO BE A HALLUCINATION...!" and the woman cries, "EH!I SO IT WAS JUST A HALLUCINATIONI THANK GOODNESS!!" The discussion grows heated as they debate whether to meet Dr. Hogback, with the woman begging, "HILDON-SAN, WE'RE REALLY SORRY, BUT CAN YOU TURN AROUND AND TAKE US BACK TO THE SHOREI"

Hildon presses the passengers, "--- THEN I WILL TELL THE MEN TO DO SO.... IS THAT SOI...!! OF COURSE... WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSEI OR LEAVE THE ISLAND ALIVE WITH-OUT MEET-ING HIMI WOULD YOU RATHER DIE TRYING TO MEET THAT DOCTOR..." The woman and man both protest, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE...!!! NOR BE SCARED." Hildon answers, "PLEASE WAIT FOR A MOMENT." The carriage suddenly stops with sounds "パタン..." and "パタン パタン". The top-hatted man apologizes, "IT CAN'T BE HELPED; IT'S MY FAULT FOR NOT HAVING THE COURAGE TO ACT ALONE AT TIMES LIKE THESE.... SORRY, CHOPPER, TO MAKE YOU MISS YOUR RARE CHANCE." The woman murmurs, "THAT'S ODD; WE ONLY NEED TO GO BACK THE WAY WE CAME..." as the carriage door opens ten minutes later, revealing an ornate interior where the pair sit facing a mysterious figure marked with a question mark.

A vast graveyard stretches before a towering, castle-like building under a cloudy sky. The group stares in shock at the empty scene. "WE WERE LEFT BEHIND IN THE MIDDLE OF A GRAVEYARD!!!" someone yells. "EEEEEHII NO ONE'S HERE!!!" another cries. "EVEN THE HORSES!!!" A small carriage sits abandoned near the iron gate. In the lower panels, Hildon the bat-like zombie flaps away with "FLAP... FLAP..." "HILDON!" Usopp shouts desperately. "HEEEY!! WHERE DID YOU GO!I" The round-faced man panics, "EEH!!!I WE WERE LEFT BEHIND!!!I" "D-DID HE GO TAKE A LEAK OR SOMETHING!!!I" Nami gasps, "WHAT...!I...II" while the braided-haired woman demands, "WHY!I"

Hildon cackles wildly while flying, "HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE...!!!" with sound effects "!!+..." and "ゴゴゴゴゴ...". Below, more zombies emerge: a bandaged mummy-like figure laughs "GE HEE HEE HEE HEE..." and "KA KA KA KA KA..." while a top-hatted skeleton brandishes a sword near a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. Hildon continues "HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE..." as he flaps toward the distant building with "FLAP FLAP". A sudden impact "BOKO...!!" sends a figure flying with "...!! EH...!I". The carriage tips as someone screams "AAARGH..." and a voice wonders, "OF ALL PLACES... WHY ARE WE IN A GRAVEYARD...I"

Horrified faces fill the panels as zombies claw from the ground. "PLEASE TELL ME THIS ISN'T REAL..." Nami pleads with tears. "ZURU..." A mummy zombie groans "AAAR... GGHHH!!!" while another figure clutches their face. The top-hatted skeleton screams "AAAAAAARGH!!!" amid "ZURU..." and "7% 7%" effects. A massive close-up zombie roars "EEEEEH!!!I". The full-page spread erupts with the giant caption "ZOMBIES!!!!!" as dozens of grotesque, stitched corpses rise from graves, reaching toward the carriage and the fleeing Straw Hats in the ruined cemetery.

Panic explodes as zombies swarm the carriage. "GYAAAAAH!! OWWWWW!!" Usopp wails while a mummy bites down. "AAAA AAAH... BECHA" and "MEKJ MEKJ...!!" fill the air. "THE CARRIAGE IS TIPPING OVER!" The massive vehicle crashes with "ドゴン バキバキ..." and "GYAA AAH!!!". A huge impact "+!!+ャアン!!" sends the group flying. "UWA AAH!!" someone screams as "THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE POWER!!!" Zombies overwhelm them. "GYAAAAAAAH!!! UWAAH, IT BIT ME!!!" Usopp cries. "SHIT, I'M BITTEN. I'M GONNA TURN INTO A ZOMBIE!!!" Nami shouts in terror. "USOPP!!!" "UWAAH!!!" "ACK!!"

Nami slashes desperately at the surrounding zombies while one grabs her from behind. "EH!!!I" she cries as a bandaged zombie swings a club. "I'LL SAVE YOU NOW...!!!!" she shouts. The zombies snarl and bite, "KAKAKAH!" "BECHA!!" "GASH!!" In the next panel a massive impact erupts as Usopp is swarmed. "YOU BASTARDS, LET GO OF USOPP!!!" he yells while the zombies groan "GUOO OH!!!" and "HEEEK!!" Below, a small scene shows a zombie politely returning a dropped weapon. "OH, SORRY. HEY, YOU DROPPED THIS." Another zombie screams "GYAA AAH!!!" and "I'M SO SORRY!!" as a round bomb rolls in. "BOTAN!!" The blast triggers a panicked "EEEEEH!!I"

Nami is overwhelmed by a horde of stitched zombies. "NAMI!!!!" someone shouts as she struggles. "OH NO, HELP!!! I'LL BE BITTEN!!!!" she cries. Usopp appears in the lower panels, firing his slingshot. "KAEN-BOSHI!!!" "HISS-ATSU" the attack is labeled, with the note "A ZOMBIE'S WEAK POINT IS...!!!!" The fiery projectile explodes in a huge blast marked "BOU!!!" Zombies shriek "WUUOO OOH!!! FIRE!!!" while others yell "THAT'S DANGEROUS!!!" The flames engulf several undead as the smoke clears.

Usopp and Nami flee through the graveyard while zombies chase them. "BUT YOU MADE THEM ANGRIER!!!" Usopp yells. "IT WORKED AMAZINGLY WELL!!!" Nami replies. "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO IF WE GET BURNTI" "WATCH OUT, BASTARD!!" the zombies roar. Usopp suggests heading for the mansion. "THE MANSION IS CLOSER FROM HERE, SO IT'LL BE BETTER IF WE HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION!!" Nami agrees, "HURRY UP, NAMI!!!" They dash onward as more zombies pursue. "THEY'RE FAST!!!" "WAIT UP, PUNK!!!" one growls. Usopp reassures her, "WE'LL BE ALRIGHT. ONCE WE GET OUT OF THE GRAVEYARD AND DASH, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO CATCH UP!!" A caption notes, "ZOMBIES CAN ONLY WALK SLOWLY WHILE GROANING."

Usopp screams in terror as zombies lunge, "UWA AAAH!!!" The undead moan "WUUOO OOH!!!" Usopp pants, "THEY'VE GOT NO STAMINA!!!" and suggests resting. In the forest they catch their breath among tombstones and bare trees. "WHAT'S UP WITH THIS ISLAND...!I IT'S FULL OF ANIMALS THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST..." Usopp wonders. Nami notes the zombies have stopped chasing. "THEY... AREN'T AFTER US ANY MORE, RIGHT...I" Usopp reads a sign and worries, "YOU READ TOO MANY OF THOSE KIND OF BOOKS EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE A WIMP." He adds nervously, "GUYS... IF I GO AHEAD AND TURN INTO A ZOMBIE..."

Nami stares ahead with a serious expression, her face marked with small cuts. "I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'RE NORMAL PEOPLE LIVING ON AN ISLAND LIKE THIS," she says. "THAT'S MY BET." A small round creature with wide eyes replies excitedly, "I GUESS I CAN SEE HIM AFTER ALL...!!! I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT." Nearby, a man with a spiky hairstyle sweats heavily, gasping "HAA" twice while muttering, "... EITHER WAY, I WANT A FRESH GLASS OF WATER.... LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT." The scene shifts to a massive gothic mansion with a tall central tower. The group stands before its closed gates as dramatic sound effects "ギャアアア" echo. Nami shouts, "EXCUSE US!!! IS THIS DOCTOR HOGBACK'S MANSION!I!" The small creature adds, "PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!!" Another voice calls out, "WE ARE EXPLORING 'PI'... 'SAILORS'!!!" The heavy doors remain shut.

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