Zou

In a lush jungle clearing lit by beams of sunlight piercing the canopy, Monkey D. Luffy balances on the back of a large striped tiger while reaching upward to grab a vine. He wears his straw hat, open blue shirt, and shorts with a large blue backpack. Beside him stands Nico Robin in a pink hooded jacket with fur trim, smiling as she holds a vine. In the background the rest of the Straw Hat crew swings and climbs through the trees amid hanging vines and a sparkling waterfall. Large white title lettering reads ONE PIECE above the scene.

Aboard the Thousand Sunny the crew faces a sudden violent storm. Nami shouts from the upper deck, "OH MY... THEY'RE HUGE! WATCH OUT!" Enormous hailstones the size of heads crash down around the ship as narration reads "THE CREW HEADS FOR ZOU! WHAT AWAITS THEM THEREI" and "IT'S HAILING!" Luffy yells from the helm, "WHICH WAY SHOULD WE TACK!I WHO'S YOUR NAVIGATOR!I TELL US WHAT TO DO!" while Usopp cries out in panic. A massive hailstone punches through the deck with a loud impact as the ship rocks violently amid flying debris and waves.

On a storm-battered ship, the crew struggles with the violent weather. A long-nosed crewman with headphones shouts, "I SEE! SO YOU CONSULT WITH SOMEONE THAT KNOWS THEIR WAY ABOUT THE SEAS! WELL, WHATEVER WORKS. JUST HURRY!" Another crew member with wild hair yells into a Den Den Mushi, "WHENEVER WE'RE IN A PINCH, WE JUST CALL GRAMMY ON THE DEN-DEN MUSHI!" The Den Den Mushi responds, "HELLO, GRAMMYI IT'S GAMBEER! NO, IT'S JUST THAT IT'S HAILING SOMETHING TERRIBLE, AND..." A panicked voice replies, "YOU DO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE NEW WORLD, RIGHT!I" while another adds, "AH, WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A NAVIGATOR. WE'RE JUST A SMALL BACK-ALLEY GANG, AND..." Below deck, the crew argues over how to handle the hail. One says, "WE DON'T NEED HOUSEKEEPING TIPS RIGHT NOW, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Another declares, "THEY'LL COME OFF IN A SNAP!" A third suggests, "WELL IF WE WRAP THESE HAIL PIECES IN SOME CLOTH, AND USE 'EM TO FREEZE THE GUM..." The leader rallies them, "YEAH! WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT 'EM! ALRIGHT BOYS, I'VE GOT IT! YOU KNOW THOSE GUM PIECES STUCK TO THE DECKI" Suddenly, a large crewman bursts in shouting, "ENOUGH WITH THE MARTHA STEWART CRAP! SHE ALSO SAYS WE SHOULD TRY RUBBING SOME SUGAR INTO OUR WARTS!" An alarm sounds as someone cries, "OH SHIT! HE'S OUT COLD!" with a loud "GYAAH!"

The storm rages as the ship is tossed violently. Luffy laughs, "LIFUFU! HOW EXCITING." while the crew panics. Someone yells, "IF ONLY THIS THING WAS EQUIPPED THE WAY THE SUNNY IS!" Another shouts, "WE'VE JUST GOTTA GET OUR HANDS DIRTY A BIT, THAT'S ALL." A desperate voice cries, "OF ALL THE SHIPS TO GO ON, WE JUST HAD TO PICK THIS ONE! THAT'S IT! WE'RE SUNK! NAMI, SAVE US!" Nami stands with arms crossed, looking concerned. Usopp mutters, "ARE THESE GUYS FOR REAL..." The leader of the group declares, "BOYS! AS LONG AS THE FEARLESS STRAW HATS ARE WITH US, WE HAVE NOTHING OR NO ONE TO FEAR!" A terrified crewman screams, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU IDIOTS ACTUALLY MADE IT THIS FAR!" as barriers are raised. The sea grows more violent with massive waves and a giant sea creature emerging, roaring with sound effects "わあああああ" and "ドゴォ" as the ship is battered.

At Marine Headquarters, a report comes in: "SIR, THE [A.O. PIRATES] WHO ONCE SERVED UNDER THE FORMER 'WHITEBEARD' PIRATES... HAVE BEEN ANNIHILATED!!" Kizaru (Borsalino) sits clipping his nails and remarks, "HIM, AGAIN, I TAKE ITI" and "THIS IS THE 16TH SIR..." He continues, "SO THEN... HOW MANY OF THE SHIP CAPTAINS THAT SERVED UNDER WHITEBEARD DOES THIS MAKE NOWI" An officer reports, "THE DEATH TOLL IS APPROXIMATELY 600..." while noting, "THEY ALL FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN... IT STARTS AS SOME PETTY ARGUMENT OR DISPUTE AND ENDS WITH AN ENTIRE CITY BEING LAID TO WASTE." In the office, staff discuss, "BUT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE THAT DOUBT ITS VALIDITY... THE TITLE OF THE TRUE SON OF WHITEBEARD, EDWARD WEEBLE, IS A POWERFUL ONE SIR..." Kizaru replies, "I APOLOGIZE IF IM OUT OF ORDER SIR BUT... WITH THE GREAT AMOUNT OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES THAT ALWAYS FOLLOW IN HIS WAKE... EVEN AS A 'SHICHIBUKAI', IS IT REALLY OKAY FOR US TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO HIS ACTIONS...I" A subordinate concludes, "...MMM~ FOR THE TIME BEING, THE AUTHENTICITY OF THAT CLAIM MEANS VERY LITTLE FROM WHERE WE'RE STANDING. A PROBLEM INDEED~"

Kizaru reflects in close-up, "THERE IS THE ONE UNSHAKABLE TRUTH... REGARDLESS OF HIS LINEAGE..." A massive impact sound "ドン!!" erupts as the scene shifts to a devastated island filled with ruins, palm trees, and debris. The narration continues, "HE IS OVERWHELMINGLY POWERFUL...!!!" and "HIS STRENGTH IS REMINISCENT OF THE 'MERE' STRENGTH OF WHITEBEARD IN HIS YOUTH..." Edward Weevil stands amid the destruction, laughing with a wide grin, weapons and rubble scattered around him. In the final panel, a shadowy figure with spiky hair declares, "SAY IT TOGETHER, ALL AT ONCE..." while another voice mutters, "FOOLS... THEY'RE ALL FOOLS... THEY'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND..."

Edward Weevil towers in a dramatic full-page spread, gripping a massive bisento, his stitched face twisted in rage and confusion. He bellows, "RIGHT, MOMMAII MOMMAII" A large speech bubble declares, "THE ONLY SONS OF 'WHITE-BEARD*' ARE THE 'WHITEBEARD PIRATES'!!" Weevil continues, "I'M 'WHITEBEARD'S' SON RIGHTI I GOTTA BE, I MEAN MY BEER IS WHITE!!!" A framed caption identifies him: "ROYAL SHICHIBUKAI SELF-PROCLAIMED 'WHITE-BEARD JR.' EDWARD WEEBLE (FORMER BOUNTY OF 480,000,000 円)". Impact lines and debris emphasize his fury.

Miss Bakkin appears in close-up, her face fierce as she shouts, "THE ONLY TRUE SON OF THE ONCE 'STRONGEST PIRATE IN THE WORLD' WHITEBEARD... AND THE ONLY ONE ACTUALLY RELATED TO HIM BY BLOOD IS YOU AND ONLY YOU!!!" She points accusingly, declaring, "GET IT TOGETHER, MY LITTLE 'TREASURE'!" and "THE WOMAN WHO STOLE 'WHITE-BEARD'S' HEART!!" Weevil cowers, crying "OWW THAT HURSSS, MOMMA!!!" A caption reads "WEEBLE'S MOTHER SELF-PROCLAIMED 'WHITEBEARD'S BELOVED' MISS BAKKIN*". In smaller panels, Weevil looks at a mirror image of Whitebeard and wails, "AHHHH MOMMMAAAA, I'M SORRYYYY!!!" while Bakkin snaps, "DO YOU SEE THE RESEMBLANCEII"

Miss Bakkin leans forward passionately, yelling "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!!!! MOOOM-MMAA!!!" and "BUT... I WOULD NEVER HOLD IT AGAINST YOU..." In the next sequence, a bird-like creature named "Marco" flies away as voices discuss, "WE'RE GOING OFF TO SEARCH FOR THE STRAGGLERS OF THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES, STARTING WITH THE 'PHOENIX MARCO'!!" and "WELL THEN, WE'RE OFF!!! LET ME HEAR WHAT OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT ISI!" Weevil questions his grudge against Blackbeard while Bakkin insists, "YOUR FATHER, NEWGATE, SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND A 'VAST INHERITANCE' FOR YOU... AS HIS ONE TRUE HEIR, YOU ARE ITS LONE, RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARY!!!"

Weevil roars in close-up, "HE'S GONNA WISH HE WAS NEVER BORN!!! IMMA GONNA MAKE HIM PAY!!!" Miss Bakkin urges him toward money and inheritance, warning "YOU WON'T EVEN GAIN 1B FROM ALL THAT NONSENSE!!" and "FOOLISH CHILD, HARBORING A GRUDGE ISN'T PROFITABLE AT ALL!!!" A distant scene shows a ruined town with a cloaked figure as narration reveals, "AT THE PIRATE SUMMIT WAR, THERE ARE RUMORS THAT MARCO AND THE OTHERS WERE PROTECTING HIM... WHICH MEANS HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEAD US TO MARCO!! SHOULD WE GO BEAT IT OUT OF HIMI" Weevil's mother questions, "SOMETHIN' THE MATTER MOMMAII"

The crew chews gum to fight nausea as the ship drifts through impenetrable fog. "GUM... GUM... IF WE JUST CHEW SOME GUM, IT'LL HELP THE NAUSEA... THAT'S WHAT GRANNY USED TO SAY..." someone mutters. "WHAT THE HELLI! HOW CAN YOU GUYS CALL YOURSELVES PIRATES GETTING SEASICK FROM SOMETHING LIKE THISI!" Usopp yells. The ship is revealed to be coated in sticky gum from an earlier mishap. "SO THAT'S WHY THIS BOAT WAS COVERED IN GUM!" A week later on the Going Luffy-senpai, visibility remains zero. "THE FOG IS SO THICK... THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO VISIBILITY..." A massive shape looms ahead. "BOSS!!! I'VE SPOTTED SOMETHING OFF THE SHIP AT 2 O'CLOCK... BLEEEAAARGH!!!" someone cries. The crew panics over a possible mountain or monster in the fog. "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF MONSTER WOULD ANYONE EVER MISTAKE FOR A MOUNTAIN... ANYWAAAAAARGHHH!!!" Luffy shouts. "IF WE HIT A REEF, WE'LL BE CAPSIZED!!" "WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!! RIGHT NOW, ESCAPING THIS FOG MAZE AS FAST AS WE CAN IS OUR TOP PRIORITY!!" The crew debates turning the ship while Luffy stares ahead, hand over his mouth. "YOU'RE JUST FUCKING DRUNK IS A..." an unseen voice slurs.

The Vivre Card points forward. "WHOOOAA! IT REALLY IS!!" "THE VIVRE CARD IS POINTING THAT WAY. THEN YOUR NAKAMA MUST BE OVER THERE!!" someone exclaims. Law stands nearby as Usopp reacts. "WE'VE COMPLETED OUR ADMIRAL-CLASS RECONNAISSANCE HAVEN'T WEI" a voice asks. "GOD YOU SAY~I" Luffy replies with a blush. "AW, SHUCKS... YOU'RE MAKING ME, THE '200,000,000 MAN' BLUSH~" The crew lowers sails and readies oars amid the fog. "I DIDN'T HEAR YOU!!!" Usopp protests. They spot land ahead. "THIS IS ITII THE ISLAND 'ZOU'I!" Luffy yells in shock. "TRAFFY... YOU..." "NO, WE'RE FINE WHERE WE ARE." The ship approaches the mysterious island as the crew reacts with alarm and determination.

The crew realizes they have reached an uncharted place. "THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST TIME EVER COMING HERE." Law notes. "NO 'LOG POSE' CAN REACH IT. SINCE, TECHNICALLY, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY 'LAND'..." The massive shape ahead is revealed as an enormous living elephant. "AN ACTUAL ELEPHANT*I!" the crew screams in unison. "GYAAAAA... EEEEEHHHH~!!!" The elephant's trunk and body tower over the sea, carrying an entire island on its back. "...YES... [ZOU] IS THE NAME OF A LAND THAT RESTS ON THE BACK OF A GIANT ELEPHANT." The narration confirms it. "THAT ELEPHANT WAS PUTTING DISTANCE BETWEEN US, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE'VE FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO IT..." "AND IT'S CONSTANTLY MOVING... AN ILLUSORY ISLAND THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN ANY ONE FIXED PLACE..." "GEEEEEEEEEE EH~I!! IT'S AN ACTUAL LIVING THINGI!!!!!" The Straw Hats and allies stare in awe as the giant elephant continues walking through the waves.

A massive close-up shows the ancient elephant's eye and wrinkled skin. "FOR AROUND 1000 YEARSI!" the crew exclaims. "THIS ELEPHANT HAS BEEN ALIVE..." The narration continues: "AS THEY GET READY TO EMBARK ONTO ZOU, WHAT NEW ADVENTURE AWAITS THEM ON THE BACK OF THIS GIANT BEHEMOTHI!" On the ship, the crew processes the revelation. "SO THIS IS [ZOU]!! I MUST SAY, THE SHEER NUMBER OF PECULIAR AND DIVERSE THINGS IN FOREIGN WATERS IS TRULY A SIGHT TO BEHOLD...!!!" "OI! I'VE HEARD OF TALES ABOUT A TRIBE LIVING ON [ZOU] THAT HAS LITTLE DISDAIN FOR HUMANS OR ANYTHING RESEMBLING..." "I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS COUNTRY HAS GONE NEARLY 1000 YEARS WITHOUT ANY HUMANS EVER HAVING COME INTO CONTACT WITH IT." "1000 YEARSI! ON THAT ELEPHANT'S BACKI!" Luffy stares upward with wide eyes and an open mouth. "THEN..." The chapter ends with the Straw Hats facing the living island of Zou.

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