THE STEEP SLOPE AGAIN

Luffy stands on a cliffside path, fist clenched, staring ahead in shock. Large onomatopoeia “ドーン” and “ビー” dominate the upper panel. Speech bubbles read: “WHAT HAPPENED …II” “HOW DID HE KNOCK CAPTAIN KURO DOWN…!I” “FROM THAT POSITIONI!” Below, the defeated Captain Kuro lies sprawled on the ground while his crew stares in disbelief. In the lower panel, Usopp sits on the ground beside Kaya, who kneels nearby. Kuro’s body is shown in close-up with the large SFX “ゴオオオオオオ…”.

Luffy cracks his knuckles with a determined glare, SFX “CRACK CRACK”. Kuro lies face-down, SFX “ゴゴゴゴゴ…”. His crew panics: “WHAT’RE WE GONNA DO…I” “CAPTAIN KURO’S REALLY ANGRY NOW…!!!” Jango appears with a serious expression, SFX “ゴゴゴゴゴ”. A heart-eyed crew member reacts with “!!I”. Usopp’s group charges forward shouting “HERE’S OUR CHANCE!!” while Kaya cries “AH!!” and another yells “AH!”. Large impact SFX “ザザザザザザ!” erupts as they rush in.

Usopp’s pirate group attacks from above. They shout: “YOU INGRATE BUTLER!!” “DIE, YOU BASTARD!!” “HERE COMES USOPP’S PIRATE GROUP!” with massive SFX “ばばば”. In the next sequence they continue yelling “DIE, BASTARD!!” “YOU DAMN PIRATE! TRYING TO DISRUPT THE PEACE OF OUR VILLAGE!!” “HIT HIM HIT HIM HIT HIM…!!!” while striking with clubs. SFX “ドカ! ガン! バキ!! ガン!! ボコ!” fill the panel. A terrified crew member stares up, and Kaya shouts “YOU CAN’T COME HERE …!!” with SFX “ドカ! ガン! ガン! バキ!!”.

The Usopp Pirates panic as their captain lies beaten on the ground. "STOP IT!!" one yells. "STOP IT, ALL OF YOU!!" another shouts. Kuro, the butler with glasses, glares coldly and asks, "WHAT ARE THOSE KIDS TRYING TO DOI" The heart-eyed pirate Jango screams in shock, "WAH...!! WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE KIDS DOINGI!" while the crew cries out in alarm. SFX: AAAAH. Usopp, dazed with swirling eyes, mutters weakly as the kids stand over him with shovels and a net. "OK! WE'LL HAVE MERCY ON HIM..." one says. SFX: ZUUU...N. The kids erupt in outrage: "WRONG! IT SHOULD BE DISHONEST!!" "THAT'S DISLOYAL!" "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL USI!" "...OUR CAPTAIN WAS REALLY FIGHTING!!"

The Usopp Pirates refuse to abandon their captain. "IF WE RUN, WE'LL RUIN THE REPUTATION OF THE USOPP PIRATE GROUP!!" "YEAH! WE WANNA FIGHT YOU TOO, CAPTAIN!!" "WE WON'T LEAVE YOU, CAPTAIN!!" they yell. Kuro looms over them menacingly. "RUN AWAY!!!" he commands. "JUST GET OUT OF HERE!! IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S DISLOYAL OR DISHONEST!!" The kids ready their weapons as tension rises. SFX crackle around Kuro's hands. He strikes with a shovel and bat, sending the boys flying. SFX: CRACKLE CRACKLE, AAAAH!! One boy screams, "IDIOTS, RUN!" as massive feet stomp down. SFX: AAAAH, WAAAAA HHHHH...!!!

Kuro stands tall amid crackling energy. SFX: CRACKLE, DOSYAA. The kids stare in disbelief. "AH..." one whispers. "WHA... WHATI DIDN'T HE SEE US...I" Kuro suddenly blurs forward with incredible speed. SFX: DON. He delivers a devastating blow. "CAPTAIN!!" a boy cries as Usopp is sent flying. SFX: UGH!! Impact lines explode across the panel. In the distance, two cloaked figures watch the scene. "THAT WAS QUITE AN ODD ATTACK YOU JUST USED," one remarks. "I'M A BIT CURIOUS..." the other adds with a question mark.

Kuro stares in shock. "THE POWER OF THE 'DEVIL'S FRUIT'...!!" SFX: DON... Luffy, wearing a straw hat, grins widely while stretching his own cheek. "AND I'VE BECOME A RUBBERMAN!!" he declares. "YUP! I ATE A 'GOMU GOMU FRUIT'!!" The cloaked figures react with surprise. "WASN'T AN ILLUSION" one notes. "SO, RUBBERMAN, THEN THE STRETCHED ARM..." "NO WONDER THAT GUY'S SO WEIRD" "THIS IS BAD! YOU MEAN IT ACTUALLY EXISTSI!" "WHATI! DEVIL'S FRUITI!" They discuss how Luffy withstood the earlier attack. "AFTER GETTING HIT ON THE HEAD BY MY BLADE, THAT'S INCREDIBLE!! BUT HE CAN STILL STAND UP..."

In the rocky cliff path, Jango lies sprawled on the ground groaning "UGH..." as a figure in the distance shouts "YES... YES!!" Behind him, Klahadore stands with his back turned, his voice echoing "JANGO!!" Klahadore turns dramatically, arms spread wide amid speed lines, declaring "YOU TAKE CARE OF KAYA OJOUSAMA... MAKE HER WRITE HER WILL, AND THEN..." while another voice responds "I WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS KID!" SFX "GIKUUU!" and "BAA...!!" punctuate the tension. The three Usopp Pirates—Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi—stand together as one says "GOT IT" and another adds "THEY IRRITATE ME AND ALSO... THOSE THREE PUNY ANTS..." Kaya appears in close-up, sweat dropping in shock as she hears the order "KILL HER!"

On the wide cliff path, a swordsman in a black cap blocks the way with arm outstretched, shouting "STOP!" and "GET THROUGH ME! I WON'T LET YOU..." The cloaked figure in front reacts with "!" SFX "GOUU!!" erupts as the fight intensifies. The masked fighters Buchi and Sham lunge forward with fierce expressions, yelling "SHHAAAA....!!" and "GRAAAHH....!!" while one is labeled "BUCHI!!!" The intense close-quarters clash fills the panels with motion lines and impact effects.

The battle erupts violently as one fighter spins with "CAT TECHNIQUE..." while the opponent cries "OH NO!! THAT AGAINI!" A massive spinning attack launches with SFX "BOOM!!" and the devastating "FLYING DROP KICK!!" sends debris flying. Bodies tumble through the air amid huge impact SFX "ブッわっ！" and "バコォ」 as the powerful strike connects.

The ground shatters under the force of the clash. SFX "BOOM!!" and "TAP TAP TAP" echo as rocks explode outward. Observers react in horror: "DAMN!! HE'S EVEN MORE POWERFUL THAN BEFORE!!" "THE GROUND CRACKED....!!" and "WAH...!!!" with SFX "ビキビキ" "CRACK" and "ドコォ" marking the destruction. A massive final impact SFX "バキン" sends a huge dust cloud billowing across the cliffside as a distant voice screams "YAAAAAAA....!!"

Luffy stares in shock as Kuro's claws flash forward with terrifying speed. "SO POWERFUL!!!!" Luffy yells. "WHO IS HEI!" Kuro's attack tears through the air, SFX: グォッ and SHAAA, while a voice mutters, "IDIOT... HE CAN'T CONTROL HIS OWN STRENGTH..." The butler-turned-pirate lunges with both hands extended, his glasses reflecting cold menace. In a massive clash, Luffy is hurled backward by a crushing blow, SFX: ZUDOOO!! and ズドォオオ, debris exploding around him. A masked fighter in a black cap grits his teeth nearby, SFX: GYUUU, as the impact shakes the ground and sends shockwaves through the battlefield.

Kuro and Luffy clash violently among the rocks. Kuro drives his clawed hand forward while Luffy blocks desperately with a pipe. "DON'T..." Kuro growls. "LOST TO ME BEFORE..." he continues. "YOU..." Luffy retorts. SFX: DOKA!! rings out from the strike. In the next instant Luffy is sent flying again, kicking wildly as he shouts, "GET IN MY WAY!!" Kuro is knocked back with a pained "ARGHH!!" as the pipe smashes into him amid flying debris and motion lines.

The battlefield is strewn with fallen fighters. Luffy lies dazed, muttering, "OH NO! HE..." while Kuro stands tall in the distance. A dizzy Usopp groans, "DAMN...!! I FEEL DIZZY, I CAN'T GET UP...!! BUT I MUST STOP THE ENEMIES...!!" SFX: BA-N! The Usopp Pirate Group rushes in, the three kids shouting, "YES, CAPTAIN!!" Usopp's eyes widen in horror as he screams, "USOPP PIRATE GROUP!!" The children brandish weapons and yell, "WE WILL DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES!!" and "CAPTAIN, YOU'RE BADLY INJURED! WE CAN'T JUST RUN AWAY!!" Usopp, bloodied but determined, replies, "I... I TOLD YOU... WE WON'T RUN!!" Klahadore watches silently from the side.

Usopp's face fills the frame, bloodied and desperate, as he roars, "PROTECT KAYA!!" Kaya stares at him with wide, tearful eyes and whispers, "USOPP-SAN..." Klahadore stands motionless in the background while the Usopp Pirates look on anxiously. From the ground Usopp shouts to his crew, "TAKE KAYA AWAY FROM HERE SAFELY!" and "I'M GIVING YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK!" The children hesitate, moved by their captain's resolve.

The three Usopp Pirates shout desperately, "YES, CAPTAIN!" "YES...!!!" "THIS IS THE CAPTAIN'S ORDER!! YOU MUSN'T REFUSE!!" as SFX BISHIII!!! rings out. Kuro, wearing his black hat and glasses, remarks, "BUT BASICALLY, HE'S JUST TELLING THEM TO RUN AWAY. HE PUTS IT NICELY..." while an octopus-like attacker lunges forward yelling "YOU CAN'T ESCAPE" and "IDIOTS!" SFX Z... and TATATA echo. Kuro spins his clawed gloves rapidly, SFX SPIN SPIN..., demanding "WHERE CAN YOU RUN TOI!" Kaya grabs the children and urges them, "GO IN THE FOREST! WE KNOW IT REALLY WELL!" as they flee together, one child crying "KAYA-SAN, RUN!" and another murmuring "UH..."

Kuro launches a spinning claw attack, shouting "SPECIAL TECHNIQUE, NAMARII-BOSHI!!!!" as SFX DOSU!! and DODODOO... explode around him. The spherical-headed pirate lies on the ground laughing, "HEHHEH! SERVES YOU RIGHT!!" Jango stands over the fallen man. In the forest, the spherical pirate staggers up, gasping "O... OKAY!!" while Kuro, sweating and furious, yells at Jango, "JANGO, QUICK! AFTER THEM!!" and roars at the escaping group, "YOU... YOU BASTARD...!!!" SFX KACHI-N and KACHI-N mark the tense standoff.

Kaya runs ahead calling "KAYA-SAN, THIS WAY!!" while distant figures chase through the woods, SFX TATATATATA. The spherical pirate warns, "IF YOU WANT TO HELP THEM, YOU CAN GO. IT'S NO USE, I KNOW VERY WELL HOW WEAK KAYA IS... THEY'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO OUTRUN JANGO!!" Usopp cries out "USOPP!" as the situation worsens, SFX DODON! and DON. A swordsman with a black mask and a straw-hatted boy stand ready; the swordsman declares "IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS SLOPE ALIVE...!!!" and the boy shouts "LEAVE THIS TO US!" SFX DON and SRET! punctuate the moment. The page ends with "4 THE CRESCENT MOON - END".

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